Ninja Wizard 53

By David

Author's Notes: See disclaimer in chapter one.

Ninja Wizard 53

"The Return of Raizo"

For the next few days Harry watched the front page of the Daily Prophet. There was always something new on the front page and it didn't look good. Harry did catch up to Remus one afternoon when he went back to Grimmauld Place for an inspection.

"There you are, Harry. How are you?" Remus asked as they sat down in comfortable chairs in the living room.

"I'm okay for the moment," Harry said. "It's just a matter of time before the Wizengamot decided I'm the enemy."

"From what I'm seeing in the paper they seem to be changing their membership. Anyone who protests against them is getting the boot," Remus said.

Harry sighed. "I know. It's just a matter of time before they decide to come after me. I have logged many protests in regards to their most recent actions but I don't think it's doing any good. The Dame Longbottom was ousted yesterday."

"So I heard and that worries me. I wonder just what she is going to do," Remus said.

"I believe she is going to put up as much resistance as she can before they decide to try and remove her. I'd like to see them try," Harry grinned.

"She's no pushover," Remus said. "The only thing that keeps her going is Neville."

"Ron's picked him for his second," Harry said.

Remus nodded. "Good choice. Neville has improved a lot since he got his own wand. His Dad's wand held him back for so long. I think it was admirable that Neville wanted to keep a piece of his father with him but his Dad's wand wasn't doing him any good."

"I agree," Harry said. "He's so driven to take down the DE's, especially the LeStranges. I just hope that doesn't get him killed in the event the DE's take over Hogwarts."

"You really think that's going to happen," Remus said.

"Definitely. It will be through one person after ousting McGonagall from the headmistress spot. They'll leave a few DE's there to help maintain control of the school and possibly use it as a base for their activities. The dungeons will be used to imprison those who will not knuckle under the new regime," Harry said.

"All of which reminds me," Remus said, rising from the couch.

He walked over to the nearby cabinet and reached into it and brought out two separate wrapped packages and handed them to Harry.

"The mirrors?" Harry asked.

Remus smiled. "That they are. There's a few others as well. Mirrors for you, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Fred and George, and me. Just tap the metal frame with your wand and say the name of the person you want to talk to."

"Oh right on," Harry said. "Thanks Remus."



Remus smiled. "We Marauders used them to talk to each other when we were in detention back in the good old days."

Harry grinned. "You guys must have been something."

"We were quite the group. Once this thing is over, we'll have to sit down with Sirius and your Dad and tell some stories," Remus said.

"Deal," Harry said. "Thanks for the mirrors. I'll get them passed around."

Harry rose from his seat and they shook hands. Harry turned and walked out of the house. He had the strangest feeling that this would be the last time he would be in the house. He sighed and headed to Hermione's house. They had removed complete Floo access a few days ago to prevent unauthorized access. Harry didn't blame them. He did have ideas for the house when it became vacant and the DE's decided to attack it. He had plans for Grimmauld Place as well. It was a matter of getting a hold of the materials he needed. Moody came to mind. He knew the old man would help him in a heartbeat. He had to get to him before he disappeared.

Hermione answered her front door when Harry knocked on the door. She smiled at him and kissed him in full view of the neighborhood.

"That was nice," Harry said when they broke apart. "How about a repeat?"

They did it once more inside the house and Harry grinned. "I love the way you kiss."

Hermione blushed. "Thank you love."

They went into the kitchen where Hermione had a pot of tea going. She poured them cups as Harry set her mirror on the table.

"Is that for me?" she asked.

Harry nodded. "Yes. I've got one for Ron, Neville, Fred and George, You, and Remus."

"Good. That way we can keep in touch with certain people," Hermione said.

"That's the general idea," Harry said.

Hermione pointed to the Daily Prophet. "Have you seen the paper today?"

Harry sighed. "What did she do now?"

Harry reached for the paper and picked it up. "Dame Longbottom escorted out of the Wizengamot chambers today after getting very vocal about Minister Umbridge's new Cabinet. Minister Umbridge stated that it was time for new blood, new ideas to come out of the Wizengamot."

"Harry, what are you going to do if they come after you?" Hermione asked.

Harry looked at her. "Fight them of course. The Potters are not going down quietly. I do have a plan for them. If they come after me, they will most certainly come after you."

"Do we move our parents out now or wait?" she said.

Harry sighed. "I say we wait until we know for sure they come after us. It will be some time before they do, though. They have to do things first before chasing little old me."

Hermione couldn't help but chuckle. "Good luck to them."

Harry kissed her. "You caught me first. You get to have me."

Hermione giggled at the joke. She took her mirror and headed upstairs with it as Harry turned to read the rest of the article. He knew it was just a matter of days now before something significant happened. Harry hoped to get the Dursleys out of England before then. He put down the paper as she came back into the living room.

"Want to stay for a bit of lunch?" Hermione asked.

Harry smiled. "Now that's an offer I can't refuse."



Harry left the house some time later and apparated to his house. From there he used the floo to Ron's place. Ron greeted him with his wand pointed at the fireplace.

"Easy mate," Harry said.

