QUEST FOR FREEDOM
By Fire
Chapter 4 Forever England
"If I should die, think only this of me:
That there's some corner of a foreign field
that is forever England."
Rupert Brooke
Almost five weeks had passed since the Death Eaters attack on the southern barracks. Ever since, the two factions of the rebellion had lived in complete – well, almost complete – harmony, training together under the command of both Harry and Ginny. For their part, Harry and Ginny were pleased with how the two armies were gelling together, and how adept they were becoming at duelling. Their relationship was progressing nicely, too. The two leaders grew closer with each day that passed, and both appeared to be happy. They were growing to know each other well, and both of them were determined to protect the other.
Early one morning, the rebel army headed out onto the Quidditch pitch to begin their daily drills. They were just setting up their equipment and arranging themselves into pairs, when a large object hurtled over the wall, setting off the intruder alarm. The object hit the ground with a thud, and Harry, who was with Ginny setting up the targets for aiming practise, looked across the field in shock. Seeing that the object was not an object at all, but a man, Harry sprinted as fast as he could across the field, and as he did so a crowd gathered around the man. Harry burst through the crowd with Ginny close behind him to see the tired yet smiling face of Albus Dumbledore staring up at him.
"Nice of you to drop in Albus," Harry said, with a grin. "Bored of using the gate now, are you?"
"Well, I like to make an entrance," said Albus.
Smatterings of laughter could be heard in the crowd around them.
"Ok, everyone," Harry said. "I don't remember saying that drills were delayed this morning. Get to work!"
The people around them scurried away. Ginny stood back slightly from Harry and Dumbledore.
"How was your mission, Harry?" Dumbledore asked, still lying flat on his back, looking slightly spread-eagled.
"Successful," said Harry. "Hermione's here, she's actually having a potions lesson at the moment."
"I would very much like to meet her," said Dumbledore.
Harry turned around.
"Ginny," he said. "Will you go and get Hermione? She should be in the dungeons with my mum."
"No problem, Harry," she said, turning and walking away.
Harry watched her leave and only turned back around when Dumbledore spoke.
"Lovely girl, isn't she?"
Harry blushed, allowing Dumbledore the chance for a chuckle.
"Did you get the horcrux?" Harry asked hastily changing the subject.
"Yes and no," said Dumbledore. "I've located both the fifth and sixth horcrux. Unfortunately, I was unable to seize possession of either of them. I need you to come with me now to the Malfoy Manor, where the diary is kept secure."
"Malfoy Manor?" said Harry, his eyebrows raised. "That will be tricky. And the sixth."
"The sixth is the sword," said Dumbledore. "But we will leave that for another day. Ah. It appears we have company."
Harry turned to see three women crossing the quidditch to where Harry and Dumbledore were still occupying the ground. Dumbledore slowly and somewhat creakily got to his feet, and Harry did likewise.
"Good morning, Lily," Dumbledore said jovially to the older of the three women. "And good morning to you, too, Ginny. I trust preparations are progressing well."
"Yes," said Ginny. "Harry and I have been integrating the two groups during training, and we've also begun transferring more command to me in the last week or so. Haven't we Harry?"
Harry barely heard Ginny speak, as he was distracted by the glint of the sun on her vibrant red hair. He came to his senses moments after he heard his name.
"What? Oh, yeah. That's right," he said, his cheeks colouring slightly.
"And this must be Miss Granger," Dumbledore said, offering his hand to the women with bushy brown hair. "I am pleased to meet you. I am Albus Dumbledore."
Hermione took his hand and shook it firmly.
"Pleased to meet you to, sir," she said politely. "It's nice to finally be able to put a face to the name. I've heard a lot about you."
"Nothing good I hope," said Dumbledore, his eyes twinkling.
"Well," he said. "I have kept you from your work long enough, and now Harry and I have urgent business to attend to. I shall see you all again later this evening."
Lily and Hermione headed off back to the castle, and Dumbledore turned and headed for the gates. Harry noticed, with some concern, that Dumbledore was limping as he walked.
