Eve: Heya, thanks for reviewing… all both of you… Anyway!
Sarah: Oooh, your second reviewer wants to know if the girl is Kira?
Mike: Didn't you kill her? I distinctly remember giving you crap about killing her.
Eve: hmm… (singing) I'm not gonna tell you.
Mike: … So… (Evil grin) When is Harry going to be born?
Eve: You are NOT fricking serious!
Sara: Yeah-
Eve: Here's the deal readers. I'm writing this like a re-write of the fifth year. But I'm not gonna re-type book five so just assume that everyone basically knows everything they learn in book 5, but Sirius is alive, Umbridge is there, Harry doesn't know his destiny is to kill Voldemort, and Fred and George are still at Hogwarts.
Mike: That helps, but when is Harry going to be born?
Eve: I hate you. On with the Fic!
fractured life your silence heard.
it's what you didn't want what other didn't see.
painful past you'd rather die than try to explain how it hurts
inside.
don't you think their future's filled with dire problems?
you clench your fist you close your eyes.
don't point the blame you might find yourself the same.
you terrify you dare deny this poor kids life there's not much
more
to identify when something's wrong the end is near
there's not much more that i can do.
you took it all their innocence left behind
with scars and shameful tears it doesn't need to be this way
it seems that it will never go away
---
Harry Potter, the Weasley's, and Hermione Granger sat in the library on the first Saturday of term looking through old archives. Most of what they found was alarming. The earliest report of Lord Voldemort was on the fifth page and held the title: Crazy Wizard Makes a Bold Announcement. The article went on to say: Emerging from a cloud of smoke, a Wizard who has yet to be identified, announced that things were going to change and people were going to pay for their arrogance. "I think it is time you bowed down to a new leader, and learned how truly bad things can get," he stated.
"You let filth walk among you and mix with your blood. They are below you, and you are below me," he continued. The filth he is speaking of is undoubtedly Muggle-born wizards and those with mixed Muggle heritage. It is this reporter's opinion that the man needs some psychiatric help, and most likely a nap.
The next article they found was on the fourth page, near the top, and was titled: Crazed Wizard Follows His Promise. And went on to say: The mysterious man was spotted yesterday outside a Muggle orphanage. He had the headmaster and some of the staff hanging upside-down above his head. The Zagan Riders who tried to stop him, 35 year old Megan Ramzie, and 41 year old Brian O'Connel, were denounced as traitors and knocked out by the man, who was heard trying to explain their superiority to the trash above his head. More riders showed up and took control of the scene, but the mystery man got away.
The next article, again on the fourth page was titled: V Stands for Villain. The mysterious man strikes again, flashing a symbol in the sky that witnesses described as green stars forming a skull and snake with a v on the forehead. This time the menace not only embarrassed the young Muggle couple he captured, but controlled them completely! Alexia Mirando and her boyfriend Jason Simula were caught passing out and posting letters from the mystery man. When Zagan Rider, Phillip Quartz, arrived on the scene the couple began attacking him. Keeping his head, Phillip used his years of training to subdue the couple without harm. He recovered the fliers, all of which held a spell that when spoken shot out a symbol with a V.
The next article appeared on the front page and the title declared in big block letters: Voldemort. It read: The mysterious Mr. V, now known as Voldemort, attacked a group of Muggles in broad daylight. Witnesses say the symbol shot into the air and a thunderous storm deafened the group. When Ministry Aurors arrived on the scene, they were disgusted by the sight of the Muggles lurching on the ground, screaming. They were attacked as well, by Voldemort. A rider, whose face was not seen, arrived shortly through the incident. He was mounted upon a beautiful stallion with a chocolate mane, a body that was a brilliant gold until the rump, which was silver with traces of black, a tail of gold with black a foot from the end, and black legs with silver hooves.
This Rider fought Voldemort, but there was no winner as Voldemort apperated away after the rider freed the Ministry employees from Voldemort's spell. The Rider was unavailable for comment and instead loped off. The Zagan Academy welcomed reporters on to its premises, and said that Voldemort had a grudge against them, though they would not release why, nor would they disclose the name of the rider.
The next title was: Voldemort Kills! After that came: Oh, Lord! It included that Voldemort was announcing himself as Lord Voldemort. The articles began painting a grim picture that proved just how unprepared the community was for Voldemort. They were absolutely puzzled as to why Voldemort was doing what he was doing and positively flabbergasted when they learned he was gaining supporters.
