Disclaimer: I own no part of Harry Potter or its associated canon nor, any other already copyrighted material.

(A/N):

Chapter 14

Bloodless Battle

It was quite a trick for Harry and Ginny to get back to their beds without raising suspicion, but with judicious use of his cloak and the Marauder's Map they managed it. Dean, Neville and Seamus had grown used to Harry sneaking out at all hours and made no comment when he snuck back in just before dawn. He managed to catch another hour of sleep before the alarm went off and pulled him from peaceful dreams. Getting dressed he met Ginny in the common room and headed for breakfast.

The training the students had been engaging in both in and out of class paid off that morning as all of the five person teams the students had organized finished the ten lap circuit in a time that seemed to satisfy the professor. Ginny had extended the team concept to the DA meetings as well. She had broken the Army into groups of five that each consisted of three seventh year students and two fourth, fifth or sixth year students. She had taken care to match up students based on ability to form balanced teams. This system was working out well so far with seven groups formed. Each squad had chosen a leader from amongst their number that commanded the team during their head to head training sessions.

She had even taken the army theme further and named them the 1st through 7th squads. She chose those who had demonstrated the best abilities and formed them into the 1st squad with herself. It consisted of Seamus and Dean, both of whom had demonstrated surprising dueling skill, Terry Boot who was proving adept at stronger shielding charms, and finally Dennis Creevy who was showing remarkable aptitude with some of the basic healing spells they had practiced. The trio stood outside the groups, denoting their status as commander and advisors. After taking the title of Lieutenant of Dumbledore's army she had been trying to force the title of General on Harry. He had avoided the label and even tried to push it off onto Ron. Ron however had wanted nothing to do with it. Instead he had a stroke of brilliance that even made Harry chuckle.

"Captain."

"Captain?"

"Yep. Don't you see? If someone calls you that around a teacher or something they'll just think everyone's longing for Quiddich! You are the team captain after all." Even Hermione looked approving at the idea.

From that point on Harry was officially a Captain in Dumbledore's Army. So far the cover had worked well, even McGonagall questioned whether they were that sad at not having the inter house play. Little did she know that the houses were still actively competing. Only now it was with a wand instead of a broom. Someone had created a scoring system for the duels they participated in both in class and in DA training and the action was fast and furious.

Having moved on to the practice dueling part of the morning everyone did there best to score points for their house. Such was the skill being displayed that even some of the other teachers were watching from windows and walkways as classes let out for lunch.

Returning to class after a meal and a change of clothes they found the room had been rearranged. The desks, chairs, bookcases and benches had all been stacked on the dais and the training set ups had disappeared. Instead, thirty stools sat near the dais in a rough arc. Professor Keystone stood near the wall looking over a poster sized list. He turned as the bell rang and class commenced once again.

"Welcome back. I am pleased and rather surprised at the progress you've all made resisting the Imperius curse. Most of you have either managed to resist its effects or have learned as much as I can teach. As such we will no longer be practicing during class. If there are enough people who would like additional lessons I will schedule a time after class. Now, I said before that our next focus would be on Inferi. We'll begin that next week. Since you've all shown such remarkable improvement in your dueling skills, I've decided today will be a mid term evaluation." Several of the students, now seated or standing near the stools, looked suddenly apprehensive.

"Since the only fair way to test you is for everyone to have a common opponent, you'll all be facing me in two person teams. I've listed you by desk," he waved his wand toward the list which filled in with text; "in the order you'll be tested. For the purposes of this exam Miss Tonks will supervise and any duel will end immediately on her word. I repeat, if she says stop you will immediately cease all spells. Understand?" The class nodded as one and Tonks actually grinned a little. "Good. Now, I'll give you a few minutes to prepare yourselves." He gestured to the list and stepped away.

The class rushed as one to the front of the room to find out where they would be testing. Harry heard Neville groan on finding that he and Luna would be the first group to face the instructor. Looking down the list he found his name next to Ginny on the very bottom. Just above them were Ron and Hermione. The rest of the class, after firmly figuring out where they were listed, again sat down, leaving Neville and Luna alone at the side of the room. Luna lazily drew her wand and waited. Neville seemed to focus himself a little and his head came up firmly as he drew his wand.

The professor stretched a little and drew his wand as well. Flipping it from hand to hand he twirled it a few times and gripped it firmly. "Ready?" At the simultaneous nod from the students he raised his hand. "Now remember…don't hold back. Anything goes except Unforgivables. I won't go easy on any of you and I fully expect you to do your best to take me out." He waited until they acknowledged that before continuing. "Good. Now…begin. Expelliarmus!" The spell was a cast a split second later and Neville just managed to dodge it. Keystone didn't wait for him to recover before launching more spells at the pair.

