Chapter 10
Home, in another time
Harry quietly led the other two through the halls of Hogwarts.
Cullen had described to Harry were Weaselly and his follow betrayers had there meetings.
It was in fact in the same place that it was in Harry's time.
So he needed no one to lead him, or show him, or even remind him he knew how to get there like the back of his hand as he had been there so often. T
They arrived in front of a statue of a Phoenix and Harry spoke to it "myself Harry Potter and my friends Cullen Dumbledor and Mat a muggle would like to enter".
Then something happened that had not happened since Harry's time the phoenix opened its eyes and looked at Harry
"Welcome back Harry Potter, it has been to long" Harry smiled his reply
"To you it has, but to me Phoenix it was been no more than a day. I do have to say though you statues to age well"
The statue turned its head to the side as if trying to figure out the meaning of Harry's comment
"I was also wondering if you could do me a favour?" Harry asked
"What is it you wish for me to do Harry Potter?"
"When the order officials come let them all in, but don't let them out until I say"
"Of corse Harry Potter, it would be my pleasure to be of an assistance to you" the statue answered before the party were surrounded by a bright white light.
"Harry I'm interested, did the phoenix statue always behave like that in your time?"
Cullen asked as they arrived in the hall and moved towards the meeting room
"No, it likes me" came Harry's reply.
Mat just looked hard at Harry.
Surly if a Phoenix, even a stone, liked and trusted Harry then he was trustworthy.
Then it could just be that Harry is so powerful that he can control the statue, he'd have to ask Cullen that later.
Harry had mean while taken a seat at the table in the meeting room.
Cullen and Mat soon followed suit.
They had meetings daily at a minimum so it was only a matter of time.
"So what's the world like now any way?" Harry asked Mat was the first to answer
"I don't know much about what its like for wizards but I know what its like for us Muggles. We work from five in the morning till eight at night with out a brake. As soon as you can walk you start working until you die, if you're sick, elderly or three years old it doesn't matter, if you cant work then you're the dark guards new toy. My younger brother died that way, he was three years old and he was very sick, we knew if he worked he'd die so we hid him under the straw in our hut. But he was feverish and he had nightmares. He cried out in his sleep and was discovered. My father and elder sister were already dead so my mother couldn't handle losing him as well, she was near by to make suer he wasn't discovered and ran and hugged my brother to her and refused to let go. So they took her to. The dark guard had a meeting that night and forced all of us that lived in that area of huts to watch as they tortured my little brother and mother till they were insane, before killing them. They took their bodies and hung them on poles as a reminder to us Muggles. There bones still hang there, I was five years old when that happened. A week later I lost my baby sister as my mother couldn't feed her any more and death eaters later killed my elder brother when they visited. When I was in Azkaban Malfoy got all the muggles under the age of ten murdered to get me to talk. I didn't know anything that they wanted, if my best friend Markus Weaselly hadn't sacrificed him self for me then they would have kept killing a year older until they were all dead. That is the world that I live in Harry Potter, that is a world were we have no hope. Except now, now we have you"
Mat didn't know what processed him to tell all of that, but he felt desperation to make Harry see.
Then maybe Harry would become passionate about the corse like he was.
Then maybe Harry could defeat Malfoy and make an end to the pain.
Then maybe they could start over, and maybe then they could feel rest and peace.
Harry was shaken awake "there here"
Harry looked up at Cullen's face and nodded "thanks".
From around the corner came Mr Weaselly closely followed by several other important Order members.
They all stoped and stared at the group.
Harry noticed Mat tense under the gaze of the senior Weaselly.
Harry kept his gaze on Mr Weaselly trying to gauge his response.
"I see my assumptions were right about you Cullen. I had hoped my suspicions were wrong, old friend. And you Mat, your betrayal also leaves me saddened. I thought that my son had tort you something of loyalty especially to the family who took you in. to a family who lost a son for you."
"The only person here to betray is you Mark" Cullen said as he stood meet Mr Weaselly eye to eye.
" I have betrayed no one, you were offered the same as every one else. What have we always worked for! Peace and safety for our children to grow up in. our fight has gone on to long. Its time to grant them that even if it does mean doing it side by side with Malfoy. Haven't enough people died."
