(A/N: Bonus for everyone as I have a little extra time at the moment.)
Chapter 5
Harry and Ginny arrived a little before eight. Lily and Milli worked together to put breakfast on the table for the large crew that was coming. Harry counted eight chairs; counting the possibilities out on fingers, he came to eight as well.
"Go ahead and start," Lily told him as she set the bowl of eggs in front of him. "Toast will be out in a moment."
Harry started dishing up food and Ginny grabbed the bacon and other bowls to set near him so he could have some first; she had more time.
Sirius walked in and good mornings were mumbled. He sat and immediately started grabbing for the food too.
When Remus walked in, Lily joined them with a stack of toast; James came in also.
"We need a quick test, Harry," James said as he pulled out his wand. A short vase of flowers in the middle of the table turned into a small green snake. "Can you still talk to it? You said you used to be able?"
"Err," Harry said from his surprise. Looking at the snake that was looking around, he hissed for a moment and then listened. "He wants to know what he's doing here?"
James waved his wand again and the snake morphed back into the vase of flowers. "Good, that makes parts of the job easier, or so Lily said from her planning. Not sure where you got that skill from though."
"You're not bothered by it?" Harry asked, a little afraid of the answer.
"Nope," James answered as he dished up food. Lily had shaken her head as her mouth was full at the moment.
"Probably from the Black side," Sirius said after he swallowed. "My mum was watching Reg and me to see if one of us could do it. It's sort of like we get a Metamorphagus from time to time."
"Who was the last before Nymphadora?" Harry said with a grin. "It's fun to be able to say that since she's not here."
Sirius laughed for a moment while the rest smiled in amusement. "My Great-Aunt Lycoris was a Metamorph. I believe Great-Aunt Cassiopeia was a Parselmouth; she would have been a sister to your Grandmother Dorea."
There was a knock on the front door. James rose to go greet their last guests when Arthur and Bill walked in. "Sorry for being late," Arthur said as he headed for an open seat, as did Bill.
"No problem," Sirius told him. "Harry and I aren't quite ready to leave and we still have to go to Gringotts."
James dug into a pocket and held out his hand to Harry and dropped a small something into it. "I forgot to give that to you last night, but I opened it yesterday afternoon when I had a few minutes. The money should be in it by now."
Harry looked at the small key in his hand. "I feel like I owe you a lot more than appreciation, but thank you very much!"
"Act like a Potter should, which I know you will, and that will be thanks enough," James said with a warm smile. "By the way, did you two figure out new names yet?"
"Yeah, I thought I'd use Evan," Harry looked at his step-mother, "in honor of you since I'll stay a Potter."
Lily looked proud while James nodded appreciatively. "Thank you, Harry," she said.
Ginny said, "I decided to go with Jennifer, that way Harry could still call me Jenn."
Most nodded; Arthur smiled. "I think that suits you."
Sirius looked over and saw that Harry had finished eating too. "Shall we go too?"
Harry stood, but before he left he said, "Everyone get a broom if you don't have one. Ginny?"
"I'll get one for you," she told him, understanding his question.
Sirius and Harry headed for the front door. "I'll meet you in Diagon Alley." Sirius left first.
When Harry arrived, Sirius noticed he was now blond. "Not quite silent but definitely not loud; that's good. Like the look too," he said as he led the way at a brisk walk.
In the bank, there were no lines at this time on a Saturday morning, so they walked up to the first teller they saw. "Pull out your key," he told Harry before he told the Goblin, "I'd like to transfer 10,000 Galleons from vault 711 to that vault." He indicated the key Harry had.
The Goblin pulled out a form before he took the key. He filled the form out with quick deft strokes before turning it around for Sirius to sign, which the man did.
"I'd also like to visit vault 711," Sirius informed him. "If someone would like to use the opportunity to move the gold that would be acceptable as we'll be in the vault for a few minutes."
The Goblin barked out several orders to a younger Goblin standing nearby, who ran off. "Follow him when he returns," the teller said and pointed towards the doors to the vaults that had a rope across it and a pair of guards.
The two wizards ambled over to the waiting area by the rope. A moment later the young Goblin returned and beckoned them around the rope and to follow him. They sat in the cart indicated and saw an older Goblin enter the cart behind them. The two carts left the lobby level and headed down.
Soon they were at vault 711. "The Black Family vault," Sirius said as he walked over and put his hand on the edge of the door before the young Goblin ran a finger down the middle of the door. A click was heard and the Goblin stepped back. Sirius opened the door and waved at Harry to follow him.
The older Goblin left his cart, which was bigger and longer than normal, and went into the vault also, carrying platform scales with a bucket. The younger Goblin came last carrying a shovel.
He and Sirius walked around the vault slowly looking for the cup. However, Harry couldn't help but take a moment to watch the Goblins shovel Galleons into the bucket that was now sitting on the scale. When they almost reach top, the Goblins would toss in the golden or silver coins by hand until the scale gave them a reading they liked. Then with magic, obviously considering how heavy that bucket must have been, the bucket was taken out and dumped into the large cart before they returned and started on the next bucket.
"Harry!" Sirius called. "Is this it?"
The boy walked over to see a small shelf with a lot of items piled haphazardly on it. He squatted down like Sirius was and looked at it. Pulling his wand out he levitated the cup out of the pile. "Yes, that's it."
Sirius told him quietly, "Hold on a moment." When the Goblins left with their next bucket, Sirius quickly did a Human Revealing spell and the cup glowed dimly while the two wizards glowed brightly. Pulling out a small pouch attached to his belt, he opened it and let Harry drop the cup into it before he closed it up.
Standing, Sirius said, "Hold out your money bag."
"Sirius," Harry said with a roll of his eyes. "James already gave me some and you're already adding to it."
"Fine, hold it out anyway and I'll give some to Ginny. You can go buy her some sexy lingerie or something."
Harry blushed. "Sirius, you really don't need to do this."
