Chapter 13: Exposed
Several businesses in Diagon Alley had either closed or would open every other day. Some would open once a week. Fred and George Weasley refused to close shop. People needed laughter. They also needed self-defense. The twins were committed to bringing them both. Their parents were concerned, but the brothers knew that with their youngest brother's shenanigans, they needed to work twice as hard to remain known as part of the good side. The news that Ronald Weasley had gone dark spread like wildfire through Hogwarts and because of this all of England now knew. With Harry's huge purchase for the P.A., at a discount, of course, they had enough galleons to purchase a lot of materials to keep making mischievous products. Their morning, which had been extremely non-busy so far, took a turn for the better when Dobby the elf came to their store once more. While they didn't know what to expect, the possibilities had them excited. He gave them a letter.
Dear Gred and Forge,
We hope you are doing well. We are okay. We wonder if you can help us out. The last time Dobby was there, you asked us for a mission, and we are giving you two. Dobby is bringing a case of huge posters. We need your help plastering them all over the most prominent, high-traffic stores in Diagon and Knockturn Alley. As you can see, they are muggle photographs of some Death Eaters from the inner circle of that bastard. You need to place the photos next to their corresponding list of crimes. Tomorrow, those same photographs will be printed on The Quibbler with the lists of crimes and the rewards for each bastard. In this case, there are instructions to paste those posters permanently. It comes from the House of Black grimoire, so we know it works. We also need your help moving paper. Dobby will explain. Please keep yourselves safe. Don't engage unless your lives are in danger and keep creating. Also, burn this parchment.
Love,
Harry and Hermione
"Are you thinking what I am thinking Forge?"
"Yes, my less handsome twin."
"Let's do this! Dobby, please help us with the box."
"Yes, Masters Orange!" Dobby smiled.
"You hear that?" George smirked.
"That should be our code name," Fred winked.
"Approved!"
"I is to be bringing more boxes later with copies of The Quibbler," Dobby smiled. "Master Harry is trusting yous with his cloak. He is saying if you lose it, we will be losing the war... so, no pressure."
"No pressure at all," George chuckled.
"I always wanted to be a paperboy!" George smiled back and Dobby vanished.
After the fit test, a very sore Harry and Hermione requested for Sirius, and Lord and Lady Chang –who had sworn the fealty oath requested- to accompany them in the conversation with Ollivander. Remus was going around the island trying to find any safe places in case the worst happened and their security was breached somehow. Tonks and Andromeda with the help of Luna and Chyou were making potions in large batches. Longwei was working with Dudley to make some changes he deemed necessary after the fit test. They had been talking for a while and Sirius was growing more concerned by the minute. While he was beyond the veil, he was told by Death in person -or soul? Who knows?- that the Deathly Hallows were real. That Ollivander agreed that the Elder Wand existed was both good because he knew that they were on the right track and bad because Harry had sent away the Invisibility Cloak to the Weasley twins, aka the most irresponsible miscreants the UK had seen -after the Marauders that is. Merlin help them not lose it! Where on Earth is the Resurrection Stone?
"If Mykew went into hiding, he will need help because he wouldn't be able to sell wands. Who knows how he is living? If we could find him and bring him here, that would be best, Lord Potter. If Mykew knows where the elder wand is, or who had it last, He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named won't stop until he gets that information."
"I still can't believe the Deathly Hallows are real," Hermione sighed. "I feel so stupid for missing the obvious," she facepalmed.
"We thought it was just a kids' story. It's in a freaking fairy tale book. That is not your fault, Mione," Harry squeezed her hand.
"Garrick," Sirius said after clearing his throat. "We want to help Gregorovitch, but we would have to find him first... Are you sure you want him brought here? I always thought you and him were enemies."
"Enemies?!" Garrick laughed and winced as his sides still hurt. "Goodness no! That was just gossip. We were... involved at some point," Mr. Ollivander blushed. "We were young and shared a lot of common interests."
Harry looked confused at the involved. Hermione stared at him meaningfully and discreetly tapped her heart. Harry's eyebrows disappeared behind his fringe, and he nodded.
"So, you are still friends?"
"Yes, we write to each other every once in a while. The only reason we really separated was logistics. He wanted to work in Germany, close to his mother who was very ill at the time. I didn't speak the language well and I wanted to serve my people in the UK," Garrick smiled. "Us being enemies was mere gossip that started when we... How do young people call it? Ended things? We would avoid each other and give each other a public cold shoulder and people thought it had something to do with us being competitors. Only a few people ever knew we were together. At the time it was quite scandalous."
Sirius nodded, "Of course, we understand. But Garrick, Europe is a huge search zone..."
"We don't need to go looking for him, Lord Black," Mr. Ollivander unbuttoned his shirt slowly. His hands still hurt. "We have a way to find each other."
On Mr. Ollivander's whole chest area, there was a tattoo of a world map. The old man closed his eyes and focused his magic. He then touched the map and held his hand on it for about one minute. The map ink lit up and beneath the map, a set of coordinates appeared. Hermione jumped to write down the numbers.
"This is where he is," Ollivander tapped the numbers that began to vanish.
"That is some impressive magic," Lord Chang said. "How-?"
"Magic, runes, and significant arithmancy work, and one or two goblin blood magic rituals," Garrick replied with a small smile. Hermione's eyes widened. Harry had to place his hand on her knee and squeeze for her not to ask the thousands of questions that would have surely followed. "The good thing is that we know where he is, and we know he's alive. If he was dead the map wouldn't work. I just hope he's okay."
