21.
Amelia Bones stood before all the Aurors the Ministry of Magic had, and even some who had consented to return to active duty. She glanced at Rufus Scrimgeour who stood next to her, his expression mirroring her own worry and fear.
"Thank you all for coming. Some of you are already aware, but for the rest of you, there was a disturbance the other night in Diagon Alley. The Vigilante was scene allegedly attacking a young woman. This was followed by the appearance of roughly one hundred Death Eaters and…"
Amelia took in a breath and held it a moment before finishing. "Lord Voldemort.
This was answered by a wave of concerned murmuring.
"I spoke with the Wizengamot and The Minister of Magic this morning, and they are of two minds. The Minister does not wish to plunge us back into war as he believes this was just some kind of smoke and mirrors trick by the Vigilante in order to get us off his trail. However, the Wizengamot isn't willing to take that chance. As of this morning we have been authorized to hunt down anyone known to have Death Eater affiliations from the past and bring them in for questioning." Amelia explained.
"What if they resist?" Someone asked.
"You are authorized to use whatever force you deem necessary in the moment." Rufus Scrimgeour replied. "However, we do want them alive. They can't answer questions if they are dead."
"Madam Bones?" Tonks asked, raising her hand. "We believe that our current investigation has ties to Death Eaters."
"We will discuss that in a moment Auror. For now, I wish for you all to begin following new protocols. No one from this department will be conducting any investigations or pursuits alone. You stick with your partners. Also, I don't want any dead heroes. Call for back up immediately if you even have an inkling that you may need it. The Death Eaters managed to wear down our numbers and I want to return the favor. Off you go then." Amelia stated emphatically to her officers.
"Auror Tonks, Auror Shacklebolt, in my office please." Rufus shouted as the meeting broke up.
Rufus shut the door after everyone came inside.
Amelia then used her ward to conjure a strong privacy ward. She then looked to the Head Auror and motioned for him to sit.
"Rufus, What I'm about to tell you must stay in this office. It is a matter of utmost security." Amelia said and Rufus looked up in bewilderment. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you before, but I felt it was important to limit the people who knew."
"What is it Amelia?" Rufus looked to his boss and then to the two Aurors who also looked puzzled.
"I know who the Vigilante is."
The silence that followed was deafening. Kingsley turned to look at Amelia so fast his neck cracked. Tonks's eyes bulged so much that they were in danger of popping right out of her head. But Rufus looked dumbfounded. He looked as white as a ghost, and his jaw hung open so wide that it looked as if it could fall off any second. He finally managed to fight through his shock, and after clearing his throat two or three times he looked to Amelia with questions.
"When did you find out? Who is he? Do you know where he is now? Why is he…" Rufus began his rapid fire inquiry and Amelia held up a hand to stop him.
"He is on our side, just as he claimed. He was a contingency plan by Dumbledore should he fail against Voldemort… which is exactly what happened. Just before Dumbledore died, he sent word for the Vigilante… or Phoenix…"
"Wait." Rufus held up his hands fixing Kingsley with a hard look. "Phoenix? As in the Hit wizard you recommended to me Kingsley?"
"Sir, I…" Kingsley began but Tonks stood up.
"Sir, I convinced Kingsley to…"
"Sit down Tonks." Amelia said quickly. "I was made aware of the ruse for Phoenix to work as a hit wizard. He informed me when he told me all that had led to him being here. And I am now telling you because as a vigilante, he can work outside the law, and won't be constrained by the rules we must follow. Rufus, like it or not, we are at war, and though our Aurors have to follow rules, he doesn't and he's proven extremely effective. It's because of him that Tonks and Shacklebolt have made such progress in their investigation."
"I can't believe this. How did he even contact you?" Rufus asked.
"Through Susan." Amelia said, the hint of a smile tugging at her lips. "He's protecting her along with all the girls the Death Eaters are hunting for. Without them, Voldemort won't be able to reach his full strength. Which brings me to why I wanted to speak to you alone. Susan says they have five girls, but there are more. We have to find any girl who bears the mark we've found on the bodies of the victims."
"He has five…" Rufus looked to Kingsley.
"We have five victims." The tall imposing man nodded.
"Do we know how many there are supposed to be in total? Rufus asked.
"Thirteen sir." Tonks claimed.
"Do you have any leads?" Amelia asked. Both Tonks and Shacklebolt shook their heads sadly.
