Disclaimer; Some days it just isn't worth chewing through the straps. If anyone knows of a job doing materials testing and analysis in west central florida, let me know. I am getting desperate.

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Harry approached the home with some care. He didn't know for certain who was home, only that they were of above average strength and alone. He felt a little scummy with this attack against the Dark Lord, but one way or another he needed to accomplish his mission. The target today was a small upper middle class home in a wizarding neighborhood, and hopefully the key to taking out one of Voldemort's top lieutenants.

Harry knocked on the door politely and waited for an answer. A kind looking old lady opened the door. "Good morning ma'am. Are you Madam Rookwood?"

"Yes, that would be me. What can I do for you lad?" She asked.

"Well if it's not too much trouble, could you tell me if you are the mother of Augustus Rookwood?"

"Oh, it's about my no good son again is it? Look, I've told you aurors a hundred times, I don't know where to find him, nor would I help you if I could."

"That is excellent Madam, I'd hate to see a mother turn on her own son like that. However it is not your son I am after today. Stupefy."

With a startled look, the elderly lady dropped to the floor. Harry picked her up and walked into the home. Pictures on the mantle clearly showed that Augustus was an only son, and surprisingly that Madam Rookwood was a muggle born. After a brief bit of searching he found a few letters from the Death Eater on a desk in her work room. A revealing spell showed a charm on her envelopes that would allow them to pass through his mail wards. He grabbed her supply and decided he had wasted enough time in case her house was being watched. He scooped his hostage off of the chair he dropped her in and apperated away.

Ooooooo

Augustus Rookwood,
Hello dirt ball. I know that you are a Death Eater. I know that you have evaded capture many times, and have access to spell and techniques I have only dreamed of. I know that you have almost forty years of experience I lack. I know that looking for you is pointless because you are probably the most secure man in Britain. Fortunately for me, I also know something you do not.

I know where your mother is.

Now from the letters I found in your mother's house, I know you love her very much so you need to do exactly as this letter says or she will die. You see, I want to test my skills. Let's see what the best of the Dark Lord's forces can do. How about a senior Unspeakable…

For the moment, your mother is safe, she has food and shelter, though she finds my company particularly obnoxious. She will remain safe until I receive your answer or until one week has passed from when I send this letter. What I want you to do is to arrange for the two of us to fight this out like men. Pick a place, pick a time, set some terms, and tell me where. We can do this as fair or unfair as you like and I promise no harm will come to your mother. If you want an anything goes fight where you can cheat or fight dirty, say so. If you want a formal duel for the sake of family honor (this is what I would insist on, it's pretty insulting to resort to kidnapping someone who isn't even involved), let me know that too.

I expect your owl within seven days or your mother will take a very long time to die. I am feeling creative lately and am in need of a new target dummy so I hope you choose to ignore me or refuse my terms.

On my honor as a wizard
Harry James Potter

Ooooooo

The letter also included two different cross-linked time release spells to trigger the letter like a bomb. If one was deactivated the other would trip automatically resulting in a blast
of magical energy that should at the very least blow his hands off. The time delay spells were set to go off after a minute and a half or if the paper were torn. The time delay spells were a very nice touch he was glad he had learned. The same spells were used to do anything from turn off an oven when food was cooked, or activate another spell, or sound an audible alarm. He used them to do things that his explosive spells would use as their triggers, an obscenely easy work around, and a useful bit of magic.

After a few truth potions revealed that the apple did not fall far from the tree, Madam Rookwood's treatment declined at a very unhealthy pace. She supported Voldemort's goals though she disagreed with the whole blood purity shtick he used to gather support from the wealthy. If Harry hadn't expected him to demand proof she was still alive, he probably would have killed her anyway.

Oooooo

Tuesday Harry met McGonagall and Flitwick outside the Charms Classroom with a length of rope for a portkey. Flitwick made note that the portkey was of an obsolete variety no longer used, but gave him credit for knowing the portkey charm anyway. Harry tapped the rope with his wand and said the magic phrase "Gullible fools" before they were whisked away to the hall in front of the Manor of Mischief's front door.

"May I present to you Professors, my charms project, The Manor of Mischief. If you examine the wall behind you, you will find one way permeability charms with a pass phrase and keyed locking spell to keep out the uninvited. Ahead of us is the start of our tour. This is a suite of rooms that was carved from the rock beneath Hogwarts completely with magic and featuring a wide variety of other charms to enhance not only the décor and comfort of the rooms but enhance their functionality as well. There are four bedrooms decorated around four different themes and using different spells. The bathroom is plumbed magically and the fireplace is connected to the kitchen's exhaust but not the floo network. The Library and work shop have been magically expanded beyond their actual size and enchanted to help you find whatever you were looking for. The entire suite has self cleaning spells to keep it looking nice and maintain air temperature and humidity in the different rooms. Finally the entire suite is under the Fidelius charm so I am sorry Headmistress but troublemakers of the future will have a safe haven." Harry gave them a brief tour of the rooms and opened himself up for their questions.

