Daily Prophet
To the people of Britain,
Today, I made a rash decision. However I have no regrets. I have resigned my seat on the Wizengamot. When the Wizengamot first became the international union I had proposed eight years ago, I was naïve enough to believe that faith in Ministers of Europe would help in creating a new world. Alas, I found my self this afternoon on the very stand I created not as part of the council but as part of an enemy to the system that I held so dearly to my heart.
As of now, the Wizengamot is ordering a vote of no confidence in my position as Minister of Britain. This can only be done with the vote of the heads of my departments, and with a thirty four percent of Britain's population. These were my own legislation I have instituted several years ago. Irony of my situation aside, it will be you, the people, who will decide my fate. I only ask you to continue to read this letter to understand the circumstances that have created this lack of faith in my abilities and of the crimes my peers believe I have committed.
As Minister of Magic for Britain and the United Kingdom I have made choices that have affected the people of this noble nation. The safety of the people has always been my primary concern and it is because of this, that you are reading this. Two days ago, Harry Potter was attacked in an attempted assassination that coincided with the attack and attempted assassination of The Prophet, Mathew Andrew's. What many did not know was that Harry Potter is under the effects of a curse that has left him weak. The curse was given to him by none other than Lord Voldemort on his dieing breath. In order to protect the wizarding world, Harry Potter left us until a time where he could live among the rest of the nation safely. That happened four short years ago. The balance Harry Potter made in controlling the curse was not fragile, and it was not his only means of keeping himself in check. He had outlined his contingencies with the Wizengamot before he decided to live in the Magical World. The Wizengamot agreed with his decision. We believed and I still believe in Harry Potter and his plan to protect the world, even at the cost of his own life.
The curse's very nature would force The-Man-Who-Saved-Us-All to continue Lord Voldemort's perversion of work. How, we do not know. It is unknown exactly the nature of the curse as Harry Potter himself has never allowed it to control him. With the seal Mr. Potter placed on himself, he believed he would be safe from it ever breaking.
It was not to be. The attack on him and his daughter forced the seal to break, and with it, the curse to run its course. Harry Potter and I have made additional contingencies in this event, and I know Harry has made his own insurances for the safety of the world. Again we spoke with the Wizengamot for every year for the past four years about Harry Potter's condition. They agreed with the plans and did nothing.
Now that the worst we had privately fear has come to pass. The people who have been abducted were not at random, but people whom Harry has had a strong association with and the British Ministry has prepared for this event. However the Wizengamot has ordered an investigation in the competency of my control of this situation. I am sad to say that I have had suspicions of many of the council's desire to control Harry Potter or kill him. They had never once spoken through the entirety of the inquiry regardless of my own questions, of the people who had attacked him and Mathew Andrews.
The members of the Wizengamot are the same witches and wizards before the formation of the international Wizengamot who had refused to give us aid in the last three wars. Their decision cost the Wizards and Witches of Britain lives and I fear if I submit to their demands, many more will die. In every time of darkness Britain has been entrusted by those who do not help themselves to keep the world safe. We kept the world safe. The world lived on.
When in session, the last Wizengamot made a poor offer of aid that was to be given to Britain. But the aid demanded that I hand over control of most offices to a confederacy held by the Wizengamot until the dangers of Harry Potter passed. I have rejected the aid offered, as the ones who had offered this plan have, for years, been planning to gain political clout over our beloved country. Allowing their aid would in effect, handing them control of our lives. What they offered was not aid. At this time we have one captured wizard in custody from the Andrew's attack. The Unspeakables' have found answers that lead the wizard to be of foreign soil. Trust is a precious and delicate thing. The actions of the Wizengamot during this last meeting have made me loose trust in the judgment of the Wizengamot itself.
And this is where I finish my explanation. It is now time to see what will be done to me. I ask you to make your decisions based not on slander and innuendo but by what I have completed with the Ministry since my appointment. I ask in faith for the people of the United Kingdom to show the world that our mother land has always stood strong and has never fallen, be it during revolution, dark lord or invasion. Whatever my fate, believe that I am proud for what I have accomplished in my term as Minister, and I pray my predecessors will continue to improve my work.
Hermione Weasley, Minister of Magic
Part 2 Unguided Allegiance
Chapter 8 Unsettled
Run faster! His mind screamed at him. The man felt a spell buzz his hear and he felt suddenly nauseous. He dodged several more spells and threw trash in the ally in the way of the spells. The debris foiled the aim of the spells giving him time to continue running. Crest was a man who had no name other than the one given to him by the man he respected the most.
He would die for his friend, but this was not a way he wanted to repay the person he honored. Crest reached for his ring. He tried to activate the portkey but it refused to take him away from this nightmare. He could hear the cheering crowds far behind him over the din of shouting spells. Crest swore loudly towards the ward that prevented him from escaping. He ducted around a corner building and waved his wand at the sewage cover he saw several spaces ahead of him. He didn't care about the foulness that likely lay below him and jumped in waving his wand at the cover to close behind him. He landed hard on the ground and jumped over the small drizzle of sewage that flowed in the center of the large stone passage. He kept running in the direction he had been going before slowing enough only to cast an illusion of himself going the opposite direction.
