[a/n]Trivia note from #130: I got 802,701 from the year displayed when Rod Taylor arrived at the Eloi/Morlock world in The Time Machine[1960]

Harry Does Different CCCXDIX

Taboo

"No! Sorry, but the name's been jinxed, Harry, that's how they track people! Using his name breaks protective enchantments, it causes some kind of magical disturbance — it's how they found us in Tottenham Court Road!... It was only people who were serious about standing up to him, like Dumbledore, who even dared use it. Now they've put a Taboo on it, anyone who says it is trackable — quick-and-easy way to find Order members!" Hermione warned her friends.

Ron nodded and Harry did, too, but then got a thoughtful look "Is there any way we can use that?"

"How do you mean?" Ron wanted to know.

Harry considered, then "Well…they can track anyone who says You-Know-Who…but what happens then?"

"Half-a-dozen DEs or snatchers show up and ambush whoever said it." Answered Ron with a shiver.

At this he brightened some "Well then isn't there some defensive ward that can …I dunno… block it out? Keep someone with a Dark Mark from entering? The way your wards hide us and the tent from view?"

"That's rather beyond me." Admitted Hermione after some thought "A Cursebreaker would be best. At least some books on the subject."

To this, Ron shook his head ruefully "I know of one. Years of experience and absolutely trustworthy."

Abcij

"What do you think Bill?" the trio were sitting in Shell Cottage around a table that included Ron's brother and sister-in-law.

The eldest Weasley had listened carefully to ideas, suggestions and speculations. He leaned his chair back precariously until it touched the wall and pondered "A taboo is all but impossible to break. Even the Fidelis isn't enough to guarantee safety. At BEST Death Eaters would get within a few hundred yards where the breach came from."

"Okkkaaaaay," Harry's brain raced "How about something a bit more active? Is there a ward that'll …I dunno… keep the Dark Mark out?"

Bill considered that "I did some research on it as part of my Cursebreaker training. The Mark is a Protean Charm, and yes, the goblins do have wards I've learned that I THINK could keep a Death Eater away from wherever your hideout is."

"What would happen if you just kept out the Mark?" Harry wondered.

Bill shook his head "Interesting, but not hard to work into the ward scheme. I have no idea what the effect would be, though. It'd have to be tested. And the scheme would work better if someone is attached to the place by blood. There's obviously the danger to the person saying his name."

"Let's try the remnants of the Burrow." Suggested Ron "They'd expect the Order to hideout there. But we'd have to make sure we could escape, even if they setup anti-apparation jinxes."

Abcij

Harry wasn't quite sure what his idea would do. His thoughts were on the ruthless side, but what they got by the time the Weasley property was ready for the test was even more than he expected. There were 10 members of the Order of the Phoenix in addition to the trio with wands out, standing in a circle back to back, inside the Burrow's ruins when Harry uttered the tabooed word "Voldemort!"

In seconds the atmosphere screamed with the arrival of multiple apparations.

The group was prepared, they had numbers and a defensive position. They were ready for almost anything they could think of. Except what actually happened. The wards kept the Dark Marks outside their perimeter, but didn't stop the person.

Five Death Eaters rushed into what they thought would be an easy kill. All of them screamed in agony, unable to fight, as their arms erupted in fountains of blood. In quick succession, they fell and died as their hearts pumped blood through the holes that marked where Dark Marks had been.

The group stayed tense for a few minutes after the screaming stopped before venturing outside.

"This must be Goyle's dad." Ron pushed over a body and noted the face.

Harry found a pair "Travers and Selwyn. No loss here. Got us at Lovegoods'"

"No idea." Fleur and Bill reported another body.

Tonks and Remus found "Antonin Dolohov."

"I wish I could feel sympathy." Hermione looked down "But he did quite a number on my foot. Harry? Did you know this would happen? It is more than a little ruthless."

Harry shrugged, his expression grim "Maybe not EXACTLY this way, but it worked. I'd call it a win."

"Were I still an Auror, I would probably have to arrest you for murder." The powerfully built black man said "As it is, the only question is will it work again?"

Bill with his goblin experience replied "It should work several times, Kingsley. Though I wouldn't recommend using the same location twice in a row."

"Do you realize what you're suggesting?" Hermione looked horrified.

Harry nodded at the older redhead but answered his friend's question "We're at war, Hermione. How many people have they, or other Death Eaters killed? Remember the world cup? The fires, exlposions."

"I will not do this again." She started sobbing.

Fleur was compassionate but spoke with steel in her voice "I was zere. I saw leetle fils die. Guilliam and I want children. People like zis think me a creature. I weel pay ze price for my babies."