It's taken a while but the new chapter is finally finished! I hope you enjoy
Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter and everything recognizable belongs to JK Rowling
Chapter Twenty one – The Beginning of the end: Capture
The light of a new day was beginning to seep through the windows of Harry's bedroom window when his eyes were jolted open by the sound of wood smashing against wall.
"Are you here?" The burly voice Harry associated with Istronov called out.
"Does he know what time it is?" Sirius moaned through a yawn as he stepped into Harry's bedroom, an unimpressed look on his tired face.
"Apparently not" Harry groaned back as he pulled the covers over his face.
"You better not be asleep" The burly voice called out again, causing Harry to groan again, knowing he wasn't going to be getting back to sleep any time soon.
"Coming" Sirius barked down the wooden stairs as he turned to his godson and motioned for him to get up, only obtaining a sigh in return.
"About bloody time man" Istronov moaned as Sirius finally traipsed down the stairs and into the lounge, where Istronov had taken a seat in a rather unsteady rocking chair, his hefty weight causing a loud creak as he rocked back and forth gently.
'Please collapse, please collapse' Sirius wished before he began talking.
"On the subject of time, have you seen it? Even the birds aren't up yet" Sirius jeered as he wiped at his tired eyes.
"It's half seven man, what's wrong with you" Istronov complained.
"We've been training hard and were hoping for a lay in for once" Harry added as he stepped into the room, his heavy eyes threatening to close as he yawned copiously.
"Well you can't have it all, and besides, it's your fault I'm here" Istronov instructed as he continued to rock back and forth, a small and cruel smile on his face.
"My fault?" Harry asked, gaining a playful glare from his godfather.
"Apparently you wanted one of these" Istronov said as he plucked a jet black wand from his pocket and held it up somewhat gently.
"Brilliant, you have one" Harry bellowed out, his eyes finally opening fully.
"Have 'one'- if I knew you just wanted some random old thing I wouldn't have gone to the trouble of getting the Elders permission to take this" Istronov moaned, his face dropping slightly and his rocking coming to a halt.
"Oh, I'm sorry – I didn't realise you would go to such trouble, I did tell Silas any old wand would do" Harry replied apologetically.
Istronovs feet stomped onto the ground, the chair creaking in protest more profusely now, its sound mixing with the deep sigh from its occupant as Istronov pulled his cloak aside and began to gently place the wand back into his pocket.
As he did so, Harry could feel an external force pulling at his mind, as though trying to draw him in. Without realising, his eyes had become fixated upon the wand that was now dropping into his mentors inside pocket.
"Wait" Harry yelped out instinctively, his eyes opening wide as the two men around him quickly faced him, not knowing himself why he had called out, and yet...he did.
"What's so special about it?" He asked with immense intrigue, despite not understanding why he was so interested in what appeared to be a simple wand.
Istronov looked at Harry with a look of curiosity, his hand trailing back inside his cloak and removing the wand.
"This particular wand has been stored safely by the Veelas for centuries, the rumours of its powers fading to time, now known to very few" Istronov began, causing Harry to subconsciously move forward towards his mentor, taking a seat close to him.
"What rumours?" Harry asked attentively, his eyes once again fixated on the wand that felt as though it was drawing him in.
"The wand itself is 10 inches, made of elder wood with an ancient double Veela hair core which, and here is the interesting part, is rumoured to be from the original Veela bonded couple, myself and Silas wondered if perhaps in your hands, it may provide you with an edge"
"But how could it give me an edge? I thought the wands we got were sort of linked with us, that no other wand would work as well" Harry replied, not understanding wandlore.
"You really think wizards and restricted to one wand? Especially in cases like this where core is comprised of something that is so uniquely linked to you" Istronov explained.
"It's true; it's like the story of the elder wand, which is supposed to be the most powerful wand in existence. Thinking of it that was made from the wood of an elder tree too" Sirius added, now taking more interest in the wand within Istronovs grasp too.
"I guess it's worth a try, but how will I know" Harry asked, wondering if he may have to prove himself for the wand to work correctly for him.
"If it is meant to be, you will know" Sirius offered as he delicately held up the wand towards Harry.
Harry reached for the wand, picking it up with his finger and thumb as though any greater touch would cause it to dissolve.
"It's not going to break Harry, hold the thing properly for god sake" Istronov moaned at his students' cautious handling of the age old wand.
Harry did as he was told and allowed the shaft of the wand to slide down his palm where he snatched at it, his fingers wrapped around it tightly.
At his grasp, the lights in the room began to flicker violently, the air in the room becoming thin as a swirling wind formed from the floor, ascending as Harrys hair fluttered.
After a number of seconds the commotion ceased, with both Istronov and Sirius looking pointedly at each other, Harrys gaze still fixed upon the wand in his grasp, a feeling of power running through him that he had not felt before, convincing him that he could do anything he wanted.
"Interesting" Istronov spoke softly as he rubbed at his chin, causing Sirius eyes to spark open with an idea.
"Give it a try Harry, let's see what it's got" Sirius said excitedly, not taking into consideration their surroundings.
Without saying a word Harry nodded his head, a confident smile crossing his face as he finally raised his gaze from the wand and instead set his gaze upon a rickety looking bookshelf across the room.
His left arm rose as his hand bent upwards, his palm facing his target as his right arm raised, the powerful new wand in his clutches now pointing threateningly at the defenceless bookcase.
"Try something easy to start with, like levitating it" Sirius offered as he noticed Harrys chosen target, however his words went unheard as Harrys desire to excel overtook his senses and his instinctual magic kicked in.
Harry's eyes turned several shades darker as he began to swirl his wand in circles, small shards of golden light beginning to form a perfect circle where his wand continued to swirl, a spell that Sirius quickly noticed as one that Harry had been completely incapable of performing, and one that he knew would have devastating effects if used correctly.