"Yes I do. We have to wait on them anyway and you probably need some spending money." The man scooped up some Galleons with both hands and waited.
Harry rolled his eyes again but did open up his pouch. Sirius dropped the coins in, spilling a few; he did it a second time before Harry closed the pouch and put it away.
The two walked over to watch the Goblins. The scale showed three numbers at the bottom. As the first neared 1000, the Goblins added or removed coins until the numbers showed "1000", "0", "0". Then that bucket was taken out.
"Two more," the older Goblin said, anticipating Sirius's question. Two buckets later the equipment was removed.
The two carts ascended to vault 1099 before stopping. Harry supplied his key and the vault was opened revealing a good sized pile of coins, although nowhere near the amount Sirius had or that Harry had had in his old world, which he now recognized was the Potter Family vault.
His key was returned and the young Goblin took them back up while the older Goblin started transferring the coins from the cart into the vault.
Once outside of the bank, Sirius asked, "Anything you need to get for today?"
"No," Harry answered, "it can all wait." Besides the broom he'd asked for, he had his Invisibility Cloak, which had he'd had on him when he was brought to this dimension, thankfully. Hmm, that produced an interesting a thought.
— — —
Back at the Potter, Harry pulled James to the side. "Did you have an Invisibility Cloak from the family? If so, do you have it here or did you give it to your children?"
James looked surprised. "I have it and that's a good idea. I was thinking of giving it to Rose next year." He left to get that.
Ginny came over and handed him a Nimbus broom. "James said we could keep these as he considered them school supplies."
Harry shook his head slightly. "Sirius gave me the money this morning and it was transferred to my - our - vault." He grinned at her and leaned over to whisper in her ear. "He also gave me some spending money and said I should buy you something sexy." He watched her turn beet red.
"What did you say?" she all but squeaked.
"I knew I was dealing with a Marauder so I didn't say anything," he replied, still smiling.
He noticed Remus, Arthur, and Bill in the corner having a conversation but not a sound was heard.
"Probably wise," she told him and pointed out the back window where Lily was doing something in the back garden that required a lot of spells. "She should be done in a few minutes. It's where they plan to destroy them."
Sirius was waved over and he opened his pouch and tipped it over so the cup fill on the ground. Lily checked it before she did a spell to cause it to go into the place she'd prepared. A waiting steel box was hit by a spell so the box disappeared. The tiara was placed into the opening also. A stone was placed on the opening and a few more spells were cast, probably to protect it.
When Lily and Sirius came in, and James rejoined them, Remus noticed and ended his conversation with the wave of his wand. "I used the last half hour to explain what we're facing," he told the teens.
Bill looked at Harry with perhaps a bit of admiration. "You took care of all of those yourself?"
"I found them and destroyed some of them. A few I let friends do. Ron destroyed one," Harry told him. "Are you going to try to free them so you can save the objects? Some of them are worth a lot."
"I'll try one during lunch," Bill said. "I've run into these in Egypt. Someone else always worked on them, but I am familiar with what has to be done."
The others were standing around and listening in. "What's the plan?" Harry asked.
"I'm thinking we go after the locket, then the ring, then the diary last as more people will see us since school is still in session and it's a Saturday. I don't know when we'll get the snake," Lily explained.
"Technically, I'm in charge, but I recognize Bill's expertise and Harry's experience. So," she looked around the group, if any one of the three of us tell you to do something, especially if it's with urgency, do it immediately and ask questions later when we're relaxed. That is extra true if the command is 'stop', 'don't', 'backup', or any command like that. Questions?"
"How are we getting there?" Remus asked. "Wherever we need to go, that is?"
"Based on what Harry told me, I've created Portkeys to each of the two areas that are unfamiliar," she replied. "From there, we'll either walk or fly. Be prepared to Disillusion yourself. I'll modify the memories of anyone required."
Lily pulled out a blue rope. "Grab on and then Disillusion yourself. There's a chance on this one that we end up near Muggles touring the area."
Harry Disillusioned himself and then Ginny; she smiled at him as he raised his wand above her. They each had an Elder wand today, as well as their normal wands as backup, his holly wand being recently repaired by using the Elder Wand. The Portkey activated and they landed a moment later with a rope looking like it was floating in the air by itself. It was dropped by all but one who rolled it up and then it disappeared too.
"I don't see anyone around, so brooms out," Lily's voice said. "Harry, lead the way but not too fast please. While I'm not afraid of flying, I not nearly as good as you are. We'll follow your broom since it'll be visible. Let's form a line and get going."
Harry pulled his broom out and it was visible as predicted. He climbed on and saw the same where Ginny should have been. He flew slowly and thought Ginny was following him. More brooms rose into the air and soon there was a line behind him. Harry headed for the cliff nearby and started looking around for the large rock near the shore he and Dumbledore had arrived on. Seeing it in the distance on his left, he turned that way, going over the cliff and at an easy rate of descent down to near the water.
It didn't take too long to arrive at the cave with the line of brooms catching up and hovering in the air. He slowly flew lower and into the cave. A few curses were shouted, probably because some people weren't careful with their head, he thought with amusement. Once in the cave, Harry cancelled the Disillusionment on himself and lit his wand. He landed on the small beach area where the door would be.
"Harry?" Ginny called out. He patted the air where her voice sounded from and found her head to cancel the camouflage spell. The others started appearing too, with Sirius rubbing his head.
"Uh, there's a door about here," Harry said and pointed. "It needs a little blood to open but shouldn't be a problem otherwise."
Bill stepped forward and cast some spells. He nodded and pulled out a knife to prick a finger so he could smear blood on a spot. The door appeared and opened.
"Good idea," Harry said and conjured a knife, the handle and edged blade each as long as his hand. He then conjured a sheath and placed the knife in that, then the clip on the sheath slipped on his belt. He noticed Ginny copying him.
"Inferi," Remus said as he looked into the water.
"Don't disturb or dip anything into the water unless you want to deal with them," Harry cautioned. "There's a boat over there that will hold one or two people, but I'd suggest flying to the island out there."
