Dumbledore entered his office, closely followed by Hanzo and Sub Zero. Professor McGonagall was waiting with Moody in the office. They exchanged glances and sat down on chairs in front of Dumbledore's desk.
"As I am sure you all know, we are now in a very difficult position. The Patil twin, Mr. Longbottom and Ms. Lovegood are close to being taken by the Ministry as wards of the state" Dumbledore explained for Mad Eye's benefit.
"Things are slowly spiralling out of control Albus. Eventually the lines are going to have to be drawn" McGonagall looked worn out.
"Indeed, but first we must deal with the previously mentioned students' safety. I am willing to bring them into the fold of the Order of the Phoenix, for their own safety, but therein lays my dilemma" Dumbledore looked downcast.
"What dilemma; if they are in danger then they need to be put somewhere safe" Hanzo's simplistic view was refreshing.
"Not that easy, this is also becoming a war of politics. I need to tread carefully until Voldermort himself comes into the open" the old Wizard sighed.
"What about a third party, who has nothing to do with Hogwarts or the Wizard world?" Sub Zero asked.
"Like who?" Moody growled.
"Me and the Lin Kuei warriors. There are over five thousand of us; many are still in the ancient headquarters. We could hide them" Sub Zero offered.
"You are willing to do that?" McGonagall asked.
"Well not normally, no. However it looks like we're in the same boat as you" Sub Zero then proceeded to explain why.
"So, these two sorcerers follow the Dark Arts?" Mad Eye asked.
"Not as you know them. Quan Chi comes from a place called Outworld and Shang Tsung was exiled there; and each is very old and have great knowledge of dark and powerful magic" Hanzo said.
"What powers?" McGonagall asked, looking tight lipped.
"Quan Chi is a necromancer, capable of reanimating the dead into deadly warriors. Shang Tsung on the other hand is capable of taking souls from fallen warriors, absorbing their powers and life force" Sub Zero gave a more comprehensive explanation
"Why would the Ministry involve themselves with such evil men?" McGonagall asked, incensed at the actions of the Ministry.
"Desperation for control. Scrimgeour wants to prove that unlike Fudge he can control what is happening and defeat Voldermort, although so far it's been a smoke and mirrors approach" Mad Eye muttered.
A knock on the door caused the adults look up. Dumbledore stood up and allowed the door to open. Padma, Parvati, Neville and Luna walked in, followed by Dean, Seamus and Ron. Parvati, took a deep breath and stepped forward from the group.
"Professor, please, our parents are innocent. And so are we, we don't want to go with the Ministry. Please, help us" she implored.
"Ms. Patil, take heart, I know your family members are all innocent, and that none of you are involved in any way with the Dark Arts. Now, as for going with the Ministry; well I have two options open to you" Dumbledore held a hand up to quell the others from speaking.
"You may join Harry and his friends as members of the Order of the Phoenix, whose members included Harry and Neville's parents among others, which I founded to fight Voldermort" Dumbledore laid that option down.
"Or…" Padma asked.
"You can come with me; I will take you to the headquarters of the Lin Kuei. If you wish, my second in command will train you all personally and I'm sure we can find a wizard in Tibet to teach you magical defences" Sub Zero presented his offer.
"Would we be able to come back and help you fight?" Neville asked.
"Of course, in time" Dumbledore nodded.
"Can we talk about it?" Luna spoke for the first time since being told of her father's arrest.
"Of course, we shall wait outside for you" Dumbledore beckoned the other teachers outside so that the discussion could be private.
Ron, Dean and Seamus asked if they wanted them to leave also. The girls and Neville nodded; so the three young men left with the adults and waited. There was an oppressive silence outside the office as they awaited the decisions of the students in the office. Ron looked the most worried of all; if they accepted Sub Zero's offer, he'd not see Luna again for a very long time.
Then the door opened and they all trailed out, again, Parvati speaking for the group. They had all decided to take Sub Zero's offer. Ron bit his lip but if that was what Luna wanted to do, and if it would keep her safe then he was all for it. Dean and Seamus exchanged a look.
