A/N: Harry Potter and his world belongs to J.K. Rowling, Warner Brothers and anyone that has received licensing rights. I am grateful she gives us the privilege of playing in her world.

A/N: To my awesome readers, thank you. I never imagined making 2600 favorites so far for this story. I hope to keep entertaining you as we get to the downfall of the Dark Alliance...

-oOo-

Chapter 27

-oOo-

December 27, 1994

Inverness, Scotland

Today was the day the third and fourth years were to be taken into Inverness. The fifth, sixth and seventh years would be tomorrow.

There was a general nervousness among those students that had never spent any time in the Muggle world. Harry didn't miss that Lavender, the Patil twins and a few other Ravenclaw were crowded around Dean, Ron and Seamus. Harry smiled to see Ron smiling at a Ravenclaw girl. He had changed this year, his grades now putting him towards the middle of their class. Harry missed Ron sometimes, but he found he just didn't have as much in common now besides Quidditch. Dean and Seamus were a much better match.

Susan and Hannah were holding court of most of the Hufflepuffs and the other Ravenclaw from their year. Ernie was holding Susan's hand. For the third years, Harry was surprised to see Astoria with Colin Creevey, Ginny and her friends Amanda. A small group was gathered around them.

"Malfoy and his ilk are dressed for the occasion," Neville said, nodding to the group of Slytherin. Harry saw all the pureblood or half-bloods that lived exclusively in the magical world or were allied with them. They were all wearing long winter cloaks, clothing that looked high-class and a hundred years out-of-date.

"They won't stick out," Harry said sarcastically back.

"Mr. Bouvier offered everyone to transfigure their clothes for the day," Hermione said.

Luna bounced up to them in a thick yellow winter coat, blue corduroy trousers and red blouse. Her smile was huge. "You look colourful," Tracey said with a little laugh.

"Thank you. Astoria helped me transfigure them. I picked the colour though," Luna said cheerily.

Tracey moved in and took Luna's arm. "I love this girl," she announced.

Daphne chuckled. "You would," she said playfully.

"Everyone's attention up here please," Mr. Bouvier said. Professor Babbling, Vector, Davis and Healer Tonks were with him. "Thank you," he said once most of the talking had died, and they looked to the front of the room. "We are going to be taking portkeys from Hogsmeade in about thirty minutes. Groups of up to eight and a chaperone will be going to the train station in Inverness and the hidden platform, number three and two-thirds. That will be our meeting point. I am going to ask everyone to take one of these pins. It has a tracking charm and if you touch it, it will call for help. All the chaperones have a corresponding pin that will tell them where you are and will seek you immediately."

Head girl Clearwater and two seventh year prefects were there. They took the bags and started to pass them out to the nearly eighty students that were going today. Harry had been surprised when so many Slytherin around Malfoy had shown. As the pins were passed out, Mr. Bouvier went on. "When we get to Inverness, I have worked it out to have some guides to help each group. Some of them are No-Maj or First gens. I expect you all to be respectful and listen to them. If not, you will be spending two weeks in detention and lose your house twenty points. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Mr. Bouvier," many echoed at the same time.

"How much you want to bet Malfoy and his lot lose us the cup on this trip?" Blaise said to them.

"Ten galleons," Harry said, feeling it was a sure bet.

"You really shouldn't bet," Hermione said in her professor's voice.

"I'll take those odds," Tracey added.

"Tracey, you really want to lose?" Daphne questioned her friend.

"No, but it is Malfoy."

Daphne nodded in recognition.

"Please, just another moment of your attention before we go out to the carriages and head into Hogsmeade," Mr. Bouvier called over the talk that had started. "If anyone does not have any No-Maj money, I can exchange ten galleons for fifty pounds. Just catch me before you take a portkey. Now, if you don't have a group, just look at the back of your badges and once we get to the portkeys, go to the appropriate number. Any questions before we leave?"

It wasn't long before their group piled into a carriage. They were really only comfortable up to six people, and with seven, Harry said he would stand. Daphne wasn't having that. "Sit," she ordered.

"But..."

"Harry, it is better you don't argue, otherwise I am going to sit on your lap," Luna said, looking out the window. "Daddy and I go into the muggle world sometimes. Do you think we can find some big pretzels? I always like those."

Harry saw the look in Daphne's eyes towards Luna and he sat, pulling her down. Among friends, it wasn't important to keep up their manners. Tracey and Hermione were sniggering at them as Daphne sat tall, then kissed his forehead. Harry wasn't going to complain too much as her chest settled just below his chin. Since Yule, Daphne had been getting much closer.

