Chapter 7:

Death Eaters on the Prowl

Harry awoke early the next morning and glanced down at Hermione's naked body beside him, and sighed. He hadn't intended to let things go that far, but Hermione's grief had altered her perceptions just enough to let out that side of her, and he had went with it. Deciding that she would most likely be embarrassed when she awoke , Harry put on his clothes and left the Room of Requirement. He headed directly for the library, and went in and began pulling down Defense books and started reading. He did this until it was about time for breakfast, and then he went down to the Great Hall. Hermione was standing just inside the doors waiting for him. He smiled at her, but she didn't return the smile. She merely said, "Harry, we need to talk."

Harry nodded, and the two of them stepped outside of the Great Hall into a corridor. Neither of them noticed Ron hide in the corner to listen to them. Hermione sighed, "Harry, I don't know what came over me last night. We shouldn't have had sex."

Harry nodded, "I know, but sometimes hormones can be a little more to handle than we realize. Both of us know that last night was a mistake, and that the two of us should remain friends not lovers.."

Harry was interrupted at this point by Ron, who could contain himself no more, "Harry, you fucked Hermione. You bastard."

Ron charged at Harry and swung a wild punch. Harry ducked the punch and shoved Ron into the wall. He said calmly, "Ron, I suggest you go somewhere and cool off. I don't want to have to hurt you."

Ron screamed, "Like you could hurt me. You think you're so bloody awesome just because you're the fucking Boy-Who-Lived. I'm sick of you getting everything that you want. I'm going to kick your ass, and prove to everyone that you aren't as great as they think."

Harry sighed, "Great, we get to go through this again. Ron, grow up."

This merely seemed to infuriate Ron farther, because he drew his wand and sent a curse sailing towards Harry. Harry neatly stepped aside, and drew his own wand. Ron continued to hurl hexes and jinxes at Harry, who calmly dodged or blocked each one in turn with an almost bored expression on his face that seemed only to enrage Ron further. Hermione began pleading with him to stop attacking Harry, as the trio gained an audience of students. Finally, Professor McGonagall came along to see what the hold-up was, and she screamed out, "Weasley, Potter, stop this this instant."

Ron ignored her completely, and continued to throw curses at Harry with reckless abandon. Harry replied calmly, "I would be happy to, Professor, but as Ron has yet to relent in his attack, I feel that I have no choice but to continue to defend myself."

Harry's seeming disdain for Ron finally caused Ron to snap, and he screamed, "Explodra!"

Harry whipped his wand in an elaborate figure eight and yelled, "Contran!" A sphere of magic burst from his wand and encompassed the Explosion Hex, where the curse merely dissipated upon contacting the wall behind Harry instead of blowing the wall up. Before anyone could get over the shock of Ron using such a powerful curse on another student, Harry responded with a Disarming Charm. Ron's wand flew into Harry's hands, but this didn't even deter Ron. He dove at a nearby second year, and grabbed the boy's wand from his pocket, and spun back to face Harry. However, Harry was prepared, and jabbed his wand straight at Ron, "Stupefy!" The red jet of light hit Ron square in the chest and he dropped to the ground.

McGonagall was beside herself with fury at being ignored by two of her pupils in such a way. "Explain what was going on here this instant, Potter."

Harry merely shrugged, "Ron was eavesdropping on a private conversation between Hermione and myself. He heard some things that he didn't like, and he attacked me. I defended myself until I was forced to take action against him. Hermione tried to talk him into calming down, but that didn't do any good. You were here for most of it."

McGonagall turned to Hermione, "Miss Granger, is this true?"

Hermione nodded, "Yes, Professor. Ron completely overreacted, and attacked Harry."

McGonagall nodded, "Very well. I will see to Mr. Weasley, then." She waved her wand at Ron, "Mobilicorpus."

She began to walk away with Ron's floating body, but Harry stopped her, "Professor, I think that Euan might need his wand, and here is Ron's." Harry held out Ron's wand to her. She took it, and handed Euan's wand back to him.