"Okay, pack only essential items, personal care and stuff like that" Sub Zero advised.
"Mad Eye, I need some fake identity papers for all of them and myself. No doubt the ministry is watching all magical transportation, so we'll be flying on a plane" Sub Zero explained.
"I can have them ready in an hour; all I need is a template. Got one?" Mad Eye asked.
Sub Zero handed Mad Eye a passport he used to travel to England. Dean and Seamus said a chaste goodbye to their respective crushes. Luna on the other hand gave Ron a kiss so powerful that he was breathing heavily when she finished and went with Mad Eye to assist in making the fake identity papers.
"Okay, you three return to Gryffindor common room" McGonagall ushered them back to the common room.
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Ron looked sullen as he re-entered the common room and just wanted to be alone for a few minutes. Dean and Seamus explained what had happened. Then they looked at Harry and asked him what the Order of the Phoenix was. Sighing, Harry and Hermione gave the two young men a full explanation: they figured Dumbledore wouldn't have mentioned it in front of them if he didn't trust them. By the end they wanted to sign up as well.
"And, who was the tall guy they're going with; he had the strange buddy in the black cloak?" Seamus asked.
"Don't worry, he's a good man. It was him that taught me what I did to Draco in the first Dark Arts class and for punishing Larry Lucktar" Harry said with a chuckle.
"He can really freeze things, permanently if he wants?" Dean's jaw was loose.
"Yeah, he can. And I'm sure you've noticed, he's creatively sadistic" Hermione recalled, grinning widely.
"So, shall we all go t Hogesmeade, I mean, we may as well?" Ginny asked, noticing the sombre mood taking root in the room.
"Yeah, I'm up for it. Anyone else?" Dean asked, looking around.
Harry and Hermione gave an affirmative nod; Seamus looked better for the suggestion and went to grab his scarf while Hermione and Ginny went to get changed. As they climbed the stairs, Harry went over and knelt next to Ron.
"You up for a butterbeer or two mate?" he asked.
"Nah, I just…"Ron took a breath and looked thoughtful, organising his next set of words.
"I feel as if I failed Luna in some way Harry. I should have been able to protect her, she shouldn't have had to leave the country to be safe; I feel like a coward" Ron explained, tears rolling down his face.
"Bollocks you were a coward, Ron. You stood toe to toe and were ready to fight with an Auror, I saw the look in your eyes mate. You would have taken him out if he moved an inch in the wrong direction" Harry stood up now, looking down at Ron.
"Maybe…I dunno, but I'll pass on the Hogsmeade trip Harry, I feel I'd make you all feel bad" Ron looked a little better from the compliment.
"Okay mate, you just sit and think. If you feel up to it, we'll probably be in the Three Broomsticks" Harry patted Ron's shoulder supportively before leaving with the others.
The trip through Hogwarts was an interesting trek on its own. By now the news of the arrests had spread through the school and since it was common knowledge that the group walking had reasonably close ties to all the children of the arrested people they were bombarded with glances and outright stares. Although some of the stares were at Hermione and Ginny, their hands intertwined.
'Wankers' Ginny thought as they exited the doors
Once in Hogsmeade itself, the atmosphere became very relaxed and some of the sadness melted away. They entered the Three Broomsticks and ordered butterbeer all around. Choosing a table, Harry also purchased some savoury snacks for the table.
They soon began drinking and telling stories, mainly of Seamus and his attempts at wooing Padma, especially after the incident at the Yule Ball. Although other ones were about Parvati's bizarre love of Divination and its eccentric teacher, Sybill Trelawny. Talk was however interrupted by the sudden appearance of Dobby the house elf.
"Dobby, what are you doing here?" Hermione asked.
"Forgive Dobby mistress, but he was asked by Dumbledore to deliver this letter to Harry Potter" Dobby presented Harry with an official looking letter from Gringotts.
"I wonder what this is all about" Harry wondered as he opened the letter.