The headlines cried out for answers in big bold letters and it wasn't long before the paper consisted of nothing but reports of Voldemort's actions, public outcries for a solution, and obituaries. Harry flipped through seven years of articles and found himself fully accepting how bad things were going to get. However, there was not mentioning of a weapon. Then Harry read the headline: Suicide Seven! Harry looked to see a giant picture, playing out like a movie. It was clear that the cameraman was the only one allowed in there as he stood behind Fudge. There was a man dressed in a strange robe with importance written all over him. He was sitting on a throne, this graying hair not matching his younger-looking face.
All around him, sitting in smaller chairs, were other men dressed in cloaks of elaborate design. There were too many to count, but the camera was focused only on the ten closest to the man on the throne. Directly behind the other men, were younger men and women, sitting stiff with perfect posture, hands resting on their knees, eyes straight ahead. The man on the throne nodded his head when all the movement in the room stopped. He rose to his feet and walked forward.
"Thank you all for coming so hastily." Said a voice from inside the picture. Hermione and Ron leaned closer and Fred and George looked over Harry's shoulders while Ginny leaned up on the table so she could see as well. "I trust you have all been briefed so I will not burden you with details. We must act quickly. Each guild will be in charge of a certain task. You all know the procedure. Will the heads of each guild please gather forward?"
"What is this?" Ron whispered.
"Shh," Harry hissed.
The entire room turned their heads towards the lower level in unison. The guild leaders quickly gathered there and stood at attention, awaiting an explanation.
"Will the advanced Rider class please stand up?" the man, who was announced as Clef by a scroll near the bottom of the picture, seemed strong, yet his voice had a tone of sorrow.
The men and women sitting in the chairs behind the other men stood up, though there was a tinny hint of nervousness in their actions. It was obvious that this was new.
"Sorry for the confusion, but the Ministry Of Magic had advised that half of the professional Riders stay here. We need to be prepared for reinforcements said to be joining the enemy" Clef explained. Then he paused and looked towards the heads of the guilds and the professors. "Professors of each guild. Your students are standing now. You are aware of their weaknesses, and their strong points. Pick your best two from each class."
The room was quiet as the guild leaders met with the professors to pick four students to represent their guild. When they were finished they called out the names. Every student who was called went down to the main floor. They looked straight ahead and were silent.
"Now, there are a few Graduated riders here. Not yet professional so you live here. You have a guild supervisor," Clef explained so that the Ministry Representative would know what he was talking about. "Will the supervisors of these riders please step forward?"
Murmurs were heard through out the crowd as the graduated student supervisors stood.
"The same goes for you. Pick your best." Clef ordered.
The picked riders headed down the stairs and stood beside the students. Clef turned so that he was looking only at the students and graduated students. He addressed only them.
"You are chosen as the tops of your classes. Even though you are young, I have no choice except to have you initiate the counter attack."
There was noticeable alarm among the students. It sounded like they were being sent to die.
"The front line will consist of our strongest fighters amongst you" Clef announced. "Then the second line will attack from here and here," Clef pointed to some hills on a map. "After the second line is finished. The healers will follow with back up consisting of the other student classes. The front line will consist of…" he paused and looked among the students and graduated students.
It was clear that this speech brought him pain and he hated it. Yet he had to go on for a reason Harry wasn't sure about. It sounded like they were sending kids out to fight a loosing battle. 'That's the ministry for you' Harry thought sourly. 'Always messing good things up.' Clef continued, holding the list he'd been given by a stocky man to his right. When he spoke again, his voice was powerful even with its despair.
"Trevor, age 27, Zagan Rider in training, Graduated student. Along with his horse, Ocius, born of Velox." Clef paused to stare down at the young face of the rider, who nodded, looking slightly stunned, and stepped back. "Paula, age 29, Zagan Rider in training, Graduated student. And horse, Daisy, born of Amarion"
As the names were called, the ones chosen would step forward and either nod of shake their heads. No one seemed to be blaming the ones that said no, some of the riders even seemed to congratulate those who refused the mission. Yet for every one that said no, one of the others knew they had to say yes. It was easy to tell who thought they'd be called because they began looking troubled with each no. Still, no one seemed angry as had they been called earlier they might also have said no.
