AN: Completely new content now folks :D
Chapter 11 - I Know
Ginny was taking too long, Harry realized this too late.
He was to the door in time to see the pool of blood creeping past the doorway. Harry's heart was pounding, his wand already raised as Voldemort strode through.
Harry didn't hesitate, disguised as a Death Eater, no one but he knew, knew, who he was, nevertheless, the entire pub turned into madness.
People ran for the exit screaming, very few even attempted to help him. Not that it mattered.
Chaos erupted into the streets as Death Eater after Death Eater apparated into Hogsmeade and began raining down curses on everyone they saw.
"Harry!" Ron yelled.
That half-second it took him to acknowledge the call, Voldemort cast his spell.
Not the Killing Curse, something darker, and just as deadly.
Harry screamed as Ron's expression went white with surprise, he had a moment to look down at the blacked front, another moment to place a hand over his stilling heart, before the life passed from his eyes and he died.
Harry let out a roar, his fear, his rage, his utter despair of failing those most important to him, yet again, called to his magic, the call of the wind over open seas.
He was Voldemort's equal, and he would kill him, he would end it here.
He would end them both if need be.
Voldemort laughed at him as they duelled in the pub, the battle raging in the street was a dim foreground to what was important.
Harry had to defend not just himself, but the patrons cowering beneath tables.
He was almost able to hold ground, to make Voldemort sweat, even a little bit, but soon more Death Eaters were converging toward their Master.
Harry was surrounded on all sides, but he didn't quit.
Fleur had taught him something that most wizards and witches never had the power or conviction for.
Just as Sirius had an infinity for dogs, his father for deer, Harry had an infinity for the elemental of air as Fleur, only partially due to her heritage, had an infinity for fire.
Voldemort snarled as Harry directed the wind to push an updraft from the floorboards.
Had his opponents been wearing pants, the trick wouldn't have worked, but they were all wearing robes. Voldemort was the only one to summon a shield in time as everyone else got a face full of robes, like damsels in an over-dramatic movie to get a flash of legs and undergarments.
Harry managed to stun two of the Death Eaters as they battled with their attire.
Unfortunately, that gave Voldemort enough time to disarm him. Harry didn't gratify the bastard by screaming when the Crusartus Curse struck him. He kept his feat by focusing all his hatred toward the monster set in destroying his life.
Voldemort released the curse and Harry almost fell, his breathing strained as he attempted to suck in air through his nose, to maintain control over himself.
He couldn't see Voldemort's face, but he saw the smile in those red irises beyond the mask. "I killed your girlfriend, Potter," he spat, "And your best friend, and his family. I will take everything from you, save yourself the trouble and bend the knee to me now."
"You've already taken everything," Harry said, trying not to pant.
Voldemort laughed at him, "Oh, no, Harry Potter, I know you. You care about everyone. You will submit to me in the end, this is merely a discussion of where your breaking point is."
There was a ruckus at the entrance, and Harry turned in time to see three Death Eaters drop. He expected Albus Dumbledore.
What he got was an enraged Abeforth who began knocking down Death Eaters like bowling pins. Voldemort came up behind him, wrapping his arms around him to use him as a meat shield when Abeforth turned his wand on them.
Abeforth hesitated.
"Avada Kedavra!"
Harry tried to struggle, but Voldemort's grip was iron clad and his aim was true.
Aberforth collapsed to the ground.
Harry was having flashbacks to the battle of Hogwarts, his magic growing erratic and sharp edged inside him, more uncomfortable than Voldemort's grip around him.
Until the monster in question whispered against the shell of his ear, "Crucio."
He wasn't prepared this time, and his own scream racked the air as Voldemort laughed.
Harry was too weak to pull away as Voldemort tore his sleeve and placed his yew wand to Harry's forearm.
Harry cried out again as his skin split and the sensation of acid into the wound. It hurt almost as badly as the Torture Curse, only focused on his arm.
Dropping him, Voldemort gloated, "You will come to me willing, Potter."
And with a pop echoed again and again as the Aurors finally arrived and the Death Eaters made their escape.
Harry found himself on the winter slick floorboards of the pub, staring into Ron's open, yet lifeless blue eyes. His skin was grey, his entire chest blackened like an ashen log. Harry reached for Ron's hand, but the moment his fingers touched Ron's, his entire body disintegrated into dust.
Harry gave in to the sorrow then. He did not shy away from the pain, it was no less than he deserved for allowing this to happen.
He didn't know how he would ever be able to face Molly Weasley again.
