So... quick notes before we dive into things. Over three years ago (closer to four by now actually) I asked a question, regarding two fics that have gone... well, way too long uncontinued. I'm not making any excuses, it's pretty simple actually. I never wanted to be one of those writers who lists a story (or many)as Discontinued, as Abandoned. I tried really hard not to be. But the thing is, I lost a lot of the interest in the fandoms involved in these fics. I tried to come back, more than once, would write a few chapters and then... nothing. Finally, after over a decade, I admitted to myself that I was never going to do justice to these stories, no matter how hard I tried. It was then that I asked a very important question: whether you'd rather I just marked the stories as abandoned, post what I had and leave them like that, or post what I had, and then a summary of what was supposed to happen in the rest of the story. The last option won with a resounding 66%! Also, doing the summary proved a bit trickier than I ever expected. While I did have some ideas for the things that were going to happen, it still took me some time. But we're finally here!
So, apologies that it's taken so long. But I hope that while this still isn't making justice to things, you might at least get some level of closure, or something like that. Without further ado, here we go!
Chapter 33. Flying Shadows
The 'Core' of the D.A., as the others had begun to call the group working on The Plan, was sitting in some comfy chairs in the Sorcerers Common Room, nursing some tea while they tried to get their heads around the mountain of facts and downright bombs that had been thrown at them in the last few hours.
It had begun when Harry, Hermione and Ron had rounded them together, and instead of guiding them to the 7th floor, to the Room of Requirement, they had gone to the far end of a hallway in the third floor to the portrait of a man in midnight blue robes who they all remembered from 'History of Magic' class the year before: Clow Reed. As soon as they were inside they saw Sirius, and had everything related to him explained in detail, including his surprising return from behind the veil a few weeks before.
After that Tomoyo had canceled the enchantment on their memories, allowing them all to remember what had happened in that battle at the end of the previous school year. And if that hadn't been enough, then the group had proceeded to explain everything about sorcerers, half-sorcerers, the Councils, the Ancient Justice, the pillars, etc.
It was overwhelming to say the least.
"So, you basically want us to take over the Magical Government?" Susan Bones asked, so pale her hair looked a darker red than usual.
"More or less, that's the gist of it." Hermione nodded.
"Are you bloody insane?!" Neville cried out.
For a moment, silence reigned, no one, absolutely no one, had been expecting that. While they all knew someone would snap after the truth was revealed, no one thought it would be him, or that he would react so strongly.
"I know how crazy it sounds Nev." Harry said solemnly, the only one not surprised by his response. "I know how impossible it seems. But you must see why it's so important. All of you must see that." He sighed. "This isn't about something we want, but something we need."
"You've heard how things went with us in the Ministry after the Winter Break." Naoko added softly yet seriously. "And you also know that, even now, the Ministry is trying to discover what we may be planning, they'll do anything and everything to try and block us first chance they get."
"They would even go as far as killing." Long added morosely. "Have no doubt about that."
"But they aren't DEs!" Susan practically wailed, the whole thing had her on edge. "They are the government, and the aurors!"
"And as corruptible as any other human being." Severus deadpanned. "Even those who might not be DEs, or even blood-supremacists, they can still be bought."
"It's more than that." Sonomi added. "Even those who have nothing to do with DEs, supremacists, or even be bought by them. If they find out about 'The Plan', if they realize what its execution would mean to all of them, there's no way they will allow it. They will never willingly go with something that will make them loose money, influence and power."
"It's why, if you're doing this, it must be done as soon as possible." Shaoran commented.
"What's your part in all of this?" Neville asked the Chinese young man. "I mean, you aren't an heir, are you?"
"Not from the Western Magical World, no." Shaoran stated. "But I am the Head of the Li Clan, as well as leader of the Eastern Council, the kind of governing body you would be recreating if you called on the Ancient Justice." His eyes softened as he added. "I'm here to help, in any way I can, either in an advisory capacity, or to fight if need be. Harry-san, Hermy-san, Ron-san, Naoko-san, they are friends to me, and it is my wish to help them like they've helped me in the past."
"What about me?" Eriol asked with a half-smirk. "Aren't I your friend too?"
"Nah." Shaoran deadpanned with a twisted grin. "You're just a nuisance."
