I do not own Harry Potter, the Wizarding World, or any canon characters.
Defiance of Fate
Chapter 12 – Negotiation and Acceptance
"I didn't mean to do it! You have to believe me! I don't know what happened!" Harry pounded the inside door of the cupboard, crying and screaming. He still hurt all over from the beating that Vernon gave him. The beating that had gone much longer than they used to.
Before the strange light that threw Vernon back and made him lie still.
Petunia and Dudley had screamed in horror. They called for an ambulance and shoved him into the cupboard, trying not to touch him when they did. Vernon had been in the hospital for a long time and it was determined that he had suffered a heart attack caused by an unhealthy body and overexertion.
Later Harry would find out that this magic had lashed out when he was in the very real danger of losing his own life.
Vernon and Petunia knew before he did that Harry's magic was most likely the cause of it. Despite almost dying, Vernon supposed he was lucky that the magic did not do anything else. Since then, the Dursleys barely interacted with Harry. They barely fed him and provided other things, but any sort of interaction had a tinge of fear to it, as if waiting for him to snap once more.
To a boy who only wanted to be spoken kindly to, to have any sort of family or care, it was torture of another sort. No matter how much he begged, how much he pleaded, how he apologized, nothing would change.
Even much later while at Hogwarts, when he learned what happened was no fault of his own and that he had only unconsciously done it to survive, he still had not forgiven himself. He only knew that he had nearly killed someone he once thought of as family.
He did not forgive himself as a child when it happened, nor did he forgive himself many years later when he learned the truth of it.
-0-
"It is a good thing that I enjoy your company, Mister Potter," Madam Pomfrey joked feebly.
Harry shrugged and smiled wanly through bruised lips. "I like your company too. Sorry about always taking your time."
"Do not apologize to me," she said kindly but firmly. "Did you tell the prefects and professors what happened?"
He nodded, sighing softly as she healed the bruises and spell damage. "Not that it will change things much, but I did."
She sighed softly. The poor boy was always in the Infirmary, always the target of some kind of jinx or hex. Since he would not retaliate aside from his words, he was a frequent target. Some did it out of spite, to show him how wrong he was by being a conscientious objector. Others thought it a sick game, to see who would be the one to force him to break his oaths. Some were even told to do it, she was sure of it, by ones who wanted him to change to suit their whims.
She agreed with him. It never did seem to change much at all. Sure, some of the perpetrators were punished. Points were taken, detentions issued. It never seemed to be a permanent solution. There was nothing else to be done though. Hogwarts had been an institution for witchcraft and wizardry for centuries and they had never had a student that refused to cast harmful spells before.
She noticed his eyes following her wand movements, his lips trying to form the words she spoke when she healed. "Trying to steal my secrets?" she teased.
He flushed. "I just think you're wonderful. You use your magic to help others and heal." He looked down at the floor. "It must be nice."
She wiped a tear away. An idea formed in her head. "Mister Potter, do you like healing?"
He nodded.
"Do you find it interesting?"
"Oh yes," he said brightly. "I mean, magic is pretty incredible all around but to be able to help people feel better, to fix injuries, that's amazing." His eyes grew haunted, something no eleven-year-old should ever look like. "I wish I could heal so I don't hurt others."
She frowned slightly at those last few words but forced the frown away. "Would you like to be a healer one day?"
"Can I?" he asked, hopeful but doubting himself.
"I think so," she said seriously. "In fact, I think I have a solution to our troubles."
-0-
"Harry!"
He looked up. "Hi," he greeted wearily.
"Are you okay?" Daphne asked, looking him up and down.
"I'm okay." He knew he did not look it. His robes were singed and burnt; holes made from curses showing. He was covered in dirt and scratches and cuts. His hands were red from dried blood. "Did Astoria and Blaise make it back okay?"
"They did, thank goodness and I have you to thank as well." She ignored the mess on his robes and body and hugged him tightly.
Hermione hugged him right after. "What happened?!"
