The plan in motion

And here was Harry all alone in a fort with Ginny Weasley. Only two hours after Hermione had gone, Ginny had him exhausted. Harry had recently discovered that Ginny needed more sex whenever she was stressed. She would not accept 'no' for an answer.

"Harry, do you want to go one more time?" she asked innocently.

"You can't be serious? " said Harry.

"No, I'm Ginny."

Harry laughed. Ginny attacked again. "You really need to stop, Ginn!" said Harry.

"This time you can try backdoor!" offered Ginny.

"Please, stop!" said Harry.

"Hermione would not have received no from you!" said Ginny trying to guilt Harry.

She was probably right, but Harry could not admit it and fully disagreed. He instead blamed Moriarty.

"Moriarty has had me working on my mental shields and Snape keeps nagging that I have to deliver my alchemy project…"

"Harry, I only have a few days with you guys," said Ginny, "Some of which Hermione will spend with her parents." Ginny ended her sentence acidly and Harry winced.

"Well?"

"I want to enjoy myself with you guys because I don't know for how long I will be missing you."

"They want to see you, Harry." said a voice from Ginny's mirror. It was Lucinda's voice and Harry was grateful that Ginny had placed her mirror in a place where her bed would be out of its visual range.

"I think they are having sex!" said another voice. That must have been Moriarty.

"Making love would be more appropriate," said Dumbledore's patient voice.

"Master Harry, Dobby has brought you dinner," said Dobby's cheerful voice behind Harry who turned around to see the house-elf had sneaked into his room.

"Dobby, I'm naked!" said Harry as he and Ginny hastily put clothes on. Harry could hear Moriarty cheerfully laugh.

"Dobby is very sorry," said Dobby. "Dobby must punish himself."

"No need for that, Dobby," said Harry. Dobby instantly nodded and bowed happily.

Harry dressed up properly, kissed Ginny and left the room abruptly. When he got to Moriarty's office he found Dumbledore and Lucinda discussing something while Moriarty himself was absent.

"Hey, Harry," said a voice behind him catching him off guard.

"You scared me, Professor," he replied.

"And could have killed you. Be more vigilant in future."

Moriarty walked to his desk and sat behind it. He seemed slightly distracted.

"Harry, do you happen to feel sick or unwell," asked Lucinda.

"Ah! He's just drained Lucinda. He's as healthy as a horse, aren't you, Harry?" said Moriarty boisterously.

"You're very excited today, Professor?" said Harry. He wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

"Harry, we have the device that can secure the soul fragment within you," explained Lucinda.

"We finally have it!" said Moriarty happily, then his faint happy smile vanished as he continued, "But there is a catch. While this device is capable of holding the spirit of Lord Voldemort, it cannot draw it out. I have tried to modify it since last year, but all the readings indicate that it will not be able to exorcise a soul, or anything else for that matter, on its own."

"So we could have done this last year," Lucinda in a know-it-all manner.

"Yes," said Moriarty with a forced smile, "And as I promised you shall get a raise, Lucinda."

It took Harry a few seconds to understand what Moriarty had just said.

"Hold on. You are an Unspeakable?" he asked Lucinda.

"I am," said Lucinda. "I thought you already knew."

"Well, now you do," said Moriarty as he smacked his palm on the table to kill a fly. Lucinda and Harry stared at his hand as he removed it.

"You missed," said Dumbledore.

"I did."

"So how do we get rid of Tiny Voldemort in me?" asked Harry impatiently.

"Well, we need to … we need to force you to let it out," replied Moriarty.

Lucinda huffed and looked at Dumbledore.

"Harry, Professor Moriarty suggests that he and Lucinda, in effect … possess you," said Dumbledore with the most uncomfortable facial expression Harry had ever seen.

"Well, it's not technically possession, per se. It's actually a mental invasion that leads to deepest sections of your mind."

Harry was not scared, but he was rather confused.

"But, if two minds try to attack one, won't that create a conflict?" he asked.

"That's my student!" said Moriarty proudly.

"Harry, aren't you appalled by the idea?" said Lucinda, "Doesn't that sound like mental rape to you?"

"You can't rape someone with their consent," said Harry, "That's how rape is defined."

"You have made him just like you!" spat Lucinda at Moriarty.