Everyone face-faulted at that, except those like Tomoyo and Sakura, who were already used to those two's antics, while Eriol went on to mutter dramatically about how his 'cute little descendant' was so cruel to him…
"You have to understand, we aren't trying to force you into anything." Sakura added in an understanding voice. "If you are going to do this, claim your place as heirs, as pillars, and call up on the Ancient Justice…you need to be committed, to the ritual and to anything and everything that may follow. You will be recreating the Eastern Council, and will be the first leaders of it in over a thousand years. You will, effectively, become rulers of the English Magical World, possibly all the European one. You will also be the example the next generations will follow…"
"Thanks a lot." Luna said sarcastically. "Because those comments make things easier…"
Susan just paled even further, while Neville kept opening and closing his mouth over and over again, like a fish out of the water.
"I don't mean to scare you." Sakura insisted. "I'm just trying to make sure you make an informed decision. Like I said before, no one will force you into anything, simply because this isn't a decision that can be forced. If you aren't fully committed to it, to everything, then it simply won't work."
"How did you do it?" Ginny asked, curious. "Marry the Head of an Ancient Clan, the leader of a Magical Council?"
"With me it was never about that." Sakura answered wistfully. "From the time I met him, I never saw Li Xiao Lang, only Li Shaoran." She smiled. "His name, his lineage, didn't mean anything to me; with a non-magical father, and having grown away from all magic, not knowing it even existed, I had no idea his name was even supposed to mean something! While it's true we didn't always get along well, we became friends, and eventually fell in love with each other, and it was only about each other. I didn't marry Shaoran-kun to become Head of the Li Clan or Leader of any Council, no, instead, I became all that, so I could marry him."
"It's more or less like what happens with Harry and the whole 'Boy-who-lived' thing." Hermione added. "We all know there are a lot of girls who would kill to be with the boy-who-lived, at least half of them not caring at all about Harry. Me…I never cared for the boy-who-lived, or the-chosen-one, or whatever other stupid nickname you wish to use. I only care about Harry, my Harry, that's who I'm going to marry."
"Thank you…" Harry whispered in a heartfelt tone as he pulled her closer to him and kissed her hair. "I love you too Hermy…"
"Yes well, I think we're getting a bit off topic." Severus commented stiffly.
He had never been one for public displays of affection, and they made him uncomfortable. While he was very much in love with his wife, he just wouldn't feel comfortable kissing her or such before others, not the way the teens seemed to…
"In any case, you do not have to make any decisions now." Eriol informed the teenagers, particularly focusing on the three young heirs who were new in all this. "We know this is something huge and that, unlike Shaoran and some others, you didn't grow up being readied for this. Easter Break begins tomorrow, and I believe you're all leaving to spend a few days in your homes. Take that time to think things over and make your choice, just remember that whatever you decide, you must be absolutely sure, must be ready to commit all of yourselves to that course of action." He sighed, then added as an afterthought. "Also, please do not mention anything related to 'The Plan' to those who aren't already in the know, and in a secure place, it's just too risky, particularly since the Ministry is already in alert, trying to find out what we may be planning…"
Luna, Neville and Susan all nodded, still trying to fully process everything that had been revealed to them in the last few hours. While the information was still as shocking for Ginny and the others, only those three had to deal with being Heirs to three of the Founders and 3 of the needed 7 pillars that could change the balance of power in the Wizarding World forever!
.-.
That night Sirius was standing by a window in the main Common Room of the Sorcerers' Apartments, looking outside, at the half moon barely seen in the cloudy sky. He was unable to sleep, had been having problems doing so, not because of nightmares related to his time beyond the veil, since he couldn't actually remember that time, and not even because of his time in Azkaban, it was something else…
"You know just standing there, thinking about things, won't make the problem go away." A soft, feminine voice commented from behind him.
For an instant Sirius tensed in place, before sagging and turning to look at the newcomer who was in that moment standing at one of the entrances to the Common Room, in a dressing gown and slippers.
It was Naoko, his daughter…and how amazing it was that while he'd spent a decade and a half having no idea whatsoever where she might be, a part of him fearing that she might be dead of worse, like his wife, of whom he knew nothing either…he still had had no problem at all seeing Naoko, calling her his daughter, once the protective spell had let him see through the magic that clung to her and hid her identity…and he still had no idea how that spell could still exist after so many years…
"Naoko…" Sirius whispered in a very low voice.
