Aug 11

When the

Roses Bloom

Again - My

Enemy's

Approach "I don't think you'll get it to fade much more," Reg

murmured as he inspected Nancy's latest scar.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

She had been clipped with a searing curse leaving a burn

across the back of her shoulder, an angry purple mark

where the skin had bubbled. It was no longer so, but the

tarnished flesh was still thick and puckered.

The woman released a deep sigh.

"Is it bad?"

Reg shook his head.

"Why does it matter?" he asked curiously.

"You're a pureblood, Reg," Nancy huffed. "It's been difficult

enough for my father to find a husband for me. He only

agreed to let me become an auror to shield him from that

shame."

Reg frowned in confusion.

"Why would it be so hard to find you a husband?"

Nancy pulled her robes up to cover her shoulder before

turning to face him, her almost silvery eyes laced with

sadness.

"Look at me," she snorted humourlessly. "I'm over six feet

tall, and come from a poor, pureblood family. Even in

America I'm not considered a prize bride. There's nothing

to be gained from a marriage to me."

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"That's ridiculous," Reg chuckled.

Nancy raised an eyebrow at him.

"Add this into the mix," she continued, pointing to the

prominent scar protruding from her hairline, "and the fact

that my family supported Grindelwald whilst he was there,

and you have the definition of an outcast."

"Your family supported him?" Reg asked, surprised by the

revelation.

"At first," Nancy confirmed. "He promised he would

restore the wealth that had been stolen from us by another

family, and my father fell for it. When he was captured,

everyone knew we had championed him. I had to jump

through so many hoops just to be accepted into the auror

academy."

Reg leaned back in his chair as he observed the woman.

"Well, I certainly didn't expect that," he mused aloud.

Nancy offered him a sad smile.

"It wasn't until I got older that I realised how stupid my

father had been," she sighed. "I don't support him now."

Reg held up his hands to placate her.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"My family doesn't have the best reputation, but it is my

brother that has to deal with that. I'm just a second son

who has to endure the grimaces from others whenever my

name is mentioned."

Nancy frowned at him questioningly, and Reg deflated.

"Only a few generations ago, my family was found to be

involved in some very unsavoury business ventures. Our

reputation hasn't recovered, especially since we still live off

the proceeds. My father cares more for his life of luxury

than he does about our reputation, and my brother is the

same."

"But not you?"

Reg chuckled as he shook his head.

"Being out here and experiencing what I have, I'd sooner

have nothing and live a simple, peaceful life. When it is all

over, I plan to join the aurors, and finding a small home for

myself. As long as it has walls, a ceiling, and I have food in

my belly, that will be my luxury."

Nancy shot him a speculative look.

"Sounds like the American dream," she pointed out.

"I don't know about that, but it's my dream," he reiterated.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"Well, it's a good dream to have."

Reg nodded.

"I just have to make sure I survive this first. Your leader isn't

making that easy."

Nancy nodded her agreement.

"Ken is…"

"A prat?" Reg cut in, eliciting a smirk from the woman.

"Yes, but he feels like he has something to prove," she

explained. "We weren't exactly welcomed with open arms,

and that hurt his pride. He's not usually so…"

"Incompetent?"

"Exactly," Nancy replied. "Your leader, Evans, what's he

like? We only know what we have read in the papers."

Reg released a deep breath as he pondered the question.

"If it wasn't for Harry, we wouldn't be where we are now,"

he answered honestly. "He's saved our lives from things that

most people would have nightmares about, kept us together

when we were so close to falling apart, and risked his life

countless times. Those things you read in the paper are

probably true, but there's so much more to him."

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"He has the respect of his men."

Reg nodded.

"He's earned it," he assured her. "He killed a dragon for us

and has sent Grindelwald himself packing several times.

More than that, he's our friend who does his best to keep

us all safe."

"He sounds like a good leader."

Reg snorted.

"We probably would have lost the war already without

him," he sighed. "He's a good man, who has earned the

reputation he has. Adams would do well to listen to him."

Nancy nodded her agreement.

"Well, let's hope he's learned something from this mess,"

she murmured.

"He has to survive Harry first," Reg pointed out. "He will

be furious when he gets back."

"Why isn't he here?" Nancy asked curiously.