"What business?" Ginny asked, her eyes questioning.
"I can't tell you Ginny," said Harry. "At least not now. It would take far, far too long to explain. All you need to know is that it will help us greatly in the fight against Voldemort."
"Is it dangerous?" she asked.
"Yes," said Harry. "But nothing is safe these days. Don't worry about me."
"I can't help it," said Ginny.
Harry reached out to her and pulled her close.
"My time isn't up yet," Harry said, straining a smile. "I'll be back in a couple of hours."
"Be careful, Harry," Ginny said urgently, squeezing him tighter.
"I will," he said.
She looked up at him, and Harry found himself lost in her gaze. He kissed her gently, savouring each moment. Breaking apart he said, gently, "I love you," before turning and running across the field to where Dumbledore was waiting for him.
"It's harder to go when there's someone to leave behind," said Dumbledore wisely.
Harry just nodded and set off to the gates without looking back, knowing that if he allowed himself just one glance, he might not be able to go.
Harry and Dumbledore apparated into some woodland near to the boundary wall of the Malfoy estate, but on the wrong side of it, so as not to be detected. Dumbledore had already told Harry that he had earlier discovered a break in the wall where they could easily enter and had already disabled the protection charms there. They walked a short distance through the woods, until Harry saw what Dumbledore had spoken of – an area of wall about a metre wide and a metre tall that had crumbled and many of the rocks fallen away. With a quick flick of his wand, Dumbledore checked that his earlier spellwork was still intact, and finding that it was so he gave Harry a nod to say 'all clear'. Harry being younger and more agile climbed through the hole first, his wand at the ready. Signalling to Dumbledore that the way was clear, the older man made his way through the hole in the wall. The grounds surrounding the manor itself were massive and Dumbledore had already calculated that it would take them at least half an hour to reach the building. Luckily, most of the once beautiful gardens had fallen into disrepair in the years since the Malfoy's had taken up with Voldemort, and Harry and Dumbledore were able to move forward quite quickly as they were always under the cover of dense overgrowth. Both moved silently with the wands held out before them, prepared for any combat they might be forced into. Harry noticed Dumbledore constantly checking for any security spells that might detect their presence, and fervently hoped that Dumbledore found their way to be clear.
For a long time, the Northern rebellion had watched the Malfoy Manor carefully, knowing it to be a breeding and training ground for new Death Eaters. They had known, however, that the risks of trying to render the manor useless to Voldemort would be far too risky and would most likely result in a loss of rebels, not Death Eaters. It was only now, knowing the importance of a signal object inside, that both Harry and Dumbledore knew that the risk was worth taking. Now, as they approached the dirty black stone walls of the manor, Harry could feel his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement.
"How do we enter, Albus?" Harry asked wordlessly, communicating through thought.
"Through the door," said Dumbledore, as though it was as easy as breathing.
Harry shook his head in bewilderment, but nevertheless followed Dumbledore to a tiny little servant's door on the corner of the east wing of the mansion – the house-elf's door. Tapping the handle with his wand and pushing the wooden door open, Dumbledore crouched down and slipped easily through the tiny opening. Harry followed closing the door behind him.
"Why are there no wards?" Harry asked.
"Being the wizard that he is, Lucius Malfoy believes that no wizard would stoop so low as to use a servants entrance," explained Dumbledore. "A foolish error in judgement."
The servants quarters were dark and dingy. A pile of rags sat in one corner, which Harry presumed served as a bed, and a couple of candles which were almost burned out provide the only light in the room. The ceiling was low, so much so that Harry and Dumbledore were practically on their hands and knees as they crawled towards a doorway at the other side of the room. Taking care to move as silently as possible, Harry was concentrating so hard that he barely heard a faint weeping coming from a shadowed corner of the room.
"Dobby can't," sobbed the voice. "Dobby so he hurt that Dobby can barely move. Dobby cannot serve his master no more. Dobby would be better dead."
The sobbing continued, and Harry felt pity for the poor creature fill his whole body. So overwhelmed was he that he lost concentration and as a result stumbled.
