Ninja Wizard 52

By David

Author's Notes: See disclaimer in chapter one. Dialog in bold indicated Japanese spoken. This chapter starts the end of the series. This will seriously deviate from "Deathly Hallows" as I believe it didn't contain the action it should have even though it did pick up in the end. There wasn't really enough to end the series, as I believed it should. So here goes with my version of events.

Ninja Wizard 52

"Wizard's Coup"

Harry leaned back as he read the letter to himself. It was written in Dumbledore's familiar loopy writing.

"Dear Harry, if you are reading this then I have left this life in search of the next Great Adventure. Please do not grieve for me. I did have a long life and hopefully have accomplished a lot of good. I do have a number of regrets. I regret the mistakes I have made with you. I sincerely hope you can find it in yourself to forgive an old man his mistakes, especially one I made in your behalf. All I ever wanted was you to grow up enjoying your childhood, as you should have. Alas, it was not to be. I fear you had lost your childhood the night Voldemort attacked you and your parents at home in Godric's Hollow. Oh Merlin, I tell you a truth, Harry, that night was the most painful night of my entire life. I had so hoped that my efforts to keep Voldemort away from you and your parents would work. I was so sure it would work, but it did not. I regret not having kept a watch on them and you. If there is any one person to be blamed for their deaths, it is I. I am to blame for not having watched over them and you. For not having watched over Sirius Black, Peter Pettigrew, and Remus Lupin. If I had, they would be alive and well today. I had hoped to do all of the work myself and then prepare you for the final battle, but it seems that fate had other plans and in my arrogance I tried to alter it's plans and failed. The prophecy was meant for you and you alone, not me, nor anyone else. I should have heeded it in the beginning. The book you hold is meant for you and you alone. You and only you can read it alone. It is filled with my musings, thoughts, rumors, ideas, and potential clues as to where these Horcruxes are. Do read it most carefully. I shall be disappointed if you do not engage the services of that very bright young lady you love. Yes, I am talking about Miss Granger. She has the potential to become the greatest witch of our age. She has the potential to do things to better the Wizarding World. Do not fear, I have not left out Ronald. I have left a book for him to read as well. It will tell him how to manipulate the protective wards of Hogwarts and the best ways to protect the last great hope of the Wizarding World. I wish the three of you well. My Lord Potter, I salute you. As Ever, Albus Brian Percivial Wulfric Dumbledore," Harry read to himself while trying to keep his emotions back.

He closed the letter and held it to his chest for a long time as he stared out of the window into the distance. He knew deep in his soul that hell was coming here to England and it was called Tom Marvelo Riddle, better known as Lord Voldemort. Harry sighed and reached for the book and opened it. The first page contained one single line.

"Horcrux Hunt Information," he read to himself.

Trust Dumbledore to be direct. He turned to the next page. It was dated 30 May 1993. He read the entry with interest, remembering that was the end of his second year.

"It has been a most interesting year. I had hoped after the events of the school year 1991-1992 in which young Harry had stopped Voldemort in attempting to gain the Sorcerer's Stone for his own ends that the school year 1992-1993 would be fairly quiet. Alas, it was not. Harry became involved in a dangerous caper in which the school diary once belonging to Tom Riddle had found it's way into the hands of young Ginerva Weasley. She wrote in the book and in doing so inadvertently released Tom's soul that he left inside of the book and used her to wreak havoc upon the school. Harry told me of the events that occurred inside the Chamber of Secrets. Tom Riddle indeed had placed a fragment of his soul inside the book and used it to entice Miss Weasley into writing to him and in doing so took her over, slowly killing her in the process. Harry, at great personal risk, used his ninja skills to combat the Basilisk and killed it. However, the snake managed to bite him in the course of the battle and the tooth broke off in Harry's arm. Harry then used the fang in what he thought would be his last act of defiance directed at young Tom stabbed the center of the book. The book then began leaking ink all over the place and affected Tom's sixteen year old form. Tom then faded from view and Miss Weasley was saved. This I found most fascinating. Could have Tom found a way to create Horcruxes? I must research this," Harry read to himself.

He closed the book and set it on his desk and thought back to that day. He pulled a sheet of paper from his desk and wrote down the diary as being a confirmed Horcrux. That was number one. The second one was found in the summer of 1996 and Dumbledore had used the Gryffindor sword to destroy it. It had been a ring passed down through generations of Gaunt. Harry leaned back in his chair as he recalled the memory he had seen in Morfin's memory shard in the confrontation with the young Tom Riddle. There was no doubt in his mind he had created the second Horcrux when he killed his father in Little Hangleton. There was a knock on his door and Harry turned to it, sweeping the book, letter, and the sheet of paper into his desk. He got up and went to the door.

"Hello love," Hermione said.

Harry smiled. "Hermione. Forgot you were coming over."

"Forget about little me? That will never do Mr. Potter," she said.

Harry chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her. "Ah, but you are constantly on my mind, dearest."

