Chapter 12 : The Last Order
I do not own Harry Potter
Author's Notes:
In a now deleted A/N I asked people if I should scrap the first chapter out of a lack of confidence. I received some very nice words of encouragement, so thank you for the vote of confidence. It will be staying up.
Some of you may have noticed small changes in previous chapters. That's just me trying to fix lines I found cringy or forced, and making the chapter more readable in general.
New characters in this chapter! Let me know how you want me to go about them, if there are particular 'ways' in which they should be written. Sometimes my characters, especially the schoolkids, feel too mature to me, so I tried extra-hard in writing Tonks like your normal, wise-cracking teenager. Let me know if it feels overdone.
Someone pointed out how Harry wasn't born when Regulus died. And they're right. I've changed it to 'the unborn Potter child now', thanks for pointing that out.
As for the thing with the knife, I didn't want him to have too OP a weapon, which is like an insta-kill on anything if it makes contact, so I found a way to tone it down. Maybe it's a flimsy explanation, but it seems to work for me.
There was a scene in which I wrote Sirius' escape from Azkaban, but it got lost because I only had it as a word file, and it got corrupted for some reason. This was actually the SECOND time this has happened. When I had initially planned on starting this story, it had begun from Sirius' escape, but that file also got corrupted and then I started from an earlier point. Basically, I'm too crushed to write the whole over 2500+ word sequence again, so, sorry to those who were looking forward to it.
I do plan on exploring Azkaban though, maybe I'll write a sequence where Voldemort breaks out his DEs, in a badass villain way where he just demolishes the entire security personnel.
Neville and Luna are two characters I'm not sure how I want to go about, should I make them notable supporting characters or keep them in a kinda extended cameo appearance role, if a little bigger than that? They were paired up in the films, albeit at the end, and it's something I'm definitely interested in exploring, so gimme a feedback on that too.
While I acknowledge a second-year wouldn't be able to do anything too complicated, Harry is someone who has been shown multiple times in the books to have an aptitude for practical magics, especially DADA and 'fighting' spells (except that fiasco with the 'Accio' spell, which I personally put down more to his state of mind at that point. Once he did master it, he was able to summon an object from pretty far, so his raw power is unquestioned imo). So I think it's reasonable to say that if he tries, he should be able to manage well above the expected scale. I will try not too make him too OP, since he'll ultimately still be a kid. But again, he'll be powerful.
Wow there was a lot of A/Ns here.
Enjoy!
|Tonks House |Montpelier Villas |Brighton |July 8th 1993
"… the beach is just at a few minutes' walk, and all in all, it's a pretty calm place with a relatively younger populace."
The Tonks family lived in Brighton, in a newer wizarding settlement called Montpelier Villas, a name it shared with its Muggle counterpart. They had shown him where he would be staying, and given him a brief description of the area. The place was a posher, and more modern living area than Ottery St. Catchpole, the only other wizarding settlement Harry had seen. In fact, the area, accessible through expanded alleyways visible only to wizards, looked to be a lot like modern-day muggle homes, but still had features that made it look identifiably 'wizard'. Talking about the occupants themselves, Ted was a respected and high-ranking healer at St. Mungo's, and had worked at the hospital for over 20 years now. Andromeda, on the other hand, had launched her own political career. She was a 'grey', but had yet to win election to the Wizengamot. In fact, she hadn't even stood for election, knowing her 'expulsion' from the Black Family had permanently damaged her image. So far, the she had been relegated to only non-public roles, a shame given her skills. Maybe that would change in the very near future? A few more minutes of small talk and pleasantries were exchanged, before they got down to the more serious topics.
"Let's go over your plans for the summer"
"Right, well, there's a LOT I want to get done actually. First, there's the big one - emancipation. Get that Head of Family position, and get the Potter vault moving again. Maybe take more control with how Dumbledore runs it in the Wizengamot. Additionally, I also get the 'Acting Head' status for the Black Family, since the current is 'temporarily incapable of disposing his duties'. Gringotts doesn't really care whether someone is in prison or not, so Grimjaw let's me take control without having to break rules. We then setup lots of small companies and get the money moving around there too. Maybe it sounds too money oriented, but it will matter, especially if our old Dark Lord comes back again."
"A sound strategy, and one that is hopefully executed as seamlessly as you made it sound. "
"I want to go to Grimmauld Place, or at least access the library."
"Ah yes, you did mention you had a special reason?"
"Yes. You're aware that the Greengrass family has a malediction curse right? And that their younger daughter has it?"
It didn't take long for the adults to connect the dots.