The rest of the day passed with rumors flying about Ron attacking Harry in the hall. People were saying that he was being expelled for it, but Harry and Hermione doubted that. Hermione asked timidly at dinner, "What do you think McGonagall will do to him?"

Harry shrugged, "I'm sure that it will involve several detentions, and I wouldn't doubt she will pull his Prefect badge."

Hermione gasped, "Surely not."

Ginny snorted, "Its not like Ron is a very good prefect anyway, Hermione. The only reason he even does half of what he is supposed to is because you make him."

Neville nodded, "If she does take away his badge, then I wonder who she will get to replace him?"

Ginny pointed at Harry, "Him, of course."

Harry snorted, "No one in their right mind would make me a prefect."

Hermione nodded, "No one in their right mind would make Ron a prefect either."

Harry nodded, "True, but even if by some miracle chance it was offered to me, I would have to refuse."

Hermione asked, "Why?"

Harry shrugged, "I have more important things to do with my time."

Ginny asked, "Like what?"

Harry replied vaguely, "Preparing."

Hermione sniffed, "That's not much of an answer."

"It's the best you're going to get." answered Harry.

At that moment, Ron walked back into the Great Hall. He eyed the four of them sitting together, and seemed to come to a decision. Then, he walked over to them and sat down. Ginny eyed him and asked, "Have you calmed down, now?"

Ron grumbled as he began spooning food onto his plate, "I suppose."

Ginny continued to pester him, "So, what kind of punishment did McGonagall give you?"

Ron mumbled back, "Two weeks detention with Filch, and she pulled my Prefect badge."

Neville nodded, "That's about what we figured. Did she say who she was going to give the badge to?"

Ron shook his head back and forth, "Not to me."

The group finished dinner, and then went up to the common room. Harry slipped away from them, and headed for the Room of Requirement to study some more hexes and jinxes. He entered the room, and heard the scuffing of feet behind him as he went in, and smiled wryly to himself. Then, he said, "Tonks, since you're going to be here, you might as well help me practice."

Harry listened intently, but could hear no sound. It seemed that Tonks had even stilled her breathing to avoid detection. Harry sighed, "If I must, then I suppose I must. Accio invisibility cloak."

The invisibility cloak was ripped away from Tonks grasp and flew to Harry. She grinned ruefully, "Wotcher, Harry. How did you know it was me?"

Harry snorted, "Moody breathes funny, and would have probably uses a silencing charm because of his wooden leg. I would have never heard Kingsely, he's too quiet, and I would have smelled Mundungus from a mile away. I doubt Moody would put anyone else into the rotation for following me."

Tonks eyes narrowed, "We're just here to protect you, Harry."

Harry chuckled, "If you really expect me to believe that Tonks, then you are extremely naïve. I know exactly why Dumbledore has people following me around inside the walls of Hogwarts. Its to make sure that I don't leave because he thinks that I am the Dark Phoenix."

The look of astonishment on Tonks face gave Harry all the information he needed. She asked, "How did you come up with all that?"

Harry snorted once again, "I'm not stupid, Tonks. I know how the old man thinks."

Tonks' face darkened, "Now, Harry, you shouldn't talk about Dumbledore like that. He's a great man."

Harry laughed cruelly, "He's a great fool. He seeks to limit the movements of his greatest weapon simply because he suspects I might not play fair with the helpless little Death Eaters. The old man is entirely too forgiving. He wants me to kill Voldemort and Voldemort alone, so that he can reclaim the Death Eaters. He's too naïve to realize that the Death Eaters enjoy the evil just as much as Voldemort, and they deserve death as well."

Tonks sighed, "I don't think so, Harry. Everyone deserves a second chance."

Harry's eyes darkened, "No, Tonks, they don't. Nor do I intend to give them one. I fully intend to hunt down every last Death Eater, and rid the Earth of their presence."