"Then please do everything you can to find these young women and bring them here." Amelia urged.
Lisa awoke with a start. She sat up, looking around to get her bearings. She was sitting in the large comfortable chair that Sirius had placed in the room where Harry was resting. She glanced over at his still form, and watched him for a few moments to make sure he was still breathing.
It had been four days since a strange voice had awoken them all, screaming for help. They'd all been worried when Harry hadn't returned, and with each passing hour, that worry turned more and more to fear, especially after the Daily Prophet reported that the Aurors had done battle with a group who seemed to be led by the so called vigilante who had been terrorizing the magical world for the last few months.
Lisa hadn't been the first person to get to Harry upon his return, but she had spent the most time with him due to the fact that she had the most knowledge of the Healing arts. She was ever so grateful that Madam Pomfrey had placed her in charge after attending to Harry. Sirius had explained that he had reached out to the Hogwarts matron as soon as he'd returned to England for just such an emergency. And it was a truly good thing too.
Harry had been in very bad shape. He'd suffered the Cruciatus, which as it turned out ended up being the least of his wounds. Whatever had bitten him had infected him with a powerful venom that had really perplexed Madam Pomfrey. In the end she'd used a bezoar to stabilize her patient long enough to find a cure, which she had administered earlier that day. Lisa was extremely relieved as Harry's breathing had become steadier, and he seemed to be resting easier. Whatever the venom was, it had been extremely painful for her first patient.
On top of all that, He had somehow splinched himself. A large chunk had been missing from his shoulder. That turned out to be a small blessing as it was almost exactly where he'd been bitten. The splinch, Madam Pomfrey had surmised, had taken most of the venom with it.
And so, Lisa had then been placed in charge of Harry's care, and she had hardly left his side. Not that she wanted to. As much as she was beginning to hate it, she was starting to have feelings for the young hero. He was very attractive for sure, but it was more than that. He was kind, and a little shy when they spoke alone. He was confident, but also, he sometimes gave her signs that he was unsure of himself. Like doubting his actions were the right ones. And he had this way of putting her at ease when she felt tense. The way he would smile at her, or give her a look when he was contemplating something deep.
Unfortunately for her, Lisa's blossoming crush had been noticed, and Hannah, Susan and Tracey just loved to get her riled up over it. Mandy, being her best friend often came to her aide, but when they were alone, would also give Lisa a hard time. Hermione was the only one who seemed upset by the idea that Lisa might be attracted to their protector, and that maybe he might be attracted to her in return. She never said anything, but Lisa was getting pretty good at reading the curly haired young woman.
In the days since Harry's return, Sirius and Annalise had been by everyday to look in on Harry. Sirius would spend most of the day at the house while Annalise would come in every evening. Lisa and the others had been curious as to why Sirius was staying at the house when he should have been attending meetings at the Ministry, but all he would say was that it was part of a bigger plan.
When Annalise would come and sit with Harry, Lisa had been treated to a few stories about a younger Harry Potter. Lisa would try to subtly ask about Harry's love life and Anna was only too happy to give Lisa the answers she sought. The young witch got the impression through their talks that Anna would have been happy if any of the girls had been asking after Harry.
Sirius was far more reserved, and barely acknowledged anyone in the room, save for Harry. Lisa couldn't blame him. The man had raised Harry from a baby. He was as good as a son to the remaining Black.
There were also two new guests in Grimmauld place. The first being Neville Longbottom. Neville had refused to leave until Harry was well enough so that they could speak. Sirius didn't seem to have much of an issue with it, seeing as Neville had saved Harry's life. However this had added some awkwardness within the house as Hannah and Neville had dated right up until they graduated and then Hannah had broken things off. Apparently the young blonde had believed that in a few years she and Neville would get back together. She had said that in her heart she thought that she would eventually end up with Neville. That they would find their way back to each other, get married and have four beautiful babies together. However Lisa was sure that Neville didn't feel the same for Hannah any longer, if the looks he gave her were any indication.
The other new resident of the safe house was Pansy Parkinson. Pansy had begged to be allowed to remain until she could speak with Harry as well, swearing that it was a matter of life and death. When Sirius granted her sanctuary, Pansy had locked herself into the room she'd been given, and hadn't emerged since. The only people she'd spoken to was Neville, and Sirius.
