Notes for the convenience of readers: Kreighley: Staff: Ross Davies, manager. Chris, Kevin's nurse, Aaron Bates, once a Kreighley boy, now Kevin's helper. There is also Larry Stern, who goes to Falmouth University. The Senior boys: Warren Stern, Paul, (former 'Cupboard Kid,) Travis, and Telly. Recent arrivals, John, with severe burn scars, and Blue. Also Dallas, Tighe and Sean Swan. * Potter Manor is now called Whiteoaks.

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and his world belong to J. K. Rowling.

Chapter 35

On Sarah's insistence, Harry didn't go out that night, but planned to try and sleep during the day, and then, each night, release another half dozen slaves. Apparating was exhausting, but he was a very strong wizard. He wouldn't try and do them all at once, just one by one until there were no more slaves.

Ross tried phoning him, dropped into the Chases's home, looking for him, but aside from a text saying that he'd visit on Sunday, there was nothing. He was convinced that Kevin knew exactly what had happened, but chose not to ask him. It was an effort for the boy to talk. He was a little surprised he was still alive, not knowing how he could retain any pleasure in life.

The woman who'd been called Candy felt herself a stranger in her parents' home. It was lucky they hadn't moved, as it had been twelve years since she'd been taken in the night. Valerian Hopkirk had been her master, and she remembered hating him at the very first. She'd been several times punished, but then one day there had been a new collar, and after that, it had been different. She'd not been unhappy with him, and she'd never been beaten or hurt. And now she was free, a little bewildered, not knowing what to do.

Her mother popped her head around the door, and said in a cheerful voice, "Lunch-time Elizabeth dear, and afterwards, I have a friend who wants to talk to you about a possible job."

A job. Of course she had to have a job. Her parents were old, and her formal education had ceased at the age of fourteen, though Master Val had indulged her with books. She'd read hundreds of books, maybe thousands. She must know an enormous amount about all sort of things. Maybe it would not be so difficult to find her feet again. She hadn't spoken of wizards, only that a man had taken her away, and then she hadn't been able to free herself for years. Her parents assumed white-slavery, - not too far from the truth.

When she felt a little more settled, she'd contact the others. They'd exchanged addresses before separating. None of them had lived far from London, so it hadn't been too difficult to find their homes. She regarded the small ivory statue she'd taken from the Weasley home, and hoped they missed it, the bastards. And the money. She'd taken a lot of money from their office. Had 'Vonder' hurt them? She hoped he had.

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Blue was very quiet, only that straight after Saturday lunch, he went to Kevin and asked if he could talk to him. Kevin wouldn't laugh at him, and Kevin wouldn't tell anybody. Kevin was safe to talk to. Warren was with him, and asked, "Do you want me to go, Blue?"

"Yes, please." The Stern brothers were accustomed to this. Over the last years, Kevin had been the listener for all sorts of private problems, including their own.

Kevin listened quietly when Blue told him of the fracas and the aftermath, and at the end when Blue asked, "Do you believe me?" his hand moved to the 'Yes.' An expressionless, machine voice, but Blue smiled and said, "Thanks."

Kevin quirked his mouth in a half-smile, all he could manage these days, and Blue stood up and asked, "Send someone back to you?"

Again the metallic 'yes,' but Blue was feeling vastly better and called to Dallas that he was going down to the beach and he could come too if he wanted. John wasn't allowed on the beach unless it was overcast, and the day was sunny, the coming days expected to be warmer still.

Paul remembered what had happened more clearly now. There had been a big fight, all of them, even the dog, and the red-headed bastards had been making magic, using wands. And he had punched that one on the nose, hard. He remembered blood, maybe those spots on the floor that the police had forgotten about as soon as Blue had made his appearance. He should have a talk with Blue. If they were wizards, then Blue might know as well.

When the dinner-bell rang on Saturday, Blue and Paul went in together. Paul was more pleased with himself than he'd ever been. Blue had confirmed there were wizards, had confirmed there had been a big fight, and said that Paul had walloped one of them so good... 'You nearly beat them all by yourself, because they made the others faint.' They went and said hello to Kevin before they found their seats. He was the other one who knew. They'd been fussing over Abby as well, but the dog only yawned

Ross creased his forehead. Something had happened and he still didn't know what. It was very frustrating. His best guess was that the meal had been drugged so that someone could take Blue away. Then Lee, (Ricky, Harry?) had gone after him and brought him back. If that was the case, then it was probably the same man or men who'd had Ricky when he was younger. But surely now he could tell him. He was sure that Kevin knew. They were very close, Lee and Kevin.

