Hey guys! Alright, for everyone who absolutely LOATHED my ending for Salvation Tourniquet, I express my sincerest apologies! I didn't like it too much either, but I was trying something.
It didn't go exactly as planned, but thanks to evilevergreen for her help, I think it might still work. It'll all make sense in a chapter or two.
Here it is guys, my SEQUEL to Salvation Tourniquet! ((And just ignore the Trio-centered first chapter…long story. Just consider it a scene-setter.))
Read and Review! I hope you enjoy!
One defends and the other conquers, one will rise and fell his rival. This is how it's been since the dawn of time. Cain slew Abel, his brother and rival for the favor of God. Many noble men died at the hands of Alexander the Great in hopes of preserving their homelands. Nations grow and battle for hegemony. This is the order of all things in the world. All we can do is watch and wait and hope.
For nearly three years, the wizarding world held its breath in anticipation of the coming storm. And with the eerie intuition of animals in the wild, both adults and children looked to the dawning year with heavy dread.
The Christmas holidays at Hogwarts rang in with palpable solemnity as many students opted to head back to their own families for the break. But for some, Hogwarts proved far safer than their homes and instead remained barricaded within the castle walls. The Death Eaters were more terrible than they ever were in the past: marked wizards were attacked in broad daylight, and masked figures committed great acts of terror that shook wizard-society to its core. It was Hogwarts alone that remained an untouched bastion in all of this, and only because of the great Albus Dumbledore did the grounds stay safe.
Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville (all in their final year) and Ginny all lugged their various trunks and cages through the common room as they made to leave the ground along with most of the other older Gryffindors. But rather than to their respective homes, they all were headed to the same location – number 12, Grimmauld Place. Neville's grandmother had unfortunately passed away the previous summer, and the standing Order of the Phoenix was more than willing to take him in. Most of the Weasley clan had thrown themselves bodily into their work with the Order, and it made more sense to live in Sirius' home for the holidays than the Burrow. Hermione, fearing for her muggle family's safety, spent less and less time with her parents to avoid marking them as potential targets as well.
The five were greeted at Platform 9 ¾ by the usual guard led by Mad-Eye, Tonks, and Remus Lupin. They traveled on the London Underground to number 12, Grimmauld Place and found themselves greeted by only Molly Weasley and Cho Chang (who had joined immediately after graduation the previous year).
The matron had lost some of her fire over the past months; her bright red mane was quickly fading to paler ginger hues due to grey, and her eyes seemed sad behind her strained cheerfulness. She enveloped her two youngest children in bear hugs first, then Harry, Hermione, and even Neville. "Why don't you all put your things upstairs in your usual rooms then come down and grab a plate. Dinner's not really for another hour or so, but I know you all must be hungry from your trip! Fred, George, Bill, Fleur, and a few of the others will be by for dinner and a meeting. The house will be full again in no time! Off you get, and don't forget to wash up!"
They all quickly did as they were told, and true to her word, halfway through their meals of beef and potatoes the twins, Bill, and his fiancé Fleur Delacour showed up and filled the once quiet house with cheerful noise. Luckily for them, Remus had managed to find an Unsticking Charm for the portrait of Mother Black in the entrance hall. She now remained stuffed away in the farthest corner of the dusty old attic, out of everyone's way.
"Ronniekins, Harry! How're you guys faring your seventh year? N.E.W.T.s got you mad yet? WWW's just released a new nerve tonic for you lot. We'll let you try it if you'd like…"
Hermione narrowed her eyes as the George offered up a small blue bottle with a yellow label reading "Weasley Wizarding Wheeze's Finest Nerve-Buster! Relax and recoup from the stresses of life with our patented calming draught. (Warning: may cause drowsiness.)"
She took the bottle and snorted derisively. "May cause drowsiness? Just last week I had to send a fifth-year to the Hospital Wing to be revived by Madam Pomfrey! Aurora had been asleep on the common room sofa for three days!"
"Well, my dear Head Girl," George purred playfully as he snagged the bottle back from her, "we did include a warning. We're not to blame if they alter the dosage."
Realizing that he was technically correct, Hermione reluctantly conceded and returned to her plate. Ron raised an eyebrow, astonished that she'd been so quick to back down. He hid a grin poorly as he stuffed his face with food. Harry, Ginny, and Neville continued to chat up the twins about their shop's success as the two grabbed food of their own and joined the table.
While their line of work kept them just as mischievous as they'd even been at Hogwarts, their individual personalities had changed over time. George, more business-minded, did most of the shop's finances and bookkeeping with the aid of his girlfriend/accountant, Alicia Spinnet. Fred, always the more creative twin, dealt primarily with product development and testing. But for all his prior extroverted behaviors, Fred was clearly the more sedate of the pair now. Though it had occurred over a year earlier, he still wore the signs of deep mourning for his late love, Angelina Johnson.