"This is excellent work Harry, excellent indeed. May I ask you to supply me with a complete list of spells and enchantments you have used here?" Flitwick asked as he left the fire themed bedroom.

"Of course Professor, I kept a diary as I worked so that students in the future would know how to fix anything that broke. I even included references with where I found any spells that were not on your syllabus. I've made you a copy as well." Harry summoned a leather bound book from the library. "I hope that will be enough to help."

"Mr. Potter, can you give me a good reason not to expel you for demolishing and creating new additions to the Castle?" Professor McGonagall gave no indication of her mood as she left the library.

"Because Hogwarts finds it funny and thought it would be a good idea? Besides I promise to remove the dangerous books from that library when I leave."

"I insist that you write down the secret of it's location so that the Headmasters and Headmistresses of the future can monitor these rooms. It was very irresponsible of you to make these rooms, let alone hide them this way."

"Sorry but it's out of my hands now. I am not the secret keeper. To learn the secret you have to find a book in the Library that I have written and follow the instructions exactly before you will be told how to enter these rooms. I'll give you more of a hint than anyone else gets and tell you to look in the survival section."

"And just what type of instructions are these?" She gave him a glare.

"How to become inducted as a Marauder of course, since only Marauders will be told the secret. Unfortunately the book cannot be taken from the library for more than twenty four hours, and part of the instructions include swearing a magical oath not to take anything from the room unless you intend to return it and certain rules on conduct within the suite. Hogwarts likes laughter and happy people within her halls and has given a home to those who will bring that back. You are welcome to become one to keep tabs on everybody but Hogwarts, the Sorting Hat, and I worked hard to make sure my work won't be abused."

"I am not happy Mr. Potter, not at all. This was irresponsible, unsanctioned, and against at least four school rules, yet for some reason I am not going to expel you. I should of course, but I do not wish to anger Hogwarts any more than you and you seem to be in her good book at the moment."

"Thank you Professor. If it is any consolation, these rooms have been essential to the war effort. It is not only a restful retreat from the bustle of Hogwarts life, but also a place where I can tinker with dangerous magic and make plans without being disturbed."

"Potter, I make a lot of concessions for the sake of the war, I have given you unprecedented freedom. You are really pushing the limits of what I am willing to accept from a student. I accept your pranks and jokes because they are harmless and do not result in the humiliation of anyone. I accept your disappearances and illicit comings and goings because somehow the number of Death Eater attacks has actually decreased since October. I am even willing to accept that you teach unusual magics in your study sessions that have the potential to be used in a questionable manner. But now you are making a direct ploy to destabilize life in the school for years to come. There are allowances in the rules for the Head Boy to undertake a community service project within the school, or descendants of the Founders to leave something behind as a legacy. For the moment I am going to pretend that these rules apply because I am certain that if I looked deep enough they don't."

"So I should be grateful that you are a forgiving and loving Headmistress and not Umbridge?" He cracked a grin.

"No, you should be grateful I promised Professor Dumbledore to help you beat the Dark Lord. If this set of rooms keeps you under my nose and not out wandering Britain, I will accept it as a reasonable cost. Besides, since it is under fidelius, we have at most seven years before the secret keeper graduates and after this year you will not be around to advertise your little insurrection. In ten years age and responsibility will have made all of this a memory. I think the school can weather a few jokes and tricks until then." She gave a superior sniff.

Harry wisely decided to shut his mouth before he got in more trouble. He tottered off to explain a few points to Flitwick as they enjoyed the air room. The diminutive Professor did not particularly like the room since he was rather terrified of heights, but he did enjoy the idea of the inverted sky light enchantment on the floor. He said it really completed the theme but recommended that anti gravity mist like he had encountered in the Tri-Wizard maze might have been a good finishing touch. Harry didn't know that spell but agreed it would be kind of cool.

When they were done exploring the small space, Harry led them to the outer pass-wall before he got a sudden brainwave. "Alright now if you both will step right over here. That's it, now please take my hands." Harry took their hands in his and dragged them all along the ward line that passed through the space, and jumped between the various wards until they crossed the Wind that lead to McGonagall's office. In the blink of an eye, Harry flipped back to the real world and let go of their hands before disappearing again on his next jaunt.