"We will go and try to find him as soon as possible. If he agrees, we will bring him here," Harry promised.
"Thank you, Lord Potter. Now, if I recall correctly, 10¾" long, made of vine wood, and a dragon heartstring core, right Ms. Granger?" Garrick held out his shaky hand after buttoning up his shirt.
"Yes. Your memory is impressive, sir," Hermione smiled and handed him her wand.
He looked at it from all directions, twirled it, turned it around, and even smelled it. As his nose hovered over the handle he frowned. Everyone else in the room shared confused looks. Was smelling wands a thing?
"Someone else has been using your wand," Mr. Ollivander said. It wasn't a question.
"Yes, sir. In one of our missions, Harry's wand got broken, and he has been using mine ever since," Hermione replied. Lord and Lady Chang exchanged a shocked look. Sirius blinked repeatedly as if trying to convince himself he heard correctly.
"And it works well for you, Lord Potter?" the wandmaker frowned.
"Yes. I mean, it's not like my own was... but it works fine," Harry shrugged.
Around the room, Sirius, the Chang marriage and the wandmaker were all looking weirded out.
"Mhmm... Do you feel like you need to push more magic for the same results?" Ollivander asked.
"Not really. I mean, mine is just... uh... more comfortable? I don't know. I guess I am just more used to mine," Harry shrugged. "The only difference I feel... It's hard to explain. It feels like Hermione's wand is a tiny bit slower to respond to my spells."
"Yours was 11" long, made of holly, and possessed a phoenix feather, right?" Mr. Ollivander turned to Harry.
"Yes, sir."
"This is very, very strange. Your wands are too different for this to be a fluke. You don't share woods, or more importantly cores... Can you please do a spell with her wand, Lord Potter? One that takes significant effort?" the wandmaker requested, handing Harry the wand.
Harry looked pensive for a moment, "Sure... Uh... Expecto Patronum!"
Harry's stag Patronus came out of the wand a bit slower than it would have from his own, but it was just as bright and corporeal. Harry was about to end the spell when a playful otter came out of the wand and jumped on top of the stag, holding onto the antlers as if ready to march into battle. Harry gasped.
"What the actual fuck?" Sirius' jaw fell. He looked at Ollivander who was pale and sat down. The Chang marriage shared a look with wide eyes and whispered something to each other. They couldn't believe this kid could produce not one but two corporeal patronuses, and one wasn't even his own.
"How did you do that?!" Hermione asked approaching the silvery forms. "You shouldn't be able to do that! This is my Patronus... my otter."
"I don't know. You saw me... I didn't do anything different," Harry approached the animals. "You know, your Patronus is really cute."
Hermione blushed and her otter covered her face with its hands. "Thanks."
"Finite," Harry said, and the creatures vanished.
"Mr. Potter... Could Ms. Granger use your wand as you can use hers?"
The teens shared a look. Over the years they had used each other's wands for menial things. Ron would always look a bit disgusted when they did that. He even told them once that they might as well share a toothbrush. Hermione told him he was absurd, that it wasn't even close, but other Gryffindors, Ginny especially, seemed to agree. She said that a person's wand was intimately related to the very core of their magic. Hermione heard her complain once to Lavender when they thought Hermione was sleeping. The redhead and Harry had gone on their first date. When they came back, Hermione was working on an essay and left her wand on her bedside table so she asked Harry for his so she could dry the ink on the parchment and keep going without leaving her favorite spot to work. He had it in his pocket and nodded so she took it, did her thing, and put it back. Ginny said that Hermione might as well had sat on Harry's lap and snogged him in front of her. That was the first time Hermione really thought about it and she noticed that no one else in Gryffindor or Hogwarts shared wands. Only Harry and her used each other's wands like it was no big deal. To them, it wasn't, but to others, it seemed akin to being intimate. She took a deep breath, knowing that something was apparently very wrong with that for Mr. Ollivander to react like that.
"Yes."
"For more than just basic spells?" Lady Chang asked.
"I redid the wards of our campsite with his wand once because I had just polished mine and it hadn't dried," Hermione blinked. She turned to Harry, "I didn't ask, sorry. You were sleeping and I didn't want to wake you."
"What's mine is yours, you know that Mione," Harry smiled.
"Do you believe that to the core of your being?" Ollivander was very serious.
"Absolutely," Harry nodded decisively.
"How about you, Ms. Granger?"
"Of course, anything I have is Harry's as well," Hermione nodded.
"Ms. Granger, which spells did you ward with?" Mr. Ollivander enquired.
"Cave Inmicum, salvo hexia, fianto duri, repello inmicum," Hermione said after a few seconds remembering.
"I see."
"What do you see? Because I am freaking out here," Sirius asked with wide eyes.
"You are extremely close, yes?" Garrick asked.
They nodded.
"You love each other, yes?" the wandmaker stared at them.
They nodded with matching blushes.
"You would kill and die for one another?" Mr. Ollivander pressed.
Once again, they nodded.
"This is most interesting. I will have to think about it. In the meantime, I have some suppliers to contact. Can I have everything billed to you, Mr. Potter?"
Harry nodded, "Yes, of course. Use the Potter Vault at Gringotts, the main one, as your shipping address. Dobby will get everything to you from there."