Hermione chuckled and then they kissed. Harry let her into his room and she approached his desk and sat down. Harry sat down at his desk and pulled out what he had been working on. Hermione looked at the book with curiosity.

"Another Quidditch book?" she asked Harry.

"Is that what you see it as?" Harry asked.

Hermione looked at him with a curious look. "Yes. What is it supposed to be?"

Harry sighed. "It's a book that Dumbledore left to me. He also left me the Sword of Gryffindor but Scrimgeour wouldn't let me have it according to McGonagall. The book details his search, thoughts, feelings, and suspicions on the Horcruxes. He had an inkling of what Voldemort might have been up to back in my second year after the encounter with the diary. The book starts in the summer of 1993. He wrote down the incident and then wonders if Voldemort had discovered Horcruxes."

He could see the wheels spinning inside Hermione's mind. "If that was a clue, how did we miss it?

Harry leaned back in his chair. "I don't know. We were young at the time, just twelve years old. I don't think kids at that age are looking for things like that. The first real clue of them was when Dumbledore fell on me when he came out of his fireplace right after he found the Gaunt ring and it turned out to be a Horcrux. It was him that brought it to our attention back then."

Hermione nodded. "So what's the next entry?"

Harry opened the book and went to the next page.

"5 June 1993. I have started tracking Tom's movements after Hogwarts. As I recall he had graduated and left the school. I do recall his working at Borgin and Burkes as a clerk there, selling supposed dark objects. I do not remember much from that period, only to note that he did return to Hogwarts some years later and offered to teach the Defense Against the Dark Arts post. I do recall seeing him a bit changed. His face remained the same but there was something that warned me not to take him on, so I did not. It was after that the position became cursed. I do believe that Tom had something to do with that, but I do not have the evidence to support this theory. He did go back to work at that shop and after a time he disappeared soon after the death of one Hephzibah Smith, the rather eccentric witch. As I recall back then the family did discover two of her greatest treasures missing, the Hufflepuff Cup and the Slytherin Locket. This gives me pause. Was Tom responsible? Was he seeking items belonging to the Four Founders? If so, did he turn them into Horcruxes? This I must know," Harry read.

Hermione nodded. "Well, we do know the answer to those questions now, do we?"

Harry sighed. "We do now, love. The Gaunt ring and the Locket was Slytherin's. That's two. The diary in second year was Tom's school diary. That's three. We know that two of them were destroyed. I took out the diary, Dumbledore took out the ring, and we possess the Locket."

Both of them turned to the bookcase where the Locket was hidden, inside the most boring book Harry could think of. Hermione had a fit when he told her he'd gutted Hogwarts: A History to hide it in.

"There's four potential items left," Hermione said. "Where are we going to find them? That's four potential targets for Tom to retrieve."

Harry rocked back and forth in his chair for a moment and then stopped. He put everything back into his desk and locked it with Alomohora and then stood up.

"Let's get something to eat. I'm hungry," he said.

Hermione shook her head and followed Harry out of his room.

Harry spotted the rolled up paper on the counter as he entered the kitchen. He looked at it as he passed by.

"The Daily Prophet," he said. "I didn't get a chance to read it this morning."

Hermione picked it up. "May I?" she asked.

"Go for it," Harry said, his head inside the refrigerator. "I could make up a salad and back it up with grilled cheese sandwiches. Does that sound okay?"

Hermione didn't reply. Harry backed out of the refrigerator with the makings of salad in his hands and stopped at the shocked expression on Hermione's face. Harry dropped everything on the counter and closed the refrigerator door.

"Hermione?" Harry asked in concern.

Hermione looked up at Harry with a very concerned expression on her face and then turned the paper around for Harry to see the headlines.

"Minister Scrimgeour Murdered! Auror Dawlish Accused!" the headline screamed in big bold letters.

Harry took the paper and began to read. "On the eve of the Weasley Wedding, Minister Rufus Scrimgeour was found dead in his office by Senior Undersecretary Dolores James Umbridge. She claimed to have found him on the floor by his desk when she entered his office on a routine meeting to discuss some ministry business. She raised the alarm and the Auror detachment came running to investigate. According to investigators the deed had been done while the Aurors who were tasked to protect him were on a break. The Auror Dawlish was left behind to protect him. He was found in the nearby hallway without his wand. He claims he was knocked on the head and doesn't know anything. His wand was found at the scene of the crime and tested. It tested positive for the Killing Curse. He was placed under arrest and is now awaiting more questioning and possible trial. We at the Daily Prophet are greatly saddened to have lost a great leader of our world. Roger Sheply reporting."

Hermione looked scared. "Harry, what if…?"

Harry went to the cabinet by the refrigerator and took out a bottle. He poured a bit of a clear something in a small glass and then lifted it and downed it in one shot. Harry replaced the bottle and then returned to the counter and started chopping up stuff for a salad. Hermione sat down on one of the bar stools and watched Harry for a moment or two. Harry stopped chopping things a moment later and turned to Hermione.