"You think that that monster will give you peace are you mad old man, your son would be ashamed, he would have died for the corse"
Mat joined Cullen on his feet "but he didn't did he, he died for you, a muggle, this place"
He gestured around him "tort him idealistic ideas about the world and good and evil. But I know differently, you see there is no good or evil there is only power and those who take it, that's what I'm doing Cullen, I'm taking that power, so that I can protect my family. I would have protected you also Mat. and I still will, but you must prove your loyalty to me first. There is one small task I would ask of you," he said
"If you're talking about that box then its to late we've already got it," Mat said staring defiantly at his best friend's father.
A short murmur went up in the growing order members.
Mr Weaselly raised his had to silence them.
"And tell me were is it, tell me Mat and you will be under my protection"
"I don't know we left it back in an old shack, I don't think you'd really want it any more though"
Mr Wasleys lips twitched, his expression talked of hidden worry
"And tell me why is that"
"Its quite simple really, the box no longer has anything of worth in it" Cullen said,
Another murmur rose in the Order members that abruptly ended as Cullen spoke again
"You've opened the box" it was more a statement than a question.
His eyes turned to Harry who only stared back "and tell me, who are you?" he asked voice not quite trembling.
Harry stood and moved forward his had out stretched "Harry Potter" he said.
No hand moved to grab Harry's, all faces especially Mr Weaselly had paled.
"So tell me Harry Potter how old are you?" Mr Weaselly asked
"I don't see how it's relevant but since you asked I'm 15"
Mr Weaselly luffed "tell me Cullen if you've come here to tell me that you are going to defeat the Malfoys, his death eaters and the dark guard with this boy, then I'm afraid you've finally lost it."
"I defeated Voldemort and now I'm going to do the same to the Malfoys" Harry spoke firmly.
"This boy is HARRY POTTER, you know the legend, just as you know the LEGEND of the place that you stand, you know what the legend says Mark. I can still remember when we were children you had a very big interest in the old legends. If my memory serves me right you had a particular interest in the legend of Harry Potter".
Mr Weaselly snorted "yes I remember 'Harry Potter. Boy hero, none in history had welded his power and none will again. 'The boy who lived' saviour of the world, and defeater of Lucious Malfoys Master, Voldemort himself. A lightning scar on his forehead is how he is recognised and is now a universal symbol of hope' yes, we've all herd the LEGEND, but may I remind you that even the legend of Hogwarts has now been twisted and contorted. Now tell me Cullen, can you look at this child and honestly believe that fairy tale, because I don't".
"You may not, but the Malfoys certainly do and you know as well as I that they are not stupid. I have heard that they are getting, very concerned. About a LEGEND no less" Cullen spoke clearly
"I some what dealt your sauce, besides all you are doing is wasting my time. Now I'm going to live up to my end of the deal"
And with that he pushed something on the inside of his cuff.
"You Harry Potter will be coming with me, I am going to hand you over to Malfoy and end this war once and for all"
Harry looked calmly at him "I'm afraid that won't be happening any time soon" just then there was the sound of many footsteps heeding their way.
Mr Weaselly raised his eyebrow "I wouldn't be to sure of that Harry Potter, Cullen I guess were going to see if your boy can handle my men let along and entire army including Malfoy"
A sneer that didn't fit covered his face as fifteen order knights rounded the corner. They quickly surrounded the three who remained calm.
All wands were pointed the three still they remained still.
"Put your hands on your heads" yelled the commander.
The to wizards and muggle just stood calmly not making a move for either there wands or to follow the instructions.
"This is your last chance, put your hands on your heads" he tried again,
There only answer was the stare that Harry sent his way momentarily unnerving the man.
"Subdue" the commander suddenly, yelled and his squadron all began sending curses their way.
The curses flew quickly with in a blink of an eye towards the trio who didn't even flinch.
As the curses approached the wizards stoped seeing no reason to continue.
But with in a meter of hitting the three the curses would seemingly hit an invisible wall and disintegrated before their eyes.
