J.K. Rowling owns Harry Potter. I'm only borrowing that wonderful world and making some of its members my own.

Chapter 13: Reinforcements

Harry could have easily outstripped the rest on his Firebolt, and have made it to Stepenwolv long before. But, as had happened at the end of the summer before his fourth year, he found himself surrounded by people on broomsticks. Tala was flying behind him, and whenever he glanced back he would catch her looking nervously over her shoulder. Tric and Genner were circling, while Sarven flew above him and Mitexi below. The others that had accompanied them were gliding about in wider circles, and a few had gone ahead on Tala's orders.

Sarven hadn't said anything since his confrontation with his stepfather. Harry wondered why he had such hatred for the man. But, he thought a moment later, it may perhaps be better if he didn't know. He noticed, though, that Sarven didn't allow his own troubles to interfere with his relations with those who loved him.

He was aware of how, the year before, annoyed with the unfairness of the world, he had lashed out at his friends. He knew now that the unfairness wasn't solely for him, and he strove to keep his attitude upbeat for the sake of those around him. After all, he wasn't sure of how much time he had left with them. It was difficult, but he had to try. He constantly struggled with his depression, and his fury, and the burden of destiny. But he figured he shouldn't take it out on his friends, again, he wasn't sure how much time he had left with them.

Right now, his temper was nearly at boiling point. Everywhere! They were everywhere, and if the ministry had gotten up off of their plush posteriors, they could have prevented a lot of it. Harry had allowed himself to begin to feel safe, and thus felt the loss of that comfort like a heavy blow.

If he had been able to, he could have used the tension-easing properties of performing some aerial acrobatics. But as he was surrounded, and Tala was obviously worried, he knew that would not be the best of ideas at this time. He instead went over various curses and hexes and protection spells in his head, thinking of the new ones he planned to teach the DA if Dumbledore gave him permission this year. He mumbled a few out loud, and Ron, who was in his line of sight, reached up and scratched his back vigorously as though at a stubborn insect bite.

Harry was startled for a moment, which had the effect of dissipating some of his bad mood. Then he shrugged, the itching spell couldn't possibly have hit Ron. Harry hadn't even had his wand anywhere near his hands, which were clasped on his broomstick. Merely coincidence.

Almost sooner than Harry had expected, they were spiraling down into the valley that contained Stepenwolv. There was a crowd of people, much unlike the last time, waiting near the launch. Several of them trotted forward, as the rest remained in small knots of conversation and argument, judging by the oft-raised voices.

"Was what they told us right, Tala?" A middle aged wizard in a jumper and corduroys asked hurriedly as they dismounted. His jumper was oddly twisted, as though he had been worrying it in his hands before they arrived.

Tala's face was tense, and when she spoke, her voice was tight. "Straighten your sweater, Carl." He frowned petulantly and she sighed. "Yes, Accalon Tristin saw me in the streets, he recognized Harry." She glared around at the group. "Why was I not informed that Tristin was out of prison?" She demanded.

Most raised their hands, showing they hadn't know, but her father, Hurst, walked forward, Moody, who had formed a friendship with the wizard, stumping along at his side, his clawed wooden foot sinking into the soft dirt at each step.

"I knew, but last I heard he was on the East coast." He told her smoothly.

"Still, you should have told me." She snapped. "Tristin is a dangerous man, he should not have gotten out at all!"

"May I ask," Hermione broke in hesitantly, "Who this man, 'Tristin' is?"

Tala turned on her, her mouth tight. She looked out over the girl's head, and Harry turned to see what she was looking at. What he saw was Sarven surrounded by a knot of his friends. None of them were talking, just lending him strength with their presence, Harry assumed.

"Tristin," she said finally, "murdered a woman almost ten years ago, and tried to kill another in the process. He claimed it was an accident, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary." Hermione turned pale.

She turned again, her mouth white with fury, and Lupin, who had been listening quietly, squeezed her arm. She covered his hand with her long, coppery fingers. "Which is why I didn't expect to see him. What abysmally foolish things have been going on since I left?" A couple of the residents quailed at the venom in her tone.