Blaise just nodded while Neville leaned down to whisper something to Tracey.

When they got to the station, Harry was surprised to see a few parents there, including Iliana. Apparently, they would be the chaperones. Quickly Tracey pulled them off to her mother while Astoria and her group joined Iliana. It was a laughing group that left Hogsmeade. Harry was so glad he now knew how to exit properly and landed rather gracefully with Daphne on his arm.

Hermione suddenly squealed next to them. Harry had his wand in his hand and pointed in the direction she was starting to run in. Neville had been just about as quick, with Blaise and Daphne following. "Mum! Dad!" she called out, running to hug them. "I didn't think I would get to see you again until the summer."

Daphne put a hand on his wand hand. "Hermione is alright."

He nodded and put his wand back up his sleeve. Daphne did the same.

Professor Davis frowned at them. "So, as you can see, we will be going around with Mr. Granger today while Mrs. Granger goes with Lady Greengrass and her group."

"Everyone up here, please," Mr. Bouvier called out. "We have organized for this to go in two groups. Anyone with an odd number, you will be going on a tour for the next two hours and then meet at Eastgate Shopping center for lunch and then you can see how far your new found shopping skills and grasp of muggle money can get you. All those with even numbers on your pins, you will go to the mall first, and then take a tour after lunch, about one. We are all to be back here by quarter past three and the portkeys will start leaving at three-thirty. Stay with your chaperones and have a good day."

Mr. Bouvier had been forced to yell at the end.

"We are group three," Hermione informed them, even though the Roman numeral III was on the pin.

As they moved together, Harry noticed Draco and his group move closer. They were all being a little quiet today. Harry noticed that they were with Professor Vector and a man that looked a little uncomfortable to be wearing muggle clothes. "Who is that?" Harry asked Daphne while leaning in to whisper to her.

She looked at the group. "I'm not sure. Trace?"

Tracey looked over. "I think that is one of Notts uncles. I heard one of his uncles married a half-blood that grew up in the Muggle world. I'm surprised he's still alive," she said a little unsure.

"They moved to the United States during the last war and only moved back a few years ago. Nott said he has a few second cousins that will start Hogwarts in a year or two," Blaise told them. "Theodore doesn't follow his father's beliefs."

Harry had forgotten that Blaise had been friends with Nott. May still be, but it was too dangerous right now for them to be friends in the open.

He didn't have any time to think about it before they were being called to follow someone. It was interesting as a guide brought them to a few of the more significant muggle historical sites in Inverness. He had a good time with his friends. Malfoy looked absolutely bored. "Why does it matter this priest did something?" Malfoy muttered. "It's not like it matters."

Harry tried to ignore him and was doing well at it until they made the mall. Tracey was having a hard time keeping her laugh in to see the huge eyes of Pansy and Lily Moon as the two girls looked at the huge two floor mall. "You were the same not long ago," Neville pointed out to her.

"I am so much more worldly now though," Tracey giggled.

Luna was looking into a window of a shop that had some muggle fashion. There were some bright clothes. Her eyes were locked on a shirt that showed an animal on it. "What is that?"

Harry looked to where she was pointing. They all looked.

"A wooly rhino. They went extinct at the end of the last ice age," Hermione answered.

Luna shook her head. "It's a short-haired ringaloo. Daddy and I saw them in Tibet last year."

Hermione blinked. Most of them looked at the girl, still unsure at times if she was sane or not.

"I've seen fossils of them at museums," Hermione replied.

"It's a ringaloo. Here," Luna said, shoving the satchel she usually wore into Hermione's hands and then started to dig through it. Hermione gave him a look. He just shrugged. A moment later, Luna took out a photo album that was larger than the satchel. He looked around to make sure no one was watching. He laughed as Pansy dragged Draco into a shop with some nice dresses in the window. Mr. Granger and Lady Davis were standing a little distance off, watching the other groups. They trusted them enough to blend in.

"Maybe they'll get a nice dress for him," Blaise said loud enough for Neville and him to hear. Neville sniggered.

"Luna, you can't show wizarding pictures here," Daphne said in a low whisper as the girl flipped through some pages. Harry saw a group of boys about their age walking towards them. He didn't miss their eyes finding Daphne, Tracey, Hermione or Luna. They looked the girls up and down, which made Harry tense. Harry nudged Neville, sensing possible trouble. Blaise saw the movement and turned his head.