They all looked out; a few shuddered. "I'd hate to fall into that," Sirius said, also eyeing the lake and the underwater Inferi.
Harry mounted his broom and started flying slowly. He was relieved his broom didn't fail as he started over the water. It didn't take long for him to reach the island with the others behind him. He looked into the basin on the pedestal and he could see the vague outline of a gold locket at the bottom - hopefully it was the right one.
"Dumbledore had to dip out and drink all of that potion in the bowl, but hopefully we can find a better way to get the locket out," Harry said.
Bill and Lily came over and started casting spells while the others looked out over the water nervously.
"Mostly a Nightmare potion, but it has some other ingredients mixed into it," Lily said. "Probably a thirst potion too to let the Inferi do their work."
Bill moved from working on the basin to working on the pedestal, then the rock it all sat on. "If we had the time, I'd say to disconnect the pedestal from the rock and take it all back with us."
"How would we carry it?" James asked. "I can tell there are Anti-Apparation wards here, probably Anti-Portkey wards too if he was smart."
"Probably only have to get outside of this cave to Apparate back," Bill told him. He did another spell on the basin then smiled. "Oh, he's not as clever as he thinks, or else there's a trap I don't see. All right, if you're not a good flyer, head back over to the door and someone smear a little blood on it if it's closed. I'll need a few people to guard me then we'll fly back, perhaps near the ceiling if the Inferi come broiling up here."
"What are you going to do?" Lily asked.
Bill conjured a sledge hammer and did a spell on the head. "He didn't guard it against physical attacks. I'd like at least three here with me; the rest go back."
"Me, Sirius, Remus," James said.
"And me, so we have one person at each compass point," Harry added.
"Me too," Ginny said.
"Ginny," Arthur started.
"On your broom," Harry told her, "and hover above us. They can't get you up there and you can give us cover. The rest go back."
"It's a good plan," Lily said and mounted her broom. "Let's go Arthur, we can open the door if we need to and hold it for them as well as protect the exit."
Arthur didn't look happy but he nodded and flew off after Lily. Ginny lifted into the air with one hand holding her wand.
The four guards each took a position equally spaced around the edge of the island while Bill readied himself. Setting the head of the hammer on the rock lip of the basin, he said, "Get ready, this may get their attention. Remember, sever limbs or set them on fire. A Blasting hex can also buy you valuable time if it's strong enough. Here goes."
Bill pulled back a little and let the hammer fall before he let it swing back then up over his head, then finally down completing the circle and smashing onto the lip of the basin. It cracked and a small piece of it fell off and cracks were formed; however, the liquid stay suspended in the basin even though it should have started to run out. "Going again."
Again, Bill swung the hammer around in a circle and knocked large chunk off of the basin. "Again." The third hit knocked the rest of the basin off and the liquid potion finally dropped and started running downhill. James hurried over and held open a pack.
Harry took quick steps to see as Bill drop it in. "Yes, that's the real one, not the fake one."
"The potion is about to hit the water," Remus called out. Everyone turned in time to see it happen … and to see the water start to ripple and the first of the Inferi rise up.
Ginny blasted the first back into the water, then continued to methodically move to the next so as not to miss.
"Fly!" Harry shouted and mounted his broom and rose. He blasted a few back to protect the others. James was the last into the air as he blasted one trying to get Remus and then they all hurriedly flew back to the door, which Lily had open with Arthur standing in the doorway.
Each flyer landed near the door then hurried out. Lily was the last to leave, although she was in no danger as the Inferi couldn't move nearly as fast as the brooms. She hesitated for a moment before her face changed to a snarl and she called out, "Fiendfyre!" A fiery hippogriff leapt out of her wand and rush at the Inferi. She stepped through the door and closed it, with the crack disappearing. "That should clean up that mess. Shall we Apparate home?" When no one objected, she left with a crack, then seven other cracks sounded in quick succession.
All landed near each other on the porch of the Potter's house. James pulled out the locket and set it down, careful not to touch it. He did the revealing spell and the locket glowed a little brighter than the others had.
"How about I look at it while we all take a break and get something to drink. Ice water if I can," Bill said as he conjured a chair and began working on the locket as Lily watched closely.
James and Remus took orders and returned in a few minutes with the drinks.
"Good job, everyone," Lily congratulated the group. "That's another one and no one got hurt and I don't believe You-Know-Who knows what we've done. Hmm, that raises a question I had the other day. Bill, will he be able to detect us destroying it?"
Bill leaned back and drank some of his ice water. "You'd think so, but no. He's connected to them magically, but magic has no feelings or nerves if you like. I need a real rock; not conjured or transfigured - maybe about the size of a fist."
James walked to the edge of the porch and carefully did a summoning spell. He grabbed the rock as it came to him and handed it to Bill. Bill took a few minutes and then suddenly moved his wand from the locket to the rock and a gray mist was visible moving before it settled into the rock.
Bill wiped the sweat off of his brow and smiled. "Soul fragment transferred. You can destroy the rock but keep the locket. Is there anything special about it?"
Harry took it and hissed, {Open}, and it popped open. Nothing was inside, including no specter popping out. "I'll confirm no soul fragment. It was Salazar Slytherin's locket. The tiara was Ravenclaw's, and the cup is Hufflepuff's."
"Those would be almost priceless!" Bill said in mild shock. "I better do those too. I'll need two more rocks."
"We'll donate them to the school when the war is over," James said.
Lily and Remus retrieved the other two Horcruxes while James fetched rocks. Another fifteen minutes later and the heirlooms were all clean. The three rocks were dropped into Lily's underground "cave". This time Sirius cast Fiendfyre before the stone lid was slammed on top and sealed.
A snack was offered and they rested a few more minutes. When all were ready, Lily held up a Portkey. "We shouldn't have to Disillusion ourselves for this one as it will take us into a forest."
