Chapter Forty Nine – Long Overdue Explanations

"The Aberdeen estate would probably fit their needs quite well," Giles said.

Eric's head shot up at the comment. "I thought we agreed to sell that property off."

Giles sighed. "We sold the bulk of the surrounding land off four years ago. Most of the proceeds were used to purchase the Cleveland campus. But we retained ownership of the main house and roughly two acres around it. The vampire that controlled the property had already had it extensively warded and the old council reinforced that warding."

"You never told me you were keeping the house," Eric said.

"You were on assignment at the time the sale went through," Giles said. "I felt the property might still be useful as a retreat or safe house."

"What kind of condition is it in?" Willow asked.

"We have a contract with a local company to go over the property once every three months and handle general upkeep." Giles answered looking at his notes. "The last time was in October. We'll need to have the utilities turned back on. That shouldn't take more than day or so. The house is already furnished. As I said, there are already established wards around the estate."

"There isn't anyplace else that would work?" Eric asked.

Giles shook his head. "Everything else is either too small or already in use. Unless you want to put them up here or at the Pasau office the Aberdeen estate remains our best option. We don't have time to locate, purchase and set up warding on another piece of property. Not to mention the fact that we simply don't have the funds available. Not with the amount of money Xander says it will take to set up a facility in Taiwan."

"Fine," Eric said. "If it's the best option."

"I think Eric and I should head up there too," Faye said. "Along with most of my team. We need to start learning how work with these wizards."

"That sounds like an excellent idea," Giles said. "Willow you will need to go to check on and reinforce the wards."

"Shouldn't be a problem," Willow said.

"Very well," Giles said. "Faye, Eric why don't you two start setting things up."

"We're on it," Faye said. She and Eric quickly left the office.

After the two left Dawn looked at Giles. "Ok, did I miss something? Why was Eric upset that we still owned property up in Aberdeen?"

"The last assignments Eric's father and his Slayer went on was to Aberdeen," Giles explained. "They killed a master vampire and his pack, but at a price. That was how the Council gained control over the property."

"I understand," Dawn said. "You think he'll be ok?"

"Eric will be all right," Giles said. "I understand you spoke to Gray the other day."

"Yes I did," Dawn said. "He's making arrangements for his friends to come down here around New Years. I think I need to pull back from handling the day to day stuff with the wizarding world. At least until I figure out what the hell I can supposedly do."

"I'll take point with Eric and Faye," Willow said. "I want to spend more time learning about the magic these wizards use."

-----

"The Ministry of Magic's complex has partially reopened as of this morning," Director Buford reported. "They allowed the morning staff entry and are restricting visitors to the main floor. My understanding is they are searching everyone leaving the building. They are still holding most of the night staff at the complex."

"What do we have on the Death Eaters that escaped?" Lady Aydin asked.

"They are all true believers," Agent Cromwell answered. "The ones that fought on after Riddle's disappearance and never once claimed to have been under an Imperious Curse. Have to at least acknowledge the loyalty to their convictions. But that also makes them a lot more dangerous than Riddle's other followers. The others have something to lose. These people don't. They owe everything to Riddle including now their freedom. Unless Riddle wins they know they are either going back to prison or worse."

"Riddle would have attempted to free them at some point," Buford said. "But the Council's attack almost certainly pushed up his timetable. This gives him access to a solid core of followers who, as Cromwell indicated, will do anything for him."

"How close are we to getting anything useful out of the Death Eaters we have in custody?" Lady Aydin asked.

"The locations of Riddle's bases are all protected by fidelius charms," Cromwell answered. "It would seem that Riddle doesn't confide any long term tactical or strategic plans to any low level followers. Makes sense. Organizationally the Death Eaters are set up in a cell structure. Each one of Riddle's primary lieutenants has their own core of people they work with. Those people have only minimal contact with Riddle and only know what's happening in their own cell. My guess is we've rounded up most of Malfoy's cell."

"And Malfoy?"

"Another couple of weeks to completely break the fidelius," Cromwell answered. "At the very least we should get the locations of several Death Eater safe houses. My guess is, since Malfoy was one of the senior Death Eaters prior to the Azkaban escape he'll probably be able to give us more."