Her father shook his head and, throwing his arm around her shoulders, led her away, talking to her in a low, intense, voice. Harry strained to hear what he was saying, but from the paling of Tala's face he knew it could not be good. He caught the words, "...appeals...influence..." And "...new 'evidence'."

"Ridiculous!" Tala fumed. "Absolutely unconscionable!"

Lupin turned to Harry, his voice very quiet. "Harry, I need you to go to the house, all of you, and pack quickly." He included the others in his serious look. "We will need to be ready to leave at any moment."

Harry and the others nodded, and walked quickly off towards the house as Lupin trotted over to the group Tala was talking to, gesticulating emphatically, her face horribly angry.

"Who do you think she was?" Ron asked quietly of the open air. Harry saw Ginny look over her shoulder to where Mitexi was leaning on Sarven's shoulder, stroking his hand comfortingly.

"His wife, it seems." She said, her voice strained and cold. Harry understood her feelings completely. They all rather liked the very un-Snape-like Snape look-alike.

"I think you're right." Hermione agreed with her. "But it makes me wonder," Harry gave her a questioning glance. "Who Sarven is, exactly."

"If I thought it were possible, I'd say he were Snape's son." Harry said.

Ron let out a great guffaw of laughter. Hermione glared at him.

"This is hardly the time." The young witch said angrily, snatching her hand from his. "But I agree that is an unlikely possibility. However, the resemblance IS stunning. Perhaps a nephew, a cousin? Do you know if Snape has, had, any brothers or sisters?"

They all shrugged, showing their ignorance of the family, or pretty much anything else, of the secretive man. Ron's face was contorting, considering possibilities that were all pretty distasteful.

"Can you imagine what a sister of Snape would look like?" He protested. He did, though, have the good grace to flush when Hermione glared at him again.

"Watch it, Ron." She almost snarled, "You may be insulting Sarven's mother, who, might I remind you, may have been murdered."

Ron reddened even more, his face resembling very much a pomegranate, and became very interested in studying where he was setting his shoes on the path. "Sorry, 'Mione." He mumbled. She sniffed huffily, folding her arms across her chest.

Thankfully, they soon reached the house, and any further discussions were quelled as they retreated to their respective rooms to throw everything back into their duffel bags.

Soon, as Harry was piling the last of his books in the bag, and Ron was searching for his quill, they heard someone pounding up the stairs. It was Genner, they saw when they opened the door, his brown hair mussed and his face flushed. He looked excited and worried at the same time.

"All set?" He asked in a rushed voice. "Good, we'll gather the girls, then everyone to the launch." They slung their bags over their shoulders and followed him, getting the girls from their rooms, then trooping down the stairs.

"What's going on?" Ron asked, as they made their way out of the lopsided farm house and across the tangled lawns. By the carefully groomed launch it seemed like the entire population had gathered. Harry counted at least ten of them also carrying brooms, and noted that quite a few of those were with them when they made their fateful trip to Ambersville.

"We're going to fight." Genner said briefly, his face almost boyish with anticipation. "We're going to England to help you fight."

Harry blanched, more to worry about. "You shouldn't be so excited," He said, trying and failing to keep the harshness out of his voice. "It's dangerous. People die, people you care about." He stopped, and the concerned young man turned to face him. "People you love. Don't be excited about it, Genner. I know, I know it first-hand. It's horrible, it's terrifying!" His voice was rising with every statement. Genner made to interrupt, but Harry waved him to silence.

He fumbled in his pockets for the picture of the original Order. He pulled it out, thrusting it at Genner. "Look, look at this closely! Less than half of the people in this picture survived the last war." He poked the picture, intentionally hitting the picture of Pettigrew in the face. "My mother and father, my godfather." He ground his teeth, and looked down, willing the moisture to leave the corners of his eyes.

He took the picture back, staring at it for a moment before stowing it carefully in his pocket.

Genner was looking at him seriously, apparently unperturbed by Harry's outburst. "I apologize, Harry, if my eagerness offended you." He said quietly. "I am well aware of the dangers, and believe me, as an Auror, I am well-prepared."