Pair after pair faced the brutal onslaught of the Professor's dueling skills. Nearly all of the duels went in three stages. First was the opening where each side was fairly stationary while probing the other's defenses. The heart of the duel involved a good deal of movement and running around the room dodging and blocking while launching quick counter strikes. Endgame came when one side, so far always the students, made a critical mistake that started them on the slope to losing. Thought they had all been defeated, none of the other students were badly hurt and the Professor had quickly repaired any serious damage, showing a level of medical aptitude Harry found surprising. Keystone addressed the unspoken thought as he fixed a bump on Lavender's head that had been acquired when a stupefying spell sent her to the ground.

"We had to learn a fair degree of medical spells while we were training back in the States. Pretty bad stuff can happen in a duel and you're not always near a medi-witch or a hospital." Lavender nodded in confirmation that the spot felt better and headed back to her seat. "Now…who's next?" Ron stood and led Hermione out to the floor. She seemed to be focusing hard on the professor, trying to figure out which way to attack him. "Begin."

Within only a few attacks Ron's strategic mind became evident as he signaled Hermione which way to move. Working as a team with one shielding and the other attacking they actually managed to keep Keystone off balance. Even he couldn't duel so many different opponents and not be worn down. After blocking a long series of rapid fire attacks from both of them he turned to counter attack and launch a spread of spells at Ron. Instead of blocking as he had done for much of the match, Ron dove to the side and launched an Expelliarmus before rolling across the floor. Surprised, the Professor was hit square in the chest and thrown back a few feet, his wand sailing though the air and landing in Ron's hand.

The whole class cheered at what seemed to be a win for the students. Instead of conceding though, Keystone jabbed his open hand toward Ron, focusing on his head. Before Ron could do more than raise an eyebrow quizzically at the action, a solid steel helmet collided with the back of his head and threw him face first onto the floor, out cold. Grabbing the helm with his open had the professor spun around, his other hand reaching toward Ron. "Accio wands!" Blocking Hermione's stupefying spell with the armor he threw it at her forcing her to dodge to the side. The wands Ron had dropped now fell into his hands. Twirling one in each he now focused all of his force on Hermione. Alternately casting rapid fire spells from both he began to wear down the shield she had just managed to raise. Half a dozen colors of light splayed across the shield as he struck like a boxer, right, left, right, right, left. Finally the shield collapsed and he raised both wands for the finishing move.

Harry leapt to his feet to put a stop to it. "Stay where you are Potter! You're next." Preparing what appeared to be a rather nasty piece of work he aimed at the kneeling Hermione and waited. A second later the spell vanished and he dropped the wands to his side. Sheathing his own he stepped forward and offered her a hand. "Excellent work…right up to the end." Helping her to her feet he moved over and tended Ron. Also helping him up, he spoke again. "I'm impressed. So far the best effort in a class of good efforts. Now…who can tell me what they did wrong? Why did they loose?" No one answered for a moment until Harry spoke.

"They didn't finish you off."

"Correct Potter. They assumed I was no longer dangerous without a wand. For the most part they're right. Only a very few wizards in history could cast magic effectively without a wand. I can't do it very well. However, there is one spell which has consistently shown to be just as strong with or without. It's what I used to win. What was it?" Hermione this time spoke.

"Accio."

"Correct. Most useful for summoning your wand of course so you can perform other magic, it can also be put to…other uses. Something to keep in mind. Every spell has its intended use…and then it has other things it can be used for. For instance, using the summoning charm to win a duel. Not the intended use, but pretty damn effective. Don't you agree Mr. Weasley?"

"Yes sir."

"Next time a wizard stabs his hand toward your head in a fight, you're going to duck, aren't you?"

"Yes sir."

"Then you've learned today's lesson. Expect the unexpected. Now…I believe we have one more pair of students on the schedule." He glanced over to the poster that had been crossing itself off as each pair went. Only the last two names were still clearly shown. "Miss Weasley, Mr. Potter, if you would be so kind as to join me." Harry and Ginny rose, walking toward the side of the floor. They had been watching carefully and Harry was pretty sure they had figured out how to beat him. "Begin." Nothing happened. Instead of attacking first they stood side by side and waited for his assault. Surprised, he none the less obliged them. The first volley was brutal but had little effect on their overlapping shield charms. "I see…very clever. Guess I'll just have to take things to the next level."

