Disclaimer; The usual disclaimer found most anywhere on applies, just rearrange for who owns what. I as usual am lacking in ownership of anything besides this wonderful glass of tea that quenches my thirst.
Harry was absent for most of the following week with the exception of classes, a fact that did not go unnoticed by his friends. Hermione was miffed.
"Ron, Ginny, have either of you seen Harry? I haven't seen him since Defense and it's nearly curfew. Even if he is Head Boy he should set an example."
"No, I got the feeling he was working on a project of some sorts, but no one knows what it is really. I haven't had a chance to grab him since he came back from Gringotts on Tuesday." Ron said thoughtfully.
"Have you tried asking Lucy?" Ginny asked. "She might know, or else we can get Mr. Shadow to look for him. He does the mind speaking thing like Harry, so that ought to help."
"No, I hadn't thought to ask Lucy. It's a good suggestion though. Ron, did he say anything to you that seemed odd?"
"He did mention that he had a plan for the war, and it was going to cost him a massive amount of money. As in he will be making three or four Great Families as poor as the Weasley family is infamous for being."
"That's definitely intriguing. I have no clue what that is about, but it is on my list of things to ask now. Wait, Ginny, did you say Mr. Shadow? Do you and Lucy know who one of the mysterious new Marauders is?"
"I think I might know two actually. Something that Shadow said to me tipped me off towards Tundros. The other two are complete unknowns, but I'm sure there is a common link somehow."
"Go find Lucy and let's hope for some answers."
Ginny left to the girls dorms and returned with the first year in tow. Lucy was reading a book she brought from home discussing dream webs and their uses. Even if she wasn't born a Widow like her parents, she hoped to train as one at least. But she had time; Black Widows didn't show inborn ability until puberty at least.
"Lucy, do you know where Harry has been hiding?" Hermione asked.
"No, do you want me to send him a message? Or should we just go have an adventure and track him down? Harry says you've had lots of adventures with him."
"It's nothing urgent, let's go find him and see if we can sneak up on him and see what he's working on!" Ginny suggested. "I'm curious what has kept his interest so steadily and why he is keeping us out of it."
The two intrepid Gryffindors set out to search the castle, working their way down to the ground floor, towards the dungeon. They were just passing the Hufflepuff common room when Lucy suddenly turned her head sharply.
"This way," she said pointing down a corridor, "Harry is over there."
"How can you tell?" Ginny queried.
"Someone over there is using Red magic. It must be either Harry or Kaelas, since it is definitely male. I haven't been using Craft to search for him because I wanted him surprised, but now that I'm close I know generally where he is."
"What do you mean Red magic? And how can you tell whoever it is happens to be male."
"Harry has a red jewel, his magic feels red when he uses it. And because I can sense the magic, I can tell it is a male using it. It has a different flavor I guess."
"Oh, Harry mentioned his necklace was like a wand. How does my magic feel?"
"Well since you don't have a jewel to stabilize you it varies depending on how tired you are. Most times it seems like a nice deep green Ginny. Right now though it seems weaker and you might want to ask Harry for some special tea. It will make you feel better."
"I always did like green; it reminds me of his eyes. Why should I ask him for tea? I feel fine, or as close to fine as I can right now."
"Exactly, this tea is probably better described as a potion. It will make things easier for you every month."
"Oh."
They came to a dead end and Lucy just stopped to stare at it with an odd look on her face.
"I can't see anything that would normally indicate a secret door, but I know that Harry is about fifteen feet past this wall. Do you know what's down here?"
"I don't know of anything here. Are you sure?"
"Yes, he's just over there," she said pointing behind and to the left of the wall's center. "I've got an idea, come with me over here."
They moved to a spot further down the hallway and off to one side.
"Lucy, why do we need to stand here?"
"So we can do this!" She grabbed the older girl's arm and the two of them disappeared.
Ginny was caught up in unusual sensations. She felt Lucille's magic wrap her up as though in a warm blanket and then they side stepped from reality. Everything was suddenly different and she could barely see her surroundings as she felt them pulled along towards and through the wall. She was really kind of freaked out as they passed through the walls and rock of Hogwarts as if ghosts and slid forward. Suddenly, they were back in an open area and she felt them come back into reality.
"What in the blazes was that?" Ginny practically screamed.
"Great Googally-Moogally! Don't sneak up on me like that! How did you get here any way?" Harry nearly jumped out of his skin as the two girls appeared behind him.
"The answer is the same for both of you. We rode the winds."
"That's how Harry gets around these days? Well count me out that was freaky."
"There aren't any winds that run over us here. That is part of why I chose this spot."