"I have no idea why you refuse to face Grandpa." Naoko commented as she walked to him. "I have honestly no idea of anything either of you might have been through in all the years I was away. But I know that, even before you came back, I felt better when I had family around…"
"Albus isn't my family…" Sirius began in a quiet voice.
"But he is!" Naoko insisted, being careful not to raise her voice too much. "He's your father-in-law. He's family!"
"After what his daughter must have suffered through because of me…I think the last thing he would want is to see me as family…" Sirius commented drily. "Actually, that might even explain why he wouldn't let me out of Grimmauld Place back then…before the Veil…it was his way of punishing me, of keeping me imprisoned, of making sure I paid for my crimes…" he sighed. "Can't say I disagree with him…"
"Stop that!" Naoko snapped, going to stand before him. "Stop saying that! Stop taking it all upon yourself! You're being worse than Harry-kun!"
That actually called Sirius's attention, Harry's penchant to take the blame for everything and anything that went wrong around him was legendary…
It was also in that moment that he finally looked at his daughter in the face, the daughter he'd tried very hard not to bother, it was the whole reason why he'd gone to pace in the Main Common Room, instead of staying in their private Sitting Room…he noticed the moisture in her eyes, the drops in the corners that threatened to fall. Naoko was about to cry, and it was all his fault…
"Dad…" Naoko called softly, as one tear finally fell.
Sirius lowered his head, thinking he must really be the worst kind of father…
"Whatever happened to Mum…it was not your fault." Naoko assured him, softly yet strongly. "She made a choice to marry you, to be with you…Pettigrew's betrayal, Voldemort's attack, it ruined so many lives, hurt so many people…it was their fault! Their fault, not yours."
Sirius sighed, wishing he could believe what his daughter was telling him, she wasn't the only one trying to put that message in his brain: Sonomi, Tomoyo, Harry, even the Japanese teens had been trying the same, with no result whatsoever. It was the very reason why he still hadn't gone to see Albus, reveal to the man that he was back, alive and well…
Maybe it was that Sirius didn't believe he deserve to be back. Why him? Why was it that he was alive and not someone who actually deserved it: like James, Lily, Daniel or…like Naty… if anyone deserved to have a second chance it was his beloved wife…
Naoko was about to try something else to get the message across when suddenly they were interrupted by the flaring of Shaoran's aura, followed by the rushed arrival of everyone who lived in the Sorcerers' apartments, and shortly afterwards Harry, Hermione and Ron.
"What's going on?" Ron asked as soon as the door to the Common Room was closed.
All the girls were in dressing gowns, while the boys were in pajama pants and a shirt, or sometimes just the pants. Neither of them had taken much time to get changed into other clothes the most they had sensed the flaring of power.
Sonomi and Severus were the last to join the group, both in dressing robes.
"What happened?" Severus questioned.
It was past midnight, and someone waking all of them up with such flaring of power wasn't really what one would call usual. It was strange, actually that Albus hadn't gone to ask if anything was wrong yet…
The man heard Shaoran muttering something about Sakura, a dream and trouble, and it only confused him even more; particularly because he could see in his goddaughter's eyes that whatever Shaoran was talking about, it wasn't good.
"I saw them…" Sakura finally whispered as she recovered her wits. "Saw it. There's an attack, taking place on Azkaban, right now…"
"An attack on Azkaban?" Most didn't understand what that meant.
"Why would Voldemort care to attack Azkaban?" Long didn't get it.
Naoko's, and the Golden Trio's brow furrowed, they were missing something, they knew it, even if they had no idea what exactly.
"It's not just him." Sakura added, focusing more in her dream, her vision. "He has at least half a dozen DEs with him, the strongest still at his service and…dementors, so many of them, like flying shadows…"
The others were still trying to catch up with everything when suddenly something else happened unexpectedly.
"Sakura-chan!" Shaoran cried out worriedly.
And it was that her green eyes looked dull and empty, as they were fixed on nothing at all; she didn't reach to her husband's calls, or even the rest of her friends', but suddenly she began speaking, in a flat empty tone, words that put everyone present even more on alert.
"The insane cries of those long ago pushed behind bars, those that seem to have almost been forgotten, by those who refuse to revisit the horrors of the past; if released, they will only bring about even more grief and chaos than the first time around."