"Death Eaters attacked Hogsmeade," Harry said. "A lot of them. Everything was quiet and normal and then there were explosions and screaming."
"Oh no," Hermione moaned.
"I managed to get a bunch of people out through the tunnels but there was so much going on. Order members and Aurors showed up and there was this huge battle. I stayed to help with healing and bringing people back to the castle."
"Harry," Hermione said softly, noticing his expression.
"Charlie died," Harry said shortly. Hermione gasped and Daphne looked stricken. "He died protecting Ginny and Ron. Fred got burned really bad. George might lose an eye. Ron got busted up too but he'll be okay." He rubbed his eyes, uncaring of the mess he was making. "Lavender got clawed in the face by a werewolf. The Patils got hurt too."
He looked at Daphne. "Flint turned on others and got killed for it. Same with Selwyn. Pucey fought both of them to protect students and died."
"Bastards," she hissed angrily.
He slumped to the ground. "Professor Flitwick died too."
Both girls gasped.
"He…he stood his ground and fought the Death Eaters for so long. It looked like he would stop them himself but," Harry closed his eyes, seeing Filius' Flitwick's final moments replay in his mind once more. "He fought them and held them off long enough for the others to come and turn the fight."
He opened his eyes and looked at his blood-caked hands. "I'm going to miss him."
The girls sank to either side of him. "He was a great wizard," Daphne said softly.
"Harry, this isn't your fault," Hermione said.
"Isn't it?" Harry asked hollowly. "If I fought back, then he'd still be alive. Charlie. Pucey. So many others."
"You are fighting," Daphne argued. "You are healing and protecting. You risk your life for others. It is not like you are cowering away somewhere. You are out there too. Do not listen to the people who say you are not."
"You're doing all you can do, as we all are," Hermione said.
Harry tilted his head and took a deep breath. "No, I'm not doing everything I can do. But I will," he said grimly.
-0-
It was days after Harry confronted Voldemort, after him drinking the potion, after the end of the War of Blood. He had woken slowly, his body a mass of pain and agony. Voldemort's death had thrown the Death Eaters into disarray and the Order and the Aurors managed to fight their way through the mansion easily enough. Dora had poured the potion down his throat and portkeyed him back to Hogwarts where Pomfrey waited with more potions.
It took her and a select few healers she trusted days to undo the damage Harry had done to himself through his potion. Days where his friends waited. Days where the world celebrated around them and they did not participate.
Finally he woke and after tearful and thankful reunions by many, he had been tongue lashed and scolded, comforted and celebrated.
He did not feel like celebrating that much.
Many told him that he had no reason to feel bad for his role in ending the war. That Voldemort had done the most damage to himself and that Harry did not break his oath. That Harry was not solely responsible for taking Voldemort's life.
He did not believe them that much either.
-0-
Harry grunted. Consciousness returned to him slowly. He could feel his body ache as he woke, his whole body a throbbing mass of pain. It was sadly a familiar sensation. He tried to move and could barely muster the strength to twist. He felt the military style bed beneath him. It was quiet save for a soft murmuring in a language he could not understand.
He coughed, trying to open his eyes.
"You dumb fucking bastard!"
He coughed again. "I don't speak Italian," he said slowly and painfully, his voice hoarse and foreign to his own ears.
Blaise swore in Italian for a few more moments. "You dumb fucking bastard!" he repeated in English. "You absolute arse!"
Harry's eyes finally opened and he squinted at a very hazy Blaise. "Hi," he rasped.
"Don't you 'hi' me as if nothing happened. I'm fucking pissed at you! You made me channel the staff knowing I'd be trapped and couldn't stop you. Are you trying to prove how much better you are than Riddle and Dumbledore?!"
"…what?"
"Because so far you've come closest to killing yourself than either of those two did! And Riddle had the drop on you when you were a baby!"
"That's…some reasoning." He coughed again. "Is…is everyone okay?"
