Come Together Chapter 10 - Betrayal
AN:
Oni: *smiles nervously at angry mob* Hello everyone! Sorry for the long wait! Participated in NaNoWriMo so my writing schedule's been a bit out of whack, but that's all the excuses I have. Honestly not entirely happy with this chapter, but oh well, I guess I'll try to do better next time... I hope you enjoy it either way!
Tom: Oni does not own Harry Potter nor the MCU, though this fanfiction idea is her's.
Oni: AAAND ONWARDS!
Halfway down the last flight of steps, Steve and Peggy managed to catch up with Tom, Bucky, and Potter. A questioning glance from the two of them was aimed toward Tom in askance of their new acquaintance, to which the teen wizard gave a short nod. This wizard was indeed a friendly. The rest of the Howling Commandos were waiting at the base of the fortress, charges littering the walls. Several wizards and witches in various states of dishevelment were with them, some clutching their wands like a lifeline (which indicated that the inside of the cells had been heavily warded) and some who were nervously fidgeting their hands. None of them were attempting to go outside the building.
"What's wrong?" asked Steve in his leader voice as soon as he stepped off the stairs, "We should be clearing out of here!"
"Would be hard to do that, Captain." replied Dum Dum with a serious expression, nodding his head toward the entrance while keeping a tight grip on his weapon, "Have a look for yourself."
With a little trepidation the returning group carefully peeked outside the entrance, and Tom felt his stomach drop. A massive army of soldiers, part wizard, part HYDRA, was standing right outside of the back of Nurmengard. They were all clad in black, sporting their Red Skull and Deathly Hallows symbols on their shoulders. Both sides stood apart from one another, a clear line running through the middle. Anyone foolish enough to think that running down the line would be torn to shreds within seconds. This army, however, did not surprise Tom, but a newcomer standing apart from them did.
Standing there, in front and center of his army, was Gellert Grindelwald himself.
"Magicless Filth!" called out the Dark Lord, "Your petty rescue mission ends here! How do you expect to win against the might of magic? Your kind has persecuted us for centuries, and now the world will realize how powerful we really are! To the blood traitor that brought mud into Nurmengard, have you no pride in your heritage? Have you no shame, fraternizing with filth?"
Tom was wondering when the dark lord was going to show up, what with this entire excursion being far too easy for his tastes. Seeing as nothing of note (other than the horde of hostages and lackeys) had been found inside the fortress itself, it can be almost an assured notion that whatever Grindelwald's advantage was, it had to be on his person.
"Anti-apparition and Anti-portkey wards have been put up." muttered Tom gravely, mouthing incantations under his breath, "We're trapped here."
"Is that Grindelwald?" whispered Bucky, and gained affirmation with a nod from not only Tom, but some of the other wizards listening in as well, "He's crazier than I imagined him to be..."
Which led the question - what on Earth could Grindelwald have that was so powerful? And why kidnap all of these wizards? It didn't make much sense, especially someone like Fleamont Potter, who wasn't much of a political prisoner (though the Potter family was notorious in their pro-Muggle stance). A pulse of magic came from his armband, and his attention was drawn to the answer of his first query. Of course, the Elder Wand of Antioch, fabled to be the most powerful magical focus ever created, given to the eldest Peverell brother (as the story goes) by Death himself.
"Bloody Hell!" breathed Potter, pushing his round glasses back into place nervously, "The man himself decided to show up! How in Merlin's name are we supposed to fight through that?"
The hum of the Resurrection Stone pulsed from its place on his forearm, as if to sing of its imminent reunion with its brother. As to how that reunion would take place was a different story entirely. If Grindelwald were to get his hands on the Stone of Cadmus, he would be one Hallow away from being the Master of Death, a title Tom did not want to see on the manic Dark Lord. But what if Tom managed to take the wand himself? What would that do? A powerful magical artifact that was only equal to whatever object the Red Skull had in his possession was right there, only a few hundred yards away. If he could gain the power of the Elder Wand, he would be nigh unstoppable, the Allies would gain another advantage.
"Like we always do." came the voice of Steve, snapping atom from his thoughts, "With help."
The gathered wizards watched in awe and curiosity as Captain America held up a bulky black box of some kind, his radio, and pressed a button. The crackling voice of Howard came from it, the scientist's cheerful tone masking his worry, something that didn't leave Tom's notice.