You have to get out of here! His mind screamed at him. The man's lungs burned. His body involuntarily slowed and he tried the port key again. It still refused to work. He heard several shouts and ignored the noise of his heart before pushing his body to run again. Several intersections in the sewers passed before he finally slowed again.
"There you are." The man gasped. He turned and took several steps back. "I think you saw enough Crest. Don't worry, your master will join you soon." The man named Crest glared at his pursuer and exhaled. His body shivered in fear. "Avada Kedavra!"
It was only the fact that his weak body collapsed on himself that he had lived. The killing curse sailed over his body and down the sewer. Crest pushed his elbows into the ground and pushed himself away from his attacker. The standing man sneered at the man on the ground and his pathetic attempt to continue to try and flee. "Damn spies. Die!"
Crest felt the ring held tight in his hand begin to warm. He knew instantly he passed the anti-portkey wards. He was gone in a blink of an eye.
Crest landed on a hard wooden floor and looked around wildly. His heart felt as if it was in his throat and he smelled of the sewer he had been running in. He sighed for a moment in relief before he stood and grabbed the book from the shelf. He raised his wand to the center of the ceiling and cast a flare hex that set the ceiling on fire. The fire instantly spread to the whole house. Crest stood in the burning building long enough to see it was all aflame before he opened the book and activated a portkey that was in the shape of a book marker.
He arrived safely in a room far away from where he had been working at and collapsed into a reclining chair. He sobbed in relief, just happy to be alive before he looked at his ring. He rubbed the signet twice. The symbol of fist and knife glowed. His mouth quivered into the ring saying the activating password to talk to the man he was willing to risk his life for. "Speak with me Severus."
-o-
Severus Snape placed a careful hand through his hair and gave a satisfactory smirk to the mirror. Hermione's acceptance speech was in several hours and he would be representing the Potion Masters Guild. It is going to be his first official function as the Guild Vice Chairman. Severus smirked. If the address to the nation was a success as many expected it to be, the event would not only help the ministry, but it would also help his career and ensure his family would be able to hold the Snape house name, something that had been nothing but trash since before the rise of Voldemort. He felt the gold ring he wore on his middle finger begin to heat and his stomach gave an unsettling grip.
The Potions Master whispered into the ring. "What is it?" He walked to the door, closed it and locked the latch. He was glad his wife didn't see what he was doing. She would likely be upset with him.
"This is Wax, I found some information of a plan for an attack similar to the one on Andrew Mathews. No known target, I will inform you of more when I find some."
Severus grunted out, "Alright, don't dig too deep, we are not able to help a someone at this time."
There was a moment of silence. "Sir?"
"Yes?"
"… Is it true Harry Potter went insane?" Severus barked out a dark laugh. The man on the other side of the ring sighed. The laugh relieved him. "Just asking sir." Just as the ring cooled again, the heat returned and Severus took a moment to look at it. More than one report a month was rare, to have two in a single day worried him.
"This is Hoat. We have movement in Spain sir. Several contingents of Aurors from Dalton's faction are gathering. They are getting ready to portkey. I don't have any details, but there are four Auror battalions… They just portkeyed. I do not know their destination."
"Your job is done there, go ahead and get out." The ring cooled only to heat again. Severus found his neck sweating. He quickly started to get similar information from the northern alliance.
When the ring was no longer heated Severus stood in the bathroom thinking to himself. He jerked his head. "Severus Love? Are you alright in there?"
Severus felt his neck sweat and looked at the door. "I am almost ready Samantha; just give me a few more minutes." His wife walked away giving him a fading, "Alright." Severus sighed.
The ring heated again and Severus began to speak to the latest of his spies grimly. The news was the worst so far. "I got it. Just keep me informed every fifteen minutes. If it looks like it's too dangerous, get out of there." The Raider lowered his ring and rubbed his head. All of his contacts were reporting movement of official policing wizards in half a dozen countries relocating their forces to three different capitols.
Another signal from his ring showed him someone else. "This is Wane. There has been major movement within the last seven minutes. Wizards are gathering in three different capitols. There are three armies easily over a thousand wizards in France alone."
Severus closed his eyes and swore to himself. "Do you have information to what their targets and plans for attack will be." He had no delusions that the armies were going to any destination other than Britain.
"None. Severus, I am over my head here. I plan to leave in a few hours. They are searching their offices for spies soon."
"If you have to go, then leave. Try and report anything you can find."
The ring cooled and the sallow man looked at it not sure how to respond to this new information. Severus was beginning to worry about one of his contacts, Crest should have been the first to contact him. Just as Severus reached for the door his ring burned again. Snape raised his hand quickly to answer.
"Severus,"
"Crest what happened?"
"It's good to hear you friend. I was very lucky. My whole operation is compromised. I had to abandon the position. They are gathering in Clavis. The place is a gigantic rally. There is more than a single army there; there are hundreds, even thousands of wizards. The city is a base. They plan on occupying Britain in one sweep. Someone boasted in their rallying speech they had formed an army that will have two Aurors for every man, woman and child in all of Britain."
"You are welcome to stay in the safe house or to move to one of the other houses if you fell that one is unsecured. Others have been reporting in before you. But you have given me the most information. Thank you my friend."
"Think nothing of it." The voice went silent and the ring cooled.