Ron sighed and lowered his wand. "Nice to see you."

"Thanks, I think. Listen, I stopped here to give you this. Lupin fixed it up for us to talk," Harry said handing the mirror over to Ron. "He's got one. Fred and George are getting one. Hermione has hers, and Neville needs his. Just tap the frame with your wand and say the name of the person you need to talk to. Brought to you courtesy of the Marauders."

Ron laughed. "Very cool. This way I can keep in touch with you and relay information. The family is moving to the Americas in the next few days."

Harry nodded. "Good. They'll be safe there."

Ron sat down on the couch and sighed. "Mum's putting up a huge fuss about me going back to Hogwarts. She doesn't understand."

"She's your Mum. It's her job to worry about her ickle Ronniekins," Harry grinned.

Ron shoved Harry. "Cut it out. I know. I just wish she would accept the fact that I'm not a little kid anymore. I'm going into this thing with both eyes wide open. I know what could happen. I'm willing to take the risk. Someone needs to see to the defense of Hogwarts."

Harry nodded. "I know. You're the best man for the job. I have the utmost confidence in you. Just don't take unnecessary risks, okay?"

Ron stood up and went to the mantle where the family pictures were. "I won't."

Harry stood up behind Ron and Ron turned around. Both of them embraced and then nodded.

"Into the breach once more old friend," Ron said.

Harry grinned. "May you kick ass."

Both of them laughed and then Harry turned to the fireplace and flooed out to home. He sighed and went into the kitchen. He'd call Neville right after lunch.

Harry sat in a nice armchair facing Neville and his grandmother. The old lady looked her age but she still had the fighting spirit within her. Harry could feel it. He knew she would be a very formidable opponent. Harry had no desire to contest her.

"Very nice," she said as Neville examined the mirror. "That would aid you in the event that Hogwarts gets taken over. I do share your opinions that Snape and Draco Malfoy will be pardoned and then installed in Hogwarts as it's masters. But unfortunately there is nothing I can do about it. I am out as of this morning. People who I thought were friends turned their backs on me. Our Light supporters are losing the battle to keep their seats in the Wizengamot. I fear that you may be the next."

Harry nodded. "I know. I do have plans in place for that event."

"Do not tell me of them," she said. "The less I know the better. All I can say is that the Wizarding World looks to you for leadership."

"I know. I've accepted my destiny long ago. I must fight to protect it," Harry said.

"You know you've got my support," Neville said.

"I know and appreciate it, Neville. You're too good a friend," Harry said.

Neville smiled. "You gave me your friendship back in first year. You've done a lot to help me and I thank you. That's why I stand with you."



"Be careful, Neville. Who knows what's going to happen there," Harry said.

"I will. I've got two or three escape plans set up as well as my going to ground plan set up. I've been talking to Ron," Neville said.

"Good. I must be off. I've got to get back to the house and get some things done," Harry said, rising from his chair. "Thank you for the tea, my lady."

Dame Longbottom smiled. "You're welcome, Lord Potter. A good day to you."

Harry flooed back home and took his mirror up to his room and set it on his desk. He sat down in his chair and sighed. Events were starting to happen and Harry hoped that he could beat them all to it. He went back downstairs and fire called Moody. There was no answer and Harry hoped the old man was okay. He looked at the clock and noted the time. It was late in the day and he decided to go into London tomorrow and see some old friends in Little Tokyo, the Asian quarter of London. He needed to see a few people there and make plans with them.

Harry got off the double decker bus mid morning the next day. He looked around to make sure he wasn't being followed and then set off towards the Asian Quarter of London. He began to see evidence of it two blocks later as he walked up the street. He smiled as he heard Japanese, Chinese, Mandarin, and other Asian languages and he knew he was back in the world he had known since he was a little kid. He sighed and turned his attention to a small dry clean shop in front of him. The lady bowed as Harry entered. The shop was empty at the moment so Harry flashed his Dragon tattoo to the lady. She bowed once more.

Tino left a message here to tell you that he can be found at the House of Rokubungi, she said to Harry.

Thank you, Harry said and bowed back.

He walked out of the shop and turned to check the street once more. He spotted a little boy staring at him and smiled.

"So the brotherhood watches me," he thought to himself. "Let's see how good they are. This should be fun."

Harry turned left and went further into the Asian Quarter, stopping every now and then to browse a stall selling something. He glanced around and discovered the boy was following him and not trying to hide the fact.

"Hiding in the open," Harry thought to himself. "Giving me something to watch while hiding the real watchers."

Harry turned and bought a bottle of water and then moved on. He allowed himself to blend in with a group of people and then slipped into an alley and watched from the shadows as the little boy frantically looked around. He ran up to a man with a newspaper and the man slapped the boy across the face. Harry studied the man's looks and felt that the man was danger instead of friend. He watched the man for a moment and then walked out of the alley at the other end and checked the street once more. It appeared to be clear and he moved along with a group of people down the street. He discretely acquired a hat and put it on. Now he looked like an ordinary Asian person on the street. He crossed the street and waited for the light to change before he crossed the street once more. He was passing a boarded up building when a man stumbled out of the alley in front of him. Harry immediately recognized Drunken Fist and moved into combat in a second, slipping into Getsumi no Michi and extending his feelings in every direction. He didn't feel any direct threat as the man stumbled away. He relaxed and 

continued on down the street until he got to a drinking shop and turned in. He took a stool by the back and waited. A heavy set man sat down next to him a moment later.

