Disclaimer: You guys know the drill.

Mayhem El-Diablo: OMG. I'm going to be the person that writes that. I've got the perfect way to start it out: Voldie yelling at Lucius about a guitar. Heheh. I need another humorfic.

bookgoddess15: Chapter 130 is the vision itself. Next mentioned in 131 and then again in 134. I don't believe I mentioned it again…wait, I did. But you just wanted the original mention, right?

Author's Note

Someone (I don't recall who) mentioned Harry's height in a review and something about wanting to know how tall he was. If I remember correctly according to their figuring he was 7 foot something. I think.

Anyway, here's my mental measuring of how tall some of the main characters are:

Severus & Harry: 6'6 (I've mentioned that they're the same height, remember…)

Etienne: 6'4

Niamh: 5'6

Sirius: 6'3

Remus: 6'0

Ron: 6'4

Mika: 6'1

Thomas: 5'11

Amanda: 5'1

Neville: 5'7

Hermione: 5'4

Rebecca: 5'5

Ginny: 5'5

Not Myself by Saerry Snape

Chapter 179 – A Little Backstabbing Mixed With Some Plotting Gives You…

"What's all this?" asked Severus as he entered what he thought was an empty classroom. Instead he found himself facing the sight of two scarred tables shoved together to make one with his son sitting at the head of said table.

"I'm calling it a meeting," replied Harry as he rose to his feet, hands splayed on the table. "Brutus and Cassis here are calling it a council of war."

"Who?" asked Draco with a confused look on his face.

Mika frowned and said, "Ask Mione. I assume its Muggle."

"Julius Caesar," said Severus. "Roman emperor assassinated by his rivals."

Draco blinked and turned his head to stare at Harry.

"Are you implying that we're planning to kill you?"

Harry groaned and slapped a hand over his face, letting it slide down to fall unto the table again. He then laughed and looked at his father as he said, "Et tu, Brute."

"And the hilarity ensues," quipped Severus with a small smile. "Now what's this about a council of war?"

"Before we answer, may I note that, no, Drake, I don't expect either of you to kill me."

"Then why…?"

"Have Mione explain it."

"Explain what?" asked Hermione as she entered the classroom with Ginny, Neville, and Amanda in tow.

"Explain Muggle history to Drake here sometime," said Harry. "Where's Tom, Ron, and Mischa?"

"Finding Mischa," replied Ginny.

"Try the stained glass window near the statue of Cliodne," said Draco.

Mika frowned and glowered at the blonde before he growled, "How would you know where to find my sister?"

"Calm down, Davids. We're friends. That's all."

"That had better be all."

Draco snorted at that and smirked.

"You really think I'd cheat on the smartest witch in all of Hogwarts?" he asked.

"I'd hope not," said Hermione from the door, crossing her arms over her chest and glaring.

"Great. Now you've got my girlfriend pissed off at me, Davids."

"My pleasure, Malfoy."

"Shall I put you two into a private room?" asked Harry. When the two fell silent, he sighed and sank down into his chair, waving his hand at his friends and father. "C'mon, sit."

"Please answer my question," said Severus as he sat down in the chair to the right of his son's. "What's this little meeting about?"

Harry opened his mouth to speak but Mika beat him to it.

"We thought that since we know there's a battle coming, we should form some sort of plan."

Severus frowned and looked at his son. "Was this your idea?"

"Nope. Brutus and Cassis stabbed me in the back."

"How so?"

"We planned it and said that it was his idea," muttered Draco.

Hermione sighed as Ginny giggled and said, "How Slytherin of you both."

"Indeed," said Severus blandly. "Now who else is to be included in this impromptu war council?"

"Us, Professor Daladier, and Jar," replied Harry.

Draco piped, "What about Professor Figg? She's an Auror, isn't she? Could she help?"

"A band of hooligans attempting to plan a battle against a Dark Wizard the Ministry doesn't believe in?" said Severus in exasperation. "She'd be thrown out of the Aurors if she did that. I'll send her an owl and ask."