"Not my fault that he is reasonable and calculated," said Moriarty showing his palms to Lucinda in a defensive manner.

"Isn't Harry right?" asked Dumbledore.

"Well, Albus. The thing is… I don't even think we will be able to control Harry's mind. He is immune to the Imperius Curse. That is a testament to how strong his sense of identity is. Harry won't be controlled, inserted we will penetrate his mind deep enough to reach his ego. Ego is the dark side of your personality and where the soul will be. Then we will have to force Harry's ego to let go of that soul fragment."

"Will I be able to help?" asked Harry.

"Frankly I have no idea how your mental reaction is going to be. And I'm pretty sure your mind will surprise Lucinda."

"Harry, do you remember this?" Dumbledore pointed his wand at the wall behind Moriarty and a mirror appeared.

"The mirror of Erised!" said Harry.

"That's actually the mirror of Desire, Harry," said Moriarty, "And frankly I have no idea how Dumbledore kept it in Hogwarts without me ever noticing it."

"I was looking for it in France a few years ago," said Lucinda.

"You came back with something much more important instead," said Moriarty.

Lucinda nodded and neither of them spoke more of what that important thing was.

"Harry, I will be watching you as you go through the process," said Dumbledore, "Remember that this world is the real world and all your friends are here."

Harry knew exactly what Dumbledore meant. Having studied mental arts with Moriarty Harry knew that sometimes dreams could be mistaken with reality, and the deeper you went the more difficult the distinction would be.

Harry had practiced generating mental rooms; little pocket dimensions in your mind that could trap your enemies or to be used as background for mental conversations. Lucinda had taught Harry about using them too frequently and had asked him to always use unrealistic images.

"Harry, there won't be any conflict between minds because two lesser minds are trying to infiltrate the mind of a higher being."

Harry did not like how Moriarty had worded his excuse.

"You are not less!" said Harry.

"You will see once we are inside," said Moriarty.

"You're scaring me!" said Lucinda.

"Don't lose your focus," said Moriarty. His voice slowly faded, and before Harry knew it, they were in his mind.

"Well, now I know that you can help us," said Moriarty as they were standing in a white room.

"So do I come with you?" asked Harry.

"Sure," said Lucinda.

"Lucinda be mindful of your surroundings," jabbed Moriarty as he pulled her back. A piece of the floor, where she had been standing on, collapsed into emptiness below them.

"Harry's subconscious is already reacting to our presence," said Moriarty, "The attacks will become more complex."

"There is a door," said Harry and pointed to a door behind Moriarty. He could have sworn that had not been there seconds ago.

"Are you ready, Lucinda?" asked Moriarty.

"Apparently not!" she replied nervously.

"Here we go anyway," said Harry as he carefully opened the door.

Going through it, he found himself on the Hogwarts Express. The train was on its way to Hogwarts with no passengers on it.

"Have you ever met the driver, Harry?" asked Lucinda.

"No,"

"Let's go find her," said Moriarty.

"What happens if the train crashes?" asked Harry, feeling nervous all of the sudden.

"Harry, take a look outside," said Moriarty softly.

Harry looked through the windows. There was nothing odd there. There were trees and … He got into the closest cabin to have a better look and finally realised what was wrong. They were under water. Everything was submerged and with a closer look Harry managed to spot tiny sea creatures.

"This is impossible," said Lucinda. "Mental images can't be so accurate and elaborate."

"You are going to be so surprised," said Moriarty.

As they proceeded to the front of the train it got colder and colder.

"Should we expect dementors?" asked Lucinda.

"That may be a good idea," said Moriarty. The cold apparently did not bother him.

Harry and Lucinda silently followed Moriarty. The train's emptiness was morbid and disturbing to Harry.

"I don't feel good," said Lucinda and suddenly stopped.

"Yes, I feel it coming," said Moriarty.

"What?" asked Harry.

"That," said Moriarty as he pushed Harry and Lucinda back. Something sharp pierced through the train and split the wagon in half.

"Could have killed us," cried Harry.

"Don't worry, Harry," said Lucinda despite her own visible shock, "We are safe."

"If we die, we wake up," said Moriarty calmly, "That is exactly what your unconscious mind wants us to do. But in the meantime it will do its best to get us away from there core. Which is why we are going away from London and Surrey where you spent your childhood."