Master Koshou awaits you in the back, the man said.

Harry nodded and slipped off the stool and ambled into the back area where the public bathrooms were and looked both ways to make sure nobody was watching and slipped through the painting of a Samurai warrior into the back room. He took off his hat once the hidden door closed behind him. Master Koshou smiled at Harry.

It is good to see you, Harry. I hope all is well, Koshou said.

Harry bowed. It is good to see you master.

Come and sit with me. We have much to discuss, Koshou said.

Harry sat down with the old man. I was followed the moment I stepped into the Asian Quarter. I am afraid I may have compromised the dry clean.

Koshou frowned. Tell me of these people.

Harry spent the next half hour working with a sketch artist on the faces he remembered. Koshou nodded as he looked at the finished drawings. He ordered them to be distributed for identification. Then Harry and Koshou spent nearly an hour discussing the current situation. Koshou didn't say anything about how he would be in contact with Ron in regards to setting up the defense of Hogwarts. Harry knew that he was being left out of the planning for safety reasons and he was okay with it. Ron had been tight lipped about what he had planned for the Hogwarts defense and that was all the better. Ron had learned Occulemency and was able to protect his mind very well. He had been studying the art on his own nearly every night and had mastered it fairly well. He wasn't a master like Dumbledore or Snape, but he could defend his mind fairly well. Koshou heard his plans to protect the Dursleys and he nodded. What he didn't tell Harry was that there were some of the brothers in the Americas who would watch over the Dursleys while they lived there. Harry then asked Koshou if he knew where he could get a hold of explosives and told him why.

I plan to mine the houses for when the DE's come calling. They will be taken out permanently and hopefully reduce their ranks, Harry said.

Koshou nodded. A very good tactic. I approve. I shall have someone contact you in the next day or two.

Harry bowed. Thank you master.

You shall use this person as your contact with us. It would not be a good idea to come back down here again because of today's events. Take care, Koshou said.

Harry bowed and then left the room by another door. He paused in the shadows of the alley and then set off. He let his senses go and became aware of everything around him. He picked up killing intent from his left and he moved off to the right. It stayed with him and Harry considered his options. He made his decision and headed towards what he knew to be the warehouse area where he knew of an abandoned building was. He decided to confront the unknown person and if necessary, take him out. Harry hopped up onto a dumpster and used his skills to scale the rock wall of the building in front of him and started racing across the rooftops, feeling the killing intent behind him. This person was broadcasting it very clearly. Harry wondered just how powerful the person was. Well, he'd find out in a few minutes.

Harry saw the building a moment later and leaped from the rooftop and through a broken window and landed on the floor and scampered out of the room and into the remains 

of a cubicle farm in front of him. Harry smiled to himself. This should work to his advantage. Make the enemy hunt for him. That would make him get frustrated and make mistakes. Harry moved through the ruined cubicle farm and listened to the footsteps of the pursuer. Harry stopped in front of an opened elevator door and looked down. He left obvious clues that he went down the shaft in hopes that his pursuer would go down. He hid behind a wrecked coke machine and watched the dark figure stop at the edge of the shaft and look down. Harry resisted the urge to pop out and shove the figure down the shaft. To his surprise the figure did enter the shaft. Harry watched the cables move back and forth for a minute or two before he creeped to the edge and looked down. The figure was standing on the elevator car halfway down the shaft. Harry drew Tetsusaiga and cut the cables. The car plunged downward after having been freed from the cables. The figure reacted by jumping up and catching a steel beam as the car started its drop. Harry drew back and moved back into the shadows. He could feel the anger coming from the figure and knew that he had just pissed him off. He moved quickly to the fire door and went through it and went down two floors and went through it to come out on the sixth floor. He listened and heard a noise coming from the elevator shaft. He peeked over a desk on its side and saw the elevator doors quiver and knew the person was opening them from the other side. Harry turned and went to the south side of the building and felt the person at his back. Harry went into a ruined office and pulled himself up into the ceiling and waited. The person entered the office with drawn ninja-to. Harry took the half ceiling panel and waited for the opportunity to drop it on the parson's head. The person took one step in the right direction and Harry beaned him dead center of the person's head. He moved as the person leaped, his ninja-to leading the way. Harry rolled to avoid the sword strike and then scampered across the steel beams on hands and knees in the only direction he could. He got to the concrete wall and moved that ceiling panel and looked down. He was above a conference room. He dropped down on the once bright oak table now marred with graffiti. The challenge had been thrown, and accepted. The battle was on.