"Uhh, Harry...Perhaps you should try that one outside..." Sirius said with a nervous chuckle, however to no avail, with Harry seemingly impervious to his Godfathers words.
"Harry seriously, I don't think that a good idea" Sirius called out more seriously with no hint of a laugh as Harrys circular movements began to speed up, a solid circular band of golden sparkles now formed.
At the sound of worry evident in Sirius' voice, Istronov looked up towards Harry, taking a keen interest in the strange spell being casted, however he was not prepared for what came next.
The circling golden band began to squeal as Harry drew back his wand, a vortex like wind encircling the room as the air around Harry began to crackle like thunder.
"Oh crap...Get down!" Sirius yelled as he dove at Istronov, causing the already unstable rocking chair to collapse as the two men slammed hard against the floor.
Just as they hit the floor, Harry pushed his arm forwards, projecting his energy into the circular spell which soared towards the bookcase, the circle falling apart into thousands of splintering golden shards as Harry pulled his wand across his body and back again in a slashing motion.
As the spell hit the bookcase the room was plunged into darkness as a deafening rumble filled the air, plumes of smoke and rubble crashing against the walls and ceilings, however the three men were left untouched.
"Have you lost your mi..." Sirius began to yell at Harry as he looked up, but was cut off at the sight of a bright blue veil of liquid like mist that was shielding them from the carnage beyond.
"I might ask the same thing, do you mind?" Istronov added as Sirius embarrassingly got up from the floor, watching as Istronov done the same before brushing himself down.
The two men turned as they heard the sound of air being sucked out of the room as the liquid like shield dropped, revealing the smoky sight of emptiness, light billowing into the room through the now nonexistent wall opposite them that had been torn asunder by Harrys spell.
"Very interesting, albeit a little over the top" Istronov spoke to himself as a smile slipped onto his face.
Several minutes later and with the dust finally clearing through the open void in the lounge, Sirius made his way down the stairs with the small bag of his belongings, coming to a halt before his Godson.
"Are you sure I can't talk you out of this?" He asked in a somewhat pleading tone, not wanting to leave his Godson alone.
"You know it's for the best Sirius, it has to be this way. You know what to do, if I send you my new wand, you will know that I've been captured, I'll be relying on you to get it to me somehow" Harry informed.
"After what I saw today, I think they should be the ones who are worried. I'm so proud of the man that you've become Harry, Your parents would be proud too" Sirius exclaimed softly as a tear fell down his eye and he pulled Harry into a tight embrace.
"Thanks Sirius, I'll see you soon" Harry replied as his eyes began to water.
"Stay out of trouble potter, and keep up the good work" Istronov barked across the room to his student as he and Sirius left through the front door.
Two days passed and with the help of Istronov, Harry repaired the wall that he had only days earlier demolished.
"It's been so cold I haven't been able to sleep" Harry moaned as he watched Istronovs magic replace the final few bricks on the lounge wall.
"Then perhaps instead of spending your time learning dark magic, you should learn the basics" Istronov retorted in a somewhat strict tone, alerting Harry to the fact that his mentor wasn't overly enthusiastic of his new skill set.
"Or perhaps next time aim at something other than a wall, especially when it's snowing" Istronov again spoke, this time in a much more cheery tone.
"Good idea" Harry replied a little stiffly, not wanting to comment on his mentors first words.
"Anyway I better get back, I have a meeting with Silas at the Delacours shortly" Istronov informed as he made his way to the front door.
"Send my best to them all" Harry said politely as Istronov simple waved his hand as he exited through the front door and disappeared with a crack.
Harry turned around and made his way outside through the newly replaced back door, ready to resume his training, when he heard yet another crack.
"Have you forgotten something..." Harry drawled as he stepped back into the cottage, coming to an abrupt halt as the long silky silver hair of Gabrielle stopped him in his tracks.
"Gabrielle, what are you doing?" he called out in surprise before she dropped her bag to the floor and had raced across the room, jumping excitedly into his arms, a look of shock on his face.
"I've missed you so much" She proclaimed as she pulled him closer into her, allowing him to take in the scent of her long flowing hair, his shock melting away like butter as he too pulled her tighter into himself, their bond causing a feeling of pure relaxation to overcome him.
"I've missed you too, but you shouldn't be here" He replied strongly, refusing to give in to the temptation of simply letting her stay, despite the dangers.
"Not you too, that's all I've heard lately" she moaned in reply as she released Harry and took a seat.
"You can't go to see Harry, he's busy, he's working, it's not a good idea, eugh, I'm sick of it, why won't anybody just tell me what's really going on" She complained, causing a stab of guilt to hit Harry, knowing that it was partly his decision to keep her away, despite it being for her own safety.
"And they wonder why I sneak away like this" She finished with a sly grin on her face.
"Wait, they don't know your here...Wait, how did you even know where here was, I thought my location was a secret" Harry asked a little surprised, having expected Silas to have kept his location hidden from everyone.
"It is, but that doesn't stop me listening to their conversations. All I had to do was wait until Istronov came back and apparate here at the same time, nobody will have even heard me leave" She replied with a large grin on her face, impressed with her own plans success.
"I've been really missing you too Gabrielle" Harry started as he sat down next to his bond mate, taking her cheek in his palm and looking intently into her silver-emerald eyes.
"But it's really not safe here, that's why they didn't tell you why you couldn't come, because we knew it would only make you want to come more" He continued with a sorrowful look on his face.
"But how is it not safe? I thought Silas was leading the Aurors away from you, it will take them ages to finally find this place and by then we will be gone..." She began debating but stopped as Harry retracted his hand and nodded his dropped head left and right.