Earlier that day, Lisa had been told by Hermione and Mandy that Pansy refused to come out of her room unless Harry was asking for her. Mandy had also told Lisa she'd heard Pansy crying at least two nights since she'd been here.
A faint moan broke Lisa from her musings and she nearly broke her neck turning to look at Harry who was beginning to stir. He was slowly trying to sit up, and Lisa launched to her feet to prevent him from getting up.
"Hey, easy there. You don't want to tear anything." Lisa said, gently pressing on his bare shoulder, ignoring the shiver she felt at the touch of his skin. "Don't make me call Madam Pomfrey back up here. Trust me you don't want her hovering over you making sure you heal."
"Water." Harry wheezed.
"Okay." She replied, holding him down and reaching for the bedside table where a glass of water waited. "Slow. Easy."
She gently tipped the glass and Harry took a few sips before she pulled the glass away.
"More." he said and she again allowed him a few sips.
He breathed deeply and let his head fall back on the pillow. Lisa took her wand and ran a few diagnostic spells to check his vitals, just as Madam Pomfrey had taught her. He was starting to look much better, and she had to smile gratefully.
"Lisa?' Harry grumbled, managing to sit up fully now and shrugging off her hand. "How long have I been out?"
"Four days almost." Lisa stated. "You gave us all a pretty good scare."
"Sorry." Harry rubbed at his eyes, and then ran a hand through his hair as he looked about, taking in his surroundings and getting his bearings back. He looked up into Lisa's gentle blue eyes and coughed twice before speaking., his voice low and gravely. "How'd I get back here?"
"You don't know?" Lisa asked. When Harry shook his head, she frowned.
"You apparated yourself and two other people here. They got you out of Diagon Alley and brought you to a safe house. They tried to patch you up, but it wasn't working."
"Who were they?" Harry inquired.
"Neville Longbottom and Pansy Parkinson." Lisa replied.
"Longbottom." Harry looked troubled. "I know that name.
"We all thought he was kinda stupid because he always claimed you were alive. Turns out we were the stupid ones cause he was right all along." Lisa smiled softly.
"And the other one?" Harry looked up at her, and she felt her stomach flip.
"Pansy. She was a Death Eater who, as it turns out, is also marked like us. She's been hiding in her room waiting for you to wake up. We've all been waiting for that actually."
"She's marked?" Harry asked, starting to sit up. "And she was a Death Eater."
"Hey!" Lisa pressed, pushing him back down. "You need to take it easy. Harry!"
But she wasn't strong enough to hold him down, and Harry was on his feet. He wobbled badly and took a moment to steady himself, but then started for the door. Lisa was faster. She sprinted past him, and blocked the door, now with her wand in her hand, trying to look as menacing as she could, with the full realization that Harry was much more powerful than she was.
"Enough Harry, get back into bed, or so help me I will stun you."
"I need to talk to her." Harry said in his gravelly tone.
"I can arrange that, but first you need to get back into bed!" She shouted.
"What is going on…. HARRY!" Sirius shouted, engulfing his godson into an embrace. "Oh kid, I thought we'd lost you. Don't you ever do that to me again, you hear me? Never again!"
"He needs to get back into bed!" Lisa snapped. "NOW!"
"Right." Sirius said, looking a bit fearful. "She's got the manner of Poppy. She'll be a great Healer one day, mark my words." Sirius said conspiratorially to Harry as he guided the younger man back to his bed.
"I can hear you!" Lisa remarked coldly. "Here, take this. Drink it all."
Lisa handed him a small vial of blue liquid. Harry took it, making a bitter face at the taste of the viscous fluid.
"That is awful." He said gagging a bit.
"Then perhaps you've learned a valuable lesson about facing homicidal dark wizards without an army at your back." Sirius smirked. Harry grimaced and Lisa continued to smile softly. "It wasn't very smart of you. Even Dumbledore couldn't defeat him in a duel, and you went against him and ALL his followers. That's not just crazy, it was stupid."
"It wasn't all his forces." Harry replied with a smirk. "Apparently one of them was on my side. And I still want to talk to her. Now."
Lisa glanced at Sirius and the last living Black gave a small nod. Lisa patted Harry's hand and left them alone so she could fetch Pansy.
"With all seriousness here kid, That was a really stupid move. What were you thinking?" Sirius asked.