Harry moved quickly through the doorway and paused to listen to the person moving overhead in the ceiling. Harry turned and raced for the elevator shaft and got to it before he heard the soft footfalls behind him. He leaped out into the darkness of the elevator shaft and grabbed onto the cables to the other elevator and slid down then to another open door on the fifth floor and hopped onto the floor just as he felt the cables go slack. The person chasing him had cut them. Harry rolled onto the floor and then went left. He wished he had material for a few snares to try and slow the person down. He looked around in the gloom and noted the wires hanging down from the ceiling. An idea came to him and he smiled. Harry went to work.

A few minutes later he had a few traps rigged up and he grinned. He was glad he had seen both of those Macaulay Culkin films "Home Alone". He'd thought it had been funny to watch the burglars become victims to the little boy's traps and now he was trying to use a few of them against his chaser. He wished he could see the person's face while the person stumbled through them, but he had to move on. He was sure he'd hear the noise soon enough. Harry crouched down and listened to the noise from the chaser and knew he'd just encountered the first trap, a pair of half full paint cans that would swing at the person after the trip wire was encountered. He heard the curse word and knew the figure was probably a mess 

by now. Harry knew it wouldn't be enough to stop the chaser. He moved on, moving along the east wall and keeping quiet so he could listen for any more noise. The two tables rigged to turn the pursuer into the center of a table sandwich was loud. So was the person and Harry instantly knew who it was. Raizo had returned. Harry knew for sure that the two traps had maddened him and he would not stop this time. This was the battle to the death. Kill or be killed. Harry turned and moved on. Now he had to plan for a battle and he decided that he had to find a better place for the final confrontation. In the meantime he would continue to plant more snares and traps in an effort to really piss him off so he wouldn't be thinking clearly. Harry found a fire door and went through it. He rigged up one of George and Fred's colored balls to the rail across from the door and then went down to the next floor. A moment he heard a loud pop and knew Raizo had encountered the colored ball. Harry chuckled to himself, wondering what color Raizo would be now instead of black. Harry kept on going and stumbled over something in the dark. He investigated it and discovered a bag full of rat traps. He nearly laughed out loud and went to work laying them out. He paused by the elevators and discovered a directory there. His jaw dropped when he saw the name Grunnings on the top of the board. He was in Uncle Vernon's former company. It told him there was a large auditorium on the next floor below him and Harry decided that would be the best place to stage the last stand. He turned when he heard the loud snapping of traps. He knew that Raizo had encountered them and was now after him. He moved to the north side and headed down the stairs, laying out the traps to cover every inch of the concrete in an effort to make it hard for Raizo to get down them. Harry knew he'd get past them by using the railing so he paused at the half point and opened the can of grease and applied a liberal helping of it to the railing and then continued to lay out the traps until he ran out of them. He moved through the door on the fourth floor and headed towards the auditorium. He wiggled his way through the partially open doors trying not to make them make noise. Raizo however, did make a lot of noise. Harry grinned, knowing that Raizo had encountered more of the traps. A moment later he heard the sound of a lot of traps going off and a yell. Raizo had discovered the grease on the railing halfway down the stairs. Harry turned to the auditorium and noted that all of the seating was still in place. Good. That would figure into his battle plan. Harry got busy and planted more snares and traps in places and he moved through the auditorium. He heard the sound of the door being forced and saw Raizo coming in. Harry reached the stage and crouched on the edge of it and waited.

Potter, the voice growled at him. This will be the place of your dying. My master will pay me dearly for your head on a silver platter.

Harry knew there was no need to cover his face any longer. He pulled his mask off and wrapped the black cloth around his waist. Raizo did the same.

Do you think that Voldemort would reward you for my head? Think again, Harry said.

Raizo started forward and slipped on something and something snapped loudly underneath his ass, causing him to jump up quickly. Harry laughed as Raizo pulled a rat trap from his ass.

What great skills you have! Harry exclaimed. I am impressed by the great and powerful Raizo.

Raizo tossed it aside and started towards Harry. Harry leaped off the stage and both of them drew their katanas at the same time. There was no backing down now.



Raizo made the first move, a direct strike to Harry's head. Harry blocked it and answered it with a strike of his own. The battle was on. They traded blows for a few minutes and then Harry moved onto the seats, leading Raizo towards the first snare. Raizo paused for a moment as Harry passed over the trigger. He studied Harry's face for a moment and then moved cautiously until his left foot encountered the trigger. He felt the cable tighten around the left ankle and he screamed in rage as the cable jerked his left foot backwards, causing him to face plant into the back of a seat. Harry leaped out of range of the thrown knife and watched Raizo slice through the cable holding his foot and then attack. He truly was pissed off now. Both of them traded sword strokes, Harry using the flat side of his blade to block Raizo's attacks. He wasn't ready to slice up Raizo's ninja-to. There was plenty of time to do that. Harry hopped backwards onto the next section of seats and Raizo was reluctant to follow and Harry knew why. Raizo hopped up on the backs of chairs and started after harry. Harry met him in the middle of the section of seats and they clashed once more. They continued to trade sword strokes while moving around each other. Harry pulled off a nice somersault in mid air over Raizo forcing him to turn around and face Harry. Harry took the opportunity to slap Raizo on the ass hard with the flat side of his blade, hoping to anger the man and make him charge after Harry. He didn't disappoint Harry. He charged after Harry as Harry hopped down to the floor leaving the section of seats. Raizo cursed again when his right foot landed in a large can of paint. Harry laughed.