"Cap! There you are!" came the voice of Howard from the radio, and Tom watched as a few wizards gasped at such technology, "My sensors are picking up a lot of blue... and they're all-"
"Outside the building." finished Steve with a sigh, "I know. It looks like Grindelwald brought the party to us. The stragglers that went out the back must have alerted him to our raid, and brought along HYDRA with them. Got any of those Anti-Magic grenades left?"
At the words 'Anti-Magic', many of the freed hostages stepped back in fear, the notion of such a thing both foreign and frightening to them. Potter turned to Tom, his eyebrows raised in mild alarm. For a moment Tom pondered what he should say. Wizards and witches could be surprisingly closed minded and technophobic, but for some reason Potter struck as the exception to the rule. His family, after all, were generally 'muggle friendly'. Making up his mind, the teenage wizard decided to tell the Potioneer the truth.
"The grenades produce a powerful electromagnetic field that disrupts the magical lattice of most spells and wards." Tom explained in a quiet whisper to Potter, "It's how we were able to destroy Nurmengard's wards without a team of ward breakers."
At the same time, Howard replied with:
"Nope. Used the only two we had to break the ward. You going to run and gun it, then?"
A collective sigh of apprehension came from the Commandos, knowing that the easy path was now closed to them. They would have to find another way to get past the army outside the fortress.
"That was the plan." answered Steve, "At least, that's as much of a plan we have now."
Tom looked to their enemy standing there, waiting for those inside Nurmengard to show themselves. One step outside the fortress and they would be destroyed under spells and gunfire. It would be suicide to run and gun it without much else. But then again, were the two factions even on speaking terms, or had Schmidt lent Grindelwald some firepower as if to say that the Hark Lord couldn't do it on his own? Suddenly it made sense why they were standing so stiffly. The presence of HYDRA was meant to convey that the Red Skull doubted Grindelwald's power, and Grindelwald probably had plans in play to make sure the HYDRA soldiers wouldn't land a single hit.
"Alright, Commandos." said Steve in his leader voice, "We'll need some sort of distraction in order to take the attention off of the hostages, and we'll need some guys to escort these people around the enemy without them noticing."
So then, it came down to fighting the army Grindelwald had amassed just for them. Since his name hadn't been called out as the blood traitor, Tom could assume that Grindelwald had no idea who the wizard working as one of the Commandos actually was. Dumbledore had called for a vow of secrecy from the Ministry in order for Tom to continue his war efforts, all of the members of Grindelwald's army that had attacked the Leaky Pub had been captured or killed, and the Daily Prophet had only referred to him as 'a muggleborn wizard' (which wasn't true, he was a half-blood, but the Prophet was not know form researching facts), so a basic description of him was most likely the only thing the Dark Lord had to go on. In theory, Tom could walk past without getting shot...
"What in God's green earth is going to distract a bunch of wizards without them breaking out into utter chaos?" asked Jones incredulously, "I don't think regular grenades will work on these guys. They have shield spells at the ready and we only have so many of these magic bullets."
He chanced a peek at the followers of Grindelwald, noting that most of them were young, closer to Tom's age, and most likely cannon fodder. Blue eyes widened when he recognized a few of them. Both Dolohov and Lestrange were there, decked in black cloaks and standing with their wands out, the rune for the Deathly Hallows on their shoulder. They must have joined Grindelwald sometime after they graduated, lured in by the promise of power and a changed new world, which was what Tom himself was preaching before he up and apparated to Austria.
"We'll have to find a way." replied Morita, "Because without a plan, we're going to die."
The two ex-members of Tom's little club wouldn't know that he had defected. In fact, they hold probably vouch for his pureblood supremacy. If he could get out there with a 'dummy traitor', he might be able to buy enough time for the hostages to sneak around the army without getting caught. From this reasoning, Tom's mind began to tick, forming a plan.
"Actually." Tom piped up once he had a rough idea of how he was going to pull it off, "I think I've got something."
At his words, everyone turned to stare at him in curiosity and derision. Steve, Peggy, and the rest of the Howling Commandos waited for his plan, knowing better than to disregard his ideas. With their permission, Tom outlined his plan.
"And you..." Tom continued, motioning to the witches and wizards, "Will cast disillusionment charms over yourselves and the rest of the team..."
"You want us to work with muggles?" one of the witches sneered, staring at Tom as if he were mad, "And why in Merlin's name would we do that?"