"Sandra, age 28, Zagan Rider in training, Graduated student. Horse, Lightstep, born of Velox. Zalik, age 29, Zagan Rider in training, Graduated student. Horse, Tanius, born of Tarek. Lyle, age 26, Zagan Rider in training, Graduated student. Horse, Zippo, born of Natao. Foramier, age 25, Zagan Rider in training, Graduated student. Horse, Quaf, born of Utamis."
There was a very long pause as Clef counted the ones that had said yes. He seemed to struggle with the decision before saying another name, one that caught everyone by surprise. "And Cota, age 19, Zagan Rider in training, Student, Squire to Lord Potter. Horse, Patrick, born of Shadowhisp."
"WHAT?" bellowed Harry loudly, his eyes scanning the page for the name again. It had taken him a second or two to register what he'd heard but now he was on full alert.
"What's going on here?" asked the prissy voice of a little girl struggling not to cry.
Umbridge entered the room and her toad-like face erupted in panic. "No!" She snapped, whipping her wand out and casting a spell that sent the archives shooting towards the bin the teenagers had found them in.
"Hey!" yelled Harry. He lunged forward and took hold of the article they'd been looking at and pulled. Umbridge snatched it and yanked hard. She was surprisingly strong for her size and pinkness and Harry was pulled forward, snarling dangerously at her.
Ron grabbed him around the waist and tugged sharply, soon with both Fred and George behind him, pulling as well. Hermione and Ginny stayed on the sidelines, screaming at both sides to knock it off. Umbridge and her spell tugged with all they had, but the four boys had determination and numbers on their side. The article was enchanted not to rip so there wasn't any concern there. The tug-of-war continued as both sides strained and growled at the other.
"Let go, you Hag!" hissed Harry, his words spitting out from his mouth like a cobra's venom.
Umbridge brought up her wand and cast a rather nasty spell upon Harry, who was forced to let go. They fell to a heap on the floor, having lost the battle.
"My word!" Umbridge shrieked, shoving the article into the bin, which she then sealed with a locking spell none of them had ever heard before. "I expect more or students your age, but perhaps my standards are too high for your lot!"
"Please, ma'am," pleaded Hermione. "Those articles are for public use. We're allowed to see them."
"Not when I know they're for spreading those horrible lies," scolded Umbridge, straightening her fuzzy pink cardigan.
"Oh, you're a psychic now are you!" Fred spat, trying to pull himself out from under Ron and Harry.
"When your headmaster hears how you've treated me you'll be-" began Umbridge.
But she was interrupted by George, who let out a very loud raspberry at her as he pulled himself free from the tangle. Umbridge scowled, whipping spit flacks off her cheek. Her eye twitched and her lips pursed tightly, making her appear about to either ribbit, or explode. Fred and George stood before Ron and Harry with smirks of hatred slashed across their faces in mirror images. Umbridge about-faced and stormed off. Her giant pink butt wagging back and forth hurriedly in her rage as the walk she usually thought was feminine and adorable betrayed her.
"We're screwed, what were you thinking!" demanded Hermione, turning her rage upon the boys.
"Aw, lay off," droned Fred.
"We're going to be punished for that!" Hermione reminded him. "Ron and I are Prefects, we can't be getting in trouble. This is awful, I wonder what she'll make us do."
"Just relax," George instructed everyone. "Punishment should only last as long as you're in the clutches of said punisher."
"Torturing yourself about it all day will just drag it on," agreed Fred.
"It's what they want you to do," stated George.
Ginny had set up all the chairs again and straightened out the table while Harry and Ron struggled to unlock the bin. It was futile, however, and alas they were forced to give up.
"Maybe you can ask Dumbledore to unlock it," Ron offered, assuming that was a good suggestion though the look that spread across Harry's face proved that it wasn't.
"Sure, then we can explain that we need it opened because we were listening in on most of the meetings and are trying to figure out what everything means," retorted Harry, looking irritated.
Hermione glared at them all. "I assume none of you geniuses managed to get the date and page number of that article so we could send in money for a copy of it?"
"…What?" asked Ron, looking puzzled while everyone else groaned and realized the stupidity of their actions. Hermione took out her planner and showed them that she'd been writing down the date and page numbers on articles she thought they'd find useful.
"You can thank me later," she informed them, putting the planner into her bag. "Are you alright?" she asked Harry. "Harry? Harry!"
"W-wha?" stammered Harry, coming out of his thoughts. "Oh, yeah…"
"So tell us more about the girl," requested Fred, his fingers unwrapping a way-too-innocent-looking bag of chocolates that they assumed he was preparing to use during Umbridge's punishment. "The one that saved your arse and then high-tailed it out of there."
