Chapter 20: Plots, Villains, and Escapes

Saturday, May 2nd, 1993 0700

Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore sat in misery. The knowledge that his mentors had committed the kind of atrocities needed for them to build the stone was a shocking one. It had nearly been enough to break him. Nearly, but not quite. Ever since the prison guards had betrayed him in 1949 he'd held out hope that someone would notice. But no one ever did. After nearly half a century of his life spent being barely fed, and unable to practice magic, he was incredibly weak. While Gellert took special care to ensure that he wouldn't die, that did not mean that he wasn't weak. The only thing he had left was his wits, and his tongue. While Gellert had often been referenced in regards to his silver tongue, and his ability to convince people of something, he was not the master of it. No, that ability of his he had learned at Albus' own hands. And while most of the guards were completely loyal to Gellert there was one, Ivan whom had never truly believed in him. Thanks to him, he was kept up to date in the latest ongoing of the wizarding world.

The jingle of keys and the opening of his cell door led Ivan bringing his Dailey Prophet and the day's meal. "Dumbledore."

"Ivan. Tell me, is there any progress?"

"I've managed to secure an owl. We've only got once shot at this. Do you have anyone you can trust to provide help? Once you're out, you need to get behind some pretty powerful wards as quickly as you can."

"James Potter. His Father was my right hand in the war. If I know Charlus, he raised James right. Between him and his eldest, if anyone is going to be able to help, those two will know."

"I'll do my best. I have to go now. Stay strong Dumbledore. We can't have you dying and that madman succeeding." With that Ivan left the cell. He hoped that he could reach this James Potter, and that the man was everything Dumbledore believed him to be. The fate of their world could very well depend on it.

That night, an owl made it's way out of Nuremburg. It's burden, a single letter that could change everything.

Meanwhile back at Hogwarts, Harry, Alex and Daphne were enjoying yet another picnic by the lake. With the end of term fast approaching, and many of his plans coming to fruition, this would be Harry's last chance to enjoy a day with his soon to be wives for a while. Even though none of them were the least bit concerned about not passing their year end exams, Harry had spent the last month putting the finishing touches on his plans for the coming summer. He knew that Dumbledore would seek to prevent him from getting his Potions Mastery. Snape was extremely proud of the fact that so far he was the youngest potions master in history. And in order to keep him Happy, Dumbledore would have to try and block Harry from usurping that title. That's why Harry had enlisted help from Cornelius. Telling him his fears, Cornelius had promised that he'd ask his contacts to ensure that the only people on the panel were open minded and fair. Why they couldn't stop Dumbledore from loading the panel with those against Harry, they could do their best to ensure that the people chosen were at least fair. And with the ICW having announced this last week that Britain would host the Playoffs and the Finals, Harry was enjoying things going right for a change.

But none of that was on Harry's mind right now. No he right now, he was focusing on his girls. "So, Alex, what are you're plans for the summer?"

"I'm not sure yet. I'm going to try and get Dad to take us on a family vacation. It's been a long time since we went on one, and there's this Youth Spell Weaver camp in France this summer that I want to go to. Other than, I'm not sure. Daphne?"

"I'm probably going to work with my father in the Wizengamot. I know you said that I could take the Peverell seat but I'm not emancipated and there's still a lot I need to learn about politics before I'm ready. What about you Harry? You seem like it's going to be a busy summer for you."

"It will be. I'll be sitting in on a couple of sessions of the Wizengamot, but I'm also presenting my runic array and the cure, T.E.D. should hopefully be enough to get me the Mastery for Defense. That'll be during the second week of summer. Between that, and the other projects I've told you about, I'll be pretty busy all summer. Neville got his Grandmother to agree to let us host him for the third week too."

"Sounds like you'll be busy." At Daphne's disappointed tone, Harry moved closer and hugged her. "Well, I will be, but I'll never be to busy for my girls." The trio shared a hug before enjoying the rest of their warm picnic. Even Harry with all his knowledge of the other world, could never have predicted that their summer was going to be far busy than he could ever imagine.

