Harry landed in front of the Shrieking Shack just as the sun was setting. Looking around, he waited for the others to arrive before leading them around behind it where they couldn't be seen from the road. "We'll set up here. No one comes this close to the Shack and we can't be seen unless someone actually comes back here."
Harry quickly went about setting up the tent and was done in a matter of seconds. The beauty of magic. "Alright, let's get these special wards up and running." He said, placing emphasis on the word special so they'd know he meant the blood wards.
It was a bit of a draining process to activate and set up the blood wards but it would be worth it. And they could sleep once it was done. It would be a simple thing to add George once he joined them, it would just drain him a little. With every added person, the magic of the tent grew stronger, using the magic and blood of each person to power the wards and strengthen them. Harry was suddenly very very glad that he'd bought this massive thing.
They all stepped inside and were appreciative of the look of it. They would have dealt with a less comfortable tent, survival mattered more than how pretty a thing was, but it was still nice to have comfort. It was fully furnished and that had also been another draw for Harry, it was helpful to have it ready to go and not have to worry about furniture or anything like that.
The entrance opened into a comfortable-looking den done in warm earthy tones of browns and creams with hints of silver and gold. Spread throughout the room were several oversized chairs and a couple of plush couches. A large fireplace was centered on the back wall opposite the tent flap. There were two dors on the same wall, one on either side.
The right one led to the dining room which held a large solid oak table with ten chairs. Four on each side and one at each head. The walls were done in a deep red with gold and bronze accents.
The left door was to the large kitchen done in whites and pale blues. There was a stove and sink with plenty of cabinets for storage. A small island took up the center of the kitchen, presumably for more counter space since there wasn't the customary table in the kitchen. On the right wall was an open archway that led into the dining room. That was handy.
There were a further two doors on both the right and left walls in the den. The first on the right opened into a very spacious potions lab. The second led to a hallway with seven doors, three on each side and one at the end.
The second door on the left was a mirror of the second on the right. The first door on the left opened into a large bathroom that had a sink, shower, clawfoot bathtub, and toilet closet.
Upon further investigation down one of the hallways, the six doors on either side led to bedrooms and the one on the end led to a bathroom. It was checked and verified that it was the same down the other hallway.
"Alright, everyone, pick a room and settle in. We'll meet back in the den in twenty minutes." Harry said, taking the first room on the right side of the right hallway with Luna claiming the room next to his. Draco took the room across from Harry with Neville taking the next room on the left across from Luna.
Hermione went back out and to the left hall, taking the second room on the right with Blaise next to her in the first. Fred took the room across from Neville and left the room next to his for George.
Once they had taken a few moments to explore their new rooms, and settle in and unpack a little they met back in the den. One by one they dropped down into comfortable seats, Draco flicking his wand to light the fire in the grate. It wasn't necessarily cold, it was more out of habit.
"Alright, now what do we do with the extra rooms?" Harry asked, wanting input from the others.
"The open room next to mine could be the library room. I know we said we'd set up a library in the trunk but I think we should have a smaller library set up in the room itself with the trunk in the center. Those shelves in the room proper should be for the most commonly used books, like the muggle survival, potions, and cookbooks and such."
"Good idea." Said Harry with a nod.
"The last room on the right in our hall should be the armory. We're planning on raiding muggle stores for weapons and such. It wouldn't hurt to have an easily accessible armory." said Luna.
"I like it, so that's settled. Any other ideas?"
"The other extra room in our hall should be the basic storage room for the other trunks like we talked about." Neville suggested.
"That's fine." Harry said with a nod. .
"Neville, we could use that last room for the biome trunk. You said you bought the research for how to make more right?" Harry asked
"That works. And yeah, I did." Neville said with a nod. "I can work on creating more when we get finished with all of our supply-gathering and get settled in wherever we end up going in America."
"Alright, that's all sorted then." he continued, reaching up to run his hands tiredly over his face. "I think we should just work on settling into the tent tonight, sorting out the rest of today's haul, and arranging what needs to be arranged like the library, infirmary, and especially the potions lab and the biome trunk with Neville." Harry said right as he heard a voice from outside the tent.
They all tensed until they recognized the voice as belonging to the missing Weasley Twin. A sigh of relief went around the group before Harry hauled himself up out of his chair. "I'll go add him to the wards." he said as he stepped through the flap, letting it fall closed behind him.
"George," Harry said with a nod. "Let's get you added to the wards and then you can tell us all what happened in the Leaky."
The black-haired man was quick to put action to word and it only took about five minutes to cast the spells and add George's blood and magic to the wards on their new home. With a nod, he ducked back into the tent and held the flap open for the redhead to follow him in.
"How was it, Fred?" asked Blaise, looking up from the papers he was reading. Hermione had asked him, the other of their number who was skilled in warding and runes, to look over the research she'd done for the marks thus far.
"It went alright. I got everything we needed." their returning member said as he dropped down onto the couch next to his twin. "Though there was a little scuffle in the main pub right before I left. Luna was right, reporters have definitely caught wind of all the shopping we did today and that Harry had last been seen in the Leaky. They wanted to get the scoop. Luckily I'd already paid and packed everything away before they started showing up. I disillusioned myself and then apparated around a few times before coming here just to be safe."
"Wonder what they'll make of it?" Hermione said, pausing in the research she was continuing, her books spread out over the coffee table.
"I expect it'll be in the Prophet in the morning, day after at a push." Draco said from where he sat with his inventory lists and making a list of the potions he needed to brew as soon as possible to get them a stockpile started.
"Most likely." Harry said with a shrug. He didn't really care one way or the other what they decided to print, he was used to them spinning their lies and stories, it wouldn't matter in a couple of days either way.
"Thanks for that mate." Harry said with a nod. "Alright, we need to work on getting those greenhouses sorted and the potions lab set up." He said, changing the subject. "I'll help Draco with the potions, Hermione and Blaise are working on the enchantments for the marks. The rest of you mind helping Neville?" he asked.
"No problem." "On it." "Sure." were the answers he got from Luna and the twins. "Once we're done with the potions we'll come to help you with the greenhouses." he said before everyone went their separate ways.
It took the two men about two hours to get the potions lab in order. The lab had a special storage system Harry hadn't seen before. One entire wall was nothing but little drawers to store ingredients separately. As they began to put everything away according to Draco's direction, the Gryffindor was pleasantly surprised to realize they self-labeled and had extension charms on them that allowed them to hold massive quantities. That was handy.
There were enough drawers for most of the ingredients. The only ones that didn't have spaces were the extremely dangerous ones that had to specially stored and handled and the illegal ones. Those were kept in the seven compartment trunk, dangerous in the first compartment and illegal in the second.
One wall had one continuous counter that ran the full length with shelves underneath it to store the extra cauldrons. There were two counters, similar to the kitchen island in the center of the room adding to the counter space and allowing for several cauldrons to be going at once. The island counters had a combination of drawers and cubbies to store the other various potion-making tools, such as stirring rods, knives, scales, et cetera.
The fourth wall, where the door was located, had a large closet with double doors that would be used for storing all of the completed potions. Inside were what looked like trays, similar to the little cubbies on the islands, that also self-labeled once potions were stored in them and had extension charms to allow for unlimited storage for the potions.
Draco set to work storing his tools where he wanted them and instructed Harry to start storing the completed potions in alphabetical order. The need to do everything by hand made it tedious but they talked as they worked. Draco pointed out that his favorite aspect of this lab was that the storage drawers and trays that self-labeled didn't just show contents but quantities as well. Harry joked that from what he could see, this lab would have been Snape's wet dream. This resulted in Draco being torn between laughing, gagging, and hexing Harry. His reaction just made Harry laugh harder.