"Why is it that you feel the need to include that every time someone mentions her?" questioned Hermione, her tone low and annoyed. Fred simply grinned and returned his gaze to Harry as Ron snatched the bag away to dumb out the window as smoke began emitting from it.
"You know as much as I do," growled Harry, not amused by their constant reminder that he had had to have a girl fight his battle for him. "I just want to know how she knew he was going to kidnap us, and when. Though I thought something felt strange in that park, it might have been her…"
"Which means You-Know-Who is having you watched," concluded Fred, looking smug.
"You'd think his spies and Dumbledore's would have ran into each other every once and a while," hissed Harry, his anger showing.
"You'd think you would have noticed at least one of them," Hermione pointed out, defending Dumbledore out of respect for her knew badge.
Harry gave her a rather sour look, but Fred piped up first.
"Well, apparently they did," he grinned.
"Yeah," George nodded. "Remus was the one on duty."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Forget about it," she sighed. "Let's just send for the articles and try to forget about the girl… you will forget about her, won't you Harry?"
When she looked to Harry, she was met by a piercingly harsh glower from his startling green eyes. She took the hint and headed up to the owlery to send in the article requests. Fred and George chose to stay and prod Harry for more information as they felt that his interest was far too great for what little he said he knew about her.
"Bugger off, I told you everything!" Harry protested, wrenching free from their grip.
"Come on!" begged Fred. "Every year you guys do something fun and George and I have to hear about it later! We're finally involved this time so spill it!"
"Totter off!" Ron growled at them, shoving them away. "He'll tell us when he's ready."
"I don't KNOW ANYMORE!" Harry roared.
"Then why are you so interesting in her?" George asked, his gaze patiently amused.
Harry opened his mouth to yell, but the truth was that he didn't know why he was so interested in the girl. It wasn't really her so much as what Sirius and Remus had called her. That word. It was a word that the Dursley's seemed to hate and Harry was sure it wasn't simply because they hated anything mystical. When Harry had said it, they had sent him to his room and he could hear them panicking down stairs, but why? That girl. That killer. That young Death Eater… And they called her Angel.
"Angel…" Dumbledore spoke the word as if it were a spell that would transport him into the past. Truth was that it brought back a lot of memories he had never wanted to face again. The pronunciation of the word fell off his tongue as a code name, not a creature. ANGEL. How many years had it been since he'd last heard of that project?
"I thought we destroyed that base," Remus stated. It was true. The order's last mission had been to find how Voldemort was keeping in touch with Takai, and then find the lab and destroy it.
Belatrix had refused to tell anything, not even when they hinted that they knew where her daughter was. The only thing she'd say was 'You'll never find his daughter. Not until he rises to power again and calls her to him to destroy you.' They had found a meeting house, an arranged location where Voldemort met with Takai. Remus sent word to Takai and he came. Dumbledore had watched in silence from underneath Moody's invisibility cloak.
Takai wasn't the man he had pictured. He was tall with light brown hair that was delinquently swept back, sharp, charismatic features and the kind of eyes that looked regal when half-lidded, dangerous when fully open, and maniacal when matched with a sneer. He had sharp canines that glistened threateningly when he grinned his wide grin, as if preparing to bite, and large, shapely ears that made everyone in his company feel that he heard every sound they made.
Hagrid had been the one elected to talk to him as he looked able to handle whatever creature Takai brought with him, and was the only order member Takai wouldn't be able to recognize. Remus went, despite anyone's protest. They knew he had to see an end to Takai. They couldn't prove Takai had done anything, but they could at least ruin his funding. Beside him had stood Cota, who had stopped talking after he had been dragged away from the Potter house.
Dumbledore could still hear his screams as they dragged him from the burning home. He could still see Cota fighting, struggling to get into the house as if Lily and James were still alive and calling for him. He could still feel the heartbreaking nausea that had shivered through him as he tried to calm Cota.
"No!" Cota screamed desperately, fighting against the two grown men that held him as Dumbledore arrived. "Let go! I have to help them! I promised I'd never let anything hurt her!"
Dumbledore felt his heart shatter into a million pieces while he watched Cota fight as tears streamed down his soot covered face. There were scratches on his arms… and a tinny, ash covered toy raccoon clutched in his right hand.
