A raven flew among the disorientated crowd and made a wide circle in the great hall. The panicked students fell silent by a startling caw. The bird flew to Professor Dursley where it landed patiently in front of his plate. Harry took the letter carefully and looked at the name on the envelope. Harry's face hardened when he read his name. There were only a hand full of owls who would should be able to find him. He looked at the escaping raven and opened the letter. Susan and Fleur walked over to him when he read.

I have something that belongs to you. If you want her back, you will follow my directions in the next letter.

Cyan

Harry looked at the letter and saw a small drop of blood on the parchment. He performed sight and saw the blood had the Alice's magic signature. Susan and Fleur read the letter in shock. Harry swore when he did not sense Alice in the castle. He closed his eyes and felt the contortions in his aura while he changed it. A few moments passed where Harry could not find Alice's familiar aura on the isles. Susan gave back the letter to Harry who was in between panic and anger. Harry looked over to the headmaster who looked at Harry gravely. "Albus can you ensure security for the castle? I'll have Tonks send a few Aurors." Albus nodded, his face still ashen.

Chapter 15 Front Lines

Harry looked over to Susan and Fleur and nodded. The two grimaced at the same time and gripped the dinning table for support before nodding back to him. Harry closed his eyes and concentrated to Legilimens a message to almost a dozen specific people.

Raiders, In London, the Weasley clan had gathered for morning breakfast with their father. It was his birthday and it had always been hard for him since Bill and Percy died. While he felt like he could not do anything for them when they had died, they were still the sons most like him. Ron, Fred, George, Alicia and Angelina felt a sudden reeling dizziness before they realized what it was. They stopped eating and began to get ready while hearing the rest of the message. "it's a good think she's at work. Don't tell Hermione anything or she will kill me!" Ron shouted back to his father then he quickly apparated to his mansion. "Sorry dad, Harry calls!" Called Alicia who handed him the kids to watch over and pecked him on the cheek. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny only nodded while gripping Mr. Weasley's shoulder. The twins flooed to their factory while their wife and girlfriend left to their flat after another round of apologies. It was a harsh birthday for him indeed. Bill was killed while on the same team as his other two sons that had just left by floo moments before.

We are mobilizing now. Cho was laying in bed with a large strong arm draped around her. She sighed contentedly, happy they were both able to have a day off. Her from training Aurors and her husband who was always busy working in his lab. She was lucky she was being held when she received the message or she would have fallen out of bed. She only gave a loud surprised shriek. Neville woke up next to her and kissed her before getting out of bed and getting dressed. She huffed at Harry's timing and quickly dressed too.

Bakan prison in 5 minutes. Severus Snape was quietly eating he breakfast with his wife and Tonks. He held his daughter Gwen who was tucked into his arm and she babbled at him still unable to form words, when he looked at her. He smiled at his daughter and Tonks and Severus's wife Samantha smiled at each other. For all of Severus's manor, he was very loving to his family. Tonks and Severus suddenly lost their smile and looked at each other. Severus looked at his wife sadly. "I am sorry love, but we are being summoned." Tonks apparated immediately knowing where she had to go before Harry even told her and would take a lot of talking into to allow it to happen. Severus handed Gwen back to his wife and kissed them both. "I love you." Severus apparated to his lab to get ready.

Tonks you have 3 to get us access. Assign Aurors to guard Hogwarts, there has been an abduction. Luna, Katie and Erika happened to be together that day in Diagon Alley eating breakfast and discussing the future of the Quibbler and the update on Erika's boyfriend Frank who still had not asked her to marry him. They all stopped in mid-sentence and smiled to each other at the sudden message. It had been a while since they had properly done any dark wizard fighting. They sobered at the news and quickly went to their own flats to prepare for a rough day.

Harry closed off the connection and look to Fleur and Susan who already left to get ready. Harry heard the students murmur about what just happened and Albus was giving out orders to several staff members to look through the castle for any students that are missing and to have prefects escort the student body to their common rooms.

Harry started walking from the staff dinning table to the Hall's doors. His class ran to him before he got farther than the first house table. "Professor!"

Harry quickly explained what happened. "I want all to go to your house common rooms like the rest of the school." Harry gestured to students who were slowly organizing themselves before leaving the hall. Harry started walking again.

"Where you going?" Pam called after him. She was close to tears with worry for Alice.

Professor Dursley felt his body change. He fell two inches in height, brown hair shortened and turned black, James clothes changed shape to fit the new frame, black robes and a large empty hood laid at the nape of his neck. The professor's eyes turned vibrant green and a lightning bolt shaped scar appeared on his forehead. Harry Potter called over his shoulder in his normal voice. "I am getting my daughter back!"