Once the two of them wrapped up in the potions' lab both men made their way to help the others with the biome trunks.
Another four hours of work found the six who'd been building greenhouses clambering back out of the trunk exhausted and messy. Between the six of them, they'd managed to get two built with magic under Neville's instruction. They'd moved the most delicate plats into them and the others were placed into the proper biomes with charms around them to protect them until more greenhouses could be built. It would be a long process to get the herbology trunk set up completely but it would be worth it in the end.
"I'll handle dinner." Hermione said which prompted a round of "NO!" all around. She huffed and shot glares at everyone. "Well fine then!" She sniped.
"Sorry 'Mione." Said Harry, trying to hide a grin. "But we don't really need to test out the fire prevention charms on the first night." At that point, he had to dodge a pillow she threw at him.
"I've got dinner." said Draco. No one was surprised by the fact that Draco bloody Malfoy knew how to cook anymore. They'd all been a tight-knit group for years and had gotten used to the knowledge that the once consummate Purebloood knew how to cook for himself. It helped that he was a potions prodigy and the two were fairly similar.
"You go ahead and get in the shower Draco, you can handle dinner while the rest of us are showering," Luna said, standing and stretching her sore muscles. "Good thing we have three bathrooms or we'd be waiting on the showers all night." She finished before heading off to take her own shower.
It took a good hour and a half for everyone to be showered, dressed in sleepwear, and sitting around the dining room table digging into the lasagna Draco had made.
"So Hogsmeade tomorrow." Harry said, wanting to get the next day's plans sorted before bed. "Same assignments as yesterday, as quick as possible, clear the shelves. It's not a Hogsmeade weekend for another two weeks so we don't have to worry about any students down here and getting curious or in the way."
"You need to go to Hogwarts Harry," Luna said suddenly.
"Why?" He asked curiously, giving the blonde to his right his full attention.
"I'll give you a list. Artifacts of our world, heritage, and upbringing that need to be preserved." She said, meeting his eyes.
"Minerva will never in a million years allow me to leave with anything," Harry said. He didn't doubt Luna, he knew better than to do something so stupid. However, he wasn't exactly sure how he was supposed to pull off something like that.
"Yes she will," Luna said firmly. "Explain to her that I've seen the end of our world and that you want to preserve as much as you can. She won't believe you. Offer an Unbreakable Oath that if you're wrong and the civilization hasn't come to an end by two months' time, you'll return the items unharmed."
"I suppose she won't come with us, will she?" He asked sadly.
"No. If she believes you, which she will, she'll feel it her duty to stay and protect the students. She isn't allowed to evacuate the school without ministry approval and she won't leave the students defenseless. She will be the first bitten and the teachers will fall like dominoes. The only one that will survive is Flitwick. His dueling and skill with Charms will save his life and the fact that he's half goblin will keep him from turning." Luna explained, the sadness she felt at telling her friends, her family the fate of the school that had been their home and all of its occupants written clearly across her face. "Make him a portkey that is tied to a tracker we keep here. It will only need to hold one. By the time he would possibly be willing to admit defeat, he'll be the only one alive in the castle. Though he may choose not to join us and end his own suffering. The choice will at least be his then."
The heads of all eight of them bowed as they took a moment to grieve the massive loss of life that was rapidly approaching. It hurt so deep each of them felt the loss all the way to their soul. "I'll see that it's done." He said with a nod. "I'll talk him into coming back with me and key him into the wards of this tent so that he can portkey directly into it wherever we may be."
On that somber note, the dishes were charmed to wash themselves and they all went to bed. "Set alarms for seven!" Harry yelled so he could be heard throughout the tent before allowing sleep to claim him, along with dreams of death and loss both past and to come.
Harry tossed and turned,his sleep broken and filled with nightmares. Finally, at six in the morning, he gave up hope, climbing out of bed and pulling himself into a hot shower to wash away the sweat the horrible dreams had left him with.
He dressed and made his way into the kitchen, making himself a sandwich and a cup of coffee and sitting at the table to think over what he had to do today. The task Luna had assigned him was a hard one. Not just because convincing the two professors of what was to come would be like pulling teeth, it would be emotionally painful.
He hadn't been back to Hogwarts since the Final Battle, not being able to face the sight where so many had died. Himself included. He just hadn't been able to face it. He had tried, he really had, but the closest he'd been able to get was the main gate. He'd taken one look at the repaired castle a year to the day after the battle and he'd fallen apart.
Luna had been with him at the time and had shielded him from the reporters who were there for the Memorial ceremony and quickly apparated her back to her house. Bless her, as soon as she had him seated on her couch with a cup of tea she'd sent her Patronus to their friends summoning them to them. She'd then sent another to McGonagall and told her none of them would be there, that they couldn't face seeing the battlefield again so soon.
None of them had attempted to visit their old school again. It hurt all of them too badly. Especially Harry and Draco, for different reasons.
Pulling himself out of his thoughts, he realized he had finished his sandwich and coffee. He'd been so lost in thought he had simply eaten on autopilot. Looking around he let out a sigh and decided he would go ahead and get the worst of today over sooner rather than later. If he put it off until later in the day it would just make it worse dreading it.
Standing up, he dropped his dishes in the sink and headed towards the exit of the tent. Right before he reached the flap he heard her.
"I'll tell the others, Harry. They'll understand you needed to do this first." Luna assured. "We all know what we need to do today. You take all the time you need. I'll take all of your shops today as I was only responsible for Honeydukes."
"Thank you, sister." He said softly before slipping out of the tent into the bright sunlight. The early morning chill helped to clear his head as he walked towards the castle that had been his home for so many years. The place that he, as well as the others, had grown up and learned who they really were.
Stopping at the front gates he reached out and laid a hand on the lock, alerting the Headmistress that a visitor was at the gate. He hadn't lifted his eyes from his feet since he left the tent, he simply couldn't bring himself to do it, not yet. He didn't want to see Hogwarts, couldn't do this alone, but he knew he had to.
"Harry Potter." He heard that familiar Scottish brogue several long moments later and couldn't help the small smile that touched his lips.
Finally looking up, his eyes met those of his old Head of House. "Professor McGonagall." He said, truly happy to see her.
"I've told you before, I'm no longer your professor. It's just Minerva now." The older woman said, reaching out and tapping the gates with her wand to allow his entrance. Harry gave a little nod of understanding.
"Not that I'm not pleased to see you, because I most certainly am, but what brings you?" She asked with concern.
"Why can't I just come back to visit my favorite professor?" He couldn't help asking in a cheeky tone.
"Because, Harry, I know you." She said pointedly, a smile that only someone who had spent a significant amount of time with the woman would catch flitting across her face before she became serious once more. "I know how being here hurts you, my dear boy. I know you wouldn't come here unless it was important."
Harry let out a sigh and nodded as he stepped through the gates which closed behind him. "I need to discuss some things with you." He said before continuing much quieter. "Luna has told me things that I must now, unfortunately, tell you."
Harry heard Minerva inhale sharply and saw her visibly freeze. She too knew of Luna's abilities and knew that the younger woman's word was as good as gospel. Harry just hoped that that fiath and knowledge of his sister's abilities would hold out and she would listen to him.
"Come with me." she said and led him across the grounds towards the school.
Harry dropped his eyes to rest on the ground once more, still unable to look up and see Hogwarts. He could feel his skin crawling and the pain attempting to swamp him as memories pushed at his occlumency shields.
He was quiet as he followed her inside and through the castle, keeping his eyes on his feet. He knew this place better than the back of his hand and could navigate it blindfolded, keeping his eyes on the floor was easy.