"Cota, they're gone," Dumbledore begged him to understand, but his eyes were fixed on the house and his mind just wasn't willing to focus.
"No!" he roared, lunging forward against his captors who were twice his size. "No! I promised! No! Let me go! I have to find her! I have to get them out!"
"Cota!" Dumbledore yelled, seeing one of the men yell for an Auror. "Voldemort came tonight!" he had to yell over the roar of the Ministry fire sirens and cackle of the raging inferno, the sound of Ministry workers containing the muggles and preparing charms that would erase the night for them forever. "He killed them, Cota! Harry is the only one to survive!"
Cota fought harder, he wouldn't listen. The men pulled him towards a criminal transport, but Owiery and his Lord showed up and stopped them. Owiery and Derek were able to hold Cota back and get him away from the scene. Owiery begged his Lord to defend Cota's actions and he had. But that was all he could do for him. They locked Cota away in a mental institute after he stopped talking. It seemed poor Cota had broken. He sat in a dimly lit room, staring at the floor and never speaking. Nothing anyone did would help. Lisa found Triny and came to visit, but Cota didn't react as if he even remembered them. Healers came in and out of the room, but to no avail. The only reason they knew he was still alive was his heart was beating and his lungs took in air.
He had only moved when Remus relayed the plan to him, though the movement was slight and insignificant. Remus had been about to blow if off as nothing and leave when the hallow eyes had slid up and met his gaze. There was a sickly film covering them, making them appear like ghosts of what once was. Remus stopped, slightly startled, and heard three words broke through, crackling but firm.
"I'm coming too."
Remus had agreed without hesitation, it hadn't been a question after all. Dumbledore remembered how Remus had, for the first time, ignored the warnings of the other members and told them they could listen or stand by and let him do it without their help. Cota had stood beside him, a shell of the human being he had once been. He did not speak or even look at anyone, but Remus acted for him as if reading every breath, every blink, every shift and slight movement as a sentence. The plan moved ceaselessly.
They sent word that Voldemort had been sent into hiding and wanted to know where his allies were, in this his most desperate hour. Takai replied that he would never falter as long as he received payment. The meeting was set. Takai arrived an hour early, but that had been what Remus and Cota expected. They were ready. Yet something was off. Takai sat at the table and announced that he was surprised to hear from anyone so soon. He admitted quite easily that he knew of Voldemort's defeat of course.
"How could I not?" he asked. "I already met with…" he stopped as if unsure if e should give a name.
"You know the condition of our Master," spoke Remus neutrally, as if discussing sports. "He wants conformation that his allies aren't getting cold feet."
"My feet are warm if he still had gold," Takai promised, smiling as if he had told an amusing joke. "I assume though that he will be disbanding his group for a while and is really checking to make sure that I know he'll be empowering again." He nodded like he was the most brilliant man alive and was three steps ahead of them.
"Yer dead on," said Hagrid, giving Remus an annoyed look. Pretending like they'd been seen through. "Ye got any critters ta give while he recoups?" he asked slyly.
Takai looked set aback, though he quickly covered that up, but his smile was gone. He stared at them piercingly with his green and gold eyes and seemed to be trying to search them for signs of a trap. Cota was the only one able to meet his stare. His eyes stared back emptily and cold, yet hinted at fierce determination. Takai respected that look; the look of someone who had lost everything and was now living in the dark world of nightmares where nothing could faze them anymore.
He tried to create that look in his best creations as they were the ones who would fight even in the face of sure death; the ones who had turned away from the harsh, cold light, and embraced darkness. He loved that look. The look of a future assassin, fighting for a crime that would never be revenged but still had to be fought for. He sat back and straightened his coat with a pleased smile. He then began busying himself with pulling on his white opera gloves and spoke without looking at them.
"Tell your lord that plans shall proceed," he stated. "I have received the money and shall watch the girl and train her."
The girl. Those words had captured their attention like fireflies is a jar. A Death Eater had brought Takai money for him to train a girl. That could only be the daughter! Takai stood and Hagrid had to hold Cota back. Remus rose to his feet, but Takai misunderstood that and said,
"Now, now, my word is good," he studied at Remus with a patient stare. "Tell him to keep that snake of his as a token of my loyalty and let him know that his daughter is in good… well, capable, hands. The A.N.G.E.L project will go as planned, graciously accepting his yearly donations."