Silence filled the room all faces turned white, and Mr Wasleys eyes flashed with fear and anger.
"Attack" he yelled.
Harry raised his eyebrow; Mr Weaselly was acting totally irrationally.
Again curses flu towards them, but this time every wizard fired not just the squadron.
Harry decided it was time to end it.
He raised his hand and his wand instantly appeared in his hand.
He moved it pass all the wizards before flicking it back sending every one other than the three through the air before crashing into the wall, some with a crack.
Every wand flew towards Harry who with a single wave of his hand had coursed every one to disappear.
The Wizards still courteous stood to their feet unsure of their next corse of action.
Harry meanwhile had using his wand tiered up all members of the inner circle of the order and set them down against the wall.
Mr Weaselly sat then defiantly and spat "you don't know what you're up against if you think its just the Malfoys then you have no idea."
His eyes turned to Cullen "did you really think that we didn't realise that you had not just found the box but opened it. The Malfoys have been anticipating Potters arrival and will have no problem in disposing of him. Did you really think if I thought we had a chance that the great Harry Potter could have saved us I would have joined Malfoy, all you are doing is bring all of us down with you"
The squadron still in shock form the confrontation, turned even whiter at finding out there leaders betrayal and many slid to the ground, while others just stood not daring to move.
"What are you talking about?" Mat asked taking a step forward.
Mr Weaselly stared at him "you all seem to remember the wonderful and happy legends full of hope, but you forget the ones that speak of the reality of evil. Can you remember exactly what it said about the Dark Wizard that Lucious followed, the one known as 'he who must not be named' because it is said that people even feared his name. It said how he was nearly immortal, now I never understood how any one can be nearly immortal, and assumed that the legend had simply been stretched. It's more true than you know. Lucious's master is now the master of the Malfoys of today, he's back and theirs nothing that any of us can do about it, if you want to live you must join with him"
It was the trio's tern to be shocked.
Harry in particular was struck by the revelation and took a small step back.
Before forcing him self to be in control.
Don't let them see your weakness was his only thought.
"I've defeated Voldemort once and I can do it again" he said with more confidence than he felt.
Home, in another time
Harry quietly led the other two through the halls of Hogwarts.
Cullen had described to Harry were Weaselly and his follow betrayers had there meetings.
It was in fact in the same place that it was in Harry's time.
So he needed no one to lead him, or show him, or even remind him he knew how to get there like the back of his hand as he had been there so often. T
They arrived in front of a statue of a Phoenix and Harry spoke to it "myself Harry Potter and my friends Cullen Dumbledor and Mat a muggle would like to enter".
Then something happened that had not happened since Harry's time the phoenix opened its eyes and looked at Harry
"Welcome back Harry Potter, it has been to long" Harry smiled his reply
"To you it has, but to me Phoenix it was been no more than a day. I do have to say though you statues to age well"
The statue turned its head to the side as if trying to figure out the meaning of Harry's comment
"I was also wondering if you could do me a favour?" Harry asked
"What is it you wish for me to do Harry Potter?"
"When the order officials come let them all in, but don't let them out until I say"
"Of corse Harry Potter, it would be my pleasure to be of an assistance to you" the statue answered before the party were surrounded by a bright white light.
"Harry I'm interested, did the phoenix statue always behave like that in your time?"
Cullen asked as they arrived in the hall and moved towards the meeting room
"No, it likes me" came Harry's reply.
Mat just looked hard at Harry.
Surly if a Phoenix, even a stone, liked and trusted Harry then he was trustworthy.
Then it could just be that Harry is so powerful that he can control the statue, he'd have to ask Cullen that later.
Harry had mean while taken a seat at the table in the meeting room.
Cullen and Mat soon followed suit.
They had meetings daily at a minimum so it was only a matter of time.