Sakura blinked as soon as it was over, noticing everyone's half-concerned, half-scared expressions. She knew she'd said something prophetic, it wasn't the first time it happened to her, though usually she retained some control…
"Oh Spirits!" Naoko cried out unexpectedly, her expression one of absolute horror.
And she wasn't the only one, because at the same time, the Golden Trio had finally realized the truth of what was going on:
"Voldemort is there to free his followers…" Harry stated soberly.
"We cannot allow that!" Hermione declared, one of the first to realize how bad such a thing could actually be.
"If he manages that…it would make last summer's battle be worth nothing." Ron added in a somber tone.
"We need to get there." Harry declared as he steeled himself for what was coming. "We need to stop this."
Everyone agreed.
In a matter of seconds all the teenagers were covered in the white robes and silver masks, then Sakura transported all of them to Azkaban, to stop Voldemort from achieving his goals, they just hoped to make it there in time…
"What just happened?" Sirius asked, looking around at the mostly empty Common Room.
"The teens have gone to try and stop the Dark Lord from getting most of his followers back." Severus deadpanned as he helped his wife to a sofa. "I thought it was obvious."
"Yes, that part was obvious." Sirius chose to ignore Severus's attitude and focus on what was important. "What I want to know is why it was them doing things instead of the Aurors, the Hit Wizards or…or anyone else really!"
"Because they know that if they want a job well done they need to do it themselves." Severus said in the same tone.
"They told you about those who are Supreme Sorcerers." Sonomi added, serenely. "And you know about that prophecy that was done in regards to Harry-kun. They take this kind of things as their duty. And then the others, like Hermy-chan, Ron-kun, even Naoko-chan…she will never let her friends fight alone…"
Sirius nodded grimly, he didn't like it, but it wasn't like he could try and stop his daughter, godson and their friends from doing things, they had been doing it for a long time already, and they were adults, it was their choice in the end… still, didn't mean he had to like it.
.-.
The group of nine teenagers appeared on the dark beach of Azkaban's west side, the farthest from where the action seemed to be taking place. Still, they instantly fell into defensive stances.
"Ok, so what's the plan?" Harry asked, looking at Eriol, Shaoran and Ron in turn.
"We need to get the innocents out of here first." Hermione suggested.
"I agree." Ron said, already making plans. "I think Sakura, and probably Shaoran, should head in the direction of the Aurors, use their magic to send them to safety, at least to the mainland, if possible even to the Ministry or Diagon Alley. Meanwhile, the rest of us should split in two teams to try and reach the Dementors and the DEs by both sides."
"I agree with his plan." Shaoran nodded. "I will be going with Sakura-chan."
"If I may suggest the teams." Eriol commented. "Maybe Ron-san, Tomoyo-chan and I should be one, Harry-san, Hermy-san, Naoko-san and Long-san the other one."
They all nodded, deciding that those teams would allow for a more-or-less equal force. So they all split and went their separate ways.
Most of the plan went off without a hitch. Sakura and Shaoran found the area where the guards stayed. Since the dementors defection two years before, those guards were Aurors, and while it was obvious that a few were dead already, those still inside the barracks were very much alive; apparently Voldemort had chosen to seal them inside their barracks, with anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards, the floo closed, hoping they would burn along with the building once the Dark Lord and his allies were gone. Sakura and Shaoran had no trouble slipping into the barracks, and then used the Cards to send all the guards directly to the Ministry Atrium. None of them so much as get the chance to ask the white-robed teens who they were or where they'd come from…
A fire had begun by then, fiendfyre, which meant that it couldn't be stopped by usual means, even magical ones, and while the Sorcerers' should be able to put it out, it still wouldn't be easy; so they chose to ignore the fire and focus on their actual mission there.
A horde of silver mist-like beings rushed against the dementors from both sides, keeping them away from the teens, who then focused more on the DEs, it was only thanks to their Sorcerer abilities that they were even able to duel against the dark wizards while still keeping their patroni going.
Eventually Sakura and Shaoran made their arrival, backing up the other teens. And that's when their plan was ruined.