"I believe that we have seen the makings of a coup by Tommy," he said. "The next person for the job will be most likely to have done it. I don't believe it was Dawlish, and my attempting to defend him would be a mistake. The Wizengamot will be compromised by now, if they haven't already. All he can hope for is life in Azkaban. If that is the case, then we will rescue him when this thing is over."

Hermione nodded. "Your testimony against Snape and Draco will be discounted, seeing at to how you were the only one there, and according to the Daily Prophet, you have a mental history. They will renew the calls for you to be put away into St. Mungo's after you are brought before them on trumped up charges and stripped of your seat, your lordship, and other titles if you have any. You might even lose the Black estate to Draco Malfoy after being convicted on being incurably insane."

Harry nodded. "Then I need to visit Gringotts in the morning and see to everything."

"And then?" Hermione asked.

"And then we lay plans. I believe the time is fast coming," Harry said as he turned back to the counter. "We need to be ready."

Hermione nodded. "I understand."

What Harry didn't know was that Hermione had been busy laying plans of her own. She had been busy of late transferring funds from her vault at Gringotts to another Gringotts in Australia and then set up in a muggle bank for her parents to use. She had planned on planting new memories of them living there and having their dentistry, no family to support. What she didn't know was that Harry had done the same for the Dursleys, setting them up for a new life in the state of Oregon in the Americas. Harry wanted his family out of England and safe. He didn't want them to be used against him. Things were slowly coming to a head and he wanted to be ready.

After dinner they went back up to Harry's room and Harry pulled the book out once more as Hermione took the sheet of paper Harry had written on and looked to see what was there. She added the Locket and the cup as possible Horcruxes.

"Okay, why?" Harry asked.

"According to Dumbledore's book, the Locket and the Cup were taken from Smith. They were confirmed to be items belonging to Slytherin and Hufflepuff. The memory has her saying so. He takes them and kills her. Which one became a Horcrux on the spot? The Locket is one, I'm almost sure of it because it attempted to posses Katie Bell. We have it now. Where is the cup?" Hermione asked.

Harry thought for a moment. "It has to be someplace where he knows it will be safe. A supporter's vault? A DE vault? It could be in a place that had a significance to Tommy."

Hermione cracked her neck. "What does Dumbledore's book have to say?"

Harry opened the book and went to the next entry.

"10 August 1993. I have had no luck. There are no clues as to where he is. So I shall do the next best thing, and that is to locate people who knew Tom and question them. If I can get memories that will help my search I will. I must be careful. I do not want word of this to get back to Tom. If he finds out then all of my work will be for nothing," Harry read.

Hermione nodded. "Good. It sounds like he was pursuing the right kinds of leads."

"He did succeed, because the three of us did see the memories, and I even managed to collect one," Harry said.

"All of them in their way were very significant. We know that they were altered by Tom in some cases to make it look like the owners of the memories had done accidental killing, like the house elf with that woman," Hermione said.

Harry smiled. "Dumbledore was right about you. You really are the brightest witch ever to have graced Hogwarts."

Hermione blushed. Harry turned back to the book and sighed. He knew he was in for some reading. All he needed was the locations of the Horcruxes and he was off to get them. He closed the book and put it back into his desk. It was getting late and he needed to sleep. He turned to Hermione.

"Walk you home?" he asked.

Hermione gave him a look. "It's a long way to my house, dear."

Harry smiled. "Figure of speech. I could floo you home."

"Okay love," she said, getting up from his bed where she sat and handed back the sheet of paper. "I could go through my notes to see if I missed anything."

Harry nodded. "Good. I need to plan an op to slip back into Hogwarts and close out my training room. I don't want it to be found. I am going to have to find and setup a new base for us. I could set up pictures for Sirius, Mum, Dad, and Dumbledore to be in so they will have a safe place to go to if it gets too dangerous for them."

"Good idea," Hermione said.

They walked over to the fireplace and Harry handed her a bit of floo powder and she went first. Harry came in after her. They found the Grangers in the living room, Thomas with the paper and Cassandra with a book.

"Hi Mum and Dad," Hermione said as she entered the living room.

They put down what they were reading and smiled.

"Ah, there is my princess, accompanied by her knight in shining armor," Thomas cracked as he smiled.

Both Harry and Hermione blushed.

"Thomas!" Cassandra chided. "You're embarrassing the children! Hello dears."

Hermione put her hands over her face as Harry grinned.

"Us children? Nah," Harry said. "I'm afraid you're too late."

"Damn," Thomas cursed.

"Thomas! Your language!" Cassandra chided once more.

Harry and Hermione chuckled.

"Well I decided to return your princess back to your castle, Sir Granger," Harry said. "As you can see she is very safe."

"Thank you Lord Potter. Most chivalrous of you," Thomas said with a smile.

Harry turned to Hermione. "And I shall see you on the morrow, my fair maiden, for now such parting is sweet sorrow. I shall count the minutes until I see thy beautiful face once more. I shall dream of you this night."

Hermione giggled and the curtsied. "Until then, my lord."