"It's not working, they have found a way to track me really quickly, and they will most likely be here in a day or two, that's why I needed you to stay away, I don't want you getting dragged into this if they manage to find me" Harry explained, finally allowing Gabrielle to understand his decisions.
"But I overheard Silas telling my father that this place was really safe..."
"He's bluffing" Harry added, cutting Gabrielle off before continuing.
"It's not safe here, you need to go Gabs" Harry asked pleadingly, a look of deep sorrow in his tired eyes.
"But I've been training, I can take care of myself" She complained in defiance.
"Please Gabrielle, For me" He ended somewhat sternly, unwilling to back down on the subject, however a crack emanating from outside give him hope that Istronov had come to collect Gabrielle.
"Oh great, they must have found out I came here" Gabrielle moaned out before the sound of another crack pierced the night.
"Perhaps Silas came too..." Harry began, but as a third and fourth crack was heard, a feeling of terror filling his stomach.
Ministry of Magic – 20 minutes earlier in the meeting room
"Where is he Alastor, he should have been here 20 minutes ago!" Dumbledore moaned from the helm of a large wooden rectangular table, a number of Aurors seated anxiously around it, many of them twiddling their wands in the hands.
"He'll be here, I'm sure of it" Moody offered but with little evidence to back him up.
"Perhaps your little spy isn't what you hoped he would be" The voice of one of the Aurors called out.
"My 'little spy' has proven himself far more useful than you Cavendish, and besides, he has as much reason to want Potter captured as anyone" Moody trailed off, catching the intrigue of Dumbledore who until now had heard very little about the new member of the Auror team.
"If you don't mind me asking Alastor, what may that reason be" Dumbledore asked somewhat sceptically, his eyes glancing over his half moon spectacles, curious about the reasoning for the seemingly unwavering loyalty of his newest employee.
"His name is Jake Coulson; His father was a veela and his mother a witch who for many years had posed as a veela, when Jake was born they found out that he was not pure veela but rather a near squib wizard. Jake and his mother were cast out due to her deceit, causing him to grow up resenting his part Veelan heritage" Moody Explained to the group before him.
"Very interesting, it seems he and I share a common grievance, though I don't recall his name having passed through Hogwarts" Dumbledore added.
"Well as an extremely weak wizard, his powers were never really classified as earning him a place at a wizarding school, however his self taught ability of morphing into an animagus are quite exceptional" Moody added with a smug grin on his face as the sound of a crow call were heard approaching from the distance.
"Good news has arrived I hope" Dumbledore replied in a stern voice to the grin on moody's face as the crow entered the room, hovering several feet above the ground before morphing into a rather frail and plain looking man with jet black hair and a scraggly overcoat.
"Good Morning Jake" Dumbledore offered politely to the man standing just to the right of Moody, causing a look of surprise on the face of the rather dull looking newcomer at the Minister of Magic knowing his name.
"G..g..good morning sir" Jake spat out nervously, causing a few of the Aurors around the room to roll their eyes at the apparent gormlessness of the man standing beside their leader.
"What news do you bring Coulson" Moody asked hastily, wanting to get the awkward situation over with as quickly as possible.
"They have taken the boy to a town on the outskirts of Murat; He's staying in a small cottage with no guard and very little defensive magic in place. They think that because they are in a wizarding town we won't think to look there" Jake explained somewhat confidently, although avoiding eye contact with the Minister.
"Very good, we shall act accordingly" Dumbledore boasted happily as he kicked away his heavy wooden chair with the back of his legs and stood to his full height.
"Alastor, Mobilise your men and make your way to Murat, however be cautious, you will be on French soil so cannot afford to get caught in the act" Dumbledore ordered.
"Yes Sir" Moody replied as the rest of the rooms occupants got to their feet, all now receiving orders from their leader before exiting the room.
"Don't let him slip away Alastor, I'm counting on you" Dumbledore said a little threateningly as Moody reached the threshold of the door.
"Yes Sir" Moody again replied as a droplet of sweat dropped down the side of his face at the thought of the task he was about to undertake.
Within minutes, 10 Aurors including Moody and Jake stood ready on the outskirts of Murat, with wands brandished tightly in their palms and an unwavering confidence in their eyes, all but one.
"Perhaps I should sit this one out" Jake squeaked out quietly to moody, knowing his inability to cast spells would place him at a dire disadvantage.
"I think that's a good idea Coulson, get yourself back to the ministry, we should be back soon...I hope" Moody replied, his last words not going un-noticed by the now less confident looking Aurors around him.
As Jake morphed into his crow form and quickly fled the oncoming conflict, Moody gathered his men into a small circle, assigning jobs to each member of his team.
"Zane, as you're the best here with disabling charms, you and I will lower the barriers around the perimeter of the cottage. The rest of you will break into two teams, one will enter through the back, and one will take on the direct assault, to be joined by myself and Zane" Moody began, gaining curt nods from his men.
"When I join you, we will all push as one quickly and quietly, we don't want to cause an international incident after all" Moody finished as he began raising his wand, eager to begin, not expecting any questions.
"What if he resists sir, how should we proceed" One of the men asked, to the affirming nods of his counterparts.
"We are here to capture only, not kill. If he attacks we do what we can to subdue him, even if that means causing Harm. But be warned, Potter has an aptitude for battle, do not take him lightly, and if he manages to apparate away, follow his trail like I taught you all" Moody finished sternly, before nodding upwards, signalling for him men to take their positions.
After only a number of seconds, Zane and Moody had managed to break through the insubstantial barriers placed around the cottage.
"That was too easy" Moody contemplated to himself under his breath, but it was too late to turn back now.
"Let's go" He said forcefully as the duo apparated, and with a crack disappeared before reappearing in front of the cottage, followed by four more piercing cracks one after the other.
As Harry turned to the sound of multiple apparitions, he failed to notice the four men forcing their way through the line of snow coated leylandii bushes that cordoned off the garden from the street to its side.