Albus Dumbledore had been deeply disturbed by Kingsley's account of there being a spy in the Order of the Phoenix.
Of course, there was Severus, but Kingsley hadn't even accused the Potions Professor.
Albus had gone over every member, despite his unfailing trust for them all, save for Mundungus, who hadn't been present for the meeting in question, and Hagrid who had slipped things in the past.
But there was no context that Hagrid could have been lulled into saying something so important. Albus had even spoken with him, and Hagrid had admitted being sober since they found out the Dark Lord was back.
Which left Albus with one other option.
He was climbing the steps to the Defense classroom to confront his old friend who had been attacked by Death Eaters before the start of term.
Severus had warned him prior to the attack that Crouch Jr. was free and would target Alastor, however, Albus hadn't arrived in time.
It was certainly Crouch Jr. dead in the backyard, but it wasn't entirely common for Alastor to aim to kill unless he had any other options. Additionally, why only send one?
If Tom had returned in truth, why not go himself? Someone with Alastor's history certainly warranted it.
Albus didn't truly believe Alastor could be the spy, but he was the only member of the Order who had a red flag against him.
He knocked on the door.
"Come in, Albus," called a gruff voice.
He walked through the door, notingthe whirling devices on his desk that had been newly replaced after Harry's magic had pushed its bonds.
Albus was terrified for the boy, he was so close to becoming an Obscurial.
For the life of him, Albus couldn't figure out how it had happened. Yes, the Dursleys had treated Harry with psychological or physical abuse, however, Albus didn't understand how Harry had been forced to suppress his magic.
Among the students currently attending Hogwarts, Harry had the most accounts and variety of accidental magic.
Everything from a hair growth charm to apparition, the latter being something quite remarkable. But those things took power, a great deal of power for an underaged wizard. Albus supposed he should have been more concerned when Harry blew up his Aunt like a balloon last year.
Harry was attending Hogwarts, using his magic daily, he shouldn't have had that large of a lapse of control over his magic. It was a sign, that while Harry lacked the drive and ambition that had taken Tom Riddle, Bellatrix Lestrange, Gellert Grindelwald, and Albus himself down such dark paths, he was still at their power level. A power level that had only shown itself on rare occasions, such as his use and learning of the Patronus Charm. One charm shouldn't have been able to fend off the large of a horde over those monsters, yet Harry had managed it at thirteen.
However, beyond Harry's impressive power level, there remained a larger issue in Albus's mind. In order for an Obscurial to form there needed to be a significant feeling of alienation.
Albus believed firmly that an Obscurial could be healed by replacing those feelings with a sense of belonging. Yet throughout this year, even with the advanced classes, Harry had been by all accounts getting worse.
He didn't have an Obscurial yet, but it was a precarious line to walk. Throwing himself out a window after destroying Alastor's classroom mid-lesson was clear evidence of that.
It pained Albus to no end that even here at Hogwarts, Harry felt as if he did not belong.
"Albus?" Alastor asked.
He looked up, drawn from his thoughts, "My apologies, I was just reminded of Harry's accident."
Alastor scowled, "The boy's powerful, there's no doubt about it. But I hadn't believed your assertion of him forming an Obscurial. No student who has ever attended Hogwarts has ever manifested one. But Potter… it is as if he has caught a sphinx with a spool of string."
Albus sighed, "So it would seem. Minerva will continue Harry's magical studies over the summer."
He watched the flash of almost lust in Alstor's eyes. Not of a sexual nature, but of one who hears something he is both delighted and longing to hear. Albus saw it the way his natural eye dilated slightly, the way his nostrils flared.
The greed of finding out vital information for his master.
Albus might have missed it, if he hadn't just reexamined Igor Karakeroff's trial where Crouch Jr. had been dragged to prison at the sentence of his own father.
Albus turned his palm a bit, "Tell me, Alastor, why does my reflection appear in your mirrors?"
Alastor met his gaze, and Albus delved into his mind, finding a soul and set of memories that did not match his old friend.
Tom had gone with young Barty to attack the retired Auror, and meddling in soul magic as long as Voldemort had been, transferring one soul into another body was not impossible.
Albus's hand curled around the Elder Wand and what followed was an excellent duel of rabid fire spells and curses in a confined space.
One of Albus's spells cut Barty's shoulder and a truly rancid smell filled the room.
They both grimaced and the horror of it didn't sink in until he saw the discoloured flesh that had been revealed, not caused, by his spell.
"You're rotting," Albus said in horror.
Barty tried to take over advantage of his moment of contemplation, but Albus was ready for him.