"Yes there are, they are just embedded in the stones instead of hanging from the sky. See, there is one that travels right through here. It's like Hogwarts has its own miniature network of winds."
"Those aren't winds, those are wards. I never thought you could travel along the wards. I guess it makes sense, they do still carry magic where it is needed."
"Where are we anyway?" Ginny was starting to notice her surroundings. It looked as though she had arrived in a small common room all on its own, and noticed a few doors along one wall and torches set in sconces. Beyond Harry a new doorway was taking shape, but it appeared to only be a rough tunnel at this point.
"I don't suppose I could ask you not to talk about this?" Harry looked guilty of something; she just didn't know what yet…
"You can ask all you want, but if you don't tell me I will ask other people." Ginny shot back.
"Ok, fine… I guess I'll have to show the two of you my secret before I am finished. Welcome fair ladies, to the Manor of Mischief, home to the Marauders of Hogwarts. When I am gone and but a memory to the students and staff, this hidden suite of rooms shall be my legacy for the future. I haven't got around to making the entrance yet, but it will be in that passage over there near the Hufflepuff common area. Right now it is quite a hike up form the Chamber of Secrets through one of the many tunnels. When I get the portal installed, I will seal up the back entrance and you'll never know it was there."
"Wait a minute," Ginny said, "This is your great plan? You're making new secret rooms in a castle full of secrets? And just how did you do it anyway?"
"Not just a set of rooms, but I am making a fake history too. This is the prank of ages trust me. The actual work was pretty simple. I came as far up this tunnel as I could, then began with blasting curses and the stone cutting spell Daemon taught me to hollow the rooms out. After that some light transfiguration gave everything a polished and neat appearance, and all that's missing are those little touches of home. I finished the common area and bedrooms, and am working on the library. The entry hall and portal are next. We're going to have a full library and store of supplies down here for fun-making purposes."
"Why have you been avoiding us all week? It's not like there is a big rush to get this done."
"Well, I actually need a place to put a lot of things. I've got the combined libraries from four old families that I need to stash someplace safe at least until the war is over. I need to move them this weekend. I also need a place to sort through any magical items these families might have had. Some I will need to destroy for certain, but others might be useful. I at least need somewhere to work soon. That's what these rooms really represent, a place for rule-breakers to work without fear of being seen. And with Halloween coming next week, I am going to need somewhere to hide too."
"I suppose that makes as much sense as any other reason. So I take it this means you really are Mr. Tundros? And just who are your other two accomplices?"
"Who told on me?"
"Kaelas insists on calling you Kae Tundros. Then McGonagall called him Mr. Shadow. Things were kind of obvious after that."
"The really fun thing is that the Headmistress doesn't know Kaelas isn't an animagus so it is driving her batty. I admitted I knew of another animagus in the school aside from her, she assumes it is Kaelas and therefore ignored the chances it was me."
"Oh that's rich. But who are your two female pranksters?"
"Well, you came here with the esteemed Ms. Flutter-bee," Lucy curtsied, "and Ms. Snow you should guess without any hints. Consider that she made everyone lay eggs and suggested they visit the owlery…"
"Hedwig is Ms. Snow? Wow, you guys are insane… I never would have imagined including animals in a prank team."
"Don't let Kaelas hear you call him an animal, he doesn't take it well. Use Kindred instead. And they are always interested in making humans look foolish. You should hear some of the gossip that goes on in the owlery."
"Can I see your owl form now? You've never shown me."
Harry popped into his owl form and flew to her arm. She cooed and flattered him a bit, clearly excited by his animal self. Eventually he reverted to human form and suggested that it might be time to return soon. It was by now well after curfew. Ginny was leery about riding the wards again, having been unnerved by her first trip, but was even more unwilling to go through the Chamber of Secrets to get out. Harry decided he ought to work on the door soon.
That weekend Harry met up with his over excited House Elves, who were happy to be in service once again. Dobby, Tippy, Gofer, Tibbles, and Stewey were quite thorough apparently. There was a large assortment of random junk next to the neat stacks of books. Harry wouldn't normally consider the charmed candles from beside a bed "magical objects" but the House Elves had grabbed every last one in their quest to prove their worth. After moving the books (including those from Grimmauld Place) and magical objects to the new library in Hogwarts, Harry gave his Elves a new task.
"This will sound like a very odd order, but it must be done as quickly as possible. Malfoy Manor is to be sold. Most likely Death Eaters will buy it hoping to get everything back. Your job is to strip that house of every possible thing of use. Every piece of furniture, every rug, and every painting must go. If it isn't nailed down, move it somewhere else. Move it to the attic here if you have to, or just to one of the other houses. Ensure that whoever gets that house doesn't get a bargain."