Such nimble feet! He teased Raizo.

Raizo did what Harry hoped he would do, and that was lose control of his temper. Harry calmly blocked the flurry of sword strikes, infuriating the man even more. Harry shifted his position and stopped a sword strike with the tip of his sword. He reached for his Wakizaki and drew it. He applied a bit of pressure on Raizo's ninja-to and watched as the man's eyes bugged out and his jaw drop as Tetsusaiga slid effortlessly from the tip of the man's ninja-to to the tsuba. Harry brought up Wakizaki and began cutting pieces off his ninja-to. Harry got three quarters the way down before Raizo even reacted. He jerked what was left of his ninja-to free and swung the remainder of it at Harry. Harry blocked it with Tetsusaiga and cut the rest of it off the handle right at the tsuba. Raizo lost what control he had left and lunged at Harry with his own Wakizaki. Harry blocked the move and led Raizo onto the next section of seats. Harry danced backwards making Raizo follow him. Raizo suddenly stopped as if something had occurred to him. Harry slipped Tetsusaiga back in the scabbard and waited for Raizo to make a move. The man moved cautiously towards Harry. Harry moved backwards and passed over the next trigger, a weakened seat back. Raizo creeped forward and then attacked with a flying front kick. Harry flipped backwards to avoid Raizo's left leg as his foot landed on the trigger of the next trick and bent backwards quickly, snapping off and hitting the edge of a hidden board. The other end came sailing up towards Raizo and he reacted lightening quick, bringing up Wakizaki and thrusting it forward into the center of the board, stopping it. He grabbed the board and tossed it aside in a fit of rage. Harry watched it bouncing over the seats and come to rest, lying across several seat backs with the blade of the Wakizaki sticking up. Harry turned around just in time to see a fist coming at him and he managed to deflect it at the last second.

Your tricks won't save you, boy! I will have your head! Raizo snarled.

Harry drew a breath and settled his spirit. He knew now that this was it. This was the final moments of the battle. He had to win. Raizo attacked.



Both Harry and Raizo danced across the seats, fists and feet flashing at each other in an attempt to connect and cause the other to stumble or fall. Harry was fully in Getsumi no Michi, knowing full well what Raizo's next attacks would be. He relaxed and let it guide his movements and saved his strength for the final attacks when Raizo tired. A part of Harry was glad for all of the endurance training he did every day. He kept moving, his arms and legs a blur of movement, movement that wasn't wasted or choppy. Moves that were smooth and perfected through daily training. Harry kept his emotions locked up in his battle room deep in his mind, knowing full well that emotions could and would get in the way. Raizo's anger and hate of him had dictated his actions and Harry knew that Raizo had lost after their battle of wills when they had stared down each other. Harry had seen something go weak in Raizo's eyes and knew he had won the fight long before it started. Harry had kept track of their movements and they had been moving back and forth over the seat backs, drifting in the direction of where the board had gone when Raizo had thrown it. Harry danced back and forth, blocking the strikes from Raizo until the man had gotten very pissed off.

Fight properly, boy! Raizo growled.

Harry merely nodded and then unleashed a blinding fast strike of his own, pushing Raizo backwards. Raizo cursed himself for having goaded Harry and leaped forward with another attack. Harry flipped over Raizo and led him towards the east side of the seats. Raizo stopped and flipped backwards a few of the seats away from Harry.

I am not going to fall for your tricks, boy. I will have your head, Raizo said, and took a step back.

It was the one step too far. His foot came in contact with the board and he began to fall backwards as the other end of the board rose quickly and buried the Wakizaki into the back of Raizo's neck and came out the front of it. Raizo froze with a look of absolute horror on his face. Then he fell backwards, landing on the board and going still. Harry raced over to Raizo but it was far too late. The man was dead. He watched as Raizo's eyes glazed over in death. He reached over and closed his eyes and reached for his left forearm and pulled the sleeve of his ninja suit back to reveal the Dark Mark. Harry knew he had been marked by Voldemort. Harry shook his head and sighed. He crossed both of Raizo's arms over his chest and stood up. Harry turned towards the exit and left. He magicked away his ninja suit and found a pay phone and dialed a number from memory.

"Moshi Moshi," the voice sing songed at him.

Is Auntie in please? Harry asked.

This is Auntie, a female voice came at him.

Nine carp, Harry said.

One stone bridge pond, the voice said.

Raizo is dead. You will find his remains in the fourth floor auditorium of the Grunnings company, Harry said and hung up.

He turned and headed home.

Harry sat in the hot tub and sipped sake as he watched the sun set. He knew now that Master Koshou would be seeking him out to avenge the death of his only son Raizo. Harry didn't move when Tino came out of the shadows.



"Are you okay, Harry?" he asked.

Harry sighed and put down his sake cup. "No. I killed Master Koshou's only son. I am waiting for him to show up and avenge the death of his son. I will not defend myself."