Severus walked into the next room and slid into his best robes. He looked over to his wife and smiled. The Snape rarely made time for anything other than his family, and the speech today was supposed to be one of those things he could not avoid even if he wanted to. But seeing his wife, he was sorely tempted to just take her some place safe. Severus walked behind Samantha and placed his hands around his wife. His mouth spoke into her neck. "Are you almost ready?" His baritone voice made her shiver.
She smiled sweetly at him. "Almost, we are just waiting for the sitter."
Severus nodded and looked to their daughter who was playing with her toys. "When the sitter arrives I need to quickly speak to Hermione. Can you please wait here for my return?" Samantha looked at him and drew in a breath of air. She knew the look he was giving her. She could only nod and hugged him tightly. Severus held her before going to his daughter. "Hello Gwen sweetie, are you going to miss daddy?" He squatted to the floor and his daughter giggled excitedly. She never had many chances to play with her father alone.
Severus gave a wide smile to his daughter. …two aurors for every man, woman and child… Snapes' smile faltered for a moment before it was firmly set in place. The other Raiders were not in any kind of condition to fight. He gripped his hand. Severus' hand still shook from the memory of fighting Harry's summon. He knew he was still recovering.
"Daddy, can you help me put this together?" Severus looked at the thirty piece puzzle and nodded.
-o-
The cell was still too luxurious for him, but he was grateful for the solitude the prison gave him. During his life as a wizard, he always felt suffocated with the number of students who walked the halls, the crowded common rooms and the student's endless chatter that was constantly in the back of his mind. But in this prison, it was complete silence. Mathew could hear nothing but his own breathing. At times when he knew he was able to be free with out the worry of his own powers, he could even hear his heart.
Mathew smiled to himself. At the moment there was a steady rhythm. Mathew let his mind wander and found himself looking at his emotions. He seldom had a chance to reflect on himself and knew that it was one of the more important lessons that his many teachers had taught him.
A councilor told him that he should share his anxieties with someone when he first had problems with his minds eye. He had tried many times with Alice, and later with Owen. However it never felt right to tell them. Even when he spoke to Professor Potter, he still felt that he had to hold back. Sharing his fears and dreams with the woman he chose as his teacher gave him a peace he had not felt in a long time.
Mathew told Cyan once that he hated the burden his mind gave him. He even told her his greatest fear that his sight would be truly useless. Mathew inhaled. He felt he needed to do this reflection and it was his instincts that urged him to open his mind to the visions he had been trying to ignore.
Mathew Andrews closed his eyes trying to gain a semblance of control over himself. Images passed through his mind, and his head ached from the flashes. His eyes furrowed and he winced from the sharp flash of seven images overlapping each other. Mathew concentrated on breathing. The images that seemed impossible blinked through his mind. He forced himself not to think on the snap shots. He let them happen. 1, 2, 3,Inhale, 1, 2, 3, Exhale… Mathew tried to think of a way to keep the slow tempo when the images went faster than his breathing. Images of himself standing on a pedestal danced through his mind along with a black fog that he had been running from.
Mathew suddenly gasped. He opened his eyes and saw a village. Hundreds of wizards stormed through the streets. His eyes turned white and he could hear cries. They threatened to drown him and he could no longer let them happen. He felt he needed to fight the sounds. Mathew shook when seconds of futures washed over him. He felt several people at that moment that could change everything, yet did not.
The pain encased his body, and he could only hear his panting. He swallowed and looked up from the ground. "It's too much…" He said while clenching his head. The visions were getting stronger. "There's too much…" He groaned out. The door to his room opened and two Aurors ran in and pulled him to his bed. Mathew Andrews started shivering and his face was pale. He panted more and no longer saw the room or the Aurors, his eyes were devoted to the visions his latent gift fed him.
"Get me a healer now!" One of the Aurors shouted to the door. Mathew heard steps run down the corridor and shouts to the main office. A shadow of an Auror looked over him. "Hang on kid."
The two Aurors lifted his sheets and covered him. The boy shook convulsively before he mercifully passed out.
Three Aurors walked in with a healer and the lone prisoner on the cell block. Cyan's neck jingled from the chain that latched to a collar around her neck and to cuffs around her feet and wrists binding behind her back. "May I ask what has happened Auror Noren?" The woman gazed steadily at the boy who was laying unconscious in his bed. The man growled out what they heard. Cyan nodded solemnly. "I need to speak to the Minister, can you see that she arrives at her earliest convenience?" The Aurors didn't know what to make of the request.
Auror Noren stood away from Mathew's bed and nodded. "I'll see the request is carried out. Will you please return to your cell Miss Catton."
Cyan nodded silently. She left for the door and stopped. "Can you please inform me when he awakes if it is before the Minister's arrival?" Her voice held a motherly concern. The Auror's eyes softened and he nodded.
-o-
Harry awoke to the sound of snoring. He turned his head and realized he was no longer in the hospital wing. His muddled mind filtered the past three days in a blur. The memory of the 'condition' made him think of the Slytherin Heir. Harry shuddered at Tom's glare then, and his memory of their parting words still gave him pause. "The line may die with me, but Slytherins' ambition will never be forgotten." Harry felt Voldemort's voice crawl along his skin.