The three boys looked a little older than them and were definitely more of the rocker type. Harry cleared his throat, getting their attention. The middle boy was tall with spiky blonde hair and white tips. The one to the right was almost a head shorter, but stocky. Harry didn't think the boy had much extra fat on him. The last was about Harry's height with a similar build. It was that look of a teen that had gone through a growth spurt and hadn't filled out yet.

Harry wasn't sure what was going to happen until the one in the middle nodded his head and gave a thumbs up, before looking Daphne up and down. Harry instinctually stepped to block her from the boys' leers. He finally seemed to get that the three boys with the girls were not going to take the leering casually. After a second, the middle boy nodded again and adverted his eyes as they walked by.

Neville was frowning as he shared a look with Harry. Looking around, Harry noticed a few other groups looking towards them. A group of girls broke into giggling fits when they saw him looking. "Are you done being a brute?" Daphne whispered to him.

"No, " he said back cheekily.

Daphne took his arm and kissed his cheek. "Good."

He gave her a questioning look.

Daphne nodded towards the girls. "You may have to hold me back if those girls don't stop looking at you."

"Luna, wait!" Hermione exclaimed behind them, following her into the store.

"Let's go save your best friend," Daphne said, pulling him away as they all walked into the store to keep Luna from telling everyone the shirt was labeled wrong.

A little bit later, they were sitting in the food court. Luna's huge eyes were happy as she sucked on a straw. She had claimed the milkshakes were better than Fortescue's and was on her second one. Tracey was eyeing Luna. "Is it safe to give her that much sugar?"

Hermione just shook her head. "As long as she isn't trying to tell all the Muggles what is wrong, I don't care at the moment."

Blaise chuckled. Hermione had been following the girl with an exasperated look for the last hour or so.

Catching sight of Malfoy, his group looked very confused at all the food choices. He was still being led by Pansy and Lily, who seemed to have gotten into the spirit of the place better than the others. The same group of boys they had seen earlier walked by the group. If Crabbe and Goyle had been with them, Harry doubted it would have gotten out of control. Unfortunately for the muggle boys, they wolf whistled at the girls. Malfoy and Nott were just too out of their element to understand what was going on before that point.

Harry saw it coming, jumping to his feet. It didn't matter that he was too far away. Daphne, who was watching the group too, jumped on his arm to keep him from pulling his wand. In the meantime, Draco must have reached a breaking point. His wand was out and in the middle of the food court, with maybe forty witnesses all looking in the general direction, he cast an orange spell. Harry didn't have a clue what it was, but the middle boy collapsed and started to scream. "You filthy muggle," Draco was yelling.

"Oh, Merlin," Tracey yelled.

"We need to go," Neville said, jumping up and pulling Tracey up.

"We will look suspicious," Hermione was yelling at them.

Harry wanted to run to tackle Draco as he started to move his wand again. Before he could cast another thing, four people around them had wands out and two stunners hit Draco. Pansy and Lily screamed while the poor muggle boy convulsed on the floor. The others with the muggle boy looked on horrified. "Stupid brat," the man next to them said before he reached into his pocket. A mirror came out. "We need Obliviators right now. If you all would come with me? Head Bones wanted you out of here if there were any incidents."

Two others joined the man.

"And who are you?" Harry demanded.

The man, seeing that seven wands were now drawn, held up his hands. "Easy, lad. We are Hit Wizards set to guard you and your friends. Others are already evacuating Susan Bones and her group," the man said.

Others were running, and a dozen people with wands were casting area effect stunning spells, to keep everyone else here.

Daphne took his hand. When it was apparent the man wasn't being believed he showed them a badge.

It was only then that Harry took up after the man as the scene in the mall turned into ordered chaos.

At dinner, the rumors had it that Draco was taken into the DMLE and charged. Susan was with them. "He broke at least four laws."

"I doubt we will see him before the New Years now," Ernie added.

"That is going to be a serious fine," Susan added.

"I can't believe he used a bone dissolving curse," Blaise commented.

"That is what that spell was?" Hermione asked horrified.

"Pretty sure," Blaise replied. "Few spells have that orange light, and the wand movement wasn't right for the few others I know."

Hannah looked green. "I hear that is very painful."

They all nodded, having heard the boy's screams.

"Auntie may try to charge him as an adult. If he is, that is three years in Azkaban for something like that," Susan supplied.

