by FIRE
A/N: Thanks to Bill for the beta
Secrecy's Retribution
"Where are you going?" asked Ginny one evening as she noticed Harry hurriedly adjusting his uniform as she emerged from the bathroom.
"Justin and Zacharias have been captured," said Harry. "We're going to rescue them."
He fastened the broomstick to his back, using his wand to fasten the strings around it, picked up Godric Gryffindor's sword and left the bungalow.
"Wait!" Ginny called as she followed him from the bungalow.
At the main gates, she found that all the fighting forces were assembled. Harry jumped up onto the platform with Remus and Tonks to address his fighters.
"Good evening," he said looking out over the crowd. "Two of our Knights have been captured and our first priority is to get them back. We will infiltrate the enclave under the cover of darkness. The Knights will go out first, with the First Unit following about twenty minutes behind. The First Unit's primary task will be to set up a close perimeter around the north, west and south of Riverstein's enclave. The main routes to and from the enclave are to be shut down – no traffic in or out! Elements of the First Unit under Commander Lupin will also enter the enclave in support of the Knights. East of the enclave is very rough terrain, with only minor escape routes through it. Therefore, Second Unit is to keep a sharp watch for anybody trying to escape the enclave to the east. If Riverstein attempts to leave, these are his most likely exit points." Tonks raised a large, enhanced map of the enclave. Harry indicated six exits by lighting each in turn with his wand.
"Before we enter the enclave," continued Harry. "the Knights will cast anti-apparition charms across the skyline and also block the floo network using Captain Flitwick's spell. This should mean that we can control the evacuation stream. First and Second Units will then launch a demonstration attack on the enclaves. The more loud bangs and bright flashes the better, but be careful not to press too closely. We don't want to have to rescue any of you as well!"
"You all know the rules," said Remus. "Aim to stun and disarm only. Do not kill unless you have no other option. Commander McGonagall will make sure the ground staff are prepared to fend off any attack which might come once the main forces have left. Take care of your own lives. Thank you."
The three commanders stepped down from the platform. Harry made his way through the crowd to where he could see Ginny watching.
"I want to come with you," she said, her eyes pleading.
"I need you to stay here," he said. "You will be perfectly safe. If an attack comes you must defend yourself, do not try to be heroic, okay? You're still not strong enough. Look after yourself, the others are well trained enough to cope. Just make sure that you are still here when I get back."
"Harry," Ginny said, taking his hand. "I don't want you to go."
"You know that I have to," said Harry.
"Please be careful," pleaded Ginny. "Riverstein is as ruthless as Voldemort, but he has far more support. If he finds you, he will kill you, and if you die, there is no hope of ever defeating him."
"I won't let him kill me," said Harry. "I will kill him first."
"What if you find Ron?" asked Ginny.
A shadow crossed Harry's face.
"I won't confront him," he said. "I will not harm my best friend."
Harry wrapped his arms around Ginny and kissed the top of her head.
"Do not fear for me," he whispered. "I will come back."
He kissed her lips briefly before turning away to leave with the other warriors. Wishing that she could join them, Ginny watched as almost the entire army of the Brothers of Freedom marched through the compound gates, knowing that there was a strong possibility that many would not come back.
With the charms in place, the Free Knights, led by Harry Potter, sneaked through a secret entrance underneath the west wall of the enclave. They knew of two possible places where their spies could be held.
Once in the enclave, operating in total darkness, the Knights split into two groups. One group headed for the current prison in the south-east corner, and the other group headed for Riverstein's palace which was situated in the very heart of the enclave.
Harry led his group through a secret passageway, which, from the plans they had obtained, they knew led straight into the palace dungeons. Three lit their wands which provided enough light for them all to see by.
"Harry," whispered Neville, coming up alongside Harry. "What do we do if Justin and Zacharias are dead?"
"Retrieve their bodies," said Harry. "We'll give them a proper burial."
"Quiet," muttered Anthony from behind them. "I hear voices above us."
"We're under the main government buildings now," whispered Harry, checking his map in the wandlight. "It is not far."
They continued on in silence until they had cleared the new ministry headquarters.
"When will Remus and his fighters be arriving?" asked Colin.
Harry checked his watch.
"We should reach the palace dungeon within the next two minutes. Remus's arrival will be simultaneous with our break-in," he said, noticing an unmarked passageway, separating off from the one they were following.
With a wave of his wand, he added the new information to his map in the hope that one day it would be useful. Less than two minutes later, they reached a stone wall at the end of the passage.
"Wands out," Harry hissed to the other two light-bearers, leaving his own wand as the only light.
Very quickly and in complete silence, Neville and Dennis levitated enough stones out of the wall for the Knights to climb through.
"Nox," Harry whispered, before being the first to climb through the wall.
He found himself in a dingy prison, standing in a tight corridor between two rows of cells. Taking two steps forward he signalled for the others to follow. One by one, the Free Knights climbed through the hole they had made, which Anthony, as the last one through, sealed back up with a flick of his wand. Moving with simultaneous, light footsteps the Free Knights slowly made their way down the dark corridor with Harry checking every corner before they moved. Soon, they reached the staircase leading up into the main palace.
Using a spell, engineered by Minerva McGonagall and himself, Harry was able to see onto the level above to make sure that they would not be spotted. For a moment, the Knights had to wait, until Harry whispered a quick "all clear."
Leading the way up the staircase, Harry instructed the Knights to flatten themselves against a wall when they reached the main part of the building. Sliding along the wall under a disillusionment spell, the Knights were almost invisible. With each of them casting scanning spells as they passed different rooms, they were able to detect any trace of people, whether friend or foe.
