The world of Harry Potter does not belong to me. There are some parts of this story that are taken directly from the source. If you recognize it, it's not mine.

Many, many thanks to my beta YellowAsphodel.

If you have any negative comments, keep them to yourself. Or as my grandma used to say, "If you can't say anything nice, keep your mouth shut!"

Broken

Chapter 26

February 26, 1997

"Well, what do you think?" Minerva asked. She reached to tuck the pillows more securely behind Albus.

"Min, my dear," he said, "I think it's a brilliant plan, totally unexpected. Tom will fall for it without a doubt." He frowned and pushed her hands aside. "Do stop fussing," he told her with a smile. "I'm fine, I assure you."

Poppy nodded. "He is telling the truth this time, Minerva," she said. "Let the old codger up." She turned and headed back into the library.

"Old codger, indeed!" he muttered. "Severus, tell me," he asked as he stood, donning his robe, "do you think her plan will work?"

The younger man stepped out of the shadows. "I do, Headmaster, and it will certainly lessen the casualties."

"Good heavens, my boy!" Dumbledore exclaimed. He perched his glasses on the tip of his nose. "What happened to your nose? It's been broken again."

"There was a - misunderstanding," Severus muttered quietly.

Dumbledore, tying the cords or his robe about his waist, walked quickly into his library. He stopped, stunned by the level of destruction. "And is this where your 'misunderstanding' happened?"

A sudden screech, like the wailing of a banshee echoed around the room, startling everyone inside.

"I told you what would happen if you hit him again!" screamed Hermione as she sailed through the secret door. Her fist made impact with Merle's face before the young wizard had time to get out of his chair. Anger pushed her, and she continued to pummel him until she was physically hauled away by Snape.

"Sit down, Hermione, and behave like a lady!" he yelled at her, flinging her onto the sofa.

Minerva shook her head. "Sosty," she called out, and when the little elf appeared, added, "please tell Filius to come to the Headmaster's office immediately. Tell him that Severus has killed the Headmaster. Be sure to tell him loudly and in front of witnesses."

"Would you bring some pain potions as well?" Poppy asked. "I've run out of those I generally carry with me."

Sosty gave the room and the three combatants a long, slow look of horrified anger and disgust. "Missy Min like messes?" she asked with ill-concealed disgust. "This -" She waved her bony arms around, gesturing at the disarray. "- mess get Sosty bad reputation."

Minerva flopped on the couch next to Hermione. She clamped her hand down tightly on the younger witch's arm, restraining her. "Yes, Sosty, I know it looks bad," she said. "We had a bit of a disagreement earlier."

Sosty stared at her mistress. "Disagreement?" The little elf snorted, and then she snapped her fingers. Instantly, Dumbledore's library was repaired. His antique work table gleamed with polish, shards of glass rejoined, flagstones sparkled with cleanliness, and the curtains shook free of dust. While the humans sat in shock, the little elf surveyed her work. Books, parchments, quills were reset into their proper places. The ceiling, floors, and walls were sterilized and had a fresh coat of paint. Even the humans occupants of the room had been healed and scrubbed within an inch of their lives.

Sosty smiled. "Better." Then she vanished.

"Jiminy Cricket!" Harper gasped. "Why don't we just send that little power house to kill Riddle?"

"Elves are forbidden to kill," Albus replied. "Don't think I haven't already thought of that."

"I meant that little wild cat sitting next to the Miss Minerva on the sofa," he muttered with a half grin.

"Oh, ha ha! I won't dignify that with an answer," Hermione retorted hotly.

The office door slammed open, and Filius Flitwick came panting in. His wand was drawn, and he took an immediate attack stance. "Minerva!" he bellowed, "Pomona is issuing emergency instructions to prefects and the head boy and girl. They are gathering and secluding all students in their dormitories." He slammed, locked, and warded the door behind him.

"Filius," Minerva called back, "come through to the library."