Harry turned bright red in embarrassment. Genner noticed and clasped his upper arm gently, his hazel eyes compassionate. "Harry," Genner continued, "My eagerness could be translated like you thought, but what I am looking forward to is making a difference."

"I..." Harry started, his anger dissipating. Genner nodded and squeezed his arm.

"I'm used to these little outbursts," He said, some amusement returning to his face before he turned to lead them on. "Happens when you have Sarven as a best friend. Usually very even tempered, but get him mad..." A wry chuckle. "He can snap your head of in an instant."

Harry hung back, still embarrassed, and he looked down to see Ginny looking up at him sadly.

"I had no idea he was an Auror, either, Harry." She said quietly.

"Nor I, mate." Ron whispered over his shoulder. "Doesn't seem the type."

"Like Tonks is?" Hermione sniffed, and Harry stifled a chuckle at the thought of the accident prone metamorphmagus.

Still, despite their reassurances, Harry was relieved when they reached the rest of the group. They were looking serious and expectant, a few faces showing the eagerness that Genner had displayed.

Remus was standing towards the front conversing with Hurst and Mingan. "...More than I expected," He was saying.

Mingan shook his head. "We're not so cut off that we don't know what's going on in the world." He said ruminatively in his gravelly voice. "We have been concerned for a while, 'specially since my sister is over there where all the trouble is."

"We expect you to take good care of her." Hurst added.

"Tala can take care of herself, she probably wouldn't appreciate it if I tried to wrap her in cotton and stick her in a holding chest." Remus said with a wry look, "But I'll try."

"Stop ganging up on the young one, boys." Chepi said with a feral grin that looked so much like her grandson Tainn's. Reminded of the exuberant young man, Harry looked over and spotted him in the crowd, but he wasn't holding a broom.

Chepi noticed his glance. "He'll be coming along later, needs to speak with Tony, the Care of Magical Creatures professor, before he can leave."

Harry nodded understandingly. "What about the others? Don't they have jobs?"

Chepi gave a wry and somewhat grotesque grimace, twisting the scars that marked her face. "Most of them work for the Assembly. But they're not waiting for those old stiff shorts..."

"Hey, mom!" Mingan protested, and Harry recalled that he himself worked for the Assembly.

"...to get off their behinds and take action." Chepi continued, ignoring her son's dark looks. She turned to the group from England. "They will be accompanying you on the train and to the coast, where you will take to ship and they will be apparating to go to, well, the Ministry, I suppose."

She looked to Remus for confirmation and he shrugged. "We'll discuss it and decide exactly what we're going to do during our journey. We will stop to have a word with President Godfreight, but he...well, he reminds me of Dumbledore." He looked at the group to see Hermione nod in understanding. "So I believe he will be supportive."

Ginny was talking quietly with Hurst, and he saw her eyes widen as she nodded to something he said. He moved closer and Ginny and the older, very scarred wizard smiled at him.

"Young lady was asking about security precautions for the valley. Very practical." Ginny blushed warmly. Harry grinned at her, and she stuck her tongue out at him. "We have had emergency measures in place for quite some time. All that is left to do is for Ming and I to set them in place. He gestured with his tall staff as he spoke, and Harry eyed it.

He had wondered about the staff for a while, but had curbed his questions, remembering Mingan wielding one around in a fierce display the morning of Remus' wedding. He expressed his curiosity, and to his surprise, Hurst looked serious for a moment.

"Ah, my son and I are some of the last that follow the old way."

"Old way?" Hermione inquired, for she had wandered over to see what they were talking about.

"Staff mages." Hurst provided. "More power than wands, but most people don't like them because of the skill it requires to wield them with precision." He shrugged, "Someone has to keep the old traditions alive."

A bit later the group was called over to join those who were accompanying them back to England, and Mitexi made introductions all around.

"This is Valhalla." She introduced a willowy woman with skin the color of a warm chestnut. Her hair was blond and cut so short that it curled tightly against her head.