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When Harry set out to rescue slaves Saturday night, he was much better prepared than he had been on Friday. Sarah had helped set up a place to take them, a rented three bedroom house, warm enough, with mattresses and bedding for a dozen though he didn't expect to rescue more than half that number in a night, supplies of clothing and food, other things that he would never have thought of, and he planned to take them each home in the morning. Word was less likely to get out if they were taken all the way home, rather than having them ask for help. He'd even prepared a dozen fat wallets, though he also took with him several capacious shopping bags. If the freed slaves wanted to help themselves to their former owners' possessions and money, that was fine with him. He was quite sure they'd earned it. They'd probably have their own possessions as well.

At eleven pm, he regarded the palatial home of the Warringtons. He was becoming very good at defeating wards. Soft-footed, he explored the house, coming across a wing where it seemed human servants lived. He made a spell of sleep so that they would not interfere, broke their wands, and started to move on before turning back. These ones were tolerating slavery. He wouldn't hurt them exactly, but he made them sterile, men and women. The two Warrington brothers were already sterile. He remembered doing it, way back when he was at Hogwarts after his leg injury. And Hugh Warrington, their father, was one of those killed at the Vanie Council meeting. He didn't know whether there were any other male Warringtons surviving.

More bedrooms, large, furnished with luxury. Most were unoccupied, but he found three bedrooms occupied by women, and then there was a sitting room, two still up and talking. Sleeping spell, sterilisation and the breaking of wands. He didn't have to see their wands, - he could feel them, like a glow of magic, whether in pockets or on bedside tables. The two men, each in their own enormous bedroom. The spell of sleep, broken wands, and he left them impotent. The Weasleys had sold them a slave just a week before, called Leith Fraser.

It took some looking before he found the way to the slave quarters, and he only found it then when he detected additional wards. He concentrated, trying to work them out. Wards to stop Muggles passing through, that was expected, but others. It was only when he went through that it came to him, - they were wards to make it that females wouldn't notice the door, and would ignore anything about this wing. It was old, as the other one was. Maybe this had been the slave quarters for generations.

They were not big, on the ground floor, and with an enclosed garden. In the one bedroom, he found three youngsters, two girls cuddled up together in the same bed, and a blonde boy wide awake. Like the others had been, they were confused and uncooperative when he made their collars drop away, and he became increasingly impatient. There were a lot more to get to, and he was fairly sure the girls were not on his lists. There could be many more than seventy-six slaves to rescue. No-one wanted to take anything from the Manor, not even the boy, who trembled and hid behind one of the others. He took them to the place he and Sarah had prepared, made it clear they could not leave until morning, and went on to the Bowen place where he found another two girls. One around eighteen, and the other a child of around twelve.

It was taking longer than he expected, and time was getting on. The next place and the next. At least he was finding the slave wings more quickly, but he was becoming increasingly savage with the whole wizarding world as he found evidence that slave-keeping had been going on continuously for generations, not just for the last couple of years. When he found three slaves showing obvious signs of abuse, he not only sterilised all the adult members of the household and broke every wand, but he executed Michael Pettit, Head of Family and Vanie.

Another trip, the slave quarters were empty and he combed the house for the girl they'd bought just two weeks before. He assumed at first he'd find the slave sleeping with one of the men, but the two men of the house, Caleb and Theodore Nott, slept alone. He finally blackened the slave quarters with a controlled blaze of heat, and left. They could take that as a warning.

For six trips, Harry wound up with eleven slaves, most of them just children. It was five in the morning, and he was exhausted. He told the clamouring ex-slaves quite fiercely that he would take them to their homes in the morning, and in the meantime, they were to look after themselves. He ignored questions, but raised a hand to shut them up, and promised to be back by ten. One said very quietly, that they had no clock, but Harry said curtly, "If the wards fall, and you find you can leave, it's twelve o'clock and something's gone wrong. In that case, find the nearest house and ask for help." He didn't wait for questions, but disapparated.

"He's gone," said one, and an older one took charge. "Find someplace to sleep, and he'll come back in the morning. He said he would."

"I liked my master. He was good to me."

"Haven't you seen any older ones disappear? They don't want us after about eighteen. I think I was to be next in my house." There was a girl of about twelve staying very close to her, and the older one patted her on the head, "Tricia would have taken my place. She came a week ago."

The child called Tricia said nothing, but took herself to a mattress on the floor, curled up and went to sleep.

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At Whiteoaks, Sarah was pacing the floor. She'd hardly slept all night, just in the beginning. He'd been so tender in his love-making, almost as if it was the very first time, and it was only when she'd woken a few hours later that she realised that it probably meant that he expected it to be very dangerous, that maybe it could be the last time.