Small frostings of snow landed on the tips of the Aurors wands, trained with unblinking eyes on the cottage before them as they take small quiet footsteps towards the front door.
"Stay back" Harry whispered as he peered his head around one of the crumbling walls guarding him from sight of the approaching men, his wand trained just as threateningly towards the front of the property in anticipation of what he feared may have found him.
It was as thought time had stopped for a number of seconds, as Harrys right eye and moody's mechanical one caught sight of one another, their eyes transfixed and unblinking on one another as Harrys heart began to race, thumping dangerously in his chest, but he couldn't help but notice what he was sure was a look of sorrow and regret in the usually twirling eye of his former teacher, however he was quickly brought back to reality and Gabrielle snatched at his hand.
"Get him" A voice bellowed out as Gabrielle yanked Harry behind the wall to an old and rickety looking staircase to the loft and a blinding orange spell crashed into the back door, sending the newly restored wood flying across the lounge in a thousand pieces.
"Now do you see why I didn't want you to come here..." Harry moaned more than asked as the two bobbed back and forward trying to determine how dire their situation was.
As Harry bobbed his head around the corner once more, he again caught sight of Moody, however this time his mechanical eye was full of determination as he raised his wand.
"GET DOWN" Harry yelled, dragging Gabrielle to the floor as a jet of white light blasted through the brick walls where their heads had just been.
"I don't understand, how did they find us?" Gabrielle asked in panic, her chest rising and falling quicker than Harry had ever seen.
"I don't know, and I don't think we should stick around to find out" He said with a hint of sarcasm as he reluctantly pulled her up the creaky old staircase into the darkness of the loft space.
"You need to calm down Gabrielle, psstppkk, I won't let them get you I promise" he spat through mouthfuls of cobwebs as they wrapped around his head as though they too were trying to capture him.
"Don't worry I'm not worried, I'm just furious" She replied in a tone Harry had never heard from his bond mate before, unable to see her through the darkness to notice her eyes darkening several shades as her body began to shake in fury.
"Let fight them" She proclaimed more than asked.
"Let's what?" He asked, a little shocked at her sudden outburst of courage.
"I'm sick of them ruining our lives, let's take the fight to them for once" she said as she began to step forwards back towards the staircase.
"There's too many, we have to go, now!" he replied defiantly as he grabbed her hand, the sounds of several footsteps heard trenching up the rickety stairs as they disappeared with a crack.
"Follow them, quickly!" Moody barked out as each Auror followed the next with a crack, all appearing in a scarcely lit narrow street, the figures of Harry and Gabrielle racing down the street as the men called out.
"Stop potter" One of the men called out as they perused the two teens.
"Yes, I'm sure that will work you moron" Moody replied as he appeared with a crack beside them.
"I know this street, they can't go far" He added as he hobbled forwards with his men spread across the entirety of the narrow path.
For what seemed like hours but was in truth only several minutes, Harry and Gabrielle continued to run, scarcely escaping capture and injury on a number of occasions as they continuously apparated away, unable to shake their pursuers, until finally they stopped in an abandoned old barn.
They sky was as black as night itself, projecting a sheet of near darkness over the area they stood on, the rain cascading down upon them through the collapsed roof of the barn in which they had sought refuge.
As the rain doused them and their faces streaked with water, Gabrielle took Harrys cold hands and looked him in the eye.
"This isn't working Harry, we can't keep running away like this, we need to stand and fight" She said with a solemn tone, knowing it was the last thing her bond mate wanted.
"I know giggles, I know" He said with a hint of a smile as he pulled his hand from hers and placed in on her face, stroking her sodden hair out of her eyes before planting a small kiss on her forehead.
"Ready to show me what you've learnt?" He asked a little menacingly as took a step backwards and checked his surroundings for his pursuers.
"You have no idea" She said happily as she pulled her wand from her pocket.
As Harry followed suit and extracted his new wand, Gabrielle caught sight of Harrys hair beginning to rise as though a wind was emanating from the floor around him, however as she opened her lips to ask what was happening, the sound of Moody's voice echoed through the endless downpour of their surroundings.
"I've had enough of this, finish it now" Moody barked to his men as they began to form a barrier around the dilapidated old barn, each of them taking slow and steady steps towards the building, their feet squelching on the sodden ground beneath them.
"What's the plan?" Gabrielle asked simply as Harry pulled his head away from a crack in the wall, peeking out at the onslaught that was heading slowly towards him.
'This is the only chance I'm going to get to use my plan, the only way to put an end to this' Harry thought to himself with determination framing his face and his new wand gripped tightly in his balled fist.
"Harry?" Gabrielle asked as loudly as she dared, snapping him out of his daze.
"Hey, what's up?" He asked loudly without thinking, forgetting his surroundings.
"Well we're about to get attacked and I was hoping you had a plan, but if your too busy dreaming about me that's fine too I guess" She replied, finishing with a playful smirk.
"Well they are trying to surround us, but I don't think they will attack to kill, they want me captured too badly for that, although I'm sure by now they will be a little frustrated" He replied without any reciprocation of humour, wiping the rain from his eyes.
"We will take one side of the barn each, using the protection of the walls to defend ourlesves, ill put up a little barrier spell to help, but I'm not sure how long we can hold them all off" He continued, motioning towards a thick wall with ample view of all entrances to the south of the barn.
'I'm sure with my new set of spells I could take these guys on, but I can't let Gabrielle know my plan or she'll do something crazy, I need to protect her until the time is right' He thought to himself worriedly as he lifted his wand to begin adding defensive spells to the building, before being interrupted by a streak of silver hair flying past his face.
