Sorry for the wait. Hope everyone had a good Easter.
Chapter 24: Of Love and War
"I lost all of them?" Voldemort hissed, his voice holding a deadly tinge. Parkinson Sr. was on one knee in front of him, cowering in fear. He had just gotten the news that Pansy and eighteen others were thrown into Azkaban. "How did this happen?" Voldemort asked, turning back around to look out the window of the library into the back gardens.
"They poisoned the Weasley girl's drink during lunch. When that was discovered, Potter called for a check of every student for the Dark Mark," he said quickly, his voice wavering.
"Is she dead?" Voldemort asked, knowing most likely what the answer was, and it did not make him happy.
"No," was all Parkinson said before he was on the ground, screaming in intense pain. After what seemed like an eternity, although it was only a minute, the spell dropped. Parkinson slowly got back to one knee, panting and shivering from the aftershocks of the curse.
"Who gave them this stupid idea?" he asked, looking around the room at the few Death Eaters in the room with him. One of them took a step forward.
"I believe I can answer that question, my lord," Draco said, bowing. Voldemort sneered but motioned his hand for him to continue. "I found them together in the dungeons, planning on how to get some recruits from the students. They came up with the idea of needing to kill one of the Heirs," he said, his Occlumency at max, his facial expression neutral. "I told them their chances were slim to none to pull such a job, but they would not listen." This was their story. Before the Aurors arrived, Luna modified all of their memories, making them think Draco tried to stop them and didn't give them the poison.
"They attempted it. When Weasley drank the poison, Potter had her in the hospital wing in twenty seconds also giving the nurse what poison it was. After that, you know the rest," he said, bowing again before stepping back into the row of Death Eaters.
Voldemort was more than angry. He was lucky Draco did not go with this plan, or he would be entirely without spies in Hogwarts. He spun quickly and summoned Draco bodily to him. Catching the younger man by the throat and instantly threw himself into his mind. He saw Draco appear in the dungeon room, listening to their idea and telling them not to. He saw the attempt in the Great Hall and how they all curse Potter and ran. He pulled out of Draco's mind and dropped him onto the floor.
"At least Draco does not lie to me and is faithful. You may leave Draco," he said, turning back to the others. Draco bowed and quickly made his exit. Walking down the hallway, he heard the screams of the others, who were getting punished for being incompetent. Once again, he thanked Harry's teachings, for without that hidden redirecting of memories with his Occlumency, the Dark Lord would surely have killed him.
ooOooOoo
"You ready for this Neville?" Harry asked, smiling at his friend, who was fidgeting in front of a mirror. It had only been a couple days since term ended and the holidays began. Neville turned to him and gave him a weak smile.
"I love her Harry," he said, turning back to the mirror. "I have never been more sure of anything in my life." He was wearing deep crimson robes, outlined in gold with a golden phoenix in flight over his heart. His long brown hair was tied back behind his head, and he had the Sword of Gryffindor hanging at his side and the Ring of Gryffindor on his hand. Harry himself was wearing emerald green and silver robes with the Ring of Slytherin on his hand.
"I can see that. It's almost time." They walked out of the room and into the small muggle church of Godric's Hollow. Neville and Luna wanted a small wedding, with only their family and a few friends. They would announce it when school reconvened of course. They walked in to see Minister Bones smiling from the front of the church. As Minister of Magic, she was asked to preside over the wedding. In the first two rows were all the Weasleys minus Ginny and including a slightly rounded Fleur, Remus and an even rounder Tonks, Hermione, Susan, and Lisa. Mrs. Longbottom was also there, tears of happiness and pride in her eyes. Neville went up and stood near the altar, with Harry behind him. Harry had once again been chosen as Best Man. They heard music and turned.
Ginny walked in first, in robes of bright gold trimmed with black, the Ring of Hufflepuff shining. Her slightly curled hair tumbled over her shoulders, a soft smile on her lips. Harry watched her every step, awestruck by her beauty. She walked up and took a spot across from Harry, after which she sent him a bright smile. The music changed and Luna turned the corner, on the arm of her father. She was wearing white robes, trimmed in blue and bronze, which seemed to shimmer in the light as she walked. Her dirty blonde hair was up in an intricate knot, a few strands framing her face. Her engagement ring and the Ring of Ravenclaw were sparkling on her hand. When they made it the front, her father turned to Neville.
"If I have to give her away, I am honored it is to you Neville," he said with a smile.
"The honor is all mine Xenophilius," he said, shaking the older man's hand, who went and sat next to Mrs. Longbottom. Minister Bones cleared her throat.