"He finally took some leave to spend time with his

daughter," Reg explained. "She's just a baby and he's been

here since she was born. He even missed her birth."

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"The poor man," Nancy sympathised.

"He's sacrificed a lot for this war," Reg huffed, "but missing

that hurt him the most. Anyway, you'll get to meet him

properly soon enough. He's due back today, so if I was

Adams, I'd keep my head down. You don't really want to be

on the wrong side of Harry."

"I'll bear that in mind," Nancy snorted. "Isn't that him?"

Reg looked to where she was pointing towards the

unmistakable figure that was Harry Evans walking towards

where the Russian lodgings were.

"That's him," he confirmed.

(Break)

The week spent at home had gone by much too quickly for

Harry's liking. It was as though he'd barely arrived before

he was once more having to say his goodbyes to Minerva

and a little girl that had no understanding of the world she

had been born into.

It certainly didn't lift his spirits that he already had things

he needed to address, that his advice to his American

counterpart had been ignored for the sake of pride, or

whatever Adams' motivation had been to attack

Grindelwald's forces across the border.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"What have you got for me, Petr?" he asked as he entered

the room the man used as an office.

The Russian was startled by the sound of his voice but

stood immediately and clapped Harry on the shoulder in

greeting.

"It's been quiet," he replied. "Other than the stupid

American, nothing else has happened."

Harry nodded gratefully.

"That's something, I suppose," he muttered. "Where's

Adams?"

Petr grinned quite smugly before he answered.

"In the medical bay," he answered without any hint of

sympathy. "He almost lost an arm and a leg."

Harry could only shake his head.

The man had brought it on himself, after all.

"Let's go and speak to him," he decided. "Despite how you

feel about the Americans, we need to work together if

they're going to be a part of this war. Think of it as being

the bigger man," he added when Petr opened his mouth to

protest.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

He narrowed his eyes at Harry but gave a stiff nod.

"I am the bigger man," he muttered before gesturing for

Harry to follow him.

With a grin of amusement, Harry did so, and the duo

made their way through the streets of Ruse towards the

field hospital.

"Do you think he will be difficult?"

Petr snorted at the question.

"He's American, they're always difficult."

"Why do you hate each other so much?" Harry asked

interestedly.

Petr shrugged.

"The history between our countries is long and

unpleasant," he replied. "They're arrogant, cocky, and won't

ever admit they're wrong."

"That sounds a lot like you Russians," Harry quipped.

Petr frowned before a grin tugged at his lips.

"Maybe," he grunted. "We don't get on and that won't ever

change. It is like asking a bear and a wolf to be friends."

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"Is that a Russian saying?"

Petr huffed.

"I don't know, but have you ever seen a wolf and a bear as

friends."

Harry shook his head.

"I can't say that I have."

"Then shut up," Petr chuckled good-naturedly.

They remained silent until they entered the makeshift

hospital which comprised of a dozen or so large tents, each

of them reserved to treat different ailments.

"I'm looking for Ken Adams," Harry informed one of the

healers who was taking notes on a piece of parchment.

"Tent nine, bay eleven," the man replied without looking

up from his work.

"Is that how you always address your commander?" Petr

snapped.

The healer balked as he looked up at the two of them and

began stammering an apology.

"It's fine," Harry assured him raising an eyebrow at his

Russian friend. "Bloody hell, leave the poor man alone."

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Petr laughed uproariously as he slapped the healer on the

back.

"It was only a joke."

"Not a funny joke," the healer muttered as he walked away.

"I thought he was going to shit himself," Petr said gleefully.

"I would have made you clean it up, without magic," Harry

returned with a smirk before he began heading towards

where the American commander was likely resting up.

"I'd like to see you try," Petr replied challengingly.

Harry ignored him in favour of seeking out the man he had

greeted only a week ago, any amusement he felt all but

absent as the reality of the situation he faced set in.

As much as he was irritated with Adams, he needed the

man to work with him and not jeopardise the work he and

his men had done since arriving on the continent.

"Come to gloat?" the American asked sullenly as Harry and

Petr rounded the curtain.

The man was pale, and evidently sulking at his failure.

"No," Harry sighed as he took a seat beside the bed,

gesturing for Petr to do the same. "I've come to tell you

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

that you really are a tosser and that I hope you learned

something from your stupid attempt."