"Be really careful with this one as I don't know what Dumbledore had to fight, but he picked up a Withering curse probably caused by a compulsion," Harry told them.
Bill looked around. "Right, that means we work in pairs; no one does anything alone and stay a few steps from each other to watch. If someone looks to be acting under a compulsion, say something out loud and if they won't stop then grab or stun them immediately."
Everyone nodded agreement. This was getting more serious.
"Also, while he stayed at Malfoy Manor in my world; his father's family home will be nearby, so he could show up. Be ready," Harry told them.
A yellow rope was held out and a moment later the eight did appear in a forest.
"Harry, which way?" his step-mother asked softly.
"I don't fully know as I never went there. Hold on." He pulled his broom off his back and disillusioned himself. Slowly, he rose into the air in a spiral to look around and to get his bearings. Off to his left was a low hill with an old mansion on it with a graveyard he recognized all too well at the bottom of the hill. There was an old road that hadn't seen much use nearby. He followed it with his eyes and flew a little in that direction. Eventually, he saw a clearing in the trees and what was probably the ridge of a cottage rooftop. He turned and flew the short distance back to the group, removing the hiding spell when he landed.
"There's an old road maybe fifty meters that way," Harry pointed. "We need to follow it that way maybe another 400 meters or so. I think I saw the top of a cottage. If that's not it I'll have to fly around, probably a lot more."
"Right, lead the way," Lily told him. "Remus, you have the end. Bill, up front with me after Harry. Everyone else get in a line. Stay alert and be ready to dodge or jump behind a tree."
Harry saw Ginny walk over to be next to her step-father. He turned and headed towards the road. It wasn't too hard to walk through the forest as long as he was willing to walk around some bushes and brambles rather than trying to walk the shortest distance.
As they came to the old road, Harry stopped and looked around; Lily and Bill came up next to him. "I don't see anyone and it doesn't look like this gets used much."
"A flagstone paved road," Lily said as she looked at it, "so not modern. With all of the grass growing around the stones, I'd have to agree with you on it not being used much or recently. Lead on carefully."
The old road wasn't very straight, it was probably a paved cow path, Harry thought as they walked. He still hadn't seen anyone or anything unusual when they reached a barely recognizable path on the right maybe five or six minutes later.
Carefully, Harry turned and pushed his way through the undergrowth. He didn't have to go far before he saw the dilapidated old cottage ahead - the same one that was in the memory Dumbledore had shown him. "That's it," he said softly over his shoulder.
Lily turned. "Everyone off the road and try to find a hiding place until the group can get closer to the cottage. Bill, you're up; I'll be your partner."
Bill nodded walked forward slowly and cautiously, casting spells along the ground and the area in front of him but not at the house.
Harry noticed the others coming forward so all were beyond the first row of bushes. James walked up beside him. "Let's go, partner." Harry smiled and joined his step-father, watching carefully around him as well as watching the pair in front.
Bill stopped when he was about twenty meters from the cottage. "I'm picking up magic now. I don't see anything dangerous, so it's probably some alert."
"Let me try; I have an idea," Harry said, walking to the front with James right behind him. {Drop the guard and open!} he ordered in a hiss. The snake that had been nailed to the door opened its eyes before he wiggled on the nail and the door opened halfway.
Their curse breaker did another spell. "Whatever you told it helped. The magic is gone."
Lily and Bill started advancing again, but slower still. Bill stopped at the porch. "I'm not afraid of snakes, but that thing watching me creeps me out."
{All traps off!} Harry hissed. The snake wiggled again. {You are dismissed.} The snake raised its head for a moment before it turned to dust, the motes settling to the old porch.
"Thanks," Bill said, sounding extra grateful, before he started forward again.
Harry pulled out his Invisibility Cloak and handed it to Ginny, who was nearby. "You're our surprise if anyone shows up. You four," he looked at Arthur, Sirius, Remus too, "are the guards out here. The place is too small for all of us."
James pulled out his Invisibility Cloak and handed it to Arthur. "Use this."
Arthur's expression lit up as he took it. "I've never used one before; marvelous." He put it on and disappeared as Ginny had.
Sirius and Remus moved back to get comfortable behind a big tree not too far away from each other.
Bill and Lily were already in the house and Harry and James followed. Inside, Harry saw a few sticks of furniture that were barely holding together and a heavy layer of dust was on everything. All of the windows were broken so the rain and other elements had entered. In short, it was a mess and calling it a hovel was kind.
"By the fireplace," Bill said softly and slowly walked that way. Suddenly, he dropped his wand to his side and started to walk at a normal speed.
"Bill!" Lily hissed as she took one long step before her hand shot out and grabbed the back of his shirt and pulled him back sharply, almost causing him to fall on his bum. "What were you doing?" she whispered loudly. Apparently, she didn't want to talk out loud any more than the rest.
Shaking his head to clear it, Bill quietly said, "Thanks." He cast another spell at the floor and frowned. He stood there and did another eight or nine spells before he nodded and inched forward even slower than before until he stood in front of the hearth.
Another spell caused a stone to rise and move aside. Conjuring a mirror, he held it over the hole to look down. A levitation spell and a small black bag rose into the air before he set it down on the stone that had been moved. More spells followed with the last vanishing the bag and leaving a gold ring lying on the stone.
With yet another spell, Bill lowered his wand. "I still wouldn't pick it up and I find that Withering curse on it that Harry talked about. However, we could take it as long as no one touches it."
"Is everyone all right in there?" Arthur's voice said from the doorway.
"We're good," Lily answered. "Just trying to figure out what to do."
"Is this ring special or worth a lot?" Bill asked.
"The ring, no. The stone in the ring is sort of special and I doubt you could easily destroy it," Harry answered.
"Then I'd propose to use the basilisk venom on the ring to get rid of the soul fragment then take whatever is left in a secure way until it can be checked," Bill told them.
"James, a steel box please," Lily said as she pulled out a short glove; it went only to the wrist, not to the elbow. A small phial came out too. She put the glove on then took the phial with the gloved hand before the other hand very carefully took the sealed top off.