Tonks attempted to placate Harry, "I don't really think that would be necessary, harry. Most of them would just go back to being pains without You-Know-Who to lead them. They don't have the initiative to do things like this on their own."

Harry took a menacing step toward Tonks and growled, "I don't give a damn about their initiative. They tortured me and I will slit their throats in their fucking sleep if I have to, to gain my revenge."

Tonks shivered as she stepped back, "Harry, you're starting to scare me."

A maniacal glint appeared in Harry's eyes, as a wicked smile spread across his face, "Good. Now use that fear and attack me. I need the practice, and I suppose that an Auror will be good enough to give me a workout."

Tonks shook her head, "I don't want to hurt you, Harry."

At this Harry erupted in crazed laughter, "Hurt me?! How could anyone as pathetic as you ever hurt me. I am a master."

This crazed laughter seemed to break Tonks, so she drew her wand and said, I'm sorry, Harry." Then, she launched a very powerful bludgeoning curse. Harry easily sprang aside to dodge the curse, and almost immediately sent another one right back at her. Tonks managed to erect a shield and deflect the curse into the wall, but Harry had dove forward into a roll behind the curse, and snapped out a kick to Tonks' side. She doubled up as she grunted in pain,a nd Harry swished his wand, "Expelliarmus!"

A moment later, Tonks' wand was in Harry's hand. He clucked his tongue in amusement, "That was absolutely shameful, Tonks. Surely, an Auror is capable of better than that."

Tonks shook her head as she rubbed her side, "How can you be that fast? I've never seen anyone that fast."

Harry chuckled darkly, "You would be surprised at what overexposure to the Cruciatus Curse will do for your nervous system and muscular tissue as you heal. Everything feels like it is moving in slow motion compared to what I am capable of."

Tonks asked hesitantly, "So, can I have my wand back, Harry?"

Harry smiled in amusement, "Of course. Although, I would suggest that you go let Madam Pomphrey take a look at that rib. I'm sure that it is cracked."

Tonks shook her head, "I'm still on duty for three more hours. I can't go until then."

Harry motioned with his hand, "I'll go with you. That way you can tell your precious Dumbledore that you didn't leave me alone."

Tonks sighed, "Okay, but why are you so mad at Dumbledore?"

Harry shrugged, "Do you even really have to ask? The man forced me to live with the Dursleys for years to keep me safe, but I don't think that I ever felt safe in that house. In the end, Voldemort got to me anyway. So, it was like all those years were for nothing. If I couldn't even be kept from Voldemort's clutches while I was there, what was the point in sending me in the first place? Dumbledore will never be able to answer that question, because he will always think that he acted for the best. Not only that, all of you follow him just as blindly as the Death Eaters follow Voldemort, and he has grown accustomed to everyone doing as they are told simply because he is more powerful than they are. I have challenged his authority, and he doesn't like it. When it comes to that, he is no better than Voldemort. He believes he has the right to command simply because of his position and power."

Tonks pointed out as they trudged along the corridor, "Aren't you doing the same thing, though. You think you should get your way simply because of who you are."

Harry shook his head, "I command no one to follow me. I merely refuse to be commanded. That is hardly the same thing. IF some follow me, then they will do so out of their own free will. I will command them to do nothing. Their own lives are their own choice. Dumbledore has forgotten that somewhere along the line. Even last year when he was trying to admit to making a mistake by not telling me about the Prophecy sooner, all he could talk about was his plan. He forgets that other people might have plans as well, and that is his failing."

Tonks looked at Harry in awe, "When did you get so wise, Harry?"

Harry shrugged, "Wisdom is easily obtained in the face of death, and I have brushed with that door more times than I care to count."

Tonks shuddered at the matter of fact tone with which Harry spoke of his own death. It gave her the creeps. She took a chance and asked, "Are you the Dark Phoenix, Harry?"

Harry snorted and then scowled at her, "Even if I were, would you really expect me to tell you?"

Tonks shook her head, "No, but I think that we could trade information."