Adams scowled at him for a moment before seemingly

swallowing his pride and nodding.

"It was a stupid thing to do without careful planning," he

admitted. "I should have listened to you, and because I

didn't, I lost many men and women."

"You did," Harry replied. "Now do you understand what we

are facing?"

Adams nodded.

"I learned it the hard way," he mumbled. "I don't want to

lose any more of my people."

"That's inevitable," Harry pointed out, "but you can

minimise the losses. Work with me and I will do what I

can to get as many of you home as I can. If you work

against me, you will shoulder the consequences yourself."

Adams remained silent for a few moments.

"I suppose we got off on the wrong foot," he admitted

wryly. "Ken Adams. An idiot who doesn't want to make the

same mistake twice," he reintroduced himself as he offered

his hand.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Harry accepted the handshake.

"Harry Evans," he replied in kind. "A man who has made

and learned from his mistakes."

Adams cracked a knowing smile as he turned to Petr, his

expression becoming more guarded.

"I suppose we will be working together too."

Petr nodded stiffly.

"Da, for this war at least."

Adams snorted.

"Well, for the time being, I'm willing to put any enmity

between our countries aside for my people. They're more

important than anything that has happened in the past."

"Da, I am willing to do the same," he conceded, accepting

the proffered limb of the American.

Harry nodded his approval, relieved that the two had

reached something of a tentative agreement.

"You'd best heal up, Adams," he urged. "When you're ready,

we will be picking up where you left off. There's no reason

to let our numbers advantage go to waste, but we will do it

in a way that works for us."

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Adams nodded as he leaned back into his pillows.

"Home before Christmas?" he asked.

Harry shook his head.

"I wouldn't bet on it," he answered honestly, "but home

alive and well when ever this comes to an end."

Adams grinned.

"If I had some whiskey, I'd drink to that."

"No, no, no," Petr denied. "Vodka is the only drink to toast

with. Your whiskey is like piss," he added as he removed his

canteen and took a deep sip before offering it to Adams.

With some reluctance, the injured man accepted it and

devolved into a coughing fit after he drank, eliciting a

guffaw from the Russian.

"Goddam, what was that?" Adams spluttered, red in the

face.

"Good vodka," Petr answered. "You will get used to it,

comrade."

The American looked sceptical, but he took another,

smaller sip, grimacing as the strong spirit slid down his

throat.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"I don't know about that," he choked, "but it's better than

nothing."

"It is better than everything," Petr countered.

Harry could only shake his head.

The two of them would never likely be friends, but he

would sooner this than have them at each other's throats.

Their lives and those of their forces could very well depend

on it.

(Break)

Minerva had never spent so long away from the castle, but

it had been months since she had been here. She had been

focusing on raising Rosa, and the babe had been too small

to be apparated, portkeyed or taken through the floo

system.

Now, however, at almost eight months old, there was no

reason she couldn't visit the place that would become a

second home to her.

Armando had been writing every week for the past month

all but demanding Minerva brought her in to see him and

the other members of staff, and she had finally relented,

though it wasn't until she laid eyes on the school that she

realised just how much she was missing the place.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Minerva didn't regret her decision to take this year off, but

Hogwarts was a big part of her life, and when the time was

right, she couldn't wait to return.

With it being the weekend, there was not so many students

roaming the halls, most choosing to remain in their

common rooms as the weather was yet to break.

Still, those that Minerva did come across took a moment to

look into the pram she pushed and offered their

congratulations.

Rosa took it in her stride, already used to being the centre

of attention.

By the time she managed to reach the headmaster's office,

she had already been within the school for close to half an

hour, delayed by the students.

"Let me see her," Armando requested as soon as she

crossed the threshold, meeting her halfway between the

door and his desk. "Aww," he cooed. "Look, Albus, she has

a green bow."

With an amused grin, Minerva nodded her permission for

the man to pick her up, and he did so, laughing as Rosa

pulled his beard.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"She's beautiful," Armando declared, receiving a nod of

agreement from Albus.

Her mentor had visited often during Minerva's absence

from the castle.

It was him that had brought Rosa the green bow that was

tied into her thick, red hair now.

"She's a handful," Minerva snorted. "If I turn my back for

one second, she's trying to escape."

Armando grinned.