"There was a lot happening." Harry sighed. "I saw that the Death Eaters were trying to set a trap for me, but I had no idea Voldemort was there. Not until it was too late. And to be honest, I thought I had a good chance to end it all then and there. He took control of the battle and I was on the defensive most of it. I barely had a chance to do anything. He's powerful, no doubt, But he's not all powerful."
"Explain." Sirius pressed. Harry turned and reached for the glass of water on the bedside table. He took a moment to gather his thoughts while sipping more of the refreshing liquid.
"His spells were strong enough to tear through my armor, but it took a lot of power to do that, and that's where his weakness was. Whatever he's doing to regain his strength isn't holding. So long as we keep him from getting anymore girls, I can goad him into expending himself, I think he'll weaken himself enough that I can take him. But I have to be in a position where I don't have to worry about his followers."
"So back to plan A, then?" Sirius asked with a knowing smirk. "Taking them out one at a time until he's got no choice but to face you man to … well whatever he is now?"
Harry was stopped from responding when Lisa returned with a pretty girl with obsidian black hair, and red puffy eyes. She held something in her hands, which she was clutching to her chest.
"I think she would prefer to speak to you alone." Sirius said pointedly. "Anna will likely come to check on you, and then murder you for getting hurt. So, be prepared."
"Somehow I don't think my Healer will let her hurt me too bad." Harry said looking to Lisa, who folded her arms across her chest giving her patient a look of dissatisfaction at his remark, though she couldn't hold it for long, and a small smile began to tug at the corners of her mouth. .
"Come on Healer Turpin, let's allow Miss Parkinson a moment with Harry." Sirius said, guiding Lisa out.
"I'll be back in an hour. I have a few more potions for you to take." Lisa called over her shoulder as Sirius shut the door.
There was a long silence as Harry sized up the young woman before him. She was pretty, with long black hair, and dark brown eyes. The young women looked beyond terrified as she scanned the room. Harry could see that she had spent a lot of time crying lately, and she looked as though she might collapse from exhaustion. While she had a manner of fear about her, she clearly wasn't afraid of Harry.
"I'm told I need to thank you." Harry said and Pansy actually blushed. Harry motioned for the chair next to his bed, and Pansy crossed the room and sat down.
"Why don't we start by introducing ourselves." Harry said softly, watching the girl carefully. She was very afraid, that was obvious. "I'm Harry…"
"Potter." She said quickly. "I still can't believe that Neville was right after all. "
"Was he the guy who was with you? Sorry, I'm still foggy on everything." Harry stated.
"Yes." Pansy gave a single nod, and now locked eyes with the young man. "He's afraid of you."
"Longbottom?" Harry inquired with puzzlement. Pansy quickly shook her head.
"The Dark Lord." She clarified. "I didn't think he could fear anything, but he's terrified of you. In the time I've been forced to serve him, I've never seen or heard him rally his followers against something the way he did against you. It was like he was obsessed. He never even came close to this level with Dumbledore, and it makes me really curious about who you are. I mean, I know you're Harry Potter, but what does that mean?"
"That is a truly horrendously long story, and not one I'm quite willing to divulge to someone I just met. Suffice to say he's afraid of me because he knows I can do what Dumbledore couldn't. but I have questions for you." Harry said deftly deflecting Pansy's questions. "I know that you are a Death Eater…"
"EX!" Pansy hissed. "I never wanted to be one in the first place, but I wasn't given a choice. And that's part of why I'm here."
"Which brings me to the second question. You bear the same mark as the other girls? The Oigh Ban-dia?" Harry asked. Pansy gave a short nod.
"So you know what Voldemort is trying to do?" Harry pressed.
"After the duel with Dumbledore, I thought for sure I was about to be free. I thought, like so many others, that he was finished. But then he called us, and told us that he had discovered a way to not only regain his strength, but triple it. That's when he held up this."
Pansy pulled a scroll from the bundle she was holding close to her chest and handed it to Harry who took it with a grimace. He read the runes with curiosity before realizing what he had in his hands.
This is some kind of identification ritual." Harry said looking at Pansy. "This is how he marked all of you."
Pansy nodded again.
"I didn't understand it at all. At least not until I got home that night and took a shower. And unless the other girls were naked at the exact same time, I doubt they would have noticed it right away. It was glowing, like a hot brand. There wasn't any pain or anything, and the glow lasted for only a moment. After that it just looked like a birthmark or something. But I knew what it was, even though I didn't know exactly what it meant."