Harry sighed to himself and something next to him stirred. He raised his head and looked down next to his legs and saw some one there and almost held a laugh that finally broke out after a few moments of vain struggling. Alice laid at the foot of his bed. She was curled up in a ball. Next to her was a silver cat that was at the moment half her size. They both snuggly wedged Harry's legs into one spot. Harry took in his surroundings and realized he was at his house now. Dumbledore had said that a few things had gone wrong in the world since the seal broke. He closed his eyes and leaned back into his bed. His mind began to wander and these thoughts went to Susan. He suddenly saw her sitting talking with someone. He could not say with whom as the vision was just of her talking animatedly. He smiled when she laughed and slowly fell back asleep. His mind was assured. Whatever anxiety woke Harry relaxed enough to allow him to return to a dreamless sleep.
The next time Harry awoke, he saw several people surround his bed and looked at them until his eyes focused against the bright light. It must have been morning with the sunlight that was pouring into Susan's and his room. It had only windows facing east. Harry simply cleared his throat and they snapped out of what ever reverie they had all been in while he was slowly coming to his senses.
"Sorry to wake you up but we really need to fill you in on what's been going on."
Harry slowly nodded thinking of the past few days again. "Someone attacked me and Alice." He paused a minute before he said. "No one cares right? They just want to see why Harry Potter went on a rampage?"
Susan walked into the room and glared at the people in the room already. Among them were Order members who had watched over Harry when he was young. Harry was beginning to start his apologies to everyone before Susan said, "Not a word Harry. We know. And since everything happened, the whole world knows really." Harry lost all traces of his drowsiness and looked at everyone. Susan sighed uneasily. "It had to be done Harry. Hermione was getting killed by the foreign press for not letting anyone come into the country for aid. Well, that is the argument."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Is it still over me now? Or did something else happen?"
"Just read this." Harry picked up the article and chuckled lightly at Hermione's openness.
"How are the islands taking this?"
Remus grinned at the young man before saying, "Hermione's a hero. She made herself so open to public ridicule that many were moved. It was political suicide for her to do it and she trusted the people with her fate."
Harry gave a resigned glance to the group surrounding his bed. He looked at his wife who sat next to him and held his hand. She shook her head to his unasked question, "No, no one else was humored by the degree of disclosure over everything. Several countries are bound by treaties with The Confederation, The Democracy of Poland and The Eastern lands. Everyone wants to both know who attacked Britain and don't want it to be known since they would be guilty by association if indeed it was one of their allies."
Harry nodded and stood. "What is today? How long have I been out?" His leg almost gave out from under him but he immediately felt his magic reinforce his unused muscles.
"Three days. The people of the Islands have unanimously agreed to back Hermione." Someone on his left chirped.
Harry shuddered at the number of days he had been asleep but nodded. He cleared his bed and his head reeled from the sudden movement. Harry remembered there were quite a few people in his room and was glad he had been wearing some cloths. "Everyone out. I need to change." The few Order members looked as if they wanted to speak but Susan pushed them out and closed the door to turn back to her husband. Harry threw away his shirt he had been taking off. Susan and Harry immediately embraced and kissed each other. "I am sorry." He managed to say while holding her. She nodded against his shoulder.
"I am just glad I have you back." Harry squeezed her and smelled her hair before kissing her forehead. He stepped back to the closet. Harry was silent for a few seconds then pulled out a black and brown robe.
"I think I need to speak to the press. Hopefully seeing me sane will help some calm down, or at least make them think twice about anything." Susan nodded and gave him one more hug before letting the man head towards the shower. Harry ran a hand through her hair then went into the bathroom and stripped the last of his clothes and stepped into the shower.
Harry stood under the hot water and kept his eyes closed. So many things happened in less than a week and his mind was reeling while also trying to keep up. He let out a soft moan of agony at it all. Even with the curse gone, there were still work he had to do and problems to resolve before he could live his life. Harry let a curve of a smile touch his lips. He had no more curse to weigh him down. He had Susan with him and a loving daughter to support him.
Harry heard the door knob to the bathroom turn. Susan entered the bathroom a moment later as Harry stood in the water. He heard some rustling before the curtain to the shower was pulled aside and she entered to shower with him. They quietly held each other and let the water hit them. Neither one wanted to let go of the others' touch. All of the careful distance Harry placed between them for years disappeared. The tension Susan felt Harry shoulder for years was remarkably absent. She sighed happily and leaned against him. Each moved their hands to just feel the other. Both acquainted themselves with the person they knew and loved and reacquaint themselves with the carefree couple they had been months before Harry killed Voldemort.
-o-
Draco scowled at the assistant and walked through the door before the woman could announce him. He had enough problems as it was without his employers' bureaucracy. He marched into his employers office and stood in front of the older mans' desk. The employer was dressed in his Ministerial robes, a sign he was going to play into his role for the next phase of his plan. He waved for the assistant to be quiet and the assistant left, closing the doors behind him. The Minister himself finished speaking to a person on the phone and hung up.
Draco hated muggle cities, and the fact his employer works most of his businesses from a muggle office building made him shudder. Draco cleared his throat before starting. "Harry Potter has awoken. It looks as if he will be present for the plan. I advise against continuing this. I told you before, we should have started yesterday. This plan for waiting until a public display is going to cost you."
"Potter is of no consequence. We have our backing now that he is considered mad and dangerous. Is everything ready?"