"Finite Incantatem Completum!" he yelled, over powering the charm, so it was his intention rather than charm itself that informed the magic.
The problem with the Dark Arts for those who relied on it, was such wild magic could be affected by the intent on another.
Whatever dark magic was keeping Alastor's body functional despite it rotting away for more than half a year, released.
Albus had no way of knowing if Barty's soul was still attached to the carcass, but he hoped for Barty's sake that he would be granted true death.
He caught a stream of silver-blue from his vision, and spun on it, wand raised, only to be greeted by the glowing presence of a doe Patronus. He was shocked at the voice that came from it, "Hogsmeade is under attack."
"Severus?" Albus asked, heart hurting as he realized that the man still loved Lily after all these years, then what he said sunk in.
Albus's mind spun, but looking down at Alastor's body he realized the opportunity this presented.
It wasn't right, nor what his old friend deserved, but Albus couldn't afford to be pushed out of Hogwarts, neither could his students.
He knelt, grabbing hold of the clean shoulder and disapperated behind the main pub where his students most frequented.
He left the body in the alley as he burst through the back door, and was met with devastation.
He saw Harry reach for Ron Weasley's hand, the boy was frightfully still. Yet the moment Harry's hand touched his friends, Ronald disintegrated into a pile of ash.
Harry made a barely audible keening sound. Albus checked the room, there was a body blocking the entrance to the pub, holding up the Aurors. Tables were overturned and a few patrons were hiding behind them. A few shops viewable from the windows were on the street were in flames. Madam Rosmerta was crying over the body of Madam Puddifoot she had dragged behind the bar.
There were no Death Eaters, if any had been felled, then their brothers had taken their unconscious or fallen with them when they fled.
Albus was about to go to Harry, when he noticed the blood from the girl's restroom. Heart in his throat he was nearly sick when he opened the door.
Young Ginerva stared blankly into space, slumped against the wall in a puddle of her own blood. Her slack hand rested over her heart as if she had attempted to stem the flow. But judging by the track of blood from her lips, she had never had a chance.
"Ginny!"
Albus startled at Harry's exclamation and he tried to catch the boy, to turn him away before he saw.
But Harry saw, because no matter how hard he tried, it seemed Albus was never able to spare this boy any horror and heartache in his young life. Every risk he had taken to keep him safe had only furthered the boy's suffering. It killed Albus that his misjudgments had led so directly to Harry's hardships.
Harry let out a sob, turning into Albus. Albus hugged him, tried to hold the boy together as he cried, his entire body trembling with grief.
"Albus!" Kingsley called.
Albus rested a hand on Harry's back and head trying to offer some comfort. He had no words to offer the Aurors.
Kingsley's face was all sympathy as he motioned to the corpse at the door, "It's your brother, Aberforth. I am so sorry, Albus."
Albus held onto Harry, not realizing his heart could break more than it already had.
Harry didn't let go of him until Severus showed up. Albus had never seen such gentleness from the man as when the Potions Master brushed a hand over Harry's wild curls.
Harry looked up at Severus, his grip loosening from Albus's robes only slightly. The white scars only added to the tears and the grief on the young man's face as his words eviscerated Albus.
"This is my fault."
Severus shook his head, "No, Harry, this is war. And those who would target children and the innocent are cowards and monsters."
Severus's words were as earnest as they were quiet, meant only for Harry.
It was Minerva, however, who got Harry to let go of Albus, although Albus would have gladly supported Harry as long as he needed.
Minerva and Severus caught Harry as he stumbled toward the Deputy Headmistress, the trembling was getting noticeably worse. Severus recognized the symptoms as something beyond grief.
"He tortured you," Severus stated more than asked.
Harry neither confirmed nor denied as he leant further on the two heads of house, "He said I would come to him willingly, that he would take everyone from me if I didn't come to him."
It was then that Albus noticed Harry's ripped sleeve and the black ink etched into inflamed skin.
The Dark Mark.
Voldemort had marked him, and now, he would forever be able to find Harry, no matter where he went.
He would never be safe.
"If he wins this war," Minerva said gravely, "he will enslave everyone regardless of who would hurt you the most."
Harry shut his eyes, fresh tears spilling down his cheeks, his voice was tight when he said, "I know."
Albus let Minerva and Severus take him back to the castle. Once the Aurors confirmed that all the surviving students who had entered Hogsmeade had made it back to the castle. Thanks to Minerva's attendance list, that was something quickly accomplished.
Albus stayed to help put out the fires and collect the bodies.