"Indeed. I will take your measurements once I make myself a wand," Ollivander smiled mysteriously and motioned for Sirius to wheel him away.
"Measurements?" Harry asked scratching his head.
"Oh my!" Hermione gasped and looked at Lord and Lady Chang. "Does this mean that we are getting custom wands made?!"
"I see no other reason why he would want to measure you otherwise," Lord Chang smiled slightly. He had a lot to think about considering all the information on the Deathly Hallows and this new wand-sharing development.
The following morning movement started on the island earlier than usual. Remus was up and at it at 3.50 am with a cup of strong coffee and a big roast beef sandwich. He knew he wouldn't have time to eat much throughout the morning. He felt additional pressure to have this mission be a success. Next week would be the full moon and he would be out of commission feeling awful. Dora was still sleeping. She had stayed up late making potions and deserved the rest. Dobby was almost shaking with the pulses of excitement he had to be going on his first official mission as he triple-checked that he had everything they needed and the potion kit just in case. Remus took a look at his stuff. Everything was where it should be.
Harry and Hermione came down groaning with Sirius at 4 am as Longwei pushed them forward. The teens were still sore all over from the fit test.
"I haven't woken up this early to workout in... ever!" Sirius groaned as he tried to grab a bite of Remus' sandwich only to have Longwei slap his hand away.
"No food! You are doing fasted cardio first! There is plenty of fat stored for you to burn for energy," Longwei told him off. Sirius blushed and patted his small belly with a sigh. Dobby handed them all sports bottles full of water. "Thank you, Dobby, that is all they need. Off you go!"
"Wait! Harry, the letter," Remus made a 'give me' gesture. He already had the other letter.
Hermione's eyes widened. "Oh my God! Harry! I forgot to ask you! Why didn't you wake me? Give it to me!"
"I wasn't going to wake you..." Harry stretched his arms over his head as Hermione proofread his letter to Voldemort. Sirius stared meaningfully at Harry and then pointedly at Hermione. Longwei looked at the two males with confusion. "I did go to your room, but you looked too cute sleeping and I didn't want to wake you," Harry said all this hurriedly with a blush as Sirius smirked. He had won the bet and Harry had just paid up. Hermione looked up and gave him a dazzling smile.
Longwei surveyed everyone's faces discretely and quickly connected the dots. Ah, young love! While Longwei himself was technically young, as a military man he had seen and done too much and felt older than his years.
The young witch added some punctuation, but other than that, Harry's letter was a complete chef's kiss and the way he wrote about her had her stomach doing somersaults. Hermione duplicated the parchment and smiled at Harry.
"What are you doing?" Harry frowned.
"The girls needed to see this," she said with a proud look on her face. "This is, without a doubt, the best writing you have ever done. I should know. I have checked so many of your essays over the years. It's perfect, Harry, really," she smiled.
Harry blushed furiously and shuffled his feet. "That is high praise coming from you."
"Well deserved."
"Ugh, enough lovebirds. I can't handle all this sugar while I am fasted!" Sirius laughed. "Gimme!" Sirius grabbed the letter and read it. "Pup. This is art. You should write for a living! Have you read this?" Sirius asked their trainer.
"Yes, Lord Potter showed it to me last night. Very good writing indeed. Riddle could have a stroke from the anger," Longwei smirked.
"Hopefully God, Merlin, Morgana, Circe, the fairies or the universe takes your word and makes it true!" Hermione replied, looking hopeful. "It would be a bit anticlimactic, but oh so good!"
Sirius handed the original to Remus and hugged him, "Moony, be smart. Be safe, you hear me? We can come up with another mission but there won't be another you." He kissed Remus' forehead.
Remus rolled his eyes but returned the hug tightly.
"Ewww! Too much sugar! You guys' relationship is so weird!" Hermione laughed.
"What's wrong with a little bromance?" Sirius smirked.
"How does his wife put up with this?" Longwei asked.
"That is one of the greatest mysteries here," Harry laughed.
"How do I put up with this is a better question," Remus frowned.
"You know you love all the extra attention, Moony!" Sirius blew him a kiss that Remus swatted away from him.
"All games aside, Remus, you better come back unharmed," Harry said. Hermione nodded.
"I will do my best."
After hurried hugs from the teens, Remus took Dobby's hand and vanished.
Down in the training area, Dudley was already sweaty by the time they got there. Harry asked Longwei to train his cousin too bearing in mind that he is non-magical. The trainer was glad to do so. He had seen the teen hit the punching bag like it kicked his puppy. There was a lot of anger and frustration there that needed out. The teens greeted Dudley. Longwei cleared his throat.
"People, look alive! Today is the day you stop being just kids and become warriors! Lord Potter, Harry," Longwei stared him down. "You may have insisted on a salary and that makes you my boss, but down here while we train... I own your ass!"
Harry nodded. "Yes, sir!" The cool adult that they met yesterday had vanished. This was a man who looked ready to kill.
"Here, I am the boss. I will address you by your last names like the soldiers you will become. I have three rules: 1. You do as I say, the way I say. That prevents injury. 2. You wear clothes that are appropriate and comfortable, and you hydrate when I tell you to. 3. You don't deserve rest. You will earn it. When things get hard, I don't care if you scream, if you curse, if you cry... You will do the reps I tell you unless Healer Tonks says otherwise. Understood?"