Blaise hissed and helped him drink some water and gave him his glasses. "Everyone but you. Your damn spell protected everyone and the second they saw that the Seps all surrendered. You've been out for three days and it's been mostly clean-up since."
"That's good," Harry said weakly.
"Except the part where you almost died! Again! You fucking insane bastard! You used your damn blood to fuel that giant spell and you almost bled yourself dry. We had to pour blood replenishers down you, and damn good thing you made so many early on. We almost ran out! You're more potion than blood right now!"
Harry groaned. "No wonder I feel terrible."
"You're going to feel more than terrible. If Astoria was here, you'd be wishing you were unconscious again. I cannot believe that you did that again though I really should have. Saints preserve me because you're going to kill me one of these days and I swear I'll do it first if I can! Are you listening to me?!"
"If not, perhaps I can, how you say, take a shot at it?" a warm voice interrupted.
Blaise turned and looked at the older man that walked into the recovery tent. "And who're you?" he asked angrily.
Harry recognized the voice and he held up a weak hand. "Blaise, that's Sebastian Delacour, Fleur's father."
Blaise straightened, noticing the very official looking ICW badge and marks that Sebastian wore on his jacket. "Oh, uh, pardon me, Sir. I meant no disrespect."
"Quite all right," Sebastian said smoothly and kindly. He smiled. "You are simply concerned and more than a little exasperated at the moment. However, may I have some time alone with Healer Potter? I need to speak with him, officially and unofficially."
"Yes Sir." Blaise gave Harry a look that started angry but mellowed. "I'm still pissed at you but glad you're awake. I'll tell the others."
"Thanks, Blaise," Harry said and watched him leave. He tried to sit up but Sebastian hurried over and pushed him back down to the bed.
"You should not get up, Harry," he said softly. "I am told you did something incredible and incredibly dangerous."
"Yeah but I can sit up," Harry tried to protest.
"What would your healer say to you?"
"Myself or another healer?"
"If you were treating a friend."
Harry sighed and laid back. "To not get up."
"I thought as much." Sebastian pulled a stool to his bedside and sat on it. "Do get comfortable, this will be a long conversation I imagine." He chuckled. "No need to look alarmed. It will mostly be good."
"Mostly?"
"Mostly, yes. Let me tell you what has happened while you have been unconscious. The war is essentially over. The Separatist Cabal has surrendered. New charges have been added through their use of a very experimental and illegal spell, the one that you defended against. They sacrificed much to cast it and broke even more laws. They will essentially cease to exist as an organization or nation. There are still hold-outs and a few others that took advantage of the chaos where we will stop now, but the official war is over."
"Wow," Harry breathed. "That's great."
"Indeed." Sebastian took a deep breath. "Do you know why I am here?"
"I don't to be honest."
"You know what I do in France and for the ICW, yes?"
"You're an ambassador and a negotiator."
"Correct. As soon as things were stable here, I was asked to come speak to you. Partially because you are familiar to me, and partially because they thought my skills were needed."
"I don't follow," Harry frowned.
"People are worried," Sebastian said plainly. "Captain Vance, Senior Healer Rodriguez, and General Okoye were among the ones that wanted me to speak with you. Once I heard of what you did, I wanted to speak with you as well."
"There's nothing wrong with me," Harry said, looking away.
"Not many would run into an unknown spell and almost kill themselves stopping it."
"Is that such a bad thing? Wanting to save others?"
"If it comes to you killing yourself in the process, yes." Sebastian huffed. "For mercy's sake Harry! You nearly exsanguinated yourself! You very nearly died and I am aware that this is perhaps the fourth time that has happened and you might be used to it but the people that care for you will never get used to it."
"I don't think I'm invulnerable!" Harry struggled to rise.
Sebastian pushed him back down. "I know that and the others that know you know that! Some might think you act out of pride. That the great Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived, the Man-Who-Won will willingly throw himself into danger knowing that he will miraculously survive!"
"Don't call me that!"