"Master Koshou does not blame you. Raizo had chosen the dark path long ago when he was but a child. He chose it because he believed that his father had chosen you over him to be his favorite. In truth Koshou had treated the both of you as equals. He saw that you had much more skill than he did and trained you in the secret arts because he saw how Raizo had turned bully in an effort to make himself look big. That was the day he went dark. It was never your fault, Harry. Please don't blame yourself. Raizo made his choice and his death was the price he paid for choosing the dark path," Tino said.

"This shall be a lesson to me, then. I shall never stray from the path of light," Harry said.

Tino nodded. "I believe you, my brother. I came here to make sure you were okay. Master Koshou was very concerned about you. He would have come but he is currently engaged in business. He wishes that you do not be angry with yourself."

Harry lifted his head and nodded to Tino. "Thank you for coming to see me."

Tino bowed and then disappeared. Harry turned back to the sunset and contemplated the different colors in the darkening sky. He stood up and wiped the water off him and grabbed his towel and dried himself off and then headed into the house. He turned when the front door opened to admit the Dursleys. Harry smiled, but the smile didn't quite reach his eyes. Vernon noticed Harry's reaction and nodded. Harry took the bottle of sake down to the basement and waited for Vernon to come down. Vernon showed up a moment later and Harry related to him the events of the day, skipping over his visit to the dry cleaners and the drinking shop. Vernon shook his head.

"He did make his choice back in Japan, Harry. He chose to walk the dark path as Koshou said and ended up destroying himself," Vernon said as he poured himself a large brandy. "You are not to blame for his actions. He went and got himself marked. That speaks for the frame of mind he was in. What if he recruited more ninja to Voldemort's service? That would be serious trouble for the Wizarding World. Who knows how many Wizards he may have killed?"

Harry sighed. Vernon had a point there. He sat there for a bit longer before he was called up for dinner. He went up and put on a happy face and joined the others for dinner. After dinner he headed up to his room and sat down in his chair and drew the book out of his desk drawer and opened it to the next entry.

"20 November 1996. I have located the House of Gaunt. I went there to look for the ring and found it hidden in a box underneath the floor. I took the Sword of Gryffindor with me to use to destroy the ring in the event that I found it. I took both to the forest of Dean and there I did the deed. I was a bit careless, putting the ring on my finger after I had thrust the Sword of Gryffindor through the center of it. I did not check it for any remaining Dark Magic before putting it on and it attacked me. It started to eat into my hand and I managed to get it off and ran it through once more with the Sword of Gryffindor. This time the blackness of the soul fragment did die. I returned to Hogwarts and Harry was in my office at the appointed time and took me to the infirm nary and got me help. I owe him a life," Harry read and then closed the book.

Harry thought for a long time and sighed. He was going to have to get back inside Hogwarts and recover the sword. It would be needed to destroy the locket. He wondered just whatever 

became of the Basilisk's tooth he used to stab the diary. He decided a trip down into the Chamber of Secrets was warranted. He needed to retrieve it. Harry wondered if it had enough venom left inside of it to kill off the remaining horcruxes if he wasn't able to get the Sword of Gryffindor. One thing at a time. First he had to take care of the Dursleys if things that he suspected would come to pass. He needed to get things done first.

Harry met his new contact the next morning in a small pub twenty miles to the north of Hogsmeade. Harry laid out a list to the contact and he nodded. Harry went back to the house and went to work designing the explosives he was going to plant at the Granger house, the Dursley house, and at 12 Grimmauld Place. He spent the day gathering the materials he would need from the local dumpsters. He washed out the large cans he had collected and drilled a tiny hole in the bottoms of each one. He hid them in a large box in the Shrieking Shack instead of the Dursley house. He needed to wait for delivery of the materials he had requested. He read the papers from cover to cover in the few days he waited for his delivery to come through. He got his delivery when a brown Owl delivered a note. Harry opened the note after the Owl left. It was a letter directing him to be in a specific place in two morning's time. He nodded to himself as he fed the note to the fire in the fireplace. He sat down and began to plan once more. He had the feeling that things would start happening. Harry looked up as an Owl entered the yard and dropped a rolled up paper in Harry's lap. Harry recognized it as the Daily Prophet's Owl and paid him for the paper. He wondered why it was delivering a paper. He unrolled it to find the words special edition underneath the Daily Prophet name. He glanced at the headlines and drew in a breath.

"Special Session of the Wizengamot to meet tomorrow morning to announce results of the Dumbledore Investigation!" Harry read.

He looked at the article under the headlines.

"The Wizengamot is meeting tomorrow morning to hear the results of the investigation into Dumbledore's alleged murder. The individuals involved are being notified by special messenger to appear in the Wizengamot chambers to hear the results of the investigation into the incident that claimed Dumbledore's life. There is much speculation abound as to how it happened. According to the official investigation papers, Harry Potter apparently was the only witness to the incident that took the late Albus Dumbledore's life. He claims that he saw Severus Snape, Hogwart's Master Potions Instructor murder Albus Dumbledore. Tomorrow we shall learn the results of the investigation," Harry read.