He launched the same attacks only this time they were much stronger and battered on the shield. Relenting after several moments he only had a second to rest before the pair, both with Seeker reflexes, dashed up to him and took alternating swings with their fists. He ducked and weaved as the surprise physical assault mounted. Though not practiced hand to hand fighters, the pair nonetheless managed a decent set of strikes. Leaning back to avoid a right hook from Ginny he felt a hand close on his sword hilt. "I wouldn't do that." Spinning and pulling away he felt the sword come loose of its sheath. For a heartbeat the glittering silver steel blade that had so far always been concealed in its sheath shone brightly. All eyes were drawn to the spotless shine as it began a haphazard slice through the air. A second later the tell tale blast of a repelling charm sent Harry back across the floor and Alex had the blade back in its home before Harry hit the floor.

Free of one opponent the Professor turned and hit Ginny square in the chest with a stupefying spell at point blank range. The girl let out a horrible gasp before flying back several feet and falling stone cold to the floor. "GINNY!" The professor turned back, stunned as the rest of the class was at the sudden ferocity in Harry's voice. The student raised his wand and focused on the teacher with crystal clear eyes, blazing with vengeance. Keystone's own wand came up as did his other hand, together summoning a shield charm so powerful that energy actually crackled around its shape as it formed.

"EXPELLIARMUS!" The raw power behind Harry's spell was evident from the shaking in his arm as it was cast. Streaking across the room it hit the super shield and froze for a split second before smashing though and throwing the surprised professor twenty feet in the air, spinning rapidly. He hit the wall face first a moment later and slid down to land flat on his back, wand dropping into Harry's hand. Dashing over the young wizard pinned the professor's hand with one foot and held both wands to the man's throat, rage clear in his eyes. Tonks was belatedly on her feet at this point, obviously readying to call a halt to the match.

To the surprise of much of the class, Professor Keystone actually began to chuckle. "Damn… Very good Mr. Potter. You win. I concede." His eyes flicked in Ginny's direction. "Go take care of your partner." Harry dropped the man's wand on his chest and rushed over to revive Ginny. As he helped her back to her seat, the professor rose and wiped a trickle of blood from the corner of his mouth with the back of his hand. A wave of his other hand made it vanish. Finding no other lasting injury, he approached the class.

"Impressive. Every single one of you has shown incredible competency in dueling for your age. I believe five points are in order, for each of you." Eyes widened around the room as people quickly counted up members of each house. Harry was half sure he could hear the topaz, sapphires and rubies draining down into the bottom of the magical hourglasses. A moment later the chime of the clock tower bell crossed the school, signaling the end of class. "And now, your well earned rest. Oh, one more thing before you go. The Headmistress has decided that, since Halloween is on a Friday this year and it's been such a stressful time lately, you will be given the day off from classes." Outright cheers greeted this announcement as the class broke up to head for their common rooms. "See you next week."

Harry caught up to the others a few minutes later near the entrance. He had stayed behind to speak to Tonks about the Order. Matching their speed, Harry glanced up at the hourglasses and smiled at the lead it looked like Gryffindor had taken. Ron was smiling widely over the day off.

"Wow…a day off. What am I gonna do with myself? I know! I'll sleep!"

"You want to sleep through your one day off?"

"Sure do sis. How 'bout you mate?"

"Actually…I was thinking of something else. Don't get me wrong, sleep sounds like a wonderful idea, but we do have more pressing matters to attend to. Certain things to find." His tone wiped the smile right off Ron's face. Hermione turned back to him.

"Really? You mean, you think you might know…?"

"Yeah. Listen, we'll talk about it later. You two need to put in your appearances around the school and catch a couple misbehaving students. I'm sure someone's got their hands on some Weasley fireworks you could confiscate. I'll talk to you in…say an hour? We can meet at your rooms." Ron and Hermione nodded and split off headed for their duties.

"And what are you going to do?"

"I have to talk to McGonagall about something. It shouldn't take long though. Meet me in the common room in half an hour?"

"Sure." With a kiss, she was gone and Harry started his trek up to the Headmistress's office. Reaching the gargoyle he realized he didn't know the password. After a minute of thinking he looked up.

"Albus." The stone creature jumped aside and Harry made his way to the door. Knocking twice he received the sharp report of McGonagall's voice telling him to enter. Stepping through the doorway he glanced around the room. It was much the same as Dumbledore had left it, almost as if she was afraid to move anything. The various portraits looked down on him from the wall. Reaching the desk it was unnerving to see Dumbledore there. The now deceased professor looked up through his half moon spectacles. Glancing down Harry could see his hand was still whole in the portrait.

"Hello Harry."

"Hello sir." There was something different there though…the eyes. While they still had the same mischievous twinkle, they no longer held the depth of wisdom Harry had always associated with the man. It was like looking as a ghost of man. Harry quickly revised to a looking at a shell of the man. From behind him, the new Headmistress spoke.

"Yes Harry? What can I do for you?" He turned away from the vapidly smiling face and addressed her.

"I need something from you. Something only the Headmistress can create."

"What?"