She heard a slight crack in the air, and hurried to the other room to find him slumped in a chair, the face-mask and wig pulled off and thrown into a corner. He was always silent when apparating, the noise this time unusual, maybe that he was too tired to safely apparate. She went to him, stroking, and then caressed his face, feeling it rough under her hand. Tiny red pimples, irritation from wearing the mask for too long. Without comment, she collected a warm face-washer, and bathed his face, afterwards smoothing some soothing cream over his cheeks and jaw. He accepted her ministrations without a word, just leaning his head back and closing his eyes. His hair was flattened to his head, wet with sweat.

At last, she asked, "Bed?"

"I found eleven, in six trips. There are so many more than I thought."

She said softly, "You'll feel better after a sleep."

"I promised to return at ten. Will you wake me at nine?"

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She gave him four hours sleep, prepared a full cooked breakfast, and woke him at nine-thirty. She'd never seen him look so tired, and she had a feeling it was not only because of the multiple Apparation jumps. There would have been the tension as well, creeping about in the homes of his enemies. It was Sunday. Blue had been taken Friday.

The moment Harry appeared in the house where the freed slaves were, he was mobbed. Again he wore the disguise, but this time he was wearing Muggle clothing. His skin crawled under the mask, but he hoped it would not be too long this time, and Sarah had insisted that he have a free night before doing another night like the last. He had to learn how to make Portkeys as well. Voldemort had known how to do it, but his second-hand memory from Voldemort was insufficient to risk the quite dangerous procedure.

One said timidly, "You look like an ordinary person now."

Harry was looking around at the frightened, hopeful faces, but he answered the girl, "I am an ordinary person who can do magic."

"Why aren't you are of them then?"

"Because I don't want to be. And please, all of you, try not to talk about me. Best not to talk about wizards at all. It could draw attention to you as well as to me."

"What did you do to Master Standon?"

"I broke his wand, made the slave quarters all black and burnt, and that's all."

"He didn't treat me badly you know? He was all right."

Harry said harshly, "You were a slave. Magic made you think it was all right."

A boy asked, "What if they don't want us back?" and another, "What if they've moved? I've been gone years."

"If anyone's parents have moved, they can either choose someone else they know or I'll bring them back here for now, but if that happens, you can't go out. I need this place to remain secure."

He didn't want to be cruel to the kids, but he couldn't look after them himself, and it was too risky to try and get help. Sarah was only to come and re-stock the place when it was empty. An older girl raised her voice, "Back off you lot. Mr. Vonder, would you like me to make you coffee or something?"

"I just want your list of names and addresses. I want you home."

The girl bustled around, finding pen and paper in a desk and then setting herself down, and starting to make a list. Harry said, "I should have told you last night," and he beckoned, "You, what's your name?"

A quiet voice came, "Linda Campbell, 52 Halls Gap Road, Stanton."

Harry pulled an App map from his pocket, sat down, and looked for Stanton. There were questions, 'What's that for?' 'Is that so you won't land in the middle of the road?'

Harry ignored them, just writing down the coordinates of the nearest apparation point, and asked, "Got your things, Linda?"

Linda gaped at him, then ran and piled a small collection of toys into a plastic bag and said, "Ready."

They'd all apparated the previous night, though some rather unwillingly. At times he'd thought of force-feeding them all some Ricca potion, just to make them quicker to cooperate.

Linda was the first to be delivered home that Sunday morning. He waited until he saw the girl pulled inside and hugged by a plump woman and returned. "Next?"

It went smoothly, except that in two cases, the families were not at home. But it took only a moment for him to open the locked door by magic, and for the girl or boy to check that it was still their own family's possessions all around. He ignored the tears of emotion, just patted each briskly on the shoulder, and reminded them that the less said the better.

He finished even before eleven, very grateful to remove the mask. Sarah again washed his face, smoothed on some lotion, and then tended to the mask. It would rapidly deteriorate if not carefully cleaned after each use.

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At Kreighley Beach, Paul regarded the water from the high point of Trevanian's Point. He was alone. He took a deep breath, a quick run-up, and into the water, jumping far enough that he wouldn't snag the rocks on the way down. He surfaced, shaking his hair out of his eyes, and grinning in sheer elation. Next time anyone tried to bully him, they'd best watch out. He was nineteen, but only now did he leave behind the frightened little boy who'd been whipped, starved and kept chained to a cupboard in the basement.

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Aaron asked Kevin, "Pain Medication?"

Kevin indicated his assent, but his hand lay still on the keyboard to Aaron's relief. He didn't want Kevin to ask for the strong drug, as he had on Friday after Lee had left. And then he'd slept for hours, still dazed even on Saturday. If he was going to be like that, he might as well be dead. He asked, "Where do you want to go? Rec room?"

Kevin's hand triggered the voice, "No."

"It's too cold for your lookout."

Kevin looked at him. Wouldn't he ask the right question? He wanted to go to the lookout. It was sunny, almost hot.

Aaron asked, "The Lookout?"

"Yes."

"You'll need blankets then. More than one. It's too late in the year really."