They kissed once more and then Harry headed for the fireplace and flooed home. He stepped out into the Dursley house and noted the house was quiet. The Dursleys had stepped out for the evening for a movie, Dudley was working a dance with Chris as his partner, and Harry had elected to stay home. He reached into the refrigerator and retrieved a bottle of cold water and then trudged up the stairs into his room. He sat down at his desk and retrieved the book from his desk and opened it. He had a lot of reading ahead of him.

When he set down the book it was late. He turned to the door of his room when he heard footfalls on the stairs. There was a rapping at his door and Harry closed the book, marking the spot with the sheet of paper and slid it back into his desk.

"Who's there?" Harry called out. "Friend, foe, or wee beastie?"

Laughter erupted from the other side of the door. Harry knew who it was.

"It is I, a wee beastie named Chris!" the voice came back.

Now it was Harry's turn to laugh. He crossed the room and opened the door to find Chris standing there.

"So to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Harry asked.

Chris grinned. "You're in a good mood tonight. Been making out with Hermione?"

"You're too young to know that stuff yet," Harry said.

"Am not!" Chris snapped back. "Dudley's been teaching me how to pick up on a girl. Did it twice tonight and got to dance."

Harry nodded. "Good for you."

Chris frowned at Harry's less than enthusiastic response. "Something wrong?"

"Did you see the Daily Prophet?" Harry asked.

"Yeah. What does that mean?" Chris asked.

Harry sighed. "It means that Voldemort may have taken over the Ministry using a plant."

"How can a house plant take over?" Chris asked as Dudley appeared behind him.

"Not a house plant, a human plant. A person to run the Wizarding World in his place," Harry said.

"You think?" Dudley said.

Harry nodded. "Won't know until it happens. If the person doesn't pop up right away, then it's a natural progression. If the person does pop up right away, then I'll know."

Dudley nodded and then headed for his room. Chris left Harry alone and Harry closed his door and went back to his desk. The entries he had been reading detailed Dumbledore's tracking down individuals and collecting memories and storing them for when the time was right to tell Harry. They had spent last year looking at the memories that Dumbledore had collected and each was very informative. Now Harry needed to act on that information, and this book was providing him with clues to the locations. Three of them were done, it was a matter of finding the four others. He sighed and decided to go to bed. He could think better with a good night's sleep. He stripped down and crawled into bed after turning out the lights. He closed his eyes and went to sleep.

Harry's dreams were strange that night. He found himself in a dark room lit by torches. He looked around to see people in cloaks and masks. One of them stepped out from the middle. Harry blinked at the shape of the person. He or she definitely was short. He turned his attention to Voldemort as he sat on his throne.

"Well?" he said in his soft voice.

The person before him bowed to him. "The plan that you created has worked. Scrimgeour is dead. Before he died, I made sure he named me as the successor."

Harry recognized the voice at once. Umbridge.

"Getting the wand from Dawlish was easy. He never suspected me when I encountered him in the hall. He even turned his back on me making it too easy for me to stun him and modify his memory and then leaving his wand at the scene of the crime. He will eventually confess to the crime and be convicted. The letter I had Scrimgeour write was retrieved this afternoon by the Aurors and taken to the Wizengamot. I am sure I'll have the job tomorrow morning. Then I can and will put your grand plan into motion," Umbridge said with glee.

"Very good," Voldemort said. "I am pleased."

Umbridge bowed to Voldemort and backed away into the crowd of DE's. Voldemort looked around and nodded.

"Are you ready, Severus, old friend, to take your place as headmaster of Hogwarts?" Voldemort asked Snape.

"I most certainly am, my master. Soon I shall raise your banner over Hogwarts and people shall know that you are the true undisputed master of the Wizarding World," Snape smiled. "I ask only one favor, my lord. A run at Potter. I shall keep him alive so you can kill him slowly and painfully."

"Of course, Severus. In fact all of you should have a run at him before I strip his life away from him," Voldemort said. "Now, how shall I do it?"

Many suggestions came from the DE's, each worst than the last. Harry thought he was going to get sick. Voldemort actually laughed at some of them.

"Very creative," he said. "I shall consider them one by one. And now off with you all. There is much to be done tomorrow."

Harry watched all of them bow and leave the chamber one by one. Harry watched them go. Voldemort stood up and walked up to Severus and Draco.

"Both of you will have first shots at Potter. Choose your torments well," he said to them.

Harry watched as the room faded out.

Harry appeared in Diagon Alley the next morning as speculation ran rampant over the article in the Daily prophet that a letter from Scrimgeour to the Wizengamot had been found in some papers as the Aurors went searching for clues that morning. The letter had been pronounced genuine. It was read to the Wizengamot in an emergency session as Harry Potter was seen visiting Gringotts. Witnesses say that Umbridge had shed tears for her deceased boss and asked for a moment of silence in his memory. The Daily Prophet reported most eagerly on her being voted in as Minister amid calls for Umbridge to step away from the ministry office from all of the light supporters. The election was too close and she beamed joyfully as he took office. Harry was sure that things would be happening almost immediately. He wasn't disappointed. Umbridge spoke, promising and end to the so-called war that those who wanted to disrupt the Wizarding World had created. Harry knew deep in his spirit that this was only the beginning. There was more to come. He was sure of it. Umbridge would be changing things. Changing laws, changing people, and moving her loyalists in. He hoped Arthur would have some kind of plan ready in case he got knocked out of his office. He hoped that McGonagall had some kind of plan in place to try and protect Hogwarts. He decided to visit Ron.