"Be careful," Harry warned her. "When you destroy it, an apparition will come out of it and it will probably be scary and may even come at you, although like a ghost it can't hurt you."
"Thanks for the warning." Lily stepped forward gingerly. James had his wand trained on her to pull her back, while Bill had his wand on the ring to banish it away. With her arm outstretched, Lily held the lip of the phial right over the gold part of the ring and poured. As soon as it was all out, she dropped the phial and its top and scurried back.
She made it back to the small group just as a sizzling happened and an apparition came out of the ring with a wail. It screamed in rebellion before it dissipated. She dosed the ring with water and said, "Let's get out of here. Bill, put the stone back. James, your box and pack." Lily levitated the rinsed ring into the small steel box James had before he sealed it and dropped it in the small pack he kept at his waist.
They hurried out, relieved to see no one was waiting for them.
"To Hogwarts for the last we can do now," Lily said.
"Err, while we're here, I'd like to check on one thing. It could help us stop him from reappearing if he dies and all of the … things … aren't destroyed yet," Harry told them. "If we could disillusion ourselves and fly, I don't think it would take long, and I don't think we'll be seen if we haven't been found yet."
"Are you sure?" Lily asked, even though she was already pulling her broom off of her back.
"As sure as I can be," Harry returned. "I'll stop short so we can look around before we do anything risky."
There was agreement, so they all got ready. Ginny kept Harry's special cloak although she put it around her waist. Arthur handed the one he had back to James, who stored it.
The eight disillusioned flyers took off with Harry in the lead again, not flying too quickly. A couple of minutes later he descended into a small clearing, holding his broom in front of him so the others could see where he was.
When he could count seven other brooms with him, Harry said, "The graveyard beyond the trees and down the slope is where the Riddle family's graves are. I want to remove the bones from one grave there because that's how he comes back so easily, or at least he did in my fourth year. I need someone who can check that, even if it's by pulling all of the bones up. The rest can stay here."
"Not a good idea, splitting the group, I mean," Bill told them. "Sticking together is safer as more directions can be watched. The way we spread apart at the cottage is the most we should be apart when in an unsafe environment. That being said, I'll check on traps and deal with the bones if someone will watch my back. The rest can be nearby looking outward for anyone coming since we'll be very exposed there."
"Same pairs as before then," Lily said.
"Take the cloak and use it," James said to his wife as he held it out. She only hesitated for a moment before she took it and threw it around her shoulders only her head a littler blurry now when she moved.
Harry looked at where he thought Ginny was. "You wear the cloak too." He became visible.
"OK," she said, her broom on her back and the outline of her body disappearing.
"If someone comes," Harry said, "I'm a teen from the town on a dare checking out the graveyard. If we must, Apparate home." He turned and started walking towards the graveyard at a normal pace, hearing crunching on the rocks and grass behind him.
It wasn't long before he was standing near the grave for Tom Riddle. "That one," he said softly and pointed. He saw Bill's outline move to the grave and start doing spells. He looked around, mostly at the mansion on the hill, He couldn't tell if it was lived in or not from here.
A minute later Bill said, "There's nothing in there. Either there were no bones laid to rest or they've been removed."
"I'm guessing the latter," Harry said, disappointed.
Remus's voice sounded from near him. "Something is coming through the grass from the manor house and in this direction. A small dog could do it in grass that high."
"Everyone, behind something sturdy; we may be about to get a break. If I yell leave, Apparate away. Spread out and don't been seen." Harry started walking around in the area looking at tombstones, not going too far though from the grave Bill had investigated.
It took another five minutes or so before a slithering was heard and a large snake appeared.
Harry heard, {A good dinner for a week.}
He looked at the snake. {Don't eat me, I will give you a stomach pain.}
The snake stopped and pulled back a little, putting part of himself in a coil. {How can you speak to me?}
Harry turned slightly so his wand was more behind him and the snake couldn't see it. {I don't know, snakes can't talk away so I'm imaging this.}
{What are you doing here?} it hissed.
{My mates bet me I would not walk in here. What are you doing here?} Harry whipped his wand around and thought `Reducto!` An angry red spell shot out of his wand and hit the snake, flopping the snake over on its back. `Reducto! Reducto!` An apparition came out of the snake and screamed before it dissipated.
"Yes!" Harry shouted before he heard something and dived behind a headstone as three Apparation cracks sounded. He hurriedly cast the Disillusionment charm on himself.
"Where are you?" Voldemort roared and looked around.
Looking through the figurine on the grave in front of him. Harry saw the Dark Lord as well as Severus Snape and Lucius Malfoy. While trying to decide whether to shout 'leave' or try something Gryffindor'ish, Snape suddenly pitched forward, his back split open with a wide gash with blood spurting out.
As Voldemort turned to look behind Snape to find the assailant, on instinct and without thinking Harry Apparated to right in front of the dark wizard and cast an Cutting curse at the wizard's neck as he landed. Turning to deal with Malfoy, he found the man's eyes bulging and a knife sticking out of the left side of his chest that probably went through his heart. Another Cutting curse from somewhere ensured Malfoy wouldn't do anything to them as he slumped to the ground. Snape was suddenly petrified although he continued to bleed out and die slowly from a slashed wound that he'd seen on Draco Malfoy in his sixth year.
An apparition soared out of Voldemort's body and flew around for a moment before it screamed, "I'll kill you painfully!". It then left quickly heading mostly northward.
Making himself visible again, Harry said, "Clean this up then Apparate to the gates of Hogwarts. The diary is still around and he's going after it to get a new body. James and Ginny, go to Hagrid's and get a rooster each, in a cage, with a cover. Then meet us at the girl's bathroom on the second floor. Go!"
James left immediately, but Ginny's voice said, "We will be talking about your taking risks later." Another Apparation crack sounded.