That evening Harry sat in his private room with Neville, Alex, Daphne and Hermione going over their Transfiguration homework. Harry was on edge. Last night they had helped Hagrid smuggle out the dragon to Charlie Weasley. The fact that it had happened nearly a month later in his world meant that Voldemort had already figured out the rest of the traps. And with Dumbledore having been gone all day, as well as McGonagall and Flitwick, Harry thought that Voldemort would make his move tonight.

"No, see the wand movement there at the end, you're adding too much of a flick. It's supposed to be more of a jab. That's why-" Harry cut off as he felt the magic of his detection ward ringing. Sometimes Harry really hated being right.

"What is it Harry?" Alex asked seeing Harry go white. "Voldemort's making a move on the stone right now. And with the only two teachers I trust gone, we have to stop him. If he get's his hands on that stone, it will be bad for everyone."

"I'll go with you Harry." Neville said immediately. Voldemort had killed his parents and while he was intending to die, he would not, could not, allow him to get his hands on an object with the power of the stone. The girls quickly attempted to convince the two boys not to go, but instead to call Harry's father and have him bring Aurors to deal with it, but Harry convinced them that there wasn't time. So instead, each of them offered their support. Ever since Halloween Harry had trained the three girls and Neville, hoping that they could avoid this fight, but realizing that they most likely wouldn't let him do it alone. So instead, he did his best to ensure that they would each come out unharmed.

"Fine, but hurry. We go in five minutes." With that he quickly made his way up to his bedroom and changed into his Basilisk Hide Combat robes. After the troll, Harry had realized that they'd need some kind of armor if they were to be dealing with threats on a regular basis. So he'd secretly commissioned five sets of armor that were kept in his room.

Stronger than Dragon hide, and not nearly as heavy, they'd provide the group with better protection. Unfortunately, only the vest had come in so far, the rest of the armor not finished yet since Basilisk Hide was so rare and hard to work. And since Harry hadn't gone into the chamber yet, he didn't have ready access to a source.

He quickly threw his on and then brought the other four downstairs where he had everyone else put theirs on, then put a robe or something over it. It wouldn't do to have their advantage known so quickly. Once everyone was dressed they quickly and quietly made their way from the tower to the third floor entrance. Once there Harry spoke up. "Alright, remember this isn't a game. Anything past this door could kill us. If I tell you to run, the run. Don't stop. Don't hesitate. Run as fast as you can to the Owlery. Owl Flitwick and McGonagall. Remember the training I gave you. Do you all understand?" Seeing everyone nod with determined looks on their faces, Harry opened the door where Fluffy lay, using his wand to quietly and quickly move the Cerberus' paw off the trap door. Once he opened it, the harp in the corner stopped playing. "Let's go. Move." Neville went down first, followed by Hermione, then Alex and Daphne. After Daphne jumped Harry heard the growling creature and wasted no time jumping. Hermione again cast the sun charm to the Devil's snare let them go, and they made their way to the next room. In there, once again they found a series of keys, and Harry once again made the catch before they moved onto the giant chess set. "I 'spect we have to take their place. Alex, you're the best at chest out of us. It's your game." This time Harry took the place of a knight, Neville was a bishop, Hermione was a rook, Alex was the other knight and Daphne took the place of the queen. Alex was great at chess. She wasn't however, as good as Ron, and so they nearly lost several times before she made the same decision Ron did. "Alex." Harry said with a pained expression. "You know what I have to do Harry. It'll leave you free to check the King."

"What are you two talking about?" Hermione asked. "She's going to sacrifice herself."

"No you can't there must be another way."