"I heard," Ron grunted as Harry stood in his living room. "Mum's gone spare. She's been fire calling the relatives most of the morning. Dad reported that his friends in the Floo Regulatory Office told him there had been an increase of action on the Floo System. No doubt people calling people. I've been using it to see what the others are planning to do in regards to seventh year."

"Ron, I'm convinced she's going to name someone nasty to the post of Headmaster of Hogwarts, a job that should be McGonagall's. She'll do it through the school governors, once she gets her claws into them," Harry said.

"I got the feeling who it might be too," Ron said.

Harry nodded. "Yeah, him. But she needs to clear him first. And Draco too. Both of them will be worse than ever."

"Too right. That's why I need to go back for seventh year," Ron said. "I need to direct things from inside. I know I'll be watched. Let them. I'll be careful, I promise."

"Your Mum will get upset at this, Ron. She'll keep Ginny out of there as well," Harry said. "You know that."

"I know. If things get too hot for me, I can pull a fast one and go to ground," Ron said. "I have to protect Hogwarts. That's the job Dumbledore left for me."

Harry nodded. "Okay. I guess I can't convince you to disappear with your family then. Is your brothers safe?"

Ron nodded. "Mum talked with them this morning. I listened in from behind the couch. Both Bill and Charlie are safe for the moment, since both are working overseas. Both of them were trying to get Mum to pack up just the valuables and come to them."

"That would be the best course of action. I am worried about your Dad in the event that Umbitch decided to start cleaning out the ministry," Harry said.

Ron snorted. "You and me both. Mum and Dad had a row about that this morning. Mum wanted Dad to apply for work at one of the other ministries in another country. Some of them may not have the prestige that England's does, but it's something."

Harry nodded. "So I've heard. I moved a lot of my vaults out of England this morning to another country. From what I saw in the lobby this morning, I wasn't the only one doing it. I've retained a lot of my investments for now. The ones that I have major share in got letters from me urging them to stay the course and not back down. Only one of them has indicated that they would be better off without me. So I dumped all of my shares in that company onto the market. The Goblins will keep me informed."

Ron sighed. "Things are going to get crazy soon, aren't they?"

"If they haven't now, they will later, Ron. That's why we need to plan things now instead of later when it will be impossible to get around," Harry said.

"Charlie did convince Mum to at least set up a get the hell out of town plan in the event things start to go south on us. Big sigh of relief, I can tell you," Ron said.

Harry nodded. "Good. I know I'll be hunted at some point. Hermione and I plan on going to ground long before then. We just need a way to communicate safely."

"What about through mirrors like you were doing with Sirius?" Ron asked.

"Good idea, Ron. We need to get a hold of Remus and find out from him what spells Sirius used. One of then will be an unbreakable spell to protect them. They will be perfect for you, yours could act as a shaving mirror," Harry exclaimed.

Ron laughed. "Hermione is starting to rub off on you, mate."

Harry nodded. "I need to get going. I want to catch Remus before he decided to slip out of town. I'll keep in touch."

Harry approached number 12 Grimmauld Place and looked around cautiously. He approached the spot where the house was supposed to be and it shimmered into view. Harry approached the front door and used the knocker. The door opened to reveal Mad Eye Moody.

"Where did you find me end of the Triwizard's contest?" he snapped.

Harry nodded. "In the bottom of your trunk that Barty Crouch Jr. trapped you in."

"Get in here," he hissed.

Harry slid in past Moody and the man closed the door after Harry.

"Good to see you kid," he said with a slap to the back.

"You too, old man. Anyone round?" Harry asked.

Moody growled. "Easy with the old man crap, boy!"

Harry smiled. He followed Moody down to the main room and found a few people there. They nodded to him. Harry looked at them for a moment and then nodded.

"Is this that's left?" he asked.

"Yes," a lady answered. "Voldemort's troops nearly got us all that night. We're pretty much out of business."

Harry sighed. "Then there's nothing left for you folks to do but run for it. Lay your get the hell out of town plans because I get the feeling that those of us that are left will be branded as terrorists and criminals and hunted down. So those of you who want to live, get. Enjoy the rest of your lives elsewhere. I won't blame you. Any of you who want to stay and fight, I need to know if this is what you really want to do. You know that Voldemort's going to be looking for some very serious payback for the last few battles we've won."

There was silence in the living room. Harry nodded.