"How do we go back?" said Lucinda, "Why isn't water pouring in?"

"This is a dream. Things don't make sense," said Moriarty and then he smiled as something occurred to him.

"Harry, do you happen to have a watch?" he asked.

"I actually don't…" then Harry looked at his wrist and there it was; his old watch, working just fine.

"May I see it?"

Harry handed the watch to Moriarty.

"Now, let's go back to 10:50," he said and the moment he moved the watch hands the world around them turned into vapour and once or faded away they were standing in Kings Cross.

"Let's go," said Moriarty moving away from the Hogwarts Express and toward the wall that would lead them to the muggle world.

Harry and Lucinda followed him. Unlike the train, the street was crowded. Moriarty took a cab and hurried Harry and Lucinda into it.

"To Surrey," he said hastily.

"How did you know Harry had his watch," asked Lucinda.

"His memories," said Moriarty, "He had a watch up until his fourth year when he managed to destroy it in the Great lake. I had seen it in his mind many times. That water had to mean something."

"Why would Harry's subconscious mind give you a clue?"

"It didn't mean to do so," said Moriarty, "However, when constructing a fictional world, you must base it on your personal truth."

"I don't understand," said Harry.

"I don't either," admitted Lucinda.

"It's something you will understand by experiencing it."

Harry looked outside. There was nothing out of place. Cars and people were on their way and he could hear the radio singing a song he had never heard before. This was very much real to him.

"Professor, how come we are listening to a song on the radio that I have never heard before?" asked Harry.

Moriarty did not answer, instead he asked the driver to go faster. Once they got to their destination he pushed Harry and Lucinda out of the cab.

"We don't have much time, move quickly."

He hurried to Private Drive number 4 and knocked on the door three times. No one came to open the door, nor came any response.

"I don't think they're home," said Lucinda.

Moriarty was about to take his wand out and unlock the door when it was opened by Petunia Dursley.

"Sorry for the wait, how can I help …"

For a moment Harry thought he had come to the wrong house, because the woman who had opened the door looked so different from Aunt Petunia. She was much younger and was wearing a wizarding robe.

"Mrs. Dursley, am I correct?" asked Moriarty.

"Yes," said Petunia looking at Moriarty inquisitively. That bit of her had not changed. "Have you drunk a Forgetfulness Potion again, Minister?"

"Oh, shit," said Moriarty.

"This is not funny, sir." said Petunia. "Please come in."

Petunia, Harry and Lucinda followed Petunia inside. She took them to the kitchen where a much younger version of Dudley was playing with his food.

"Dudley, go to your room," said Aunt Petunia with determination Harry had never seen before. Dudley obediently left to his surprise.

"Must be a parallel universe," murmured Harry to himself.

"Now, Petunia. Do you work at the Ministry?" asked Moriarty amiably.

"Yes, I'm your undersecretary."

"Is he really the Minister?" asked Lucinda.

"Yes," said Petunia seriously.

Moriarty was looking around looking for clues. Perhaps he was looking for a mental button somewhere that would lead them away from this obvious mental trap.

"Does Harry live with you?" asked Lucinda.

"Oh, yes," said Petunia, "Her mother left him with us. Lily is a great woman, but she couldn't handle Harry since she is … you know… a muggle."

"Aha," said Moriarty.

He stood up and moved to the cupboard under the stairs that Harry had long lived in there. Yet he wondered, what if Harry's subconscious had altered the reality to hide to entrance to the deeper levels. He could not be sure. Mind was a fickle thing; things could radically change as it created its endless narratives. Moriarty could open the cupboard and release deadly gas that would kill them all and wake them up in the real world. Then perhaps it was just a cupboard and the entrance to deeper layers was elsewhere. He could not be sure, but he had to try.

"Did Harry spend time here as a child, you know, as his secret room or base?"

"No. We have never used it very much," said Aunt Petunia. "I've put some of Harry's old clothes there."

Moriarty carefully opened the cupboard. There was nothing there but some old smelly clothes.

"Harry, would you like to show me your room?" said Moriarty with a benign smile.

"Of course,"

Harry took Moriarty and Lucinda upstairs. It was just as he remembered it.

"This room is too detailed to my liking," Lucinda whispered to Moriarty.

"We must be getting close," said Moriarty.

Harry first took them to his room in the real world but they found out it was now Dudley's.