Harry and Hermione shared a worried look with Dudley and Sirius, "Yes, sir."
"Today, Granger will be at an advantage," Longwei smirked. "She did ballet for many years growing up. That means her legs are strong and flexible... You three... Not so much."
Harry sighed. It was true. When they were running on the hunt, he had noticed Hermione was faster than him and recovered quicker. Dudley paled.
"Black, you didn't do your fit test yet so, you are to start by running around the island's perimeter twice as fast as you can," Longwei did a chronometer spell and started. "What are you waiting for? A written invitation? GO! NOW!"
Sirius grabbed his bottle and left feeling properly told off. Longwei was part of the Lily Potter mindset for training, meaning, if you die, you die! And save your pity for the weak! Longwei turned to the scared teens. He was like one of those angry generals in movies.
"This is the day you will understand why so many men around the world hate leg day," Longwei's smile looked terrifying. "First, we are going to stretch and do a warmup. I suggest you enjoy it because these 10 minutes will be the easiest ones."
"Dursley! You look like a spatula underneath the body fat you are packing!" Longwei pushed his finger into the teen's beefy and pudgy upper arms. "We want balance and symmetry!"
"But I just want my upper body strong, sir," Dudley stammered with a blush. Longwei didn't mean what he said as an insult. He was stating a fact, but Dudley wanted the heavyweight boxer looks. He told this to Longwei who shook his head.
"No, you don't. You have the potential to be better than a heavyweight boxer, Dursley. You stick with me, and I will get you to look like... what's his name? Lewis?"
Dudley gasped, his eyes were as wide as they could go, "You can make me look like Lennox Lewis*!?"
"Yes, but with better, stronger legs. I will talk to Kreacher about your meals later," Longwei smirked and turned to Harry. "Potter, you are fit enough for Quidditch but not fit enough for combat. It is quite a marvel how you haven't been maimed with the way you approach fighting. You run into things like an angry dog and that is never a good idea."
Harry was about to give a snarky reply, but Hermione took his hand and squeezed it so he stayed quiet. She was right. Longwei had seen a lot more battles than they did, and they didn't have time to experiment.
"You need to change your mindset, Potter. You are a leader in this fight! People look at you for guidance. And no, that is not fair because you are a kid, but life isn't fair. Leaders can't be hot-headed. Leaders have people whose lives and safety depend on them. Understood?"
"Yes, sir," Harry grunted.
Longwei looked at Hermione and smiled. It was short-lived, though, "Granger, from what I have seen, you are a strategic duelist, and you attack like a lioness when she hunts for prey. You are quiet, fast, and knowledgeable, but you need to do better at self-protection and cover others only after you are protected. That Department of Mysteries stunt... you could have died. You are too valuable to Potter, that makes you too valuable for everyone else! If you are covering Potter, someone has to be in charge of covering you, always."
"Yes, sir," Hermione looked down.
"Follow me, the three of you. Training like true warriors will have you healthy and strong for life. Look at my father over there..."
Longwei pointed to the right. Over to a higher part of the beach was a set of poles of different heights. When did Lord Chang get here? Most importantly, how on Earth was he balancing on those things while making complex motions of defense and attack.
"Is he doing Kung Fu up there?" Hermione blinked, perplexed.
"Yes. Those are Mei Hua Zhuang or Plum Blossom Poles. We sink them into the ground and students practice martial arts techniques, like stances, by stepping from the top of one pole to another pole."
"So, that is what they were for. I didn't understand last night when you were putting them in," Dudley looked at the man on top of one of the poles in awe. "Bloody hell! How old is your father?" Dudley blurted out, as Lord Chang jumped from one pole to the next with the grace of a dancer.
"58 years old. Even now that he is not on active military duty, he still wakes up at 4 am every day to train. My mom is probably doing her Tàijí over at the other side of the island." [Tai chi]
"I thought your mother didn't fight. She said she wasn't good at war."
"First of all, Tàijí is practiced for defense training, health benefits, and meditation. She does it because it keeps her healthy and ready for battle if needed. As for what she said, you can ask her about her philosophy, but she probably meant wasn't good with war. As in she hates war. She will cut anyone who threatens her family where they stand."
"She's a pacifist..." Hermione said.
"Well, one of us had to be. Chyou is clearly taking after our father and me. Now, what my father is doing improves balance, footwork, leg strength, and coordination among others. No more stalling, start stretching with me."
Mrs. Weasley was trying not to cry as she burned pictures of Ronald off the family album. The day before she had burned everything else: the clothes that were still in his dresser, the shoes, the bed, and all his furniture. She was sure that his siblings wouldn't want to use anything that was his. Who knew where Ronald was now or even if he was alive. Arthur was still at the Ministry. He had been working late the past week. The wards activated and she grabbed her wand, ready to kill, but it was Remus Lupin who stood at their property line.
"Please do an identity vow!" she shouted from the door.
Remus obeyed and was accepted by the wards. He walked to Molly and gave her a hug. "I am really sorry about Ronald and about coming without warning."
"I am so glad to see you, Remus. You are always welcome here," Molly patted his cheek. "Come in."
Remus related another part of the plan. They needed the other half of the vanishing cabinet. They had learned from their mistakes. Lord Chang had given them a few hairs for Polyjuice. He was well known as an important buyer in both commercial alleys, and no one would find it weird that he was there. Molly agreed with Remus that Bill would be the one with the best chance of success. He would be coming by in a few minutes. The wards would have alerted him that someone got in. Her mother's heart didn't want to risk her son, but as a family, they had agreed to do whatever they could to help Harry. Remus placed a bag of gold on the table and a shatterproof bottle full of Polyjuice potion.