There was a collected gasp from the students who saw the change. When Harry left the hall the whole school was silent from shock before one second year Ravenclaw broke it with. "I KNEW IT!"

o-

Harry walked outside and waited a minute before Susan and Fleur showed up in black robes with long narrow sleeves. They all nodded. Tonks are we cleared yet?

When ever you are ready.

Harry felt his body radiate magic. Fleur and Susan resisted gasping when the silver energy engulfed them. The two women opened their eyes and stood in the middle of large room where seven aurors trained their wands on them. Harry knew Bankan prison was a high level security prison. It replaced Azkaban, and ran separately from the Ministry. The Goblins, helped control the Trolls, dragons, Nymph's who guard the prison. Harry sighed knowing that these steps were necessary. Harry and the girls raised their hands. Each was administered a weak veritserum. "Who are you and your business here."

Harry turned to the Auror, "I am Harry Potter, and am here to question Cyan."

The two girls replied in turn. "I am Susan Bones, and am here to accompany Harry Potter in questioning."

"I am Fleur Delacour, and am here to accompany Harry Potter in questioning Cyan."

The Auror nodded and they were allowed in. Tonks smiled when they entered. "Your late for your own meeting Harry."

Harry nodded and saw the rest of the Raiders there. Harry started explaining the situation. "After a large scale sleeping spell that was cast on Hogwarts grounds, I received a letter saying Cyan has my daughter. And would instruct me in later letters on what she wants." They all nodded. "I am taking my squad with me for questioning. I guess you can all get reacquainted." There were a few chuckles. Tonks, Susan, Severus and Harry started walking towards the outer gates.

The cells were made of concrete with steel doors charmed to hold against the strongest curse breakers. Seven long halls fanned out like spokes of a wheel. The prison sat on a island that was recently made in the past century. It was held quietly by the ministry for a future safe house for the Ministers. When Azkaban prison was destroyed, the island was converted into a prison where only certain Aurors and Minstry workers knowing its location besides the Goblins. The fifth door on the right held the prisoner Harry was looking for. Tonks opened it quickly. Harry entered into the cell followed by his team. When the door opened to the cell, Cyan was magically chained and dragged to the far wall where she was unable to move. Harry walked up to the older woman who had been smiling at him since Harry walked in. "Hello, you do know why I am here?"

The woman smiled, "I have a few ideas." She chuckled. "I guess a few plans have been moved into place and been carried out." She looked at Harry Potter defiantly.

Harry kept his anger in check and looked at the woman carefully and something in his head clicked. Harry looked at her then turned to Severus, "Would you bring Forge in here?" Snape nodded. Harry's gaze bore into the woman prisoner. Susan and Tonks watched patiently. When the twins entered the room Harry asked. "Can you to cast the revalate spell? I don't think I could do it without killing her." His voice was steady but everyone flinched knowing that he was serious.

Fred and George Weasley smiled and both waved their wands in unison then cried in one voice. "Revalate!" The spell hit Cyan who felt the sudden forced shift her body. She was suddenly twenty years younger and looked only a few years older than Harry did. Her gray hair looked natural instead of making her look old.

"Metamorphmagus." Harry said dispassionately. He walked closer to the woman and whispered into her ear. "Tell us where is Cyan hiding." His whisper came out more as a hiss.

The woman was still reeling from the forced transformation. She looked at him and smiled saying, "No." Her vision flickered and she noticed a sword in her captors' hand.

Harry raised the sword to her belly. "Where is she hiding?" The woman shook her head. The sword pierced her stomach. She wanted to scream and found she couldn't. She looked over to Harry Potter who stared back coldly. "Where?" He hissed again. She shook her head. The woman felt the mental attack against her and repelled it. "So you are skilled Occlumens…" He pushed the sword into her stomach another inch. "And able to work around veritserum…" She coughed and snarled at him. "The more pain I give the weaker your mind gets. Do your self a favor and tell me… where?" She shook her head unable to speak. Harry turned the sword in her stomach.

Harry felt her mind break and sifted through memories. The most prominent one was the night of the raid.

Several men and women stood at the table in a room where Harry had fought this fake Cyan. They were talking and the castle shook. The real Cyan looked over to man on her left. "Is that Aurors?" she asked calmly.

The man held out a spy orb and saw the destroyed wall and two men and a silver snake. "No, its Potter." his voice held a note of surprise. He looked over to the others and they looked thoughtful.

"We are not ready to face him Cyan." said a woman on the far side. She looked to the three people on her left and they nodded in agreement.