So naturally they had to go to the room Harry had never entered during his time with Dursleys.

They opened the door and was like nothing Harry had expected, and like everything Moriarty had.

The room was not a room but a dark tunnel covered by roots, only upon closer inspection Harry realised that they were in fact veins throbbing madly as a fluid -hopefully not blood- coursed through them.

Lucinda gulped.

"That's scary," she said.

"You are a natural mind master Lucinda. You are going to be okay," said Moriarty.

"Uhm … guys!" said Harry with horror. Lucinda looked back and saw an Acromantula slowly approach them. Moriarty had already entered the hole. He turned around and pointed his index finger at the beast and flicked it. Some invisible force hit the poor creature so hard that it flew right through the wall.

"Follow through, we have much more intimidating things to face," said Moriarty.

"Why an Acromantula, Jim?" asked Lucinda as the door was shut behind them and left them in pitch black darkness.

"Well, you do know how Harry feels about them," said Moriarty.

"But why would he use his fears?"

Harry had wondered that too. According to Moriarty people tended to avoid using their fears as means of defense.

"Harry Potter is only one version of Harry," said Moriarty, "His other aspect, if you don't mind this word, appreciate how dangerous the beast is, but they are not afraid of it. If you recall Severus told us how another version of Hermione tried to kill him inside her brain. And since he was not as experienced as us and did not have certain advantages he could have died. That was Hermione's ego. In Magi ego is much more pronounced than humans."

"Can't we have some light before discussing all this?" asked Harry.

In that moment light began to shine softly from the veins around them, and that made everything more morbid.

"Well, this isn't disturbing at all," said Lucinda.

"What's this place, sir?" asked Harry.

"Every mind is different, Harry, but I guess this is where your roots are."

"Are we close to where Voldemort's soul is kept? "asked Lucinda.

"You seriously didn't think it would be that easy, did you?"

**HR**

"She is so cute, can't possibly be your child," said Hermione to Bellatrix.

"Do you want to hold her?" asked Bellatrix.

"I …"

"Let her be. She is still shocked," said Voldemort.

"How on earth are you out of Azkaban?" asked Hermione.

"Courtesy of my deal with Dumbledore and the Ministry. Scrimgeour does Moriarty's biddings too well. It's almost undemocratic!" Voldemort snorted.

"You can't hide her forever," pointed out Hermione, "People are bound to find out eventually."

"We are not hiding her," said Bellatrix with a bright smile, "We are simply waiting until the war is over. If Dumbledore keeps his promises, which I doubt he will, we can let the world know about Delphini, or as your mother calls her, Delphi. Otherwise, she will be happier as an anonymous witch."

"If you help us he will, too," said Hermione.

"Moriarty had shown some good faith by providing us this place," said Voldemort, "However, I cannot blindly trust him."

Hermione nodded. She could understand his standpoint.

"If you can be good, why do you have to be so evil?" asked Hermione.

"... why do you have to be so evil, father," Voldemort corrected her with a chuckle. "I am not evil. I am an opportunist. I wanted to shape the world the way I like it to be, but it seems to be very difficult when someone so powerful is hellbent on destroying it, Hermione."

Hellbent? That was not a word Hermione had ever expected Voldemort to say.

"I am keeping an eye on you, father. Just to make sure you won't massacre all my friends."

"Hermione, your father does not seek destruction, he only seeks reform!" said Bellatrix. Delphi raised her tiny hand and put it on Bellatrix's chin and she gave Delphi her brightest smile.

"Yes, of course that's what he wants," said Hermione sarcastically.

Delphi looked at Hermione and then at Bellatrix and then again at Hermione. She seemed confused, and suddenly she began to cry.

"Oh, it seems Delphi is confused about who her mother is?" said Voldemort. "Bellatrix, let's take Delphi away before anyone else comes in. Hermione, follow us."

"I'd like to be called Miss Granger." said Hermione. She was getting this odd feeling, a disturbing sensation, that made her shiver whenever Voldemort called her by her given name.

"Ah, I'm afraid as your father I must call you by your first name, daughter. Do not argue on this any further." said Voldemort with a sly smile.

"Then call me Riddle." said Hermione as she looked at Voldemort tinkering with a trash can.

"Don't expect me to call you by a muggle name. Get used to my lack of formality."