"Right. Now I need to inform you all that there is a possibility that Umbridge will try to drag me in front of the Wizengamot on trumped up charges. She'll get me my titles and rights stripped from me. She'll gain access to my vaults. She'll confiscate my properties. Including this one. So I need this place stripped down to the bone of every and each item pertaining to the Order. Too much sensitive information lying around here could and would provide clues to your identities. Turn every little scrap of paper into the finest ash possible. Remus, I need to talk to you if possible," Harry said.

People got up and started moving around the place. Harry and Remus went into the library and shut the door. Remus turned to Harry.

"I think I know what this is about," Remus said. "You want me to remove the pictures for their safety. Already been done. McGonagall removed Albus and Sirius late one night when the pictures were asleep in the headmaster's office at Hogwarts. Albus and Sirius thought that was an excellent idea. Tino has cleaned out your training room and moved everything to another location. Hogwarts absorbed it back into herself."

"You make it sound as if she's alive," Harry said, knowing full well Hogwarts was housing a sentient being within it's walls.

"She is, Harry. Haven't you felt her?" Remus asked. "I have. Many times. The wolf in me feels her."

Harry nodded. "I have. Many times. I am going to miss her."

Remus nodded. "They wouldn't let you live the moment you stepped foot in there, Harry. They would find a way to strip you of your powers and use you in a game of "Harry Hunting" as a way to teach troops to chase down undesirables like me. Tonks is scared to death. She's made me promise that we'd get the hell out of town the moment things go bad. She's that scared."

"I don't blame her," Harry said. "Do you?"

Remus shook his head. "No I don't. They would hunt me down in a heartbeat. I don't need a bunch of Voldemort troops on my furry tail."

Harry smiled. "At least give them hell while you can, Remus. Give them your fleas and ticks if you can."

Remus punched Harry on the arm as Harry chuckled.

"Keep your head down if you can for now. Don't give any interviews. Watch what you say and do in public. In fact, don't go out at all. Stay at home if you can," Remus said. "This thing is about to get way out of control."

Harry nodded. With Umbridge firmly in control, anything could happen. He knew that he was not high on her favorite people list, but number one on her undesirable list. He smiled. He had plans for her. It was just a matter of putting them together and making them work.

"I'll be careful," Harry said. "You just find a nice little island someplace and settle in and be happy."

Both of them hugged each other and left the room. Harry nodded as he watched people working to strip the place of all the Order material. Harry went out the door and stood there for a moment to make sure the street was clear. Then he set off.

Harry ambled round the shops in the next block, checking his tail every so often. He sat down at a sidewalk café and had a bit of lunch before setting off once more. He saw a nice looking brooch in the window of one shop and went in to enquire about it. He purchased it for Hermione and had it wrapped up nicely. He stepped out of the doorway once he made sure there wasn't anyone watching. Harry wasn't being paranoid, he was being cautious, remembering his Escape and Evade lessons back home in Anjiro.

"Always have an escape plan," his master Koshou had told him once. "Never ever let them see you leave."

He smiled to himself as he ambled down the street. Those had been good days. He did a sudden turn, crossing a street while the light blinked green. He started down the other side and literally ran into a car that popped up in front of him. He looked down at the driver and thankfully he didn't see Harry. Harry slipped into the alley and out the other end and down into the underground. He took a train close to Hermione's house and got off. He sat down on a bench and pinched a paper to read while he looked around very carefully. He didn't see anyone giving him second or third glances. He stood up and casually folded the paper under his arm and walked up the steps. He dropped the paper into the trashcan and continued on his way.

He arrived at Hermione's place and knocked on the door. Hermione opened it and hugged him the moment he stepped inside.

"Hello, dear. Everything okay?" he asked.

Hermione nodded. "So far, so good. Did you see the Daily Prophet today?"

"No I haven't," Harry said. "Why?"

"The bitch named new people to high posts," she hissed. "I'll show you the article. This is just the beginning."

Harry read the article and nodded. The people she named to new posts were people high in Voldemort's camp. She was moving DE's into high offices in the Wizarding government. Harry nodded as he thought of what this could mean next.

"This is just the first step, Hermione. She'll do this for a few days or weeks, and then start to move laws around. That will take time. It gives us time to get what information we need before they cut off the information flow by severely restricting it. Then she will start making changes. Before people realize what's going on they will have clamped down on us so much that it will be impossible to do anything. By that time you and I will be on the run," Harry said.

Hermione sat down next to Harry. "I don't like all of this."

"I don't either. This is why we need to prepare now and then when it all comes down we go to ground," Harry said. "So we work with the information in Dumbledore's book and hope we can win. No, I said that wrong. We will win. That's gold in the bank. I am going to do some more reading tonight."

Hermione leaned over and kissed Harry. Harry smiled at her.

"There was another reason why I dropped in on you love," Harry said as he withdrew the package from his pocket. "Just a little something for you."

Hermione teared up when she saw it. "Thank you Harry!"

Harry took it and pinned it to the right side of her sweater and they kissed once more. Harry took her in his arms and sighed. Somehow things didn't look so bad when he felt safe in her arms. Hermione smiled and kissed Harry once more.

"Thank you love," she whispered.