"We are here today, to witness the joining of two souls," she said, starting the ceremony. Harry watched Neville throughout it. He remembered back to first year and the frightened boy who lost his toad. How he stood up against them when they went for the stone, all those days in Herbology, and how he lost the passwords so that Sirius got into the tower.
He remembered seeing Neville gain confidence in his abilities in the DA, and how he fought with everything he had in the Department of Mysteries. Neville had grown beyond all expectations and had proven his worth, as one of the most powerful wizards in the world and Hogwarts Headmaster, all at the age of nineteen, if you include the two years in training with the Founders. He couldn't have been more proud of Neville if he tried. He broke out of his musing when Neville turned for the ring. Harry quickly gave it to him. Neville turned back to Luna, and slid it on her smaller finger, causing it to merge with her engagement ring.
"You may now kiss the bride," Minister Bones said with another smile. Neville grinned and took Luna into his arms, kissing her deeply.
ooOooOoo
Justin walked silently in the shadows of the castle. He had stayed behind this winter for Harry, so that he could continue his training and defend the castle if need be. He was using Shadow Magic to move from hall to hall, hidden from view, silent to all but the most attuned observers. He was making his way around the second floor when he felt another presence at the end of it. His magic enhanced his sight, and he saw Draco Malfoy appear out of the shadows. He nearly fell out of the shadows himself. 'How does he know shadow magic?' Justin asked himself. He made his way over, covering his magical signature. He came up behind him, when Draco stopped walking. Before Justin could react, Draco spun and dark tendrils of magic shot out of his hand, pulling Justin out of the shadows.
Draco's hand was glowing red, the sure sign of a stunner, when he realized who he pulled out of the darkness. He dropped it to his side and sneered at the Hufflepuff, who jumped to his feat, getting ready for a fight.
"Put your hands down, Finch-Fletchy, I'm not your enemy here. You may want to work on concealing your aura," he said, before turning away and continuing his walk. Justin walked out of the shadows just in front of him.
"What are you doing here Malfoy?" he asked, his voice hard and cold. Draco shook his head.
"The same as you Justin, patrolling the halls on Harry's orders," he said. Justin's jaw dropped at Draco's neutral attitude and use of Harry's first name. "Close your mouth you idiot," Draco drawled, getting annoyed. "Just because I look and act like the enemy, doesn't mean I am." He lifted up his right sleeve, showing the phoenix emblazoned along his arm. Justin gaped at the sight of it.
"You… you were his apprentice?" he asked, an incredulous look on his face. "I thought Daphne was his last one!"
"We both were. There are very few people who know my true intentions, and I would like it kept that way, if you wouldn't mind," Draco said, glaring at the Hufflepuff a little. "Now instead of acting like a self-righteous Hufflepuff, I suggest you continue patrolling the halls." At that, he heard a small crawling noise. He turned to Justin, who was looking around for the source. Draco nodded to him, before they both stepped back and disappeared in the shadows.
They both waited for a couple seconds before they saw the source of the sound. A fat rat with a silver paw was walking along the wall. Draco's eyes widened. 'Wormtail,' he thought. 'I have to screw with him,' Draco thought gleefully, before he fell out of the shadows, changing into a black panther before he hit the ground. He had mastered his animagus in near record time according to Harry, who said that the only ones to do it faster were the Heirs and the Founder's themselves.
At the sound of his paws hitting the ground, Wormtail turned around and squeaked in fright when Draco bounded out of the darkness and onto him. Draco trapped him by planting a paw on his tail. He then growled and brought his mouth to Wormtail's eye level. The rat started squeaking even more, trying to escape; knowing that changing back was not an option at the moment. He never even thought of why there was a black panther in Hogwarts in the first place.
Justin watched Draco torment the poor rat, wondering why he would do that. Draco swiped his paw at it, smacking it hard in the head and causing it to bounce off the stone wall. It fell to the ground stunned and unconscious. Draco turned back to his human form before hitting it with a stunner. He left the shadows and walked up to him.
"Why did you do that?" he asked, a little disgusted. Draco had a big smirk on his face. He waved his hand, and the rat started to grow and change. Soon there was a small unconscious man, who looked a little like a rat, with one silver hand lying on the ground. Justin's eyes widened.
"That's why," Draco said smugly.
ooOooOoo
"This is nice," Ginny murmured into Harry's chest. They were dancing with a few others around them. Neville and Luna were close by, as were Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, Bill and Fleur, Remus and Tonks, and Ron and Hermione. George and Fred were dancing rather unpredictably with Susan and Lisa, who were laughing as much as they were trying to keep up. Harry grinned down at her.
"I know, I like it. No worries, just friends and family." Ginny gave tightened her grip around his waist, pulling him closer. He was about to say more when a silver dragon burst through the wall. He spun, a curse on his lips when he saw the Patronus.
