A silver-blonde man walked up to the desk and stood at attention. "Sir, the abduction was a failure and the second attack has just commenced."
The man at the desk listened to the report with no interest. He smoked his cigar for a long breath before he took it out and set it on its tray. The soldier looked at the richly dressed man waiting for a response. The sitting man finally looked up from his papers. "The failure is fine. A message was sent and if this second mission is a failure as well, there is no problem. We have all the time in the world."
"Sir, if I may speak freely?" The young man sneered at the smell of the cigar. It was a noxious muggle thing that stunk the air. He managed not to choke on the smell when he addressed his client.
"It is what I am paying you for, of course you may Malfoy." Draco Malfoy lowered his head. It was hard to accept orders from lower class people like his current employer. As a fugitive with no claim to a title and no money, he had little choice but to choose the life of a mercenary.
"Is it wise to provoke Potter in such a way?" Malfoy's breath was even.
The man smiled. "Potter is simply a wounded dog. He will bite the hand that feeds him just like any other mongrel. All he needs is the right persuasion. Just one out burst by him is all we need. Just one and we can proceed with the rest of our plans."
Draco nodded and left thinking the man a fool. A rich fool, but a fool none the less.
Chapter 3 Broken Ink
Harry looked at the wizards in blue robes who surrounded him and his daughter. Each one had no hood and a wand pointed at him, not his daughter. Several spells were aimed at him and he saw his daughter notice the focus was on him and not her. Harry dodged three hexes before two caught his leg. Alice concentrated her magic and raised four stone walls around the two of them.
"That's not going to hold dad." They both could hear the stone cracking under the pressure of forty wands attacking from all sides.
"It's enough time." Harry gripped his gloved hands. The gloves were used to refocus his now 'thin' magic as he had come to call it. He felt the magic pour through his minds' hands and re-channel it. Harry raised his hand and began to wave it in a circle. Harry smiled weakly when he felt the trash around the alley respond to the spell. The new wall began to obscure the wizards' view of the stone walls. Harry kept moving his right hand in a large circle. Rock from the wall, trash and dirt began to be pulled to the spinning shield that he had created. "When I say, 'now', banish the walls." Harry took a deep breath and the spinning winds around the stone walls slowed. "Now." Alice raised her wand at one wall at a time forcing the wall into hundreds of stone projectiles in every direction. Harry grunted as he forced the spinning vortex to pick up speed again.
The shield Harry made was only able to block the wizards view. Alice saw the limitations of the wall and pointed Rin to one side of Harry and she moved to the other. Three wizards managed not to be hurt too badly passing through the spinning debris. Alice pointed her wand at them. "Expelleraimus" The three wizards were thrown back out of the ring. Harry closed his eyes to concentrate on the spell. It was quickly becoming more difficult to maintain as it got larger. He moved his body occasionally when he felt a hex pass the barrier and head in his direction.
Alice conjured blocks that blocked many of the spells aimed at her and her father when several spells began to make holes in the spinning shield. She screamed when a cutting hex ran across her forehead. "Rin return fire!" She said viciously. Alice felt the blood from the hex run down behind her ear but did not have time to tend to it.
The silver gorilla roared, "Yes mistress." Rin slapped his hand in mid air and a sudden block of concrete appeared. The block was launched through the spinning shield. Several wizard screamed as they were hit in a loud crunch of shattering rock. A few moments later several wizards tried to get past the spinning wall again only to be physically hit by either Alice or her summon. The attackers resigned after the tenth wizard was thrown into the air to fire hexes into the hurricane that was still picking up speed around the father and daughter. Trash intercepted many of the curses and the ones that passed through were dodged, but Alice knew that her father was tiring.
From the alley a wizard yelled at his subordinates. "On my mark fire at once!" A dozen wizards raised their wands and fired a variety of curses as the wizard lowered his hand.
Broken glass, paper and gravel blocked or deflected all of the spells. Harry panted at the exertion. He had fought all kinds of battles from Bellatrix's cruelty, Voldemorts pure power to Cyan's cunning but this simple application of defense has been the hardest task he had ever experienced. A wave of spells pressed his magic to reinforce itself. More magic flowed from him in checked amounts. He looked to his daughter and Alice saw his struggling face. She did not panic or show any signs of concern, only understanding. She pressed her own counter attacks careful of protecting her father when he could not move.