"How long before he found the first girl?" Harry asked.
"It was three nights after the identification ritual that he made the first amulet. He couldn't find them all at once. Something about the moon and the season and… I don't really know. It's all a blur really. Two weeks after that he had his first sacrifice. It follows the phase of the moon. And amulet is created on the New moon, and the sacrifice must be made on the Full moon. And he already has his next victim, and she's going to die next week."
Pansy began to cry at this, and Harry reached out a took her hand, squeezing it.
"Is she a friend?" He asked. Pansy shook her head.
"Not a friend, just someone who wasn't cruel to me. Someone who was tricked just like I was. I tried to save her when I got this stuff, but they had already trapped her. They mark the girls with runes to keep her from escaping. Then they add more and more to her. I'm not sure exactly why, but I know it's in one of these."
Pansy indicated the scrolls and books she still held.
"And this is what I'm offering to you for you to protect me. He can find me anywhere thanks to this."
Pansy rolled up her left sleeve and revealed the Dark Mark. The tattoo looked alive, writhing and undulating. Harry held out his hand and Pansy placed her arm in his hand, allowing him to examine it closer. He could feel the darkness emanating from the tattoo, and he grimaced.
"I can't make any promises, but I believe I can remove this." he said. Pansy looked up with hopeful eyes. "And he won't be able to get in here, but if what you say is true, he'll at least have a rough idea of where you are, and we can't afford his people hanging around here… though it would make it easier to take them out."
"So, you'll protect me?" Pansy asked.
"Yes." Harry nodded. "On two conditions. One, you let me have a good look at those."
Pansy thrust them into Harry's lap, looking beyond thrilled that he had agreed to protect her. Harry gave a faint smile as he locked eyes with her again.
"The second is that you share everything you know with the other girls, and work with them. You are all connected by this mark, and from what we've learned it could make you very powerful."
"I don't think they'll be very welcoming of me." Pansy said nervously, glancing at the door. "I wasn't a very good person in school."
"Well you're not in school anymore." Harry pointed out. "Don't let them judge you on who you were, but who you are."
"Thank you." She said softly. "Really, thank you. You don't know what this means to me."
"No, Miss Parkinson," Harry began
"Pansy." She said quickly, wiping at her eyes and giving him a grateful smile.
"Pansy" Harry replied with a faint encouraging smile of his own. "Allow me time to get better, and I will make it a priority to remove that from your arm once and for all."
Pansy couldn't stop herself. She launched out of the chair and hugged him tightly, repeating over and over her gratitude. And that was how Lisa found them.
She cleared her throat and Pansy reluctantly let him go, tears falling freely from her eyes. She gave him one last look before leaving. Lisa could only stare at Harry, her emotions battling inside of her.
"You should really rest, but Neville is insisting on talking to you, and Sirius said it was up to you." She said, unable to contain her bitterness. Harry either was ignoring it, or oblivious, and said nothing, but he did nod that he was agreeable to meet with Neville.
Neville strode in, standing tall, head held high. He looked at Harry and then gave a low bow.
"Lord Potter, I am…"
"Going to stop that shit right now!" Harry snapped. "I don't care for the bullshit traditions and all that. If we're going to talk, it's going to be like two blokes. Now I'm guessing given your attempt to follow protocol, you want something from me."
Neville looked taken aback, like Harry had just slapped him or something, but he quickly recovered.
"That's correct. I don't know if you are aware, but for many years, our families were allies. House Potter and House Longbottom forged that alliance…" Neville started but Harry held up his hand to stop him again. He then motioned for Neville to sit down in the chair next to his bed.
"You saved my life." Harry began. "So the way I see it is that I owe you. So, skip all the back story, and just get to whatever it is you want to ask me."
Neville paused for a moment and then began to shake his head as he chuckled.
"Sorry, it's just that my Gran pounded this all into my head, and I always imagined going through the whole spiel when I finally met you." Neville stated.
"Both Pansy and Lisa told me that you've taken a lot of shit over the years because you believed I was alive." Harry remarked. "How was it you were so sure? Way I understood it, Dumbledore did quite a job of making people believe I had died with my parents.