"Then stop acting like it! Stop enduring and tolerating what others have forced you to! Others think you are motivated by pride but I know better. Your acts are acts of desperation, are they not? They scream guilt. Shame. You endanger yourself for imagined crimes."
Harry deflated. "They aren't imagined. I killed someone when I swore never to. I let others die through my inaction."
"You not fighting with harmful spells is not inaction," Sebastian said kindly. "You fought in your way. Healing on the front lines, throwing yourself into danger is not cowardice by any stretch of the imagination. And yes. You took a life, but out of self-defense. Yet you cast no spell in doing so. You took a life that tried to take yours many times over. Tom Riddle acted out of greed and hate. You acted out of love, love for others. To defend. To protect. You broke no oath, no promise."
Harry turned away.
"Harry, there will always be others that will do whatever they can to tear you down. No matter what you do, truly are imagined, they will take the opportunity. Do not aid them in punishing yourself for they will do so without your help. You have acted above and beyond the call of duty and your character speaks for itself. For as long as I have known you, you have done what others would not. And you have done them despite the cost. Because you knew that they were the right things to do."
"Do they make up for what I've done wrong?" Harry asked, his voice raspy.
"Perhaps. Perhaps not. However, no one can decide that save you. You have fought in wars that you did not start. You have ended them because you were forced to. You have saved the lives of others: friend and foe alike. You have done so much good, Harry. You have done more than what could ever be expected of you. You have endured what you should not have."
He closed his eyes and shook his head.
"You were pushed to do too much from a young age. Fleur has learned that from the Weasleys and she confided in me. You never had someone tell you enough until it was almost too late. Let me join in those sentiments." Sebastian rested a hand on Harry's shoulder. "Enough, Harry. You have done enough, more than. If you must listen to people, listen to the ones that care for you. Do not give your detractors any more weight."
He looked down at Harry. "All your life you have done what others wanted of you except when it came to your oath. You have stayed at Hogwarts when you should have left. You fought in a war because some thought you were responsible to end it. You were tricked to join this one. Tell me. What do you want. Not what you think others want. Not what you think you should do. Tell me, what does Harry Potter want?"
"I…I don't know," Harry said faintly.
"Then think," Sebastian said. "This conversation is not over until you do. Take the time you need."
Harry laid there for some time, thinking. He thought of his past, the last few months. He thought about the future and the sheer possibility of it terrified him for a moment. He laid there, his mind in turmoil. Sebastian sat and waited, neither prompting nor provoking. He waited silently and peacefully.
"I'm tired," Harry finally said. "I'm so tired. I'm tired of fighting. I'm tired of trying to defend myself. I want to just be me, and I don't even know who I am."
"Then you should take the opportunity to find that out," Sebastian said quietly. "Stop fighting. You have done more than your fair share. Find your peace, you deserve it."
"I don't know how." Harry's voice was small and pathetic, even to his own ears.
"Perhaps, but there are those that will help you, who want to help you. After all you have done for them."
Harry's thoughts were filled with the people he cared for and about. Dora, Ted, and Andi. Hermione and Neville. The Weasleys. Fleur and the Delacours. Blaise. Astoria and Daphne. Luna. He nodded, wiping at his eyes. "You might be right."
"I know I am."
Harry gulped. "What if, what if people don't let me?"
"You mean your government specifically." Sebastian growled with anger. "I still cannot believe your Minister had the gall to do that. While we have stayed out of the process, the ICW and France has made their opinions known and there will be consequences. I digress. I have something here for you that will aid you in the future."
He reached into his pocket and removed a slim black case. He opened it and handed it to Harry. Within sat a plain metal disc attached to a white ribbon. The rune for magic was etched into the center and lines radiated out from it, dividing the disc into eight equal portions.
"The ICW was created by eight witches and wizards ages ago. A dark wizard threatened magic itself and had caused atrocities the world over. Eight magicals from eight different cultures joined together and stopped him. During a time where magicals remained apart, jealous over their secrets, they came together out of mutual need. They set aside their differences and stopped him. This is the oldest and most sacred award the ICW can ever give to anyone, the medal of Origin. It is reserved for those that go above and beyond the call of duty and sacrifice much. I can think of no finer person than you that deserves it."