"I'll just leave them an anonymous note with the book."
"We should do that soon. If word is to be believed, negotiations have stagnated over what else apart from their daughter the Greengrass' willing to offer. We don't want anyone to start looking for other potential heirs, do we?"
"Yeah. Then there's my training. I've had my share of trouble already, and I want to be better prepared for next time."
"Awfully grim for someone your age. It this related to that matter you didn't wish to put into a letter?" Andi asked
Harry knew there was a sense of inevitability around the matter. They would have noticed the kind of magic he was dabbling in - rituals and advanced combat spells, so he would have had to clear the air eventually. "It's complicated, but I'll give you the short version" after a small moment of hesitation, he continued "Voldemort is not dead."
Ted choked on his tea and started coughing violently, while strangely, the only reaction Andromeda gave was a sharp intake of breath, but otherwise remained completely calm. She closed her eyes and said "I sincerely hope that you're wrong, but you look like you have a good reason to think that. So," Andi exhaled "There are two that survived the killing curse that night?"
Harry on his part, was surprised by the couple's reactions. He had expected a heated exchange and outbursts of anger and denial, but neither did any of that. He had to appreciate that composure.
"This is the part where you either say 'haha, got you good!', in which case I advise you to draw out your wand, or, you say something that will completely change our lives… again." Ted added.
Harry had decided to share the secret of the horcruxes with them. This was because it would a few years before he could go around looking for them by himself, and he did not want years of potential searching to be wasted. Andi and Ted were two very capable people, and had even been part of the organization 'the Order of the Phoenix', a secret society led by Dumbledore to fight against Voldemort. While he obviously didn't expect them to drop everything and begin their search, there would be 3 more heads searching for potential locations, and 3 more wands to help in the finding itself. And if the worst came to be and Harry died, the knowledge of the horcruxes wouldn't be limited to Dumbledore, someone notorious for over-secrecy. They were also not the type of people who would make horcruxes themselves, this much he was sure of. So all in all, it was the right choice to expand his search group. Salazar also seemed to approve of them, which was a welcome boost.
"What do you know about horcruxes?"
"Where did you hear that word?" Andromeda almost demanded
"I'm sorry, what, horcruxes?" Ted asked
A short explanation later, and Ted looked like he had aged 10 years right in front of them. His wife was not doing much better. They were no doubt currently reliving some of their worst memories and feeling the resurgence of a familiar terror.
"There is a book in the Black library, 'Magick Moste Evile', that mention horcruxes as a potential tool to secure partial immortality. I was curious, maybe foolish now that I look back, and one day I found the courage to look through the book, we all lived as a joint family at Grimmauld Place back then, you see. There were so many horrifying things in that book. I wanted to stop, but my curiosity kept getting the better of me. At every page I would say, 'one more, and then I'll stop'. I never did. Though I think that is the allure of the Dark Arts" she said with a humourless chuckle. "Eventually, I came across the term 'horcruxes'. The book did not elaborate further than just mentioning it. I asked my grandfather…. he told me, but didn't teach me to make one, though I'm sure he knew how. He also made me promise I would never study more on it, and I've kept my word. I have never even touched that book again. In fact, the only reason he told me was because he was sure I wouldn't do such a thing, he would have never have told Lestrange, or even Narcissa, and I'm sure they've asked."
"Well, that explains her, but Harry, how do you know about them? I'm gonna guess you didn't just find a copy at Flourish and Blotts"
"Regulus' letter. Also, remember what I said about the whole petrification business? I, I haven't exactly told you everything… actually, I've told you absolutely nothing in the letters because – "
"It's somehow tied to You-Know-Who?" guessed Ted
"Do I need to pour the two of us a drink?"
"You might want to consider it –"
At that moment, the fireplace 'chimed', and the face of Nymphadora Tonks, Auror Trainee, emerged from the flames. "Mum? Dad?"
"Ah, Dora, come on in" said Andi, and let her daughter through. Harry was elated to find out he was now only the second worst user of the floo network he knew.
" 'Haha, 19 and still fail the floo walk', spare me the joke, Dad" she remarked dryly, before noticing the morose atmosphere "What? Did someone die or something?"
"Quite the opposite – someone lived."
"Isn't that supposed to be a good thing?"
"Andi, you better make it three glasses."
Later
"Well… fuck!"
"Nymphadora, there is a child present!" chided Andi
"Don't call me Nymphadora!" the girl yelled back
"Will you grow up, it's a beautiful name!"
"As much as I'd like to see you two go through this debate for the 500th time" interjected Ted "I think we have bigger issues to discuss. And sorry Andi, but, well…. fuck!"