There were a couple of eye rolls at her comment, but it seemed that many of the freed magicals agreed with her. It was then that Tom was reminded why no other wizard wanted to join the Allied forces - they were raised on the prejudice and ignorance of the Wizarding World, much like atom was before he was captured by HYDRA. Irritated, Dum Dum gave a wave.
"Hey! The muggles are standing right here you know! Don't have to get all snooty 'cause we don't use sticks to wipe our asses."
Tom had to suppress a snort at the redhead's words, though the other members of the Howling Commandos gave a short laugh. Leave it to Dugan to speak his mind, of which Steve and the rest of the Commandos found great humor in. Even Potter tried and failed to suppress a chuckle, much to Tom's surprise.
"Need I remind you that us muggles are your only chance of getting out of here." said Falsworth in a no-nonsense tone, "And that if it weren't fo us, you'd still be in prison cells."
There was a collective grumble of agreement at his words, and soon the witches and wizards who still had wands (or were given on, in Potter's case) began to cast the charms over the Howling Commandos and themselves, though Fleamont Potter stopped before he could cast it on himself.
"Is there something wrong, Potter?" Tom asked, watched out of the corner of his eye as Dernier shivered from the disillusionment charms before disappearing into thin air.
The bespectacled Potioneer shook his head and reached into his pocket (which, by how far down his arm was reaching, had an extension charm on it) and pulled out a silvery fabric of some sort. With a smile, Potter held up the fabric and wrapped it over himself, instantly vanishing from sight. A lone hand came into view only to hand Tom Morfin's wand before disappearing once more.
"I've got an invisibility cloak." came the disembodied voice of Potter, "It's been passed down from father to son from even before the Potter family was formed. I always keep it on me, never know when you might need it."
Tom stared for a few seconds at the empty space that Potter's voice emanated from, nervously twirling the extra wand, his mind reeling. At that moment it made sense of why the Potioneer was considered the highest priority prisoner. Most invisibility cloaks only lasted a maximum of three years before the charms wear off, but for such an artifact to outlast generations...
Potter had the final Hallow, the Cloak of Ignotus.
After all the spellwork was done, the only two people still visible in the room were Tom and Bucky. A quick Homenum Revelio told Tom that they were getting into position, and the teenage wizard handed the wand over to Bucky, who examined it in curiosity. The American soldier had borrowed a Wizarding cloak from one of the prisoners, which Tom thought looked rather comical on him.
"So, do I look wizardy now?" asked Bucky with a crooked smile, waving the wand around in what Tom assumed was suppose to be a mockery of what the American had seen him do, "I certainly don't feel wizardy, just stupid."
They had gone over the plan twice to make sure everyone knew what was happening. Bucky would pose as the muggleborn traitor, as he was the only one that closely matched Tom's physical description. Tom would do as he did best, lie through his teeth as smoothly as possible, pretending to be an avid supporter of Grindelwald who was trying to prove his worth to the Dark Lord by holding the 'traitor' hostage. The two of them would try to draw the conversation out while the invisible soldiers and prisoners make their way around the army. If the plan went sour, all members were to protect the prisoners and gun down as many enemy soldiers as they could.
"Well," Tom muttered under his breath, a crooked smirk on his face, "I suppose that says something about us wizards and our fashion then, hm? Are you sure you're up for this?"
Bucky flashed him a wry smile, his right hand on the gun hidden beneath the cloak, the purpose of it was obvious and unsaid. He may not be able to use a wand, but a bullet at such a close range would take down quite a few wizards before they realize the man couldn't actually cast a spell.
"As ready as I'll ever be." was his reply, "Are you ready? This plan's crazy no matter how you dice it, and you're the one risking your neck again."
The faces of Lestrange and Dolohov, their laughter ringing from the halls of Hogwarts as they and the rest of the Knights of Walpurgis followed 'Lord Voldemort' around like loyal dogs (or opportunist snakes) were imprinted in his mind. So much had changed in so little time, neither of these men, no, boys (as even now, it cannot be denied that it was all Tom and his 'friends' were) knew of the drastic change that occurred and like a true Slytherin, he was going to exploit it.
"The news would have come out eventually." Tom muttered, "With this we can control when they get it instead of being blindsided by a Daily Prophet article. We have the higher ground for now."
