Time of Change
Chapter 6: Disclosure
The scenery passed by quickly. Shadows and flickers of light blinked through the dirty windows of the minibus. Nobody bothered to speak all during the drive. Harry opened his eyes just as the minibus steered into the back alley of an old warehouse. Chauncy slipped from his seat. He rested his weight lightly on his right leg before he hobble-hopped over to a large door. The vehicle idled on as he jerked open the docking door's release clamp. The ramp scraped its way loudly into place banging against the ground. He pulled the minibus into the garage. He reeled the ramp and door back into place and locked it carefully. The group piled out of the vehicle with the Creevey brothers in the lead. Neville hung back with Padma and Pavarti. The sisters pretended to wait on him while he tied his shoes.
"Colloportus." Neville whispered. A spell shot from inside his sleeve hitting the door. It locked itself leaving no chance that anyone would walk in on them. The Patil twins took the time to also set up some simple but powerful wards before following the others into the next room. It had dingy wooden floors with a bright orange rug and was littered with odd bits of furniture. The group had taken the opportunity to lounge on the assorted chairs and sofas.
After gathering them into the room the older man finally decided to speak. "Now boys I need to know what's going on."
"Alright uncle." Colin said as he stopped to take a deep breath. "There is something you have to know first or everything I tell you will be a load of bollix. MAGIC is real." Chauncy raised his eyebrow giving the boy an unconvinced look. 'So it comes to this does it?' Colin thought as he pulled out his wand flicking it in the direction of a nearby table. "Wingardium Leviosa!" The table rose into the air upending a whiskey bottle sending it crashing to the floor.
His uncle jumped back, "Well bugger me! I need a drink." The man lay back into a nearby chair. A beer soared into his hand from a room to his left. Chauncy looked over to see a girl holding her wand aloft. Susan continued by flicking her wand at the shattered glass.
"Reparo." The shattered glass repaired itself and flew back onto the table.
"You're all magical then." They all nodded even though they knew it wasn't a question. He was just trying to reaffirm his mental place in the world and coming to terms with the truth.
"Hem Hem!" Colin cleared his throat getting his uncle's attention. "We're not the only ones either. We are part of a much bigger world that lives apart from the other half...the non-magical half…the Muggle half. Our problems started a long time ago by a man named Tom Riddle who has taken to calling himself Lord Voldemort. He wants control of the world. He sees Muggles and those who are Muggle born as abominations. He wants to destroy them…us all and rule and enslave the rest." Colin continued on for three hours telling his uncle about the murders of the first war and the events leading up to Voldemort's first defeat. When Colin would become tired others would pick up the story. They finally came to the point where they became trapped in the Room of Requirement.
The members of the DA didn't know if they should continue on. They were saved from having to as Harry stared him in the eyes and images began to swarm back and forth between the two men's minds. The man grabbed his forehead. He took a long swig of his stout and stood up.
"Harry, was it? Can I speak with you for a moment in the next room?" He motioned for Harry to follow him into and even more cluttered looking room. This room appeared to be an office. Chauncy sat on the edge of a desk as Harry closed the door. Chauncy waited as he watched Harry draw his wand for the first time and swirl it around the room.
"We may talk now." Harry said as he leaned against the door.
"What did you do earlier?" The man asked as he rubbed his temples.
"The name of it wouldn't really mean anything. It's a form of memory sharing."
"So, you know what I am then."
"Yes. And you know what we've been through and what we will eventually do."
"Why?"
"Because no one else will and no one else can. I believe old Grisham said it better."
"SI VIS PACEM, PARABELLEM." They both said at the same time. "If you want peace prepare for war." (a/n: Fifty points will be awarded to whatever house figures out what movie that's from.)
"I will help you do it. I ask only one thing."
"You don't have anything to worry about they can take care of themselves." Harry undid the charms and stepped out of the room. Luna, I need you to have a look at Mr. Kerning's leg. She nodded. Harry walked over to talk with the others only to have her grab his arm and point him to a nearby couch.
"Rest or I'll have you hex you to sleep." He smiled and went over to the couch.
'I've pushed them all so much and continue to do so. Am I doing the right thing? Is there another way?' He continued to ask himself. That odd voice in the back of his head would have none of it. 'Voldemort is pushing for this day by day. You have to do something drastic. They will follow you.' 'But why should they follow me? I'll get them all killed.' 'Haven't we been through this before.'
In the darkness cowers a short fat rat-like man. He is one in a see of many black cloaked figures. At their head a darkened figure sits upon a throne of bones the skin of a basilisk draped across it in hideous contrast to stark white of bleached bones. Twin pinholes of blazing hellfire look down upon the ones before him. At the feet of the dark figure is a large snake.
"Lucius." The snake like voice utters from beneath the cowl of the robe. Another man comes forward bowing and kissing the hem of the dark one's robes. "Why have you not found Potter and his insipid band yet?"
"They continue to elude not only our trackers but those of the Ministry as well." Lucius at that moment knew that he had misspoken.
"I do not want to hear excuses. Do you understand?"
"Yes milord."
"I don't think any of you do." He said a wand appeared in his hand and the fire in his eyes grew bright casting a red glow through the room. None of the multitude could move. "Orbus Crucius." A small amber ball of light shot into the middle of the group and burst sending the Cruciatus Curse ripping through them like lightening through a chain. They were flayed by the pain for several minutes before it stopped. "Now you do. I want Potter either dead, by my side, or insane and soulless in Azkaban. DO YOU HEAR ME!"
"YES MILORD!" They all said before apparating away.
Back at Hogwarts, Remus was going nuts. He'd been there for quite some time without hearing anything from or about Harry. The Ministry types that had stayed behind to help Madam Pince inventory the library and the Aurors were not happy. Which made Remus exceedingly happy but that happiness didn't last long because Harry was gone and he didn't know where. Tonks threw Remus a glare for the 2000th time yet he still continued to pace. Fudge had her suspended from active duty until Harry and the others were found.
Fudge said they could all stand trial together. When Remus was told this Hagrid (how did Hagrid become the calm one?) had to stop him from throwing the Minister and Dawlish out of the window. Since then he had been pacing the floor of the room Dumbledore had issued them.
A strange shadow moved from the wall and dropped a blank sheet of parchment onto the table and then with a silent pop, well silent to non-werewolf ears, the being disappeared.
"What is…?" Tonks began but was quickly silenced by the expression on Remus' face.
He cast a quick silencing and imperturbable charm before snatching up the parchment. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good." His eyes quickly scanned it before saying, "Deletrius incendio!" The paper glowed blue then it burst into flames. "We've gotta go now. I think I know of a way to find Harry. Let's go."
(a/n: I'll wait for a bit of input before continuing. I'd like to know if I'm off me tit or what. How's my writing? Need review.)