Without delay, the small man stormed the Headmaster's private library with his wand held in both hands like a Muggle pistol. His jaw dropped when he saw Severus and six other people, including the supposedly deceased Dumbledore, sitting around casually. "I thought you were dead," he complained as he barely lowered his wand. His eyebrows rose again. "And you too, Miss Granger." Cautiously, he approached them, anger rising in his face. "What kind of bloody joke is this?" he demanded.

Merle laughed, but Severus stopped him. "Filius Flitwick is one of the deadliest duelists in the wizarding world," he cautioned the younger wizard. "He's won more awards and duels than the number of years we've both been alive."

Quickly sobered by his father's words, Merle stood. "My apologies, sir," he said.

"Again, I ask," Flitwick demanded, "what the bloody hell is going on?"

"Please be seated, Filius," Dumbledore said carefully. "I apologize for the deception, but it was necessary for our plans."

"Which are?" Flitwick snapped.

Severus cleared his throat. "Now, that word is out, and the school is secured, we can call in the Order and explain."

"Minerva," Dumbledore asked, "would you send for Mr. Potter and the rest of the Order?"

Murmurs and shouts and threats of revenge rumbled through the room. And the loudest voice of all belonged to Sirius Black. "Where is the traitor?" Sirius Black demanded. "I'll kill him!" A frightening wildness gleamed in his blue eyes. Septima Vector, hooking her arm through his, tried to calm him down. "No, Septima," he yelled, "I won't calm down!"

Harper stepped forward. "No!" he yelled back, shouting over the noise of the Order. "No one touches Severus Snape! He's my father!"

The room exploded with gasps. Sly conjectures as to who the young man's mother was. Molly, eyebrows raised, looked at Minerva. There was a question in her eyes bright brown eyes, and she quietly mouthed one word - "Lily." Minerva nodded once.

"So what?" Sirius roared and moved aggressively until he stood nose to nose with the younger man. "If he's killed Dumbledore, then I'm going to kill him."

Suddenly, Dumbledore's voice rose above the din. "Enough!" he shouted. "Enough! No good can come of fighting amongst ourselves!" Astonishment and shock ran around the room and consumed the Order of the Phoenix. They gazed in wonder at the hale and hearty Headmaster as he stood in the center of them. "Thank you all for coming to the meeting on such short notice," he said quietly. "Please forgive the deception."

"Not that I'm complaining that you're still alive, Dumbledore, but I think we're due an explanation here," Shacklebolt growled.

"Exactly so," he replied. "Please, let us all have a seat. Harry, I'd like for you to sit here between me and Professor Harper."

"Call me Merle when we're out of class, Harry," Harper instructed the younger wizard with a grin.

Harry looked at the wizard with confusion. "All right, Merle," he said slowly, trying out the name. Seeing a lone figure emerging from the back, he stood up. "Hermione!" he shouted, "We thought you were dead!"

"Please sit down, Harry," Dumbledore told him. "Everyone, please sit. We have much to discuss and a short time to prepare."

Dumbledore explained, "All of this is an elaborate scheme to keep Tom from the truth. When Bellatrix Lestrange and Peter Pettigrew killed Miss Granger's parents, they killed Charity Burbage, too. Tom and his followers believe that it was Hermione they killed. We've used this false belief to misinform Tom, telling him that Harry is helpless and emotionally unstable without her, that he isn't even capable of passing his classes without her. Now, Tom is overly confident and unprepared."

Kingsley Shacklebolt nodded with understanding. "And that's why you've pretended that Professor Snape murdered you, isn't it? To make Tom think we are weak."

"So we are to attack soon?" Lupin asked. "Is this why you've allowed everyone to believe that you've been murdered today?"

"Exactly," Dumbledore conceded, "we have a way for getting near Tom today, a way that will have him utterly confused, so that Harry can achieve his mission to destroy him."

"How?" Harry asked eagerly.