He put down the paper and instantly knew this was it. This was the attack that was going to be made on him. He sat there for a time and then nodded to himself. He looked up when he heard a ping noise and observed a regal looking Owl fly in through the protective wards. It landed in front of him and Harry stared it down until it cowed properly. He took the letter from it and then pointed to the water bowl he kept on the table for visiting Owls. He opened the letter and nodded to himself as he read it. It was a barely respectful notice for him to appear at the Wizengamot tomorrow morning. He withdrew a piece of parchment and wrote a proper response to the missive and sent the Owl off with it. He had hoped that he would have had a bit more time but it couldn't be helped. Harry knew he had to prepare for the next few days. He went upstairs to lay out his formal robes. He planned on meeting his contact first and then take delivery of his special package and then go to the ministry.



Harry appeared in the apparition point of the Wizengamot chamber the next morning after he stashed his special package inside the Shrieking Shack. He kept a straight face as people looked at him and made comments to the person next to them. Harry noted the full council was there. He spotted a smirking Rita Skeeter and frowned. This did not look good. Harry went up to take his chair and sat down. He nodded to a person next to him and then turned to rise as Umbridge arrived in the chambers. He noted Percy next to him and knew this could get ugly. He sat down once more as Umbridge took her place at the head of the Wizengamot. Harry had the feeling that he was in for a rough morning.

"This special meeting of the Wizengamot is to come to order, Minister Dolores Jane Umbridge presiding!" the court official called out and then stepped back into place.

Harry looked around the room discretely to check for Auror placements and to see if he recognized any of them. He made all of them, robed and undercover. They looked very serious. Harry wondered just how many of them were DE's and how many of them were actual Aurors. He'd soon find out. He turned his attention to Umbridge as she stood up.

"Good morning all, she said. "We are here to listen to the results of the official inquiry into the mysterious death of the late Albus Dumbledore. We have all heard the testimony from Lord Harry James Potter who was present at the scene that fateful morning. Will the Auror in charge of the investigation please step forward and tell us your findings?"

Harry turned to see a man step forward to the witness box and get sworn in by the court official. The man placed his briefcase on the table and opened it and withdrew papers and cleared his throat.

"Madame Umbridge, honored members of the Wizengamot, I am Darius Neilson, a sworn and registered member of the Auror Corps. I was charged with the task of investigating the mysterious death of the late Albus Dumbledore by the late Rufus Scrimgeour. I accepted that task and carried it out to the best of my ability. Part of the task placed before me was to listen to the testimony of Lord Harrison James Potter. I have that transcript available for the court. In the course of the investigation I went to the scene of the crime and carefully searched the area for any clues, using the special skills of the team that was given to me for the express purpose of conducting the investigation. During the investigation, a most surprising thing happened. Members of my team were approached by individuals claiming to be friends of the accused, Professor Severus Snape and Draco Malfoy, Lord Lucius Malfoy's son. They indicated they wished to speak to me and I met them only after giving them my assurances that they wouldn't be taken into custody. However, bound by my Oath as an Auror, I did place both under arrest and brought them both into the Auror headquarters for questioning. Under the watchful eyes of several Aurors, they were given the truth potion and both answered questions. I do offer the transcripts of the sessions to the council for inspection," he said.

The people nodded.

"They claim to have been in another place at the time in question and the truth potion did not react, leading me to believe that they were telling me the truth. I interviewed the people they claim to have been with during the time of the incident under the truth potion and they gave truthful answers," the man said.

Harry instantly knew which way the wind was blowing.



"Therefore my conclusions is that due to the lack of other testimony other than Lord Potter's, is that the accused is innocent of the whole affair and should be set free with apologies from the Wizengamot and the Auror Service," Neilson said.

Harry kept his emotions wrapped up inside of him as the council and the people in the gallery muttered. Umbridge called for attention.

"Are the accused here?" she asked.

Nielson turned and nodded to a man at a door used to escort prisoners through. Snape and Draco appeared in the chambers looking like hell. Harry shifted in his seat. He knew they couldn't grab him right here and now. There had to be procedure to be followed. They would let him walk out of the chambers. Snape and Draco approached the accused box and stepped into it. Umbridge turned to them.

"The Wizengamot has heard evidence to the investigation into the mysterious death of the late Albus Dumbledore. Your testimony to Auror Neilson was heard and it is the judgment of this court that you were wrongly accused of the alleged murder of Albus Dumbledore. Therefore you are hereby ordered released with the apologies of the Wizengamot and the Auror Service," she stated.

Snape and Draco grinned at the chains were removed from them and they turned to shake hands with each other.

"This special meet of the Wizengamot is ended," Intoned the court official.

Harry didn't waste any time getting out of there. The fact that his chair had been in the back of the council had helped. He went to the apparition point and apparated out. He appeared at the Dursley house and went inside. He changed out of his robes and put them away. He set a ward to notify him in the event that anyone from the Ministry arrived and flooed out to the Shrieking Shack and went right to work on his explosive packages. He wanted to be ready in the event the attacks happened. He worked until late afternoon and had the explosive packages ready for 12 Grimmauld Place and the Dursley house. Harry flooed out and walked out of the fireplace at the Dursley house. The Dursleys were arriving home after a day out in London. Harry pretended that nothing was wrong and enjoyed dinner with his relatives. He went to bed a bit early as he was tired from the day. He lay there for a time knowing deep inside of him that this was the first step to discrediting him. Tomorrow would tell him which way the wind was blowing in the Wizarding World.