Harry stared at it.
"Normally there is much pomp and celebration when this is awarded, and by normally, I mean it has been near a century since this was last given. You have to be unanimously voted on to receive this. I told the ICW council that you would appreciate the privacy at this moment but you may be forced to attend some kind of ceremony in the future."
"Th-thank you," Harry said. "But, and no offense, how does this help me?"
"With this, you are formally a member of the ICW directly and a member of the world of magic. Before any kind of decision can be made about you by anyone in the ICW, it has to be accepted and supported by a majority of the founding members of the ICW. As long as you do not violate any inherent laws of where you are, you remain apart unless the majority of the council agrees."
Sebastian's eyes glinted. "And I swear to you that France will always support your best interests as determined by you. France will never vote with any that would do you harm or harbor ill will."
"I…I don't know what to say." Harry was beyond overwhelmed.
"Just accept it my friend and know that you are safe from the predations of your government. And if your countrymen cannot accept you, even with all you have done for them, then you are more than welcome to live in France."
Harry released a breath. "That's very generous. Thank you."
"No less than you deserve."
Harry laid there, staring at the medal. "What happens now?"
"Okoye has decided to release you from your duty early. As soon as your body can handle the trip, you can go home. The rest of the units will be dismissed in the coming month but you should head back sooner. The magic out here is still in turmoil from the spells and you need a more stable environment to heal."
Harry nodded. "My magic does feel strange. It's definitely weaker and I expected that, but not like this."
"Will you recover?" Sebastian asked, concerned.
"I have no idea honestly," Harry said with trepidation. "I'll have to see."
"Then the sooner you leave the better. Rodriguez and Wilder and Corner said that you should be stable enough in two more days."
"If that's what they say."
Sebastian snorted. "Is that reluctance to believe them because you are Harry or you are a healer?"
"Yes?" Harry grinned weakly.
Sebastian laughed. "At least your sense of humor has remained intact." He leaned back a little and rubbed his face. "That concludes the official part of our conversation. I honestly expected you to fight back harder on it."
"I did just wake up from a very magically exhausting experience. You caught me at my weakest. How cruel of you."
"Ah is this when you would say, oops?" Sebastian grinned at Harry's chuckle.
Harry closed the lid on the case and placed it under his pillow. "What's the unofficial part?"
"Apolline, Fleur, and Gabrielle are incredibly upset with you. As is Melanie. Sophie's mother," he clarified.
"You didn't tell them what I did…did you?" Harry asked, nervous once more.
"Not in so many words. However, Apolline does know I am here in regards to you and it has trickled back to the others. Fleur says if you do not see her shortly after returning, when you return, she will hunt you down."
"Good to know."
"When you have recovered, you will come to our home in France for a time," Sebastian said. "Apolline and Melanie insist. And if you think dealing with Fleur and her mother is difficult, you have no idea what the Beausoleil clan can be like."
"At least I'll have Dylan to help me."
Sebastian snorted. "That man is horribly entranced by his wife despite his jokes. He would come and kidnap you if asked to."
"I figured." Harry nodded. "Okay. I will do that." He looked up at the older man. "Thank you, for getting my head out of my arse. For helping me."
Sebastian patted him on the shoulder. "It is what you deserve and it is long overdue. You have survived for too long. Now it is time for you to live."
-0-
A few days later found Harry finishing his packing. He secured his trunks and shrunk them, putting them carefully into his knapsack. He looked around his empty tent. "Are you sure I shouldn't be packing more away or something?"
"Yes," Astoria said. "We can handle things without the great Harry Potter." She ignored his eye roll. "Only you could feel bad about going home earlier than others. And you did deserve it." She kicked him in the shin.
"Ow! Hey! I'm still recovering!"
"I don't care. I'm still really upset at you. And Daphne is going to give it to you worse when you get back. I'm also telling her you're going back early so you better go see her soon or else."
