Wow! I can't believe so many people guessed, and most of them were really close to what I had in mind. Yikes! Am I getting predictable?? Hehe!
THANKS TO: Ian1, bookcrazy77, PheonixPadfoot89,Shdurrani, Anna may, kateydidnt, Natasha, Rainwaters, Kalorna Enera and Xirleb70!
Wow! Thanks for the great response!!
10 points to Rainwaters, Natasha, Shdurrani and PheonixPadfoot89.
And special thanks to Kateydidnt for that bit of information on Harry's b-day. This means that the ShadowKeepers (the war section) is set in 2005. So yup, it fits! (5 years Azkaban, 5 years shadowkeepers, and 15years old when he entered Azkaban. Therefore, he is 25 now…)
Oh well, there's some background info.
On with the story!!
The Shadow KeepersBy Skyong1 (Previously known just as Skysong)
Chapter 8: Changes
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'Thoughts'[Letters/writing]
^^S.K sign Language^^
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Harry raised an eyebrow.
"She disappeared one night, we thought she was captured by the Death Eaters, but we received no ransom or offer to free her in exchange for our surrender. So we thought they killed her, we gave her a large funeral and everything …then one day, a month or so afterwards, we were attacked by Voldemont, and she was standing there beside him, in perfect health, smirking at us." Molly sobbed.
They were suddenly interrupted by a loud siren echoing through the fort grounds.
Dumbledore's head burst into existence in the fireplace, "Hurry! We're under siege!!"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Harry and Nyoka sprang into action, throwing on their cloak, and inconspicuously checking their weapons.
Daggyr and Venom placed their sunglasses on and covered their faces with their deep hoods.
^^We need to talk tonight!^^ he gestured behind Charlie's back.
^^Yes, we'll talk tonight.^^
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About 180 dark army soldiers, 20 Death archers and 20 Death Eaters lined themselves solemnly outside, two giants crouched behind the lines, towering about all present. A large banner flapped overhead, scarred with the Dark Mark.
100 soldiers from the F.H.A.F (Fort Hogwarts Army Forces) and 20 or so B.A.F.U s(Broomsticks Air force units) hovered overhead.
A low throbbing horn croaked out a mournful cry.
The two sides crashed with a cry and a clash of metal, the bang of bullets and the hissing sound of spewed blood.
Daggyr crouched in a tree, magnetically supporting himself on one of the higher branches.
Venom crouched beside him, surveying the bloodshed before them.
"Are you any good with a sword?" she whispered, gently standing up without disturbing the branch. She swung to a higher branch, used her Earth skills to urge a vine to creep over and swung silently to a nearby tree, closed to behind enemy lines.
"No, not really, my forte is with my Daggers, but if I had too, I guess…although I don't have a proper sword, I should get one though…" Daggyr wrinkled his nose as the distance between the trees and leapt lightly from his branch, using the shadows of the trees as cover, he expertly sneaked his way across, and then joined Venom in the tree.
A death archer strayed too close to their tree, and managed to have a poison filled dart imbedded in his throat.
"Yes, same here, although I prefer darts and poisons," Venom pointed in the direction of the giants.
^^No more talking, giants have superb hearing…^^ Venom finished the last sign with a tap on her ear.
^^Let's go!^^
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"Now!" hissed Daggyr, he jumped from his hiding place in a tree, just behind the commanding officers of the D.E. force, his sword made from polished silver inlaid with bronze and wrapped with black leather, carving the air into swirling patterns.
Venom joined him a split second later, her thinner sword sung as it sliced to the air. She backed up so she was back to back with Daggyr.
"Fools! Stop them!" A shot was fired at them, Daggyr waved his free hand, the bullet clattered to the grass.
One of the soldiers charged at them with his battle axe raised, steel clashed against steel, followed by a shattering noise.
"Oh shit! Oi! You broke my sword!" Daggyr hissed.
He growled angrily and pointed accusingly at the soldier, he burst into flame, screaming.
"Cover your nose and mouth!" Venom reached into her pocket, pulling out what seemed to be a glowing mess of coils. She slammed it into the ground, throwing her hand over her mouth and nose, clenching her eyes shut. A huge explosion and spray of blue-ish liquid showered within a 500metre radius of them. Dust particles flew everywhere blinding everyone for a moment before settling, revealing about 200 dark army soldiers, archers and 'elite' Death Eaters sprawled in an undignified mess before them.
"Fascinating."
"Indeed."
A loud roar erupted behind them as the giants re-gained consciousness.
"Do you have anything that will work on them?" Daggyr said offhandedly.
"Who me?" Venom gave a lopsided grin, she handed over a small red vial, "knockout poison, concentrated and distilled. I've been working on it since I was 7 or so. Supposedly knocks out all creatures…never tested it though."
"Alright then, test subject number 1, coming right up!"