"I need a port key that will take me, Ron and Hermione from the school to somewhere outside the apparition barrier, probably Hogsmeade, and back." Her face showed concern now, wondering what he could want with that.

"Why? What is it you're planning to do…? Wait…this is about your mission….isn't it."

"Yes. I need to be able to leave the school undetected and return as well. It's as much for the school's safety as mine. Some people are reassured that I'm here. If I start disappearing then that goes away. Not to mention it might attract the attention of the Ministry."

"That's a lot to ask without telling me where you're going and what you're doing. Albus was an extremely strong wizard and managed to keep almost everything concerning you from joining the portrait's memories. All it will tell me is that you have a mission and I should assist you. You can't tell me why?"

"I would like to. I really would. Unfortunately I made a promise to Dumbledore that I have no intention of breaking." She nodded, resigning herself to accepting that answer. Rising she reached into a cabinet behind the desk and pulled out a tea cup.

A tap of her wand and it transfigured into a large brass key. She set it on her desk and clearly intoned, "Portus." The key glowed blue and rumbled for a moment and then was still again. She handed it over. "Here. It'll take you straight to Zonko's. He's been closed for months and isn't likely to be open anytime soon." He took the portkey and cocked an eye at noticing it was nearly a carbon copy of the key he had had to catch first year to reach the Philosopher's Stone. "I don't suppose you'd tell me when…"

"Friday. We'll leave mid morning and should be back by dinner." She nodded slowly.

"Good luck with…whatever it is."

"Thanks." Turning, he headed out and made his way back to the Gryffindor common room. After dropping off his robes and spending a very pleasurable twenty minutes with Ginny, they headed for Ron and Hermione's room. They arrived as the other pair did and all four made their way in together. Taking their customary seats, Hermione was the first to ask.

"So…Harry, you've got a lead on another Horcrux?"

"I think I do. Last year Dumbledore showed me memories of Voldemort, Tom Riddle, that he had collected trying to figure out how to beat him. One was his own when he was first sent out to deliver Tom's Hogwarts letter personally. He was living in a muggle orphanage, had been ever since his mother died the night he was born. He had already developed certain tendencies that, while concerning, weren't cause for immediate alarm. One thing that was revealed was his convincing of two children to follow him into a seaside cave. There he did something that neither has been able to recall, but that both suffered the effects of. That cave is where Dumbledore and I went last year the night the school was attacked and where we found that locket." They each displayed varied amounts of surprise at this.

"Now, the orphanage was the first place Tom ever saw magic preformed by a real wizard. He, according to Dumbledore, has a tendency to hide his Horcrux in places personally important to him such as the cave. I think there's a better than fair chance that the cup, or some other Horcrux, is hidden somewhere in that orphanage. Possibly in his old room. That's where I want to go Friday. To the orphanage to either recover the cup or cross it off our list of possibilities." Harry knew without asking that the other two would accompany him. They had long passed the point where the question even needed to be thought of. Truth be told, they had probably passed it first year.

"Okay…now how do we get out of the castle without being spotted? Even the secret passages are being watched by the Aurors, if only by coincidence." Harry smiled at the question and pulled out the key.

"With this. It's a portkey. McGonagall made it for me. It'll take us to Zonko's and back. We can apparate from there."

"Does she…"

"No. Fortunately she has faith in Dumbledore's choices and didn't press for an answer. Now, I remember the address from the memory…more or less. Hermione, I trust you'll be able to figure out the best way for us to get there?" She nodded in response, her mind already turning. "The orphanage was half broke down back then. It's likely to be a ruin by now. I figure we leave mid morning and we can be back by dinner." They nodded and he turned to Ginny, wondering how hard it would be to convince her to stay behind.

"Well then, I'll be sure to an extra close eye on the place while you're gone." He smiled reflexively at her sudden response. "Just remember to take your coins." He nodded in response.

"Of course. Just make sure nothing happens while we're gone."

"I'll do my best. So…anything else?"

"I think that's it…"

The next three days of class were all underlined by the constant thought of Friday and what it could mean. Hermione had wasted no time in her research and had had their route all planned out. Ron had been tasked with collecting a few things that might prove useful. Ginny, with help from the Map, had been carefully studying the layout of castle, taking her guardian duties very seriously. No one else yet knew what they planned and hopefully they would be back before anyone knew they were gone.

Harry went to sleep Thursday night and for once Ginny wasn't the dominant player in his dreams. Instead, his subconscious created a thousand variations on the traps and pitfalls that might await him should there indeed be a Horcrux in the orphanage. Of all the scenarios his mind came up with, some which required another sacrifice, this time his friends, the worst was the thought it was not there and that he would have to search elsewhere.

(A/N): If you feel it is warranted feel free to review. I welcome any and all opinions.