The mercenary sneered at the man. He pulled a scroll and opened it. He handed the report. The man clucked his tongue not liking the information. The volunteers were there in numbers, but it was not promising for the scale he was expecting. The man looked at Draco and placed down the scroll. Had Malfoy expected this to answer his questions?
"We have four hours to prepare. So I ask again, are we ready?" The man let go of his cigar and breathed the smoke through his nose.
"We have enough support. When we go public, we will openly be supported by all sides. The Ministry of Britain was right when they said repeatedly they stand alone." The blonde haired man pulled tight his blue robes and bowed to his employer before leaving. He snorted to himself. This is going to end in disaster old man.
-o-
Alice and Angela apparated into the back yard. The two sprinted into the house after reading the headlines at Owens' house. They rounded the kitchen and hit walls while trying to clear a around a sharp corner and plowed into someone. "Sorry!" Alice said. Angela just mmff'ed when she ran into Alice's back. Alice recognized the chuckle and looked up. "DAD!" She squealed before hugging her father.
"Sorry Professor." Angela murmured before hitting her friend with the daily prophet. "I told you to slow down!" The woman looked at her former professor and reddened when she handed the Daily Prophet to the green eyed man. "Here, we wanted to give this to Madame Potter but I am glad to see you are up and around." She didn't meet his eyes and she looked very shy all of the sudden.
Harry smiled but took the prophet. He read the Prophet and nodded. "Thank you." Harry smiled at the two girls and they began to follow him as he walked into the parlor. Harry stopped and handed them some tea before sitting. He looked at the two women and finally asked a question that he had been curious for a while now. "How did you all find me? None of you had ever been to Gates, and I know Susan did not know its location either."
"Is that what it was called?" Angela asked suddenly.
"Yeah, the temple is called the Gates of Hell. It was an altar and gate to castle where very strong dark wizard is laid to rest." Angela thought on the information.
Alice grinned at her father. She thought it was funny now that everything was alright but at the time when they were looking for her father it was scary. "When you and that Longbottom Auror started to fight, we were in the middle of trying to find out how to find you. We all then just stopped and looked to the south. We could all feel the magic that was being molded." Harry grimaced. Alice poked her father with her elbow before finishing her tea. "But it wasn't just us. People who did not know sight could feel the power you were radiating. It really did scare a lot of people."
Harry stayed silent and tried to remember what he did during the fight. He remembered exactly what he was thinking at the time and nodded slowly. It now made a little more sense why so many people were panicking and focusing on him. He would probably feel the same fear if one man could produce so much magic and have it be felt from thousands of miles away.
"Thank you for telling me. It's not something I get to hear much of."
"What?" Angela asked, rejoining the conversation.
"Gossip and rumors. I hear some. But the ones about me are the rumors that I will not likely hear. A lot of people know not to talk to me when my back was turned, but that doesn't stop them from doing it."
Alice shook her head sadly. It was the truth of the matter.
Harry stood and started walking towards the stair case going down. He saw Angela's apologetic look. "Is there something wrong Miss Kee?"
Angela lowered her head feeling like a student again. She shuffled her feet a moment. "Well I did want to.. ehem- apologize. For you know…" Harry looked at her with a slight frown of confusion. Angela spoke in a depressed voice. "Sorry I cursed your muscles to rot."
Harry looked at her. He saw her cheeks turn crimson when he kept staring at her. It suddenly dawned on him that there might be more to her guilt than just her injuring him. The glance her eyes gave him before quickly veering off made him laugh slowly. He grinned at her. "Is that why my legs don't want to hold me up?" She turned pale. She started to feel something sting her eyes. She opened her mouth to apologize again but was stopped when her old teacher laughed louder. Harry patted Angela's shoulder. She lowered her head again unsure what she felt. Harry saw the guilt in her and squeezed her shoulder with his hand. She looked up at him and he said to her evenly. "It's fine. I am proud I could count on you to help me, even when it could hurt you." Harry walked down the steps to the lower level. "I could never begin to show you and the others how grateful I am."
Angela's mouth tried to produce a sound and only a faint utter managed to escape. Alice smiled at her friend. Angela grinned widely like a young teenager instead of the adult she appeared to be. She dazedly grabbed Alice's collar and shouted. "Ok! Thanks! Lets go Alice!" Angela rushed out of the hall and out the front door.
Harry laughed at the near run the young woman took in leaving. "That was very sweet of you Harry."
Harry did not bother turning to his wife. "It is only the truth. They had every right to be angry, even hate me for placing that kind of power and faith in them. Instead every single man and woman stood up and came to the worlds' aid when it looked like it was in danger. Although I was surprised with how little work it was to have them not kill me when I begged Dent and Johnson to." Harry looked to his wife who put her arms around him and kissed him. When they broke he handed her the news paper.
"We will have our chance to speak to the public today." She tossed the news paper on the table and helped her husband with preparing their breakfast. The newspaper laid on the table and the headliner read Minister Weasley to Address the Nation This Afternoon.
-o-
Severus walked through the Ministry entrance and ignored the guards. Three young security officers called him to stop, but were shocked that several Aurors stopped them. The leading Security officer looked at the Aurors suspiciously, but the black man shook his head. Several Aurors nodded to Snape as he passed through another security check point to the elevators. Severus inclined his head to them.