From some hidden pocket, Venom pulled out two darts, she dipped each in the vial, the once white feather that ended the dart turning the same red colour as the poison. The giants meanwhile had peered at each other drunkenly and started groping around for their clubs. Slowly a look of triumph appeared on their faces, or at least as triumphant a giant can look as it looked more like a mix between a wince and a choke.
Two darts flew up and imbedded themselves exactly in each giant's throat.
"Huh?" The taller one with the resemblance of a beard mumbled, two consecutive thuds followed.
"Damn! Your one died before mine!" Daggyr grumbled.
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The two Shadowkeepers stalked their way back towards the fort, occasionally stabbing at the unconscious corpses as they strolled through the carnage.
"We should take one for information," Daggyr poked at a nearby bundle, silver band around his arm marked him as the commander general of the army. With his sword, he peeled his mask off.
"Well, well, well, long time no see."
The lump peered up at him groggily.
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That evening Daggyr pounced on Venom, and dragged her quickly into a nearby classroom. Venom quickly rolled off Daggyr's reach, her dirk pressed to his throat.
"What the!"
"The talk?"
"No need to pounce!"
"Still…now wait a sec." Static crackling sputtered within the old classroom.
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Albus Dumbledore gathered all senior members into his office.
"Come on, gather around! I have been suspicious about erm…Harry and his girlfriend…"
"It's Nyoka., and apparently she's 'just a friend'!" Sirius piped up, the rest of the council snorted.
"Anyways, I want to see where his loyalties lie, he asked if he could borrow a spare private classroom to discuss matters with Nyoka,…and I've taken the, erm…liberty to install a certain device to overhear…"
"How do you know if they're in the room or not?"
"Ahh, you see, only the other day, I was clearing out Harry's old possessions, and I found this map, which I asked Sirius how to use…" Dumbledore waved the maurderers map about cheerily. "Very useful I might add! Now, aha! He's entering the room with Nyoka, don't worry, this connection is only one way. He won't find out, it's a very high technology muggle device. He won't check!"
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Venom gave a snort.
"You mean, you turned their bugging system inside out so we could listen to what they say, and can relay "selected information" back to them! Never check for bugs indeed!!"
Daggyr chuckled amusedly.
"How about the map thing? You told me about it, but I thought it couldn't be enchanted…"
"It can't, last night I went in and swapped the real map for a modified one that looks almost identical. Thing is that, I can control what the map shows." He smirked, "stick with the act!"
He tapped his glasses and the flickering neon lights sprung to life, darting across the screen like cars on a motorway.
^^G.C controls the bug system now?^^ Venom's hands spoke.
^^Yes, ok…they think they turned on their bug, let the games begin!^^
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Silently, Harry stalked over to the door, he purposely opened it and shut it was a small slam. Nyoka, getting the idea grinned, silently darted over, and purposely walked across the room, making sure her footsteps were monitored by the "bug". She bit a lip trying not to laugh.
"So, Harry…what do you think?"
Her hands fluttered as she spoke. ^^What are going to do next?^^
" I don't know, everything has changed, I don't know if I could trust them." Harry gave a smirk, lacing his statement with just a tinge of doubt.
^^Well, actually, I was thinking of going back to the headquarters to stock up…that evil twerp broke my sword^^ Harry put on a pout.
"Really? They seem ok to me, I trust them." She dramatically gagged. ^^Hehe! Ok, I need to stock up as well. I was thinking we should go and look around "Darkmont", gain information and such.^^
"I suppose…erm, Nyoka, err…will you go out with me?" Harry's face remained blank.
"Yeah! Of course, not much to go out with though."
^^This is just an act!^^ Harry added hastily.
^^Yes! Definitely^^ Nyoka added hastily after that.
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Sirius gave a choke of laughter, "He-he asked her out on a date!"
"What's so funny about that?" Ron wondered.
"It's just soo…funny!!" Everyone stared at him blankly.
"Well, let us go back to his conversation. Obviously, he doesn't trust us completely, that's understandable, but at least they're still on our side right?" Dumbledore said.
"Well, yes, and we need to work on regaining their trust." Mcgonagall agreed.
"Now, more on other matters, we are running low on supplies, so Serverus? Can you brew some more of that fertilizing potion? The crops have suffered a great deal in this harsh weather. Can you give it to Mr. Longbottom here, he can distribute it at his next Agriculture Fort Hogwarts Organization meeting next week. Mr. Weasley? Can you check on the Fort walls and defense system, I don't know how Harry and Nyoka entered without us noticing, but double check just in case…Erm, Serverus? Can you go and get your potions ready as soon as possible?"
Serverus Snape sighed, 'More work' he thought, absentmindedly rubbing his blue shaped tattoo at the back of his neck, usually hidden under his long greasy hair.
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A/N: Well? Cliffie? Muhaha!! Blue tattoo? Go back and check through previous chapters and you might learn more about our ickle potions master! He has an interesting part in this fic. I will state no more. *cackles evilly*
Until next time!