A few weeks after the Department of Mysteries' event, Lupin along with the twins, Ginny, Ron, and Hermione had all been captured by Voldemort and his Death Eaters, trying to find Harry Potter. Angelina had miraculously been able to save them, but at the cost of her own life.
The burden of having watched her give herself up for their sake weighed heavily on Fred's heart, and he never seemed to have fully recovered. Of course, each loss of life in this war seemed to chip away at the livelihood of those closely affected, so everyone could sympathize with his pain. But for all his hurting, he never let himself be consoled, and this hurt Molly deepest of all. Many a night she would lie awake in bed with Arthur and think and cry aloud. "It hasn't even really started yet, not like it did the first time. How will we get by? They seem broken already…what can we do?"
And every time, Arthur would merely hold her tighter and tut softly. "There's nothing we can do, Molly. We've raised them to be strong. They'll make it. Just like we did."
Bill and Fleur skipped dinner and joined some of the other Order members talking in the parlor. They lived happily enough in a small flat in lower-east quarter of wizard London, close to their work at Gringott's in Diagon Alley. Engaged for more than a few months, they hoped to be married in the coming spring. Unbeknownst to anyone but the two of them, Fleur was nearly two months pregnant. It was their fervent prayer that if not by the wedding, by the baby's birth this whole war would be over and they could raise the child in a safe environment.
The Ministry Aurors Kingsley and Tonks recruited another of their peers to the Order— a young man with straw-colored hair and a lithe and graceful sort of frame by the name of Lysander. He looked altogether too docile to be an Auror, but he finished top in his class in all his training. Kingsley's solid form had grown even more imposing with years of chasing dark wizards, and Tonks also matured far beyond her years. The three sat stiffly together on one of the couches, far more alert and on edge in recent weeks.
The war had changed everyone drastically in a short amount of time, some worse than others. But no one could deny that gut feeling that everything had been a precursor…preparation. It was all quickly coming to a head. Something would have to be done; the balance would have to be restored. Either Voldemort would be stopped or he would finally succeed in his conquest of the wizarding world. And only a handful of people knew, but there was only one person fated to face the Dark Lord. Harry, the defender: last hope for those opposing Voldemort. And this knowledge made Harry change the very most.
Everyone's eyes turned suddenly to the door as a series of loud knocks silenced the various conversations. Molly quickly ran to the door and let in Arthur Weasley along with Professor McGonagall. Bill didn't even wait for them to remove their snow-covered cloaks before assailing them with questions. "Was there any word from Profe- Severus?"
Minerva looked a bit put-off at first, but recovered and shook her head. "Still nothing. Albus thinks he's still alive, but I fear the worst. However, I do bear news. We've caught wind of new plans for the Messenger to attack Diagon Alley one week from tomorrow. Fred, George, I expect you'll take the proper precautions."
The twins exchanged dark looks before nodding to the professor. The adults quickly congregated in the parlor and shut the door behind them, leaving Ginny, Ron, Neville, Hermione, and Harry to stew silently over the bit of information they'd been witness to. "I just don't get it. We know what he's going to do. We even know who 'The Messenger' is! Why can't we just throw Lucius Malfoy into Azkaban and be done with it? We've known about him working for You-Know-Who since bloody fourth year!"
"Ginny," Hermione snapped, a bit edgier than she'd intended, "we already know the dementors are working for Voldemort. And we can't risk exposing whoever we've got there leaking us information! Besides, you know as well as I do he won't come easily."
"You know, those three: Messenger, General, and Right-Hand…they've got to be almost as heavily guarded as He is, Gin." Ron sighed and idly stabbed at his plate. "But if I got one clear shot at any of them, I'd take it and make it count. They've caused so much damage as it is. I bet if you get at one of those three, it'll be easier to take out You-Know-Who himself."
Harry eyed Ron warily through his dark musings. These are things seventeen-year-olds shouldn't ever have to think about. Does that make us murderers? Harry's thoughts waxed philosophic over time as he tried to wrap his mind around the things he had to do and the things he would choose to do. Destiny and choice…
Hermione was the first to leave the table. Clearing her plate, she offered weak "good nights" to the others before trudging upstairs and going to bed. She didn't expect to sleep terribly well; she never did when she heard news about the Death Eaters' plans. Her guarded and careful nature had long since caved to constant anxiety. Someday it would be someone closest to her. And when that day came what would she do then? Would she shut down like Fred? Would she become obsessed and manic like Cho? Thoughts and answerless questions multiplied exponentially upon themselves. She would not sleep tonight.
And that's where our heroes now found themselves. Very changed, but still much the same. Equal parts hopeful and fearful, ready and anxious for the final confrontation.
A/N: Okay, I hope you all realized by now that the promises of action and angst for this first chapter were more of a joke. Had to set the stage, right? Well hope you liked it. We'll be getting into the good stuff soon! Don't forget to read and review! Thanks in advance!