Twenty minutes later found the two safely ensconced in the Headmistress's office with tea. Harry forced himself to look around and take in the room for the first time since the Final Battle and was pleasantly surprised that it had changed so much. It now embodied the current owner. Gone were the knickknacks and gadgets and in their place were the decorations he remembered from her old office.
"Now what is it that Luna has seen, Harry." Minerva finally asked, breaking the silence. "I know you, Luna, and the rest of your friends too well. I watched you grow up into the fine men and women you are. You would not be here if it wasn't dire. She wouldn't have sent you if it wasn't imperative. Hermione wouldn't have allowed you to come at all and Draco, who would follow you into hell itself, would have followed you here if he was aware of where you currently sat whether you agreed or not." she listed off. "Now tell me what had things so unsettled that you are here, at Luna's bidding I'm guessing, alone and without Mr. Malfoy."
Harry couldn't help the snort that left him at her words. "You definitely do know us well." He said before taking a sip of his tea and sitting it aside.
With a pained voice he began to tell her everything. He explained all that Luna had seen and shared with him. Every possible outcome, every reaction from everyone they held dear. He explained what they were doing, why, and how.
It took a good three quarters of an hour to explain it all, going into excruciating detail in the hopes that he could convince her to override the ministry. He hoped that if he told her just how badly things would go, even her own fate, she would go against the ministry, evacuate the school, and seek shelter.
As he finished and looked at her face he knew that he wouldn't be able to convince her to leave.
"Harry…" She said in a quiet, almost heartbroken voice. "I can't… I do not want to believe that this is truth."
"I know." He said, fighting back the pain he could feel spreading through his heart. "It is unbelievable and too horrific to even contemplate. But it is coming. It is happening. Nothing can stop it. Nothing can slow it. There is nothing to be done but attempt to survive."
"I cannot close the school. I don't have the power to do so. And I will not leave the children." She said firming up her resolve. "Maybe Luna will be wrong and the wards will hold. We can hide here and be safe."
Harry closed his eyes and fought back the emotions swirling within him.
"I know you will survive Harry." She said softly. "You, Luna, Hermione, Neville, Draco, Blaise, and those devil twins of yours." She said fondly.
"We will. We're too stubborn for anything else." He said and then just to be cheeky forced himself to add. "Plus, I'm The-Boy-Who-Just-Wouldn't-Die so I should be fine."
She couldn't help the undignified snort that left her, though she did give him a dry look.
"On that note, I have a request to make." He said, growing nervous and hoping she would agree to what he was about to propose. "We want to preserve as much of our heritage and home as we can." he began to explain. "I, well we, want to take and preserve some of the artifacts from Hogwarts. We can't bare to leave it all here when the world ends. If we're the only British magicals left we want to save as much as we can."
"Oh, Harry." She said, stunned. "I … I don't know about that." She said hesitant to the extreme. "What if Luna's visions don't come to pass? What happens if she's wrong just this once?" She said, doing her best to hold on to the hope that had gotten her through the last two wars.
"I'll make you an Unbreakable Vow, Minerva." Harry said, having expected this due to Luna's warning. "The timeline for this is rapid. Two weeks at the latest it starts and within a month magical Britain will be completely gone. I'll swear that if Luna is wrong and nothing comes to pass, that if the world is still untouched with no sign of a virus in four months I will return everything. Every item will be brought back, perfectly preserved, just as it was when I took it, will be returned. I will agree to a week to return it after four months if nothing happens, just so I have time to get back to Britain."
He fell silent letting her think over everything. He watched the emotions play across her face and could almost hear the war that was raging in her mind. Refilling his tea cup he quietly sipped at it for ten long minutes while she thought over everything before she finally spoke.
"Alright, Harry." She said, her voice showing the defeat he could see on her face and hanging heavy on her shoulders. "I will allow you to take all of the artifacts, anything you wish to take with you, within reason as students may still need certain things. In four months, if things are still the same and nothing she saw has happened you return everything in perfect condition."
He nodded his agreement and she took a deep breath and picked up her own tea, sipping at it. "I trust you Harry." She said quietly. "But my hands are tied and I cannot, will not, abandon my students."
"I understand Minerva. Luna said as much, I just hoped I could change your mind." He told her.
They finished their tea and then set about packing things up. Harry pulled out a single compartment bottomless trunk and explained that once he was back at their tent he would go through everything and put the proper stasis and protective charms on them. They spent several hours moving through the school adding things to the trunk. The Sorting Hat, the Sword of Gryffindor and countless other precious items were added. They stopped by the library during their tour of the school and Harry gave Madam Pince a list of all the books, at least the legal ones, that Hermione already had, and Minerva asked her to pack up any that weren't on that list, including the Restricted Section, to loan to Harry for a project. They continued on their way and as they were returning to the Headmistress's office a couple of hours later stopped by the library to pick up the box and the list of what was included.
As they once more sat in chairs with tea, Minerva was silent for several moments before nodding to herself and moving to a cabinet behind her desk. Tapping it with her want she pulled out three things. One was a pensieve, another was a box, and then finally a small wrapped package. When he looked at her curiously, she explained.
"You know what a pensive is." When he nodded she continued. "The box contains memories, not just mine but from several people. They're memories that are important and should be kept safe. They may help you at some point." She paused, handing the two items to him.
Harry blinked, looking down at the box, curious as to who all had memories in this box. It was something he would have to investigate later. Setting both on the low table between them gently, he pulled the trunk he'd been using all day and when he went to resize them, she stopped him. "These are yours to keep, either way Harry." She told him gently. He gulped but nodded, putting the trunk back in his pocket and pulling out his own personal rucksack, sliding the two in carefully.
"This last item is something that is special, in a way." She said, running her hands over it before looking into his eyes. "It is a tradition here at Hogwarts that each Headmaster or Headmistress have a portrait done." She explained, handing the package over which he took carefully. "This one is mine." She said quietly. "So that in the event that the worst happens, I will always be with you, my dear boy." She finished, her emotions getting the better of her and creating a catch in her throat.
Harry was stunned. He knew about the traditions but that she was giving this to him, a part of her to keep with him always … It meant more than he could say. His own thoughts and feelings were in chaos in that moment as he looked down at the package he now knew had been shrunk for ease.
"How... " He tried to speak but couldn't force the words past the lump in his throat. He coughed and then tried again. "How do I activate it?" He managed to get out in a croak.
"It will activate on it's own, Harry." She told him gently. "Once…" She paused before pushing on. "When I am gone, it will automatically activate and have all of my memories, thoughts, feeling, and knowledge."
He could do nothing but nod. This was too much. All too much. He'd fought a war and grown into a man since that final battle but this moment, this goodbye, was hitting him too hard. And he still wasn't done with this visit. He still had Flitwick to contend with.
"I don't want to leave you here Minerva." He finally admitted. "I wish you would come with us."
"I know." She said as she stood, Harry following suit. Moving around the low table, she pulled her favorite student into her arms and hugged him tightly to her. He returned the hug just as tightly, hating that he had to leave her behind. "You take care of yourself. Take care of the others and allow them to take care of you."
"I will. I promise." He whispered.
Pulling back he wiped his eyes with his shirt sleeve. "I have to go. I have one more stop to make before I leave today." He told her. When she offered a curious look he elaborated. "Flitwick." He explained. "Luna says he's the only one that will survive the carnage that will happen here due to his goblin blood. The virus doesn't affect creatures, only humans. Even though he's only half, it's enough to protect him from contracting the virus. If he's bitten he'll still die, but he won't turn." Taking a deep breath he pushed on. "I am leaving a portkey with him tied to a beacon I've set up in our tent. It will bring him through the wards safely, no matter where we are." He paused for a moment before pulling out a pendant in the shape of a stag and offered it to her. "If you change your mind, this will bring you to us. You and one other. Flitwick's will be identical."
