Chapter 39 – Plans, Star Systems …and Cocktails!

Harry hadn't gone where he had suggested that he was going when he'd talked to Remus.

Instead he went to the Oxford University to the Astronomy Department, a little bit lying and he had some of the research down.

He could have done it at Night Wolf, but he wanted at least some semblance of a plan so he wouldn't be called completely insane when he suggested it, right now it was an sort of insane theory in his head.

Pulling out a notebook that he'd started to carry with him at some point Harry looked down at it, this particular section was partial list of Death Eaters from the all the ones he'd recognised over the years.

Lestrange, Bellatrix & Rodolphus – Dead

Lestrange, Rastaban (Brother) - Alive

Flint, Marcus – Dead

If Marcus was at meeting, likely father/mother were Death Eaters

Harry had jotted next to his notes.

Malfoy, Lucius – Questionable, house gone…funds?

Malfoy, Narcissa – Gave orders to Draco, Death Eater…Unknown…

Rookwood, Augustus – Dept. of Mysteries battle…

Dolohov, Antonin - Dept. of Mysteries battle…

Karkaroff, Igor – Went to Snape…knew Voldemort was back

From Hogwarts:

Nott, Theodore – Father was a Death Eater

Parkinson, Pansy – Some sort of relative involved, hopefully dead.

Crabbe, Vincent – Dead at station, Father Death Eater

Goyle, Gregory – Father Death Eater

Snape, Severus –

Pettigrew, Peter – Wormtail

Snape and Wormtail…if only that night with Sirius two birds in one cage…

Harry leant back in the chair looking around, he was sitting in a small café just outside of the Oxford University.

Taking a long sip of tea he started to tap on his book.

Ok…Voldemort has power…and I'm not going to stop him if he's surrounded by DE's…and Malfoy Manor was just a start…

"So all I need to do is knock off a few more people…" Harry muttered to himself. "And then I can have a good chance…well a fighting chance."

All at once or one at a time…after the manor…

Harry looked up as he saw a group of people probably his age walk past they all had pretty dark clothing on, with different prints of T-shirts, Wolves, Vampires, other ghostly things.

And of course none of those things could ever exist… Harry thought sarcastically to himself…which gave him a momentary idea as he paid for his tea and disappeared down an alley.

"Hey Remus."

"Harry, care something to drink?" Remus held up a tea pot.

"Not at the moment…." Harry trailed off looking at Remus.

"Harry?" Remus looked at him.

"Remus…you know how Dumbledore sent you out to try and convince lycanthropes to join the light?"

"Yes…not that I had much luck…"

"Well, it's not about people joining the light as much as it's about not joining Voldemort…"

"Ok…" Remus started unsurely.

"Well I was going to ask…if you could go out to the people of lycanthropic affliction that you saw, take copies of the books…"

"People of lycanthropic affliction?" Remus chuckled "A bit of a mouthful isn't it?"

"Well if you like werewolf I'll say werewolf."

"Just say werewolf. So you want me to go round and share what I know…why?"

"Well apart from the fact that knowledge doesn't cost anything…unlike…"

"The Wolfsbane."

"Yes...if the werewolves don't join old Voldemort that's one less group of people to add to his hordes…or lack there of…"

Remus looked at Harry.

"What are you planning Harry?"

Harry seemed distracted and then turned to look at Remus.

"Just about thinning out the group of people Voldemort has at his disposal…"

"Like at Malfoy Manor?"

"Something like that….So…"

"I think I can do it Harry, after all I'm not trying to convince them to fight for 'the light', just information right?"

"Right."

"So if your information is correct this is where they're meeting after their…'parties'." Harry said looking over the map looking back to the paper for a second.

It was a few days old but Moody had been using it to rally the troops.

It was the Daily Prophet it showed several wizarding houses in flames, counter curses had been placed so the flames couldn't be put out through magical means.

The Order had suffered their first causality in the fire, Emmeline Vance had burnt to death, parts of her wand core were found some distance from her remains, investigation by the Aurors seemed to suggest she'd been under a spell and she just sat there…and let the flames burn her alive.

"It's correct Harry, I had three others confirm it, they ordered a specialised selection of woods for their fires…" Moody spat the last word.

Harry nodded so the Parkinsons were now holding the 'parties', but Voldemort wasn't attending them any longer.

"Harry if they're outside the stunt you pulled at the Malfoy's isn't going to work again."

"It wasn't a stunt Moody." Harry pushed the map to one side of the table. "And I'm not going to try the same thing…" Harry pulled out his trunk and began searching through one of the compartments searching for a selection of maps that he'd purchased, finally finding one that centred on the area that showed the Parkinson's house was he unfolded is onto the table.

"Another map?"

"Wizarding maps are all very good if you want to find your way by paths, monuments and wizarding towns…" Harry muttered as he matched up the two sketching on his map the Parkinson house.

"And I was hoping for an easy…eh well, have to scope out the area. Norwich…but it seems on a larger piece of land than the Malfoy Manor, seems they like their open spaces…."

"The Parkinson's were once large game keepers."

"Once?"