Harry eyed her for a moment and then said, "What do you mean?"

Tonks smiled, "Well, I could give you information from the Order if you gave me any information that you might be privy to."

Harry paused, "In other words, you want me to tell you anything that I know for information on Death Eater whereabouts. Interesting. Although, such a deal would only profit me if I were truly the Dark Phoenix."

Tonks nodded, "Of course, I could just tell the Headmaster about you and Hermione."

Harry scowled, "Why would the Headmaster care if I fucked half the girls in Hogwarts. The only thing he's worried about is his weapon. As long as I don't get them pregnant I don't think it much matters what my sex life is like. For that matter, I could sleep with you, and he would care less."

Tonks gave Harry a surreptitious glance, and smiled. Harry laughed, "I saw that, Tonks. And all you have to do is suggest it, and I will take you back to the Room of Requirement and ravage you after you see Madam Pomphrey."

Tonks smiled even wider, "Why, Harry, you are quite the horny little boy. I might just take you up on that. We'll have to see." The two of them entered the Hospital Wing, and Madam Pomphrey fixed up Tonks' rib in no time.

Then, she asked, "How did this happen?"

Tonks replied sheepishly, "I was giving Harry a little dueling practice, and he got past my guard."

Pomphrey nodded, "Well, I would suggest a little less roughness the next time you duel."

The two of them left, and Harry said with a roguish wink, "Yes, I think we should be somewhat more gently the next time we duel, Tonks. The question is, will our next duel be with or without our clothes on?"

Tonks gasped in surprise, and said, "Since you are going to be that bold, young one, I will have to take you up on it. Without. Now, let's go."

The two of them returned to the Room of Requirement, and flung their clothes off as they jumped into bed, and commenced with a series of sexual positions. Once they were through, Tonks fell back against the bed, and said, "No way was Hermione your first time."

Harry grinned, "Did I say she was?"

Tonks raised her eyebrows in surprise, "No, but I assumed. I mean you are only sixteen."

Harry snorted, "Yeah, that's what people tell me when they find out that I have faced Voldemort six times."

Tonks winced at the reminder, "Sorry."

Harry waved it away with his hand and then brought it down to fondle her breast, "I don't know why, but I am going to trust you, Tonks. I am the Dark Phoenix. Now, what kind of information do you have for me?"

Tonks grinned, "The Order has discovered a safe house in Hogsmead that the Death Eaters are using to coordinate spy activity on Hogwarts. They are thinking about raiding it, but they are afraid that it would tip off You-Know-Who that they have a spy in his midst."

Harry grinned evilly, "But he wouldn't suspect that if the Dark Phoenix hit the safe house, because he knows by now that not even Dumbledore knows who the Dark Phoenix is. Excellent! It seems that I have some hunting to do tonight. Now, where exactly is this safe house?"

Tonks gave him the correct address, and a description. She explained, "They have wards surrounding the place to alert them of intruders, but they haven't used the Fidelius Charm on it, because there would be too much chance of a betrayal, and then none of the other Death Eaters would be able to find the place again."

Harry nodded, "Now, I just have to plan how to get there."

Tonks sighed, "You'll never be able to get out of the castle tonight. Alastor is on duty tonight. He can see through your invisibility cloak."

Harry smile, "That's okay. I can handle Mad-Eye. Now, there is just one little problem."

Tonks nibbled at Harry's ear, "What is that, Harry?"

Harry continued to smile, "You see, I can't have you reporting back to the old fool about what has just transpired. So, I'm afraid that I must remove your memory." Before Tonks could move, Harry had said, "Obliviate!"

A dreamy expression overcame her face, and Harry cast a few more obscure charms that he had come across in Lucius' notes to mask the Charm, and then he put his and Tonks clothes back on, and sat down as the room changed around him to make it look like the two of them had been dueling. Tonks left a few moments later to change shifts with Alastor Moody, who took over watching Potter as he made his way back up to the dorm. Moody was forced to wait until things quieted down in the common room to be able to stump up to Gryffindor Tower. He very carefully checked Harry's bed to see that he was there, and then made himself comfortable in a corner to wait out the night.