"Thank you Harry." She said, pulling him into another hug before stepping back and allowing him to walk out of her office.
Harry was lucky that Flitwick was currently in his office grading homework when he knocked. He wasn't looking forward to a second round of this. He truly wasn't, he didn't think he had it in him.
"Harry!" The tiny man said with a smile, obviously happy to see his former student. "How are you."
"I'm not so well, Professor." Harry said honestly, taking the offered seat in front of the professor's desk.
"What's happened?" came the concerned reply.
"I... " Harry faltered, trying to bring himself to recount yet again all that he'd explained several hours earlier. Thinking about the goodbye moments ago he was struck by an idea. "Please let me show you, I don't think I can stomach another round of explanations." He said.
Receiving a nod, he pulled out the pensieve he'd been given. This would make it easier, for Harry at least. He pulled out his want and touched the tip to his temple. Thinking about what he wanted to show, he carefully pulled, the silvery strand of memory coming away from his mind. Once it was carefully placed into the pensieve, he indicated for Flitwick to view it.
He didn't go in with him, they were his memories after all. It was four. The first was the conversation with Luna when she'd told him what was to come. The second was the meeting where he explained everything to the others. The third was the explanation to Minerva. The last was their goodbye.
It took all of ten minutes for the memory to be viewed and the diminutive man to retreat from the bowl. Harry had forgotten how differently time moves inside a pensieve.
"Dear Merlin and the Founders." Flitwick said, his shock obvious. As Luna's Head of House, he knew full well of her abilities. He knew she was never wrong. It was still a hard thing to swallow.
"I know." Harry said, reaching out and placing an identical pendant to the one he'd given Minerva on the older man's desk. "Just in case, please… please use it."
"Thank you, Harry." he said quietly, the shock still too prevalent in his mind. Even then, he trusted enough to pick the pendant up and slip it over his head. He hoped, truly hoped, it wouldn't be needed.
"I'm sorry to spring this on you Professor." Harry said, sadness and weariness emanating from the younger man.
"It isn't your fault, thank you for telling me. I would rather know." He said before nodding. "And you know it's Filius. Much like Minerva, I'm no longer your professor and after the war…" He trailed off.
Harry nodded before replanting his memories and packing away the pensieve once more. "I hate to drop this on you and run but it's nearly sundown and I have to get back to the others. We have so much to do and so little time to do it in."
"I completely understand Harry." Filius said, standing and offering the man a hand. "Take care of yourself and I hope the future changes."
"You and me both." answered Harry, shaking the man's hand before turning and leaving the office.
This time, Harry didn't keep his eyes on the ground, he looked around as he walked out of the castle, taking in the last look at the halls he grew up walking. After he had already left through the front door and was nearing the main gate he stopped. Taking a deep breath, he turned, looking upon the place that was both his first home and worst nightmare all in one for the first time in so many years, and for the last time.
It was just as beautiful and magical as it was the first time he'd seen it. Completely restored from the destruction of the war, she was a magnificent sight to behold. It both hurt and healed something inside him to see it again. He stood, staring, his eyes memorizing every detail, knowing it would be the last time he'd ever see Hogwarts.
Several long moments later he pulled himself away, crossed through the gate, and apparated away.
Harry arrived back in the tent and slipped through the flap to see the den empty. Realizing how late it was, he headed towards the dining room and pushed open the door to see everyone gathered around the dinner table eating and carrying on various conversations.
"Sorry I'm late." he called out alerting them to his presence. Making his way over to the chair at the head of the table that had obviously been left open for him seeing as there was a bowl of what looked like a thick hearty stew waiting. As he dropped down into his seat he noticed the steam coming from the bowl indicating it was either really freshly poured or had been under a stasis charm. Either was fine with him as he was starving.
"How did it go, mate?" asked George with a concerned look on his face.
"Painfully." he said, reaching out and grabbing a piece of the warm bread from the basket Luna had just placed in front of him. "I explained everything to Minerva. She took it hard but she's stout and didn't break down. She refuses to evacuate the school or leave the students." pausing to take a bite he tried to push back the sadness that washed over him thinking of their goodbye. "She agreed to let me take things from the school to preserve what we can of our heritage. The Sorting Hat, Gryffindor's Sword, several paintings, and various other things. The deal is that they are on loan at the moment. For a four-month period. If we're wrong, which let's be real we all hope we are even though we KNOW Luna is never wrong, we have one week from the end of that four-month deadline to return everything. If we're right, which we all know that we unfortunately are, it won't matter and there will be no Hogwarts to return everything to." He explained before steadily working through his bowl of stew as he let everyone digest what he'd told them.
Once he'd finished his bowl he pushed it away and leaned back into his chair. "Before I left she gave me three things that were personal gifts, of a sort. A pensieve, a box of memories that are apparently important and have been collected from various people, and …. And her traditional Hogwarts Headmistress portrait that will activate upon her passing." he finally admitted.
The looks of pain and heartbreak were universal in the room. They were all appreciative of the gifts, especially the portrait so that they would have a piece of her with them, but they hated the idea that the next time they spoke to her it would be with her likeness on a canvas.
"She also allowed me access to the library for your benefit, 'Mione." he said, changing the subject slightly. "I took a copy of the inventory for books and borrowed everything we didn't have on the list."
"That's great, Harry." she responded, thoroughly pleased though it was tempered with grief.
"I couldn't face explaining all over to Filius and so I used the new pensieve to show him. He was also shocked and heartbroken but he accepted the portkey. I also left one with Minerva in hopes of the off chance she changes her mind." he said, summoning a butterbeer and taking a long drink.
"So that's done." He said with a sigh before turning his attention to them. "How did things go for you all today?"
"Good." Neville said with a nod. "We cleared the village quickly, quicker than Diagon actually."
"We think that might be because they heard what we did yesterday and took us seriously. The apothecary asked me if I was there to clean them out as well when I stepped in the door. I said yes and they just sort of nodded and started packing everything. I didn't even have to bribe, threaten, lie, or beg for the illegal and restricted ingredients."
"Same here," Hermione said with a nod. "I came in and they asked something similar and just started summoning books."
"Same with us." The twins said at the same time before continuing in their usual alternating way. "We went in the grocers and they asked if we were there to buy out the store. We said yeah, completely clear it, and they put the totaling charms on a bottomless bag and started the packing charms."
"I had a similar experience in Gladrags." Blaise agreed.
"Same here. I went to every plant, herb, and gardening shop in the village and they didn't blink." Neville said. "Was a little weird actually."
"The Prophet tomorrow should be interesting," said Harry with a small laugh, the tension beginning to leave him.
"We were back by noon and spent the rest of the day sorting the haul and then helping with the greenhouses. Which are done by the way and Neville will be able to get all of the plants repotted and planted." Hermione updated him.
"Nice. One less thing to have hanging over our heads." Harry said with a nod, finishing off his drink. "Tomorrow Blaise picks up his order before we pack the tent and then we head for muggle London and get started there." He paused and then turned to her. "You got those maps and phone books right?"
"Yes and I've already made a list with addresses in order of which ones we should do in what order. I did that during lunch." She said with a nod. "I'm also getting close with the research on the marks."
"That's fine 'Mione. As long as we have it before we leave for America that's all I'm concerned about. We have just under two weeks so it's fine. You're doing great and thank you." Harry told her, wanting to make sure she knew her hard work was appreciated.