Cyan nodded knowing that this was something they had not planned on. She looked over to a person on her right and asked "How about the knives? Could we try to implement that now?"

A woman shook her head. "We are not ready for that either Cyan. This is just bad timing." She stood up and motioned for three people next to her to stand. "We will clear out the research from the castle." and they filed out quickly.

Cyan nodded and turned back to the rest of the group. "Our army is not going to last long against them and I don't want to expose you all until we are ready. We are not now. Gather everything you can and get out of here. Kali." Cyan turned to the woman Harry recognized as the metamorphmagus. The woman nodded and changed to look like Cyan herself. "I am counting on you. You can buy us the time we need. Just don't die, I plan on getting you out as soon as we are ready. If Potter captures you and see's you before I do, our plans are already set in motion. You'll be seeing us soon after that." Cyan gave Kali a hug before she apparated away. Kali scowled as she barked commands for several men to enter the room and ask what is going on.

Harry pulled away from the memory, angry that he never caught any of this before. Cyan had been counting on this. Harry didn't know if she was counting on this woman named Kali to give him the information, or if she even knew it. He could only do what he was doing now and hope what ever was being planned would not hurt Alice. Harry glared at the chained woman and barked. "WHERE?"

She coughed and said weakly, "In the mouth of the Louire, south of the flats of the bay. Near the Shoals of Clavis." Harry searched her mind one final time, now that it was broken. He saw the cliffs break away to an illusioned castle that must have been centuries old. The castle itself faced the ocean several hundred meters above the water imbedded into the cliff face. Harry broke the link.

Harry heard himself say, "Clavis City." Harry turned around and the woman gasped again when she saw that there was no sword or wound on her stomach. She vaguely realized it was an illusion. Her body felt no more pain but her mind was still reeling from the effects she believed she felt. Harry walked out of the room with the rest of the group following. The twins looked up at Harry in surprise, but the rest of Harry's team knew what was at stake.

The rest of the raiders stood in the waiting room. Harry nodded to his squad leaders, Cho, Neville and Luna. He looked to the rest of the Raiders who smiled, glad to see him back. "I am sorry that I had to see most of you again under these circumstances. A dark witch named Cyan was never captured in the December raid. We caught a woman who was a metamorphmagus and acted as a decoy. We need to get to Clavis City then you can all apparate to me when I get to the next destination." Harry paused and cast a silencing spell around the room. "Everyone," he said more personally. He ran his hand through his hair saying, "I am going to go through a ritual in a few days. If it goes wrong, which it most likely will, it will seal away most of my magic, if not all of it completely. I can't allow anyone else to threaten my family just as I get one." There was a stunned silence at this. Susan grasped his hand. He squeezed back. Harry lost the helpless look in his face. He turned to his Raiders and said, "That is why I need to make an example of this mission. I want to make it clear that anyone who crosses my path will not survive the encounter. I want to make sure that Cyan and her dark wizards are wiped out." He said with a hard edge to his voice.

The Raiders shouted "Yes Sir!" They instantly apparated to Clavis, the magical refugee city.

-o-

"So what are we supposed to do?" Owen heard the fifth year but didn't answer. He was too occupied with how Alice could have been taken right inside the school. The class arrived at the portrait. The door opened was already opened and Owen was surprised anyone was in here since no one seemed to know of that room. "Mat?"

The first year Ravenclaw sat on the desk in much the same way their professor did. He waved for Owen to come over. Owen dragged Pam and Bruce with him. Mat leaned forward when the three came close to him. "Hey Owen, I thought you might come down here." Mat fidgeted unsure how to exactly say what he needed to say. Finally he said, "I think you guys should go after Alice."

Pam shouted, "What?" The whole class was still at the door not entering yet. They looked at her before she smiled sheepishly. She leaned in closely and asked quietly, "What do you mean we should go after her? Professor Potter is already gone. He should bring her back by the end of the day."

Mat shook his head. "Owen, you know how I have been trying to get a handle on my um- skills?" Owen nodded, "This is another thing. I think you should really go find her." Owen saw the look in his face and nodded. The rest of the group entered the class room and Owen explained with Mat about Mathews skills.

"Are we seriously planning on going to find Alice?" Asked a seventh year Slytherin.

"We learned how to handle ourselves, I say we go and get Alice back." Said Owen calmly. Bruce smacked Owen's back in approval.

Pam scowled at her boyfriend. "Boys calm down. Everyone, if we could find him, so can Professor Potter. I think we would just get in the way. Besides how are we supposed to get to her when we find her?"

Every single finger pointed to Angela Kee.