Bucky said no more, simply nodding in affirmation of his words, fingers fumbling with the clasps of the robes. It was time to put the plan into action. With a sigh, Tom fixed his wand tip at Bucky's neck and whispered the incantation, watching the soldier go limp. Whirling around, he fired off more spells that ricocheted off the walls, listening as all hell broke loose. Bodies fell to the ground with an audible thud, and with a confident smile, Tom levitated Bucky into the air.
Time to bargain with a Dark Lord.
When Rastus Lestrange had heard the news from a frantic comrade, he had dismissed it as a drunken stupor. When more came, injured and crying of the same thing, he sprung into action. Internally his mind reeled at the implication. In fact, such news shouldn't even be possible. The news was relayed to Grindelwald himself, and instead of dismissing such an obvious lie, Rastus's leader had instead given the order to gather up the wizards not fighting, raiding, or protecting the base and for them to follow him to Nurmengard.
"Did you hear the news?" Antonin Dolohov asked Rastus as they mounted on their brooms together, "They say muggles have taken Nurmengard. How utterly preposterous. What can backwards filth do to break the wards, or win against trained wizards?"
Indeed, the whole thing was out of a nightmare. Ever since that muggle loving blood traitor joined the muggles (another ridiculous idea, what kind of wizard hung around filth? Must be a mudblood like the Prophet claimed), wizards had been getting shot down left and right with nothing but those muggle gons and gronaydes. To think that such a wizard would chose to fight in the muggle side, alongside muggles... how low can one man sink?
"I did." Rastus replied, shooting off into the air with Dolohov by his side, "How low some will go."
The both of them had graduated the year before, with decent NEWT scores between them. Granted, if their Lord had no helped them with their assignments, they probably wouldn't have been able to pass their classes. Lord Voldemort was a veritable genius, and it was a shame that the Heir of Slytherin had one more year to complete before he graduated, otherwise he would have been a shoo-in, joining Lord Grindelwald in his righteous champaign, perhaps even surpassing the German Dark Lord.
Though, with his brains, his Lord Voldemort would certainly be able to pass his NEWTs with full scores before his seventh year ended.
"If our Lord were here," Dolohov continued as they flew in perfect form to Nurmengard, wary of the muggle soldiers Grindelwald called a hydra, "he would have killed the filthy traitor himself. He would make the mudblood scream for mercy under the power of a true wizard!"
Lord Voldemort had a delicious penchant for violence, one that none of those in the Knights of Walpurgis could ever forget. The raw magic that flowed from his form as he walked the halls of Hogwarts made Rastus shiver at the mere thought of it. Even the mudbloods knew their place, almost bowing to him, fawning over his looks and his charms, to the Lord he was.
"Have you heard from him lately?" Rastus asked curiously, "He hasn't sent us any letters."
"Well neither have we." Dolohov replied under his breath, "He's still under the watchful eyes of that muggle loving Dumbledore, after what happened in our last year I highly doubt he would be able to send a proper missive without that goat finding out."
Silence reigned between the two wizards as they reached Nurmengard, and were horrified with what they bore witness to. The once mighty fortress's wards were in shambles, broken beyond recognition and repair. Littering the ground were the bodies of their fallen fellow wizards, some of them still smoking from both magic and muggle means. Whatever the animals had done to these brave men did not bode well for their cause. Banging and clattering could be heard from within the dark, imposing building, which thankfully meant that the muggles and the filthy traitor, as well as the prisoners previously locked up were still in there. Grindelwald called them into formation, standing apart from their own muggle 'allies', as if they would ever work with such lowly things. The muggles who sacrilegiously called themselves HYDRA had insisted on joining them on this venture, as if it were them, the wizards, that needed aid. How dare their presence insinuate such a thing?
Casting warming charms on themselves, the wizards waited in formation until the noises stopped, and it was obvious that the muggles had realized that they were surrounded. Rastus couldn't help but grin. There was nowhere for these creatures to scuttle off to, the anti-portkey and anti-apparition wards were already drawn while the fools were banging around inside. It was possible for them to burst out like a bunch of Gryffindors, howling and using whatever muggle devices they had. Some wizards may die, but Rastus was sure that with enough wizards, they could be put down like the filthy beasts they were. Perhaps, he mused, he could bring home a head of one of these muggles, perhaps even the head of the traitor (though Grindelwald might want to have it mounted on a newly fortified Nurmengard instead) to show his Lord.