"Expulso!" Gabrielle called out strongly and confidently as a haze of blue light shot towards one of the oncoming Aurors that had nearly made his way to the side of the building, managing to dive head first into a puddle of mud as the spell struck the sodden ground, producing an immense explosion that shook the ground beneath them.
"What the hell" Harry blurted out with wide eyes as he watched Gabrielle unleash a flurry of spells at their aggressors, each of them scarcely able to pounce out of the way before being struck.
'Perhaps it's the Aurors I should be defending' He thought to himself, letting out a small but pride filled chuckle before it quickly dropped again, noticing a drastic change in his bond mate from only moments ago.
Her presence alone seemed to be emanating a glow of power around her as her hair floated as though air was rising from the earth itself.
"Care to join in?" She asked with a smile as she turned around, allowing Harry to notice her eyes, her usually shining emerald specked silver eyes that were now several shades darker, allowing Harry to understand what had happened, having seem these changes in himself on more than one occasion.
He replied with a simple nod before raising his wand and pacing over to a wall, peeking out and attacking the ducking and diving Aurors, many of whom were scurrying around trying to stay upright as they deflected and dodged on the slippery surface.
'If I don't at least put up a bit of a fight, Gabrielle and Moody are both going to know something's not right' He thought to himself as he took aim and fired a small barrage of spells.
"Reducto" Gabrielle shouted out before an explosion was heard close by, swiftly followed by screams of agony.
"My leg, my leg" One of the Aurors screamed out, followed by the sound of what appeared to Harry to be the man being dragged away.
He peered out of one of the empty windows to the sight of a burly and mud stained man clutching at his left leg, or what was left of it as blood spurted from the bone pierced flesh.
Gabrielle seemed to stop for a second at hearing the scream, a feeling of guilt overcoming her.
'No, this is their fault, they are the ones trying to take us away' She convinced herself before once again taking aim.
'I can't let her carry on like this, if I don't stop her she's going to kill them all' Harry thought worriedly as he moved across the room, concealing his actions from his bond mate, raising his wand towards her and quietly uttering a spell.
"Infirimus"
He watched as a gas like substance moved towards Gabrielle before moulding itself around her and disappearing as fast as it had come.
'Perhaps this weakening spell will prevent her doing anymore permanent damage' He thought hopefully as the door behind him slammed open.
With eyes wide and before he had a chance to react, Harry was slammed to the floor, his wand falling from his hand several feet behind him.
"Harry No!" Gabrielle called out as she turned to help but was too taken by surprise as Aurors entered the building to her side, barely able to deflect and attack, a number of spells being blasted towards her before finally being struck, sending her flying into the brick wall behind her, crumbling into a fragile heap on the floor, gasping for breath.
'What have I done' Harry thought fearfully as he tried to free himself but to no avail as a third Auror entered the door across from him, jumping into action and pinning his arms down above his head.
"Bind him quickly you idiot" One of the men shouted to the other, unaware of the fire that had sparked in the boy beneath them.
Harry tilted his darkening eyes upward to see two Aurors towering over Gabrielle, one raising his wand as the other swung his hand across his side and back, striking Gabrielle across the face, leaving a gash on her cheek.
A Rage like never before erupted in Harry at the sight of his bond-mate being attacked, his stomach lurching and his heart beating furiously at his chest as the air in the roofless building began to circle around creating a cyclone of leaves and water, leaving a circle of dryness around them like the eye of a storm.
"Get off me" Harry said with a dark and threatening voice, the eyes of his captors filling with fear allowing him to partially free right wrist.
With a swipe of his hand, the three men atop him were brushed to the side by the encircling wind, crashing into a wooden stable divider.
As he got to his feet the two men standing above the crumpled Gabrielle turned, taking aim at Harry, but it was too late as a ball of mist blue light struck one of the men, disappearing into his body as a haze of the same mist blue appearance began encasing him, causing his body to stiffen and straighten despite his efforts to resist.
The now lone Auror could only watch in horror as his colleagues bones seemed to compress and crush him beneath the veil of blue light, Harrys wand twisting in his fingers as the helpless man cried out in pain, his body continuing to progress upwards as his feet left solid ground and his body was risen through what was once a roof, allowing the remaining Aurors including Moody to witness the spectacle.
"Nobody touches my Gabrielle" Harry said violently through gritted teeth before he slashed his wand across his body, forcing the helpless auror to be thrown from his position in the air into the buildings walls themselves, the sounds snapping bones all that could be heard through the night as the lifeless mangled corpse of the former Auror fell to the ground like rubble.
Cracks of thunder pierced the night, seeming to be produced by the blinded anger of Harry, the lone auror stood shaking, staring at the lifeless pile on the floor before him, unaware of the wand of Gabrielle that was now trained on him.
"Reducto" She cried out in a pained tone, her weakened magical abilities merely sending the man flying several feet backwards, allowing him to escape to his remaining colleagues.
A few minutes passed, the 5 remaining Aurors discussing what had just transpired.
"We can't let this continue, I'll put an end to this now" Moody grunted as he pulled his wand away from the leg of the Auror struck by Gabrielle, his leg now partially healed thanks to Moody's spell work.
"Perkins, take him back to get treatment, and send the rest of the team here, I'm not losing any more men tonight" Moody ordered, the man to his left squatting down the pick his fallen friend up before apparating.
Harry crossed over to Gabrielle as fast as he could, the feeling or guilt tearing at his chest.
"Gabrielle, are you ok?" He asked apologetically, despite her ignorance to the spell he had cast on her.
"I'll be fine, honest" She replied with a weak and tired smile as he helped her to her feet before raising his wand to her cheek and running it along her cut, her injury ebbing away like dust to leave only her unblemished rosy cheeks remaining.
"Thanks" She said sweetly before jumping into her bond-mate's arms, tears rolling down her cheek.