"Do you want to stop Voldemort from getting the stone or not? It's not any of us who's going to defeat him. Harry and Neville are the best bets. Knight to H3." And with that the others were forced to watch as Alex sacrificed herself. Once the queen had taken her out, Daphne and Hermione had made a move to go to her. "NO! Don't move. Don't forget. We're still playing." With that Harry walked across the board and put the king in Checkmate. Only once the sword had fallen did Harry rush to the side of his betrothed. The rest of the group quickly joined him. "Mia, Daphne, get Alex out of here. Get her to the hospital wing and then go for the Owlery. Me and Neville will go on. Make sure you put her vest back in my chambers. Go! Now!" Hermione and Daphne picked Alex and up, and then turned back. Then Daphne quickly slipped out of Alex's arm and rushed to hug Harry. "Be safe Harry." She then gave him a kiss that lasted for a few seconds and then turned and ran back to Alex. Harry smiled slightly as he raised his fingertips to his lips and then dropped the smile as he turned back to his god-brother. "Are you ready Nev?" The boy nodded and Harry clapped him on the back before together they went to face the rest of the series of traps guarding the Stone. Or rather, it's replica. Not that Harry ever intended to tell anyone that. The stone would be 'destroyed' in the sure to come fight.

The two boys quickly passed through the chamber where the troll lay dead, and Harry cast the flame-freezing charm to allow them through the 'protection' that Snape had made. It was time to fight Voldemort. "Neville you go first, I'll stay hidden. We have to let him make the first move.

James Potter sat at home in his study. His wife had taken their two youngest out to Diagon Alley and with Harry still at school, that meant he had Potter Manor all to himself, which was rare these days. It allowed him a chance to contemplate his life this last year. For years he had been estranged from his eldest, seeming like he barely knew him, and then ever since that fateful day at Gringotts, his son had been almost a completely different person. He'd gone from being a hateful young man to a man who was striving to improve their world. He'd gone from being stingy, to suddenly exceedingly generous. And he'd gone from being thought of as a squib to the most talented student Hogwarts had ever seen. And his incredible sense of business had allowed him to develop ways to increase both the Potter and Peverell fortunes. With the Gold mines producing gold, his Oil reservoirs were currently being tapped as events in the Muggle world had started to skyrocket Oil prices, Harry had smartly decided against tapping the reservoirs quickly. Even moving as fast as they could, it would take at least twenty years to drain the oil from his land, and with Harry only moving at half that, it kept the oil prices high, and allowing his son to rake in the money. He was doing the same thing with the Gold from his mine.

James was broken from his thoughts by an unfamiliar owl landing on his desk holding out a letter. Only after casting numerous detection charms did he remove the Owls burden and open it. The letter was written in blood.

Herr Potter,

My name is Ivan. I'm a guard at Nuremburg. In 1949, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore visited the prison. He never left. Instead, Gellert Grindelwald had gotten most of the guards on his side, and those who weren't hid their allegiance least we be killed. Grindelwald uses the Lemon Drops injected with Polyjuice to masquerade as Dumbledore. Until now, we didn't know who to trust, but the information about your son in the Prophet, and Dumbledore's own experience with your father has led us to believe that you may be our only hope of getting him out of here and stopping Grindelwald from taking over. Time is running short. Grindelwald will visit for more hair for the Potion on the soon, although I don't know when. Dumbledore needs to be gone before then. He has been, through the use of runes, kept from using his magic for the better part of half a century. His advanced age, and lack of access to his magic and decent food means that he is dying. We've currently fooled the Dark Lord into believing that Dumbledore will live for many years to come but that couldn't be further from the truth. The truth is, that if he doesn't get out of here soon, he will die. Please help us Herr Potter. You are our only hope of stopping this madman.

James read the letter, then had to re-read it a few times before he suddenly paled. If this was true-no. It was written in blood, and James could practically feel the magic pouring off of it. That meant it was written with a blood-quill spelled to keep the writer from lying. He had to get in contact with-his son. His son was near that Dark Lord.