It didn't take long for him to be established overlooking the waves. Several chairs were close, and Aaron stayed with him, a book on his lap, but not reading much. Kevin was never left alone, - not these days when he was so helpless. Even a sandfly buzzing around his face could be a problem.

The dog, Abby, meandered to his side and dropped herself with a yawn. If she went down to the beach, the boys would try and make her play, and she was far too old. No-one ever bothered her when she was with the one who didn't move.

It was the last day of the school holidays, and the boys were making the most of it, almost all of them on the beach. Most of them had put the trauma and mystery of Friday right out of their heads. Blue remembered very well, and was at that moment on the beach with Staffy, taking lessons in fighting. And Paul remembered. He wondered if he should pick a fight, maybe assert his new position in the pecking order, but he felt too happy for that. Several of the older ones came to talk to Kevin, usually just a casual comment about the weather.

Kevin was a little cold, and was very grateful when Lee appeared, made the blankets warm for him, and then pulled up the chair to sit beside him. Aaron stood up, "You want to talk privately, Kevin?"

Kevin blinked once. Yes.

"OK," and he addressed Harry, "I'm supposed to be with him until four, and by then, Warren and Larry are expected to be back. Otherwise Travis."

"I'll call you if he wants you."

"I won't be far away."

Once Aaron was out of hearing, Harry asked, "Want to hear what I did last night?"

Of course.

"I entered six houses, and freed eleven slaves. It seems some have more than one. I didn't hurt anyone much, but I tried to make sure that I broke every wand in the house. The nearest wandshop is in Denmark, so that will be quite an inconvenience for them."

Did you have any trouble?

"No trouble, except that it wore me out, and the kids were not at all obedient."

The kids? The slaves you mean?

"Yes," and Harry told him more about it, not just what he did, but how it made him feel, - ashamed to be a wizard. He was like the others with Kevin. He could talk to Kevin. Even with Sarah, he'd minimised the danger, and not told her how very guilty it had made him feel. He should have known about it before. It should never have got to this point. And there were so many to go. It appalled and frightened him. His father-in-law had several times suggested he get a job, but he was very glad that he was not tied to working hours now.

Kevin asked, So how are you going to proceed?

"Every second night I think, a half-dozen visits. I was exhausted last night. I can't do more than that."

Most of them were not ill-treated you said.

"But some were. And some are so young! I don't know how men can enjoy that! It makes me feel ill!" and he lapsed into a morose silence.

Kevin pressured, Lee? and when he didn't respond, shifted his hand until he could press the symbol of his keyboard, "Lee."

Harry looked up, and Kevin told him, You are a good man, Lee. It is not your fault, you are not to blame, you are helping.

Harry looked away, trying to surreptitiously wipe his eyes. Kevin waited.

They were interrupted when Paul came to them, "Someone told me you were here, Lee. Lee, I jumped off Trevanian's Point!"

Harry laughed, and said mildly, "That's strictly forbidden."

"But you know what it means, don't you?"

"I did it myself when I was about sixteen. I knew perfectly well it was stupid and dangerous, and did it anyway."

"I won't do it again."

"See that you don't. And don't encourage the younger ones. It's a custom best forgotten," but then he grinned, "Well done. Kevin told me you fought splendidly."

"I can't remember very clearly, but hardly anyone else remembers at all."

"What does the boss know?"

Paul shrugged, "I didn't tell him anything."

"What do you think, Kevin?"

Maybe tell him a little, not about wizards and magic?

Paul watched, head cocked, and demanded, "What did he say? How can you know?"

"I can hear him in my head."

"Can I try?" and he asked, "Tell me something Kevin."

I'm cold. I want to go in now.

Harry asked, "Well?"

"He says I'm very brave, and he wishes he could jump off Trevanian's Point."

Harry grinned, stood up, and started pushing Kevin's chair along the walkway back towards the buildings. Kevin asked, The Rec room please, and you should go and tell the boss something.

Ross had been watching for him, thinking that Lee had become a man to be reckoned with. He didn't swagger, as young men so often did, but he carried himself with a quiet confidence that made him appear older than he was.

He was very hopeful when he approached him, but disappointed when all he did was confirm that Blue had been briefly taken, not raped, but hurt a little, and then he'd defeated his captors, and retrieved him.

Harry sat back, a wry twist to his mouth, as Ross continued to throw questions at him, but remained silent until Ross gave up in despair. Once he did, he said, "I did bring one of your boys back. You can offer me lunch here if you like."

Ross growled, "You know you can eat here whenever you want."

Harry grinned at him, "Thanks, Boss."

Ross said in discontent, "Boss!" But then he added, "I'm sorry to pester you. You must have risked your own freedom for William."

Harry said, suddenly cold, "I'm going to pull the bastards down. All of them."

***chapter end***