"According to some intel we have they should charge about 2000 galleons for the set. However, there are 5000 galleons in the bag so you have some room to negotiate. Do remind Bill that we already have the other half. Hermione wrote detailed instructions here," Remus took out a scroll.
Molly would have asked where so much money came from, but she realized she had no right to ask questions. "Of course, she did. How are they, Remus, really?"
"They are good. They are getting stronger, and we have some people helping us. I can't say anymore. They send their love and their good wishes."
"I understand. Thank you for telling me what you can," Molly tried to smile, but she couldn't.
"I have to go. We will contact you soon," Remus put his glamours back on.
"Wait! I made some treacle tart. It's Harry's favorite. Will you take it to him?" Molly asked.
"Sure," Remus smiled. His coin vibrated against his leg as Molly wrapped the pan. "My ride is here; I have to go."
Molly handed him the wrapped pan and gave him another hug. These days no one really knew if they would see each other again so hugs became much more relevant than ever. Remus left the ward and vanished with an elf.
Xenophilius Lovegood was having trouble finishing the paper for the following day. His hands were shaking too much. Even when he was sure that Luna was safe and sound, he felt like a horde of Death Eaters would descend on The Quibbler's offices at any moment. He almost had a heart attack when Dobby appeared next to him with Remus Lupin who covered his mouth to prevent him from screaming.
"I am sorry we couldn't come to your front door, Xenophilius. How is the paper going?"
"I am adding the last details, but my hands are shaking too much so it is taking longer than usual," Mr. Lovegood replied.
"Calming draught," Remus handed him a vial. "Luna insisted I bring you one. As soon as you are done, we are bringing you to her. We are moving The Quibbler over to our secure location," Remus explained.
"Yes, my Luna told me. I have our luggage under that table."
Dobby reduced it and pocketed it.
"Who will send out the papers, Remus?"
"Don't worry about that. We got it covered."
"You do?" Xenophilius felt a wave of relief. He was terrified of doing the paper route himself.
"Yes, we will not risk your safety. We will leave the outside of the building looking as it is. Here is the contract."
"Is he really willing to buy?"
"Yes, of course. He will buy it and you can keep running it. What the kids want is that when your paper is sued, which will happen soon, you are not held responsible or have to pay your own lawyer. We will take care of that," Remus smiled as he opened the contract and handed the blood quill to the editor.
"This was my daughter's patrimony..." Mr. Lovegood's hand hovered over the parchment.
"Trust me, Luna is an extremely capable young woman. She will not need help to make her way in the world. But if she does, House of Potter and House of Black are all the backing she will need to advance in any field of her choosing," Remus squeezed Xenophilius' shoulder. "We have both your backs."
Mr. Lovegood smiled a bit at that and signed with a wince as his blood was extracted by the feather pen.
"Now, let me help you finish so we can leave as soon as possible. What do you need me to do?"
Some people believe that any press is good press. The shouting match currently happening in Malfoy Manor begged to differ. Voldemort was seething. The whole house was shaking with his fury. Those who could leave without fear of repercussion left as soon as they were able. Elves went to hide in their nests and trolls were scared enough that they had left the garden where they were currently staying.
Death Eaters were used to being feared, even beyond the borders of England. They were used to remaining anonymous, working in the dark, maintaining their day job, and their relative respectability. No one dared to confront them, or Magic forbid, accuse them, let alone publicly. They hadn't seen this coming at all.
FLASHBACK
Rowle and Malfoy had attempted to get to Knockturn Alley to purchase the vanishing cabinet before someone else found out about it. Neither Death Eater was a stranger to that alley, and no one would even notice them there because they were regulars. However, as Voldemort commanded, they went to Diagon Alley first for some potion supplies. As they got to Diagon Alley they saw pictures that weren't moving, with lists of crimes next to them. From where they were, they could see Bellatrix's picture and Peter's picture. The posters were large enough that the text could be read from afar. People were looking at Malfoy strangely so when he saw a discarded copy of The Quibbler on the floor, he picked it up and had to hold on to a wall.
On its cover page, there were 4 pictures: Bellatrix Lestrange, Stephen Scabior, Peter Pettigrew, and Lucius Malfoy were printed frozen in muggle photographs. On top of the pictures the text: "TERRORISTS WANTED!" Under their pictures, golden ink text read: 250 000 G REWARD EACH: DEAD OR ALIVE. Lucius shared a look with Rowle and grabbed his wand tighter. He could see the calculating glint on Rowle's eyes.
"Don't you motherfucking dare!" Malfoy whisper-shouted. Rowle took a step back and looked around. People were staring. That was never good.
Lucius had opened the newspaper to see Severus Snape's face taking most of the page. Above his picture the words: "TRAITOR WANTED!" and underneath the same amount. What both terrified and angered Malfoy was that the pictures were taken inside his home. How the hell had that happened?! Neither Death Eater had a chance to think much on anything because, most shockingly, everyday wizards and witches, store owners, cashiers, and regular people had actually attacked them. It took them half an hour to be able to leave as they ran and threw curses and bombardas over their shoulders. They were even attacked in Knockturn Alley where they thought they would be safe, but a quarter of a million galleons was enough money to get anyone to do something crazy. Both made it back to headquarters, but just barely.