"It started with my Uncle Algie." Neville began. "He was an Unspeakable at the Ministry, and a bit of a conspiracy nut. Anyway, he pointed out a few inconsistencies with the story of what happened that night in Godric's Hollow. My Gran sort of followed the logic, and dug a little deeper into the story, and she found out some things that by themselves seemed trivial, but when put together, made a giant hole you could fly a hippogriff through."
"And then she told you?" Harry pressed. Neville gave a single nod.
"One day the Last Potter will return, she would say." Neville sighed. "When he does, Neville it's your duty to stand by him and get justice for your mother and father and all those who suffered at the Dark Lord's hands."
A heavy silence hung between the two men for a long moment before Harry looked at Neville.
"This is probably where you think I should offer you my hand and say that I will make sure you get your shot at revenge, right?" Harry asked and Neville gave a sort of shrug. Harry simply shook his head.
"I can't do that." Harry sighed. "For a lot of reasons, the first being that this isn't about revenge. It's about stopping evil. I won't deny that I have my own personal vendetta. That would be hypocritical at best. That bastard killed my parents too, so I understand how you feel."
"He didn't kill my parents." Neville corrected quickly, catching Harry off guard. "You-Know-Who had already been defeated at your parents home the night before. No… Bellatrix Lestrange destroyed my parents mind with the Cruciatus Curse. They've been in St. Mungo's ever since. I honestly wish they had been killed so that they'd at least have some peace."
Harry could only stare at his guest as Neville rose and began pacing, looking very angry.
"I hate that I think that. I love them, I really do. But I can't even visit them anymore. It shatters my heart every time I see them. I've lived with this hate in my heart for my whole life, and I don't know how I am supposed to get rid of it."
"This isn't how you're going to do it." Harry countered quickly. He sat up a little straighter in his bed, and motioned for Neville to sit down again. Neville looked deeply troubled but kept his mouth closed.
"I'm not going to sit here and tell you that I know better than you, or even pretend that I'm somehow wiser than you are. I'm just a kid… like you." Harry began looking at his guest with apologetic eyes. "And I'm not going to tell you that you should just let go of your anger and hate, because I haven't."
Neville looked up puzzled.
"It isn't something a person can just shake off, especially not when it's been part of your life as long as it has. But you can channel it, and do good with it." Harry said.
"Can you teach me?" Neville asked earnestly and Harry gave him a small smile.
"I don't know." He shrugged. "But the fact of the matter is you and Pansy saved my ass, and I owe you both. I've already promised to help Pansy and It would be rude not to offer you something in return for what you did for me. And if I'm being totally honest, it'd be good to have an ally against all the bloody women in this house right now."
Neville began to chuckle at that and Harry smirked as he sat back a bit.
"It won't be easy." he said in all seriousness "And I won't promise that when this is all over you'll feel you got justice, but maybe, just maybe, some of that hate in your heart will have been released."
"I'm willing to take that shot." Neville said, offering his hand.
Harry clasped his hand with Neville and then Neville rose just as Lisa entered the room again, looking very curious.
"Take care of him Lisa. We need him." Neville smiled as he left.
"You made quite an impression on Pansy." Lisa said when Neville had left. "She's talking with Hermione and Tracey right now about the mark and how we all got it. She said you had some information about it all."
Harry nodded toward the bedside table where the book and scrolls sat.
"You can all look at it after I do." He said. "So healer, how long am I confined to the bed?"
Lisa scowled but came to his side, and began handing him vials of potion that she had brought with her.
It depends." She replied. Harry coughed again and his body convulsed a bit. Harry winced with pain, but schooled his expression quickly. However, Lisa caught the look and gave him a look of concern.
"If that keeps up then you may be here a while."
"I…" Harry began but Lisa fixed him with a stern gaze.
"If you even think about telling me you're fine, I will make you wish You-Know-Who finished you off, are we clear?" Lisa snapped. Harry actually looked slightly concerned by her threat. "You have no idea how scared we were when you showed up in the condition you were in Harry."
Lisa sat in the chair next to his bed and handed him the last of the potions. She could see they were beginning to take effect as his eyelids began to droop. However she could see he was fighting against it. She had to get him to relax so the potions could do their work.
"I've been talking a lot with Annalise. I get the impression that she doesn't much approve of your crusade." Lisa said casually.
Harry rolled his eyes and Lisa couldn't help laugh.