"Magicless Filth!" bellowed Grindelwald from in front of Rastus, "Your petty rescue mission ends here! How do you expect to win against the might of magic? Your kind has persecuted us for centuries, and now the world will realize how powerful we really are! To the blood traitor that brought mud into Nurmengard, have you no pride in your heritage? Have you no shame, fraternizing with filth?"
The words of his leader almost brought a tear to his eye. It couldn't have been said better (unless it was by his Lord, who always had a way with words), and Rastus was sure the muggles were trembling by now. They probably weren't expecting Grindelwald to show up and bring so many men, even if some of them were from HYDRA. Still, they waited, standing there silently like a pack of vultures on dying meat. For a good while nothing happened, until a shower of sparks and spellfire came bouncing from the entranceway. Shouting and screams could be heard, as well as the thumping sound of bodies hitting the floor. Something had gone wrong, very wrong, inside the walls of Nurmengard. Perhaps there was a wizard unaccounted for? No, all of the living followers would have either fled as a tactical escape or died, as none of the others were very bright.
A lone man was walking out of the entranceway of the fortress, blue eyes glinting dangerously in the winter cold. His wand was raised and levitating another man, unconscious (or dead) and prone. Rastus couldn't believe his eyes at what he was seeing, though his heart swelled with joy.
"My Lord!" shouted Dolohov, immediately going down on one knee to Grindelwald's surprise, "You have come!"
Lord Voldemort smirked, dropping his burden into the snow and twirling his yew wand between his fingers, his dark cloak fluttering in the wind. A snake rested atop his shoulders, like always, the symbol to any wizard of his status as the Heir of Slytherin. Cold eyes glinted in the frosty light, taking Rastus back to younger days.
"Well, what have we here?" Lord Voldemort purred out, prowling towards Grindelwald, looking for all the world like the cat that caught the canary, "Someone's sent the cavalry to fix a vermin problem. How cute."
At this, Grindelwald's eyes narrowed.
"And who are you?" the German Dark Lord sneered, pointing his wand at the newcomer, "Coming out of the woodwork like this, stealing the show? And who's this man that you've dropped at my feet like some half-eaten rat?"
Rastus watched in awe as Lord Voldemort unflinchingly met Grindelwald's eyes, his smile growing wider as he towered over their leader (since when had he gotten so tall?).
"I am Lord Voldemort." came the answer, and a chill ran down Rastus's spine as he watched his Lord saunter around the army, "I've been around, biding my time until the perfect moment to make myself known. Though I see some of my own loyal followers have already joined your ranks."
Knowing that it was his cue, Rastus bowed on one knee like Dolohov did, as well as a few other wizards who had known their Lord back in Hogwarts. The power that rolled off his presence was almost intoxicating, a feeling only known to those sensitive to the magical arts. Muggles knew not of his aura, and even Grindelwald had his hackles raised at the man, eyes tracking his every move.
"As for... this." Lord Voldemort continued, nudging the limp form of the man in the snow with his foot, "This is my bargaining chip to you. A gift, one could even say."
"You wish to join me?" Grindelwald asked carefully, eyes trained on the twirling bone-white wand, "Why this presentation?"
"Join you?" sneered Lord Voldemort, laughing high and cold as many wizards then trained their wands at him, "And put myself beneath a wizard who just lost to a handful of muggles and a traitor? Pathetic. They are but simple men, easy to manipulate if you actually put effort into it instead of ignoring an itch until it becomes a blister! They've taken down how many of your men and all it took was five seconds of time to break them down."
"So this is the traitor you have brought me, then?" Grindelwald ground out, holding out his arm to stop anyone from attacking, both annoyed and intrigued, "To prove your worth as an exceptional wizard in order to lead alongside me to change the world as it is?"
A bemused smile graced Voldemort's features as the wizard tilted his head in a slight shrug. Rastus looked up to his Lord from his kneeling position, regarding the wizards with great awe. Here were two exceptional wizards of the age, circling each other like a pair of wolves, neither giving away their ground. But why was their Lord here now? Certainly he could have done this at any time before? Unless...
"Of sorts, yes." was the answer Grindelwald received, "But also to warn you of a betrayal. The muggles who claim to be working with you, HYDRA, are in truth out for themselves. Though I'm sure you knew that already, I am equally sure that you did not know of their means to seize control of Nurmengard once you fell. They mean to destroy you now that your fortress has fallen, for they believe their weaponry will now certainly wipe your army out entirely, and I'm sure you know why."