Severus explained, "When the Dark Lord hears that I have killed the Headmaster, he will be overjoyed. I'll contact him, and ask him to call a meeting of his Inner Circle. When he responds, I will apparate to him. You, Merle, and Dumbledore will side along apparate with me underneath your cloak."

"That's brilliant, Professor!" Harry exclaimed.

"What about the others? How will we get the Order there? They're going to need to keep the Inner Circle from interfering. That's what twenty, thirty Death Eaters?" Arthur Weasley asked.

"Fifteen," Dumbledore answered. "The Dark Lord has cut down the numbers of his elite since we've been allowing him to think they were unnecessary. Because he believes we are weak and Harry unstable, he sees no need to keep his forces up."

"Furthermore, each time he has lost one of his horcruxes," Severus put in, "he has lashed out at his elite. By the simple elimination of six of them, he has 'retired' six of the Inner Circle himself."

"We couldn't ask for better odds," Lupin said with a smile. "But how do we get there? We all can't apparate under Harry's cloak."

"We'll know in advance where the meeting will take place, Remus," Dumbledore explained. "Tom's usual meeting place is the Malfoy's ballroom, which he has apparently turned into a throne room for himself."

Kingsley smiled. "Bloody brilliant!" he added. "I'll get everyone in place -"

"Wait," Dumbledore said, "everyone will be hidden all around the area before they arrive, so we we'll need to set a series of strict charms around us. We'll be covered with a heavy layer of concealing charms as well as mufliato."

"I would suggest an anti-disapparation jinx to keep anyone from escaping," Shacklebolt added.

"Yes," Dumbledore agreed. "I do insist that some of us stay here to guard the children and the castle. Minerva as Deputy Headmistress will be taking charge. Poppy and Miss Granger will remain to receive any wounded. Sirius, would you help with the defense of the students and Hogwarts?"

Black frowned. "I'd rather be in the direct fighting, Albus."

"I know you would, Sirius," Dumbledore said softly. "No one doubts your fighting ability or your courage."

"I want to protect Harry," Black insisted. "He is my godson. I should be there."

"I really appreciate that, Sirius," Harry said. "But I have to destroy Tom's last horcrux when I get there. It's the last thing I have to do before he can be destroyed. I can't be distracted."

"There's another one?" Lupin gasped. "That would make seven!"

"All the more reason I should be there!" Sirius cried. "Harry, I have -"

"No, Sirius," Harry replied firmly. The young man turned to face the Order. "Yes, there's one last horcrux," he announced, "and, it's me." He lifted his bangs, showing the lightning shaped scar. "When Voldemort tried to kill me as a baby, my mother's love protected me from death. The spell ricocheted, and a tiny portion of his soul attached to me."

"No!" The room erupted again in gasps and denials. Chaotic refusals to accept the fact echoed around.

"It's true!" Harry raised his voice, and the crowd hushed. "That's why I can speak Parseltongue; that's why I can hear what he's thinking sometimes."

"But, Harry, that means you'll have to die," Lupin stated the oblivious.

Harry smiled sorrowfully. "And Tom will have to be the one to kill me," he told them, "because he'll actually be killing the last horcrux. When I'm down, all of you must attack. Professors Dumbledore and Snape will target Tom, and -" He paused to swallow. "-and we have a plan, that, hopefully, will save me."

"Do you understand?" Dumbledore added softly, "Do you see why I need you here? Sirius, will you accept responsibility for the castle and the children?" When Black nodded morosely, Dumbledore continued, "Thank you, Sirius. Now, I need everyone to gather with his squad and take your places. We'll give you thirty minutes to get in place and cast the necessary charms, and then Severus will contact Tom. Sirius, please have your force follow them out and secure the castle."

Quickly, everyone found his or her squad and apparated to Malfoy Manner. Under cover of the noise, Merle whispered, "Don't worry, Harry, your mother's blood magic protected you the first time, and it will protect you again through me. I'll be there to protect my little brother!"