"I could have stopped him," Harry said to Daphne.

"And then have you arrested for underage magical use, in a muggle area and in clear violation of the International Statute of Secrecy? That spell takes hours to do permanent damage and I am sure they got the boy to St. Mungo's pretty quickly," Daphne said back to him. "If it had been purple, the poor muggle would have died in minutes."

"I still could have stopped him," Harry said, not liking to see anyone hurt. Not like that.

Daphne took his hand in hers and wove her fingers between his. "Harry, I love how you want to save everyone, but you can't always."

"Harry is always trying to save someone," Hermione poked her way into their bubble.

He just shrugged. "If I can, why not?"

Daphne leaned over and kissed his cheek. "Never change."

He gave her a smile and the conversation turned over to the upcoming awards ceremony New Year's Eve. It made him a little uncomfortable. At least it was his friends and family. Most others were still too busy talking about Draco.

-oOo-

December 28, 1994

Hogwarts, Scotland

Daphne raised an eyebrow as Harry sat next to her. It was not usual for her to be to the breakfast table before him. Today they were sitting with the Hufflepuffs. What caught her eye was the package he had put into her lap. It was a square box about four inches across and wrapped in a nice green paper, similar to his eye colour. She was impressed with the thin silver ribbon in an intriguing bow.

"Happy birthday," Harry said, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

A small smile came to her face.

"Happy birthday," Neville and Hermione added.

"You'll get our presents later," Hermione promised.

"I have another for you later too," Harry added.

"I didn't get two," Tracey complained.

"We didn't know your birthday was in April and only Harry is giving her two," Hermione retorted.

"I still didn't get two," Tracey pouted.

"Happy birthday, Daphne," Susan and Hannah said as they joined them. Ernie sat next to Susan looking a little tired. Susan kissed his cheek.

"Do you all have to be so cute?" Hannah said to her best mate.

"Are you going to open it?" Harry asked, sounding a little nervous.

"What if I just want to look at the bow? Who did you get to do it?" she queried.

"I did it," Harry said.

"It took him hours to get the spell down," Hermione told her, looking a little smug.

"Not all of us are Hermione Granger," Harry snarked. Hermione stuck her tongue out at him. The girl had been on cloud nine for days now and acting more like a normal teen than Daphne had ever seen her. Daphne loved not having to sit at the Slytherin table.

"You want to bet its some jewelry," Blaise said, getting some porridge and bacon.

Hermione gave Blaise a glare. "Will you stop betting on everything?"

"Maybe if you give me a kiss," he said, not looking at her.

Hermione huffed, then kissed his cheek.

"Uhg. This is so unfair," Hannah whinged.

"I think you will find someone when you are ready," Luna said joining the group. "Happy birthday."

Daphne was smiling at all her friends and enjoying how Harry was starting to squirm. She should put the poor boy out of his misery. Besides, it was killing her not to open it.

She slid the ribbon off, slipping the ribbon over her wrist. It was something silly her mother used to do with her and Tori when they were young, and it was her birthday. She could get away with something silly today. Susan and Hannah giggled at her while Tracey smirked. She ignored them as she opened the box. Her breath caught as she looked down at a beautiful gold braid bracelet. It had two pendants on it, lain over the braid. "I hope you don't mind. It was my grandmothers. According to her journal, it was given to her by my grandfather when she turned sixteen and they were courting. Your father gave me permission to add your crest," he said in a hushed voice.

Everyone was looking at them as she lifted it out of the box. Tracey gasped while Susan and Hannah looked at him wide eyed. It was Luna who so expertly broke the silence, "Are you sure my father didn't offer me as bride-price for our alliance?"

Most of them laughed at her, knowing Luna well enough by now that she probably didn't mean that.

"Are you certain about this?" she asked in wonder. Bracelets like this used to be used as a promise to be betrothed or when a betrothal was formalized. The House crest would announce to everyone that the girl was intended to the House on the bracelet. To add her House was a major declaration that the Houses were not just allies, but potentially bound to combine in a permanent union.

"Sirius explained what this means," he replied.

Daphne held out her left wrist, now really feeling silly for putting the bow on. Harry took the bracelet and put it on her wrist. She looked at it for a moment before diving at him. Her arms wrapped around his neck, and she gave him a very sloppy kiss. They broke after Neville commented, "Way to raise the expectations, Harry."