Severus took off his gloves while walking towards the secretary's desk of the Ministers' office. "Is Minister Weasley available?"
Dawn looked at the pale man and opened the door for him and quickly closed it when the Minister saw him. Surprise etched on her face. "Snape how are you?" Hermione stood from her chair and walked to the man giving him a firm hand shake.
"I am fine for the moment, but we have a problem." Hermione looked at him before motioning him to sit. Severus took his seat and leaned forward. He said behind folded hands, "The spies for the Raiders have discovered that there is movement of hundreds of Aurors around Europe gathering in several cities."
Hermione looked at him. "Do you expect them to invade?"
Severus smirked. "Yes, but this is far beyond the numbers the British Aurors can handle. And there are only four Raiders who are prepared to fight."
"Do you have any suggestions?"
Severus looked down and sighed. His head snapped up and looked her in the eye. "Evacuation."
Stood up from her chair and loomed over her desk. "You can't be serious?" Hermione stared at the man in shock.
"Just evacuate the cities that will be likely to be targeted for occupation. You can send them anywhere else, small suburbs, safe houses, anywhere. But as long as the cities are not held hostage, we can fight against this." Severus stood from his and looked back at the Minister.
"How many people are you expecting Severus?" Hermione looked away from the man. Her heart raced at the information.
"Easily thirty wizards to one of our Aurors."
"I will need to think on this, but in the mean time, I will send a few Aurors to each town to look around." Hermione went to a wall and pressed an orb to notify the Aurors to gather.
Snape shook his head. "It's not enough Hermione, you know these people." Severus looked out the window to the town below them. Muggles walked in front of the building, but several people walked by in oddly dressed clothes. Severus and Hermione knew they were wizards. Severus never left the group of wizards that left the Ministry. " They will not fight. If they are going to choose between what is hard and easy, they will choose the easy way. They will surrender. All of your victories will be worthless if you have no country to govern."
"I will think on it Severus, but I can't have people flee from something that will lead to a down right collapse of nation. That is what that evacuation will mean, that I am not going to fight."
Severus looked at her sadly but nodded. "I'll be at your side during your speech today. I still have a few hours. So I will see what I can do with the time until they invade. I hope you know what you are doing Minister."
Hermione flinched at his condescending tone. He was not pleased with her. His robes cracked at the sharp turn he made when he strode out of her office. The door closed soundlessly behind him. Hermione sat at her desk. The act of war was considered such an outlandish idea after the fall of Voldemort. There were no dark lords causing havoc. She looked out her window and felt her mind still asking the question that has plagued her since the beginning of the attacks that happened a week ago. Why was everyone still fighting?
-o-
Hermione stood at the base of Bakan Prison just as dawn reached the island. In all honesty the palace turned prison had always impressed her and the irony of its new use gave her a small smile. It was the first time that the woman housed here had ever requested her audience. Cyan had always simply waited for Hermione to arrive before giving any information she had found. Unable to deny the woman a first time request, Hermione entered the spoke and wheel like halls that held a single cell per spoke. The Minister nodded to the Auror on duty and the one standing guard in front of Cyan's cell was flanked by another who was the young boys escort. "Are they both inside?" She asked surprised. She had only heard of the two working together and approved of supervised instructing, if the boy truly felt he could learn something from her, Hermione gave her blessing to the boy. God knows that Hermione learned much from the woman's lectures.
The Auror nodded.
"How long have they been speaking?"
The second Auror said while looking through the glass door, "Two hours. I was about ready to return Mr. Andrews to his room to let him rest, but thought you should speak to them both first."
Hermione nodded. Her unasked question was answered when the guard to Cyans' cell said, "They are discussing something Mathew had seen." He opened the door and she walked in. The door sealed behind her and she walked to the center of the room and joined the two at the table. Mathew looked downcast and did not greet the Minister.
"You asked to speak with me Cyan?"
Cyan turned and nodded her head to go to the kitchen. They both entered and Hermione leaned her back against the counter. Cyan looked at the minister and blinked her eyes. "We have a problem." Her tone was serious.
"What is it?" Hermione took her Minister persona and listened attentively.
"Mathew told me that the prophecy concerning Harry disappeared from his visions, so it was fulfilled. He is alive correct?"
Hermione smiled and nodded. "I did not expect it to end as well as it did."
Cyan smiled back then looked to the boy who had his head lying against the table. "Mathew is seeing more and more of his prophecies everyday. It is disturbing him because he is seeing too many possibilities. He has seen paths where he see's his death, my death, a path where he is free and so on."
Hermione shook her head in confusion. "I don't understand, Mathew is no longer seeing prophecies but possible futures?"
Cyan nodded. She looked over to the boy who couldn't hear the conversation. "Its killing him slowly, his mind is wearing itself out. I think it is a natural progression, but his ability is developing too fast for him to cope. If he doesn't slow down he could kill himself accidentally or on purpose just to make it stop."
Hermione looked at the boy. He was gripping his head and rested his elbows on the table. "What can I do?"
"Not much, but I think what ever decisions you are going to make, you need to commit to them. He is seeing diverging paths because there is no commitment to the possible futures."