"Me? Oh I don't think so. Guys! This is breaking twenty three school rules." There were a few exasperated sighs. Angela relented and said, "Gelus might be able to take us if we know where to go, but he has trouble with more than five people you all know that."

"So four of us go and that leaves a spot for Alice to bring back when we find her." Bruce said confidently. A silver bear appeared next to him. Bruce looked to his eight foot summon, "I need you to find Alice." The bear growled but stood on his hind legs and didn't move.

"So who's going to go?" asked Pam satisfied that Kunlun was searching for Alice. Angela's protests were drowned out when the other began to argue who would go. Finally it was decided that both Pam and Bruce would go since next to Angela were the next best students in the class. Owen raised hell when he wasn't immediately elected to go.

"Guys, I may not be able to summon but I am still the best student here using conditions. Not to mention as a Slytherin I know more offensive spells than any of except may you guys." He pointed to the four other Slytherins in the class. There were a few scowls but acknowledgements at that. It was one of the big mysteries about Alice and him. They were the best at controlling their conditions and aura's but were having the hardest time summoning. There was finally a vote to see if Owen would go, and it went to the majority. A few others wished they could go, but it felt more right with this group go as they were closest to Alice. Tom, a fifth year Griffindor walked up to the group. "We'll cover for you all."

"Owen I need to remind you something." Owen walked back to Matt. Matt leaned closer to the older Slytherin. "I think I am getting better at understanding these poems, remember…

The new menagerie opens the claims

Choices made are not the same

True to selves the children bind

Only they can save the Mime

It can only be you guys. I don't know what the mime part is, but I know its Alice. Good luck"

Owen nodded and walked up to his group. "Did you find her?"

The bear nodded, "Far from here, to the west. A different land. Large near a beach. I can show you if you have a map." Bruce produced a map from one of the books left in the class room. He showed the coast of France and the bear pointed to the mouth of a long river.

Angela felt the claws of her falcon appear on her head. Gelus looked at the map before nodding. "Lets get going Owen." said Angela. Pam and Bruce had placed their hands on Angela's right shoulder. Owen walked behind her and reached for her left. The falcon took off from her perch on Angela's head and flew in a wide arc into Angela's chest. Angela Kee took in several deep breathes before saying, "Here we go." Silver light enveloped the group in a wide sphere and they were gone.

o-

Water was breaking against the cliff face in loud gushes. On the top of one of these cliffs stood four students looking towards the castle below them. They knew that it should be invisible and wasn't for only one reason. "Sight." Pam, Bruce, Angela and Owen looked at each other. Pam heard the thud of her turtle taking a step behind her.

It looked up to her expectantly. "Well?" It said in a sotto voice.

Pam smiled, "We need to integrate if we want to get any farther."

"You could at least say please." Pam just petted him and smiled. He snorted but walked into his summoner. Pam's eyes changed from normal black to radiant violet. She closed her eyes before allowing a penetrating light cast over the four teens. They all felt the light pass through them and relaxed slightly when they could no longer see each other. The four said in unison, "Sensation" There was a few nervous laughs. They all relaxed since they could still see each other with this spell. Each one of them gave a tight nodded, satisfied they could still see each other.

"Lets get going." Said Owen confidently. He knelt to the edge of the cliff and started climbing down.

0

Harry stood next to the castle wall touching the wards that repelled him. He didn't want anyone else to apparate to him until he was confident that he had the warning wards broken down. It was five minutes of careful manipulations until Harry was able to successfully make a large enough hole that a car could pass through. Raiders, apparate to me. He legillimens back to the group. Eleven distinct pops sounded behind him. The spot where he chose to walk through the wards was covered by a few trees and the cliff that the castle was carved into. There were only a handful of ways anyone could enter the castle and by foot was the hardest. Harry was glad when he was able to find such a close area for his Raiders to infiltrate.

The team leaders looked over their teams. Cho checked to make sure Ron, Katie were ready. They nodded carefully. Katie looked nervous being the most out of practice on in Cho's group. Neville smiled from Cho to his own group. Forge and Fleur moved to the side to allow Luna's group to signal Harry that they were ready. Luna nodded to her own group Erika had checked their gear already and Angelina and Alicia nodded. Harry smiled at that particular group. It always struck him as odd how the youngest of that particular group was able to lead older teammates who had an obvious penchant for leadership. Harry nodded to Severus, Tonks and Susan. Harry waved for Luna's team first. Erika moved in first casting strong illusion spells hiding both their presence from guards and wards alike. Luna's team moved to point with Harry and his team close behind.

It took only one turn for the teams to force a split. Everyone cast a disillusionment charm on themselves and split in four different directions.