Harry did his best to ignore her deserved criticism. "Go as soon as you've finished here," he told the others. "I have to go burn a house down then I'll go to the gates of Hogwarts." He Apparated the short distance to the manor house because time was of the essence.
Dredging up hate for Voldemort, Harry cast, "Fiendfyre!" at a window not more than ten meters in front of him. A fiery phoenix came out of his wand and burst through the window. Knowing the spell should stay in the house, he looked to the graveyard and didn't see anyone, so he left for Hogwarts.
Harry arrived to find Arthur turning himself visible again. The others were already visible. He pulled his broom off of his back again. "We'll fly to the second floor; follow me. Sirius and Remus, do something to keep the students back, and if you can send a message to McGonagall to meet us there that would be good as she can guard the bathroom." He mounted his broom and took off, causing the others to have to try hard to keep up with him - they didn't very well.
The others eventually caught up because Harry had to slow down and search for an open window or doorway near the bathroom he wanted. Locating the one he wanted, a spell opened the door out to a small battlement and he flew in. Seeing the back of a student, he hurriedly changed his hair blond.
"I sent the spell when I was flying," Sirius said when he walked up and past Harry. He started casting spells to keep the students away.
Remus shook his head. "An age line is all you need, you old dog." Remus did the charm on one side of the bathroom door then on the other side as well.
Sirius just grinned. "Now they can't get in and won't be interested to even try."
McGonagall rushed up and paused for a moment before she pushed through Sirius's spells. "What's the emergency?"
James and Ginny came in through the same doorway Harry had used. Harry cast a quick color charm at her and her hair turned blond. Ginny also couldn't join them much to her dismay.
"Oops," Remus said softly before taking down all the charms in front of Ginny, then put them back up once the girl was through.
Arthur was talking to McGonagall. "…end the war and we have to hurry. Again, you must keep all of the students out."
"Are you sure?" McGonagall was eyeing him and Ginny.
"Yes. Let's go. Hopefully we get there first." Harry entered the bathroom and was pleased no one was in there. He hurried to the sinks and hissed, {Open}.
While they moved to the open position, he looked at the group. "Lily, James, we need mirrored sunglasses and they need to reflect as much as possible. Ginny, you're at the back because you're the second best flyer here. Stay in the small chamber and if things sound bad, fly back up and tell the Professor we need help."
He looked at the professor. "We're going to be facing a basilisk." The older woman gasped. "If things go badly and Ginny comes up here, seal this opening in some way then evacuate the school. Then after someone has killed the basilisk and you can retrieve us, restore us with a Mandrake potion." He hoped they were only petrified and not killed or eaten if they lost the battle with the giant snake.
"There shouldn't be any traps and time is of the essence, so we're taking the fast way down. Hold your broom and the rooster in front of you if you have one." Harry told them.
"Why do I not like the sound of that," Bill said as he took the rooster from Ginny.
James and Lily passed out the eyewear. James transfigured Harry's glasses then did his own.
"Count to five slowly between each person, except for the next after me who needs to count to ten so I can do a little cleanup." Harry put his broom against his chest and then stepped off into the hole so he could slide down feet first. If he wasn't going to face a basilisk again, this almost would have been fun.
Eventually, the big pipe curved and he shot out the end of the pipe and across a number of rat bones. His feet and legs took the impact on the wall before he came to a stop. Getting up, he cleaned the floor quickly and then put a cushioning charm on it and on the wall. He'd barely finished when James came shooting out of the pipe.
"That was gross, but also a little fun," the man said. The rooster didn't sound happy with its clucking but it wasn't crowing to give itself away, thankfully.
Harry cleaned the back of his step-father's clothes before he turned around. "Please?" James returned the favor as Bill came out - his rooster also mildly unhappy.
As each came out, they were helped up and cleaned off.
Bill was already looking around. "There is something over there on the left."
Harry looked and nodded. "Yeah, an old skin, come on." He held his lit wand up and walked forward, glad he didn't have to deal with a cave in here … although he suspected James could deal with it easily.
When they reached the door with the two snakes keeping it closed, Harry looked back and saw Ginny was very tense. He suspected she'd have a nightmare tonight; he knew there was a chance he would. "No further, Ginny." She nodded; he could see her knuckles were white where she was holding onto her broom and wand. "Give me a moment," he told the others.
{Open} he said in Parseltongue. The two snakes moved and the door swung mostly open. Harry climbed through the opening and held his wand high. His light spell wasn't needed though because as soon as he stepped in the torches around the cavern started to light themselves. With his hand in front of his face, he looked around starting with the floor around him and then shifting to see more of the floor.
"All right, no snake," he told them and dropped his hand. Looking around some more, he finally found a statue next to one of the columns holding up the ceiling. Frozen in time was a twelve year-old Vincent Crabbe.
In the boy's hand was a book and a mist was hovering around the book. "Damn it! He's already here!" While he rushed over he called out, "Is he dead or petrified?" He looked at the book trying to determine how to get it out of the boys hand if…
"He's only petrified," Lily said and Bill nodded.
"Then I can't break his hand off. How do I get the book away from him?" Harry almost snarled, being so close yet stymied.
As they looked on, the mist suddenly left the book and flew to the big statue on the wall and hissed.
"Get behind something and get ready with the roosters!" Harry yelled and stepped behind the column Crabbe was next to. He saw the others running for a column, Bill giving the next nearest column to his father before he ran for the next one after that.
With his hands in front of his eyes except at the bottom, Harry peered around the column to watch the floor in front of the big statue.
"Harry, get back!" James shouted.
"I'm fine, get ready!" Harry yelled back. When he saw movement that wasn't the mist, he pulled back instantly and yelled, "Roosters now!"
There was slithering, more hissing, cloth being ripped, and then a light before the blessed sound of a rooster crowing was heard. A second rooster started to crow before it was amplified such that the crowing almost hurt Harry's ears before he slapped his hands over them; but he grinned as he leaned back against the rock column, barely hearing a lot of hide scraping on the rock floor along with hisses of agony.