"Harry, we caught Wormtail in the castle," came the voice of Draco Malfoy in from the mouth of the dragon, which disappeared. Harry's eyes widened.
"How did he get in?" he growled, letting go of Ginny heading for the door.
"Harry, let me come," Remus said, a murderous look on his face. Harry spun and faced him.
"No Remus, stay and enjoy the party. As much as you lost from that man, I lost more, and I will be the one to take care of him." With that, he walked out the doors, Ginny in pursuit. Harry walked to a secluded area in some trees behind the church and held out his hand, which Ginny took. The wind caught them, making them disappear.
ooOooOoo
"If I may have everyone's attention," Harry said, standing from his position at the head table the next day. Nearly every single student had stayed at Hogwarts this holiday, knowing if they did they would be able to learn extra defensive magic with the DA. It is also the safest place in Britain, which convinced many parents. "Yesterday, two of my more elite students caught a Death Eater in this school," he said, hearing many gasps from around the hall, mainly from the younger students. The professors that didn't know sat up in alarm. He waved his hand to them, signaling them to move. They all rounded the table, which Harry banished toward the back wall. He then nodded to Luna, who disappeared into the back chamber off the Great Hall.
"Some of you might know this man. He has wronged many of us, but none more so than me." With this, Luna came out of the room, levitating a bound and stunned Peter Pettigrew in front of her. The professors that didn't know of his capture gasped at the sight of him. He also saw Remus come through the main doors. "Thank you Professor Longbottom," Harry said with a smirk, bowing slightly to Luna. She just smiled when she heard all the happy gasps of the students. She lifted her hand, showing her ring, to let the students know it wasn't a joke, and was rewarded with quite a few sighs from the older girls. "Professor Weasley, if you would." Ginny pulled out a vial of clear liquid and put three drops into Peter's mouth.
"Enervate," Harry said, waking up Peter. He eyes opened slowly before they sprang open wide. He started looking around frantically, after realizing he couldn't move. When his eyes met Harry's, he let out a whimper. "Yes, do you know what this means Peter?" Harry asked, his voice low and hard as diamonds. "I get my revenge for all the atrocities you have committed." Neville had led all the others away from the front of the hall. Harry spun around and erected a dueling dome around their area, making sure nothing would get through to the students.
"Before we start, how did you get in Peter?" Harry asked quietly, bending over him. Peter tried to fight the Veritiserum, but couldn't.
"The Dark Lord took off my Dark Mark and gave me a necklace which is permanently around my neck to call me with. He knew that there are wards against the Dark Mark and animagi, and once inside, I could transform." Harry nodded before having to admit it was a very good plan. He stood and turned back to the sea of students and professors.
"This everyone, is Peter Pettigrew," he said, addressing the students. "He is the reason my parents are dead, why my godfather, Sirius Black, was wrongfully sent to Azkaban Prison, and why Voldemort currently has his body back." All the students were showing shock, fear, or pure hatred on their faces. "It is time that he pays for his crimes. As the Head of the Family of Potter, I hereby challenge Peter Pettigrew to a duel to the death for his crimes against my family." There were many surprised looks on the faces in the crowd, except for the people that understood what Harry had went through. They had hard looks on their faces.
Harry released Peter from his bonds and threw his wand at him. "Stand and meet your punishment Peter," Harry said forcefully, his power swirling around him. Peter stood shakily, his wand trembling in his hand.
"Harry… please spare me… I," was all he said before Harry silenced him.
"How dare you ask to be spared," Harry said, his voice cold as ice. He took several menacing steps forward. "You are going to get what you deserve, even if I believe you deserve even worse." With that Harry rushed him and banished him into the dome, which he bounced off of, receiving a shock to his body for it. He fell to the ground with a whimper of pain. "Come Peter, fight me."
Peter stood and threw several spells at Harry, all dark in nature, but hardly deadly. Even so, with the amount of fear he had, his aim was so off Harry only had to take a step to the left. "Very weak Peter, here, let me show you how to do a correct cutting curse," Harry said, throwing the purple curse at the cowering man, opening a large gash in Peter's left arm. Peter fell to one knee, holding his arm in pain. The students were watching with fascination and disgust for the Death Eater. Many gasped when they heard the next spell uttered.