"So what's the world like now any way?" Harry asked Mat was the first to answer
"I don't know much about what its like for wizards but I know what its like for us Muggles. We work from five in the morning till eight at night with out a brake. As soon as you can walk you start working until you die, if you're sick, elderly or three years old it doesn't matter, if you cant work then you're the dark guards new toy. My younger brother died that way, he was three years old and he was very sick, we knew if he worked he'd die so we hid him under the straw in our hut. But he was feverish and he had nightmares. He cried out in his sleep and was discovered. My father and elder sister were already dead so my mother couldn't handle losing him as well, she was near by to make suer he wasn't discovered and ran and hugged my brother to her and refused to let go. So they took her to. The dark guard had a meeting that night and forced all of us that lived in that area of huts to watch as they tortured my little brother and mother till they were insane, before killing them. They took their bodies and hung them on poles as a reminder to us Muggles. There bones still hang there, I was five years old when that happened. A week later I lost my baby sister as my mother couldn't feed her any more and death eaters later killed my elder brother when they visited. When I was in Azkaban Malfoy got all the muggles under the age of ten murdered to get me to talk. I didn't know anything that they wanted, if my best friend Markus Weaselly hadn't sacrificed him self for me then they would have kept killing a year older until they were all dead. That is the world that I live in Harry Potter, that is a world were we have no hope. Except now, now we have you"
Mat didn't know what processed him to tell all of that, but he felt desperation to make Harry see.
Then maybe Harry would become passionate about the corse like he was.
Then maybe Harry could defeat Malfoy and make an end to the pain.
Then maybe they could start over, and maybe then they could feel rest and peace.
Harry was shaken awake "there here"
Harry looked up at Cullen's face and nodded "thanks".
From around the corner came Mr Weaselly closely followed by several other important Order members.
They all stoped and stared at the group.
Harry noticed Mat tense under the gaze of the senior Weaselly.
Harry kept his gaze on Mr Weaselly trying to gauge his response.
"I see my assumptions were right about you Cullen. I had hoped my suspicions were wrong, old friend. And you Mat, your betrayal also leaves me saddened. I thought that my son had tort you something of loyalty especially to the family who took you in. to a family who lost a son for you."
"The only person here to betray is you Mark" Cullen said as he stood meet Mr Weaselly eye to eye.
" I have betrayed no one, you were offered the same as every one else. What have we always worked for! Peace and safety for our children to grow up in. our fight has gone on to long. Its time to grant them that even if it does mean doing it side by side with Malfoy. Haven't enough people died."
"You think that that monster will give you peace are you mad old man, your son would be ashamed, he would have died for the corse"
Mat joined Cullen on his feet "but he didn't did he, he died for you, a muggle, this place"
He gestured around him "tort him idealistic ideas about the world and good and evil. But I know differently, you see there is no good or evil there is only power and those who take it, that's what I'm doing Cullen, I'm taking that power, so that I can protect my family. I would have protected you also Mat. and I still will, but you must prove your loyalty to me first. There is one small task I would ask of you," he said
"If you're talking about that box then its to late we've already got it," Mat said staring defiantly at his best friend's father.
A short murmur went up in the growing order members.
Mr Weaselly raised his had to silence them.
"And tell me were is it, tell me Mat and you will be under my protection"
"I don't know we left it back in an old shack, I don't think you'd really want it any more though"
Mr Wasleys lips twitched, his expression talked of hidden worry
"And tell me why is that"
"Its quite simple really, the box no longer has anything of worth in it" Cullen said,
Another murmur rose in the Order members that abruptly ended as Cullen spoke again
"You've opened the box" it was more a statement than a question.
His eyes turned to Harry who only stared back "and tell me, who are you?" he asked voice not quite trembling.
Harry stood and moved forward his had out stretched "Harry Potter" he said.
No hand moved to grab Harry's, all faces especially Mr Weaselly had paled.
"So tell me Harry Potter how old are you?" Mr Weaselly asked
"I don't see how it's relevant but since you asked I'm 15"
Mr Weaselly luffed "tell me Cullen if you've come here to tell me that you are going to defeat the Malfoys, his death eaters and the dark guard with this boy, then I'm afraid you've finally lost it."
"I defeated Voldemort and now I'm going to do the same to the Malfoys" Harry spoke firmly.
"This boy is HARRY POTTER, you know the legend, just as you know the LEGEND of the place that you stand, you know what the legend says Mark. I can still remember when we were children you had a very big interest in the old legends. If my memory serves me right you had a particular interest in the legend of Harry Potter".