"Marriage into power comes at a price Harry…"

"Yes…Thank you Moody…"

"Will you tell me why you had me search out this information Potter?"

Harry was folding up the maps replacing them within his trunk and turned to regard Moody.

"I'm not going to try the same 'trick' as I did at the Malfoy house…well not just…but the less Death Eaters we have to worry about…the less I have to worry about at the end of this…"

Moody regarded the young man in front of him and nodded sagely.

"How's Remus going?"

"Still out handing out his books and talking to them, wouldn't it have been better to…" Moody tried to continue but Harry cut him off.

"Dumbledore tried to get Remus to do that, I hope you're not spouting the whole 'light side' crap. They won't go for it, they want a better deal after it, if they're not fighting for Voldemort."

"They should be fighting for us."

"No! Moody no, there can be neutral parties in this war, we just need find out who is neutral and who is friend and foe. Did your contacts say when the next 'party' would be?"

"They're having a celebration for that…this Friday…is that enough time for you to…?" Moody pointed at the paper.

Friday was 3 days away.

"It should be." Harry pocketed his trunk. "I think I'll start my investigation now. Thanks Moody." Harry turned to leave and then paused by the door way a thought striking him.

"Hey Moody, Snape." Harry said his name with distaste. "Hasn't dropped round?"

"No."

"What's to stop him?"

"I placed another fidelius over the current, you think an old Auror like me would forget a minor detail such as that? I made sure Snape wouldn't be able to reveal the location…"

Harry nodded before disappeared.

Harry was right when he'd looked at the map, the area that had been marked was pretty flat ground, an open area some distance from the main house in a clearing in a forest, there were some huts around but it seemed an open air affair.

I could put some C4 around…maybe some claymores…if there are any in Will's uncle's store…definitely sniper time...

Harry swooped down lower there reaching out with his claws for a ward of some kind.

There was something, a solid something, deciding not to risk it he disappeared and reappeared a moment later near the ground, walking around he could see several areas of fallen trees and thick brush on the edges of the clearing that would provide cover for him. Nodding to himself he disappeared.

The claymores had been set around the mouth of the path with the idiot proof Face towards enemy writing facing towards…the enemy.

Harry had in the early morning buried pieces of C4 around the clearing and had set up two positions to fire from, he only had the one sniper rifle with him, but he could mist from place to place should he need to.

Really for this sort of thing he needed more than one person…Harry had considered asking someone from the Order but apart from hiding under an invisibility cloak Harry wasn't sure shouting a spell was very stealthy.

Looking through the sight he could see everything quite clearly there were house elves moving around setting up food and drink.

Harry had been lying in the dark scrub for the better part of the afternoon, he hadn't wanted to risk trying to get covered and ready when people started to arrive so he stayed there from later afternoon, checking and re-checking his rifle as he waited for the 'guests' to arrive.

Harry watched as three people walked down the two of them had long flowing robes on but one looked like death. Glancing through the sight Harry recognised the face as Pansy Parkinson.

And yet she didn't die…how many times did I shoot her…

Harry thought back….2 shots to the knee caps, three shots elsewhere.

She was gurgling…still trying to get out an AK…

Harry watched as it got later and darker, more Death Eaters arrived with masks on, as they reached the bottom of the path and were greeted by the Parkinsons they removed their masks or cloaks and broke away, some of them Harry recognised, some he didn't, but they were all grinning manically as they pulled off their masks.

Some point later the large bonfire was lit.

And let the show begin…

Harry looked around it seemed all the guests had arrived.

Looking through the sighs Harry checked over the gun one more time.

The silencer was fitted, he had rounds and extra clips and the two primers for the C4 and the claymores where by his side.

Harry took aim and squeezed the trigger, he had taken out 5 targets on the outskirts of the party before someone noticed, two groups ran for the path, Harry waited for them to get some distance up the path before he let off the claymores, they exploded into each other, now the main party was panicking and sending of stunners into the darkness which was no where near where he was.

Harry let off two more shots and then shifted positions.

Harry watched as the party goers backed to the bonfire hoping the couldn't attack them.

It was then Harry let off a majority of the C4, almost deafening himself a second time.

Should have learned… Harry thought to himself as a few spells were fired his way, Harry continued to fire at the remaining people, he took out the Parkinsons and another of Death Eaters, then he saw several people spinning into existence.

Portkeys…

These Death Eaters looked around shouting things to one another and then stepped out fireing spells, some were nothing worse than a third year spell, some of which were narrowly missing him.

Letting off the remaining claymores and C4 Harry grabbed the gun and his stuff and disappeared…just as they were approaching his position.

Dirty and his ears ringing Harry reappeared in his Sorrento house placing the sniper rifle down on the ground and trudging up the stairs for a long hot shower.

Harry woke up to something walking up and down his back rolling over he heard a.

"Hey…"

"Vespero…"

"Wake up…we have letters sleepy."

"Hedwig…"

"Yes…" They said together.

"I spent last night in the bush, I think I can have a bit of sleep."

"It's the night now…"

"Different timezones…"

They flew down and dropped the letters.