"That… was different. Why do I get the feeling he did not want us to know even the general vicinity of those rooms?" Flitwick was happy; secrets, intrigue, a gifted charms student, and a new form of magical transport, his day was complete.

"Because if there is anything this school year has taught me it is that what Harry doesn't say is far more important that what he does. On September first Mr. Potter sat in that very chair and swore on his magic he didn't know where the "manor" was, and that he only knew of one other animagus in this school. He swore that he was not an unregistered animagus, but told me that with only one exception all of the marauders had an animal form. The signs were there but I did not put two and two together. He probably is other animagus but a registered one, and he didn't know where it was because he hadn't built it yet." McGonagall pulled her flask out and poured herself and the Charms Professor two fingers of scotch.

"So what do you think he didn't say this time?" he asked her.

"I can't put my finger on it, but I doubt his little plan is as simple as he makes it out to be. I think when he told us how to get the secret, he was not only challenging us but taunting us too. I wouldn't be surprised if he expects us to go after it."

"Are you going to?"

"I haven't decided yet." She drained her glass. "I'm tempted but I don't want to give the brat the satisfaction."

Ooooooo

"Professor Slughorn, may I ask a favor?" Harry was in the dungeons minutes later. The portly potions professor was hunched over a cauldron and raised a hand to stall his conversation.

"Sorry about that Harry. This potion was at a critical stage." He said a few moments later. "Now what is it that you need my good man? Do you have any more new potions to make us both rich beyond avarice? "

"Not today sir. I was wondering if you still keep that cauldron of Felix Felicias around to show your NEWT sixth years."

"Of course, as tricky as that potion is it is easier to keep the one cauldron on hand than to dump it and brew another one every year. I assume you were hoping to borrow some?" The stout man opened the door to his office and ushered him inside before pouring them both a glass of mead.

"Well it was more along the lines of I was hoping to convince you to give me some or to sell me some, but yes. I am having a great deal of trouble finding Voldemort's last Horcrux and was hoping that a little Deus Ex Machina might put me on the right path."

"Well I don't have any Deus Ex Machina, if you wanted that you needed to tell me months ago. Felix we have, but God in a Bottle takes time. If your potion continues to age well and you make sure everything is correct when you add it, you might be able to pay it back. I would give it even odds that your batch of Felix might be usable. I'd put it at one in four for anyone else in the class."

"I didn't know there was a potion by that name. Deus Ex Machina is a muggle term for an extremely lucky or forced turn of events. I thought a little luck could force things forward. So where do you put the odds of me convincing you?"

"That depends really, what do you think the odds are that I can convince you that I deserve fifty percent of the profits on the last concoction for our set of House themed beverages?" Slughorn held up a flask of the potion he had been working on when Harry had entered.

"It's finished?" Harry asked. "What attribute of Slytherin did you replicate?"

"You'll never believe it, I might have found a way to give people Parseltongue. In a freak lab accident the other day I was splashed with a sore throat potion containing moonstone, raven's tongue, and boomslang skin which shouldn't have been in the mix and resulted in the explosion. When I was soaked in it, I heard one of the snakes in the tank over there mocking the "silly humans". The ability faded as soon as I clean off, but it gave me a place to start. I haven't found a way to make a normal potion yet, it seems to need some raw magic within the potion to work, meaning it is alchemical and not a potion. When I realized this, I isolated the active parts and brewed a batch for you to test. At worst it won't be poisonous, but at best you should be able to understand snakes and maybe even speak back."

"Wow, now I see why you are a master. You turned a lab accident into the breakthrough of the century. I'm sorry but I won't be able to do the testing on this one. I am already a parselmouth so I wouldn't notice the change." Harry was floored, parseltongue in a bottle would make them both famous and wealthy all over again.

"The research into these potions that you and I have been doing together allowed me to make that breakthrough. I would not normally have thought of alchemy as the solution to a potions accident. So fifty percent of Serpent's Tongue profits for a few doses of Felix?"

"You've sold me on this one professor! We'll split this one fifty-fifty. You might try a dose of Felix yourself, problems seem to disappear when you mix it in." Harry shook his Professor's hand to seal the deal.

"How do you think I came up with the idea to blend it into your base? It also happens that I thought it would be a good idea to bottle up two doses around the same time. Here you go. I know you'll have a magical day." Slughorn handed Harry two small vials, one of which he popped open and downed.