"Just you wait until she starts walking," he warned. "You'll

spend most of your life chasing her away from things she

shouldn't be near."

"She's an adventurer," Albus commented amusedly. "Just

like her father, I imagine."

Minerva nodded.

"I could have swung for Harry last week," she huffed. "He

took Rosa for a walk through the grounds. They'd been

gone for a while, so I went to look for them. What do you

think I found?"

"Well, judging by your rather displeased expression, I

would say it was something you're still irked by," Armando

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

replied.

Minerva hummed.

"He had taken her on his broom and was flying laps around

the house."

Albus snorted, and Minerva shot him a glare.

She wasn't angry with Harry, but she had certainly been

taken aback.

"Rosa wasn't harmed, was she?" Armando questioned.

Minerva huffed irritably as she shook her head.

"No, she was giggling just as much as he was," she

muttered.

"Ah, so we may have a future Quidditch star on our hands,"

Armando mused aloud.

"Or a lunatic, just like her father," Minerva pointed out.

"You find it funny now, but she will be your student one

day," she reminded both men.

That sobered them, but both continued to smile,

nonetheless.

"I look forward to the day," Armando declared, "and you

forget, Minerva, she will be your student too. Unless you

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

have decided you do not wish to come back?"

"No," Minerva denied. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Good," Armando declared happily. "Now that you are

here, I was hoping you may be able to shed some light on

an incident that occurred last week involving a certain

Slytherin student."

"An incident?" Minerva asked guardedly.

Armando nodded.

"It was during the early hours of Wednesday that I felt a

disturbance, and as I left my office to investigate, I spotted

a rather dishevelled Mr Riddle sprinting across the

Entrance Hall wearing soaked and torn robes. I would say

he was certainly quite terrified. Horace has been unable to

glean anything from the boy."

Minerva nodded her understanding.

"From what Harry said, Riddle found the Chamber of

Secrets, but he got more than he bargained for," Minerva

explained. "He won't be venturing down there anymore."

Armando frowned.

"It is quite disturbing that he managed to find it in the first

place," he murmured. "He has become rather adept at

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

avoiding being detected."

Albus nodded his agreement.

"I myself struggle to locate him within the castle. Even the

portraits seldom see him in the halls unless he is attending

his classes."

"Perhaps we could use the elves to track him," Armando

suggested. "If he is finding places like the Chamber of

Secrets, Merlin only knows what else he has found, and

worse yet, what the boy is up to."

Minerva wouldn't pretend to know exactly what Riddle was

doing, but she could not deny that she felt more than a

little disturbed by it, even more so the older he got.

(Break)

It was a few times a year that Slughorn would gather a

group of students within his own quarters. He would sup

them, regale them of tales of all the well-known witches

and wizards he knew, and boast of how highly he was

thought of by them.

He would then proceed to show off all the gifts he'd

received over the years and tell them how he had been so

pivotal in their successes.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

It was no coincidence that the professor only invited those

from pureblood families, or those he believed would go on

to be vaunted in their chosen fields.

Those within the room would be the subject of Slughorn's

future bragging, of how these intimate dinners had inspired

them to whatever they would eventually achieve.

Tom quite respected the man for his guile, but he saw

through the façade, the overly exaggerated pleasantries.

Slughorn served only himself.

A Slytherin through and through, it seemed.

Tom was in no mood to be here.

He was still seething about what had happened in the

Chamber of Secrets, how his legacy had been stolen from

him.

Having played over the near-death experience in his mind

time and time again, Tom could only draw one conclusion

as to who had dared sabotage the room.

Harry Evans.

The mere thought of the man made his lip curl in distaste.

It could only have been him.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

As much as Tom had tried to rationalise the improbability

that Evans was behind it, it proved to be the only logical

explanation.

No member of the Gaunt family had been to Hogwarts in

several generations, and the footprints had been quite fresh.

The note had also alluded to the perpetrator not hailing

from the Slytherin line, so that too eliminated his magical

relatives.

The revelation, however, did raise only more questions as to

how Evans had come to possess his ability in parseltongue,

but Tom could find no explanation for that.

Try as he might, nothing made sense.

Still, what he was certain of was that Evans had been the

one to lay the trap in the chamber, and it only made Tom

despise the man more.

Evans would get what he deserved.