Turns out that Voldemort was actually there, and not standing back like the teens had expected him to, like he always did, he was there and actually fought back, which almost immediately caused a duel to begin. And if that weren't bad enough, some of the worst DEs had been freed from their cells already. The Lestranges, the Dolohovs, the Carrows, and some others, it was absolute mayhem…
Minutes later (though it felt like hours), Ron looked around him, at all the vicious duels taking place everywhere. Many DEs had fallen already, and yet many more continued fighting as well, some even seemed to have the ability for wandless magic, or even some sorcerer-talent, which only made things all the more complicated for the teenagers.
Harry and Hermione were fighting against a trio of DEs who had made the mistake of trying to attack Hermione when her back was turned. Naoko and Long were with them, though they were mostly focusing on keeping the dementors at bay. Sakura, Shaoran, Tomoyo and Eriol were focusing on making sure no more DEs could be released; and somehow, Ron himself had ended up by himself in the middle of everything.
It wasn't easy for the redhead, while being part-sorcerer meant he could hold his patronus and duel opponents at the same time, the fact that he was only half-sorcerer meant it actually was an effort for him to keep enough attention and power on both things at the same time (though it was still more than most wizards would be capable of). He knew he wouldn't last much longer in such conditions, and yet the last thing he wanted was to call one of his friends for help, distract them and end up being the reason one of them was hurt, or worse. So instead he kept holding on…
A moment came when Ron was dueling two DEs to the best of his abilities, spell-chains leaving his wand at a speed only comparable to that used by Harry himself, his patronus would disappear at any moment, something the redhead became aware of as the coldness around him kept getting worse by the second; and then he was barely aware of yet another presence approaching him from behind.
Ron could only take a deep breath and brace himself for the pain he knew would be coming, except it never did. Instead he suddenly became aware of yet another presence, one who had the back against his and was battling whoever had been about to attack the redhead from behind just a second before.
Still not quite aware of what was going on, Ron felt a nudge on his side, which prompted the teen to move sideways and at an angle slightly, just enough for him and his mysterious savior to both be facing the opponents the redhead had been dueling until then, while still allowing them to keep an eye out for anyone else who might attack. Then the newcomer began helping him fight the DEs.
It took several seconds for the opponents to fall, but when they finally did Ron became aware of several things in quick succession: first, the DE the newcomer had helped him with had fallen to many small wounds, similar to slashes and stabs, wounds that usually would be blamed on a sword, and yet had somehow been fired with a wand; second, the newcomer was actually a woman, a young woman…and third, he knew exactly who she was:
"Rose Midori…" He said, shocked at her unexpected presence.
"Hello Iron Knight." The woman called him. "Hope you don't mind my stepping in, I saw the fights going on and decided you could use a hand."
"Thank you." Ron bowed his head in gratefulness, he really didn't want to think about what may have happened if she hadn't interfered.
They both sensed the new opponent at the same time, spinning around at once and shooting spells instantly.
Ron, not knowing who it might be, and not wanting to overexert himself with particularly powerful spells chose a simple Stupefy, though before the enemy could fall a wound appeared on his side, which began bleeding instantly. Through the corner of his eye the redhead could see the pose the Rose had taken as she shot from her wand some unknown spell that made it look as if she'd stabbed the enemy…the young man wasn't sure why, but he found that dueling pose very familiar…
"Ron!/Ron-san!"
The insistent calling of the redhead's name from different voices and directions broke the strange atmosphere that seemed to have settled over the pair in that moment.
"I have to go." Rose Midori declared as she turned to leave.
"Wait…" Ron wasn't even sure why, but some instinct deep inside him pushed him to hold the hooded woman's wrist, stopping her. "I…"
Rose Midori watched him through the shadow of her hood, she knew he wasn't even sure what he was doing; just following an instinct, one she too could feel but had grown used to resisting, as much as the one that kept trying to pull her to her sister.
Midori moved back to the redhead, so fast he could only stand there, immobile, she went close enough to him that the shadow of her hood covered his own face, though that still didn't allow him to make out anything from her face, only a light in her eyes, a color he couldn't name but he knew he would always remember…and then, a touch, lightest than that of a feather, or the petal of a flower, on the very corner of his mouth. Ron was so shocked he instantly let go of the hooded young woman, yet he didn't move from his spot.
"Until we meet again, my Knight…" She moved to whisper into his ear.
An instant later she was gone.