"Stop the crowing," Harry shouted after he'd stopped hearing the slithering. Carefully, he poked his head out and saw the giant snake with only his head out of the hole, lying still. Angry cursing was heard in Parseltongue. He smiled.
"Lily, I need that glove you had!" Harry shouted and looked around. He took it when she hurried over, putting it on as he walked towards the snake and an angry spirit. What was left of Tom Riddle flew towards Harry only to bounce off a shield cast by Arthur. Reaching the snake, Harry very carefully grabbed the most accessible tooth he could find and yanked hard; it broke off. The angry spirit tried twice more, only to hit other shields cast by Harry's party.
Walking back over to Crabbe, Harry stabbed the book with the fang, careful not to get the venom on the boy. After grinding it into the book for a moment, an apparition came out of the book and went over to join the other spirit and merge with it. It wailed for a moment before it spiraled and seemed to be sucked downward and disappeared.
Harry tossed the fang in his hand towards the dead snake so it skittered across the floor and took off the glove. "You know, that was a LOT easier this time. Thanks everyone!" He tossed the glove back at his step-mother (who caught it) and sauntered back towards the opening to hide his nerves.
"Wait, Harry, how do we get out of here?" Remus asked.
"I don't know about you, but I have a broom," Harry called over his shoulder, not really looking back just before he left the big cavern.
He found Ginny waiting for him; she threw her arms around him and hugged him tightly. "I'm so glad you lived through that again; but we are definitely having words about you saying you're not fighting and then doing just that."
He returned her hug just as tightly and willed his heart to slow down, not that it was listening to him. "Do you want to look at any of that before we go?" he asked her, deciding this wasn't the place for the conversation she wanted to have about him.
"Not only no, but bloody hell no!" she swore.
"Splendid, let's go home then. I'm hungry and I want a shower and I don't want to think or talk about Dark Wizards." He pulled his broom off his back. "Want to ride behind me? It'll be a little tight but I think it'll work."
She grinned. "Sure." Ginny did fit and Harry flew straight up the pipe, almost running into McGonagall who was standing near the sinks and sort of looking down.
"My gracious," she exclaimed in surprise. "Is anyone hurt?"
"Nope," Harry said and grinned unrepentantly. "It's all done and they'll explain. Bye!" He flew out the propped open door, over Flitwick's head, who was standing outside keeping students back, over the students, and out the door he'd flown in earlier.
Once outside, Harry urged the broom to fly as fast as it could, which wasn't as fast as normal - sadly. Ginny whooped anyway and held on tight, especially when he did a barrel roll in celebration, causing her to whoop again. As soon as they were off the grounds, Harry Apparated back to the Potters, then to their tent.
He grabbed Ginny's hand and pulled her in, dropping his broom on the first chair he saw. "I'm going to take a shower. Want to come?" he smiled at her and she blushed before she pushed him.
"Go and don't take too long; I'd like a shower too."
"It'd be faster if you came," he coaxed her.
"I doubt that, but I'm not ready yet," she replied and shooed him on before picking up his broom to put it away with hers. "I'll start an early dinner and you can finish it."
"One day," Harry muttered to himself as he left the room. He thought about today and life and Ginny and the future. He tried not to take too long, but he took an extra minute as the hot water did feel good. He dressed and came out, feeling better in clean clothes.
"Recipe is next to the stove," Ginny told him as she grabbed some clean clothes in a pile waiting on her and headed into the bathroom.
Harry looked at what they were doing. "Hmm, sausage and potatoes; I wonder what else I can add to that?" He puttered around in the kitchen continuing what Ginny had started.
She came out about fifteen minutes later drying her hair and wearing jeans and a tight T-shirt, which showed she wasn't wearing a bra.
Harry liked this more casual look - a lot. He turned off the stove as the food was done anyway, grabbed her, and pulled her to the couch as she "eep'd" in surprise.
"Harry!" she got out just before he kissed her hard and held her to him firmly. They kissed for several minutes with hands roaming on backs and bums.
He pulled back and looked at her, her hair only partially dried but still looking great, he thought. A light push and she flopped down onto the couch and he was down on one knee in front of her holding a hand. "I love you, Ginny and I don't want to lose you. Please marry me!"
The restored redhead looked at him for a moment and blinked. "Are you sure? This is really sudden."
"You don't want to?" he asked, wondering if maybe he should have waited a little longer.
"Oh, I want to, but it is sudden," she told him.
Feeling better, he told her, "Because I've fought two wars now and that's enough. I told you I don't want to lose you and I meant it. We're old enough; I know what I want and it's you. I don't have a ring, but I can get one or maybe make one as a temporary thing until I can buy one. So please?"
Ginny smiled and grabbed his head gently as she stood, making him stand too. "Yes," she breathed as she kissed him. When they broke apart, she pulled him down onto the couch and twisted, causing him to fall on his back while she fell on him. They continued their make-out session, all thoughts of food and discussing his actions gone.
— — —
Sometime later the mirror on the side table spoke in James's voice. "We're coming over." It turned off.
Ginny's head shot up and they looked at each other just as a knock on their door was heard. "Give me a minute, I need to go get a bra on," she hissed and pushed herself up and ran for the bedroom, pushing the door to after herself.
Harry grinned and shook his head as he rose slowly and went to the front door and opened it. He saw the three parents outside. "Oh, come in," he said and moved back to let them in. They had obviously not had a shower or changed into clean clothes.
"I hope we aren't interrupting anything," Arthur half said, half asked.
"No, not at all," Harry lied while wishing he could have continued the time on the couch. "We were about to eat and I think there's some extra if you'd like it. I know we can put on some extra sides."
"Are you sure?" Arthur asked as the bedroom door opened and Ginny came out, brushing her hair.
"Oh, hi!" she called out brightly greeting their guests before she tossed the brush back into the bedroom. "We were about to eat after getting cleaned up. Would you like to join us?"