Cho lead her team to the left most corridor. She signaled her team to follow the walls and stopped only once to by pass a another ward. Cho worked quickly remembering Harry's Orders when they reached the refugee city Clavis.

"Teams three and four will have flank. Luna, your team has point. Infiltration and rescue is our priority. Use your rings to signal the others if you find Alice, or Cyan. Don't use your rings for any other communication." Harry turned to Cho. "I am counting on your team to make sure Alice is out before we move on with the attack. Once she is safe and away from here, have your team join us." He handed out port keys in the shape of ball point pens. "If it gets too hard for your position use the portkey to get out and regroup before returning back. If you are wounded and are unable to continue use the port key and get out." Harry looked over to Luna's group. Luna nodded looking at Angelina. Angelina had the sense to blush remembering her own times where she ignored her injuries on a particularly hard mission and almost died of blood loss.

"I want no casualties on this mission, when in doubt, get out." He said it harshly but he silently pleaded with him self that Alice would not suffer from his orders. Cho watched the expressions that ran through his face. Cho looked to Susan and nodded, understanding that they both thought of Alice as a true daughter not as just a student, or friend. Cho looked to Neville to see if he caught the emotions raging just behind Harry's smooth features. He gave a weak smile nodding in acknowledgment.

Harry gave the rest of his orders. Cho listened and noted them but her thoughts were on how much Harry and Susan had at stake on this mission.

Cho collapsed the wards with out raising an alarm and moved ahead. Katie quickly covered their tracks and Ron scanned the area constantly to see if anyone was ahead of the group. The place so far was clear. Cho's instincts didn't like it.

0

"S-so you are Cyan, the one who wanted to kill me right?" The woman smiled. She gave the girl some room and motioned for the others to take a seat on the couches they conjured. They conjured Alice a chair and motioned for her to sit.

"Killing you wasn't our first option," she said problematically. "But with you being so adamant in your refusal in being conditioned, only your fortune was of value. Its interesting that you would have picked our next target as your guardian." There was a few chuckles at that.

"Cyan, don't tease the girl. Potter should have cracked Kali's mind by now. Should we prepare the ritual knives for you?" Cyan nodded and stood up. The others followed suit and banished their seats into non-existence.

Cyan looked to a woman on her left and said lightly, "Jocelyn, I trust you will keep your personal feelings to yourself and not hurt the girl." The woman sneered but nodded. The rest of the group left and three more men walked in and flanked Jocelyn. Alice didn't move and waited for everyone to leave or come in. Several faces were openly relaxed. It caught her by surprise how casual these people were. It was more like they were friends on an outing rather than a dark lord trying to gain power.

"Looks like its just us now kiddo." Jocelyn smiled and looked at Alice carefully. "You do look so much like your parents. Nothing like that toad Nan." it was barely a whisper but Alice's heart skipped a beat.

0

Harry moved his team and was slowly becoming more restless. The castle was empty. There were signs that people lived there, but not a soul was around. He performed sight regularly and felt people in the castle, but the castle was far older than Hogwarts and the magic radiating from it was flooding his senses. He felt someone using legilimens to speak to him. Eh let them into his mind and heard Cho's voice say, We are in the west wing on the fifth floor. No luck. We are heading for the center of the castle. Looks like there is a single large hall that extends from the first floor to the fifth.

Harry nodded for his team to move ahead. All teams head for the center hall. Stay on your own floor. If we meet resistance drawn them away so we may continue searching for Alice. Harry picked up speed and caught up to his team. They stood next to the double doors with their wands drawn. Harry nodded at their look. This was the first door they came across that was not opened. He heard Neville, Cho and Luna all say there were in position on the third, fifth and fourth floors. Harry opened his door and walked in confident his own magical barriers would give him time to dodge a second volley of spells if the first destroyed his shield.

The expansive hall was lined with high tiers form the other floors and a glass ceiling that was the only source of light in the center of the hall perched a black raven whom Harry recognized as the one that delivered the first letter. It flew to him and handed him a second. He looked at the bird before it left through an open pane from the ceiling. Harry opened the letter.

Welcome to my castle, I hope that you will find out hospitality to your satisfaction. You are earlier than I have expected and will send one of my men to greet you in a moment. Do not do anything rash. It will have very serious repercussions.

Harry repressed an urge to snarl at the letter and handed the letter to Susan who read it quickly. Harry looked around and legillimens to his squad leaders. are you all in position? There was a collective yes. Harry tried again to use sensation and sight and could only make out shades of his squad who stood behind doors on several floors above them.