"Tell him from the grave," Cota snarled, launching forward in full attack. Takai was protected by one of his body guards sacrificing their life in order to save him.
Takai looked stunned as Remus yanked out his wand and blew the other body guard away. The giant elephant-like creatures, who were maroon in color, had burgandy fur around their ankles and down their back, long, powerful tusks, and razor sharp teeth, charged forward, waving their heads from side to side to deflect the spells off the only vulnerable part of their body, their diamond shaped, crimson eyes. Takai ran for one, but Dumbledore was upon him already. They had him in the ministry by sundown.
Takai had stood looking murderously sour as the council deliberated his case. They had commandeered his bank account pending an investigation, though there was only a few thousand dollars in it as the rest, no doubt, had been spent of his experiments. Takai denied all knowledge of the lab, but under truth serum he told them that the lab was underneath the destroyed lab, and still operational.
Takai escaped with the help of Voldemort's Death Eaters, and was never heard from again. Though the Ministry swept through the lab and destroyed everything. They found no trace of Voldemort's daughter anywhere. Noname was destroyed, butchered really, after killing two Aurors. The Ministry deemed everything hazardous and ordered all traces of the lab to be burned so the work couldn't be repeated. Well… Dumbledore made that call as he was afraid the Ministry might try to duplicate the work.
When it was over… they had thought it was really over. Cota severed all ties except a calling card he left with Remus to use only in case of an emergency. Remus had dropped out of sight; he lived in his cabin and, like Cota, spoke to no one. Dumbledore had though the bitter war was over and it was time to heal… but Sirius and Remus now spoke of an ANGEL.
"You're sure?" Dumbledore asked sternly, his tone designed to drive the point in that he was being one hundred percent serious and would not stand for being lied to. He did it not only to make the two men think about their claim, but also to tell himself to accept their answer.
There was a considerable silence, but not one of doubt, more like an emphasis to the answer. They thought it through and were just as sure of what they had seen then ever.
"Yes," said Remus, nodding. "The way she moved, her tone, then even the way she killed that man. They were too practiced to be anything else."
"She did not use a wand at all," Sirius pointed out. "She had a weapon ready. What kind of a person trades their wand for a tool that can only murder?"
"So…" Dumbledore took a breath and let their words. "Takai must have fooled us."
"But how?"
"Maybe his power is stronger than we though," Remus proposed. "He must have strong mental capabilities if he can resist the truth serum."
"Maybe he wanted us to destroy that lab," Albus whispered, knowing they would hear him. "It made us focus elsewhere and he got to test his monsters' abilities."
"I bet he even watched by way of the security cameras," Remus nodded, troubled.
"I don't care how he did it," Sirius grumbled. "What matters is that we find him."
"How would you like to do that, Sirius?" questioned Remus, looking skeptical.
"We need to capture the girl," Sirius replied excitedly.
"How," again Remus ruined the plan with the obvious.
Sirius shot him a look that told he was missing the point. "I got a feeling that she'll be finding us."
"What?" Remus peered over at Sirius as if he'd lost his mind.
"She was following Harry for a reason," Sirius droned, his tone telling them that he thought it was obvious. "So-"
"Bait!" Remus yelped. "You want to use your Godson as bait!"
"No one is going to use anyone as bait," clarified Dumbledore. "Lately I've heard reports of beats spotted across the land, all heading in the same direction. It's low key, and most hardly even think to mention it, but it might be worth looking into. I'll send Fawkeys out to do a sweep every night and I'll contact you if he finds anything."
Remus and Sirius nodded. Sirius realized after a few silent minutes that he was being stared at.
"Can't I at least talk to Harry?" he asked. "You could call him up here, or I'll go see him-"
"No, Sirius," argued Dumbledore. "It's the Floonetwork for you."
Sirius was about to argue, but Remus pushed him forward. The warning was clear, if he made a fuss every time they let him out it wouldn't be long before they never did. Sirius grumbled, but obeyed and Remus soon followed. Albus extinguished the flames as Umbridge pounded on his door.
"Ah, Dolores, what might I help you with?" he asked pleasantly.
"I've been assaulted," she replied dramatically. "Those twins need to be expelled!"
"They assaulted you?" Dumbledore asked, looking shocked. "Thank goodness you appear unharmed."
"Verbal assaulting!" Umbridge puffed. "Such language!"
"My, my. I'm shocked," gasped Dumbledore, escorting her to a chair so she could describe the traumatic verbal bitch-slapping.