How dare he commit such a transgression against his

betters?

"Is everything alright, Tom?" the voice of Slughorn broke

into his thoughts.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Tom schooled his features into the easy smile that seemed

to work with the man, and the professor's own expression

shifted from one of concern to something akin to relief.

"Sorry, Professor," Tom replied. "I was just pondering a

rather vexing problem with something I'm looking into."

"Think nothing of it, Tom," Slughorn said dismissively. "A

curse of such a gifted mind is that it must always be

occupied. I suppose for one so young, my droning on can

be quite tedious."

"Not at all," Tom assured the man, "I find your stories quite

fascinating."

Slughorn smiled brightly before turning his attention to

David Belby who had raised his hand, earning a nod of

gratitude from Tom.

It had taken some adjusting to have almost the entire house

at his beck and call. It was not something Tom had

anticipated nor manufactured, but his association with

Vinda and the other Slytherins who had graduated the

previous year had elevated his position.

Somehow, even though he was only a fifth year, Tom had

become the unspoken leader of the house. Even without

the benefits of the best seat in the common room and being

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

able to 'borrow' whatever he wanted from his peers, he

quite liked that they looked up to him.

Tom was pulled from his thoughts once more by the sound

of scraping chairs, though he remained seated whilst the

other students left the room after bidding farewell to their

host.

"Look sharp, Tom, you don't want to be caught out of bed

out of hours."

Tom nodded as he stood, bracing himself to broach the

subject he wished to with his head of house.

"Sir, I wanted to ask you something," he said cautiously.

"Ask away, then, my boy, ask away," Slughorn urged.

Tom offered the most strained smile he could muster.

He needed to appear apologetic for querying about such a

thing. He needed to come across as nothing more than

curious.

"Sir, I wondered what you know about … about

Horcruxes?"

Slughorn stared at him, his thick fingers absent-mindedly

caressing the stem of his wine glass.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"Project for Defence Against the Dark Arts, is it?" he

replied with a frown.

Slughorn was no fool. He knew Hogwarts would not cover

the topic.

Perhaps they once had and if Rosalina Nott wasn't as close

to Evans as she was, maybe Tom would have asked her.

She was bound to know more about them than a potions

master.

"Not exactly, sir. I came across the term while reading and I

didn't fully understand it."

"No … well … you'd be hard pushed to find a book at

Hogwarts that'll give you details on Horcruxes, Tom.

That's very Dark stuff, very Dark indeed," said Slughorn.

The man was reluctant to discuss them, so Tom decided to

stroke his ego a little. It always worked with Slughorn.

Flattery was the key here.

"But you obviously know all about them, sir? I mean, a

wizard like you – sorry, I mean, if you can't tell me,

obviously – I just knew if anyone could tell me, you could –

so I just thought I'd ask. I am merely curious," Tom added

with a sigh.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Releasing a deep breath, he met Slughorn's concerned gaze.

"Well," said Slughorn, not looking at Tom, but fiddling

with the ribbon on top of his box of crystallised pineapple,

"well, it can't hurt to give you an overview, of course. Just so

that you understand the term. A Horcrux is the word used

for an object in which a person has concealed part of their

soul."

"I don't quite understand how that works, though, sir,"

Tom grumbled.

"Well, you split your soul, you see," Slughorn explained,

"and hide part of it in an object outside the body. Then,

even if one's body is attacked or destroyed, one cannot die,

for part of the soul remains earthbound and undamaged.

But, of course, existence in such a form …"

Slughorn's face crumpled in distaste, and he paused a

moment before continuing.

"… few would want it, Tom, very few. Death would be

preferable."

"How do you split your soul?" Tom asked.

Slughorn shook his head, distinctly uncomfortable by how

deeply they were delving into the subject.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"Well," he said uncomfortably, "you must understand that

the soul is supposed to remain intact and whole. Splitting it

is an act of violation, it is against nature."

"But how do you do it?" Tom pressed.

He had his strong suspicions, but he had found no way to

confirm his thoughts. The book that mentioned he had

read did not divulge how to create a horcrux.

"By an act of evil," Slughorn answered, his countenance

strained. "The supreme act of evil. By committing murder.

Killing rips the soul apart. The wizard intent upon creating

a Horcrux would use the damage to his advantage: he

would encase the torn portion."