Hermione nodded and knew she would keep this in mind. Almost immediately Mathew gasped slightly in relief. Hermione looked up. Surprise was showing on her face. She looked to Cyan who nodded. "I will do my best in the coming weeks. Keep me posted with his progress. Was there anything you needed to speak with me about?"
Cyan thought for a moment. "Just advice. Britain will die for you. They will support you through everything. Don't let them become a mob."
Hermione nodded at the advice. Harry had called the people of Britain a mob many times when they were in school. It was odd to hear the word so long after Harry had explained his definition of mob. A mob, my friends, is a mass of people who are scared and with no thinking, doom all those around them by their panic. The world right now is just a mob. A bunch of fools... Hermione snapped out of the memory.
She thanked Cyan and walked to Mathew. "Are you feeling better Mathew?"
Mathew wordlessly nodded. Hermione sat with him a few more moments. He sat there unsure of something and struggled several times to speak only to have his voice fail him. The Minister left and there were no other words spoken. When Hermione walked out and the door was closing she heard him mutter faintly, "Thank you."
The door closed completely and the elaborate lock shut into place. Hermione sighed thinking of what she had just committed herself to. Evacuation. She felt she made a decision one way or the other before, but now she knew she made a decision. She would speak to her Aurors when she returned.
Hermione then thought of the coming press release. She had been thinking of several ideas on how she wanted to give her speech, but when she said thought of committing herself, she immediately thought of Harry and her faith in him. Hermione knew immediately that she had to speak to Harry that night. There was no going back against her words now. She would face the Wizengamot on their own playing field. Her old stopping grounds.
0
The cell room was quiet for a long time before Mathew muttered out, "I am sorry, I couldn't tell her."
Cyan shook her head. "If it did not feel right to inform her, don't doubt your instincts. She will be fine. And so will the rest of them. I heard all of them can take care of themselves."
Mathew nodded. "It doesn't hurt as much now…" He laughed and smiled at Cyan. "I still feel it. Like the whole world is waiting for me to speak…" Mathew hugged himself.
Cyan sat across from him and leaned onto her elbows, matching her student. "It is your job to speak to the world when you are ready Mathew. When ever that is won't matter when the time comes."
"Can I make a difference? Will they listen when I tell them what I see? I am just a boy." Mathew shook. He hated feeling this way, completely useless and scared. He saw his death in horrid ways in his visions. They only got worse when he saw Alice' and her family die, when he saw her future children die and when his own family would die. Mathew closed his eyes and felt the sting of tears brush against his cheeks. "It's too much Cyan. I can't handle this." Mathews head was hammering. The images burned into his mind and each flash of a moment felt like a blow to his body.
Cyan walked around the table and gave the boy a gentle hug. "I don't know if it will all pass or not, but I know you can live through it, because there have been others who have. Humans are still animals Mathew. And all animals are guided by instincts. When the time comes for you to act on those instincts you will be at the right time and place and you will have no doubts. You won't miss a thing. You will know that all the suffering you are enduring was worth it.
Mathew nodded but did not feel that was comforting at the moment.
-o-
Draco believed in himself as a self made man. He had been born into power and prestige only to renounce that power and even his family. No Malfoy should be ruled. It was an argument he had many times with his mother even when his own father was a servant and never spoke to his son. It broke his heart when he dear mother disowned him for public act of defiance. Since then Draco had been known only as Draco. He had no surname. He rarely allowed any one to call him Malfoy as it reminded him of his father and the man's weak spirit and penchant for servitude. It was with great irony, that now Draco lived his life in servitude for money. He hated his current employer who insisted on calling the man Malfoy. The man said many times purebloods can not denounce their name.
It was this man, Draco, or to his employer Malfoy, who apparated into the square and brushed off his blue cloak. It fell to the ground where it disappeared. No doubt a House elf picked it up to put it away. Draco walked inside quickly and saw a dozen men and women standing at attention. Draco slowed to a halt. He looked at the group. They were disgruntled. Draco smirked, he knew they were angry that he, a mercenary, was in charge instead of one of them or one of their Ministers.
"I expect every one of you to follow my orders." His silky voice echoed the halls. He looked each commander in the eye. "If you have and problems that will affect your performance, speak now."
"I can not accept this man to be held in charge of us!" Draco's eyes trained onto the woman who spoke first.
"And you are?"
The woman said clearly. "I am Henrietta Bartel head commander of the Italian division."
Draco walked up to her and stared her in the eye. She returned his passive look with a fierce glare. "I have heard of you Draco Malfoy. You were a death eater who denounced your master and left. No fighting back. Just left like a coward. Why should I follow a man who ran away from his own war?"
Draco looked at the woman. He turned away and walked in front of the other commanders and said "First, I am no longer a Malfoy. Second, I had no choice in leaving. In leaving I was repaying a debt to the person who saved my life. Thirdly…" Draco stopped in front of the woman Henrietta and looked at the older woman with an intense gaze. "Your own doubts about this exercise should not be broadcasted so loudly." Draco raised his wand at her with a simple flick and she collapsed to the floor.
"Find someone from her division to take her place. We have no room for doubts here. We are about to over throw the largest government in the world. Any one who doubts this operation could ensure that we loose." Draco nodded to the men before turning and leaving. He spoke to the commanders as a leader should. "I will lead my detachment to the largest city, Godrics Hollow."