"Don't look at me," Blaise said. "I told mother and she's waiting to tear you a new one too."
"Do I even want to go home if that's what I have to look forward to?" Harry grumbled.
"We can stun you and ship your unconscious body back," Blaise said with relish.
"Might be easier," Astoria agreed.
"You two are such good friends," Harry deadpanned. He rubbed his neck. "Look, I said I was sorry for tricking you, okay? I had to do it."
"I know you thought you had to do it," Blaise said, "but the end result doesn't change our feelings on the matter so there. Just go home and not be moody for once, okay? Live a little."
Harry hefted his bag and smiled. "I'll give it a shot. I don't know if I know how but I'll try."
"There'll be plenty of people that'll help you," Astoria said. "And we will too of course when we get back." She opened the tent flap and stopped, staring wide-mouthed at what was outside.
"What's wrong?" Harry asked, trying to peer past her.
"You, uh, well, you better get ready for this," she said and stepped aside.
Harry stepped out and stopped. At the main base they set up a stable portkey zone for faster and safer travel. He initially thought that only Blaise and Astoria would be with him to bid him goodbye when he went.
He was wrong.
Groups of soldiers and magicals stood around between his tent and the zone and when they saw him, they rose and waited for him.
"Go on then," Blaise said and pushed him gently forward.
Jack approached first with a big group from his unit. "Thanks for everything, Harry," the healer for the Americans said. "It's been great working with you. Come across the ocean one day, visit us in the States. We'll take you around New York City, hit up the big places. We'll avoid Louisiana though since you don't want to see the big leeches." Everyone laughed at that. "You're one of us now." He handed Harry a patch. The symbol of the M.A.C.U.S.A. was on it and emblazoned with the unit patch that the others wore.
"You bled with us, fought with us, helped heal us," a short dark-skin woman said. "You're a member of the Mage Corps forever." She smiled wide. "If you ever need more proper coffee, just let us know. Vaya con Dios, amigo."
"Thank you," Harry whispered. He secured the patch to his shoulder.
"It'll be a trip but come Down Under one day," the Australian wizard said with a wide smile. "I know we're the descendants of the criminals kicked out from Britain but that makes us more fun. I think our meat pies are better anyways and then we'll go to New Zealand and get some tatts and learn a haka or two yeah?" He shook Harry's hand and clapped him on the shoulder.
Lukas and a large portion of the German unit came next. Lukas held a hand out and shook Harry's firmly. "A few of us come to London a lot," he said. "Escorts for our envoys. We will see you often, yes? You Brits say your beer and sausages are the best. I think ours is better and we can compare and complain much together. Then you come to our home, to the grand forests and see how we revel and live."
A woman handed him a heavy iron badge. A snarling dragon was carved deep into the metal. "You are Eisendrachen," she said in a heavy accent. "Like us. Iron Drakes." They pointed at their own badges.
"If you ever need aid, you call. We will answer," Lukas said. "With Fire and Fury."
Harry pinned the badge on, throat thick and heavy. "Thank you," he said. He grinned. "I'm glad Meyer didn't come between us."
Lukas snorted and the others with him did too. "He is not Eisendrachen," he said in a loud whisper and they all chuckled. "You are." He tapped Harry's chest. "Safe travels Angelus, and we will see you soon."
Tsumugi and her fellow magicals from Japan bowed as Harry walked to them. She stood on her prosthetic leg with more familiarity, though as soon as she finished her bow, she took up her crutch again. "My family wishes for you to visit," she said. "You will like visiting us. It is quiet and the rolling sea is vast and peaceful."
"That sounds really nice," Harry said sincerely. "One day, I'd like that."
"My family does business in England as well so I am sure I will see you again soon. Thank you, Angelus, for all you have done."
Harry stopped in front of the UK unit. They were all there and for the first time that he could remember, not a single person sneered at him or glared at him. True, not all looked friendly, but none looked like they wanted to say something rude or cruel. The front few ranks shook hands with him, some embraced him.
