Chapter 53

Harry

Before we ruined Percy's plans at "Capture the Flag," we held the final war council prior to returning to Hogwarts, but I'm getting ahead of myself.

All week we interacted with the hunters and DA1 spent a great deal of time teaching rudimentary magic with wands to the Hecate campers who learned quicker than most first year Hogwarts students. Even at that only Hermione really had the patience to be an instructor for very long. They started out at high power on all their spells, so they didn't have the learning curve that we had been through powering up to American levels, but the somatic gestures were problematic compared to what we had encountered teaching Jason, Percy and the rest of the visiting Americans. Of course the Hecate students were using spare wands from survival kits rather than programmable ones from Hecate herself. It was uncertain how the students here would get wands, whether they would need to obtain them via Ollivander like everyone else, manufacture them as did some old school wizards, or get them direct from Hecate like Neville and America House. After they learned of Neville's and how he came to have it we noticed Hecate's kids sacrificing like mad at every meal.

Percy took it as a matter of pride that Camp Half Blood had not, during his tenure there, ever beaten the Hunters at "Capture the Flag." We spent several hours every evening in the Leodis working out elaborate plans with he, Annabeth, Reyna and Frank. The Brits were to be a cavalry force, all in the air on brooms, which were to draw away the Hunters from their flag, then Frank was to fly in and essentially get battered by the few that would remain hidden. They had played the Hunters enough to know this would be part of their basic defense strategy. While Frank, Jason, Will and Percy drew out the remaining Hunters, Piper would lead the girls in a flanking attack to capture their flag. The rest of Camp Half Blood and the Brits were used as a layered defense of our own flag. It was a good plan, especially as refined by Reyna and Frank.

We met in the library in the Leodis for the "War Council" as we were calling it. This was DA1, the Order, Dumbledore of course and the Americans, joined by Chiron who was turning out to be a pretty neat guy.

"So to begin, we've gotten some more vague statements from the Gods since this council last met. First, Reyna and Neville are now charged with "bringing the worlds together" and we're guessing that Mars was talking about the world of magicians and the world of half bloods. That makes more sense than any of the other interpretations we've come up with. Back at the ship, as we left London, Poseidon made reference to it being the companies' ship and we have no idea what he was talking about. Finally, Poseidon, Aphrodite and Artemis have made reference to the god's plans and how they might effect us, but not so much that we could figure out either what the plan is or the effect. Earlier this week Artemis said that Percy's wish was still reverberating in the pantheon, and we take that to mean that the gods are looking to both change how their children are recognized and educated, as well as, based on the collective statements of the gods regarding a reckoning, a reorganization of the duties of the lesser gods and perhaps some major ones. I can't help suspect that it will ultimately effect the status of the magic students as well, although I have nothing firm to support that other than the status of Hecate who we believe to have redeemed herself but with the Olympians you just never know. Artemis's statement to Professor McGonagall seems very favorable to Hogwarts though." Hazel said by way of opening the meeting.

"I concur. In so far as the god's plans we don't know enough to know what we don't know. Lady Artemis has usually be a reliable source for us given our close relationship, but she has been quite stand offish on the subject, other than her comments to Percy and the Professor. That leads me to believe that the reckoning will center on her brother Apollo, as we knew it would, as well as possibly Hecate. Given that she was instrumental in closing the Doors of Death and at the Battle of Athens I can only imagine that Hecate has redeemed herself in the eyes of the brothers, but who can say for sure? I would suggest that we not worry about it too much though, I think both Camp Jupiter and Camp Half Blood will if anything be rewarded for their loyalty and actions, and I suspect, again, with nothing to really back this, that Hogwarts and the other institutions for magical instruction should be safe at a minimum. If anything I suspect we will see cross training much like Camp Half Blood and Camp Jupiter have done this summer only now augmented with the magical training of Hogwarts as well. It should make for a potent force of heros." Chiron said.