A small ring fell out; nothing special, just a black stone ring. Shrugging, Harry read the letter. It had something to do with his vaults, or more accurately something in them and the matter needed quick resolution. The ring turned out to be a portkey.
"Well, looks like I'm off to Gringotts" Harry said and casually grabbed the ring
With a pop, he was gone.
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Harry stumbled as the portkey dropped him in Diagon Alley. Muttering to himself he approached Gringotts, Lupin was waiting for him. Smiling he gave Harry a hug and asked him how he was doing.
"Aside from the usual, I'm okay. Tonks isn't with you is she?" Harry asked hopefully.
"Afraid not, she's travelling with Sub Zero, to help break the ice so to speak" Lupin sniggered at Harry's forlorn look.
"Well, what is so important that you dragged me here on a Sunday, Lupin?" Harry asked.
"Follow me" Lupin walked inside, Harry close behind.
Once inside, a goblin that Harry recognised as Griphook greeted them. Lupin explained why they were there and asked to be taken to the Potter Family Vault. Griphook nodded and lead them to the cart system. Harry braced himself, remembering that the cart rides were easily able to pummel a man's stomach.
Once at the vault, Griphook told Lupin he was permitted only to continue with Harry's consent. Harry gave it.
"Very well, from this point on I am unable to follow" Griphook stood aside.
"Okay, here it goes" Harry cleared his throat.
"I am Harry James Potter. Heir the Potter estate" he stated loudly.
The vault's large doors opened with a thud. With trepidation, Harry and Lupin stepped over the threshold. As Harry remembered, the vault was full of gold, even more since a large amount of Sirius's estate had been transferred at the behest of his last will and testament. Though beyond the piles of gold lay a smaller chamber: above its door sat a sign 'Antiquities of the Potter Family'.
"Hey, wait a second" Harry grabbed his letter and reread part of it.
"The vault of family history, it must mean that thing" Harry shrugged and went up to the door.
The door was a large marble tablet with a single hold in its centre. The name Potter was engraved in cursive script on the top part of the door. As though he knew what to do, Harry placed his arm in the hole. For a few seconds, nothing happened: then a loud clicking noise echoed in the vault.
"Take your arm out" Lupin instructed.
"Okay" Harry obligingly removed his arm.
As he did so, the door creaked open to reveal what looked like a collection of artefacts from periods in Britain's history. Old books, pictures and even patent slips in glass frames adorned the walks and shelves. The most impressive item was the room's most central one: a sword.
"Lupin, what is this thing?" Harry asked.
"I don't know, bring it out here" Lupin replied a small smile on his face.
"Lazy sod" Harry grumbled and took hold of the hilt of the sword and withdrew it from its stand.
"Congratulations Harry, you've just proved you're a true Potter" Lupin was now grinning from ear to ear.
"And I did this how exactly?" Harry asked.
"That is no ordinary sword on your hand" Lupin was being torturously vague.
"Well what is it then?" Harry was getting frustrated.
"Excalibur. The sword of Kings and imbued with the magic of Merlin himself" Lupin let the bomb drop.
"Come again?" Harry asked, faltering on his feet.
"The sword you hold in your hand is Excalibur. Cutting through the romance of legends and such, the only concrete details we know for sure was that Arthur himself was a Muggle, but a just man. When the Saxons came to invade Britain, Arthur and his knights, really Sarmation cavalry, tried to fight them off but had a hard time doing it and broke is old sword" Lupin sat down on the steps leading up to the small vault, Harry sat beside him.
"So, what happened?" Harry asked.
Lupin began to retell the tale: Arthur did not know wizards, but Merlin knew he needed help to defeat the Saxons. So he approached Arthur and revealed himself as a blacksmith and offered to make Arthur the finest sword in the land. Arthur gratefully accepted the offer and Merlin constructed Excalibur using the strongest materials available, and imbued with ancient magic now lost to us. Then he asked a powerful witch whose name is not known to imbue some of her own power into it.