"It's moments like this that condone such distasteful behaviour from her!"
"Yes, yes Madam Pureblood Prim and Proper Lady Dame Woman, we're scoundrels, we've heard that 500 times too" jibbed Dora, "How about we go over the part where YOU-KNOW-WHO IS ALIVE!"
"Right, darling, we can debate etiquette later. So, there are 5 horcruxes we need to find, and you think Dumbledore is already on it?"
"He definitely knows about them. What he's doing about it, I don't know. I can't exactly ask him that. But I do think if we're lucky, it should be down to 4. I said I got to know about horcruxes from Regulus' letter. I was having a hard time putting these things down in a letter, so I decided to talk about them face-to-face. Regulus didn't just have second thoughts about his loyalties, he also discovered Voldemort's biggest sec-"
"Don't use the name." said Ted
"Fear of the name only increases fear of the person himself."
"True, but it could also get you killed. Remember, the name is jinxed. If the worst comes to be and he does return, it could cost you your life if you have to be in hiding or on the run"
"Yeah, the jinx, Regulus mentioned it too. You're right, but I won't call him You-Know-Who or anything... I'll call him Tom."
"That works. So he discovered You- Tom's secret?" asked Dora
"Yeah, and he thinks he found the location of a horcrux too. In fact, I looked over his notepad, he wrote down a few places he suspected there could be horcruxes. One of them was this cave, which he also mentioned in his letter, I think he died while trying to retrieve it from there. His death and him going to that cave sometime before it is not a coincidence. But it's possible his elf survived that cave, again."
"Cave, again?"
Harry then narrated the whole incident described to him in that letter.
Andromeda answered "If Kreacher is alive, he will be bound to answer your call, you are the heir, I'm sure you know it too, so why have you been waiting?"
"For this." replied Harry, putting a knife holster attached to his waist on the table
"A knife?" asked Ted
"This isn't an ordinary knife. It's... special, very special" Harry then showed the item in question "It's carved out of the basilisk's tooth. I had it commissioned by the guys working on extracting the basilisk. Basilisk venom is one of those things that can destroy a horcrux. Oh, and it's a 'handy' weapon in general."
"Oh I like you" said Nymphadora "by the way, is it legal to hold it? Because I really don't want to be dragged into the matter if I have knowledge of you possessing such a weapon..."
"Don't worry about it, it's legal. Also, it's not as deadly now. The venom loses some potency because the basilisk 'injects' you with not just the venom, but 'magic' too. The fang also acts as a conduit of sorts is what I'm saying. It getting getting detached or the host dying means that can't happen anymore. Still good enough for a horcrux though - I'd know!"
"You really are a storybook hero huh? All those children's tales about you, and then you go ahead and actually do something so unbelievable." Tonks said in genuine praise, before adding in jokingly "Should I bow or something?"
"I never asked" started Ted "anything else down in the chamber?"
"...No. To be honest, I didn't really go down there after that day, but it looked to be just a resting place for that thing."
The three seemed to buy his story.
"Anyway, back to the knife. I got it earlier today, and decided if Kreacher has any sort of lead on the horcrux, or managed to get away with the thing itself, I should try and destroy it with you guys. There could be some sort of defense on it, like the diary"
"Smart decision. So, you want to call him now? if he's alive that is" said Andi.
"I dunno, should I?"
"Why not? Not like we've been bombarda'd with what you told us today, might as well see if we can end it on a high note"
"I mean, she makes a good point" agreed her father
"You know what, let's do it. Kreacher!"
After a few seconds of nothing, the 4 heard the familiar pop of elf apparition.
Oh and Kreacher appeared alright, just with Dobby alongside him... wearing a tea cozy as a hat and pulling Kreacher's ears.
"Bad elf! Trying to ignore his master's call!" said Dobby's squeaky voice.
"Leave Kreacher disgraced one! Oh how mistress would punish Kreacher is she found he's been letting Kreacher be touched by such filth!"
"Guys, stop!" yelled Harry at the both of them.
As if compelled by some mysterious force, both immediately let go of each other and froze.
"What is going on? Kreacher, why were you trying to ignore my call?"
"Half-Blood thief who stole the house now wants to command Kreacher too! Kreacher tries so hard, but he cannot disobey! Oh Mistress, the shame, the shame! Kreacher would like to tell master he's a bastard and a disgrace, just like the disgrace who made him his heir!"
"Wha- mistress?"