It took all his skill to keep from leaping up and rushing to Hogwarts to find his son. Instead, he immediately took out the communications mirror, and called Sirius, telling him to get over as quickly as possible. Next he called his wife telling her to bring the kids home right now, the manor was going on lockdown in three hours. He ignored her questions and then called Amelia, Moody, and Cornelius. Only then did he call his son.

Daphne was pacing in Harry's room when she heard the mirror going off. Hearing Harry's father's voice she quickly rushed over to his bedside table and grabbed it. "Mr. Potter!" She said. James took one look at her Armored figure and began to worry. Even though the armor was hidden underneath her robe he hadn't been one part of the best set of Aurors outside of Mad-Eye Moody for nothing. "Daphne, what's going on? Where's my son?"

"Dumbledore hid the Philospher's stone in the school. Voldemort went after it tonight. Harry, Neville, Alex, Hermione and myself went to stop him. Alex got hurt and Harry ordered me and Hermione to get her to the hospital wing and then send for help."

"Is 'Dumbledore' not in the school?"

"No, him and Professor's McGonagall and Flitwick have been gone all day." James swore. "Listen to me very carefully. I want you to get Alex and your friend Hermione. After that I want you to try and find my son. Gellert Grindelwald has been posing as Dumbledore since 1949. The real Dumbledore is trapped in Nuremburg. Hogwarts isn't safe. We're putting together a team now, but I need you to get yourself, Neville, Alex, and Harry out. Bring your friend Hermione. A team of Ministry Aurors is on their way to the school right now. Stay in Harry's room until they get there. Don't open that door up unless they give you this phrase, 'Appearances are deceiving, but actions are inmutable.' Do you understand?"

"I think so. How am I supposed to get Alex out of the Hospital Wing?" James swore again. He hadn't thought of that. "Do you know the stunning spell?"

"Yes, Harry taught us, but I'm not very good with it."

"That's fine. Use it. Then bind Madam Promfrey. Do that to anyone, student or teacher, that you come across until the Aurors get there. A man named Kingsley Shacklebolt will be the leader. I have to go. Stay safe kiddo." Seeing the fear in his son's betrothed eyes nearly made James want to come to the castle himself. But if fake-Dumbledore really was away then they had to get to Nuremburg as fast as possible. "I will. Mr. Potter?"

"Yes Daphne?"

"I'm scared."

"So am I. But you have to be strong for me okay?" The girl quickly nodded and James ended the call. Merlin, he hopped they were doing the right thing.

Harry dodged the curse from Quirrell and sent back a reducto. Neville was currently wandless, and doing his best to get back to his wand to help his godbrother. Their plan had gone well at first but Voldemort had sensed Harry shortly after Neville had backed away from the mirror. It meant that Neville had the false stone right now, and the only thing standing between him and a defenseless Neville was Harry.

"Give up boys. You cannot hope to defeat me." Voldemort hissed from the back of Quirrell's head. "Yeah, we'll give up as soon as you die snake face." A growl answered that comment from Neville and Harry might have both applauded his godbrother on his courage, and then slapped him for his stupidity. He'd given away his position ten feet from his wand by responding to that, and only his quidditch reflexes had spared him from receiving a killing curse. Unfortunately it also had him diving away from his Wand, which allowed Voldemort to get right up to him. As Quirrell wrapped his hands around Neville's throat, Neville attempted to throw the stone to Harry, who had just cast his most powerful bombarda spell at the possessed professor. The fake stone was shattered by the curse, it's shrapnel finding it's way into the back of Quirrell, knocking him off Neville, who, upon seeing the effect his touch had on him, immediately grabbed onto his face. Soon enough Quirrell collapsed, and Neville and Harry were left panting. "Well, at least we know he won't be getting the stone anytime soon. Come on. Let's get back to the girls."

It took Neville and Harry fifteen minutes to get back to Harry's room where they found Alex passed out on the couch, and Daphne tending to her. "What's going on Daphne? I thought I said to get her to the hospital wing?"