Meanwhile, the Order was convened in Dumbledore's office awaiting the report from Tonks. She walked in and shrugged at the expectant look from Dumbledore, "I have no idea. I gave him the information about the safe house. If he tries to hit it, we will know, otherwise I couldn't get anything from him. All he would do was practice dueling with me, and I have to tell you, he is good."

Albus sighed, "I am afraid that Harry may have put a Memory Charm on you, Tonks. If he is the Dark Phoenix, then we know that he is very adept with them. Will you submit to testing for it?"

Tonks nodded, "Of course."

She took a seat, and Dumbledore cast the Charm to reveal any Memory Charms performed on an individual. The last Memory Charm to be performed on Tonks was shown to be a little more than a Year before, and appeared to be a standard charm used by the Unspeakables when someone found out something they weren't supposed to know."

Dumbledore stepped back in surprise, "Then, the evening must have went as planned. There appears to be no Memory Charm, so all we can do is conclude that if Mr. Potter is the Dark Phoenix, then he is very careful of his identity. Remus, I want you, Arthur, and Bill to watch the safe house tonight. Between the three of you, and Alastor, we should be able to keep an eye out for Harry.

The three of them nodded, and departed for their posts.

Unbeknownst to anyone, however, Harry had cast the illusion charm of himself sleeping, and had climbed out his window, and using a conjured rope, climbed down to the ground and snuck quickly away towards Hogsmeade.

He easily located each of the three Order members as they arrived and took their places. He stunned each of them in turn and bound them with ropes. Then, he crept steadily closer to the safe house until he knew that he must be about to set off the wards. Then, he focused his mind, and hurled the most powerful Explosion Hex that he could manage at the door of the building. As it flew inward from the hex, it collided with several Death Eaters, who were standing in the main room. Harry charged in immediately, and began laying about Cutting Curses. Most of the Death Eaters managed shields, but they did little but deflect the curses into other Death Eaters. Within moments all six Death Eaters present in the room were on the ground bleeding profusely from wounds, and Harry summoned all their wands. He smiled down at each of them in turn, "How the mighty have fallen. I don't know who each of you are, but I'm sure at least one of you was present for one of my many torture sessions."

One of them sneered, "Yes, Potter. I hope you enjoyed it. I know we all enjoyed the show. Now, you can summon your little law enforcement people and take us away." He laughed.

Harry smirked evilly, "No, I'm afraid that prison would be far too good for any of you. Even if I did send you to prison, that halfblooded bastard Voldemort would just end up rescuing you. No, I'm afraid that I prefer all of you dead, Then, he indiscriminately cast Cutting Curses at the horrified Death Eaters until he was certain that each of them had breathed their last breath. Then, he cast several Scouring Charms on himself to clean off the dried blood that had bounced onto him. Then, he sent up a delayed Mark, and hurried back toward the castle. He waited for the Mark to appear in the air, when he knew that Moody would check his bed and then rush for the door. Then, Harry conjured a rope and magically pulled himself up and through his window, and quickly jumped into bed, after transfiguring his clothes into pajamas.

Dumbledore and the others arrived at the scene to find Remus Lupin, Arthur Weasley, and Bill Weasley, bound and stunned with their wands lying on top of them. Then, they approached the safe house and found the mangled remains of the six bodies with the Mark of the Dark Phoenix burning brightly against the air. The message below it read simply.

Voldemort, You Have Been Warned.

Now You Have Been Insulted.

Soon, I Will Scare You.

Then, You Will Die.

The Avatar of Justice Will Come For You.

The Dark Phoenix Has Risen.

A/N: I hope everyone enjoys this. Thank you to everyone who reads and reviews. I'll try to get the next chapter up by next Wednesday, but the next several days are going to be crazy for me, so no promises. Happy reading.