"Bad elf!" protested Dobby
"Oh, disgraced elf who is free dares judges the servant of the House of Black! Oh how Kreacher would love to gouge his eyes out, but what can he do! The half-blood orders him to be still, poor Kreacher!"
"He probably means Aunt Walburga. I forgot how Kreacher could be... though my aunt died a few years ago... suppose he could be talking to her portrait now..."
"Mudblood-loving disgrace is here too, oh Kreacher will need to put acid into his eyes after seeing so much filth! Even then he will never forget the shame of today!"
"Kreacher, shut up!"
Kreacher gave a murderous look, but quieted down.
"Aha!" began Ted "He's forced to co-operate. As long as we close all loopholes he could use, we should be good to go... Not sure about this second elf though, why is he here anyway?"
"Wait, you said Dobby, didn't you? As in the elf you freed form Lucius? How did you know Harry had called Kreacher?" Andromeda gave Dobby a look that could drill through granite "Elf, you have been spying on him!" she said damningly
"No, No miss, Dobby would never! Dobby would never! Dobby's only be looking after the great Harry Potter when he was alone! Dobby leaving once he be safe! Dobby was even going to intervene when bad man cornered him! But Dobby was too slow!" Dobby then started punching himself "Bad Dobby! Bad Dobby!"
After forcibly restraining Dobby from harming himself, Harry said "Dobby, you don't need to punish yourself, really! And thanks for your help! I'm grateful you were watching over me, I don't mind at all!"
"The great Harry Potter be grateful to lowly Dobby, tis the greatest day of Dobby's life!"
"You blew your cover unnecessarily, Kreacher couldn't have resisted the call for much longer"
"Way to kick a downed man, mum"
"With that being said" Andromeda said with a sideways look to her daughter "we welcome your help, but tell Harry next time you want to protect him"
"Thank you kind miss, Dobby was afeard he would have to iron his hands again!"
"But I have to ask - do you have a master?" said Ted
"None, sir. Dobby is a free elf!" he proclaimed proudly
"Kreacher you will only speak when spoken to!" ordered Harry when he saw Kreacher trying to say something
"Must be tough" remarked Andromeda
"Huh?"
"It be miss, but Dobby likes his freedom."
"Wait, what are you talking about" asked Tonks
It was Harry who answered "There's a lot of legends that talk about what happened, but here's what we know for sure. House-elves weren't always like this, and that being bonded to a master is not only a matter of great honor to them, but it also gives them power and longevity. An unbonded house-elf will have his free will, but he'll be much weaker. You could argue that a bonded house-elf is useless without orders, so a free one is actually more capable."
"Wow I feel so undermined right now. Aurors are supposed be the cool detective guys in a group, and here I am taking L after L from a twelve year old!"
"I'm almost thirteen!"
"Your motivations about choosing your career make you mother so proud dear"
"We can trust Dobby guys, remember he was trying to help me during school too."
"You can, Harry Potter sir, Dobby would never betray Harry Potter!"
Harry now turned his attention back to Kreacher. "Kreacher, did Regulus Black die trying to destroy Tom - You-Know-Who's horcrux?"
If the matter wasn't so grave, Kreacher's expression on hearing that sentence would've been very funny.
"So, the Half-Blood knows"
"I know You-Know-Who took you to a cave where he tortured you, and I know Regulus went there with you. What happened, Kreacher"
Kreacher began to narrate the tale of Regulus Black's death, all traces of his hostility gone. There was only respect, grief, and shame in his voice. Kreacher told them how Regulus made his way to the basin, and then drank the poison himself, refusing to let Kreacher suffer again, especially since he was there only because of Regulus himself. After many agonizing minutes, Regulus finally finished all the poison and then replaced the real locket with a replica, having seen it through Kreacher's memories. Triumphant and extremely worn out, Regulus went over to the lake to drink water, only to walk into a trap. The lake was full of inferi that had suddenly come alive. He then deiscovered Voldemort's iron-tight defense mechanism - he had anti-apparition wards around the area. This was why he had left Kreacher alone that day - he didn't know or forgot elven magic worked differently from wizard magic, or perhaps he was too arrogant to think anything could bypass his defense. While Kreacher could leave by himself, he could not take Regulus with him. Realizing his impending demise, Regulus threw the locket to Kreacher with the last of his strength, and as the inferi dragged him into the river, he gave Kreacher his final order - destroying the horcrux.
"... And Kreacher failed, good master Regulus' last order stands unfulfilled. Kreacher tried everything, but he couldn't destroy it. And it lays in Grimmauld place, reminding him of his failure" Kreacher finished in tears.