"See you back at St Mungo's soon," Michael said.
"Thank you, Harry," Flora and Hestia said as they hugged him.
"Glad you're better and see you at home," Millicent said as she let him go.
"Potter, safe travels," Dawlish said quietly, shaking his hand.
"You deserve this," Vance whispered as she hugged him tightly. "Go home, and tell the old dog he sucks for me, yeah?"
Nearly in tears, he stopped at the portkey zone. The French unit and the ICW medical staff were there, the closest friends he made at the front.
"It's been an honor," Rodriguez said. "Do stay in touch, okay? I hope to see you at conferences and the like."
"Thank you for all you did for us, you saved so many lives," Yun said as she hugged him.
Suaveterre shook Harry's hand and pinned a badge to Harry's jacket: the French Flag with a wand and rapier crossed upon it. "You will forever have friends in the French Auror Corps. We are only across the channel. Come see us often. We will drink, reminisce, and live together as comrades."
Harry could barely speak now and had to nod and return the handshake, trying to steel himself for the last few waiting for him.
"I'm glad I'll have someone else to take the heat off of me," Dylan said. "We'll be seeing more of each other I think."
"I don't think I'll be doing that with the jokes you make," Harry grinned.
"Then at least you'll be there to heal the scratches and claw marks," Dylan laughed.
"We will see you often," Leena said, hugging him fondly. "Come over when the English are being annoying."
"I am English," Harry said, bemused.
"Then come over when you are annoying yourself," she laughed.
Sophie hugged him tightly. "I cannot thank you enough for all you have done for me and mine. You are a true friend to the Veela of Beausoleil."
"They are all too kind," he said back.
"We are but a mirror, reflecting what we receive. I will see you soon, Harry. Thank you."
Okoye shook Harry's hand firmly as he approached. "Here you are, Healer Potter." He handed him a gold and silver threaded piece of rope. "This will take you to the ICW area within your Ministry. You will be returning in the middle of the night but they are expecting you and have lodging there prepared for you. No one from your Ministry will interfere. In fact, none know."
"That's a relief. I'm not sure how to deal with them right now."
"Any assistance you need, you will have from the ICW. You have given much for the effort. We will respond in kind." The General saluted him sharply. "It has been an honor and a privilege to count you among us. May the sun shine forever on you, and magic bless you until the end of days."
"See you when we get back," Blaise said, hugging Harry. "Stay out of trouble for once, will you?"
"Take care and make sure you see Daphne soon," Astoria said as she hugged him.
He stood on the platform and looked out over the sea of faces. No one hurled insults, no one blamed him for anything. It was surreal. It was nice. The rope in his hand began to glow and he raised his other hand in farewell to the watchers, suddenly sad that he might not see them again for some time, even the ones he was not too familiar with.
"Angelus!" someone shouted. The rest took up the cry and clapped and cheered as the portkey took Harry away.
-0-0-0-
alix33 - One last desperate ploy to win the war.
DOOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - Yup. I was going to post Extended today and wait for tomorrow to post Defiance but decided to post today to end the cliffhanger. Hey, I didn't do a cliffhanger for my last two really so consider that a gift. Maybe my next fic will be nothing but cliffhangers every chapter. Probably not because that sounds exhausting to write but it could be a thing.
minerdude - I don't think I'd ever do that, even as a joke.
iamchaos98 - There's still more to come. I am working on chapter 20 right now so don't fret. Or maybe fret. I don't tell you what to do.
diffident-serpiente - I'm sorry, I clearly choice violence when I woke up on Friday. Hope today's chapter assuages you.
Urgwaew - I'm glad you liked the set up. I wanted it to feel panicky and an emergency for how the ICW forces discovered the trap. I'm glad you are thinking of Sophie like that. I wanted her to feel like the character that people are learning about the setting with, like from her perspective. I like my OCs to feel like full characters, so it's good to see. All my best to you.