"Crucio," Harry said calmly, causing Peter to fall the remaining distance to the ground, screaming in agony. After twenty seconds, Harry dropped the curse. He stepped on Peter's wand, snapping it and two of the older man's fingers. "You are lucky there are younger students here, or I would have prolonged it. You don't deserve death, but I feel merciful and need you out of the way." Green light flared out of his hand, and Peter Pettigrew was no more.
ooOooOoo
Ginny walked out of the bathroom that night, to see Harry sitting on their bed, flipping through a photo album. He had been like that for over an hour, just looking and smiling sadly at pictures of his parents. It hurt her to see him like this. Life was so cruel to him. She walked over to him and sat next to him on the bed, laying her head on his shoulder. He was looking at a picture of his mother holding him, a bright smile on her face as he silently giggled up at her. Her happiness changed to wonder when baby Harry summoned the bottle out of her hand and into his smaller ones. Ginny looked up to see a tear run down his cheek.
"I really miss them. I have so few memories of them, and those only because of my Occlumency. I hope they would be proud of what I have done with my life," he said quietly, before flipping a page to see him riding on the back of his dad, who was in his animagus form. "I've tried my best, but sometimes I just wonder how they would react to know their son has become a murderer," he said in a depressed voice. Ginny raised a hand, turning his head so that he looked into her eyes.
"Listen to me. Harry, you are not a murderer. You kill to protect innocent people from a fate they do not deserve. You fight and kill to defend and protect, not for fun. The fact that you are sitting here thinking this makes you so much better than them." She gave him a soft kiss. "You have regret and a conscience, which is much more than I can say about Voldemort and his Death Eaters. You are a better man Harry, do not forget that. Do not forget what you fight for. You are one of the most selfless people I know, and I love you for it." Harry smiled when she said that.
"I love you too Gin."
ooOooOoo
Potter Strikes Down Peter Pettigrew by Rita Skeeter
Yesterday afternoon, it was revealed that a Death Eater had been discovered in Hogwarts. Peter Pettigrew, who is responsible for the death of the Potters, wrongful imprisonment of the late Sirius Black, and the return of You-Know-Who, was brought forth in front of the student body by the Heir of Slytherin, Harry Potter.
Potter challenged him to a duel for his crimes against the Potter Family. Unable to decline, Potter attacked, easily defeating Pettigrew and killing him. Some may not like Potter's tactics, but this reporter is happy to see someone fighting fire with fire.
More on the fight on page 2.
The Heirs of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Married by Rita Skeeter
It seems that over the winter holidays, the Heirs of the Founders did more than relax. Neville Longbottom and Luna Lovegood, Heirs of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw respectfully, married soon after the Hogwarts term ended. The exact date and place of the marriage was unable to be discovered. Needless to say, many people are saddened to hear that the two Heirs are off the market.
Everyone here at the profit wishes them a long and happy marriage.
Harry grinned at the second article from his desk in his quarters. "Well, not exactly the way he was going to announce it, but I'm glad everyone knows that he is off the market," he said, ending in a smirk. He heard Ginny laugh from the bathroom. She walked out in a nice but not too formal black dress, her silver earrings sparkling in the light. Her auburn hair fell around her shoulders in soft curls. She smiled impishly at him and walked up to him in a seductive manner.
"Now where are we going tonight, love?" she asked, wrapping her arms around him. He grinned and kissed her quickly.
"We are staying in the castle but you will like the settings. I worked on it for a while." With that, he grabbed her hand and led her out of the room. He led her to the seventh floor and to the Room of Requirement. He smiled at her and walked the required three times before the door appeared. He opened it for her and she smiled and walked in, only to gasp at the sight.
She walked into a beautiful garden, surrounded by many flowers of all different colors. At the end of the path was a small gazebo, with a table situated under it. It was night in the room, and the sky was lit up by the stars. There were candles floating along the path and around the table, giving it a lovely glow. She turned to Harry and gave him a strong hug.
"It's beautiful," she said, pulling him farther into the room. He smiled at her enthusiasm and allowed himself to be dragged to the gazebo. Once there, Harry pulled out the chair for her, after which he then took his seat. Dinner appeared in front of them, and they ate while talking about nonessential things, and mainly just enjoying each other's company. When they were finished, the table and dishes disappeared, and Harry stood, holding out his hand.
"Dance with me Gin?" he asked, and as soon as he did, slow music started to play. She smiled up at him and took his hand. When she stood, both chairs disappeared as well, giving them plenty of room to dance. Harry pulled her in close and wrapped his arms around her, while she laid her head against his chest. They danced slowly to the music for a while, silent and enjoying a time without the constant reminder of war.
Harry pulled back a little and looked into her warm brown eyes. "I hope you know how much you mean to me Ginny. I wouldn't have made it this past year without you. You have made my life worth living." She gave him a radiant smile, which turned into surprise when he got down on one knee in front of her and pulled out a small box. "I love you Ginny, and want to spend the rest of my life with you," he said, opening the small box showing the beautiful engagement ring inside.