A tall man entered the room a few moments later. He stopped a few meters away from his side and waved for Harry to walk over.

Harry greeted the smiling man in his late thirties. The man wore red robes with black trim. He stood in front of a giant fireplace that was meant to heat the entire hall. He drew his wand when he saw Harry walk towards him. The man raised his hand to stop Harry who did so. "Mr. Potter." The man looked around the groups that were split on different levels and wands trained on him. He repressed a grin when he added "and friends." He took a few steps forward and Harry's group flanked him their wands still on him but let the man speak. "You are expected, I am to take you to Cyan." He looked over to Harry's friends. "Alone." the leaders of the other groups looked to him and he nodded. Something in the wording of how this man talked about Cyan was wrong. He did not address her as master, or even lord. It was a more familiar tone. "Your friends may stay here and wait." The man caught the quick looks between groups and noted the leaders. He had never seen or heard form the other raider teams before. He knew no one has. Cyan was only lucky knowing of Potter's teams' existence from a fool who is long dead.

The man turned and walked out a door next to the fireplace and Harry followed.

0

"My dad will come and get me." Alice finally said. She was tired of the silence. She did not want to speak but when it seemed that the woman Jocelyn was perfectly happy just staring at the small captive, the girl needed to break away from the tension she was feeling.

Jocelyn smiled and looked at her watch. "We are counting on it." She nodded to one of the men who flanked her. He stood up and left the room. She then turned back to Alice. "We are planning on killing you. We just have to wait for your dear old daddy to come." She smiled. "It didn't take you long to latch on to someone when the opportunity presented it self did it?"

Alice kept her anger in check and did not say a word. Jocelyn laughed lightly. "It is alright, your parents were as fickle as you are."

"They were not fickle."

"Hit a nerve have we? You of course would barely remember them. You were only four months old." Jocelyn looked to the wall behind Alice and said in a far away voice. "It is not like you knew who they really were."

"My parents were good people who fought Voldemort." Spat out Alice. She found all fear she had, leave her in the fight to defend her parents whom she knew were good people.

"The child speaks of what she doesn't understand. Just as arrogant as your parents aren't you. Strong wizards always did destroy things that were in their way. Your parents were no exception." Alice was about to argue when Jocelyn pulled her wand on the girl and stared at her coldly. "You know nothing girl."

Alice swallowed back the retort but muttered under her breath. "I know dad isn't like that."

"Potter?" asked one of the men who stood next to Jocelyn. He turned to his friend next to him and they both laughed.

"What's so funny?" asked Alice who felt tears of frustration in her eyes.

"You don't know, and I doubt many other than a few ministry members would. But your dear old 'daddy' isn't exactly innocent of killing those who were in their way."

Alice shook her head not wanting to hear. She told her self out loud. "It was war he had no choice."

There was another round of laughter that Jocelyn joined in. She said in a quiet voice, "Killing Death Eaters isn't a massacre girl. That was war. No," she moved her seat next to Alice and looked directly into the girls eyes saying with a smile, "A massacre is something where a lot of innocent lives were lost. Girl have you ever heard of the refugees of Clavis?"

Alice closed her eyes and forced herself to not listen to the words this woman spat out even as they echoed through her mind.

0

Owen led the group through several corridors that were all empty. The group had agreed to have Owen lead since he could feel the farthest with his sensation. He stopped and looked around. The other three had decided not to cast any spells to conserve their energy. Even with as much practice they all had, sensation for long periods of time could be draining if someone wasn't careful. "Everyone who is in the castle is heading for the center. Seems like there is a meeting there. No one is on the second floor. We can look from there." The three other teens nodded and started to head out.

Owen was so concentrated on his condition to feel the presence of people he almost walked into a ward before Angela grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back. He looked at it surprised he could have missed it since it was like a wall in the middle of the hall. He grinned sheepishly and Angela began looking for ways around it. The group was finally able to work around it by splitting a corner of the hall and making the ward think it was part of the ward's barrier. The four were able to shimmy through the small triangle opening on the floor and moved on. At the end of the hall there were double door painted white. The four looked at each other and Pam cancelled the spell that had made them invisible. All four canceled their sight spells and blinked a few times to get their regular eye sight back. They all nodded at each other and Owen said quietly, "I'll go look, you all stay here." They nodded in agreement since he was the smallest of the group.

When he snuck in Pam looked over to the other two. "Takes command quickly doesn't he?" the three smiled but had their wands drawn either facing the double doors or the hall behind them.