END FLASHBACK
"HOW THE FUCK DID THIS HAPPEN!?" Voldemort roared.
"We don't know, sir," Malfoy was on his knees looking down.
"We don't know... That is your answer? We don't know?!" Voldemort asked slowly with his coldest tone of voice.
Lucius whispered a "No."
"THEY WERE TAKEN IN THIS HOUSE! YOUR HOUSE!"
"My Lord, we weeded out the traitors!" Bellatrix exclaimed.
Voldemort's face softened for a second, "Apparently not well enough, my pet..." He turned to the others with his fury back on his face: "Do either of you idiots understand what this means?!"
"They have openly declared war against us?" Peter Pettigrew raised his silvery hand but cowered at the glowering look from his Lord.
"That is beside the point! YOU ARE USELESS TO ME!"
"My Lord?" Bella asked with a trembling bottom lip.
"By the end of this week, your pictures will be all over the United Kingdom and you will not be able to move anywhere or do anything remotely useful to me!" Riddle snapped.
"We must destroy this travesty of a paper!" Lestrange proposed.
"THE DAMAGE IS DONE!" Malfoy yelled at Bellatrix.
Voldemort pressed his wand into Malfoy's neck. "Do NOT yell at Bella," he growled.
"But it is pointless!" Lucius replied.
"CRUCIO! You have a lot of nerve talking back to me after everything you have cost me!" Voldemort replied as Lucius trashed on the floor.
"Give me the newspaper! Bella, get Snape. I don't care where he is or who he is with," Riddle motioned for her to leave. "Bring him... whatever you have to do."
"Yes, my Lord," Bellatrix left with teary eyes. She could have swooned. Her Lord had never defended her like that.
"Who the fuck has over 1 million galleons laying around to spend just like that?! Is Potter that rich?!" Riddle demanded.
Peter took a step forward, as Lucius couldn't speak at the moment, "His family is among the richest in Europe, but the brat has never used his money. Dumbledore held the purse strings, and the kid never gave a damn about his finances... As long as he could buy his school stuff, trinkets, and gifts for his friends, he never asked questions. His attitude annoyed goblins to no end. Malfoy's account manager told him this many times," Lucius nodded as he continued to shake from the effects of the cruciatus curse.
"My Lord!" Scabior ran into the room and threw himself at his master's feet, kissing them. "Who did this to us?!"
"Who do you think?" Voldemort frowned and flicked Stephen on his forehead.
"But sir, this is too daring for Potter! He has never attacked first!"
"He did not attack first," Snape stepped off the fireplace with his hand covering a wound bleeding profusely. "You did, sir. He retaliated."
"Beg your pardon, Severus?" Voldemort said this in a speed and tone that rivaled Snape's.
"You posted his best friend's and offered a reward for her. All he is doing is returning the gesture," Snape grimaced as he pushed a dropper inside his wound to apply dittany he had taken to carry at all times. "My Lord, there was no need for her to injure me. I was going to come willingly."
"I authorized her," Voldemort smirked at Bellatrix, but it almost looked, most concerningly like a smile. "Can you stay as Headmaster after this?"
"I don't know, sir. The Minister is going to release a statement in The Prophet tomorrow. Potter is obviously not working alone! He is not smart or strategic enough to do something like this."
"Who the bloody hell owns this trash?" Voldemort waved the newspaper around.
"Xenophillius Lovegood," Rowle grunted as he healed his broken arm.
"Lovegood, Lovegood... I know that name. Why do I know that name?" Voldemort looked around as he tapped his chin with his wand.
"One of the girls we were keeping here is his daughter. The white, blonde chick. Luna, I think," Scabior replied with a frown.
"Do you mean to tell me that his daughter escaped us alive and now he does this?!"
Rowle nodded and prepared for pain.
"CRUCIO!"
Rowle fell and trashed around violently which broke his arm again, except this time, the bone came out through the skin and the open wound began gushing out blood. Pettigrew grabbed Rowle and took him away before he was killed.
"I want him DEAD! I want his home destroyed! I want his business obliterated! He is never to publish another word again!"
"My Lord, he is gone," Fenrir Greyback came into the living room. Blood ran freely down his nose.
"Gone as in 'you drained him of blood gone' or gone as in 'he escaped gone'?" Voldemort asked slowly.
"Vanished. I used my senses to track him. My wolf nose has never failed me. We exploded his house and set the remains on fire. We went to his office, but it was empty. The sign was still there... along with a note. The presses, the stacks of parchment, the boxes of ink, they were all gone. They dusted the place with silver powder and now I can't fucking stop this nosebleed!"
"Silver powder?" Voldemort asked with a deep frown.
"Lupin is working with them. He has to be. Only another werewolf would think of using that," Greyback sounded nasal as he stuffed fabric napkins up his nostrils.
"Remus Lupin? Fuck! Move him higher up in the hit list, Pettigrew!" Voldemort massaged his temples.
"Yes, Master," Pettigrew replied as he returned to the room.
"You said something about a note?" Voldemort's left eye was twitching.
"Master, we have no idea what is in this, but it appears to be keyed to you. We can't read it," Greyback said, nasally.
"And you were trying to read my correspondence, why?" Voldemort took a glass of brandy from Bella.