Harry could feel the wizards reorganizing for another single assault. He concentrated on the spell and opened his eyes. The debris was moving faster. Loose bricks and pieces of concrete from pot holes along the street and buildings began to add to the spinning wall. The assaults stopped when he could no longer see his attackers.
The few moments allowed Alice and her father to think about why this was happening. Harry Potter was the most powerful wizard alive. These wizards attacked as if he was not the threat many see him to be. Harry saw his daughter fire spells through the barrier Harry made. Each one passed with no resistance. These attackers knew that their target was weak if indeed their target was Harry and not his daughter Alice.
Thoughts of how this information was leaked passed through Harry's mind but he could not find any way anyone would have found out about his situation. Harry dodged several other hexes that broke through and were fired blindly. Harry was unable to use his own skill of sight to know how many wizards were there. Nor did he have the energy for any other spell when this one died. The magic Harry had was finely measured and used sparingly and the wizard only had so much left before he would be completely drained.
Alice saw her father strain with just the shallow defense. Alice looked at Rin and concentrated on her summon. The silver gorilla grew until it was four meters and was taking up much of the room in the vortex. Alice pointed beyond the barrier. "Rin, tear them apart!" Rin roared and leaped through the barrier. A few wizards yelled in surprise before the gorilla took one by his shoulder and swung him around to hit several of his fellow wizards. Rin let go of the man when he screamed and heard a pop from his living club's shoulder. Rin crushed several wands and proceeded to move counterclockwise around his summoner. He quickly grabbed another by the foot and hit several other wizards into a wall before they recovered and began to fire curses at the animal. All of the attacking wizards changed their target from the cyclone to the silver animal that was destroying their ranks.
Alice gasped while watching her summon using sight. Rin dodged several hexes and leaped onto the fire escape above them before rebounding of the wall and slamming back into the ground crushing four wizards at once. Rin roared at several hexes when they made their mark and fell back into the cyclone. Rin looked to Alice. She knelt next to him and patted his injured shoulder. She smiled at him before Rin disappeared. Alice stood up and looked around the cyclone using sight since she could no longer see anything beyond the spinning wall that whipped her hair over her face. "Down to thirty wizards dad. The rest must have portkeyed or ran." The hexes began to come again and Harry concentrated on the cyclone of debris that was slowly building around him. "Sorry but Rin is hurt."
"I know. I can only attack physically now. This is the last of my magic. Do your best to stun them as hard as you can."
Alice smiled and said, "Left side." as the cyclone fell.
Harry only scowled and used the last of his magic to cast a strong barrier around his daughter before he started dodging curses and closing the gap between him and his attackers.
0
Susan Potter took a seat at the table. She was already excited after reading the second report. Her friend Julia Madison took a seat next to her at the table and smiled. "Hello Julia. How are the tests going?"
Julia shook her head exasperatedly. Susan frowned but Julia smiled when she said, "Not good so far. The best way so far is still to simply burn excess energy from the patient through a wand."
Susan nodded. Susan had been working on a project along with several medical doctors with children who suffer from magical burns. There were very few cases of it, but children who had sparks of high magic due to emotions would have severe burning. They have problems with their magic later in life since burns retard the magical development.
The two were silent when a young man ran into the room. "I need you two now. There was a large fight and we need field medics."
Susan and Julia immediately ran behind the man. "How long has the fight been going?" Susan gripped her necklace remembering when she was a field doctor for the Raiders, a militant group that Harry and the Late Bill Weasley founded years ago.
"From what I got from an Auror, it lasted for almost two hours. Most of the staff is on holiday so there is only you two. The others are in surgery or are there already." Susan nodded and they reached the entrance where an Auror had a portkey ready. Susan calmed herself and felt the pull behind her navel.
Susan arrived at a great estate. Several buildings were toppled and there were Aurors running back and forth yelling at each other. "The Trolls are gone too!" Susan shuddered at the battle that must have happened here.