"You're welcome, Harry." she said with a nod.
"Alright. As for clearing muggle stores, that has to be done at night after the close of business. I think we should spend the day hours setting up the biome trunks and working on getting the plants handled. That way we can round up animals." Harry said, getting agreements all around.
"We should do a trunk for magical creatures as well. We won't be able to find too many on short notice but some we will be able to save. We can go back and clear out the Magical Menagerie and Eyelops. We won't really need owls for mail but I don't want to leave them behind if we don't have to. And kneazles are great judges of character, they can give us warning if people we come into contact with aren't good." Luna said. "My chickens and goats at home as well."
"Alright, we'll get that done tomorrow. New biome trunks while Blaise picks up his order. Once those are done, Luna and I will go handle the animals and if the rest of you wouldn't mind helping Neville with the plants that would be great. Once night hits we pack up the tent and move it to somewhere secluded in the muggle world and then get started on the mad dash for supplies." Harry explained his rough outline for the next day.
Everyone was in agreement with the plan and soon were all heading to bed.
The next morning found the eight friends sitting around the dining room table eating breakfast when an owl flew in through the tent flap and dropped a copy of the Daily Prophet in Blaise's lap.
Opening the paper and reading the front page he couldn't help but be a little surprised. "Huh…" he said in a very un-Slytherin way. "Well, that's a first. They've managed to actually get sort of close to the truth," he said.
"Oh?" Harry said, a bit surprised. "How so?"
The Italian cleared his throat and began to read the front-page article out loud.
THE SAVIOR AND HIS CLOSEST FRIENDS
PREPARE TO FLEE BRITAIN!
By Wanda Wilkins
This reporter was surprised to receive multiple reports of sightings of our very own Savior, Harry Potter, all over various shopping districts over the last two days. He was said to have appeared in several shops, including Travers Tents and More; a shop that carries all of the tools, gear, and equipment for the most prepared of campers. That wasn't the only place he shopped yesterday, as my sources also place Mr. Potter at The Quartermaster's, an extremely exclusive shop that only serves Aurors and requires a certain clearance level or above to even step foot in the shop.
Harry wasn't the only one spotted shopping yesterday, oh no my dear readers. Also spotted in the shops the last two days were those closest to our Chosen One, his dearest of friends and those that he has openly admitted were his family in all but blood.
Hermione Granger, who has been friends with our hero since their first year at Hogwarts was seen frantically buying books, making sure to purchase one of every book she could possibly get her hands on. She even descended into Knockturn Alley to buy out books, collecting as much knowledge as she possibly could.
Luna Lovegood, who has been close with the last two remaining members of the 'Golden Trio' since their very well known fall out with their former third wheel, Ronald Weasley, since their fifth year, was seen clearing out the Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade of all tea, sweets, and various other items such as maps, charts, vials, and surprisingly jewelry.
Neville Longbottom, a dear friend of Harry's since first year and fellow Gryffindor, Slayer of the Snake, was seen all over Diagon Alley, Hogsmeade, and even Knockturn Alley buying up any and all supplies for herbology, which has long been his specialty.
Draco Malfoy, originally Harry Potter's arch-nemesis during their Hogwarts years who turned on the Dark during their sixth year and became a spy for the Light, only known to Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and Luna Lovegood, was also shopping and clearing shelves. A Potions Master in his own right who brews for St. Mungo's, spun a story about an accident destroying his lab completely and needing to replace everything. However, instead of only buying the standard stock for a lab, he cleared every apothecary and cauldron shop in three districts. You heard that right, readers. Mr. Malfoy left not even a single leaf or drop of dragon's blood in any of the shops he visited.
Blaise Zabini, another former Slytherin who defected and became our beloved Savior's eyes and ears, spoke of a shopping spree in memory of his fashion designer mother, a casualty of the Second Wizarding War. He cleared out Madam Malkin's, Twilfit & Tattings, and Gladrags.
Fred and George Weasley, the older twin brothers of the 'Golden Duo's' former best friend Ronald Weasley, and proud owner of Weasley's Wizard Wheezes were both seen shopping as well. While George was busy completely clearing every grocer in Diagon Alley, Fred was occupied in Quality Quidditch Supplies. There, Mr. Weasley bought, supposedly under Mr. Potter's orders, eight, yes you heard that right, EIGHT, brand new Firebolt 731's as well as enough equipment to fully supply a professional league team. Mr. Weasley let slip that our beloved Harry Potter was starting his own team. He alluded to Harry quitting his position in the "corrupt Ministry who continue to undermine and undo all of his hard work" and wanted to turn his energies to a new path and a career he could enjoy.
So many excuses, so many questions. Which are lies and which are truth? It's hard to guess but reading between the lines, this reporter feels confident in the assumption that Harry Potter and his friends, his chosen family, know something that we, Wizarding Britain, do not.
Is there some new threat on the horizon? Has something happened that has forced the hand of this band of Heros that were instrumental in the downfall of You-Know-Who?
I say this, dear readers, because, from the lists of items that were reported cleared out over the last two days, it would appear that Harry Potter and his people, his nearest and dearest, are preparing to face the worst. It appears that our Golden Man is preparing himself and his friends to flee Wizarding Britain, and maybe even Britain itself.
Is this true? Is Harry Potter, The Man Who Conquered, preparing to flee the country and leave us to whatever fate is before us?
It certainly appears so.
Stay tuned and this humble and devoted journalist will do all possible to get answers to these questions.
Everyone sat in silence as Blaise finished reading the article. At Hermione's silent, and completely unsurprising, insistence, he passed the paper over for her to see herself.
"That's a shock." Neville said, leaning back in his chair.
"Very shocking." added Fred.
"They weren't overly nasty, though they did imply that we were abandoning them to whatever's coming." Draco pointed out.
"They're not completely wrong though, are they?" asked Hermione quietly, verbalizing a thought that more than one of them had had at least once or twice over the last couple of days.
"No, they're not." Harry said with a sigh. "And I hate that that is what we're doing," he began, staring down at his half-eaten breakfast, "however, there's nothing to be done. Luna has checked every option. We all know she is never wrong. Out of all the possible things we could do or try it boils down to two options. First, we continue as we are; collect as much as we can in terms of supplies and then leave for America and leave them to their fate." He paused, taking a moment to look around, meeting each pair of eyes that were trained on him. "Or second, we either stay and try to fight what's coming, or even leave but still spread the word, announce what Luna's seen, and join Magical Britain in their fate."
Those words, as honest and necessary as they may be, felt like a fist to his own gut so he knew it had to have hurt them just as much.
"We continue and make peace with our choice or we alter course and end up the same as everyone else in the United Kingdom." Luna said, reiterating Harry's blunt statement. "I have checked every possible permutation and continue to check daily to see if there is any way to save our world, our home, but nothing changes. There is nothing we can do other than die with them."
Hermione bowed her head in grief as pain lanced her heart. Closely following was Draco, then Nevilie, Fred, George, and then finally Blaise. They all took a moment to silently grieve as what lay ahead of them hit them hard all over again.
They had known from the moment Harry told them what Luna had seen that it would hurt. They had been hurting, aching, mourning, and silently raging for days over what was to come.
They had fought in a war to preserve their world, their homes, their loved ones. They had laid their lives on the line, each and every one of them but none more so than Harry. This was the time they were supposed to be free. They were supposed to have peace now.
And the truth was they had. For seven years they'd had peace. The peace they had fought and shed blood for, both theirs and others. They'd killed freedom. They'd watched as those they loved killed for peace.