"That woman will not be happy until I'm married with a dozen kids running around." Harry sighed and his muscles began to relax. Lisa tried not to smile to openly. She was certain if Harry caught on to what she was doing, he would fight the effects of the potions harder.
"Doesn't sound so bad." Lisa said, and Harry shrugged.
"To most anyone else, yeah, it's a great thing to aspire to." Harry shook his head. "For me… "
Lisa noted a glint of sadness in his impossible green eyes. "What is it?"
Harry grimaced, and fought against another small convulsion and then tried to stifle a yawn.
"I chose to forsake dating and relationships and all of that because I have a mission to accomplish. I can't risk becoming distracted, and I can't allow anyone to get hurt by me or because of me." Harry said, avoiding her eyes.
"Sounds lonely." Lisa said, noting how his eyes eyelids began to droop. "And maybe if things had gone differently, you might have been able to accomplish your end goal without complications, but now you've got a house full of witches who've gotten to know you a bit, and we all care about you. And not just because you've saved us from certain death, and then offered us shelter and your protection."
Harry's head started to slowly fall a bit and his eyes shut. He gave a small runt and Lisa leaned forward to help ease him into a more comfortable position.
"We've all sort of gotten to know the real you. The guy who prefers his tea with sugar and no milk. The guy who hums to himself when he's deep in thought, or who… "
Lisa stopped when Harry gave a soft moan of pain. He was now deeply asleep, and Lisa couldn't help but reach up and stroke his silky black hair.
"Who's trying to steal my heart." She said softly.
"Lord Black, a moment of your time please." Augusta Longbottom said as she hurried out of the Wizengamot. Sirius Black nodded and escorted the intimidating older woman down the hall to a private conference room. Sirius had been forced to return to his duties in order to maintain the façade he and Harry had initially conceived of. He would have preferred to be back at his ancestral home making sure Harry was getting better, but Harry had stated that now that the Death Eaters knew his real identity, it was only a matter of time before the rest of the Wizarding world did. Harry hoped that Sirius might be able to deny any rumors to at least prolong his secrecy.
Lady Longbottom shut the door, and erected privacy wards before turning to Black. Sirius had forgotten what an imposing woman Augusta Longbottom could be, and suddenly felt like a child who'd been caught in mischief.
"It's been four days since I last saw my Grandson Lord Black." Augusta began. Sirius looked at her with sorrow and started to give his condolences but Lady Longbottom didn't even give him the chance to speak.
"Do you think I am some kind of idiot, Lord Black?" She snapped. Sirius shook his head beginning to feel more and more like a child in this woman's presence.
"Good, than we can dispense with the charade. I know that you were tasked with protecting young Lord Potter. I knew that when you suddenly appeared back in England after a near seventeen year absence immediately following the fall of Albus Dumbledore that it was no coincidence. And then this vigilante begins wreaking havoc for Death Eaters, I knew that young Lord Potter had returned as well. And then, four days ago, my grandson showed up in my house with a young man who looked EXACTLY like your childhood friend James Potter who was near death. And then poof. After I did my best to stabilize his wounds, they go missing together. I know that you know where my grandson is, Sirius. And I want you to tell him to contact me and let me know he is alright. That's all."
A silence fell and Sirius looked completely bewildered for a long time. When he did get his brain to function again he looked at Lady Longbottom with awe.
"Neville is fine." He managed to mutter. "And I will see to it that he contacts you."
"He has become a strong and capable young man. His mother and father would be so proud of him. I wish for you to help him the way you helped the son of James and Lily. I know they'd be proud of what their son is doing, but you know as well as I do that this isn't something he will be able to do alone. The Potters and the Longbottoms have been allies for decades. Help Neville, and he will aid you in your crusade." She stated quite proudly and Sirius was struck by her request.
"I can't promise anything, but I will do my best to honor your request." Sirius said and Lady Longbottom waved her wand, letting the wards fade.
"If you need any assistance with anything, let me know." Lady Longbottom said evenly. "I have a great deal of influence in our world, and will do whatever I can to aid in keeping certain facts from seeing light if you take my meaning."
"Actually Lady Longbottom, there is one thing you can help me with." Sirius said quickly. The older woman turned, casting curious eyes on the younger man.
"Harry Potter is dead." Sirius said pointedly. "He died with his mother and father on Halloween in 1981. It would be best for everyone if we could remember that and not fall prey to silly rumors about the dead returning."