"Is it ready, my Lord?" asked Bellatrix nervously.

"Yes, my dear Bellatrix. Insert one foot only."

Bellatrix put her right foot in the trash can and suddenly she disappeared.

"It's your turn, dear daughter," said Voldemort.

Hermione followed Bellatrix's example and suddenly she was in another place. They were in a small cottage. It was well lit and Hermione could see the sun and feel the breeze.

"We are still underground," said Bellatrix, "Your father has made this place for us."

"I'm happy for you and… Delphi."

"This is yours, too, Hermione," said Voldemort behind her, "You can choose to stay with us, until the trouble is over, or in case you get married."

"I'm not staying, I have to go back!"

"To Potter? To that manipulative Dumbledore? Here you are safe. Morningstar has plans for you, Hermione. I cannot let her have you."

Hermione wondered about something that had never occurred to her. Did Voldemort care about her?

Before she could entertain the idea Voldemort hugged her unexpectedly

She was shocked. She froze as she felt his affection for the first time.

Hermione's mind was screaming at her. Warning and reminding her how evil the man in front of her was. Yet she failed to break the hug.

Bellatrix didn't know what to say. Voldemort was an extraordinary man yet he wasn't the most kind and gentle. In fact he had always been the opposite, even toward her second daughter Delphi, but Hermione had been different. She always had his attention. She had his mercy no matter what she did. Hermione was Voldemort's weakness and Bellatrix had always feared that one day Voldemort would eliminate his own daughter to have no weakness.

Hermione finally hugged his father back. Her posture was odd and uncomfortable. Delphi laughed softly in her mother's arms.

"I would destroy the world to keep you safe, Hermione. You and Delphi are the only things that matters."

***HP***

Miles away, Harry Potter suddenly collapsed in front of James Moriarty and Lacinda.

"Oh my, are you alright, Harry?" cried Lucinda,

"Yes, I'm fine," said Harry although he was far from fine. He had felt his heart be pulled out for five seconds. He gained his composure and stood up.

"Something is happening. We better hurry up."

"I agree, professor," said Harry as he cligned to Lucinda to maintain his balance.

Harry had no idea why he had collapsed like that. Was something wrong with him? He couldn't be sure. Was this place making him feel weird? He doubted that.

"Let's walk a bit," said Moriarty and paced forward. Lucinda and Harry quietly followed him. As they went on the tunnel got wider. and the veins got thicker.

"Oh. God!" screamed Lucinda.

"Moriarty put his left hand on her shoulder and squeezed it a bit. Lucinda calmed down and looked around.

"I thought…"

"Don't tell us," said Moriarty urgently, "Just keep going and try to get people out of your mind."

They kept walking until they reached what looked like a jungle of throbbing veins in all directions.

"Find a blue vein, Harry," said Moriarty. "That should get us out of here."

"Why should there be a way out?" asked Lucinda. "Why are playing by the rules that Harry's subconscious mind is setting up?"

Moriarty huffed, "Please just listen to my advice and don't attack anything here. This is beyond whatever you have experienced before. We don't want to wake up the other Harry. He would obliterate us, including the fallible human form that we know as our Harry."

"There is another me in my head?" asked Harry.

"Well, do you recall my lecture about the human brain? The one I spent an hour explaining what was the difference between the Neomammalian brain and the reptilian brain?"

"The one that explains that we have three brains?"

"Well, I think you haven't listened enough. However, that is one way to put it… yes. Only you are a Magi. And Magi have a much more complex brain and thus there are more brains in their head as you put it."

"So this is…"

"You are thinking on the level of a human right now. However there are parts in you that can do so much more. And those are responsible for the existence of such places in your head. They have been slowly reacting to our presence. For example they teased Lucinda with the horrible illusion of her flesh being eaten by very disgusting insects. Since you are personally guiding us inside, that aspect of yours has been calm. If Lucinda resorts to force, I doubt they will be so gentle with us."

"Aspect?" said Harry.

"Your inner Magus," replied Moriarty.

Harry gave up thinking about this matter and instead tried to look for the blue vein that was supposed to get them out of that terrible place.

"I found It!" cried Lucinda excitedly.

Moriarty and Harry rushed to her side. There It was, much smaller than Harry had anticipated it to be. Suddenly the vein began to swell and burst. Blood gushed out and made a small puddle of blood.