To know that it was all coming to an end, that only a now seemingly short seven years later that peace was coming to an end was excruciating for all of them. It was one more death, the biggest they'd had yet. The death of their world, and the entire world at large.
It was a daunting thing that had them all struggling to process, no matter how well they were able to compartmentalize and function around their own mourning and anger. Occlumency was truly a blessing in times like this.
"Luna." Harry said, breaking the heavy silence. "I have an idea and I need your Sight. I need to know how it will affect our chances of survival." He forced down another couple of bites to buy himself a couple more seconds to organize his thoughts.
"You and I are going around to the creature shops today. We buy every owl they have. I make portkeys like the ones I left with Minerva and Filius. We send them out to those we think will use them and that we know we can trust. It gives them a chance to come to us when the worst happens."
Everyone turned their attention to the blonde Seer, waiting for her to pass judgment on this idea because hers was the opinion that truly mattered in the grand scheme of things, second only to Harry's.
After what felt like an eternity to those waiting, though in reality was only about ten minutes, she finally spoke.
"Do it." She said with a nod. "I cannot see anyone using them at the moment but of the people we trust, I also can't see it hurting us."
A small sigh of relief went around the table. Maybe they could save a few more. Hermione pulled out a piece of parchment from Merlin only knew where along with a self-inking quill and started making a list. After several moments of passing the list around the table for people to add their own, it ended with Luna for her to check over the names and get a better idea of who might cause problems or who might actually come.
There were a couple of names that were stricken from the list and each one was given a reason why it wasn't possible. A couple of the names were rejected because she could guarantee they wouldn't come and that was precious time and magic Harry couldn't afford to waste making password-activated international portkeys, especially since they were keyed to a beacon and not an actual location.
The hardest rejection came from certain members of the Weasley family, specifically Molly, Arthur, Ron, and Ginny.
"I'm so sorry boys." Luna said, her words truly pained as she spoke. "There are only two possibilities and they waver back and forth, never settling on one or the other. Either they don't come because they can't, they all are bitten before they remember the portkey. Or…" She trailed off before steeling herself for the harshness she knew she would have to deliver. "Or, the more likely possibility, is that they use it. They come and they sow chaos and pain and anger. They become a poison in our home and lives. Ron's jealousy and disgust, Ginny's anger, entitlement, and their combined selfishness will hurt us badly. Along with Molly being, well, Molly. It will be a repeat of the blowout that tore your family apart only worse … so much worse. And eventually, after a long period of struggle and arguments that end in spells and fists thrown, will lead to the deaths of all of us. Arthur is only excluded because he will not come without the others."
It was horribly painful to hear that forewarning. They had, in some ways, been much happier having broken away from their family, or at least most of it. But they were still their family. Their parents and siblings. It was hard to hear that they wouldn't even be able to give them the chance because it would cause nothing but their own destruction.
"There is more but I can't tell you until certain things come about. Telling you would destroy the good that will come. And I promise there will be good once we get past certain hurdles. Good will come and their presence would not only cause our deaths but the deaths of many others. Especially Ginny and Molly."
Standing, Luna rounded the table and pulled both of the twins to her in a side hug. "I am so sorry, Fred, George. I truly hate to tell you this but you know I refuse to lie to you." she said softly. "You deserved to know why I cannot allow them to come under any circumstances."
"We understand." George said, his voice thick with unshed tears.
"It hurts but we can't change who and what they are." Fred added.
"Charlie, Bill, Fleur, and Victore will be sent portkeys." Harry said quietly, assuring the twins that at least some of their family would be given a chance.
"Thank you." they said together.
Luna pulled away from them and returned to her seat before flicking her wand and sending all of the now-empty dishes to the kitchen to wash themselves. "I think we need to get a move on with today. We have much to do and little time to do it in."
"Right. That's my cue to head out. I'll be back shortly with the robes." Blaise said, standing and with a wave disapparated with a loud crack.
"And I'll get back on the marks." Hermione said, standing and making her way into the small library they'd made out of a bedroom.
It was actually a nice little setup. Bookshelves covered the walls with two more in the middle was a long table, which was actually a duplicate of the dining room table only shortened a little so that there was only room for the eight of them instead of the twelve that the dining room held. The trunk of books sat at the end of the table facing out for easy access. The surface of the table was currently filled with papers, books, and drawings of runic arrays and a copy of the sketch Luna had created to use for the image.
"George, Fred, can the two of you handle unpacking and properly organizing the kitchen? I want to keep most of the food in the trunk but I would like to have the shelves actually stocked for ease of use." Harry asked, getting a nod of agreement in return.
"Draco, since your lap is stocked and pristine would you, and you too Luna, mind giving Neville a hand with the biome cases while I work on those portkeys? I can get a couple of them done today. At least the ones from Bill, Fleur, and Victore, then Charlie, then Kinglsey. In that order, since Bill has a child that takes a higher priority."
"Isn't that pushing your magic a bit much. We still have a lot to handle tonight." Draco asked in obvious concern. Anyone who'd known them in school would be surprised to see the level of care and concern on the Slytherin's face ten years ago.
"It'll be fine. I'll be exhausted but I want to get as many of these made and sent before we leave for America." He said, rubbing a hand over his face. "Though honestly, doing two or three, maybe even four or five at a push, smaller ones that don't have to carry as many people is a whole hell of a lot easier than trying to force it to carry eight people at a time through the wards between countries."
"That makes sense. International portkeys aren't meant to take that many people, period. Two or three people at the most is all that the Ministry can safely manage. Forcing your magic to do so is the problem." Neville said with a nod of understanding.
"I'll help with the cases, you handle the impossible yet again." Draco said with a teasing smirk.
"Thanks." Harry said sarcastically with a roll of his eyes before standing and heading to the storage room in search of items to use.
It was a hard, busy day but everything they planned was finished. They were officially done in Wizarding Britain, even an unexpected trip back to Diagon Alley to Olivanders for backup wands, one for each of them and they still ended up buying most of Olivander's stock just in case. Luna had demanded and what she demands tends to happen.
With the detailed research that went step by step, and used spells and enchantments the herbology prodigy had used on greenhouses before just in a different way, Nevile, Luna, and Draco were able to complete three of the new trunks.
Harry was able to complete the portkeys, more than he was expecting but less than he hoped. After a dose of Pepper-Up potion, he and Luna set out and managed to scour every creature store and came away with quite a few additions to their tent.
Four kneazles were released by Luna into the tent as soon as they returned much to Harry's exasperation and twelve puffskeins that were kept in a conjured cage between the doors on the right side of the room. A tank full of steelers and a large number and variety of different toads were promptly handed over to Neville to handle as they were more up his alley. That left the massive twenty-five owls in the trunk, joined by three nifflers (two adults and a baby), until it was their turn to be sent off with portkeys.
Harry, Draco, Blaise, and Neville stood and watched as the kneazles made themselves comfortable on the push furniture. How did this happen?
"I thought we had the trunks for a reason?" Blaise muttered under his breath so that neither of the girls could hear.
"Me too." agreed the other three boys.
Harry had quickly penned letters of warning, though he was fairly vague and carried instructions, and readied the owls. As dinner approached five owls flew out of the tent taking portkeys to Bill, Charlie, Percy, Kingsley, and surprisingly Victor Krum.
Once that was done, Harry pulled the painting Minerva had given him and resized it, hanging in a place of pride above the fireplace. Turning to head back to his room, intending to move the pensive from his bag to the library he paused, blinked, and then snorted.
Fred or George, or both, who knew, had placed another cage on the left side of the room perfectly mirroring the puffskein cage. It was full of pygmy puffs, at least fifteen of the little buggers, obviously taken from their shop at some point when it was being packed.