Daphne didn't care. This was a great fifteenth-birthday already!

"Do you think they will be done before Daphne's birthday tea," Luna asked in her airy tones.

"I think we should get them a room," Hannah giggled.

Daphne pulled back. "Just wait until you get a boyfriend," she promised Hannah.

Susan giggled at the apprehensive look on Hannah's face.

She settled back into her seat. It was not proper for her to kiss Harry like that in the Great Hall. Luckily, it was only about half full. Many were taking advantage of the Christmas holiday.

-oOo-

December 29, 1994

Somewhere in England...

Amelia stood in the doorway of an old keep. Half of it was in ruins, the other half stood a tall sentinel to the tests of time. It was a tall square tower; originally a Norman keep. The slumping walls and the few half standing structures around it had been added well after the original structure, and then fallen as the old wards failed without a master here. The original keep was still as strong as the day it was probably last used a few hundred years ago.

She did not like using a place that was Harry's like this, but even with the outer wards gone, the wards from the keep would mask the meeting she had scheduled here today. Her ward would understand afterwards, and he had given her permission to enter and manage any of his lands.

"Two more minutes, boss," Shacklebolt said from just inside the old main hall. It was open to the sky, but the most intact structure in the outer ward.

"Thank you," she said.

In two minutes, four others should be portkeying here. She needed them to be onboard with what she was going to do in a few days, otherwise she could be the one in Azkaban.

She stood in her old hit wizard robes. Every blade, wand and other nasty trick she used to use were on her. Three Aurors and two other hit wizards were with her. They were the ones she knew she could trust.

When the first person appeared, she watched as an older woman with grey hair and sharp eyes walked casually out onto the grass. She stopped and looked around. "I figured it was you," the old woman said.

"It's nice to see you again, Mathilda," she said.

Two others quickly followed her. The mane of her Head Auror was next to the grey cloak of one of her oldest friends.

The last person to arrive was the Chief Warlock. Doge looked around, unsure of where he was.

"I am sorry to pull you all away like this, but I have a pressing need that cannot be discussed in the Ministry. I must ask for an oath that will hold for the next two weeks," Amelia demanded, not going through any pleasantries.

They all looked at her for a moment.

"What is this about, Amelia?" Doge questioned.

"I will not say unless you swear an oath. Two weeks is all I need," she told them. Behind her back she made a sign for her guard to be prepared to stun and obliviate them. It was against the law, but sometimes it was better to ask for forgiveness, then resign.

Scrimgeour was the first. He took out his wand and held it vertically in the air. "What is the oath?"

She waited until the four had all done the same.

Once done, she signaled for them to enter the broken structure. The goblins had finally determined that it would be safe for Harry to enter the main keep when he wanted. She would take him here over Easter.

Croaker whistled as they stepped through the door. "Impressive wards," the man said. She had put up the most powerful secrecy wards she could.

"This is an important meeting. What I am about to discuss with you all will bring the Ministry to its knees in the next few weeks," she stated.

Mathilda looked worried. "Are you asking us to plan a coup d'état?"

"No. But the Minister will be affected and arrested by the allegations I am about to reveal and the actions that must be taken to maintain our laws, and possibly our world," she replied.

Scrimgeour's face broke into a smile that befitted the hunter he was. "You mean we are finally going to clean house?"

"Yes," she replied. "If none of you are willing to hear me out, then I would ask you to leave now. If you are, I need all of you and the people you trust. We can not have any of this leak out until the moves have been made."

Doge was frowning. "Amelia, I will not support anything that is a grudge or political move just to grab power."

"I do not want power, Elphias. I promise I will turn down any nomination or election to Minister. That would send the wrong message of what my plans are," Amelia told them truthfully.

"And what are your plans," Croaker asked, sounding amused.

"To arrest and try almost ninety people for acts of terrorism, bribery, coercion, murder and a host of other charges. To warn you, seventy-two of the people are Wizengamot members, many of them part of the Dark Alliance. I know the optics this will portray to those that back them, but I fear what else might be coming if we do not act," she told them.

"What exactly did you get from Selwyn, Goyle and Mulciber?" Scrimgeour asked.

"It wasn't just them, but I have allegations that will see almost half the people facing either the veil or a dementor's kiss. There is a team already trying to find evidence for anything they can. I expect the first arrests to start happening next week. My issue is that my political alliances could muddy the waters on this," she stated.

"So, you want to have the Chief Warlock and a small independent council review and approve all warrants," Doge said, quickly catching what she was after.