0

Harry reached the door that exited the great hall and stopped in mid step he didn't look around but knew with fear, anger and pride that there were four very young students that were watching him from a mostly safe position. He thought he should talk to them and in a fraction of a second decided to legillimens to Angela Kee. Don't make any noise its just your professor. Angela was farthest into the hall and knew well enough not to make any noise. She stifled a deep inward breath and nodded. I am not even going to start on to why you are here. Angela didn't answer back only brought images and memories of the boy she just meet and some sort of prewritten prophecy.

Harry had already exited the hall and was following the man down a wide corridor before they started going up a flight of stairs. He legillimens back to Angela, Alright I get it don't panic. Just concentrate on what you want to say. Its not that much harder from Occlumency but I doubt many people have used this aspect of legillimency in such a way.

Angela was quiet the whole time. Pam and Bruce didn't notice the ranging emotions playing on her face while she went from shock, understanding and concentration. Sorry professor, but they convinced me. Angela ducted her head.

Don't worry about it. Alice isn't anywhere above the first floor. Look for an exit to a lower floor. Harry smiled. He was glad the man ahead of him didn't see the own shock Harry had on his own face. He was a terrible liar. Good luck.

Angela nodded and suddenly felt the presence of more people in the hall. Professor there are more people here!

Harry smiled at their surprise. It became apparent as soon as he opened the letter that these people wanted to separate him from his Raiders. Don't worry, they will be fine. Get your group out of there. You won't do much good saving Alice if you are all injured.

Angela nodded and got Owen's attention. Owen was worried about the people who were just entering the hall behind the four groups. They were all disillusioned and none of the men and women seemed to have noticed them.

Owen walked low back to the door and asked, "What are we going to do?" he nodded to the people walked above and below them.

Angela answered before anyone else. "We go find Alice." The three others looked at her surprised she sounded so confident. She smiled and said, "I was just speaking with Professor Potter, he used some weird version of Legillimency. He said that we need to find Alice and he knows that she isn't anywhere above the first floor." They all nodded and hurried quietly to the first floor not wanting to think how much trouble they will be in when they get out, and started looking for a door that would lead them to a lower level.

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The doors closed behind Harry with a thud. Susan looked around to the groups above her and they nodded raising their hands to their mouths. "Any suggestions?" asked Susan. There was a silence and she nodded. "We wait then." Said Susan with finality.

As soon as she lowered her arm, her group dodged a barrage of spells. She raised her wand while moving towards the wall for cover and cast several shielding charms on her team. Severus and Tonks started their offenses. It gave Susan time to point her wand to the wall. She shouted a word that sounded more like a grunt and caused a crack in the wall that spread into a wide circle. She swung her wand around her body and the circle pulled itself from the wall as a solid cylinder block of stone and directed the flying mass towards her attackers. Her team side stepped the stone from behind them. The attackers jumped out of the way and the stone crashed into the floor shattering. The attackers blocked the rock fragments and all of them narrowly missed hexes that Tonks and Severus threw at them. The red robed man closest to them fired a spell of smoke that enveloped Susan's team. She quickly had them regroup and then move in separate directions to cover the most ground inside the blue cloud. Susan knew that these attackers were here to kill her and her friends. She did not need to look around to know the others were busy with their on attackers. She saw several shadows near her and hid inside the gas to make sure they were not her friends before she started to fight them.

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Cho looked down to Susan from the fifth floor and nodded when Susan lowered her hand. Cho turned in time to see four figures attack her team. She grabbed Katie and Ron and pulled them with her over the balcony edge. She lowered her wand to the ground several floors below them and screamed, "FLUVIUS!" a solid pillar of water erupted from her wand. Katie turned her head to see the balcony long enough to shout out a shielding charm directly over the team. Ron raised his wand to the attackers above them and shouted several hexes against the floor below the red robed men before it gave out from under the attackers and they began falling as well. When Cho cut off the water spell, she shouted in a firmer voice. "Impedimenta!" The spell made the water pillar stop from flowing to the ground and her team splashed into the slow moving water and landed on their feet in time to see that their attackers cast ropes and from their flailing positions and were able to swing the length of the hall to a halt on the first floor facing their direction.

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Neville nodded to Susan when she finally lowered her hand. He saw the spell fly towards her and turned in time to shout out. "Over now!" His team jumped from the fourth floor just missing the attack from behind them by several disillusioned wizards. Neville moved his hands into his cloak and pulled out two vials. One was thrown to the attackers and the other to the ground below them. "Extentis!" he pointed to the vial approaching the floor and vines burst out of the small glass container and met his team in mid air cushioning their fall. He looked up in time to see the second vial explode in vines and entangle their attackers. Fred, George and Fleur pointed their wands to the vines above them and screamed in unison. "Accio vines!" The ensnared attackers in red robes were pulled over the balcony and towards Neville's team. Two of the attackers cast cutting curses that shredded the vines and cast a transfiguring spell to the ground that shout up and changed into a steep to low slope like a slide. The attackers recovered quickly and Neville's team was on the offensive.