"Great to see you again Professor, but I think it's time I left. I want to go have a drink in a pub. Better make that a muggle pub, you know how I hate the recognition." Harry was smiling and riding on that buzz that told he could do no wrong as he left the office.

Ooooo

Harry walked into a small pub on the outskirts of Glasgow not long after. He looked around the pub which was just beginning to fill up for the night. Acting on that impulse he didn't understand he picked the last seat at the end of the bar with his back to a booth. He was feeling adventurous and decided to try something new. When the bartender came back around he and another man were waiting to place their orders.

"I'll have a Silver Birch Tequila, actually make it a double." Harry told the bartender.

"I'll have three of the same." The man next to him said, his accent said he was an American but Harry couldn't place where exactly.

Harry reached into his pocket for some money. As he flipped through his bills looking for a fiver, a galleon slipped from the folds and fell to the floor. He handed the money to the bartender and bent to pick up the coin.

"Mind if I see that? I don't think I've seen one of those before." The stranger looked at it as he was putting it back in his pocket.

Harry normally never would have but Felix gave him a nudge and who was he to argue? "I don't see why not. It's something of a good luck charm for me, real gold too."

"Hmm… St. George and the Dragon on one side, an ugly man on the other, I don't recognize it." He handed it back to Harry. Their drinks arrived. "Thanks for showing me, maybe we'll talk later."

Harry sat enjoying his drink which had a unique flavor for a while. He was nursing a pint of stout when he heard something from the booth behind him that caught his ear. The man from earlier was talking to one of his two friends.

"I'm telling you Al, the diary of Sir Godric of the Gryffin was onboard the Grindewald when she left Germany in '45. The Grindewald floated into Bristol a ghost ship with everyone on board dead. When the Brits saw the bodies dead with no cause, they assumed it was a new type of gas and towed her back to sea. A friend of mine swore to me that a man using the code name of "White Bumblebee" sank it in what he called Loch Dhu. If we can find this "Loch Dhu," which obviously isn't the proper name for it, we will find the ship, the diary, and by extension Godric's gold."

"And I'm telling you Dirk, I agree with Clive on this one. Assuming the ship isn't a myth, and assuming it is somehow at the bottom of some inland Loch, there is no way the diary is still intact. Besides this one isn't being backed by the Admiral, we don't have a million dollars of taxpayers money to troll every lake in the District. We're happy to help you on your treasure hunt but you need to have a little more to go on before dragging us halfway around the world."

Harry felt it was time for him to join the conversation. Harry raised four fingers to the barkeep and received four more tequila doubles on a tray. When he walked up to the table, he pulled a move from one of the drinking games the twins taught him and bounced a galleon off the table top into the first man's, Dirk's, beer.

"If you're looking for Sir Godric the Golden Gryffin, tonight is your lucky night." Harry placed the drinks on the table. "His only daughter married into my family near on a thousand years ago. I studied under the White Bumblebee before his death, and finally I have a great view of the Black Lake from my bedroom window. I'm surprised to hear that a ship called the Grindewald and my ancestor's diary may still be around though. My name is Harry."

"I'm Dirk, this is Al and Clive." The indicated people were pointed out and hands were shaken. "Al and I are divers and underwater specialists, Clive is a former mining engineer who switched to structural before he retired. We're here looking for one more adventure before we settle down for good."

"Well adventure is what you'll find if you keep looking, but in my experience adventure means somebody somewhere is in deep shite. I am… an independent contractor for the British government working on a certain terrorist group." Harry followed the impulses when explaining his job. "If the Grindewald is intact somewhere, I would strongly advise that you not go looking for it. If Godric's Gold is what you are looking for…" Harry used a bit of slight of hand to flick three galleons in between the fingers of his left hand, before bouncing them one by one into the tequila glasses. "Cheers Mates, I hope you enjoy Scotland."

Harry knocked back his drink and gave a wave over his shoulder as he left the pub.

"That was easy." Clive said. "Usually when I get mixed up in your adventures someone tries to shoot me or blow up my boat."

"I know, I am almost disappointed." Dirk looked a little put out.

"Shut up you. I was convinced this was going to end up like that Trojan thing with us all naked and strapped to an altar while some nutjob who thinks she is a witch kills us. I am glad to have it easy for once." Al examined his share of the booty with a discerning eye.

"Oh well, at least he didn't realize he gave me two." Dirk said as he fished the first out of his pint.

oooooo

A/N; No it isn't another crossover, thats all we'll see of those three. There will not be any navy seals coming to the rescue of fair damsels or shooting any Dark Lords. If you want that read my other stories. Sorry to disappoint but call it a cameo.