"I too sense this is the path we are treading, however, I suspect there will be many surprises and challenges along the way. If I may change the subject, Severus, Minerva, Remus and myself have reviewed the drawings provided by Harry and yourself. Although the locations are not certain, we are almost completely certain that the two missing Horcruxes are the Cup of Hufflepuff and the Diadem of Ravenclaw. Recall that we know he used his own diary, the Locket of Slytherin, his grand father's ring, and his snake. These then, as well as the section of his soul still within him, constitute the seven splits that were foretold by this conversation with Professor Slughorn. Both are listed in the Treasures of Hogwarts if you care to see a more accurate rendering." Dumbledore said as he began to pass the book around.

Once I saw the better picture of the Cup I agreed that it, like the Diadem, was a horcrux based on its importance to Voldemort in my visit to his mind. I offered to return to verify this, but Ginny practically exploded and both Jennifer and Dumbledore vetoed it. All felt that nothing more would be learned if I tried and the risk far outweighed the potential reward. Snape stressed that he had never had difficulty returning from a mind he invaded and was especially concerned that I had been unable to. In the end, they talked me out of it.

That left only organizing the quest parties to locate and destroy the remaining horcruxes and planning the final assault on Voldemort.

"The quests will begin with an academic search of their history I would think, so I suggest that I lead it, with Miss Hermione and Miss Annabeth assisting me until all information can be assimilated and the objects located." Dumbledore said.

"No." replied Hazel. "Quests are matters for youth. You are under a death warrant from Voldemort's people and your presence would merely endanger the quest. We agreed to an advisor, but the quest will either be lead by a student or an American. In any event, the advisor cannot be you Professor. Now, as to the academic work group, yes, it only makes sense that you be a part of it, and it consist of Hermione, Annabeth, Rachel, myself, Luna and Ron. Harry, you too if you like. We will need full access to all parts of your library. I would suggest that Professor Lupin assist in this as well."

There was a long pause until Dumbledore replied "You seem to have put a great deal of thought into this."

"I have. I think it is important to recall that Hecate, or Trivia as Jason, Reyna, Frank and myself know her, sent us to do certain things, train the students, protect and preserve the life of the one too young to die et cetera. Part of that is acting on behalf of the gods. The gods, be they Greek or Roman, do not interfere directly with human affairs. They send their children, their half bloods, their heros. Prior to now our focus has been on training, preparation and defense. Our few missions or quests had some element of danger, but we didn't seek it. That is now shifting. We are going on the offensive. We are going to war. We are going to hunt down the slices of Voldemort's soul, and then him, and his army. We are going to destroy them. There may be a time for yourself, the professors and the Order to join the battle, but an army can have too many commanders. It needs an organization. It needs one leader. For better or worse, the gods, via their proxies, made me that leader. I don't mean to be bossy, but before the fighting starts in mass, well, we and the students are simply better at it and whether I wish it or not, I am to lead it."

"We will of course honor the gods" Sirius said after a long silence, "but please keep us up to date so that we can join in to assist. We've been fighting the Dark Lord for some time, and with some success. I would urge you to rely on that experience."

"They are better than us and better than the witches and wizards they will face. I know you probably don't expect this of me, but we need to stay out of their way." Professor Weasley said. "I suggest we observe and advise if needed, and pitch in where we can."

"That would be proper" Hazel replied, to everyone's agreement. "Now, ideas as to where the Cup and the Diadem might be?"

"We suspected the cup might be at Malfoy Manor, however my visits there have not been fruitful at locating it. Where ever it is, it was placed there before the Dark Lord's mind was struck down by Mr Potter." Snape said.

"I remember seeing it on a shelf, with gold and gems piled up around it, but it was like the memory of something described to Voldemort rather than something he saw himself, if that makes sense. It had a cartoonish feel, like someone had explained it to him in simple terms and his mind made up the surroundings as it saw fit.

"Well, lets look at it from another direction. If you were a wizard, or witch, and had near unlimited resources, where would store something to keep it safe?"

"No place safer than Gringotts" I said, remembering something from years ago, and thinking of the pile of galleons in my own vault.

"What's that?" Dumbledore asked.

"Oh, something Hagrid said back when we visited Diagon Ally the first time. 'No place safer than Gringotts.'"

The Order and Professors all looked at one another until Lupin said "Why not?"

"Yes, but who's vault? Its doubtful they have one called 'The Dark Lord's Soul Slices.'" Professor McGonagall said.