"Still," ordered Harry in a whisper, as he detected several guards heading their way.
The Knights watched as five goons sprinted outside muttering angrily about the "bloody rebels." Once the threat had passed, Harry and the Knights continued silently on, continuing to scan the rooms as they passed.
Moving on up to the second level, they encountered more people, more of Riverstein's faithful.
"Harry," came a low voice from somewhere down the line.
"What is it, Horatio?" Harry replied in a whisper.
"I think I've found them," Horatio told the others.
"Where?" asked Neville.
"Third room down the left passage," said Horatio.
"Ok," said Harry. "We'll split up. Horatio, Colin and Dennis take the left passage. Neville, Seamus, Dean, Francis and James double back the way we've come from. Matt, Alex, David and Keith follow the passage on the right-hand side, and the rest of us will move up to the next level. Remove the disillusionment charm to see if we can spread the guards out a bit."
One by one, the Knights became properly visible once again and separated off into groups. Harry, along with John, Anthony and Maximillian, moved quickly up to the second floor of the palace building. Within moments they were being chased by a group of four guards. Without even glancing at one another, the four Knights separated, and were followed by one guard each. Harry sprinted down a long corridor, turned right, climbed a staircase and sprinted along a corridor to the left where he ran straight into Remus Lupin.
"What're you doing here?" asked Harry.
"Following Riverstein," said Remus.
"He was alone?" asked Harry, in surprise.
"I thought that was strange too," said Remus.
"Well, he mustn't have gone this way," said Harry while Remus casually stunned Harry's pursuer. "I'd have seen him."
They both turned to glance down the only other route their adversary could have taken.
"Together?" said Harry.
"Absolutely," said Remus. "But be careful. This has to be a trap."
The two men made their way down the corridor checking every room as they went. Almost at the end of the corridor, about six rooms down, the two found Alfred Riverstein standing facing the door, with none other than Bill Weasley at his side. Harry saw Riverstein's plan immediately. He was hoping that Harry's affection for the Weasleys would prevent Harry from using any spells which caused a large amount of damage, for fear of hurting Bill. Harry also considered the possibility that there were other Weasleys too, or at the very least other goons, lurking just out of sight. He could feel a prickling on the back of the neck which he often felt when being watched by unseen eyes.
Drawing their wands, Harry and Remus entered the room.
"I have no quarrel with you, Bill," said Harry. "Step aside."
"Not a chance," said Bill menacingly. "I'm not going to let you kill the Minister the way you killed my sister."
"Who told you that I killed your sister?" Harry asked, surprised.
"Someone that I trust," said Bill.
"Then you put your loyalties with the wrong people," said Remus.
He raised his wand further and pointed it at Riverstein's chest. However, before he could even utter the spell, Bill hit him with a slicing hex, straight through the heart.
"No!" screamed Harry.
Riverstein laughed maniacally as he watched the blood-covered body of Remus Lupin hit the floor with a thump. He and Bill both raised their wands at Harry. With quicker reflexes than the older two, Harry shot out with anger.
"Avada Kedavra!"
For the first time in his life, Harry Potter cast the killing curse. The room filled with a brilliant green light. Harry heard the rushing wind, the sound of speeding death, as the jet of green light made its way towards the tyrant, but before it could reach its mark, it was intercepted by the torso of Bill Weasley, who fell to the floor lifeless.
Harry stared in shock and horror at the limp body of his former friend.
"It's just you and me now, Potter," said Riverstein silkily.
He pointed his wand at Harry whose own wand hung uselessly at his side.
"Bow to death, Harry," growled Riverstein. "It might even be painless. I would not know. I have never died."
Harry looked up at his enemy, his eyes widening.
"You were there?" he whispered.
Riverstein's upper lip curled.
"I find graveyards to be fascinating places," sneered Riverstein. "It's amazing what one can accomplish by hiding behind a tombstone."
Harry was seething. He couldn't believe that Riverstein was standing in front of him, openly admitting that he had been in league with Voldemort, and almost the whole of the wizarding world was standing beside him and supporting him.
"Stupefy!" Harry quickly threw a stunner at Riverstein, knocking him off guard.
He could hear movements behind the large pillars in the room, which confirmed his earlier suspicions. Not daring to linger any longer for fear of capture, Harry quickly lifted Remus' body and carried his friend away from the palace. He met with soldiers from the First Unit, who helped him leave the city by the quickest route, without interruption. Harry maintained concentration long enough to disapparate back to the Brothers of Freedom's designated apparition point, before the enormity of what happened hit him.
Remus, his father's old friend, the last of the Marauders, was dead.
In a daze, Harry made his way back to the compound. Many of the troops had already returned now that their main objective was completed, and they gathered on either side of the pathway as Harry carried their fallen commander to the courtyard at the centre of their fortress. He laid Remus's body on a slightly raised concrete slab, which the students usually used as a bench when they had free time, and knelt beside him.
"Say hello to my parents, Sirius, Dumbledore and Hermione for me," he whispered quietly, a lone tear falling down his cheek. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you, Remus. I underestimated Bill. I thought that he would show compassion to us, his old allies, but I was wrong. I failed you and I failed the Brothers. Goodbye, my friend."
He rested his hand for a moment of Remus' forehead before rising and scanning the crowd. As if through water, Harry saw Ginny come towards him and he felt her embrace. He did not return the hug though. Instead, he took a step back from her and looked at her with deep sorrow.
"I killed a man today, Ginny," he said, almost choking on his words. "It was Bill, your brother."