"I was just trying to make sure it wasn't cursed to hurt you, sir. But it requested an identity oath for... well... uh... Tom Riddle, sir."
At the mention of his muggle name, Voldemort broke the glass with his hand. Blood mixed with brandy as shards of glass fell. Riddle didn't even flinch as Lestrange used Aguamenti to wash his hand and healed it. He just kept breathing loudly and slowly.
Severus took a deep breath slowly as not to further anger Voldemort and in his most pacifying tone of voice, he began, "My Lord... I encourage you to exercise caution and not to kill us all."
Voldemort turned to Snape with a murderous look. "You dare to tell me what to do?"
Bellatrix lunged at Snape with a shard from the broken glass, ready to gauge the man's eyes out, but Voldemort levitated her away. She pouted but sat down on the sofa where he dropped her.
"With all due respect, my Lord. You need an army to take down Potter and as flawed as all of us may be, you know we stand behind you," Severus dared to look deep into Voldemort's eye. Any flinch and he would be dead where he stood.
"Do I? Do I know that?"
"My Lord, would any of us who appeared in the paper be here if we weren't loyal to you? We would have run away as far as we could. And yet, we are still here with you, sir," Severus replied as he fixed the fabric of his clothes, which remained bloody.
"I suppose that much is true," Voldemort conceded after an eerie minute of silence where he considered this.
"M-My Lord," Lucius ventured. "You c-cannot trust a-anyone you recruit now. Nothing c-can guarantee you that they are n-not looking to get into y-your inner circle for a higher c-chance at the rewards on our h-heads."
"I will consider what you have told me. Now get out of here and give me the note."
Tom Marvolo Riddle,
I hope you are having an... interesting day. In all the times we have faced each other I got the impression that you were a bit intelligent if very short-sighted. I appreciate your respect for my studies, as you never attacked me in the middle of class... But I appreciate your illiteracy in all things and beings that you deem not worthy even more. You have been trying to kill me since I couldn't even stand on my own. I wonder, how many times do you have to fail for you to realize that you are not that good at this Dark Lord job thing? Anyhow, every attempt has made you uglier and more paranoid. I wouldn't mind you trying to kill me every day for the rest of our lives. My instinct of self-preservation is lacking. However, you did something very stupid.
You put a price on Hermione Granger's head. A ridiculous price, by the way. Had you ever talked to her for two minutes you would know that you are underestimating her value. Your people are so blind that they didn't even try to find a picture in which she would look as dangerous as you claimed she is. All you have accomplished is for anyone who knows her or has kids our age at Hogwarts who know her, to choose to stand against you. Today it's Hermione, tomorrow it can be their kids. You forgot that we have resources and people at our disposal that you never could, and no, I am not talking about money. I have never been vain about that, but since you and yours are and I know it irks you, I guarantee you that mine is bigger than yours... My vault, that is.
My lack of strategy of the past is gone. You have never given a damn about the law or common decency. Now, you can expect to receive the same treatment. You and yours will know no peace. We have started by outing some of your inner circle. I can afford to out more. I hope you are having as much fun as we are with this new development. Who knew playing journalist could be so amusing? Every single day that goes by you will notice how hard it is to get any of your favorite monsters out on the streets. You and your minions will pay tenfold for what you did to Luna and Chyou. That is a promise. Good luck procuring anything at all until one of us finally kills the other you hideous, inbred, misogynist motherfucker.
Never yours,
Lord Harry James Potter,
Head of The Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter
P.D: It's a shame that no matter how hard you try and how many innocents you slaughter, your blood status, which has always been a chip on your shoulder, is the one thing you will never change. You are and will always be an untitled half-blood with an inferiority complex and a penchant to believe the fantasy of prophecies over the reality of his circumstances because they make him feel better about himself than looking in a fucking mirror. And yet, the all-powerful Dark Lord was vanished by a proud half-blood mother's love for her innocent baby. You should really consider a change of career. Dark Lording is something you are just really bad at, Tommy.
Voldemort's whole body shook. He transfigured an umbrella into a metal bat, and he started hitting everything within his reach. Pummeling it all with his anger.
"This insolent brat! I will have hellfire and brimstone falling on your head like it's the second coming of Merlin himself!"
Outside the room, the few Death Eaters that remained cowered in fear and made themselves small on the floor.
Voldemort transfigured the bat into a knife and started cutting the chair cushioning, the drapes, the cushions. "I will drain the life of that mudblood's eyes in front of you, drop after drop. I will scorch the earth and I will erase any trace of you and your friends from the entire planet."
Voldemort turned the knife into a mallet and broke all the windows, "I will bathe in your blood, Harry Potter! I will eat your heart raw! You have awakened a beast!"
Riddle summoned the rats in the property, unknowingly, among them was Peter Pettigrew. The rat tried to return to his original form, but Voldemort was quicker and as he was halfway to transforming, he hit all the animals and the rat-man too who screamed horribly. All of animals exploded, leaving small puddles of blood. Pettigrew, however, quite literally bathed Voldemort in blood and gore. All that was left of him was the horrible silvery hand that the Dark Lord gave him.
"Ugh," Voldemort spat the blood that got into his mouth. "That idiot!"
A rapid knock sounded at the door.
"My Lord? Are you alright?" Bella asked without opening the door. "Can I come in?"
"No, Bella! Get me Thicknesse here now! It's time to take over for the Minister. He needs a permanent vacation."