"Encase? But how?"

Slughorn eyed him intently for a moment before smiling

weakly.

"There is a spell, do not ask me, I don't know!" he said

irritably, becoming uncharacteristically agitated. "Do I look

as though I have tried it – do I look like a killer?"

"No, sir, of course not," Tom assured him. "I'm sorry … I

didn't mean to offend you."

He thought he had blown it, that he had pushed his luck

too far.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Slughorn, however, released a laboured breath before

waving off the apology.

"Not at all, not at all, not offended," he said gruffly. "It's

natural to feel some curiosity about these things … wizards

of a certain calibre have always been drawn to that aspect of

magic …"

"Yes, sir," Tom snorted. "What I don't understand, though

– just out of curiosity – I mean, would one Horcrux be

much use? Can you only split your soul once? Wouldn't it

be better, make you stronger, to have your soul in more

pieces? I mean, for instance, isn't seven the most powerfully

magical number, wouldn't seven…?"

It was something Tom had thought about since discovering

what a Horcrux was. This was what he was most uncertain

of, what he couldn't hope to clarify without turning himself

into a human guinea pig.

He was reluctant to do so, but he believed it was possible,

though he could not be certain of the results. He was as

sure as he could be that he could create the horcruxes, he

just couldn't ascertain what the negative effects would be.

"Merlin's beard, Tom!" Slughorn yelped. "Seven! Isn't it bad

enough to think of killing one person? And in any case …

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

bad enough to divide the soul … but to rip it into seven

pieces."

Slughorn looked deeply troubled now: he was gazing at

Riddle as though he was seeing him for the first time.

"Of course," he muttered uncomfortably, "this is all

hypothetical, what we're discussing, isn't it? All academic?"

Tom nodded resolutely.

"Yes, sir, of course," he answered quickly.

Slughorn looked at him speculatively, his posture relaxing,

and Tom's following suit knowing he was in the clear.

"But all the same, Tom … keep it quiet, what I've told –

that's to say, what we've discussed. People wouldn't like to

think we've been chatting about Horcruxes. It's a banned

subject at Hogwarts, you know … Dumbledore's

particularly fierce about it."

Tom's nostrils flared at the mention of the transfiguration

professor.

"I won't say a word, sir," he promised before takin his leave

of the room, having gleaned the information he was

looking for.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

One horcrux would not be enough to secure his life, and

neither two nor three made him feel any more secure.

From his studies in Arithmancy, Tom had learned that

seven was the most magically powerful number and had

decided that it would be the only acceptable number of soul

pieces to safeguard his life.

The magic itself, he could figure that out, or he would

peruse the books in Borgin and Burke's during the summer.

If anywhere had such books on hand, it would be the shop

belonging to those two men.

At the back of Tom's mind was the need to take several

lives in the pursuit of protecting himself from death.

For most, the mere thought of taking only one would prove

to be too much, but not Tom.

He had always been oddly disconnected when it came to

death and violence, and he would even daresay he found

enjoyment in it.

He vividly remembered luring Amy and Dennis to the cave

and revelling in their screams as he subjected them to his

own methods of torture, the memory still filling him with

the same glee he'd felt during their ordeal.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

No, killing would only be more pleasurable, and already,

Tom began compiling a list of those that would serve as a

sacrifice to create his horcruxes.

He smiled at the thought, already pondering how he would

set his plan into motion.

(Break)

Gellert chose to no longer pay much heed to the map that

adorned the wall in his study. It made for rather depressing

viewing, and instead, he focused on strengthening the

positions he currently held.

With his forces now no longer stretched so thin, he was

able to fortify his defences sufficiently, as demonstrated by

the failed attack of the Americans upon their arrival on the

continent.

No, the onus was very much on the ICW forces to attempt

to dislodge his own men, and it would cost them dearly if

they wanted to do so.

"Still no sign of Osbert?" he asked Cassiopeia.

He had tasked the woman with tracking the unsavoury

man down, but he had seemingly fled when the tide of the

war had turned against them.

Cassiopeia shook her head.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"No, there has been no sign of him or his beasts. I would

guess that he has bolted."

Gellert hummed unhappily.

He could use the man, but he would not waste any more

time locating him.

"And what of the reports from the magical districts we

hold?"