No one would ever know that it was actually Draco who had done it. He'd meant to give them to Luna sooner but this seemed more amusing and he wouldn't be blamed.
With a shake of his head, he continued on his way.
Luna, sweet Luna, left a note and slipped out of the tent and into the Forbidden Forest with one of the trunks. It took several hours, all that remained of the day actually, to carefully coax the herds of unicorns, thestrals, and hippogriffs into the trunk. As she worked her way back to the tend and out of the forest as the sun was setting she carefully found a few other creatures, such as a couple of bowtruckles.
The mismatched family had a quick dinner of beans on toast before preparing the tent to move. All of the animals were moved back into the biome trunk and the kneazles were not happy with the arrangement.
Once the supply trunks had been packed into the holding bag, everyone changed into their new battle robes. They knew they wouldn't need the protective aspects in the muggle world but they also had spells woven in them to silence their steps and a spell to obscure their face and voice when the hood was up.
This would make the nights of burgling a whole hell of a lot easier. If there were cameras, which Harry and Hermione were fairly certain there would be, they wouldn't see anything identifiable. They would obviously be sure to wipe any security tapes either way but if there happened to be witnesses this would help all the more.
After everyone was dressed and waiting outside the tent it was taken down and packed away in seconds. It was a little saddening to all of them, as this would be the last they saw of their world, at least the British counterpart, they had plans to clear America as much as they could as well.
With one last look around at the Shack, Harry used magic to remove the doorknob from the front door and added it to his bag. A reminder of Remus to add to his personal trunk later.
After that, the address was passed around and with a nod to each other, eight sounds of apparition broke the silence of the early night and startling more than one of the residents of Hogsmeade.
Arriving in the alley behind the closest store to Diagon Alley, as they had decided to start here and work their way out through the city and then across the country, they were quick to start casting.
It had been discussed before what spells and wards needed to be used to make this as quick and painless as possible. Harry, Blaise, Hermione, Draco, and the Twins were casting the very same wards they'd used when on the run, the number of casters enabling them to cover the whole store just in case.
This left Neville to watch their backs while Luna went to the back door and shot spells at the two cameras to disable them. It didn't really matter what spell, magic fried technology every time. For her own entertainment, she used a tickling charm.
The same was done on the alarm on the door, shorting it out and allowing them to enter with a simple Alohomora.
Starting in the storeroom was intentional, everything would be in packing crates and flats making it, theoretically, easier to pack.
They were quick to set to work, shrinking and packing everything in the back into one trunk to be sorted out later. Harry handled that while the others took the trunks they'd been filling before and descended upon the front half of the store to set up the trunks to do the summoning like they did when they were packing their own individual homes. The only things that weren't summoned were electronics.
Once Harry had finished with the back half of the store, that trunk was pocketed and he pulled out another empty single compartment to handle all of the miscellaneous things that were offered but they didn't necessarily know to summon them or couldn't summon them. Things like flashlights, batteries, even all of the baby supplies on the shelves.
It took right at two hours for the entire store to be packed, right down to the last roll of toilet paper. Absolutely was nothing left on the shelves. No time was wasted in ducking into the office and purposely frying the computers and recordings, taking the tapes just in case. Just because their robes and hoods covered their faces so they couldn't be identified, they didn't need to take any chances and they couldn't leave behind any evidence of magic either.
Leaving the store the way they entered, via the back door, they looked at the next address on the list, shared a nod all around, and disapparated letting the wards fall around them.
The pattern continued through the entire night. They would appear at a location, quickly throw up the wards, enter, pack everything as quickly as possible, destroy the security equipment and footage, then leave.
They managed to work their way through a further six shops that night. Most didn't take quite as long as the first, which was the largest of the night, and only took about an hour, if that.
The original plan had been to take turns sleeping during the raids but plans were altered when they realized how much easier and faster things went with all of them. Sleep would come later during the day while they waited for the shops to close.
This went on for over a week. They kept the same pattern of clearing stores all night, sleeping for the first seven hours of daylight, and then spending the rest of the day handling things that needed seeing to. They would handle the animals and plants, sort out their haul from the night before into the trunks properly, and prep for the next nights' capers. Hermione continued to work on the magic for the marks while Harry continued to make and sent off portkeys with the owls.
Five days in, Hermione finally finished the research. A shout had six fully trained, battle-hardened wizards tumbling out of bed, grabbing wands, and charging into the library looking for the danger.
"What!?" asked Harry urgently. "What is it?" His eyes scanned the room once more before landing on a sheepish-looking Hermione.
"Sorry." She said, blushing slightly. "I didn't mean to startle you all. I just finished the research for the marks."
All six of the boys looked at her incredulously. Sharing a look of fond exasperation, heavy on the exasperation, they all dropped into chairs around the table. Luna waltzed in at that moment with a smirk on her angelic face. "Worrying our brothers like that was very unkind, Mione." the blonde chastised teasingly.
"I'm sorry! I didn't mean to!" the brunette defended.
"It's fine, Mione." said Harry with an exhausted yawn, feeling as though that shout of hers had taken several years off of his life.
"Speak for yourself, mate." grumbled Blaise tiredly.
"So you've sorted it?" Harry asked curiously, turning the attention back to the reason they'd all been unceremoniously dragged out of their beds to begin with.
"Yes!" Hermione said excitedly before going on to explain in great detail everything she'd found out and what needed to be done.
The twins, Neville, and Blaise dozed off as she spoke with Draco not far behind. They didn't mean to but they'd only had about five hours of sleep before she'd woken them all.
Harry, for his part, listened closely. He would be the one that had to cast the magic and make the marks so he needed to understand this. He appreciated all of the hard work Hermione had put into this and was determined to get the marks placed today before they started their next round of shops.
It took about four hours before Harry understood enough to feel confident that he could do this. It was a combination of runes, charms, and blood magic. A delicate balance that required focus and care.
"Okay. This is going to be difficult and draining." Harry said, leaning back in his chair as he once again looked over the runic arrays his brunette sister had drawn up. "I may not be able to help much tonight, it depends on how draining this will be on my magic."
"If needed, you can stay here in the tent tonight while we handle the shops. We're doing a lot of small shops tonight, shouldn't be more than half an hour each since they're so small. Which means the war5ds won't need to be so big or strong." said Draco.
"He's right. We can handle it ourselves for one night. If you have to recover." agreed Fred.
"If you're sure." Harry said hesitantly, hating to feel as though he wasn't able to help.
"You doing the marks will help us more in the long run than you being there with us tonight, Harry." Luna said soothingly. "We will need those later, they will be the difference between living and dying." She finished, her words holding the weight of knowledge too heavy for her thin shoulders.
"Alright." he said with a nod. "We best prepare this then. It calls for blood from each of us." At this a shudder went around the room. Blood was a sensitive topic to all magicals.
"I know." Harry muttered darkly, not overly happy with this particular requirement. "But needs must." He forced himself to say.
Moving on before he could talk himself out of this, Luna's words hit hard and increasing his sense of urgency. "We each have to contribute a vial of blood. Draco, can you brew this potion?" He finished, handing over the potion recipe Hermione had found in a dark book in the Black library.
"Of course, it looks fairly simple actually. This will take me about an hour." the blonde answered.
"Then you handle that. Once it's finished we'll do this." Harry said, taking a deep breath and summoning eight vials before passing them out. "Everyone, time to bleed. I know it's horrible but according to Hermione's research, it's the only way for the marks to do everything we need them to do."
With that, all eight of them very reluctantly used a small cutting hex to open a cut on their forearms or palms and fill their individual vials before corking them. As soon as this little blood-letting session was finished, Draco disappeared into the potions lab and the others dispersed to dress for the day knowing that sleep wouldn't be happening.