"But she was not sure if Arthur was worthy enough as he had not met him. So Merlin asked Arthur to a lake, near which the witch resided and Merlin asked Arthur a series of probing moral questions. Arthur answered truthfully and the witch was impressed, so she gave him the sword" Lupin looked at the sword itself as he finished.
"If I remember the legend correctly though, Arthur returned the sword to the Lady of the Lake, so how did it end up here?" Harry asked.
"No idea, but when James found out what it was, he went mental and had it put in here. He found it in a pile of junk in his attic" Lupin chuckled.
"He should have kept it, if he had, he may have been able to defeat Voldermort with it" Harry said bitterly.
"Or, if he hadn't, then Voldermort would be in control of a powerful weapon and he may have used it to kill you and since a sword is far less discriminatory than magic, we may not be here having this conversation" Lupin said, standing as he spoke.
"Come on, we need to get this to Hogwarts for Dumbledore to have a look at" Lupin beckoned Harry towards the door.
Harry stood up and placed Excalibur in a sheath he'd found beside it, and grabbed a few Galleons as he exited. Griphook was still waiting outside. When he saw the withdrawn item was a weapon he asked that it be placed in a box, allowing for the minimal fuss when he was in the street. Harry agreed and Griphook provided a large wooden box. Harry tried to shrink the item, but only the box shrank and was shattered by the sword.
"As I said, powerful magic now lost" Lupin said as Griphook replaced the box, although this time Harry did not bother to shrink it.
Once outside the bank, Lupin created a new portkey with a piece of the old box for Harry to return to Hogsmeade. After saying to Lupin, Harry gripped the portkey and soon felt that all to familiar tug at the naval before disappearing.
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-----------Heathrow Airport-----------------
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Sub Zero wondered if perhaps he was mad. Being in Heathrow was a most boring experience: he was fortunate that the clan owned a private jet under the name of a phoney Chinese corporation. It wouldn't have been so bad if he only had the Patil twins; their father often went on trips so they were used to seeing the technology in an airport. However, Neville and Luna were not.
"Ray, what does this do?" Neville pointed to the walk through metal detector.
"It picks up anything made of metal on the body, weapons or explosive devices. They are illegal on planes" Padma and Parvati had been Sub Zero's angels, helping him when he seemed frustrated.
"Oh, wow" Neville was endlessly fascinated by the computers that littered the waiting area.
'This is torture' Sub Zero thought, rubbing his throbbing temple.
"Call for private flight SZ1 to Tibet leaving at Gate 112" a stale voice announced.
"That's us, thank god. Come on, grab your luggage and lets go" Sub Zero leapt to his feet.
The four adolescents grabbed their hand luggage and walked towards their gate. As it was a private flight there was no line but they still had to pass through some security measures such as another metal detector. Fortunately, one the spells Moody had put on them would hide anything that would cause the devices to go off. Tonks had been staring into space and had to be roused by Luna.
"Oh, sorry" she whispered and hurried towards the gate, only to trip over some loose carpet.
"Come on Tonks, stop tripping over things would you" Sub Zero groaned.
"Well I'm sorry, Ray, I can't help it" she muttered through grit teeth.
"Perhaps you have a Dibble Dobber in the carpet" Luna said as an attendant looked over it.
"A what?" the woman asked.
"Luna. Stop bothering the lady at lets go" Sub Zero was scanning the crowd for anyone who looked like an Auror or an Enforcer.
Remembering what Neville mentioned about the badges, he concentrated on looking for one of them. Just as he was about to sigh in relief and walk through himself, Sub Zero caught a glint of a badge in the crowd. He hurried them onto the plane.
"What's the hurry?" Neville asked.
"I think there is an Enforcer in the crowd" Sub Zero whispered.
"I can take care of him, you lot just get on the plane" Tonks whispered, drawing her wand.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
"Easy stuff" Tonks smirked.
Sub Zero nodded and walked down the tunnel but kept a very sharp ear out in case Tonks needed his help, now wishing he'd arranged for a few of his London based men to wait in the airport.