Draco left the building to meet his own contingent. We may have numbers, but we do not have conviction. This take over may be successful, but it will destroy Britain as it is. There is no point to this. There will eventually be an uprising and a harsh backlash. Draco passed through the court yard and apparated to Clavis' memorial. His men stood in files and columns.
They cheered at him walking in front of him. Draco saw the men and knew that even if these were seasoned Aurors, they were still a mob. And a mob is still just a mob, isn't that right Harry?
-o-
"Hello Mrs. Snape, it is good to see you." The man said. His wide smile and brown messy hair instantly relaxed the woman.
"It is good to see you too, Severus has talked much about you Mr. Dursley."
"My name is James." Susan walked up to her husband and latched her arm to his. Her illusioned black hair and brown eyes smiled at Snapes' wife.
"I am sorry Mrs. Snape, but Severus wants to talk to us." She waved in departure and dragged a laughing Harry away. "Honestly Harry, do you need to play around like this?"
"Susan, do you know how nice it is to be completely anonymous?"
She sighed. She did understand now. The two had decided to disguise themselves until Hermione showed. It would do no good to have 'Psychotic Harry', show up. "Yes I do crazy man, but don't play around with people you know. She is going to be angry at you when she finds out that you were masquerading as a nobody."
Harry smiled. "All apart of the cover love," Harry leaned forward to kiss her cheek and found his wife's head turned to kiss him on the lips.
The two walked towards the entrance where older man stood. Severus was leaning against the wall near the entrance to the hallway. His face was pained from the amount of noise in the building.
The couple nodded to Severus. Severus looked right into Harry's eye and Harry's brow went from relaxed to concentrating. Susan looked at both of them then back towards Severus wife who was farther down the auditorium. She gave an inward sigh when she realized what Harry and Severus were about to do and she would have no one to converse with. Susan hated being excluded from conversations.
Severus tried to smile. "I need some baby sitting advice." I have lost contact with my spy network.
Harry's smile instantly faded. "You know we haven't been able to have any children of our own, why ask us?" What happened Severus. Harry legilimened back to him.
Severus took a step forward and grunted out. "I know, but you have several friends who are at the age where they have at least one brat." I lost contact with three key spies two hours ago. They were reporting on a large movement on three different countries. At the time, I was receiving reports every fifteen minutes.
"I guess I could ask around, my neighbors do have a few kids who could do it..." What countries?
"Thanks James, I really need to have someone watch over my daughter for our anniversary." Frisland, France, and the Baltic Alliance.
Harry nodded and smiled, "I'll try and get you one before next week." Frisland? That is barely considered a country, why are they in? Harry thought about the country just south of Britain a few hundred miles off the coast of France. The country was actually four islands, each the size of London with seven small cities, a few actually made of gold. The entire country has the largest enchantments in the world placed on them, allowing only the natives to find their ancestral home. They were considered the highest concentration of magic folk in the world and accepted many political refugees. Their high reliance on other countries to support them left them with little power. They would most likely finance any kind of military operation. Why would they aid in targeting us? Harry smirked inwardly. He knew why so many people were gathering.
Severus sighed in relief. "Thanks James, I appreciate the help." Like the rest, they are scared. But I think you being on a rampage had something to do with it. If you recall, they likely know who caused the destruction of Clavis, and that city was as large as all of their islands. Harry raised an eyebrow. He had never thought of the area that spell could cover. The first time he had performed the ender spell Magnum Opus, he had lost control. It was an accident. If my network was just taken down, then they were waiting until they were ready to move before attacking my spies. My best guess is they will attack within the next day.
Harry nodded and smiled. "So when do you think Minister Granger will arrive? I was told this speech is going to be the high point of her career. It has been unanimous that she remain in office." Does Hermione know?
"I am not sure, the press was hounding the gate before they were allowed inside. I think she would have gone around when she arrived. Would you like to come with me to greet her?" Yes. Harry… The force size that I think may be mobilizing is enough to occupy all fourteen wizarding towns in Britain. That is at least two thousand people preparing to invade.
"It would be my pleasure." He grimaced and Susan looked between the two of them dubiously. Are there anyone who is able to fight besides you and me? Severus raised his hand and showed three fingers. Harry nodded. Have the Raiders who are able to fight designate between three of the defendable cities. I'll see what I can do with the Aurors.
They started walking in silence with Susan lip pouting at both Severus and Harry. Severus smirked at Susan's disguise. When Hermione gets here, I will give her an update, I have spoken to her a few hours ago. This invasion could happen when she starts her speech. I don't think many of the Wizengamot would appreciate their pressure to fail them when she is openly defying the nations of the world.
Harry held his hand out to his wife who took it. The three walked in silence. When they passed the press stands, Harry stopped walking and looked at his friend. "Don't take any unnecessary risks."
Severus merely grunted and the three met up with Severus's wife. Not a word was spoken before there were screams from the outer doors.
- - - End Chapter 8 Unsettled - - -
A/N: heh, i look at the last update for this story and feel very ashamed. August. Ug, well what I have tried for this story didn't really flop, but it was not a success either as I update this with only one chapter done instead of the complete Part 2. This semester was an odd mix of hell, and twists of fate. Dead week is next week then finals. I should have the next chapter up before december, and the story finished by jan. er- I hope so atleast. Thank you all for the reviews, and the patience.