An hour later found them all sitting back around the table in the library. The recently finished potion sat in a solid silver bowl, its surface a pale blue with a pearly sheen.
Taking a deep breath to steel himself for what he was about to do Harry met each of their gazes. "Okay, you each have your vial?" He asked though it was rather redundant. Getting a nod in return, he continued on. "This calls for each person's blood and magic and then I will take it and harness it into the end result. One by one, step up to the bowl, pour in your vial, then use your wand to stir three times clockwise while pushing a steady stream of magic into the potion through your want. As the bonder I…" He paused before seeming to pull himself together. "I have to add double. I will start and between each of you I'll stir three times, then I'll finish."
No one said anything. None of them were overly thrilled with this. Blood magic was forbidden for a reason and it made all of them, even the two resident Slytherins, nervous. They knew they needed this for their own good which is the only reason they weren't demanding another way be found.
Harry picked up his own vial and forcing back the overwhelming urge to destroy it before it could be used, poured it into the bowl and stirred three times clockwise with his wand as he poured his potent magic into the concoction. As he stepped back he looked at Luna to his right. "Next."
And so it went, each of them stepping forward and doing as they had been instructed. Luna went after Harry, followed by Nevile, Draco, Fred, George, Blaise, and Hermione in that order. Harry finished the process by adding his second vial and adding the last three stirs.
By this point, the once faint, pearlescent blue potion was now tinged pink with swirls of purple.
"Alright for the next part, in the order that the blood was added I'll draw the runic array on the area intended for the mark. Which means left forearm." Harry explained.
He picked up a paintbrush that Luna had cleansed and purified just for this and carefully began to copy the runic array Hermione had worked so hard on using the concoction they'd just created from potion and blood as ink.
True to word, he went in order of blood added and copied the same runic array in the same spot. Once he made it through everyone, he added a second coat to his own as the ritual required.
As he placed the paintbrush down he picked up his wand and braced himself for what came next. Looking around at his family he explained what Hermione had explained to him. "I will cast this on mine and it will mirror it on yours. It may hurt, but I'm hoping it doesn't. Mione said it may not since this isn't being done with malicious intent but to protect and out of love. Is everyone ready?"
After he'd gotten a nod, albeit nervously, from each of them, he gave his own jerky nod and took another deep breath. Slowly letting it out, he placed the tip of his wand against the now dry runic array and began to chant, as previously discussed, in Parseltongue.
It was a long and complicated enchantment. Harry could feel the magic swelling around them, feel his own power rising and pouring into his arm and flowing around and connecting each of them to him in turn. He could almost see the swirls of magic tethering the eight of them together, binding them tightly.
The magic in the air was so thick it was cloying, each of them felt as though they were choking on it. Harry could feel his limbs beginning to shake as the words continued to pour from his mouth but he couldn't stop. To stop now before he'd finish could prove to be disastrous. The backlash would not be kind.
Finally, after five long moments of chanting and shaking, which felt more like an hour, the power in the room hit its peak the runes disappeared, sinking into their skin before what looked like black ink began to spread. It looked as though a spectral hand was drawing on their arms. Once the drawing was complete the image Luna had drawn stared back at them. Yggdrasil with their names in scrolls woven into the branches and roots.
The moment the image was complete it flashed golden. With the flash the chanting pouring from Harry stopped and it was as if all of his bones had been vanished. He collapsed unconscious sending panic through the room.
Draco dropped to his knees next to their leader and rolled him onto his back. Carefully he checked his pulse and opened one green eye to check his pupil's response. Pulling out his wand, he cast several diagnostic charms. With a sigh of relief, he sat back onto his heels. "He'll be fine, it's just magical exhaustion. He'll be awake by tomorrow at the latest. He just needs to rest. He almost completely drained his core.
"He changed Hermione's carefully constructed ritual slightly." Luna explained with her eyes closed, her delicate fingers tracing the lines of her own mark.
"What do you mean, he changed it." Asked Hermione hotly.
"Not so much changed as added too." Luna soothed. "In his worry for all of us and his desperation to see us safe, he added a type of portkey to the marks."
"What?!" came the screech from several people.
"How is that possible?" asked Blaise.
"He added the spell to make a portkey to the part of the enchantment that monitors health and safety." Luna began to explain. "In the event, one of us were to be mortally wounded and on the verge of dying, we'll be instantly transported to whichever of us is registering as the healthiest and safest. So it's not quite a portkey nor apparition. More like magnets. The marks, in event of extreme emergency, function like magnets and pull us together. Pull the dying one to the one best suited to protect and heal."
"That's…" Neville trailed off, unable to come up with the words.
"Impossible." Fred and George said together.
"Harry does the impossible frequently." Draco drawled. He too was shocked with this news but he knew better than to be surprised by his brother in all but blood anymore.
The twins carefully moved Harry back to his bed before Draco forced several potions down his throat. Leaving him to sleep this latest stunt off, the others readied themselves to head out when night hit in roughly three hours. They had a lot to do and not much longer to do it in.
It was an exhausting eleven days but it was well worth it. They had enough supplies by the time all was said and done that they could survive for a good couple of years with only what they'd managed to stockpile if it was just the eight of them.
They'd even ransacked a few garden supply stores and seed banks at Luna's insistence. They'd taken everything they would need to plant crops for food, which had already been started in a new biome trunk. Everything from vegetables to fruit trees had been planted under Neville's supervision and with magic they would grow bigger, faster, and last longer.
As they were finishing up the biggest single haul they'd done yet, a large shopping mall full of dozens of stores, which had taken an exhausting seven hours, Luna froze.
Seeing his youngest sister frozen, her face covered in shock and panic, Harry let out a low whistle to alert the others before placing his hands carefully on her shoulders. "What is it, Luna? What do you see?" He coaxed softly.
"We have to leave." She said as she came back to the moment, blinking her bright blue eyes as the mist cleared from them. "Tonight. Now. Finish the last things here and are gone. We leave in twenty minutes, not a second more."
"I thought we had three more days, what changed?" asked Neville, coming up behind Harry.
"The ministry has caught wind of what we've been doing. They put it together with the shopping we did in the alleys and the village. They know we're up to something and are planning to come for us. They'll be landing here in an hour. That's how long it'll take to organize the Aurors." She explained, her mind racing a million miles a second.
Taking a deep breath, Harry handed Luna over to Nevile. He was extremely thankful in this moment that he'd packed up the tent when they'd hit this shopping mall. Hermione had suggested moving the tent and heading into Scotland for the last couple of days and so he'd broken down the tent and packed it.
Turning to face the store at large he brought his fingers to his lips and let out a long, loud whistle. "PACK UP!" he yelled, not caring about anything else, there was nothing here they couldn't get in the states. "We're leaving now! Forget anything else. Close the trunks. We're done! Portkey in five!"
The sound of trunks slamming came from several directions. Within seconds pounding feet were heard heading in their direction.
"What's happened?" asked Blaise the second he skidded to a halt, the others coming up behind him.
"Ministry. Here in an hour. We need to not be." Harry explained succinctly as he pulled a length of rope from his pocket and canceled the shrinking charm on it. Holding it out, the others didn't ask any further questions and simply grabbed it.
"We'll be okay." was the last words uttered on British soil, Luna's gentle reassurance, before Harry hissed the password, 'safety', in Parseltongue and they were all whisked away and across the ocean to start the next chapter of their lives.
Their old lives were over and now they would once more live only for survival and each other. But this time, Luna had assured them all, their family would grow. Time to survive.