"This is why you shouldn't have come; I can't risk you getting hurt, I just can't bare it" He said sadly, his fists balling slightly as his mind raced with the images of her being struck.
"I'm not leaving you Harry, we will end this together" She replied defiantly as she took a step backwards and looked at him pointedly.
As the two gazed into one another's eyes, loud cracks began to fill the night, one after another as thought it were an endless thunder to accompany the continuing downpour.
"We will fight together until the end, no matter what" She said happily as she stepped forward once more, sharing a kiss as the sound of Moody's orders to attack were heard, followed by the splashing sound of countless footsteps.
"There's only one way to win this fight Gabrielle" Harry said as he kissed her on the forehead, taking her cheeks in his palms.
"I have to do it alone" He added as he dropped his hands to his pocket and took a few steps backwards, withdrawing his wand.
"I love you Gabrielle" He said as he raised his wand towards her, her eyes opening wide in disbelief.
"Wait Harry please..." Was all that she could reply as Harry called out his spell, the Doors to the building being kicked asunder as hordes of Aurors began to enter the barn.
"Apprio" Harry muttered, focusing all of his effort to correctly cast the spell as a yellow light soared towards Gabrielle, striking her in the chest as the words leaving her mouth ceased, disappearing with a crack as Aurors began piling into the Barn.
Harry slung his wand around his head like a whip, causing an encasement of energy to fall over him like curtains, blocking a barrage of spells and allowing him to extract his second wand.
With a flick of his wrist, the shield fell and his instinctual magic took control, blocking and casting spells with alternate wands as he ducked and dove to avoid the onslaught.
The Aurors began to fall one by one to Harrys might, until their leader finally appeared, stamping his cane like wand into the earth, causing a ripple of power to surge through the ground, sending all in a near vicinity to lose their balance.
With the presence of their leader spurring them on, the Aurors began firing spells wildly, with Harry unable to defend himself from the barrage, a number of spells hitting their mark as he fell to the ground, clutching at his ribs.
Moody stepped forward as the rest of his team encircled the fallen boy before them.
"It's over boy, give up" Moody barked angrily, his mechanical eye taking note of the crumpled form of his former colleague only meters behind Harry.
"Never" Harry grunted back through gritted teeth, getting to one knee as he outstretched both arms out to his side, one wand forming a bubble like barrier around him and the other fiery band of light towards Moody who countered with his own.
'Incredible' Moody thought to himself as his feet began to sink into the ground at the power of holding back Harry spell, despite maintaining the shield at his rear.
With a deafening roar, the spells exploded, sending Harry flying backwards into the mud.
'About time' He thought to himself as he pulled himself up from the dirt onto his hands and knees, his heart beating wildly in his chest.
'I hope this works' He thought wishfully as he placed his new wand on the floor beneath him and with his old one, once again cast the spell, a blinding yellow light and a piercing crack filling the sky and blinding the Aurors around him as he exhausted the last of his energy, his new wand now no longer beneath him.
As the Aurors paced forwards towards him he tried to fight back, managing to throw a couple of the oncoming men aside with his wandless magic, however to no avail as they retaliated, casting an onslaught or purple spells towards him, his world turning black as he fell unconscious, his body bloody and beaten on the flooded ground.
"Cuff him and get him back to the Ministry" Moody ordered as he limped forwards to stand over his fallen former student.
"Yes Sir" The men replied as Harry was dragged by his arms out of the building and with a crack, disappeared in the custody of the Aurors.
Dumbledore
Dumbledore sat upon his chair in his office, reading over paperwork as he sipped at a large glass of amber liquid, eagerly awaiting news of the Aurors mission.
Without warning, the door was swung open as though he was being attacked, followed by the red faced and panting form of a man he knew as Riddley.
"We've done it Sir, we've caught him" The man choked out between breaths.
"Excellent" Dumbledore cheered jubilantly as he rose from his seat with a new lease of energy.
"Sir, we lost Finneas, he was..." The man began explaining in a solemn tone before being interrupted.
"Have Harry taken to the interrogation rooms, and contact the Daily Prophet, We should be in time to make the morning edition, I want the veelas knowing that they have failed" Dumbledore gloated happily, taking no interest in the loss of the Auror.
"Yes...Sir" Riddley replied in an unfavourable tone as he left, disappointed in how little is minister cared for his own Aurors.
'Finally, we will be able to remove the bond and ensure the prophecy in fulfilled' Dumbledore mused to himself as he drained the remaining liquid from his goblet.
Army of truth –6 hours earlier
Despite their desire to train as part of the Army of Truth, Fred and George took little to no interest in their academic studies, deciding rather to wander the corridors of their historic school, quietly plotting how they could cause upset for their least favourite teachers.
"Perhaps some Fireworks would work" Fred began as they paced down the transfiguration courtyard, the sun beaming onto their freckled faces through the cloister windows, the stone gargoyle peering down at them disapprovingly.
"I like where you're going with this..." George replied before coming to a halt beside his twin, of whose finger was outstretched, indicating for his twin to be quiet.
"Hear that?" Fred asked in a whisper as the slowly crept towards the window of McGonagall's classroom, of who was pacing vigorously as she spoke to somebody the twins were unable to see through the stained cloudy windows.
"He wants the prophecy to be fulfilled and assumes the students will know how to contact potter" She said in what appeared to the twins to be a defensive tone, followed by the chipper giggle they knew could only belong to one person.
"Well I believe the only way to find out is to ask don't you, perhaps some veritaserum will loosen their tongues" Umbridge replied threateningly, as though accusing Minerva of not trying.
"My students do not lie, Delores." McGonagall replied angrily as her footsteps came closer to the large wooden doors.
"We shall see. Perhaps once the students reveal the truth we can locate Mr Potter and...Persuade him...to fulfil his duty" Delores replied before the clunks of her heels were too heard nearing the door, as Fred and George raced on their tiptoes down the hall and towards their dorm.