"Wait a minute," said Ginny. "You just said…"

"I said she'd be thrown out of the Aurors if she were discovered, Miss Weasley." Severus smirked as he added, "I said nothing about her not helping us."'

"She would?" said Amanda.

"And no doubt bring along a few helping hands. I assume we are doing this behind Albus' back?"

"You would be correct in that assumption, brother," said Etienne as he entered the room, his dark robes sweeping behind him. "As far as I know, he knows nothing of this little council of ours."

"Would he stop us if he did know?" asked Hermione, looking from the blonde man to the dark-haired one that sat by Harry's side.

Etienne smiled grimly as Severus replied, "I doubt it. Despite appearances, he does not know everything that goes on in this castle." The dark man gave a knowing smirk as he said this, causing his half-brother and the young men and women to think that he knew this from experience.

That is good to know, commented Jardin as he suddenly dived into the room – by going straight through the ceiling. Flaring his dark wings, he landed on his bond mate's shoulder before dropping something clutched in his talons into the wizard's hand.

"Accursed fowl!" spat Hedwig venomously, turning her head about to flick her tongue at the raven. "I shall not be lugged about like the mice you eat!"

I can lug you about any way I so wish, snipped Jardin.

"Can it, you two," said Harry, speaking in Parseltongue.

"Tell him to cease his lugging of me about!" hissed Hedwig. "I dislike being treated as though I am food for his ravenous chicks!"

They are neither chicks nor ravenous, foul serpent.

Harry groaned and snapped harshly in the language of snakes, "Both of you, shut up! We've got enough to worry about without the two of you bickering constantly."

Hedwig flicked out her tongue, black eyes glittering with something akin to shame. She then ducked her head and rubbed it against Harry's knuckles, her scales scraping roughly against the sword scars he'd gained from his stay on the Elven plan.

"Very sorry. I just so dislike being carried about by him."

"I know, Hed. Jar?"

What? You wish me to apologize to the serpent? Feh! I am immortal. What need do I have for apologizing to a serpent who shall only live for a few more years?

"Because its polite?" said Harry aloud, pinching the bridge of his nose to relieve the headache he was developing.

"What's polite?" as Ron as he entered the room. Thomas and Mischa trailed along behind him, the silver-haired girl talking animatedly with the older boy.

"Jardin apologizing to Hedwig for him hauling her about," replied Ginny, smiling at her brother. The older boy winced slightly as he was reminded of his little sister's Parselmouth abilities then chuckled.

"Oh, is that all?" he asked as he sank into the empty chair beside hers, his lanky frame causing him to sprawl rather than sit.

Ginny just laughed then looked towards Harry as Thomas as Mischa settled into chairs. The dark-haired wizard's gaze flicked over his friends and family then to the five empty chairs remaining at their makeshift table.

"Now what?" asked Draco, looking at the faces about him.

Severus coughed and replied, "I believe I know two…annoyances…who could be a help to us. They will be arriving in a matter of moments to report to Albus."

Harry smiled slightly at his father's words.

"Sirius and Remus, you mean."

"Yes, my…ahem, dear cousin and Lupin."

"Cousin?" said Etienne, his dark eyes flickering with curiosity.

"Sirius Black," explained Severus. "His aunt was my mother."

"Ah. Who shall go invite them to join our little party?"

I shall do the deed, said Jardin, hopping from Harry's shoulder to the back of his chair. Since I can get about much more…stealthily than the lot of you.

"Oh, stop bragging and go on," said Harry, waving a hand at the bird.

Humphf. Keep up that attitude and I'll go find another bond mate.

Harry laughed brashly at that, earning a glare from the raven before he launched himself off the back of the chair and vanished through the wall. Etienne frowned after the bird and muttered, "An amazing ability, that…"

"Indeed," said Severus blandly. He rose to his feet a moment later, saying, "Since our feathered fiend is off doing his duty, I shall go contact Rebecca."