Augusta Longbottom stared at him for only a moment before she gave a single nod.
"I agree Lord Black. It would be such a distraction if we allowed silly fantasies to fester and distract us from important matters." She said. With another nod, she left and Sirius let out a breath, and smiled. He'd just gained a very influential ally and Lady Longbottom would definitely be able to quell any rumors pertaining the vigilante and his true identity. Harry was going to be pleased.
Neville rose from his bed where he'd been reading an interesting book he'd found in the Black Family Library and opened his door. The shouting was coming from the kitchen, and Neville wasn't the only one who'd noticed. Across the hall, Harry was leaning in the doorway looking quite exhausted. As he started forward, Neville sprinted across the hall to help him. Harry gave him a grateful nod, but managed to recover his balance. Together the two went downstairs to find out why in Hades the girls were shouting.
Just as they were about to enter, Remus appeared in the door way. He was about to say something when Harry held up a hand to silence him. The three men entered the kitchen where they found the six Oigh ban-Dia and Susan standing around the table where books and scrolls were laid out.
"It's a good idea!" Mandy snapped. "It's simple, and we know what to look for! It was working back at Hermione's flat before we got attacked. All we need to do is modify it and…"
"AND WHAT?" Pansy shrieked. "We leave the safety of this house to go god knows where and try and find the girls who the Death Eater might already have found and be watching? You said before they were going to obliviated you! If they did that we'd be back at square one, or worse, they'll just take you to him!"
"They said they couldn't." Tracey replied.
"And what makes you think they won't change their minds?' Pansy asked. "The Dark Lord already knows that Harry's back, and he's not going to want to take any chances. If any of us leave here, we're as good as dead."
"But we can't just sit and hope that the others come forward." Hermione reasoned. "And a modified tracking spell is the answer. We find the last marked girl and bring her here and then we figure out how we make our connection work for us!"
"Pansy." Harry said softly, but it was loud enough that everyone heard and turned.
"Harry!" Lisa shouted, coming to his side. " you shouldn't be up yet. You're still…"
"Lisa, I know you mean well, but if you say that I'm weak one more time, I will show you how wrong you are. Pansy, how much longer before the next girl is sacrificed?"
Pansy's face went deathly pale and she swallowed hard. "Just a few more days. The night the moon is at it's fullest. And then two weeks before he makes another tracking amulet."
"Then you all have one week to figure out this tracking spell and make it work."
"But Pansy's right." Hannah said. "It's be stupid of us to go…"
"You won't be going." Harry said quickly.
"Harry, I don't know that you'll be ready to…" Lisa began but closed her mouth quickly when he glanced sharply at her.
"Whether or not I am able will be left for me to decide. But even if I am I will also not be going. Death Eaters are looking for me now as well, and I have to construct new armor before I'm ready to go against them again. You get that tracking spell working, and Neville will find the last girl."
"Me?' Neville looked up suddenly.
"As of the moment, you're not on the Death Eater's radar. You can make contact with this girl, and hopefully convince her to come here where she'll be safe." Remus said, nodding approvingly at Harry. "Good idea."
" I don't know if I'm…"
You leapt into battle against a hundred Death Eaters just to get Harry to safety." Pansy said with a soft smile. "I know you can do this."
"It looks like we have some work to do ladies." Hermione said with a smile to Neville.
"I'm going to get Harry back to his room." Lisa said, taking he charge by the waist. Harry didn't resist, but grumbled lightly. Neville followed behind.
"Are you sure about this Harry? He asked after the last Potter was settled back into bed.
"I am." Harry said quickly. "Even if I were back at one hundred percent, I still need to craft a new suit, and it takes time, which we don't have. If any of those girls were spotted by Death Eaters… You're our only hope at this point, and Pansy's right, you should real bravery helping me out. All we need you to do is talk to a girl."
"And convince she special and to come back here with me." Neville sighed.
"How hard could it be? Harry asked. Neville shook his head and left, muttering to himself.
A/N: My sincerest apologies, but as you know sometimes life just gets in the way. And mine has done just that and left me hardly anytime for writing... and worse, my job now involves a lot of creative writing so I find the time i do get, I am drained creatively speaking. I am still here though, and I have lots of story ideas, plus two current stories to finish. One day... one day.