Immediately the wizards turned, wand tips glowing in the faces of the HYDRA soldiers. So his Lord had bided his time until the right time to destroy a good sum of these filthy muggle soldiers.
"Anyone here who could back his claim?" one follower asked suspiciously, causing Dolohov to growl in rage.
"You dare question the word of Lord Voldemort?"
"He's a stranger here!" cried another wizard, "Coming out of nowhere like this? Has anyone actually heard of this Lord Voldemort character before this?"
"I have." Rastus yelled out, "And my Lord is true to the cause. He has come with information that aids us, so I suggest you respect him!"
Before the arguments could get any rowdier, Grindelwald raised his hand in the air.
"I suspected this already." Grindelwald said aloud, almost as if he were trying to save face, "This Lord Voldemort has merely confirmed my suspicions. Get into your positions!"
Cries from both parties became known as the wizards and the HYDRA soldiers turned against each other, aiming their weapons at one another. The facade of unity was broken, and the two teams stood apart as enemies. Soon the sound of spellfire clashed with the blue beams of light (magic, how dare these muggles use magic?) as the present members of Grindelwald's army took on the soldiers of HYDRA. In the madness, Rastus looked around to see how his Lord was faring amongst the fray, firing spells at the enemy with vigor-
Except he wasn't. Rastus could not find Lord Voldemort at all.
Suddenly his blood ran cold for a different reason, and the heir to the Lestrange House's heart began to pound as his head whipped back and forth, trying to catch a glimpse of his Lord. As the soldiers from both sides began to fall, Rastus noticed one horrifying detail. The body of the traitor was up and shooting not spells, but firing away with a large muggle gon, and fighting beside him was Lord Voldemort himself. The cloaks and robes were discarded to reveal muggle uniforms as his Lord, the bane of muggle and mudbloods, fought alongside someone that was previously thought to be his enemy.
"Bucky, duck!" shouted his Lord, heading in front of the previously unconscious man and activated a shield on his arm to protect him.
A blast of spellfire headed for the mystery man, 'Bucky', who didn't even use his wand, favoring his muggle weapon and revealing his true non-magical nature and his Lord saved the filthy beast with a shield bearing the crest of Slytherin. The ultimate sacrilege. It was as if he took a Crucio to the chest, the pain indescribable. His Lord, Lord Voldemort, the Heir of Slytherin and the once leader of the Knights of Walpurgis, was the true wizard traitor.
They met eyes briefly, Rastus and the man he once called Lord. Piercing grey and the thrumming blue of magic itself, pain and determination. A wry, almost sad smile curls the lips of Lord Voldemort, whose true name eluded him even now (it wasn't one of the old names, now that he thought about it, how far back was his deceit?).
"Forgive me, Lestrange." Rastus saw the man mouth, "But I'm not the man I was."
Rastus vaguely registered himself shouting something into the air, and out of the corner of his eye he saw the others, Dolohov, turning to the retreating wizard but unable to do anything but fight back against the soldiers of HYDRA. Betrayal shone in the eyes of all the wizards who followed Lord Voldemort through the halls of Hogwarts, but such a thing was no longer. Lord Voldemort had turned, Rastus had cried, Lord Voldemort is the traitor. He raised his wand, the same one he pledged loyalty with back when he was but a student, against the same man he once followed.
The last thing Rastus Lestrange saw was a green light headed straight for him, and then he knew no more.
With a whoop of triumph, Sergeants Riddle and Barnes made their way to where the rest of the group had gathered, taking away the disillusionment charms on their persons. With their arrival as the signal, all the Commandos looked to Dernier, who raised his hand in a waiting gesture and tapped his timepiece. After a moment an explosion rocked the ground, and from above the trees fire and smoke could be seen.
Nurmengard had fallen. Grindelwald's fortress had been a symbol of his reign for so long, that its destruction would hopefully change the tide of the war. Tom released a breath that he didn't know he was holding, a weight rolling off his shoulders.
"Well, good thing you didn't run your mouth any longer." Bucky muttered to Tom as they watched the fireworks in the distance, "Or we would've been caught in that too."
He was free, in a way, from the lie he had led in school. He was free to pave a way for himself among the brave and the strong, among his friends, the soldiers.