Despite the overwhelming desire to blurt out their gossip to every student they passed, the twins managed to wait until their AOT meeting later that evening before supper, ensuring that they arrived extra early so that they could tell their friends the news.
As they entered the Room of Requirement, they were surprised to see Hermione, Ginny and Neville already inside.
"Merlins beard, do you guys live in here or something" Fred moaned, thinking that they would be the first to arrive.
"Of course not, but somebody has to plan the lessons, besides, your here far earlier than usual too" Hermione retorted, gaining a sly grin from the twins.
"What have you done now?" Ginny moaned with rolled eyes, knowing how mischievous her brothers were.
"It's not what we've done, but rather what Dumbledore and Umbridge want done" George replied critically, the grin on his face growing.
"Oh spit it out will you" Ginny moaned as the others all turned inquisitively to the approaching twins.
"Well, thanks to a little detective work..."
"You mean skulking around as you missed classes" Ginny intervened, only gaining a glare from her brothers.
"As we were saying, thanks to our fantastic Detective skills, we overhead McGonagall and Umbridge talking about Dumbledore and Harry" Fred continued.
"Harry, what about him?" Hermione asked a little too quickly.
"Well apparently Dumbledore thinks that some of us here will know where Harry is" Fred replied.
"Something about a prophecy that he need to fulfil, and we can help them find Harry so he can do it" George added.
"That's strange, I overheard Malfoy talking about a prophecy too" came the calming tone that belonged to Luna Lovegood as she drifted into the room.
"What did you hear?" Ginny asked pointedly, taking more of an interest since the mention of a prophecy.
"Oh not much, he was just telling his friends about his father going to get a prophecy, and that he didn't know why it was so important that they had to get into the ministry tonight to get it" She replied innocently.
"Guys, he's a death eater, we have to go!" Neville claimed confidently.
"Don't be silly Neville, it's far too risky, besides we don't even know what really going on" Hermione retorted strongly, squashing the idea before it could take hold.
"Then what the whole point of this, I thought the point of this group was to put a stop to the death eaters, to make a difference" Neville complained to the mixed looks of both agreement and scepticism on the faces around him.
"I'm sorry Neville but it's just too risks, besides, we are nowhere near finishing training yet" Hermione replied a little apologetically, knowing how desperately Neville wanted to fight back at the Death Eaters
"I'll meet you in the Great hall for supper" Ginny called as she rushed towards the door of the room.
"But what about training" Hermione called out, surprised at Ginny electively missing out on practicing her spell work.
"Sorry, but there's something I need to do" Ginny replied before the door shut behind her and she rushed to her dorm, knowing that she needed to contact her mother and the order about the rumoured infiltration of the ministry.
Once their training was complete, the growing group of students slumped their way to the Great Hall for their evening meal, several of who were clutching at gashes and bruised over their bodies in a futile attempt to hide their battle scars.
As they entered, it was to the strange sound of near silence, only the gentle buzz of mumbled whispers, everybody's heads deled deep into the daily prophet on the table before them.
"What's going on" Neville said as they looked around the curious room before noticing Ginny beckoning them all over.
As they took their seats they instantly understood the strangeness of their surrounding as they looked down at the bold black writing adorning the top of the newspaper.
'Harry Potter captured'
Hermione and Neville's faces turned white as snow as they continued to read.
"We have to do something" Hermione said in a monotone voice, her eyes fixed upon the newspaper despite no longer reading it.
"Oh so now you want to go" Neville moaned, a poor attempt at humour, quickly dismissed by Hermione.
"Don't be ridiculous, that was just Deatheaters, but this is Harry we're talking about, THIS is exactly what the point of the AOT is about, finding the truth" Hermione scathed.
"It gets worse" Ginny added a little uncomfortably.
"How can it get worse?" Fred asked as his brother rammed a couple of dumplings in his mouth.
"I told Mum about what you two and Luna heard, her and the Aurors are heading to the ministry tonight, and with Harry there, who knows what she might end up doing, after all, she still wants revenge for what happened to Ron" Ginny said solemnly, Rons name causing a look of pain to cross over Hermione's face.
"Oh no, so are we in agreement, we all go tonight, and finally find out what on earth is going on and hopefully Prevent Molly from murdering Harry" She asked to the AOT members around her.
"Agreed" Came the reply of several voices, including Luna as she approached from the Ravenclaw table
20 minutes later, a small group of students stood congregated within the corridors of the transfiguration courtyard, all with wands in hand, looking around as though they were on a covert mission within Hogwarts itself.
"So how do you suppose we get to the Ministry, I think we might have jumped the gun a little" Neville moaned dejectedly as Hermione swung around a small bag from her back, twisted a toggle and pulled out a newspaper sized piece of parchment.
"Is that what I think it is?" George began.
"How did you get it?" Fred added with scouring eyes, those around them seemingly confused by the item.
"It was in Harry's trunk of course, I got it out before they came and emptied it" she replied nonchalantly as she unfurled it and spoke the secret words.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good" She said clearly but quietly.
"What a strange item" Luna added as the map came to life, each room of the castle seeming to bleed onto the page as it came to life.
"Perfect" Hermione said as she swung her bag back around her back and began walking down the hallway with her nose in the parchment, completely forgetting the AOT she had left behind.
"Uhm, Hermione" Neville said a confused tone.
"Oh sorry guys" she replied as her head snapped up, realising her mistake.
"Are we allowed to join or is this a one woman mission?" Ginny mocked.
"Sorry, I was concentrating on the map" Hermione added as she stepped back towards her friends and lowered the parchment so that they could see it.
"Here" she exclaimed as she pointed to a spot of the map.
"Are you mad, that's Umbridges office, how is she going to help?" Neville said in a panicky tone.