"Very well," Lady Aydin acknowledged. "Sir Ian, inform Ms Sinclair that I want her to accompany the Council's group up to Aberdeen. I'm certain Ms Rosenberg will make the necessary arrangements to shield their magic but Ms Sinclair should be able to assist her."

Director Buford nodded. "I will speak with her this morning."

----

"NO!" Sirius shouted. "This house is safe and I'm not letting them be responsible for Harry's safety."

"The house is not safe," Dumbledore replied in a calming voice. "Many of the protective charms are still not up to their full potency. More importantly your dear cousin knows this house exists. Voldemort will search for it at some point. And with the protections weakened he will find it. We need a new headquarters."

"Not with them," Sirius said. "You promised you would keep Harry away from those muggles. They killed Remus. I don't care what you or Sinclair say. I don't trust them."

Dumbledore sighed. He had already spoken to most of the other members of the Order. Convincing them had been relatively easy. But Sirius was going to be a problem.

"Sirius," he said. "Harry's safety very important to me. You know that. You know I would never do anything to risk him. Staying here is too great a risk."

"Then find somewhere else," Sirius replied through clenched teeth. "There are hundreds of places in the Wizarding world to hide."

"And Voldemort has contacts and spies near most of them," Dumbledore countered. "We need someplace he will not look. Voldemort will never believe that we would choose to hide among muggles. He will not even think to look for us outside the Wizarding world."

Sirius pulled back. Damn Dumbledore's logic. But he was not going to give up. "We don't need them."

"They are our allies," Dumbledore said. "And very skilled allies, with resources we need. This is not just about hiding. Harry needs to begin learning things that we cannot teach him at Hogwarts. Not with the Ministry watching so closely."

"What can muggles teach him?" Sirius demanded.

Things you can not possibly image, Dumbledore thought to himself. "Skills he will need if we are to defeat Voldemort."

Sirius fumed. He had trusted the Headmaster his entire life. But this was too much. He expected him to entrust his Godson's safety to muggles. Worse, muggles who had been involved in the death of one his last remaining friends. But Dumbledore's logic, as always, was impeccable. The other members of the Order were going along, however reluctantly, because Dumbledore had said so and they trusted Dumbledore to always know what was best.

Dumbledore studied Sirius carefully. "The decision has been made Sirius," he said. "I must speak to Harry now. There is only so long Professor MacGonagall can keep Umbridge distracted."

-----

"What's going on Harry?" Ron asked. "Death Eaters escaping prison I get. But something else seems to have the Headmaster and everyone else one edge."

Harry just remained silent. The strange words he and Voldemort had heard the night before still echoed in through his mind. 'The one with the power to vanquish…'

"Harry?" Ron said. "Earth to Harry."

"Huh?" Harry was startled out of his thoughts. "I don't know. Dumbledore probably thinks we're safer here than at Hogwarts."

"But Hogwarts is the safest place in the Wizarding world," Hermonie countered.

"Which is why we keep getting attacked there," Ron pointed out.

"Only because you two keep insisting on going out on your little adventures," Hermonie noted.

"We weren't on one of our bloody adventures when that bloody Basilisk got you," Ron shot back.

"Language," Hermonie said.

"Excuse me," the three turned and were startled to see Dumbledore standing calmly in the door. "Ms Grainger, Mr. Weasley, why don't you two head down to the kitchen and help Molly start preparing lunch. I need to speak privately with Harry for a few minutes."

"Yes Headmaster," the two said.

After they left Dumbledore turned his attention to the door. He cast a quick spell to seal it and then a couple of more to block eavesdropping. He smiled when he finished. "That will keep even twins and their extendable ears from listening in."

"You know about those," Harry was surprised.

Dumbledore merely shrugged. "That is not important now Harry. Last night you heard a prophecy."

"It's about me isn't it?" Harry said. "I'm the one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord."

"I should have told you these things many years ago Harry," Dumbledore said in a said voice. "But I always told myself you were too young. I cared too much for your happiness than I did my plan."

"What plan?" Harry asked. "How do you know the prophecy? I saw Voldemort destroy it."

"You saw a record destroyed," Dumbledore said. "The prophecy was made to me those many years ago."

"You knew!" Harry stood up in anger. "You knew all along and never told me! Is that why Voldemort killed my parents?"