Harry was sure she'd had heard him and had said that to continue the charade, but it worked out well. He pulled out three extra plates and everything else needed. James conjured an extra chair since the table only came with four.
They all sat and started dishing out the food. "So, any problems taking care of things?"
James actually laughed while the other two shook their heads, but good-naturedly. "You really should be a Marauder with what you did by leaving when you did. Do you have an Animagus form?"
"Nope, sorry," Harry said as he passed the bread around. "Why? What happened?"
"Well, after we grabbed the boy and went up, the Aurors, including the Head Auror and Head of the DMLE arrived. There were a lot of questions. McGonagall went along with us and didn't mention you, but told me that she wants to speak with you two. She didn't say it, but implied that was the price of her silence." Now James smiled at them.
Harry looked at Ginny. "We probably should talk to her anyway." She nodded her agreement. He looked back. "In the next week or two all right?"
"I'm sure that'll be fine, or even right after the year is over if you like," James agreed.
Arthur cleared his throat and looked at them. "Harry, Ginny, while it's probably best your involvement in all of this stay a secret from the general public, and we didn't even tell the Aurors to help with that, I can't tell you thank you enough for what you've done for us. While what Albus's did was wrong, the result of your help and effort speaks for itself.
"Knowing it all now, all of these secrets, I can tell you we probably never would have figured out how to end the war and I truly do not want to think about the life that would have created for us. Amazingly, you didn't stop there. You could have just told us then disappeared, but you stayed, helped, and even risked yourselves to help us. I am so proud of you two."
He stood and pulled Ginny up since she was sitting next to him and hugged her, turning back and forth slightly before patting her on the back and kissing the top of her head. "I know we can't acknowledge you as such, but as far as I'm concerned, you are my Ginny and I so wished that Molly was here to get to know you." He hugged her tightly again before letting go.
Arthur moved over a seat and held out his hands. Harry understood and stood too. Arthur hugged him tightly. "As far as I'm concerned, you're part of the family too even if you have a different last name."
Harry considered it for a moment then threw caution to the wind. "Well, in that case, do I have your permission and blessing to marry Ginny?" He heard Lily suck her breath in. James's shocked looked soon turned to a grin, as did Arthur's.
"Yes you do," the father said, "but normally that's done in private, not in front of the young lady."
Harry continued his grin. "It's all right; she already knows as I asked her and she said yes not too long before you came."
Arthur laughed and slapped him on the back. "Oh, good one. I'm happy for you." He hugged Harry again before going back to Ginny and hugging her again before he sat down.
"My turn!" Lily exclaimed before she jumped up and grabbed Harry in a hug, then Ginny. James followed and did the same, thumping Harry hard.
When all were seated again, James said, "I was going to tell you we had a gift for you, but I suppose it can be like a wedding present. One of the things our group discussed before we left the school was what to do about the basilisk. It will be rendered for potion ingredients and other materials. The school will get half and we get the other half. We all recognize your contribution and all six of us are giving you two half of our shares." Or more, he didn't add. In fact, James thought that probably only Bill wouldn't give all of it to the young couple, but James didn't mind as the Curse Breaker had certainly earned some pay for today.
"But you earned it too," Harry protested. "Today was easy because all of you were there, working together. I really wished I'd had you with me the first time. I can't tell you how helpful it was to have competent adults along."
"I agree," Ginny told them. "I don't feel like I did nearly as much as each of you."
"You did your part," Arthur told her. "I know who took down Lucius Malfoy today. He did something to you, didn't he? I could tell that was personal."
Ginny looked down and nodded slowly.
Knowing she didn't want to say it, Harry said, "He gave her the diary and she almost died in the Chamber of Secrets." He knew Lily knew already, but it appeared James didn't based on his surprised reaction.
Arthur nodded knowingly. "I understand; he's wasn't a good man. I also have little doubt that if he had the diary to give to someone, that's how the Crabbe lad ended up with it. Oh, they said they'll have a restorative potion for him in a couple of weeks, so he will live again."
"We also pointed out that he was possessed and not in his right mind, like an Imperious curse victim so they don't try to send him to Azkaban," Lily said, and watched Ginny nod at that.
"We should probably go now that you know what happened," James said as he rose. "Thank you for the food and know that you're welcome for dinner, or any other meal you want, if you'd like company. Dinner is always at six."
"Both of you are always welcome at The Burrow too and we eat between six and seven, but come at six and we can talk," Arthur told them kindly, pulling each in for another hug.
James and Lily hugged them one more time too. Lily also sent all of the plates into the kitchen and started them washing, giving a wink to Ginny before she left.
"That was interesting," Ginny said. "Now what?"
Harry looked at her before he walked towards the door. "I have an idea." Thinking carefully, he summoned two rocks, one came from much further away as it took longer to arrive. He sat at the now clean dining table and put them down.
"What are you going to do?" she asked, curious as she looked over the light colored and sparkly rock, as well as the darker gray rock with green streaks.
Pulling out the Elder wand, Harry thought carefully about what he wanted and cast. The sparkly rock split and a mostly clear nugget about the size of the end of a quill came out. Working on the other rock, it started to shrink and change, turning mostly green before turning to a dull red then a brighter red-copper. Another spell caused the quartz nugget to attach to the copper ring with prongs coming up from the ring to hold the quartz nugget.
Harry held it out to an awed Ginny. Since she was still shocked by the work he'd just done, he slipped the ring onto the proper finger on her left hand. He got lucky in that it fit perfectly. "We can get you something else, but that should work until we do."
"I love what you made!" She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him hard. They kissed and made out for the rest of the evening, with short bouts of talking. While Harry didn't get completely lucky, he made it one step closer that evening.
(A/N: That was the big action chapter, I hope you enjoyed it. I know a lot of book 7 was trying to figure out where the Horcruxes were, but with competent adults helping Harry I suspect the book would have been about half of its size. :) In some ways, I'm surprised Harry didn't have Remus helping him directly in book 7 as that could have helped a lot.)