He paused over Aberforth's body, brushing a hand down his little brother's face to shut his eyes. "I'm sorry," Albus said, "for failing you again, brother."
Albus disapparated to Burrow, intent on being the one to deliver the news, to be the one to break Arthur and Molly's hearts at the loss of their two youngest children.
But it seemed Arthur and Molly had already rejoined with their children. Albus waved his wand, mastering the flames that appeared to be burning down the home for some time. By the time he had subdued the flames, the Dark Mark was the only light against the despairing skies. Its green glow coiled like a perverted interpretation of the Northern Lights.
The Burrow was blackened, the wood precocious as Albus searched for the bodies. Like her daughter, Molly Weasley had died slowly. Arthur seemed to have been ended by the Killing Curse, his last act was reaching toward his wife.
Albus looked around the house, but he couldn't find anything salvageable. There were people more skilled than him in retrieving photographs and personal items than he was. He would hire the best himself, from overseas if need be; it was the least he could offer Molly's children.
Night had yet to fall as Albus went next to the Ministry, where the ill news did not end.
HE-WHO-MUST-NOT-BE-NAMED RETURNS! THE SECOND WAR BEGINS WITH AN ATTACK ON HOGSMEADE AND SEVERAL ASSASSINATIONS WITHIN THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC ITSELF!
Among the eighteen people killed in Hogsmeade, was young Ronald and Ginevra Weasley, as well as Headmaster Albus Dumbledore's younger brother, Aberforth Dumbledore, owner of the Hog's Head Inn. Retired Auror, Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor, Alastor Moody was also killed in the Death Eater attack.
Hogwarts's Triwizard Champion and Boy-Who-Lived, Harry James Potter, is currently being treated in Hogwarts's Hospital Wing for severe exposure to the Cruciatus Curse. Though Madam Poppy Pomfrey says the boy will make a full recovery, one can imagine the young man is far from alright being as close to the Weasley Family as he was.
Arthur and Molly Weasley were found murdered in their own home the same day. At the Ministry, their oldest son William Weasley, an employee of Gringotts Bank was found dead alongside his brother Percy Weasley who had been newly appointed to Junior Assistant to the Minister for Magic, Minister Cornilous Fudge. Their cause of death appears to be the Killing Curse. There are currently no suspects for their assassinations, though considering You-Know-Who's reappearance and declaration of war, it seems safe to assume that this attack on the Weasley family was a coordinated strike with the specific intent of harming Mr. Harry Potter, a friend to the Weasley family since his attending Hogwarts.
Of the Weasley family, the only survivors are Charlie Weasley, and the Weasley twins, Fred and George Weasley. Our hearts go out to them, and to all those who lost family and friends on this tragic day (see obituaries, pg. 7). Along with those twenty brought to St. Mungos for care.
He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named has returned and seems to have picked up where he left off before the Boy-Who-Lived, falsely it would seem, defeated the Dark Lord. Extreme precaution is advised at all times in all places (see further guidelines for travelling, defence strategies against the Unforgivables, and mandated curfews, pg. 3).
The Triwizard tournament has been unofficially cancelled. Champions Viktor Krum and Fleur Delacour have been enrolled in Hogwarts courses as their classmates and Headmaster Igor Karkeroff and Headmistress Olympe Maxime return to their own schools and countries. The last task of the tournament will be held with a restricted audience as a formality to complete the contract with the Goblet of Fire.
Headmaster Albus Dumbledore has made it clear that this continuation is but a formality and that it was by Mr. Viktor Krum and Miss Fleur Delacour's decisions alone that they have enrolled at Hogwarts rather than return to their own schools. The option to simply attend on the day of the last task was offered and denied.
Newly promoted Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, Barty Crouch Sr. has met You-Know-Who's declaration of war with a warning of his own, "We have been rebuilding since those dark days thirteen years ago. We will not make the same mistakes nor be cowed. The Dementors of Azkaban are being closely monitored, and all inmates who bear the Dark Mark, newly darkened on their master's return, have received the Dementor's Kiss. I warn any sympathizer or any persons who bear the Dark Mark will befall the same fate. Chances will not be taken with the lives of our loved ones nor with the lives of our children and futures.
"This is not a war for our culture, be it, anyone, from any blood status, this is a war for the freedom from a monster whose pursuits lie only in the absolute dictatorship over us all.
"A wizard who can be defeated by a baby can never be allowed to succeed in such evil aims."
AN: Reactions, peanuts for birdies, or reviews? Pretty please?