Susan stopped one of the Aurors. "Where are the injured?"
The Auror looked at her. Susan almost smiled. She was wearing a simple blouse and slacks. The Auror did not comment about the lack of uniform. "The badly injured were the attackers. Unfortunately they somehow had portkeys hidden on themselves and fled after we had captured them. There are a few guests of the household that were injured. Go talk to Auror Longbottom." He pointed her to the main court and ran off in the direction he started in.
Susan smiled at Julia who followed her. Susan felt relived if Cho was here already. Her relief quickly left when she saw the Raiders were all there as guests except for her and Harry. Cho saw her walk up with another field medic behind her and almost swore aloud. Tonks who was next to her did.
"Hello Susan." Tonks said brightly.
"How is everyone? I was at St. Mungos when they called for field medics."
Everyone lowered their heads and three people raised their hands to be looked over. "Julia can you see to that man over there?" Julia ran to the dark red haired woman who had her wand in her hair. Susan looked at the others before looking at the Auror. "Cho?" Asked Susan quietly while bandaging Fred who had a few broken ribs from a Troll club.
"Yes Susan?" Severus had the gall to snicker and Cho glared at him. He continued to smile when Susan spoke.
"I understand that you need to run the Raiders. And you have done a very good job since I retired, and Harry is unable to continue."
Cho nodded. Susan stood up and walked up to face Cho. Cho looked nervous when Susan said in an icy tone. "But why are you and the Raiders still here?"
0
Harry punched the first wizard he reached and shattered through the physical charms the enemy wizard had created to protect himself. Harry heard three spells cast fly in his direction and threw the stunned wizard he hit into their path. Harry saw his daughter cast spell after spell. Each was so charged with her condition that the receiver was not able to stand after a single spell.
Harry himself dodged several hexes and knew he had miscalculated when he was clear of all wizards. Several killing curses flew in his direction. Harry opened himself to the spells and dodged to the side. His right hand passed by one of the curses and began to absorb some of the magic off of them. Harry stood up and panted. It took as much effort to absorb magic as it did to cast it. Nine wizards charged him. Harry pulled both hands behind him and threw his palms around his body and at the charging wizards direction. Four chains appeared and grabbed onto four different wand arms and dragged them backwards.
Harry swore when the chains did not lock themselves to the ground like he wanted them to. There was a scream and Harry's heart raced when he saw Alice disarmed. When Harry tried to cast another spell, he felt the edge where the seal cleaved his magic away from him. Harry felt nauseous as he forced magic that was not there into one more spell. Alice's wand flew back into her hand and Harry stumbled from the simple banishing charm.
Harry looked around the alley and picked up a glass bottle and threw it at the wand hand of Alice's attacker. Harry charged and dodged several hexes while grasping two men by their throat and slammed them into the ground. The remaining wizards charged again and slowed when they saw Harry.
Harry's green eyes paled and his skin began to develop black markings. Several wizards swore before delivering hexes at the man. Harry saw the runes across his hand where the glove didn't cover them. He knew that his body could no longer hold his appearance. The closely guarded secret of his seal markings were visible to the world. Harry managed to get next to Alice who had still fired curse after curse but was showing signs of getting tired.
"Don't just dodge, you can absorb magic. Feel which ones you can absorb and which ones you can't." Alice nodded and slowed her dodging to catch her breath and slowly absorbed passing spells. She was able to regain some magic she had burned. She used condition with her spells to begin to hit wizards with disarming curses that would make them lose consciousness.
0
Susan glared at Cho and a snickering Severus who coughed. "I do not need to remind you that there is a reason why the Raiders do not exist, correct?"
Cho nodded. Susan had not talked to her like this in years. Ironically, Cho had always been a second leader to Harry but it was always Susan who had a passion for the Raiders and what they did. "We are supposed to leave when the conflict is over, I know, but this couldn't be helped."
Susan nodded before taking a calming breath. "I apologize. But this was reckless. I'll stop the conversation here. You know what is at stake." Cho nodded. She knew the identity of the Raiders, their existence to the public and their contacts may all be exposed if one person doubted what Klamin Vanguard had said in their reason for being here.