"You're father called. He wants you to get us to Potter Manor immediately. He said something about Dumbledore being Grindelwald and the real Dumbledore being trapped in some Nurnbug." Hermione said in response as she came down the stairs that led to Harry's room. "What?!" Harry was stunned at this information but if it was true, then he didn't have anytime to waste. "Quickly, to the fireplace. It has a direct floo connection to Potter Manor. You don't have to be a part of the wards if you go through there." Daphne and Alex went first followed by Hermione and then Harry carried the barely up Neville to the fireplace and sent him on the way. He was going to a different place.

He was going to rescue the real Dumbledore.

James Potter was not a happy man. To have found out the headmaster of Hogwarts was one of the worst Dark Lords in History in disguise. Then to find out his son was currently facing the other Dark Lord had nearly caused him to have a heart attack. While he was well aware that his son had a grasp of magic that bordered on instinctive, that didn't stop him from worrying. Unfortunately, he had an equally as important task and could thus, not go to his son's aid. And so James, Sirius and a group of fourteen Aurors appeared outside of Nuremburg prison, immediately coming under fire by the guards. "We have to get to Dumbledore before they call for help!" Sirius shouted out at him. In the chaos of battle, neither noticed the white phoenix flames that burst into being above the prison. The phoenix dropped its load, Harry, at the edge of the battlements and then flamed away.

Harry for his part, looked at the battle going on below and sighed. He wished that he could go down there and help, but he had a more important task. Getting Dumbledore out before Grindelwald showed up. With that he turned away from the battle and made his way with his wand out towards the roof entrance.

Down below, Harry's arrival hadn't been missed by one member of the Auror team. Mad-eye Moody watched with his magical eye as the son of one of the best Auror's he'd ever trained arrived via phoenix. Knowing that their task had just switched from trying to get to Dumbledore to trying to keep the guards occupied long enough for the boy to get him out. He turned his full attention back to the guards. Knowing that if he told James what his son was doing James would lose focus and probably die, he kept the knowledge to himself, keeping an eye on the boy with his magical eye as often as he could.

Harry turned the corner and then turned back quickly. Standing in front of a cell was two guards. Clearly the most experienced, they were there to keep Dumbledore in, or kill him if they couldn't. Harry rolled around the corner and cast an exploding curse and a bone breaker at the two. The first wizard barely dodged the exploding curse but his bone breaker did manage to hit the second wizard, breaking his wand arm. The first guard immediately turned and cast some spell at his companion that caused him to collapse. "My name is Ivan Herr Potter. I'm the one who sent the letter to your father."

"And why should I trust you?"

"Because I'm willing to take a magical oath as to that fact." The man, Ivan did just that. "Now, are you going to waste even more time or are you going to help me get this man out of here?"

James was growing weary. Although they were slowly taking out the prison guards it was going far to slowly for his tastes. "We have to hurry. Grindelwald will be here any minute now." James shouted to Moody. Just then a storm of power hit the Aurors and knocked a few of them onto their back where they were quickly killed by the prison guards. "It's far to late for that." And there in front of them, stood Grindelwald. His Polyjuice having worn off as he had run out of sweets on him and didn't have time to get anymore once the guards had alerted him the Nuremburg was under attack.

It was then that James saw his son, slowly creeping around the back with Dumbledore over one shoulder, his wand arm free and taking aim at Grindelwald. His heart in his throat, James watched as his son fired a bolt of what looked to be pure magic at the back of the dark lord. Before the bolt even reached Grindelwald, a flash of light appeared and whisked Dumbledore away. Harry then sprinted over to James sliding into a hole that was behind him. "Dumbledore's home. You can yell at me later. Let's go!" James grabbed Harry's arm roughly and together they all began a fighting retreat, apparating away to the manor as soon as they were clear of the wards. Grindelwald yelled in anger as they escaped and his plans to rule the wizarding world came crashing down around him.