Cassiopeia released a deep sigh.

"There are more pockets of resistance cropping up

everywhere, Gellert," she answered.

Gellert nodded, a frown creasing his brow.

Without Weber, news was typically slow to reach him

about such things, and without Hans, the uprisings were

not quelled so soon.

Still, he maintained control in the major cities of Europe

and could simply deploy more men to them to keep the

peace.

Before he could question her on the movements of the

ICW forces, the duo was interrupted by a knock on the

door.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"Enter," Gellert called irritably.

"The Americans are attacking again," a breathless man in

red robes informed them as he peered his head around the

door.

"Just the Americans?" Gellert asked.

The man nodded and Gellert snorted amusedly.

"Then more of their men will crash and burn against our

defences," he declared.

Having grown so accustomed to the cunning way Evans

commanded his men, the Americans were a breath of fresh

air, and worked wonders for boosting the morale of his own

men who simply had to pick the charging fools off as they

attacked incessantly.

"I will keep you updated," the man assured him before

taking his leave, seemingly to return to the front line.

"Are they really so stupid?" Cassiopeia questioned.

"No," Gellert denied, "but they do not have the benefit of

experience that the rest of us have accumulated these past

years. They will learn, but not too soon, I hope."

(Break)

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"How did you even convince Petr and the other to put on

the American uniforms?" Charlus asked.

Harry smirked to himself as he remembered the fit of

Russian expletives that followed as he explained his plan to

his second in command.

"Petr is dedicated to the cause," he replied.

Charlus snorted.

"I bet he was thrilled," he said dryly. "How many threats

did he make?"

Harry shrugged.

"I lost count at five."

Charlus chuckled.

"Well, we still don't know if it will work," he pointed out.

"It will."

The idea was to make it seem that the Americans were

attacking again in the same, sloppy manner they had

previously. What Grindelwald's forces didn't know,

however, was that they were faced with a group of

incredibly angry Russians, and that their job was to lull

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

them into a false sense of security to make them

complacent.

What appeared to be a poorly planned and executed attack

was merely Petr leading his men in such a way to make it

seem so.

In reality, they knew exactly what they were doing, were

drawing the attention of the men across the border whilst

the secondary ICW force were readying themselves for

their part.

Having fallen victim to the tactic Harry had chosen to

adopt, he knew the effectiveness of it and was eager to give

Grindelwald's men a taste of their own medicine.

"I told you it would," he pointed out. "Now we just need to

wait for Petr to make his move."

Charlus nodded.

"What about the yanks?"

"They'll play their part," Harry assured him.

The relationship between the Americans and the ICW

forces was still strained, but Harry was confident they

would be on the same page with the success of this

operation.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Adams had seemingly learned his lesson and had readily

agreed to this plan of action, and even to allowing Harry to

lead it.

Harry had expected some resistance to his idea, but Adams

had offered none, and happily deferred to the more

experienced commander.

"It looks like they're ready to move," Harry observed,

holding an arm aloft to signal his own men. "Here we go.

FIRE!"

As planned, Petr's men began retreating hurriedly, running

in all directions, and being pursued by Grindelwald's

keener followers.

As they did so, the first salvo of spells left the ICW

positions, and before they realised what was happening, it

was too late.

Harry, along with his men, exacted the same treatment

upon Grindelwald's followers that they had endured the

night they were forced to abandon their position on the

French border.

Streams of pink and blue lights were sent into the evening

sky, the ground trembling as they exploded on impact

against the enemy positions.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Harry would never forget the feeling of being on the

receiving end of a similar bombardment; the displaced dust,

the trapped bodies and the screams of the men that were

struck.

He took no pleasure in the suffering he was subjecting his

enemies to, but he was grateful to be on the offensive this

time around.

Those of Grindelwald's followers that had given chase

realised their mistake, many freezing as they took in the

unfolding devastation of their positions, only to be cut

down by the combined forces of the Russians and

Americans that had hurried into the fray.

There was no hesitation on their part as they cut down

Grindelwald's men and continued towards the now

decimated border of Yugoslavia.

Harry held up his hand to signal his own men to stop and

watched as the combined troops of their Russian and

American counterparts entered the country that was

currently held by Grindelwald but would soon be in their

possession.

"And that is how it is done," Harry murmured.