"Harry, what now?" Ron asked at breakfast the next morning as he put down the Daily Prophet onto the table.

Harry looked up from his cup of tea. "We wait. This is the beginning to something, most likely a plot to discredit me and strip me of everything."

"You know that's what they will do," Hermione said.

"So now we put our plan into effect," Ron said.

Harry shook his head. "Not yet. Things must happen first. When it looks absolute black for me and they declare me an outlaw, then we put the plan into effect. Right now we carry on as if nothing's happened."

Ron sighed. "I hope you know what you are doing, mate."

"So do I," Hermione said. "I'm scared."

Harry reached out for Hermione and drew her into a hug. Ron joined them for a three way hug and it seemed to do them good. Ron broke away and resumed his seat.



"We need to eat up. Food's getting cold," Ron remarked.

Harry chuckled and Hermione smiled.

"That's the Ron we all know and love," she said.

"Hey, I am a growing teenager," Ron quipped.

Harry and Hermione laughed at the joke.

They met with their friends in the DA's Inner Circle later in the day. Harry officially relinquished control of the DA to Ron and then sat back and listened to Ron explain what was going to happen that coming school year.

"Depends on who's the headmaster," he said when Neville asked him if they were going to operate covert or not.

"I get the very bad feeling who it might be, and he won't be bearing gifts," Ron said.

"We know that Slytherin House will be operating against us," Susan Bones said. "I propose that we continue to reach out to the first and second years and try to influence then to join us."

Harry nodded. "Then do it. I do suggest setting up safe rooms inside the castle in the event that DA members are compromised. I don't any one of them to get hurt."

Ron and Neville nodded.

"We will Harry. Leave it all up to us," Neville said.

Harry leaned back. "Good. I'm glad to know I can count on you guys to get things ready for the final confrontation."

"How will we know when it's time?" Cho Chang asked.

Luna Lovegood smiled. "Easy. When you see Voldemort coming, that's when you will know."

Cho nodded and the group went quiet for a moment. Ron stood up.

"Right. Everybody's got their assignments, so let's get cracking. Neville, a word with you before you pop out," Ron said, breaking up the meeting.

Harry stood up and left the house and wandered into the backyard of the now deserted Burrow. The Weasleys had moved out a week ago and Ron was using the Burrow until it was time to go back to Hogwarts. Harry stood at the edge of the property watching the enchantments working to give the impression that people were still there. Harry had seen enough of the Burrow to know exactly where he was going to place the Burrow explosives. He regretted having to blow the place when the DE's come calling when the Weasleys would be declared enemies of the state. Harry turned around when Hermione came out to where he was.

"Was this what you envisioned happening?" she asked him.

Harry paused before answering her. "Yes. I didn't need a special dream to tell me that either. It's happened before. 1939 Nazi Germany. What Hitler did to the Jews and to the dissenters in his government until all of the ducks came up right for him. Then he launched World War Two and we all know what happened."

Hermione sighed. "Do you think we can survive this?"

Harry turned to Hermione. "We will because we are determined to. I will take his head in the final battle. Only then will the world be truly safe."

Hermione wrapped her arms around Harry and sighed. Harry kissed her and they looked to the house when Neville called to them. They walked back holding hands and said their goodbyes. Harry watched them all floo out before hoping back to the Dursley house. He found a brown 

Owl there for him and took the letter it had for him and it flew off. Harry opened it and read it. It seemed that Snape and Malfoy were not wasting any time. They were suing him for alleged damages to their reputation for huge sums of money. Harry nodded knowing that this was the first step. He decided it was time to initiate his plan.

That night Harry creeped around the house and into every person's room and whispered the key phrase in each ear, "Heaven is safe," in Japanese and quietly withdrew. He went back to his room and wiped it clear of everything and flooed out to the Shrieking Shack. He returned to the house and watched from the shadows as the Dursleys went out to a waiting taxi with their suitcases, heading for Heathrow to fly out to the Americas. Harry shadow ported to Heathrow and watched them approach the counter and declare to the waiting lady that they had enjoyed their holiday in England. He watched them get on the plane and it pull away from the gate and then watched it lift off from the runway heading to the Americas from the shadow of the cargo building. He returned to the now empty Dursley house, his heart torn by the pain of what he had just done. He knew it was for their own good. He wanted to see them safe and this was the only way he could do it. He flooed out to the Shrieking Shack and began setting up the first of the explosives in the Dursley house. By the end of the day the job was done. Everything was now in place. Now all he had to do was appear in the Wizengamot chambers the next day for the start to his trial. Harry knew deep down that they would use this as a springboard to declaring him incompetent and take everything from him. They had fired their first shot at him and the war was now on.

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