Harry smiled. "You're welcome."

They sat down on the couch and Harry held her for a time. Then he recounted everything he had done that day. Hermione nodded.

"You did right by telling people to lay their get the hell out of town plans," she said. "I've been talking to my parents and they are getting worried."

"You did lay the groundwork for them to accept the memory changes, didn't you?" Harry asked.

She nodded. "I did. I know once this thing is over and I locate them and cancel the memory changes they will be furious with me. But that's a price I'm willing to pay for knowing they're safe."

"I hear you. I feel the same way with the Dursleys. I feel the need to protect them. The one person I'm really worried about is Ron and his willingness to go back to Hogwarts and run a resistance in the event that the DE's do take hold of Hogwarts. I just hope that Ron really knows what he's setting himself up for," Harry said.

Hermione sighed. "Same here."

"He and I are going to use mirrors to keep in touch with each other like Sirius and I were doing. That at least will give me an idea of what's going on," Harry said.

"Good idea," Hermione said just as her parents walked in the door.

They were surprised to see Harry there. Harry ended up spending the evening there, having dinner with them and talking late into the evening. When Harry got back to his house the place was quiet. It was evident that everyone had gone to bed. He creeped up the stairs and went into his room. He sat in his chair at the desk and contemplated pulling the book to read some more and then decided to pass. There would be plenty of time for that. He stripped down and headed for bed.

Harry popped out of the fireplace at WWW the next morning. Fred turned to see Harry standing there knocking the soot off him.

"A, oh great benefactor of ours," Fred greeted him.

Harry looked up with a smile. "Okay, what are you two cooking up now?"

Fred laughed at that as George walked into the back area.

"I thought I heard voices back here. What a nice surprise, Harry! What's up?" George asked.

"Oh the ceiling," Harry cracked.

The twins just groaned. "Old, Harry. That one's on Medicare by now."

"Oh just because I knew I could get away with it," Harry said with a smile.

The three of them sat down and Harry grew serious.

"You guys have seen the Daily Prophet of late, have you?" Harry asked.

Both of them nodded.

"Good. Then you know what's going on," Harry said.

They nodded once more.

"Guys, I'm really concerned about you both, not to mention Jordan and our friends that are working for you. They are going to be potential targets sooner or later. I want you guys to consider moving operations out of England and to someplace safe," Harry said. "Yes I know a Weasley doesn't run from a fight but the odds are too damn good against you. Please do the smart thing and do this. It's the right thing to do. If not for me, then for your Mum. She'd go spare worrying about you two," Harry said.

The clock on the wall behind them ticked loudly in the ensuing silence. Fred looked over to George and both nodded to each other.

"Since you put it that way, we'll do it. We have made plans to scoot out of here anyway. We are not going to tell you where we are going for security reasons. We've also made plans for taking the rest of the family with us. Ron is the only holdout. He keeps telling us he's on a mission from Dumbledore to protect the school. All of us have been trying to make him see the light but he refuses to. We want you to talk him out of this suicidal stunt," George said.

"I already have," Harry said. "I couldn't make him see the light either. I did insist on him making contact with me through a small enchanted mirror so we can keep track of each other."

Both of the twins sighed. "Good. That makes us feel better then. We can and will provide him with a cache of our best materials he can use if he needs to."

Harry nodded. "Good. Now, what about your Dad?"

Both of them sighed.

"Dad and Mum were arguing last night. She wants him to apply for work at another ministry in another country. The problem is that there isn't any that can match the prestige of the British one," Fred said.

"Yes, but it would mean plenty of work for your Dad, money coming in, and he could advise that minister how to deal with ours and Umbridge," Harry said. "Perhaps I should have a conversation with him."

"Oh please!" both twins echoed at the same time. "We think you might get through to him!"

"Through to who?" a voice asked.

The three of them turned round to see Arthur standing there looking tired and haggard.

"Dad?" Fred said, rising out of his seat.

"Are you okay?" George asked, concerned.

Arthur sat down in a small wing backed chair. "No, son. Umbridge and her Aurors tossed me out of my office about an hour ago."

Fred went to the counter nearby and got four glasses out of the cupboard along with a bottle of firewhiskey. He set the glasses down on the table in front of them and poured out a shot in each glass. Arthur took his and downed it in one shot as the others followed behind. Harry was the first to break the silence.

"So what are you going to do now?" Harry asked.

Arthur regarded the question. "I know your Mum is going to be upset at me boys, but I am going to have to insist we move from England. It's not going to be safe here any more. I have heard a lot of rumors flying around the ministry, and they are not good ones. As soon as I get home I am going to send my acceptance letter to the American Ministry. They did send me a really good offer. It's not as good as the British ministry, but it will give me a place to be safely. I just hope this thing will not last very long."

The twins nodded to each other.

"We have had an offer to come and open WWW in the New England's Wizarding community. Good rates, prime location, and there's a branch of Gringotts over there as well. It wouldn't take much for us to do it. We want to bring our employees with us. We've looked at pictures of the new location and it's in a three story building. Our shop would be on the ground floor, while the two upper floors would be apartments for us to rent out. It's a good opportunity for us, and you and Mum can live in one of the apartments rent free," George said.