"I am going to hand everything over to Scrimgeour and the Unspeakables. They will present all warrants and searches to the council," she agreed.

"That is a rather nice ploy," Croaker commented.

Scrimgeour looked ready to pounce on the first victim he could find. "You got it, boss."

"I don't understand why I am here, Amelia," Mathilda said.

"Mathilda, I need you to open up your records. There are allegations of underage spell use that should have seen some going to Azkaban," Amelia informed the now shocked woman.

"While you are here, teams of Aurors and St. Mungo Healers are having everyone in your office taken in for examination for compulsions, obliviations, potions and the imperious curse. Before you leave, you will be checked for the same," Amelia informed the woman as two of her Aurors came out from disillusionment charms.

"What! I don't understand," Mathilda said.

"Mathilda, if the allegations are correct, there have been some serious misuse of spells by those of pureblood or old families. Misuses that are not covered under the protections carved out for such families. I can only assume it was you, someone in your office or a combination of the two that has allowed it," Amelia said calmly.

"Amelia, I would never do anything like that. You know I take the laws seriously," the woman said.

"That is the only reason I did not have you arrested. If you will cooperate, Kingsley and Moody will take you to St. Mungo's right now. If not, I will have you taken to the cells in the DMLE and have it done there."

A shaken Mathilda said, "No. I will go to St. Mungo's."

"Thank you."

A moment later, she was gone.

Doge was looking at her. "What guarantee do I have that you will not try to seize power? I trusted a man for years that said he wanted to do what was best and he was the worst betrayer I have known."

"I will not disappoint my niece or nephew that way. I will not be Dumbledore, Fudge or any of the others that just want power. All I want is a peaceful world where our children can grow and have their own children. I know it will not be all peaceful, but we can make it as safe as possible," Amelia told the man.

After a moment, Doge nodded. "I will go along with this for now. When do we start?"

"I am hoping today. When we get back, you two are to go to level ten, courtroom eight. You will find my top solicitors, twenty-two Aurors and eight hit wizards at your disposal. You are reporting to Doge until you are confident it is done. I am not to be involved," she told them, knowing the faith she was putting into Scrimgeour and Croaker.

She knew once word got out about this, things might get a little dicey for a bit, but it had to be done this way. This could not look like a political move by Anders and her. Amelia wouldn't deny that she would like to have more power in the Wizengamot to set things up better for her children, but that was not the main motivation. She was above all a Law Enforcement officer.

Croaker chuckled. "No one will doubt you were behind this."

"I can't have my name on any of it," she told them. She had already stuck her hand in too far by questioning the others, instead of letting her Aurors handle it. She had allowed it to get personal, and now she needed to step back.

"Sure, boss."

"Good. Now, take your portkeys back. I can't have any of you knowing where this is," she told them.

"Are there that many ears at the Ministry that you needed to do this?" Doge asked.

"I have gone through my department twice, and both times found spies or others that were controlled in some way. I can't take the risk right now," she informed them.

"So, you use the old courtrooms due to the wards," Croaker said, nodding his head. "I will take six others I can verify trustful and meet you in about two hours, Rufus."

"Doge, get a six-member panel together. As soon as I can validate anything, I will need them to be available within thirty minutes of request, no matter the time of the day," Scrimgeour demanded.

"Give me a few hours. I'll let you know when we are ready," Doge replied.

She watched them leave. Auror Tonks came up next to her. "I'm going to miss out on the fun, aren't I?"

Amelia chuckled at the young Auror. Being family to Harry Potter, Amelia couldn't risk the young woman being involved in this either. "I hope so, but you may see action yet in the next few weeks. I have a feeling some will get desperate, especially once they find the jinx on international portkeys that was activated earlier."

Tonks gave her a curious look. "I thought only the Unspeakables could do that with Wizengamot permission," she said.

"There may have been a clause hidden in the legislation passed last week. Right, we should all get going. I have some things to get ready for to have Susan and Harry back tonight," she told her guards.

-oOo-

Same day

Somewhere along the Irish sea...

It was an abnormally nice day for late December. The sea was relatively calm with ice on the windows. Albus had been waiting for three weeks now as Severus had decided to go to Egypt to try and track down where Tom had found the information on how to make the horcruxes.

Time was starting to wear on though. This morning it was very hard to get out of bed in the cold cabin. The fire had gone out overnight, much to Albus' surprise.