"Who's there?" asked the elf, it's voice shaking with fear.
Dobby moved slowly out of the shadows to gaze with surprise at the sight of Harry and Dumbledore crawling across his room.
"I am Harry Potter," said Harry. "Tell me Dobby, why are you so sad."
"Dobby cannot speak ill of his master," said the elf, a silent tear sliding down his face.
"Can you help us, Dobby?" Harry asked. "If you help us, I can free you."
Dobby's eyes lit up.
"Yes, Mr Harry Potter, sir," said Dobby. "What is it that Dobby can do?"
"Can you get us through the manor without being seen, and without us having to use magic?"
"Of course Dobby can, sir," said Dobby. "Where is you needing to go?"
"To the dungeon below the Morning Room," said Harry.
Dobby's face fell.
"'Tis an evil room, Mr Harry Potter," said Dobby.
"I know," said Harry. "That's why we need to go."
"Dobby will help," said the elf.
He hurriedly approached the two crouched wizards and put one hand on each, before apparating them to the dungeon. There, quite unprotected, lay a tattered old diary. Harry noticed that the door was locked, but other than that there appeared to be no protection which Dumbledore confirmed with an intricate wave of his wand.
"Why is it unprotected?" Harry asked.
"I do not know," said Dumbledore. "But I will investigate it later."
Harry bent down and picked up the diary off the floor. Dumbledore pointed his wand at it and quickly performed the spell to remove the fragment of Voldemort's soul. Harry bent down and pulled his sock off with a quick fiddle around in his boot. He shoved the sock inside the diary.
"Intruders!"
Harry, Dumbledore and Dobby heard the shout and could tell that whoever it wascould not be far away. With wands out, Harry and Dumbledore waited. Sure enough, the door flew open and in marched the familiar face, and hair, of Lucius Malfoy. Harry eyed him with loathing. This was the man who had killed Susan.
"Dobby!" Malfoy hissed angrily.
Head bowed, Dobby approached his master slowly. Thinking quickly, Harry looked up at Malfoy.
"Don't you want the diary back?" he asked.
He threw the diary to the Death Eater. Malfoy caught it and passed it onto Dobby. Harry motioned to Dobby to open the diary. Malfoy, not noticing Harry's actions looked at Harry and Dumbledore with disgust and said, with a sneer,
"When the Dark Lord catches up with you, you will not be smirking boy. Kill them!"
The order was given to two Death Eaters who were lurking behind him. But before they were even given a chance to cast a spell, something immensely powerful threw them out of the dungeon and a long way down the corridor.
"Dobby!" Malfoy yelled from where he had landed. "How dare you!"
"Master has given Dobby a sock," said the elf, his voice full of wonder.
He was holding up the sock so Malfoy could see it.
"Master gave it to Dobby," said the elf.
Malfoy's eyes widened.
"What did you say?" he spat.
"Dobby has got a sock. Master threw it and Dobby caught it, and Dobby – Dobby is free," said Dobby in disbelief.
Malfoy stood up and pointed his wand at Harry.
"You shall not harm Harry Potter," said Dobby, and with a loud bang threw Malfoy back once more.
Dobby turned to Harry and Dumbledore.
"Can Dobby help you again?" he asked.
"Yes," said Harry.
He bent down to pick up the diary again as Malfoy had dropped it during Dobby's attack. Dobby touched both Harry and Dumbledore once more and apparated them both away. Within seconds they were outside the grounds, and Harry noticed that dusk had fallen.
"Thank you, Mr Harry Potter," Dobby said.
"Come to Hogwarts with us, Dobby," said Harry. "You saved us today and we are very grateful. Will you join us?"
"The other elves will look after you until you are well again," said Dumbledore.
"And don't think that we expect you to serve us," said Harry. "Unless you want to of course."
"Could Dobby," the elf paused, as if unsure of what he was about to ask. "Could Dobby be paid?"
Dobby wrung his hands nervously, but after a moment Dumbledore broke into a smile.