"Madam, why aren't you boarding the plane?" the attendant asked.
"My name is Commander Tonks, MI6, my associate and I are escorting these children to Tibet, there is a man in the crowd who is trying to stop us" Tonks flashed a badge that showed her as an agent of MI6.
Tonks had changed her appearance to that of a sharp featured woman of early forties in age with silver hair. Tonks readied her wand, which was charmed to be seen by Muggles as a Stun Gun. Tonks zeroed in on the Enforcer, who had his wand drawn.
"Cease and desist" Tonks yelled levelling her wand.
"Stupefy!" The Enforcer threw the spell at Tonks.
"Amateur" Tonks grinned and rolled; firing a stunning spell.
The Enforcer ducked the spell also and caused panic. People started screaming and hugging the floor. Tonks took cover behind a wall, the Airport security now drawing guns and commanding the Enforcer to stand down. The Enforcer simply stunned them, deflecting bullets with a shield spell.
"Place your weapon on the ground" Tonks had memorised a few Muggle security phrases.
"They have to come with me" the Enforcer replied.
Tonks stood up and managed to hit the Enforcer with a Jelly Legs jinx. Smiling to herself she approached him and withdrew a pair of handcuffs and was about to make a show of arresting him.
"CRUCIO" The Enforcer hit Tonks with the Unforgivable curse of pain.
The pain hit Tonks like a fully laden freight train and dropped her like a stone. Casting the counter jinx on his legs that allowed him to stand again, the Enforcer walked over to Tonks, who was recovering from the pain.
"As you may have noticed, I am exempt from the Laws of Unforgivables. Crucio" he added another spell just for effect.
A sudden impact in the Enforcer's ribs caused him to fly to the side. Hanzo had evidently followed them to the airport. For the first time since meeting him again, Hanzo removed his cloak and covered Tonks with it.
He was wearing an outfit much like the one in Harry's dream. A black jumpsuit made of Kevlar and a polymer armoured vest and yellow loin cloth. A pair of large gauntlets on his hands.
"Crucio" The Enforcer hit Hanzo with the pain curse.
Hanzo barely flinched from the pain curse. Having spent much time in the Netherealm, pain was something he was very used to. The Enforcer then cast the Killing Curse. Tonks remembered Hanzo saying he'd been hit with it in Harry's dream, and like the dream, the curse did not affect him.
"You cannot kill the dead" Hanzo said as a kunai slipped into his hand.
The Enforcer did know what to do, this thing, whatever it was had immunity to the killing curse. In the end he decided that discretion was the better part of valour and began running away. Hanzo watching him and drew back the arm holding the knife. Then he screamed.
"GET OVER HERE!" and threw the knife violently.
Like a bullet from a gun, the knife flew towards its target: the Enforcer. No matter how far ahead he was, the knife caught up and embedded itself in his shoulder. The Enforcer screamed in agony as the sharp blade sliced him, causing him to drop his wand. Hanzo gave a violent tug on the rope that connected the knife to his suit. As if by supernatural means, this tug was enough to bring the knife back at high speed, with the Enforcer still on the other end.
"Who are you?" the man asked.
Hanzo grabbed the kunai handle and hefted the man into the air, causing him extreme pain. The Enforcer looked into Hanzo's soulless eyes and began quivering in fright, even soiling himself.
"I am Hanzo Hasashi, but you and all others will call me…" he paused and grabbed his mask.
"Scorpion" he finished and hefted his mask off; making the Enforcer nearly faint.
A skull engulfed in flames with blood red orbs for eyes stared back at him: its grin demonic and almost crazed. Scorpion opened his mouth and drew in oxygen, the Enforcer thought he was going to spit on him. He was partially right. Scorpion heaved forward engulfing the hapless man in flame, dropping him on the ground.
"Fatality" Scorpion muttered, replacing his mask.
Tonks watched Scorpion out of her blurry eyes. She couldn't quite reconcile this, sadistic murdering persona with the fun loving man she knew many years ago. She knew that he was a hired killer but, she was unsure what had he become.