Arthur nodded. "Let's go home and see your mother. Harry, we'd like you to come with us. You'd be safe."

Harry shook his head. "I can't. I have a mission to stop him, you know that. But if it helps, I love you guys for wanting to include me. Thanks."

Harry stood up and shook Arthur's hand. He turned back to the fireplace and flooed home. He felt better now knowing that the Weasleys were safe. He exhaled sharply as he sat down in the kitchen. He knew it wouldn't be long before some new legislature would come into being. That would happen once Umbridge got her claws into the Wizengamot. Harry thought for a moment and then decided it was time he made contact with some of them. He knew that Neville Longbottom's grandmother had a seat on the Wizengamot. He decided to contact her first. He went up to his room and wrote a letter to her and sent it off with Hedwig. He decided to give her to Ginny before they moved to America. He knew there wouldn't be any possible way she would be allowed to go back to Hogwarts in September. Molly would never allow it. Harry sighed and turned to stare at the small picture on his desk of Hermione. He hoped that she knew what she was getting into staying with him. He needed to get her a few things and he knew that one of his suggestions wouldn't go over well with her. He wrestled with his thoughts of Obliviate her and sending her off with her parents and he knew deep inside of himself she would never forgive him if he did that. Harry sighed and then reached for the book. He opened it to the last page when it was talking about the memory he had been able to collect from Slughorn. The next entry was interesting.

"10 July 1996. I have been thinking about the Gaunts and the ring. I recalled from Morfin's memory he was wearing the ring until Tom took it from him by force. Could it be still at the house? If it is, then I must go and find it. It will take a bit of doing to find the property, provided the ministry has retained it's records on the Gaunts. I will have to go to the ministry and look through the records. I must be careful, I do not want to alert any of Tom's spies there," Harry read.

Dumbledore had found the ring. Harry remembered Dumbledore coming out of the fireplace that evening at school and had carried him to the infirminary. He recalled seeing the blackened hand, Snape identifying the poison in the old man's system. Ever since then Dumbledore had not really recovered. Harry went onto the next entry.

"15 September 1996. Located the records today. Made a copy of them and hid the paper in my robes before that nice intern returned. She suspected nothing as I prattled on about something unrelated to my search I had told her I was on. I pretended to give up the search I was on for imaginary relatives. She expressed her sorrow and I left the ministry. Now I intend to read these documents and see if that bear any clue to where the Gaunt house once stood. Then I can go and locate the ring and destroy it. I will take the Sword of Gryffindor with me since it is powerful enough to destroy it," Harry read.

Was that why Rufus Scrimgeor refused to give Harry the sword? Because it was powerful enough to destroy the Horcruxes? Did Scrimgeour really know what Dumbledore was doing? Where was it now? Harry sighed and closed the book. All of these questions were giving him a headache. He locked the book back into his desk and turned his mind to meditation. He closed his eyes and slowly sank down into Getsumi no Michi and began putting information away into their proper places. He took the time to look around the house in his mind to make sure that everything was in their proper places. The two guard dogs came up to him and got his attention and he petted them for a time. There was something very therapeutic in petting his dogs. He hoped that someday he could get and keep a pair of dogs like them out in the real world. It would be fun to. Harry bid them goodbye and floated back up through the many layers of his mind back to reality. Hedwig was sitting on her perch with a letter in her beak. Harry smiled and gently smoothed her feathers, taking the letter from her and dropping it on his desk. Hedwig hooted in pleasure. She loved it when Harry did that. She nipped at his fingers gently and Harry smiled. After a few minutes he retreated back to his desk and opened the letter from the Dame Longbottom.

"My Lord Potter, I am pleased to have received a letter from you. I hope you are well. My grandson Neville speaks highly of you. It is because of your friendship he has gotten better at his magic. Thank you. As for your inquiry I have noticed alarming changes in the Wizengamot. There are new people taking seats in the body and others being forced out. I do not like the direction it is taking and I have been very vocal, taking a stand against these changes. But nobody listens to an old woman. I have been overruled time and time again and I fear it won't be long before I am asked to vacate my seat and leave. Lord Potter, I am not afraid of these people. I have been through worse. The first Voldemort war was terrible. It seems to me that people have forgotten this fact. I fear this second war will get worse. I will fight as long as I am able. What I fear the most is what will happen to Neville if I am to pass on? I ask you a favor. Take Neville under your protection. I know he listens to you. Please protect my grandson so that the Longbottom family will not be lost. I also must warn you. There are rumors afoot that there are plans to get rid of you. Beware of people who pretend to be your friends. They will attempt to stab you in the back when you are not looking. Take care. Augusta Longbottom," Harry read to himself.

He put the letter down and sighed. He now knew for sure which way the wind was blowing. It was time to put his plans into action.

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Next Episode: More changes, and Harry reacts.