"Harry please," Dumbledore said in calming voice. "As I said, I thought you too young. Even after the challenges you've faced I still could not bring myself to tell you. But there is still time to correct my mistake. Sit and let me explain."

Reluctantly Harry sat down and Dumbledore began to explain. He told him about meeting Sibyll Trelawney at the Hog's Head Inn. About hearing the prophecy for the first time. How Voldemort learned but a portion of the prophecy and set about preventing it. He learned that Voldemort chose him to be his equal. How Neville Longbottom only narrowly avoided the fate that had befallen him.

After Dumbledore completed his tale Harry just sat frozen in place. Something gnawed at the back of his mind. "The end of the prophecy … it was about 'neither can live…"

"… while the other survives," Dumbledore finished.

"So," Harry said, finally putting all the pieces together. "So does that mean that … that one of us has got to kill the other one … in the end?"

"Yes," Dumbledore answered.

Harry felt his stomach drop. In a way he supposed he always knew it would come down to him and Voldemort. Voldemort was the shadow overhanging every part of Harry's life.

"There is something else I must now tell you Harry," Dumbledore said. "Things few others in the Wizarding world know. Tomorrow will be our last day in this house. We will be moving to a new headquarters."

"Why?" Harry asked in barely a whisper. He didn't really care about the answer at this point.

"The protections around this house have been badly damaged and there is very real chance Voldemort will discover it soon," Dumbledore explained. "But the important thing is where we are going and who will be sheltering us."

"What?"

"We are moving our headquarters into the Muggle World," Dumbledore said. "The Order of the Phoenix is allying itself with a Muggle group called the Council of Slayers and Watchers."

"Muggles?" Harry's eyes went wide. "How can muggles protect us from Voldemort?"

"Because they are as skilled in magic as any wizard or witch you will ever meet," Dumbledore said. "The muggle world has its own magic. As well hidden and as powerful as our own."

"Muggles have magic?"

"Yes Harry," Dumbledore said. "The world is far more complex than most of the people in our world know. These muggles are aware of the Wizarding world and the threat posed by Voldemort and have already joined the battle against him. Several weeks ago they captured Lucius Malfoy, Peter Pettigrew and three other Death Eaters."

"They have Wormtail?" Harry stood up again. "They have that bastard?"

"I can ensure you Harry, he is quite secure," Dumbledore said. "When the time comes he will answer for his crimes. But there is more that I must tell you. It is important you understand. And it is important that if you hold anyone to blame for what has happened it is me. The people you will be meeting and the things they can teach you will be essential if you are to survive."

Reluctantly Harry sat down. He wondered at the small tear he saw working its way down the Headmaster's cheek.

-----

"You told him about the prophecy and his place in it," Sinclair said the Dumbledore.

"I did," Dumbledore said. "I should have told him sooner."

"Your reasons were noble enough," Sinclair acknowledged. "And you told him of our new allies."

"Yes," Dumbledore said. "He is angry. Much as Sirius is angry. But given time he will see past his anger. I think I have succeeded in directing most of it towards me where it properly belongs."

"Did you tell him the rest?"

"Learning that he must confront Voldemort in the end and truth of Remus' death are enough of a burden for now," Dumbledore said. "Too tell him everything. Too tell him that danger we face is far greater than Voldemort," Dumbledore shook his head. "The Fates are cruel to place so much on one so young."

Sinclair nodded. "One confrontation at a time then. First we deal with young Tom. Then Harry must learn of his true heritage and place in the world."

---

A/N – Yeah, yeah, I know, I know. Way too long between updates.

I have this crazy thing called a job which is eating up a lot of my time. And since I've grown use to things like eating and having a roof over my head that has to come first.

Problem number two is "The Half-Blood Prince." After reading that, a couple of the concepts struck me as fitting better than what I had originally planned (darn Rowling and her good ideas). So I've been debating whether or not to re-jigger the story a bit to include some of the ideas from "The Half-Blood Prince" or to stick with what I originally had planned.

Too be honest, I'm still not certain what I'm going to about "The Half-Blood Prince." But since the next couple of chapters don't depend on that stuff I'm going to plow on and deal with that problem later.

Not sure when the next update is going to be coming. Things are a little crazy at the office. The home office is leaning on us real hard to improve our numbers so everybody is having to put in long hours including the accounting staff. Hopefully things will calm down before the holidays but I doubt it.