"Bloody hell," Charlus gasped, eliciting a nod of agreement

from Yaxley, Arcturus, and Gilbert.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

"Shouldn't we follow?" the former asked worriedly.

Harry pondered the question for a moment.

"Take two hundred men," he instructed Yaxley. "Begin

helping the citizens, and make sure they are treated well. I

don't think Adams would let his people take any liberties,

but I won't take any chances."

Yaxley nodded and gestured for a group to follow him.

Both Gilbert and Arcturus went too, and Harry relaxed

considerably in the knowledge his own men would be

there.

He would have led the group himself, but he was needed to

hold their position in Bulgaria, just in case Grindelwald

decided to spring a counter-offensive in retaliation.

"We're really doing it, aren't we?" Charlus asked tentatively.

"We're beginning to win the war."

"We are," Harry agreed, "but the hardest battles haven't

come yet," he reminded the man. "The more we take from

him, the more desperate he becomes."

It was a sobering thought, and though Harry was hopeful

the war could be concluded sooner rather than later, he

would not get ahead of himself, not whilst there were still

enemies to face, and the most dangerous yet breathed.

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Comments (11)

(Break)

Gellert didn't need to be told the result of the fighting to

know the outcome. The man that had arrived to inform

him was shaken, cover in dirt and blood, and his eyes full

of fear.

"Get out!" he growled, standing, and pressing his palms

firmly into the top of his desk.

Everything he had worked for was crumbling around him,

was being taken from him piece by piece by Evans and his

allies.

"What will we do, Gellert?" Cassiopeia questioned

worriedly.

Gellert swallowed deeply and took a calming breath.

"We keep fighting, my dear," he answered. "We keep

fighting."

Newest First

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Thanks for another enjoyable chapter

Thomas needs to be transfigured into a rat and given to

one of Harry's basilisks

I'm a little sad that they have so much more war to fight,

on the one hand, but I like that Harry's forces are going

slow and helping the civilians who were in the war zone on

the other hand.

Great chapter.

I hope McGonagall doesn't bring Rosa to Hogwarts. After

all of Harry's warnings, I'd think the brain would engage

Preview Post Comment…

AvidReader2425 2 weeks ago · 0 Likes

Elaine Rose A month ago · 0 Likes

Village Mystic 2 months ago · 0 Likes

Steve Moss 2 months ago · 0 Likes

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

about needless risks with Tom lurking about, a boy they've

admited they can't track.

When will dear Dumbledore come

I like how you're tying in Tom's story with The war of

Grindelwald. Thank you very much for posting it so soon

I don't know if it's the biweekly release schedule, or the

writing style, or the story slowly coming to a close, but I

am no longer feeling that edge-of-the-seat kinda

expectation for battles anymore, for it really seems as if

there is not much effort to take back the countries Gellert

took over.

As much as we enjoy it, Harry has been winning too much.

Tragedy creates drama

Sandep 2 months ago · 0 Likes

Justin 2 months ago · 0 Likes

Not Logged in - great name, I know 2 months ago · 0 Likes

Davout 2 months ago · 0 Likes

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

When the Roses Bloom Again - A Return Home

When the Roses Bloom Again - Allied

Forces

ye but this is just a build up to taking France, Spain and

Germany as well as i presume nurmenguard which will

most likely all be spectacular.

I believe that as well, why waste time detailing fights for

these smaller, and slightly less significant countries when

France, Spain, Germany and potentially Nurmenguard are

still yet to be taken, and those will be no easy feat

Well, just seeing the next couple chapters has made

me do a full 180, so yeah...

dylan grimshaw 2 months ago · 0 Likes

Nate Narwhalson 2 months ago · 0 Likes

Not Logged In - great name, I know... 2 months ago · 0 Likes

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e a

t

1

https//library/when-the-roses-bloom-again-a-return-home

https//library/when-the-roses-bloom-again-allied-forces

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

Author/Site Owner: Lee : TheBlack'sResurgence

Email: (For all enquiries)

Home Library

Commissions

Patron Portal Shop

Team Contact

T h e

B a r o n '

s

R e t r e /Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/

https//cart

https//

https//library

https//leemccusker

https//patron-portal

https//shop

https//team

https//contact

https//Lee_McCuskerTBR

https/