"They need to be taught a lesson!" Umbridge ranted, allowing herself to be helped into the chair.
"Of course, I shall send word to their parents immediately," Dumbledore promised. "Might I ask what started the assault?"
Umbridge was silent, which was unusual for her. Eventually, she seemed to have been unable to think up a good lie as she lowered her tone to her English nanny turned third grader tone. "I don't think what started it is the point," she explained sweetly. "What is important is that they be reprimanded for their actions."
Dumbledore turned to his usual habit of not only listening intently to what someone was saying, but their tone, their movements, anything that might relay a deeper meaning to what they said. He knew Umbridge was keeping something from him, but all he needed to do was call Fred and George into his office and ask what they were being punished for. They were pranksters, but not liars. Dolores continued her rant that the students were not respecting her and that she felt Minerva was putting them up to it.
"Minevra?" Dumbledore asked in what Umbridge thought was pure shock. "I shall speak to her, but I've never heard of her using so much as a bad tone towards another staff member. She does tend to treat everyone equally."
The rant continued and eventually Dumbledore was able to calm Umbridge and send her off looking pleased. That crisis over, Dumbledore turned to Fawkey.
"Old friend, I fear the worst," he admitted, stroking the bird's feathery head. "Little Kira, God rest her soul, was powerful and an older, trained ANGEL is dangerous… In respect to those we lost because of that program, please, search far and bring me back news."
The Phoenix let out a soft song-like answer and disappeared in a flame. Albus crossed to the silver chest in the corner of the room. He opened it and saw a full picture of all the order members, behind it was pictures that had been sent to him over the years. An envelope fell and out spilled many pictures that Lilly had sent to him. Kira's first birthday party, her first time riding Candy, then he saw a picture that hurt him to look at more than any other.
She was laughing and dressed in her favorite pink jumper with her hair slightly curled. Cota had his arms wrapped around her and was smiling that smile of his that could make anyone happy. They were playing some sort of silly game and having fun. Yet the startling blue eyes in the picture had faded, and the breath taking purple ones were gone from this earth. Dumbledore had not seen Cota in over fourteen years. But he'd never forget seeing the playful boy fade away.
Then came the family picture Lily had taken. Kira was dressed in a lacy dress with sparkling pink shoes and her hair painstakingly designed. She looked cute, even though Dumbledore remembered how active she was and how the dress had driven her crazy as she wasn't supposed to get it dirty. James sat behind her looking as uncomfortable as she did and every now and then they would look at one another and burst out laughing. Lilly sat next to James, holding baby Harry, and every now and then she'd look to James and Kira and roll her eyes. Cota stood behind them with a hand on each chair, winking playfully at the camera.
It was hard to think that three out of that picture were dead, one had changed for the worst, and one was orphaned and did not even remember the other's in the photo. If he had known then what he knew know… Dumbledore stopped. If only had been words that plagued him every night after someone died. He'd never quite gotten accustom to one of his friends dying, and he never truly would. Yet, the murder of a little girl whose parents had already been taken and the driving of a person with so much potential to their breaking point had nearly done him in.
"Not again," he swore. "I will not let that happen ever again."
Harry, Ron, Hermione, George, Fred, and Ginny sat at the breakfast table waiting for the owls. It had been seven days and they were anxious to get a reply. Already Fred and George had promised Harry that if Hermione tried to lecture and keep the articles from him that they'd steal them from her. They sat one on each side of her, poised and ready. Dumbledore had already spoken to Fred and George, who admitted reluctantly that they were looking through old archives of when Voldemort had first emerged in order to get a broader perspective of what to expect. Albus had been suspicious that there was more to the story, but he couldn't blame them for wanting to know that was going on.
He had written Molly to send a not-too-embarrassing howler that just told Fred and George to behave for the ministry representative. She had and Fred and George had spent an entire lunch glowering at Albus, who returned their gazes with a warm smile until he realized that Harry was shooting him the same glare. He sighed inwardly and chose to ignore the brooding teenagers. In swooped the owls. Fred and George tensed up, licking their lips ominously.
The owl that delivered the archives was a sporty-looking thing with black and grew feathers and a flat, white face. He glided in triumphantly and did not flap his wings once as he navigated over to Hermione, who collected money from Harry to pay the owl with. The owl set down a manila envelope in front of her and received payment. He gave a saluting hoot and flew off importantly.