"It's good to see you Susan." Susan smiled and gave the girl a hug.
"It's good to see you too. And great to see you are all alright."
Fred laughed, "This one almost wasn't." He pointed to Ron who turned red.
"Just don't tell Hermione." The group laughed at his plea.
An Auror ran up to the group and tapped Susan's shoulder. "Mrs. Potter?"
"Yes?" the group got up and began to head inside now that the Aurors were almost done with their reports.
"Could you tell us where your husband might be?" Susan thought for a second.
"Diagon Alley, or somewhere in London. Why?" The Auror looked uneasy when he said. "There a possibility that he is in danger."
Susan paled and Cho ran up to the Auror. "Tell me everything." Cho turned to a passing Auror. "Dent! Take Anderson with you and hunt down Harry Potter. I understand you two have a skill that can find him. Start in Diagon Alley. Take ten more Aurors with you. There is a chance he might suffer an attack similar to this one." The two Aurors bowed and Dent barked orders to several others to meet them in Diagon Alley before apparating.
"Now tell me and Mrs. Potter what has happened."
"I am not too sure how to say this, but a boy told me."
0
"Maybe we should have told them it doesn't really work with Harry." Pam smiled at Bruce.
"At least we are trying. Its hard to find a man when he hides his aura habitually."
Pam nodded. The past few times when she did see her old professor he had virtually no aura at all. She knew that he had gone through the sealing ritual but it was simply to block out the curse. He was weakened, but he is still Harry Potter. The most powerful wizard in the world can't be put down long. And he was training the Aurors for the past few years. She was excited that she was going to be under his tutelage again this next December.
"Auror Dent." Bruce looked to his fellow Aurors.
"Yes?"
"We have all arrived."
Bruce nodded. Pam looked at the Aurors with unseeing eyes. "Bruce, there seems to be a high concentration of magic towards the trail Harry left." Pam looked at the faint magic that she recognized as her professor. The aura next to his was Alice. "Alice is with him."
Bruce smiled. "That is an aura we can find." Bruce concentrated on Alice's Aura. "They are on foot, let's go." the twelve wizards began to ran out of Diagon Alley and stopped at the Leaky Couldron to transfigure their robes before running outside and following the trail. Pam was grateful she was the one disguising the group. Most of the Aurors were pure bloods and never could understand muggle wardrobe.
0
Harry Potter had not been in a fight since his sealing. He constantly felt the tug when he tried to cast a spell but could not. It burned through the tattoos that laid over his skin. Harry understood after a moment of mindless fighting. The seal was enforcing itself. Harry swallowed while pushing Alice away from a curse and throwing floo powder that was in his pocket into a wizards eyes.
Another wizard cast a fire spell at Harry's gloved hand. He screamed when he felt the seared remains of the glove and his burnt fingers. He looked at his left hand. The spell focusing glove on his left never did work well.
"You have to understand Susan, this seal isn't just a few tattoos."
Harry did not know why the conversation was coming into his mind now but did not think about it. He was still unable to use his right hand now and with it any magic he could recover. Harry punched a man near him in frustration.
"Every single rune is a part of me." Harry raised his rune covered hand to touch her hand. "Every single rune is an individual seal. The magic isn't buried deep in me. It is locked in each of these runes."
Harry felt several stunning curses hit his back. He stumbled and barely felt like he could move much less keep standing as he was now. He saw Alice have the same trouble. The Wizards began to focus their spells at disorientating her.
Susan sniffed but squeezed his hand. "So why do you feel that you need to lock away a part of your heart as well?"
Several wizards swore. They cast binding chains around Harry. He struggled against the chains and felt nothing in his magic's eye that could help him. Harry heard her daughter grunt.
"Susan, when I sealed myself off, I did lock away part of my heart. Those summons were core part of who I am." Susan leaned against him and nodded against his chest.
One of the wizards stepped forward and sighed. The girl was captured as well. The leading wizard looked at the girl. "Oh, this is the daughter. Interesting." Alice looked at the man and glared at him. "I suppose we were told to not have any witnesses."