She nodded at them with a small smile, "My name is Valerie Hallaran, actually. Tric saw fit to re-name me."

Tric grinned. "Valhalla suits you better."

Mitexi continued introductions.

"These two are Harvan and Colum Posensky." She nodded at a pair of fraternal twins, one with light, silvery hair the other with dirty blond. Though they didn't look exactly alike, the young men's manners were very close. "Dresca Monders." The tall, Latino looking witch nodded. "Abrose Nomerson." A non-descript, rather short wizard with a goatee waved. "Jihn and Winston Zephyr." The married couple said hello and shook hands before resuming a conversation with another resident.

"And this is Umbers Godfry." She introduced the final member, a very tall, almost painfully slim young man with green-charmed hair and a stud in his eyebrow.

"Nice to meet you all," Harry said finally. He could not bring himself to say he was glad they were coming. More people to fill that picture for the future.

"It's very good to meet you, too, Harry, Ginny..." Harvan said.

"...Hermione, Ron." Colum continued. "Formally, that is."

Ron didn't look all that happy, the silver-haired Colum was the young werewolf who stole Hermione away for the last dance on the day of the wedding. Colum grinned at her, and the lanky red-head moved to take her hand. She gave him a withering look but allowed it.

"All right!" Hurst bellowed from a short distance away. "All those who are departing get off the ground."

Harry gave him an odd look, but obliged, making sure that Cord and Durry were secure on his wrist and shoulder. He saw Tainn, who didn't have his broom, swing up behind Valhalla.

Tala was saying goodbye to her father and mother, she kissed her brother on his cheek. Mingan said, "Be safe, Sis," and gave her a hug.

She had tears in her eyes when she mounted her broom and pulled up to hover beside Remus.

They all watched with some interest as Hurst and Mingan strode to the center of a cleared area, their robes flowing behind them and their mage staffs held tightly in hand. Harry thought the sight was rather impressive, as they turned to each other, and raised their staffs.

Chepi glanced over at them, and Harry could see a tear track down her scar-lined face. "Good luck, Harry." She whispered.

"Encasasealum Snow Valley!" Mingan and Hurst bellowed in unison, twisting and striking the ends of their long oaken and sequoia staffs against the ground. Harry, without thinking, pulled his Firebolt up and farther away from the ground, his eyes wide and staring.

From the point where their staffs had touched the verdant grass, a change was spreading across the ground. The green turned to brown, the forests melted away, leaving scrub. The houses became piles of stone and rotting wood. The river dried, and the stones became dusty and warm-looking in the sunlight. The air became warmer, hot, stifling.

Harry heard someone gasp behind him, but could not tear his eyes away. Even the rest of the residents, some waving, some calling out farewells, were melting into nothingness. Finally, even Hurst melted away, and only Mingan, a grim look on his face, remained standing in the dusty remains of the beautiful valley.

"What did they do?" Ron asked shrilly, as Valhalla descended and Tainn hopped off, raising a cloud of dust.

"A concealing spell." Mingan said, approaching them. He ran his hand over his glossy hair, looking tired. "It's all still here, but anyone who comes here, be they wishing ill or no, will see this." He gestured with his staff. "You can enter, but only if you know the charm to allow you to pass into it. You all do know it?" The group from the Facility nodded, but Harry thought they looked shaken.

"I will be Apparating to the Assembly in a few days." He continued. "I expect you will already have passed through." His hand gripped his staff in a white-knuckled grip as he leaned on it. "Dad's old railcar will be waiting for you. I won't be needing it for a while." He nodded to them all, "Good luck." Harry saw the muscles in his jaw ripple as his gaze moved from Tainn to Mitexi, but he said nothing more except to murmur a word under his breath. He vanished.

"Well!" Tainn said cheerfully. "See you on the other side!" He went wolf and bounded off into the mountains.

"Tony lives out there." Texi provided. "Well, shall we go?"

They all nodded, and took to the sky, leaving what was the Stepenwolv Research Facility behind them, heading out to whatever the next day held.

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