"Yes, my Lord."
Back on the island, it took Draco five whole minutes to get out of the bed and into the wheelchair. He didn't want to make much noise and wake his mother. Where was his wand? He rolled himself down the hall. He reached a door and a voice said,
"10" long, hawthorn wood, a unicorn hair core, right Mr. Malfoy?"
"Yes, sir."
"Don't worry. I have it here with me," Garrick lifted the wand. "Lord Black asked me to make sure they are all in mint condition, so I am giving them a good cleaning and polishing and making sure their cores are still working well. Your mother's is also here."
"Thank you. Have you seen An-?"
"Draco Lucius Malfoy!" Andromeda came out of the ensuite bathroom, her hands on her hips and a scowl on her face. "How on Earth did you get here?"
"I rolled myself."
"What did I say about moving on your own?! You are regrowing muscle, tendons, and layers upon layers of skin from scratch! Any bad motions can make you heal incorrectly and will have you in pain forever!" Andy had her hands on her hips.
"But Aunt Andromeda, I am so bored..."
"Fine. You are such a spoiled baby... I will move your bed to the living room but no more jumping off the bed and into the chair!"
"Yes, Aunt Andy. Sorry. Thank you for everything you are doing," Draco smiled apologetically. "You are the best." He had missed his aunt. As a kid, she had always been his favorite.
"Mhmm," Andromeda side-eyed him in annoyance but he saw a small smile.
Luna threw herself like a missile to her father's arms and both of them fell on the couch.
"Daddy!"
"My baby!" Mr. Lovegood squeezed his daughter as tightly as he could.
"I am so happy you are here!" Luna exclaimed and then immediately started sobbing into Xenophilius' arms. "They destroyed our house, daddy! And the paper!" Luna said in between body-wrecking sobs. Remus had told them what happened.
"My moon, none of that matters. You are alive and safe. Everything else is secondary," Xenophilius kissed his daughter's forehead.
Lady Chang nodded in agreement and discretely she motioned to everyone in the living room to leave. The Lovegoods needed privacy. She followed Harry and Hermione outside while everyone else went back to their rooms.
"Lord Potter, Miss Granger, I know my husband and son have offered their help. However, I would like to know what I can do to assist you. War is not my thing, but finances, logistics, and potions are."
"We appreciate the offer, Lady Chang. Right now, we are throwing money at the problem, but we have no set plan. We have a strategy. Expose, Anger, Subdue, Trick."
"Yes, I heard. That note you sent is sure to start the Anger part for sure. Now, I understand that money is a delicate subject and people are not comfortable talking about it. I also know that you are significantly wealthy to afford the rewards that my Chyou told me about. However, while we all hope this will be over soon... We cannot be sure. Some wars have stretched through years," Lady Chang paced with her hands intertwined behind her back.
"We," Harry corrected. "Whatever money I have is also Hermione's."
"Can I ask... Are you betrothed?" Lady Chang stopped her pacing.
"No," both teens blushed and looked away from each other.
"Then, why do you say that? More importantly, how can you be sure that, pardon me if this is rude, but if you die... What guarantees she will get everything?"
"I sent a letter stating my last will and testament to Gringotts, and that is it," Harry shrugged.
"Lord Potter, I understand you were brought as a non-magical. Yes?" Lady Chang asked with a frown.
"Yes."
"No one taught you about your rights, duties, and privileges as a Lord of one of the most prominent families to Wizarding Europe," Lady Chang sounded sad.
"Not really," Harry frowned. Yet another thing I am unprepared for.
"While the goblins may make an exception since you are... well, you... There are no guarantees. The only thing you can count on is the government trying to take the money away if she survives you."
"What should I do, then?"
"Do you have a barrister, yet?"
"Funny you should ask," Ted smirked as he and Kreacher walked up towards the porch with a big icebox full of freshly caught fish. "Am I hired?"
"I thought you already were," Harry smiled sheepishly.
"You thought wrong. I am merely on vacation with my wife for now. If you require my services, I will produce a contract for her and for me that we can both sign," Ted handed his side of the icebox to Kreacher who vanished. "You also need one for Mr. Lovegood."
"How much is this going to cost us?" Hermione asked.
"Now we are talking!" Ted smiled.
"Let us get out of the sun for this, then," Lady Chang suggested.
A/N: Thank you for reading! Special thanks to reviewer TranslatorPS who kindly corrected my –admittedly- very poor Japanese and educated me. I have made the change suggested. :D As a fellow translator (not in Japanese at all, clearly), I appreciate good grammar and well-intentioned correction. 😊
To the reviewer who called this story dumb*** fluff... Don't let the door hit you on the way out. You clicked on it and read it. Who is the dumb***? :D
*Lennox Lewis: for those of you who are not boxing fans... Lennox Claudius Lewis was a professional boxer who competed from 1989 to 2003. He is a three-time world heavyweight champion, a two-time lineal champion, and is the last heavyweight to hold the undisputed championship. He is 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) tall, with an 84 in (213 cm) reach, and weighed about 245 lb (111 kg) during his boxing prime. He is regarded by many as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of all time, and one of the greatest British fighters of all time. Look up his 2002 fight against Mike Tyson if you only watch the highlights, you will probably be like me. *Jaw hanging, only working again to say, 'Hot damn that is a fighting machine!'*. Even better, look up his top knockouts. Fangirling done lol.