Harry looked in horror when the man trained his wand at his daughters forehead.
"I think I understand Harry but you need to learn to let things go. It is hard, but there is nothing you can do about the seals now. Just accept that whatever happens is beyond your control." Susan hugged her husband and kissed him.
Harry saw Alice look at him happily then back to the man. Harry felt his wife's loving smile and thought to himself 'NEVER!'. Harry saw the faint glow on the man's wand and recognized the killing curse.
In Harry's mind, he saw the plain of magic and the barren field beyond it where he knew there should have been more. 'This is my body and my mind! I demand more power!'
No one saw the single rune on Harry's forehead disappear. Harry himself never felt the rune 'prison' shatter across his forehead into tattooed shards.
Harry's eyes turned silver. He felt a presence in his mind and smiled. "ARGENT!" A silver wolf appeared next to him and sped across the alley. The wolf passed by the man who was about to kill Harry's daughter and cleanly bit off the mans' wand arm.
The man screamed.
Argent dropped the arm from his mouth. He raised his head and several strand of his fur flew from his body. Each one turned to a small wolf and tackled the wizards. The wizards screamed from the bites and apparated. Argent looked around and was satisfied that everyone was gone. He bounded to Alice and bit her chains until they broke free then ran to his summoner. "It's good to see you again Harry." Argent nudged the man who smiled and ran his hand through the wolfs fur. He then moved to his daughter and hugged her tight.
"It's good to see you too Argent." Harry said aloud. He pulled his silver wolf to him and hugged him as well.
0
Mathew walked back to Cyan's cell to talk to her about what she was doing for the Minister when he felt dizzy. He moved his hand to the wall and leaned against it. Several flashes of wizards attacking a man and woman passed through his mind. "What is this..." Mathew knew it was not a vision. They were whole scenes or lyrics that he was forced to say aloud.
Several more images of the two fighting appeared in his mind. Mathew knew a second later who they were. A silver wolf appeared next to the father and daughter. Harry and Alice.
Harry was hugging Alice in the next picture. The following picture scared the seer. Harry's face looked happily at Argent and Alice, but a second black head was looking directly at Mathew.
The boy screamed and fell to the ground. He was too confused to see several Aurors run to him and ask what was wrong. The next image was of Alice and Harry walking with Argent. Mathew focused on Alice and remembered an old prophecy he had made.
Dawn starts the day of trails
Sunset ends the days of finals
The lost soul burns the heart and peaks
Joy is the freedom that desire seeks
Firebird, knife and hand fall to the will of the bane
Dawn and sunset choose to spare or destroy the slain
Mathew stood with the aid of the Aurors and began walking. He did not hear the Aurors speak. He just saw the images in his head.
0
Harry walked with Alice out of the alley to see if anyone was around and smiled in relief when there were only a few muggles passing by. Alice felt tired but relieved that the fight was over. She looked at the alley they had just fought in and laughed. "You think we need to get a few Aurors here to correct this?"
Harry laughed placing an arm around his daughters shoulder. Neither of them saw a rune on Harry's hand disappear. "I hope they show up. I am too tired to do anything now." Argent growled as if he was a normal dog next to them. Both Alice and Harry got the comment well enough and laughed.
Another rune faded against Harry's neck and several more faded from his back.
Alice looked at her father. "We need to have Tonks and Severus look at that seal now." She eyed the shattered rune on Harry's forehead.
"I know. We should do it tonight, I am just too tired to think right now. Want to drive?" Alice stuck her tongue out but took the keys when they were offered.
Several more runes faded from Harry's body. Argent wobbled on his paws. "Harry!"
Harry looked at Argent surprised that he would say anything in public. He stopped when he saw Argent's coat turn black. Harry looked at his runes and realized many of them were gone. "No..." Harry turned to his daughter. "You can't be here." he cast a magical sphere around her and it flew far away from him.
"Dad!" Alice screamed out loud. She saw a rune on her father's face fade and began to cry while being flown through the air. The sphere landed near their town. It did not matter where she was.
The seal was breaking.