Hermione snatched up the envelope and dawned her lecture face. She opened her mouth, but Fred and George snapped into action. They grabbed the envelope and took off with Harry at their heels and Ron, trying to finish his breakfast and run at the same time. Hermione wasn't pleased. She leapt up and chased after them, her face red with fury. Harry found an amazing burst of speed and managed to grab hold of the envelope and change directions faultlessly. He raced up a set of stairs.
Fred and George had agreed to that. They'd get if for him but they'd let him read it alone first. The entire world seemed to know his life story and now he finally had found something they seemingly didn't know and he wanted to find out in private. He jumped around the corner and ran headlong into Severus Snape.
"Potter!" Severus snapped viciously, having fallen to the ground.
"Sorry," Harry replied quickly, trying, in his dizziness, to see where he'd dropped the envelope.
Snape found it first and snatched it up looking evil. Harry's hand shot out, but Snape ignored it and stood up. He turned to walk away when Harry yelled out,
"Those are mine!"
Snape sneered and turned around, staring down his nose at the fifteen-year-old. "Haven't you heard?" he gestured towards a notice that Umbridge had put up.
It stated that all newspaper articles containing conformation on Voldemort were banned. Harry's eyes skimmed it and paled. Severus's lips curled happily at the sight and turned to leave. Harry panicked, but all the rage left him. This was his one chance to find out something about his father's career and he couldn't explain the desperation in him.
"Professor Snape," he began, his words soft and pleading. "Please, those are important."
"Rules are rules," Snape chimed back, waving the envelope like a trophy.
Harry dropped to his knees, "Please," he begged.
Snape turned around and could not hide the shock from his face. Potter could see his chance slipping away and he could barely fight back tears as he met Snape's eye. Surprise left Severus and was replaced with an immense sense of self satisfaction unlike any he had ever dreamed of. It was like his heart was full of hot coco and marshmallows and the world was a giant goosefeather polyester pillow. He felt lighter than air as the words leapt from his tongue, denying Potter of something he wanted bad enough to relinquish his pride for.
"I don't think so," he sneered. "And when I say I, I mean me personally. Forget the rules, forget the ministry employee. It's all simply because I hate you and I have power over you. If you ever even dream of seeing these again you're going to be nice and do what I tell you and them maybe, just maybe, I'll decide to hand you back this envelop, understood?"
Harry's face tightened and his law clenched. His hands shook and the tears boiled with rage, but in the end he dropped his head in defeat and said.
"Yes."
"Yes, what?" Snape purred maliciously. Milking the moment for every drop it was worth.
Harry forced out a breath and grudgingly replied, "Yes, sir."
Snape smiled and trotted off on the verge of skipping, leaving Harry to wallow in defeat. When he reached the Common Room, Fred and George had already read the notice and were growling at Minerva, who had been ordered to check and make sure no one had any. The found one that Hermione had hid, and tossed it into the fire.
"Look, I'm sorry but if we fight her on this there will be trouble and it's not worth it," she replied. "And if you don't move I'm throwing you in next, George."
"False promise," mumbled Ron and Ginny, who knew Hermione had made separate orders so more than one envelope would arrive and had stayed to collect those.
"I dare you," grumbled George.
Minerva rolled her eyes and looked to Harry. "Acio, Archives," she said, yet nothing happened. "Okay, at least one of you is clean."
George fell away from the fire place, wide eyed and gaping. Harry simply mouthed 'Snape,' and his friends nodded in understanding.
That night the six of them stayed away, pondering how to get some information. Ginny suggested they look up Angel, but that search had revealed nothing. Yet, Harry didn't care about that anymore, he wanted to know about his father. The memory was slipping away already. He knew that something called a rider had fought against Voldemort and his father had something to do with that… but everything else had been zapped out by Umbridge's spell, which had had him pondering his own name for half an hour.
"So… now what?" asked Ron.
Harry shrugged, he had no idea what to do. They only thing they could do was wait. He wanted to ask Remus and Sirius but they didn't seem to want to talk about that at all. He stared out the window and into the darkness. Then it came to him
"We have a Hogsmead trip coming up!" He announced happily. "We could have the owl deliver the articles to the Shrieking Shack!"
"I don't know…" worried Hermione.
"It's the only way," Harry whirled on her. "And I'll do it without you if I must."
Hermione bit her lip and saw that everyone was staring at her like a betrayer. Eventually she nodded and they erupted into cheers. The plan was set.