Mr Weaselly snorted "yes I remember 'Harry Potter. Boy hero, none in history had welded his power and none will again. 'The boy who lived' saviour of the world, and defeater of Lucious Malfoys Master, Voldemort himself. A lightning scar on his forehead is how he is recognised and is now a universal symbol of hope' yes, we've all herd the LEGEND, but may I remind you that even the legend of Hogwarts has now been twisted and contorted. Now tell me Cullen, can you look at this child and honestly believe that fairy tale, because I don't".
"You may not, but the Malfoys certainly do and you know as well as I that they are not stupid. I have heard that they are getting, very concerned. About a LEGEND no less" Cullen spoke clearly
"I some what dealt your sauce, besides all you are doing is wasting my time. Now I'm going to live up to my end of the deal"
And with that he pushed something on the inside of his cuff.
"You Harry Potter will be coming with me, I am going to hand you over to Malfoy and end this war once and for all"
Harry looked calmly at him "I'm afraid that won't be happening any time soon" just then there was the sound of many footsteps heeding their way.
Mr Weaselly raised his eyebrow "I wouldn't be to sure of that Harry Potter, Cullen I guess were going to see if your boy can handle my men let along and entire army including Malfoy"
A sneer that didn't fit covered his face as fifteen order knights rounded the corner. They quickly surrounded the three who remained calm.
All wands were pointed the three still they remained still.
"Put your hands on your heads" yelled the commander.
The to wizards and muggle just stood calmly not making a move for either there wands or to follow the instructions.
"This is your last chance, put your hands on your heads" he tried again,
There only answer was the stare that Harry sent his way momentarily unnerving the man.
"Subdue" the commander suddenly, yelled and his squadron all began sending curses their way.
The curses flew quickly with in a blink of an eye towards the trio who didn't even flinch.
As the curses approached the wizards stoped seeing no reason to continue.
But with in a meter of hitting the three the curses would seemingly hit an invisible wall and disintegrated before their eyes.
Silence filled the room all faces turned white, and Mr Wasleys eyes flashed with fear and anger.
"Attack" he yelled.
Harry raised his eyebrow; Mr Weaselly was acting totally irrationally.
Again curses flu towards them, but this time every wizard fired not just the squadron.
Harry decided it was time to end it.
He raised his hand and his wand instantly appeared in his hand.
He moved it pass all the wizards before flicking it back sending every one other than the three through the air before crashing into the wall, some with a crack.
Every wand flew towards Harry who with a single wave of his hand had coursed every one to disappear.
The Wizards still courteous stood to their feet unsure of their next corse of action.
Harry meanwhile had using his wand tiered up all members of the inner circle of the order and set them down against the wall.
Mr Weaselly sat then defiantly and spat "you don't know what you're up against if you think its just the Malfoys then you have no idea."
His eyes turned to Cullen "did you really think that we didn't realise that you had not just found the box but opened it. The Malfoys have been anticipating Potters arrival and will have no problem in disposing of him. Did you really think if I thought we had a chance that the great Harry Potter could have saved us I would have joined Malfoy, all you are doing is bring all of us down with you"
The squadron still in shock form the confrontation, turned even whiter at finding out there leaders betrayal and many slid to the ground, while others just stood not daring to move.
"What are you talking about?" Mat asked taking a step forward.
Mr Weaselly stared at him "you all seem to remember the wonderful and happy legends full of hope, but you forget the ones that speak of the reality of evil. Can you remember exactly what it said about the Dark Wizard that Lucious followed, the one known as 'he who must not be named' because it is said that people even feared his name. It said how he was nearly immortal, now I never understood how any one can be nearly immortal, and assumed that the legend had simply been stretched. It's more true than you know. Lucious's master is now the master of the Malfoys of today, he's back and theirs nothing that any of us can do about it, if you want to live you must join with him"
It was the trio's tern to be shocked.
Harry in particular was struck by the revelation and took a small step back.
Before forcing him self to be in control.
Don't let them see your weakness was his only thought.
"I've defeated Voldemort once and I can do it again" he said with more confidence than he felt.