"Lucky for you I put a decent delay on the first charge then, hm?" Dernier grunted as he picked up his bag of gear.
Now far from the pandemonium in front of the falling remains of Nurmengard, Captain America and his Howling Commandos (and Agent Carter) led the group of freed wizards and witches into the camp that Howard Stark set up. The scientist himself was absolutely ecstatic, catching each man in a one armed bearhug. With haste the team packed everything they had and loaded it up into the getaway plane. Ecstatic, bellowing laughter echoed from the metal walls as the soldiers returned from a successful mission, with almost a dozen wizards and witches newly freed.
"You know I thought in a trust fall, you're supposed to catch the guy falling!" Dugan rumbled out amongst the crowd, causing another raucous uproar, "We really stuck it to that stick wavin' Fritzie though, so a little knock on the noggin seems worth it all!"
Tom couldn't stop the smile in his face, which faltered at the memory of Lestrange's look of betrayal before Tom had cast the killing curse at him. With all the personal knowledge the man... boy had on him, keeping him alive would have been detrimental. If Lestrange told Grindelwald all he knew about Tom, the enemy would have had an advantage.
"I must say, the you were right about neither side trusting the other." Falsworth said to Tom, "They turned on each other like a pack of dogs with only the word of someone no better than a stranger."
Or at least, that was what Tom kept telling himself. Was this the first time he killed someone he knew? He was expecting to feel a gut wrenching sorrow, but all he felt was a final goodbye to the boy that he had been before he had embarked on a journey to find his grandfather.
"Just know that I had to deal with a face full of snow while you were mouthing off to the guy." Bucky muttered, his face buried in a scarf, "I was getting bored listening to all the shit you were spouting. You telling me you used to believe in that stuff?"
It was hard for even Tom to believe that he had, now, with all that had happened. Tom wondered what he would have been like had he still followed that path (he would have been graduating Hogwarts as Head Boy, at least, with a pick of any profession due to his NEWT scores), but then shook his head to banish those thoughts. This path was thrust upon him, and he wasn't going to think about what the other paths had held if he still had work to do.
"Afraid so, my friend." Tom sighed out, fidgeting with his own wand, "But things have changed, and I suppose I have you to thank for that."
The words 'and HYDRA' went unsaid.
The plane landed back in Britain without much difficulty, though the turbulence did have Tom's heart almost leaping out of his chest a couple of times. As 'ingenious' as these muggle contraptions were, he still hated flying in something that could fall apart at any moment. It seemed that this was a sentiment shared by most of the members of the magical community flying with them, who were taking the flight with various levels of panic. Most of them had to be stunned to prevent any problem, which was something that he would have to explain to the Ministry Officials when they got to the designated meeting point. This ordeal was hilarious to every muggle on board, including Agent Carter, who rolled her eyes with a barely hidden smile while the rest of the men howled with laughter under Tom's withering glare.
Speaking of Ministry Officials, Tom had been wondering about who they would send to debrief the freed magicals, seeing as the SSR's involvement with the Magical World was kept in strict confidentiality to prevent any attacks on the muggle organization. He didn't have to Wonder long, as standing next to Colonel Philips was none other than Albus Dumbledore himself, dressed in a surprisingly appropriate muggle suit with a smile on his face.
"I guess I shouldn't be surprised that you managed to do what many wizards wished they could do, Tom." Dumbledore told the teen wizard genially, patting him on the back as he greeted the others, "I shall take them from here and accompany them so that Colonel Philips-" he suddenly gave a pointed smile to Tom's stiffly standing boss as if sharing some sort of inside joke that had transpired whilst they were away, "can ask them some questions. Come, ladies and gentlemen!"
The prisoners were led away, followed closely by Agent Carter, Howard Stark, Captain America, and finally his Howling Commandos. Tom's eyes followed the line of disgruntled but relieved witches and wizards as they marched into the underground base. Potter turned back and met his eyes, waving merrily.
Hopefully after all this they could get a well deserved drink.
AN:
Oni: Again, not too happy with this chapter, but now Lord Voldemort will be known in the Wizarding World for something different than canon, and has now let go of what he used to be, so there's that. As for the Elder Wand, ol' Grindy will show his hand eventually... once he recovers from the destruction of his palace.
Tom: Don't forget to Follow, Favorite, and Review.
Oni: And I'll see you next time, my pretties!