He crossed the room and was out the door before anyone could say anything and Harry shook his head slightly. Shrugging, he picked up a random conversation with Draco, who sat on his right. Mika and Ginny threw themselves into the conversation as Hermione attempted to strike up one with Etienne.

They didn't have to occupy themselves long before Severus returned, a smile twisted the corner of his lips. As he took his seat again, he said, "She'll be here in a few moments. With someone she said could be…valuable."

Harry arched an eyebrow at that then grinned when Jardin came through the wall and landed on the back of his chair. A moment later, Remus entered the room in his patched robes with a large, shaggy black dog at his heels.

"An impromptu war council?" said in werewolf in a voice filled with humor as he took a seat. "The Ministry would be squirming if it knew."

"The Ministry squirms if it knows anything," snipped Sirius as he stretched, his neck popping loudly. Wincing at the noise, he moaned, "Great Merlin, a month as a dog does nothing for my back."

"Nor for your mouth," said Severus snidely.

Sirius childishly stuck out his tongue at his cousin as he sank into the chair beside Remus'. He then noticed Etienne and frowned at the blonde wizard.

"Do I know you?"

"I think not," said Etienne coldly. "Although I do know you, Mr. Black. From what I have heard of you, it seems that the crime you were sent to Azkaban for was not committed by yourself."

Sirius scowled, the expression vaguely reminiscent of his cousin's, and growled, "So what?"

"So I simply find it odd that your Ministry would lock up an innocent man."

Beside his half-brother Severus stilled. "They knew?" he asked in a soft voice.

Etienne nodded solemnly.

"Oh, yes. A young aide I met whilst she was on vacation in France gloated about it. Such a smug little minx she was…"

" 'Was?' " repeated Hermione, arching one eyebrow.

"I was kind enough to relieve her of the information," said Etienne with a smile that was slightly cruel. "One Obliviate and she knew no more. After all, having such information spattered about by a loose-mouthed witch would not be good."

"I thought that would be a good thing," said Ginny in confusion.

Harry frowned as he said, "Not really, Gin. If she went about telling people that Sirius was really innocent, the Ministry would fall apart."

"And such a shame that would be," said Etienne smugly. "You really need to get a new Minister of Magic. The current one is so…uncouth."

"I couldn't agree more, Mister Daladier," said a new voice from the door. "Or should I call you Snape?"

Every head in the room turned towards the blonde woman who now stood in the doorway. Her amber eyes roved over all of them before flicking back to Etienne.

"Well?" said Rebecca Figg, crossing her navy clad arms over her chest.

"Such a beautiful lady as yourself may call me anything you wish," said Etienne with a smile. His comment earned a scowl from his half-brother and a hearty cuff on the shoulder. "Damnit!"

"We're not here to flirt," growled Severus. He then looked at Rebecca and said, "Come in, Rebecca. Who exactly did you manage to drag over?"

Rebecca gave her sometime lover a warm smile and replied, "Hello, Severus. I brought along the one Auror I thought I could trust. Nymph, get in here."

The blonde Auror moved aside so another woman in the navy robes of an Auror could squeeze in the doorway. She was thinner than Rebecca and about an inch shorter as well as years younger than the woman. Her bright orange hair was short and spiked up, its brightness alternated with deep burgundy stripes that offset her maroon eyes.

"Hi!" she said cheerily. "Nymphadora Tonks, at your service. Call me Tonks."

"Pleased to meet you," said Harry, eying her odd hair. He looked sideways at his father before he added, "Well, if you could close the door and take your seats, I suppose we could get started."

Rebecca nodded and gave Tonks a gentle shove into the room before she closed the door and warded it. As she took one of the last remaining seats, Harry's green eyes strayed to the empty chair at the end of the table. The chair where Niamh should have been sitting.

His father's hand brushed over his and Harry gave the man a small smile before he cleared his throat and began to explain things to the people in front of him.