"My cousins inherited a large and ancient vault there. Bellatrix is his most trusted follower, and her sister is Mrs Malfoy." Sirius said.

"Is there anyway we can get an inventory?" Rachel asked.

"No. There are no records of the contents of Gringotts vaults. No one is powerful enough to intrude into those private financial matters." Snape said.

"Apparently the wizarding world doesn't have an IRS" Rachel smirked.

"It would seem we have our first real quest. Who shall lead it?" Hazel asked.

"You don't seriously mean to break into a vault at Gringotts do you?" Professor Snape asked.

"Sure. If it contains the horcrux there would seem to be little else we can do to get it and destroy it." Hazel replied.

"Perhaps, but I think what Professor Snape means is that it has every form of magical protection known. It is simply impossible to overpower its defenses with magic." Lupin said with the rest of the Order nodding in agreement."

"Then we'll throw rocks at it." Hazel said.

"What do you mean?" Lupin asked.

"When faced with superior technology you can either develop your own that is better, use yours as it is as best you can and hope its enough, or you can go primitive so that the technology offers no advantage. Its what the Viet Cong did in the Vietnam War, or what the Americans did to the Brits in our revolutionary war. If we can't stand toe to toe with it, then lets don't. Lets break in using something other than magic they have seen." Hazel said. "Let's see, Harry, you said you could sense that something was a horcrux. Can you sense the presence of them?"

"I suppose, I mean, I think so. Its like I can hear them, even though they don't make noise." I replied.

"Good, we'll need you then."

"Then I'm going too" said Ron, Neville, Hermione and Ginny in unison.

"That's probably too many. We'll return to that. I have certain talents when it comes to precious metals, and I would like Jennifer for transport and curse removal, if that's okay Jennifer."

"Of course" she smiled.

"Good. Because your boyfriend is the rock we're going to throw at them."

"What?" Lupin asked, with a stunned look on his face that matched Leo's.

"Leo is a man of amazing talents. I learned in Rome that he can pick locks, and not just any locks. While Frank and I watched he picked a lock designed probably by either Archemides or Daedalous that hadn't opened in thousands of years and wasn't even all there. While I'm sure the vaults have marvelous magical protections, I suspect they are practically wide open to a person such as Leo."

"Why thank you Hazel. Do we know which vault is theirs?" Leo asked.

"There may be some mention of the vault's number at Malfoy Manor. I will attempt to locate it upon my next visit" Snape suggested. "Failing that, we may need to follow Bellatrix on her next visit to Gringotts but we have no way to know when that is."

"Perhaps we could summons her to Gringotts under the guise of their being a problem with her vault?" Piper suggested.

"If there is a horcrux there, that would certainly cause her to visit post haste." Snape agreed.

"Before we worry about breaking into Gringotts, a couple questions. Do we have any idea where the other horcrux is, and why don't we just go kill Voldemort now, while he can't fight back?" I asked.

"Both good questions. As there are horcruxes out there from which he could be revived, and as he currently poses no real threat in his current condition, were we to kill him, we might be doing him a favor." Annabeth said.

"And as to the location of the Diadim, we are almost certain it is somewhere in Hogwarts. That is what the legend has always said." Luna added.

"Okay, well that makes sense. Lets hope we can destroy the remaining ones before he recovers." I said.

"Indeed. The snake, Nagini, remains at his side and under the watchful protection of the Death Eaters."

"I'm not too worried about the Death Eaters. Only Voldemort has the protection of the prophecy. The rest of them, well, I'm not overly concerned." Jason said, with Percy's quick agreement.

"They won't be as easy when they are not surprised by you." Snape cautioned, with Sirius agreeing.

"Then we will just have to keep them off balance." Hazel concluded. "Anything else? Okay great then. Lets meet back in two days. That should give the research team time to gather what information they can, and hopefully Professor Snape can zero in on that vault number for us. Great! Lets play Capture the Flag!"

Everyone was getting up to leave and get ready when Dumbledore said "Harry, I wonder if I might have a word with you."

We spoke briefly after everyone left and I was given some difficult instructions, but with faith in Dumbledore, Nico, Sirius, Snape and Lupin, I was determined to carry them out. I wouldn't learn of the importance of them until later.