He was starting to fear his time was coming to an end far sooner than it should. He felt like he still had decades to complete his life's ambitions.

After getting the fire going again after conjuring some logs and then getting himself some hot porridge and tea, he regarded the prison that held one of his largest failures. Albus had come to realize that letting Tom be a crux to his own machinations when the boy started to come to power in the nineteen-sixties, was a mistake. A mistake that almost brought his world to its knees.

He had to fix it, and the thing left before him was the only way.

After levitating his bowl into the sink, Albus sat, his weak wand in his hand. In actuality, the wand was just as powerful as most, but it was not the Elder wand.

Fortifying himself, he touched three of the blue runes and one of the black one. This would allow him to communicate with the thing in the rock using Legilimency. He had not wanted to get to this point, but he had no choice.

"Legilimens," he barked out.

It was like riding a turbulent storm petrel, something he had done in Japan many, many years ago.

His mind was buffeted and shaken as he tried to find his way into the cloud of thoughts he could feel just at the edge of his consciousness. It was like nothing he had ever felt from a mind probe before.

Albus passed half ruined walls that were meters thick. A dragon flew by but didn't seem to see him. Inferi floated in what looked to be a large lake. Albus couldn't imagine the number of people that would have had to be killed to fill a lake that size if it had been real.

As Albus metaphorically flew past all this, he was realizing the internal defenses of Tom had been shattered. The further he went in, the more he realized the man himself may have been shattered.

It was some time before he stepped out onto a stone courtyard. Broken and shattered bits of walls, siege weapons and other nasty pits lay in ruin or floated on the outside of the citadel he stood before. Of all he had seen so far, this was the only intact structure or flow of thought he had seen.

Looking around, Albus was sure this was the core of Tom Marvolo Riddle. Though looking up at the carving of snakes, people obviously in throws of the deepest pain or other horrid scenes, Albus had doubts there was anything left of the person ones called Tom. Albus was realizing the only thing left of this man was his identity as Lord Voldemort.

"Tom, how have you fallen so far?" he said out loud.

Not expecting a response, Albus spun when a man with a higher pitch voice said, "What are you doing here, old man? Have you come to pledge your loyalty? I await my Death Eaters to come get me."

A man that looked as aged as Albus sat on the ruins of a thick wall. He was in black robes, a face that looked more snakelike than man and red eyes.

"I have not come to pledge myself, Tom. I have come to release you."

The man gave a mirthless laugh. "Release me? Oh, I yearn for the day to be released again, old man."

Albus shook his head. The release Albus sought was not the same release he figured Tom wanted. "I bet you do," Albus said calmly.

The man gave an evil smirk. "Once I am free again, my Death Eaters will roam over the land. All shall pay for the humiliations I have endured. Everyone will serve me, and we will dominate the Muggles again."

Albus pursed his lips. "I am afraid I can't let you do that, Tom."

The figure snarled. "I am Lord Voldemort, old man. If you are not here to serve me, then what are you here for?"

"As I said, to release you."

The man laughed, taking on an evil grin. "Oh, yes, I yearn to be released."

Albus regarded the thing known as Voldemort. "Do you have a plan to be released?"

The blood red eyes crinkled in mirth. "Oh, my most faithful servants know what to do. I shall reward them beyond all others. Woman. Children. Men. Gold. Whatever it takes."

"I see. And what faithful know of this?"

The man's eyes narrowed on Albus. "You said you will not serve me." It was then that the man's eyes widened. There was a look of fear before anger. as the man showed recognition of who Albus was. "DUMBLEDORE! You will not learn my secrets!"

Suddenly the defenses around them rumbling and grinding sounds assaulted him as stone, metal and even bones started to fly into place. Albus, realizing what was happening, suddenly retreated. He wanted the man to not rebuild is defenses too much.

As he left, he heard a maniacal cackling. "I will kill you and your pets," the voice of Voldemort echoed around the dreamscape. It turned into a more frantic retreat than he wanted as other defenses seemed to come to life.

By the time he withdrew back into his own mind, he found himself panting and sweating. He grabbed the wand that had fallen out of his hand and quickly reactivated the runes. They glowed brightly for minutes until they calmed.

When they faded to more muted glow they had been, Albus let out a long breath. He needed answers, but he wouldn't do that again for a few more days.

Getting up to get himself some strong tea, he found himself shaking from the exertion. It might be a week or more before he tried that again, he reluctantly admitted to himself.