Three weeks later, the small group had several battle plans sketched out. Rebecca and Tonks had talked to Aurors they thought they could trust – Aurors who knew something was going on in the wizarding world – and had informed them of the little groups plans.

Hermione had charmed several Galleons with Severus' help and one had been given to each Auror, including Rebecca and Tonks. Harry had the first one, which was sort of the Master coin. Whenever the battle started, he would break his coin in half. This would cause the other coins to beep, alerting their owners that the attack had begun.

Currently Harry was lounging in his chair, spinning the coin in his nimble fingers. His emerald eyes were focused on the far wall but as Hermione was in his line of sight, she felt as though he were staring at her and not the wall.

Frowning, she walked over to him from where she'd been standing beside Ron, who was explaining a strategy he had cooked up to Rebecca. Waving her hands in front of his face, she said, "Harry? Earth to Harry, come in Harry."

"Wha?" mumbled the wizard, looking up in surprise. The coin fell from his suddenly limp fingers but his other hand (which lay on his lap) caught it instinctively. "Oh…Herm. What is it?"

"Nothing," said Hermione. She then sank down into the chair generally occupied by Draco and asked, "Are you okay?"

"People can't seem to stop asking me that question."

"Well it's a good question."

Harry chuckled then said, "No, I'm not okay. Probably won't be until after this hell is over."

Hermione smiled and laid her slim hand over his, squeezing his fingers briefly.

"I'm sure you will be," she said warmly. "I'm sure we'll all be okay after this is all over."

Harry smiled at that.

"Ah. Ever the optimist."

"That's my job. Official Hogwarts Know-It-All and General Optimist, at your service."

Her quip caused Harry to laugh, a genuine laugh that he hadn't uttered in the past three weeks.

"Thanks, Herm," he said, turned his hand over so he could squeeze her fingers. Of course, his hand practically engulfed hers so he was really squeezing her whole hand.

"Always ready to help," said Hermione with a smile. She then noticed that Harry's faint smile had faded and there was worry in his eyes. "Harry?"

"Something's up," he muttered. He lifted a hand to his forehead and rubbed the old scar that had earned him his fame.

"Vol…" began Hermione only to be interrupted as the door of the room burst open and Niamh stumbled in.

The girl's dark hair was in more disarray than usual and she had a white hospital blanket clutched about her, it being the only shield between her and everything else besides the thin gown she wore. Her blue eyes, opaque as a mirror, stared blankly at the room before she sucked in a breath.

Staggering forward on bare feet, she whimpered, "Harry…"

The dark-haired wizard was up in an instant, launching himself across the room to pull the girl into his arms. She threw her arms about his waist, shuddering against him.

"He's coming," she whispered, causing chills to run down the spine of all who were in the room. Which wasn't many as only Ron, Rebecca, Hermione, and Neville were there. "He's coming…"

Harry's shoulders stiffened and he looked down at the girl in his arms for a long moment before he lifted his head to look at those in the room. His emerald eyes glittered dangerously as he growled, "Get ready."

"We're going to war."

Author's Note

I shall note that in the NM universe, there is no Order of the Phoenix. At least not in THIS version of NM. Tonks, however, I decided to drag into the conflict because she's just a neat character. At least in my opinion.

I suddenly noticed that I have failed to mention Hedwig recently. So here's our friendly garden snake. As well as an exclamation courtesy of me watching faaaaar too much Inu Yasha. 20 points and a cookie to anyone who catches it!

Oh, yes, and DUN DUN DUUUUN!!!!! Next chapter, the battle begins! And in response to one reviewer whose name I cannot recall at 1 AM, it's a rather exciting battle with a good ending to old VoldieMoldie. At least in my opinion it is. A seriously pissed off Harry battling Voldemort is always fun.

And, yes, dear readers, I am going to kill and injure a few characters. Not saying who.

Ruin the surprise. ;)