0
Mathew lay on his bed. The Aurors had said something about delirium. Mathew ignored them and only looked at Harry through his mind. The images stopped but now he could see his mentor. Several muggles had walked over to see what was wrong with him and his dog who began to change from white to black.
"Get away!" Mathew shuddered at the voice. Harry was desperate.
Several people said they would call an ambulance. Harry shook his head. "Run! Please!"
Argent turned completely black and looked at the crowd with cobalt eyes. He growled at them and a few of the muggles backed off. Harry gripped his head and several more runes disappeared from Harry's arms.
The air around Harry thickened and several muggles began to back away in fear.
The only rune left on Harry's body was the shattered rune on his forehead. The rune turned pale white. Harry's eyes turned from silver to black. He looked at his hands. One was burned. He closed it then opened it. It was healed.
Harry looked to the now scared crowd. The wizard said to himself quietly in surprise. "I am free." Harry looked to his surroundings. He was in a parking lot. Several tall buildings led to different alleys and the single main street ran behind him.
Harry looked with hooded eyes at the muggles around him. He laughed quietly. "I am free." He looked at himself and scowled aloud. "And weak." Harry looked to the muggles still staring at him. "You will do for now." The half dozen muggles still watching collapsed to the ground and Harry took a deep breath. "That hardly did a thing. Muggles really do not have any real trace of magic in them. I need more. Then I can be truly free." Harry smiled wistfully. He then turned his head to the sky and shouted. "STOP WATCHING!"
Mathew screamed as the vision broke and he felt blinded for a moment before he began to see again with his own eyes. Several Aurors as well as a doctor were there asking what was wrong. Mathew just sat there stunned and scared. "It's starting."
0
Susan finally returned to St. Mungos after helping the Aurors to help find her husband. She was worried sick and felt trapped with not being able to help find him. Cho was forced to go with the Aurors and the other Raiders were already tired from their fight that afternoon. It was late evening and Susan sat at the conference table again with Julia. She stared at her necklace which was part of a three piece circle that had the text 'our family' written on it. Susan held the piece of metal and looked at Julia. "We are not going to get anything done today are we?" Julia smiled.
"Go home. I am sure Harry will be there when you get back."
Susan smiled and nodded. "Thanks, I think I will do that. Hopefully they did go out and are having a lovely time at a movie." She hugged her friend then left by floo. The necklace was still in her hand and she looked at the metal at the end of the chain. It had always provided her comfort when she had to be away from Harry or Alice.
"I am probably being silly."
0
The squad of Aurors ran through an alley that was pock marked with spells. Pam and Bruce waved for the group to slow. The two saw magic pour out through a unknown source from around the corner. "Return to normal sight."
Pam followed orders and the group approached around the corner. They saw Harry Potter standing alone in the parking lot. He turned to them. In the back of his mind he remembered a fight where he needed help ten minutes ago. "Late help is better than no help."
"Harry, good to see you are alright. Where is Alice?" Pam looked and saw the downed muggles. They fanned out from Harry. She looked to Bruce and he noticed too. Several Aurors began to try and exchange pleasantries with Harry.
"She is not here. But you are. I could use some help."
"With what?" Said an Auror who had worked with Harry Potter this past season in training.
"Well you see." Harry scratched his cheek. "I am a little weak from the fight." Several Aurors fell to the ground. Bruce and Pam took several paces back and trained their wand to the man. They both said 'sight' and swore at their own incompetence. Harry's aura was the color of his curse years ago. It must have broken free. They looked to see that their magic was being drawn away from them and at their old teacher.
"How long has it broken Harry!" Pam concentrated her magic and the leaking stopped.
Harry smiled. "Not long. I am very weak now, you might have a chance to capture me."
Pam heard Bruce say, "Integrate" she followed his lead.
"Aurors on my mark we bind and secure him. Is that understood?"
The remaining Aurors were confused. When Bruce did not get the answer he wanted he barked out. "IS THAT UNDERSTOOD!"
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A/N: I am taking flying by the seat of my pants to a whole new level. Finished most of this chapter in one sitting at 1 a.m. this morning.
Destany Mitchell: Great to see you back for this story. My beta is going crazy. Hope you are enjoying the story as much as she is.