"Yes," he said. "Whatever wage you want. Now, we had best leave for it won't be long before the Death Eaters find us."
The three days following Dumbledore and Harry's successful mission to retrieve a horcrux, some disturbing news filtered into the rebellion's spy network. Death Eater activity had spread from the Balkans, an area of Eastern Europe that they had occupied for some time, into the more Western reaches of the continent with a particularly large force heading for the heart of Germany.
Dumbledore called an urgent meeting with Harry and Ginny to discuss the new events.
"There is a small European resistance," said Dumbledore. "But they don't have the resources to fight back a full scale Death Eater attack like this. I don't want you to take the full army, it's too risky, take a selection of fighters from both factions."
"What do you want us to do?" Harry asked.
"Find the resistance," said Dumbledore. "Help them to keep the Death eaters out of Berlin, then bring them here to join with us. The more help we have here, the sooner this war will be over for everyone."
"All right," said Harry, nodding slowly. "We'll do what we can."
Later that day, Harry and Ginny assembled a task force of about twenty wizards outside the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. More news had filtered through about the attacks and it was deemed pointless to try and resist the Death Eater advances. Their mission was to enter Berlin and find what members of the European resistance they could and take them to Hogwarts. Among the group were Ginny's brothers Ron, Fred and George.
"Ok, guys," Ginny said, taking the lead. "Basically, our task is enter Berlin, find resistance members take them from the city and bring them here. Oh and don't die. Does everyone understand?"
A couple of the wizards chuckled. Everyone nodded in understanding.
"The leader of the resistance is a Bulgarian called Viktor Krum, so it would be useful if we could locate him quite quickly," Ginny added. "Ok then, let's go."
The group apparated away only to find themselves in a war zone. All around them were collapsed buildings and within moments they were being fired upon by a great many jets of light.
"Shield charms!" yelled Harry. "Protego!" he said, raising his own shield.
"Find cover!" he heard Ginny shout from beside him, only the noise around them was so loud that it sounded as if she were a mile away.
Separating, Harry and Ginny ran across the square that they had apparated to, to take shelter behind some piles of rubble. A thick dust filled the air and Harry was struggling to see the enemy through, it. They were surprised when through the dust walked several exhausted men, none of them wearing Death Eater robes.
"Are you with the resistance?" Ginny yelled.
"Yes," one man shouted back with a thick Russian accent.
"Do you know where we can find Viktor Krum?" Ginny asked.
"I am Viktor Krum," said another of the men.
He had thick eyebrows, was tall and broadly built and distinctly round shouldered.
"Can you round up our group?" Ginny shouted. "Your attempt here is futile. Our orders are to take you back to Britain."
Viktor Krum looked ready to argue, but obviously thought better of it and gave out a signal. Ginny stepped out from behind her shelter to greet them, when five Death Eaters came through the dust firing off spells left, right and centre. The rebels and the resistance stepped into action as more Death Eaters started to arrive. Harry stood alone, his wand held high, stunning, hexing and jinxing as many Death Eaters as he could aim at. Ron was behind him covering the other direction, but unfortunately, amidst all the commotion, Harry didn't hear Ron go down. His back was uncovered.
Ginny was across the square battling with two Death Eaters on her own. Finally getting the better of them, she glanced across to see Harry unprotected with a Death Eater advancing on his back. Desperately shooting of an impediment jinx and missing by inches, Ginny ran across the square in a frantic attempt to reach Harry, but it was too late.
"Petrificus Totalus!" the Death Eater shouted, and Harry froze.
He couldn't see behind him to know what had happened, and somewhere in the distance he heard Ginny's shout.
"Harry!" she cried.
She tried to cast the counter curse, but the Death Eater detected it. He aimed a simple reducto at the damaged wall that Harry was standing beneath and Harry waited helplessly for the many heavy stones to fall on his head. He heard the noise of battle around him as he strained to see through the dust. He could hear Ginny saying something, but he didn't know what, and then, he heard nothing. He saw nothing. Only darkness.