"Not her silly, we're going to use her fireplace to teleport...see, she's nowhere in sight, she will never know..."
"She always knows, but I think it's brilliant" George interrupted.
After a brief eye roll aimed at her read headed friend, Hermione said the words to close the map and placed it back in her bag.
The group of six stealthily made their way towards the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom, being careful to avoid contact with anyone, all grateful that it was late in the evening and most students were now winding down in their dorms.
After a few minutes of silently creeping through the corridors, they finally found themselves at the door or Umbridges classroom; however as her hand touched against the cold metal of the door handle, Hermione mentally berated herself for not keeping a check on the map.
A cold and emotionless voice called out that sent shivers down the spines of the entire group.
"And what may I ask, do you think you are doing" Snape called out as he rounded the corner to see a group of 6 students about to enter a classroom after hours, all looking somewhat suspicious, especially the already beetroot red face of Neville.
"Damn it" Fred muttered through half closed lips as Hermione quickly thought of a lie to try and appease the potions professor as he stepped closer, his suspicious eyes locked on the trembling form of Neville.
"We were hoping to go through some of our homework with Miss Umbridge" She replied curtly, gaining a lowered brow look.
"But I didn't bring any with me" Luna added, causing Hermione's mouth to open wide in astonishment and Ginny to slap her forehead with her palm is disbelief at her friends innocent ignorance.
Snape's eyes rolled to the back of his head, having even himself expected a far more professional lie that he received, before demanding that they follow him to his office.
Once they had formed a rather defeated looking line inside the potions dungeon, snape stepped towards a small cupboard at the side of the room.
"So who is going to tell me what you were really planning to do this evening" He asked as he peered at each of the defendants.
"Honestly sir, we just wanted help" Fred replied in an unconvincing tone.
Snape stared for a few more seconds before shaking his head.
"Very well, if you are to refuse me the truth, in the interest of school safety I will have to resort to more drastic measures" Snape started.
"After all, trouble and danger has a way of following you around doesn't it miss granger" He finished, his eyes pointedly set on Hermione, although something seemed different about the way he was looking.
Snape entered the cupboard next to him and moments later withdrew with a small hourglass shaped green bottle with a golden cap.
"Perhaps a little veritaserum will loosen your tongues" he threatened, his eyes on Neville, the most vulnerable in the room to his pressure.
Hermione pursed her lips tighter, refusing to give up the information, knowing that her potions teacher would not really go to such extreme lengths to extract the information, however as he uncorked the bottle and passed it to a squirming and unwilling Neville, her eyes opened wide.
"Two drops, drink!" Snape ordered in a dark tone as Neville raised his quivering hand towards his face.
'Oh god, if he doesn't stop shaking he'll end up drinking the whole bottle' Hermione thought as she gritted her teeth slightly in annoyance before stepping forwards slightly.
"Fine, I'll tell you" she exclaimed in a defiant tone, followed by the swift "Oh thank god" from Neville as he quickly passed the bottle back to Snape.
"Well..." Snape droned as he looked questioningly at Hermione.
"Harrys in trouble, we're going to help him" she blurted out in a defiant tone.
For several seconds Snape stood silent, an aghast look upon his oily face, only broken as the shuffling of footsteps broke his daze.
"Miss Granger, are you telling me that you believe that Mr Potter is in trouble, you do realise he is in the custody of the Ministry..."
"Yes I do" Hermione again blurted out, cutting off the man before her as she took as step forward.
"Harry is innocent! The just want to turn him into some sort of puppet not to mention the Death ea..." Hermione continued before being elbowed in the side as an indicator to shut up; however Snape was well aware of how she was to finish her sentence.
"I'm surprised that with the nerve you have, you didn't decide to use my own fireplace to use as teleportation, after all...mine is ready to use and I do have other places to be" Snape replied as he raised his thick black eyebrows pointedly.
"D...Do you mean..." George stuttered in disbelief.
"You have 5 minutes before I return, if you are still here when I return I will have you all expelled, now go" He berated flicking his head slightly in the direction of his office.
With mouths wide open, all but Hermione turned and rushed towards Snapes office and the offer of a lifetime, somewhat terrified of what might happen if the didn't.
"But why Sir" Hermione asked with a shaky voice, unable to comprehend her potions professors actions.
"Potter may be snivelling fool, but he deserves the chance to prove his innocence" Snape began to reply as he outstretched his hand, offering the small vial that he had only minutes earlier been threatening her with.
"But..."
"For Potter when the time comes, you will know when Granger, now go before I change my mind" Snape finished in what Hermione was sure was a soft and caring tone, a small tear forming in her eye at the belief that even the most feared professor at Hogwarts had faith in her best friend.
After several moments of trying to compose herself, Hermione made her way to the office where her friends awaited her, and in only a few moments had disappeared without a trace.
Ministry of Magic
"Fine work Alastor, you are to be commended except for one small detail..."
"Thank you Sir, I believe we all did..." Moody replied in front of his bruised and bloodied men before being cut off by a furious faced Dumbledore.
"Where is the girl!?" Dumbledore bellowed as he looked through a misty vale towards the lone figure of Harry, magically bound to a wooden chair.
At the uncomfortable position their leader was placed in, the men around Moody limped from the room as Alastor cleared his throat"
"We aren't sure Albus, we place anti-apparition spells around the perimeter in which Potter and Miss Delacour were, they were surrounded with no way to escape, but when we managed to get inside she was gone.
"Her time will come Alastor" Dumbledore replied in a much calmer tone this time, his face seeming to relax.
"Potter managed to break through my own anti-apparition spells once before, but I refuse to believe a Veela like her has the same abilities. There must be device they used to teleport her away, I guess we will simply have to wait for Mr Potter to explain is to us" He finished with a malice grin.