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Luna nodded to Susan and smiled. Her image flickered when a spell passed through the position where she was supposed to be. The attackers took in a gasp before Luna and her team disillusioned themselves and had their wands pointed at their attackers. Erika looked at the team and smiled. "Four on four. But I believe you are in check". The man in front smiled.

"We are only pawns." Suddenly a wand pressed against Erika's neck. She tilted her head slightly to see the same man smiling at her. "But even we can place a king in checkmate."

Luna smiled this time. The attackers staggered from becoming suddenly disorientated. Erika sighed in relief and looked over to her friends. They nodded. "What illusion did you trap them in Luna?" asked Angelina.

"I only had time for a cycle of our conversation." They all turned hearing the sound of glass breaking. The group spread out dodging hexes from one of the downed men. Luna looked over to the attackers hand. He broke a vile to snap himself out of the illusion. He quickly cancelled the spell on his friends then regrouped before resuming their attack.

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Susan saw two of her fellow teams on her the first floor and eyed the red robed woman's team that had been fighting hers. Everyone paused when Susan slashed her wand through the air causing a swift gust to separate the two sides. Susan heard the fighting above them and smiled that Luna's team was still alive if they were fighting. Both sides regrouped into their teams and had their wands pointed at each other. Susan said in a calm voice. "We have our orders." Her eyes turned solid blue and a silver spider came out from her back and moved over her shoulder still balanced on her back and arm. It clicked towards the enemy. "Wipe them out."

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Alright a chapter is up! Sorry for the week delay in posting this, but I am glad I did. This chapter is much better than what I have had written a week ago. With that said, I have been having increasingly more trouble in how I want to write these chapters. I am currently about half way done with the next chapter and am not sure if I will make next weeks deadline. There is roughly two or three more chapters in the story and hopefully I can keep to my weekly schedule for those next chapters. Just to let you know if there is not update next week, don't be too surprised. ; '

Soooo…. That means major spoiler alert for the next chapters preview! Be forewarned. If you read you might suffer for two weeks before the actual chapter is posted! Or if you just want not to spoil the surprise for next chapter don't read.

DarkHuntress: glad to hear you will stick with the story. I will try and keep my predictability to a minimum.

Tombadgerlock: Both Harry and Alice will be affected by Cyan and her group. How Alice and Harry take the information will interesting to write.

Necroblade: Thank you for your review.

zero-skillz: A lot of things that I have been writing have come to a point during the story where it was either deliberate or accident. I am pleased what I have written for this chapter and the set of for the following ones.

alen: I hope I put some fears of yours to rest with this chapter. Or at least it did not come off as cliché as other stories I have read. Thank you for the review. Its good to get a challenge to write a better story from a reviewer.

atlantis-rob: I am glad you enjoyed the chapter and am pleased about the dialogue as I have had trouble with that lately. I am confident that many of the characters are set up as well. Some people will have baggage that will be brought up but it be only to help their character.

phoenix catcher: I am glad for the review and will try to keep my story on a constant schedule as much as possible.

Preview

Chapter 16 Evanescent Truth

Alice knelt on the ground still crying. The silver beast at her side disappeared and a mask formed over her face. She stood up slowly while Jocelyn's team regrouped. Owen, Angela, Pam and Bruce struggled against the wall that they were pinned to. "Alice!" Alice ignored the calls of her name. The white mask floated over her face and three lines of black ink stood over where her eyes and mouth were. The eyes opened and black ink slid from the eyes in tears.

Jocelyn ordered her team, "Put her down! Now!" Four men and women behind her charged. Alice's mask opened its mouth in a circle before the mouth grew into jagged teeth. Alice reached out to the hexes that were fired at her. They all flew into her hands and pooled there like water. She tossed the substance aside where it fizzled out and one of the men charged the girl to physically restrain her only to be pinned to the ground right next to the girl.

"Ryan!" Shouted one of the other Blood Knights. The attackers stopped and only looked at each other when their friend Ryan was under their captors grasp. The teeth of the mask grew. There was a heavy breath from the girl before it changed while slowly willing the man on the ground to be crushed into the floor. He screamed in pain before it was released. The man named Ryan looked up tot eh girl who was impossibly trapped him and the mask looked down to him and a very young girls voice said, "Let's play."