The first was from Remus informing him that he'd gone through about half of the known werewolves and all had been positive about the book, a few had been nervous about embracing something that they'd been afraid of for so long, but most were receptive.

The second was from Moody.

I see you were successful…

Was all it said.

"He's quick…" Harry muttered to himself falling back asleep.

Harry rolled out of bed the following, day…or night depending on where you were.

Wandering down the stairs of his house he tripped on the sniper rifle as he made his way to the kitchen searching for some coffee.

"Of course, great idea situating myself in another time zone, great idea Harry." He muttered to himself waiting for the kettle to boil.

Warming his hands of the mug of coffee he walked out to where the dining room table was, it was littered with maps, half formed ideas and other little bits, on cork board hanging on the walls in place of the landscapes he'd put in the other room were other maps, star maps he'd found or talked his way into gaining of far out star systems, specifically systems with old stars/suns and from what they could see from here no sentient life.

Tapping his sheet of paper where he'd written 'Transmat' and scribbled underneath it 'possibility, investigate'.

Harry drained his coffee and took a look outside, it was windy an a little bit cold, foregoing a swim he opted for a short run for milk and more coffee and tea and several other things he'd run out of.

Harry glided back down into the kitchen swiftly transforming and setting his various goods away.

Locking the house again and he disappeared back to England, reforming just outside the Brig's office and knocking.

"Come."

"Hey Brig…" The Brig looked up at him an unreadable expression on his face.

"Been busy Harry?"

Harry raised an eyebrow.

The Brig rummaged around on his desk and pulled what looked like a police report out.

"'A powerful explosion destroyed the large manor house…bodies were recovered however they were later stolen…forensics indicated that there may have been some sort of celebration taking part inside the manor house. Artefacts discovered below the mansion suggest that it was a stronghold for terrorists or drug runners…' Well Harry?"

Harry sighed and sat down.

"Have you heard about the village a while ago just before that, where a whole lot of people were vivisected?"

The Brig nodded.

"The people that did that, Death Eaters, the like to party after a night out like that…if it's any consolation I had the former heir's permission…" Harry said on an up note.

The Brig raised an eyebrow "Former heir? What'd he do?"

Harry shook his head with a smile. "Complicated, short answer discovered his real heritage, the long answer is a little more complicated."

"So you're picking off Voldemort's followers."

"Basically, the less Death Eaters, or the less experienced ones willing to fight when it all comes down to it…"

"The less you personally have to take out to get to Voldemort."

"Yeah that's the gist of it."

"Any other buildings that the police are going to put down to terrorist attacks? I assume they had their memories modified?"

"Do I look like I have the ear of the ministry Brigadier? Though if you listened to the prophet…" Harry chuckled.

"Birmingham informed me of the Prophet's reporting. Not the most reliable source of information."

"No…but…"

"But?"

"No buildings but if you get any reports…" The Brig groaned. "Hey it was on their own property probably with just as vicious wards, they had another party…they're the ones who started the fires…someone from the Order was murdered."

"The Order of the Phoenix I thought…"

"Oh I've seen to Dumbledore, there was a big fight…."

Harry explained to the Brig what had happened at the station, and his case against Dumbledore and to remove him from Hogwarts.

"Not good Harry…though removing him from Howgarts I thought you wanted to keep him…"

"Where I can see him…but the war's kicked up to high gear…"

"Yes…I assume this isn't a social call Harry, or did you come to fill this old soldier in on your latest battles?"

Harry laughed.

"You're not old Brig…but there is something…"

"What…?"

"I wanted to go and talk to some of the people who construct or fix or something the transmats."

"Why…?"

"I have a few theories about dealing with Voldemort…"

"And….Harry?" Harry held up his hand.

"Not quite yet, want to keep it all up here." Harry tapped his temple. "Just in case…plus the plan's in bits if I told you now, I think you'd think it was crazy."

"More crazy than…" He gestured around him.

"Yes…but insane plans work…"

"Some of the time…We've got both a transmat and a teleport here…"

"Could I go to one of the ship bays?"

"In Scotland or the Australian one?" The Brig sighed typing into his computer.

"Either, which ever one's not busy so I can ask them a few questions about stuff…"

The Brig grabbed a piece of paper coming out of the printer.

"Here Mr Potter. Gibson Desert Shipyard." He pushed around the screen and grabbed a piece of paper from the printer. "There are the coordinates."

Harry glanced at them and took the offered piece of paper which identified him as being from Night Wolf…just in case they asked questions first.

"Thanks Brig. I'll share everything with you…"

"Once you're sure your plans aren't totally mad you mean?"

"Something like that…" Harry left the Brig's office and disappeared.

Alistair smiled and settled back into his work, setting aside the reports of the manner houses to add the details he learnt from Harry at a later date.

He was just reading through another 'urgent' request when a box appeared on his screen requesting authorisation of a person 'claiming' to be from Night Wolf.

It was Harry…that was quite fast.

Sending back a confirmation Lethbridge Stewart started to wonder exactly what were Harry's 'insane' plans, Lethbridge Stewart had seen more than a few, that had either worked…or failed.