Harry, and in fact everyone present in the room, knew how sacred a house-elf considered his duty, and they couldn't help but feel sympathetic for the house-elf that had been drowning himself in self-pity for the last 13 years.
"Kreacher... I can destroy the locket"
"Master can?" for the first time, Harry detected a sense of hope in Kreacher's bitter voice.
Harry looked the elf right into the eye and said "I can. Bring me the locket."
"As master commands" said Kreacher with a low bow, and popped away.
"Regulus..." said Andromeda in a sad voice.
"He found his way back in the end. He didn't die a death eater, he died a hero. And he's given us a pretty good start to end this, once and for all. Come here" said Ted, pulling his wife into a hug.
"I can give you the letter, if you want" offered Harry
Before she could reply, Kreacher popped back in
"I'd like that, thank you"
"Is it just me or did the air get heavier or something" asked Tonks
"No, I feel it too. Probably some sort of defense from that thing" said Andi, regaining her composure
"This... This is the legendary locket of Salazar Slytherin!" said Ted, who had been examining the item. "Look at the inscription! It's the real thing! It has to be!"
"Riddle was obsessed with his heritage, or at least that's I got from our little chat, he probably did find the real thing" remarked Harry. Boy was Harry not looking forward to telling Salazar that his locket had been turned into a horcrux.
"It's... locked. There's something inside, but I can't open it."
"This sounds like the job for an auror!"
"Don't bother... Dora" said Harry at once "Parseltongue will open it. It's Slytherin's locket after all."
"If there is a parseltongue password, I'm confident that it can only be destroyed from the inside - there's no point in it existing otherwise, and besides, all of Kreacher's attempts haven't even left as much as a scratch" theorized Ted
"Who should do it?"
"I think it should be you, Harry" proposed Tonks "It's your knife, I think you should be the one who makes the first 'cut'"
Ted and Andi acknowledged the point with a nod.
"Soooo... passwords?"
"I think I know. I'm gonna try 'open'. It worked on the chamber too.". Positioning himself a few feet from the locket, Harry said "Alright, here goes. Open"
Immediately, the locket opened up, and a thick black smoke rose up into the room, taking the shape of...Voldemort himself
"It's some sort of defense mechanism! We should have seen this coming... Harry!" called out Andi, but Harry seemed to have fallen into a trance "It's targeting him!"
"Harry Potter. Abandoned by his parents, left to fend for himself with filthy muggles, always alone... always alone... abandoned by his friends"
Harry felt a massive weight on his head, and the words kept seducing him to stab everyone near him, and it was almost impossible to resist. Almost. A voice at the back of his head kept telling him it was an illusion, that is was a defense - like on the diary. He could also faintly hear the panicked voices of the Tonks' in the background
"Should we try and help him?!"
"No, don't! He might attack you! Andi was right, we should have seen this coming... it's up to him now..."
"Harry Potter, unwanted by everyone, only being used... should have died with his p-"
Before the voice could finish, Harry plunged his knife into the locket with all his might. There was a high-pitched scream, as if something was dying a gruesome death. The smoke vanished, and all of a sudden, it was back to normal.
...
"Goddamn" said Tonks, breaking the silence
"Holy-"
"Holy shit, mom?"
"Yeah, holy shit!" said a half hysterical, half relieved Andromeda
"That feral look in your eyes, for a second I thought you were to attack us!"
"So did I...Is it over?"
"... Yeah, I think it's over" said Ted
Everyone's attention was drawn to a sniffle - it was Kreacher. "It be gone... the monstrosity my master died hunting... it be gone finally... Kreacher be thankful to his nice young master! And he will slash his wrist to pay for his insubordination to his master!"
Afraid Kreacher might actually conjure a knife and mutilate himself, Harry quickly told him to never punish himself.
"Master is too kind to poor old Kreacher... Kreacher will serve, as is his duty! Master must come to Grimmauld Place too! It is his home!" said an almost delirious house-elf
"Someone's tone has changed all of a sudden" remarked Tonks
"This is good for us, we have a house-elf we can count on now-" began Ted, before being interrupted, "Two, mister Teddy! Dobby be here too!"
"Of course, how could I forget you! Can't do it even if I tried - that tea-cozy hat is sticking with me for a while!"
Everyone laughed at that, and in that moment, they could have been any other family, just enjoying each other's company or a nice dad joke for once. But deep down, they knew things were going to be anything but normal - their hunt for parts of an undead crazy dark lord's soul had begun, and somehow that wasn't the biggest disruptor of normalcy. Why? Because Harry Potter had entered their lives, of course!