The next Friday was Halloween and the Marauders struck for the third time. This time it was relatively simple. A minor cosmetic charm was placed over every doorway between the Houses and the Great Hall. When the students arrived for breakfast, they were all in for a show.
The Slytherin students were incensed to be dressed in crimson and gold robes. Like wise the Gryffindor contingent was less than pleased to be dressed in green and silver. The Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw Houses were a bit easier going about it and swapped tables for the day so their robes would match the table they sat at.
The real shock however came when people received the day's Daily Prophet and read the headline.
Harry Potter Declares War!
By Harry James Potter
Dear Wizarding World,
Listen up because I am only going to say this once. I am sick and tired of being the selfless hero, the savior of the wizarding world, and most certainly tired of being the whipping boy, so I am going to offer you all a deal. This is very simple, and it won't cost you a thing to give me what I want.
There was a prophecy made a long time ago, "The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born as the seventh month dies, born to those who have thrice defied him… And the Dark Lord shall mark him as his equal but he shall have a power the Dark Lord knows not. One must die at the hands of the other, for neither can live while the other survives… The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches… Born as the seventh month dies..."
So there you have it, I am the only one who can defeat the Dark Lord apparently. I kill him or he kills me, that is the only way either of us can die. The entirety of the Auror Corps could cast the killing curse at him and he would be up and around within the week. I've already survived being bitten by a basilisk and swarmed by over a hundred Dementors, not to mention the constant harassment of every Death Eater out to make a name for himself.
Unfortunately, the wizarding world has not been so kind to me that I particularly feel inclined to save you all. I will fight for my friends and family, but that's as far as I feel obligated. The rest of you bastards are going to have to pay me. Aurors get paid, Hit-wizards get paid, even muggle policemen and military get paid. The first time I gave you a freebie for fourteen years or so, now lets see if I can do better eh? This is one savior who doesn't work for free.
I can defeat Voldemort, I can defeat his death eaters, but it all comes down to how I am going to be paid for my services. Here are my demands;
1) The properties and wealth of Voldemort supporters are forfeit. I will receive half of their wealth and property as bounty while the remaining half will be used to help the families and victims.
2) The properties and wealth of Tom Marvolo Riddle is forfeit. I will collect this in its entirety as bounty.
3) After the war is over and Voldemort is defeated, I will be granted Sovereignty within the boundaries of my estate. In return, I will give up all three Wizengamot seats under my control and renounce my citizenship. I won't interfere with British politics and they won't interfere with mine. I merely wish to be left to live in peace.
4) In the event of my death before the war is completed, the Potter family estate and all seized funds are forfeit to the British government under breach of contract.
5) I will swear a Wizard's Oath never to turn Dark.
As you can see, this costs the law abiding citizens of magical Britain nothing, but is very costly to Dark Wizards. The only people who should oppose this or have anything to fear are Dark Wizards. If you hear someone protesting, consider their possible motives. I will be willing to testify under veritaserum about anyone I claim to be a Death Eater.
I can and will defeat Voldemort. I will start with his Death Eaters and kill them one by one. He will watch and count as they disappear or die slowly. He will watch as his forces are vanquished. With each passing day he will know that I am one step closer to his door. Then, when he is alone and defenseless I will come and personally escort him to Hell where he belongs.
Ah, but I hear the Dark Lord gloating already, he thinks his horcruxes would prevent me from killing him. Sorry Tom, I've got bad news for you. I know all about your Horcruxes and know how to find them. You will die, it is inevitable.
The Ministry has until December 25, 1997 to accept my terms. If they refuse, I will leave the wizarding world and you will see if you prefer an immortal dark lord. Any Death Eater wishing to not die a violent painful death will surrender to the Ministry before the New Year and give a full and complete confession under veritaserum. The rest will be hunted like dogs into extinction. I will arrive at the Ministry just before midnight on the twenty fourth of December to sign a binding magical contract with the Ministry or to announce the defeat of the British Wizarding World because their leaders could not do what needed to be done.
The really nice part of this arrangement is that everybody gets what they want. The citizens get to live in a safe world. The ministry gets someone else to deal with the problems THEY created. And once the mercenary gets paid, there is no annoying Hero wanting praise or adoration. Just a hired hand who you can dismiss as below your notice like you want.
So, either hire the most expensive mercenary the world has ever seen or start practicing your groveling.
Chose Wisely,
Lord Baron Harry James Lestrange-Malfoy-Black-Potter-SaDiablo
The Great Hall ate breakfast in silence, or rather Harry ate breakfast and everyone stared at him in shock and disbelief. Had their hero finally abandoned them?