"We should get out of here. No doubt the authorities will arrive soon, as well as some of your Aurors" Scorpion picked up Tonks.
"What happened to you?" she asked, having never gotten an answer the first time.
"That is a tale for later, now you need rest and attention" Scorpion admonished softly
Scorpion concentrated and was able to teleport them both back to Hogwarts; his demonic powers subverting the Anti-Apparating wards.
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He materialised in the Great Hall, in the middle of dinner. Harry, seeing his girlfriend unconscious in her godfather's arms, bolted like a mad man towards her and Scorpion.
"Hanzo, what happened?" Harry asked, remembering how to check for a pulse.
"An Enforcer attempted to intercept Sub Zero and the others, he and the young ones left, Tonks stayed behind to battle him" Scorpion gently lay Tonks down, and awaited a healer.
"You followed them?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Sub Zero is an excellent warrior and assassin; however he is somewhat inept at smuggling anything he cannot hide on his person or in ice" Scorpion admitted.
"What about the Enforcer, surely he'll report what he saw" Harry said.
"I assure you, that particular course of events will not occur" Scorpion dismissed the Harry's worry.
The Hall was abuzz with talk, but some one noticed the house Ghosts, including the Bloody Baron, floating away in fear. The student in question was Draco Malfoy and he soon saw where the stares were directed: the man in the middle of the hall.
"What the hell are you four so scared of?" he demanded.
"It is he, the demon of the Netherealm, warrior of the living dead…" the Fat Friar got all dramatic.
"It is Scorpion, ruler of the Netherealm" Nearly Headless Nick gasped.
'I best take my leave' Scorpion though and again teleported himself.
"Thanks, Scorpion" Harry muttered as he knelt beside Tonks, listening for her breathing.
Madam Pomfrey bustled into the Hall with some supplies and began checking Tonks over. She gasped and whispered to Harry that Tonks had been subjected to the Cruciatus curse twice. Harry's features tensed when he heard that; he knew the pain of that curse very well.
"Come, Professors could I ask you assistance in moving Auror Tonks to the infirmary please?" Madam Pomfrey asked.
"Of course, Poppy" McGonagall transfigured a bench into a stretcher for Tonks and Flitwick and Hagrid gently lifted her onto it.
"Locomotor" Madam Pomfrey performed the rather handy spell on the stretcher.
Harry went to go with them as McGonagall and Hagrid accompanied Madam Pomfrey and Tonks' floating form. Dumbledore quickly grabbed Harry's shoulder and shot him a warning look. Dumbledore knew most students would base Harry's earlier actions on his helpful and brave nature, but to follow would indicate more than he should. Snape slid up beside them.
"Not much of an Auror is she?" he muttered.
"Now, Severus there is no-" Dumbledore was cut by an angry voice.
"Shut up Snape" Harry growled
"I'm warning you, Potter, and it's Professor Snape to you" Snape glared at Harry with pursed lips.
"And I'm warning you: if you ever, ever, insult Tonks again Snape, mark my words, you will not know what hit you" Harry snarled at the Defence Teacher, his fists balled.
"Ah, hit a nerve have I, Potter?" Snape asked, smirking smugly.
Harry looked about three seconds from attacking Snape with his bare hands. Fortunately Dumbledore stepped between them both with a stern look upon his face.
"Harry. Go up to your dorm and rest, today has been taxing, to say the least" Dumbledore stressed his displeasure at them both.
Harry huffed away, still glaring as he stormed upstairs. Snape and Malfoy watched him curiously while Dumbledore was a bit sad. Harry had stabilised somewhat in the recent month, thanks in no small part to his blossoming relationship with Tonks. However now she was hurt and Harry was in possession of a very powerful weapon.
"Severus, I must ask that you stop antagonising Harry, it is not a productive course of action" Dumbledore requested.
"Hmm" Snape did not reply and merely walked away, Draco following closely behind.