"How did you know?" said Lucinda with fear. Her eyes were genuinely terrified. "How did you know, Harry?"

Moriarty had a grimm expression on his face too. He looked Harry directly in the eyes and asked, "Harry did you know Lucinda was a vampire before you came here?"

"What!?"

Harry was truly surprised. He had no idea what they were talking about.

"The Malfoy's have vampire blood in them. Only a few people know about their curse because they keep it suppressed. Sometimes they experience a sudden thirst for blood but they can usually manage it. If they give in, things get ugly. Lucinda's great-grandfather once massacred an entire village."

Harry Laughed nervously and looked at the boiling puddle of blood.

"She'll kill us if she drinks it," continued Moriarty, "And when we wake up, I doubt her thirst would be sedated."

"I say we give up," said Harry.

"I thought it would be much harder," said a voice above them. For the first time Harry looked up and saw the scariest scene of his life. Thousands of snakes were hovering above them silently and amongst them was a huge python.

"What are you?" asked Harry.

"I'm Lust! I run through the veins of man and beast alike," said the giant python yet its mouth had not moved.

"This girl is the key to moving forward or backwards. She either drinks and overcomes her lust for blood," the creature laughed maliciously, "Or you all shall die!"

Lucinda looked at Harry and Moriarty with tearful eyes, "I don't want to do this, please!"

Moriarty said nothing and just looked around. Apparently he had felt something Harry and Lucinda had not. Soon it became clear what it was.

A pack of wolves had encircled the trio without them ever noticing. They were obviously hungry but they stayed where they had been waiting for the command of their matter above.

"Drink Lucinda! What are you waiting for? Embrace your nature!" commandedLust.

"One must defeat oneself first," whispered Moriarty.

Lucinda sat by the puddle and carefully dipped her right index finger into it. Then she removed it and put it in her mouth. Lucinda's grey eyes turned blue. Her lips crawled back and her teeths sharpened like a shark. She growled and stood up shakily. She tried to attack Harry but Moriarty grabbed her and threw her away. Then he pointed his finger at her and Lucinda froze.

"Lucinda, humans are born to overcome nature," he cried. "Do not let it turn you into a beast. You have a brilliant mind. Occlude the instincts that compel you to drink more!"

The wolves were lazily watching and the snakes were minding their own business. Harry suddenly knew why that was the case. This scenario had a point, and Harry knew exactly how to take advantage of that.

"Lucinda, don't you see," said Harry, "This world is made of blood. The supply is endless. Bite a vein!"

Lucinda screamed and Moriarty let her go. Instead of attacking Harry or Moriarty she crouched down and bit a vein as Harry had suggested. The snakes hissed and disappeared along with the huge python. The wolves too disappeared seconds later and finally after a few minutes the veins dried out and crumbled down. It was physically impossible but Lucinda had drained them.

"Thank you, Harry," said Lucinda weakly before collapsing face down.

"Don't get cosy so soon, people," said Moriarty, "We have a long way to go."

Moriarty was right. Once the dust and them was cleared out. They realized that they were standing on something soft and wet. It was very cold too.

"Alright, please do not panic. We ave standing on clouds," said Morianty.

"clouds as clouds in the sky?" said Lucinda.

"Exactly."

The clouds kept moving under their feet but Harry could tell that what was helping them defy the gravity had nothing to do with clouds.

"We are stuck!" said Lucinda. Harry agreed they had no clear path ahead.

Moriarty smiled and jumped. Nothing happened. He hummed and this time he dived down as if there was a pool right there. This time he disappeared into the clouds below. Harry and Lucinda screamed. Then after a few seconds they saw head emerge from the clouds.

"This part is going to be fun," said Moriarty, "because we are going to fly. Now dive."

Lucinda immediately dived down after Moriarty. Harry was not so sure. How were they going to fly without brooms?

"I assure you flying is quite easy," said a voice behind Harry.

Harry turned around and saw Orion Black standing right behind him. It took him a few seconds to realise that he was too young to be Orion. This had to be another version of himself.

"How did you know Lucinda was a vampire?" he asked.

"I did not know," said his version with a wicked smile before disappearing.

"Harry, are you planning to stay there?" Ask Lucinda with a bright smile behind him.

"I'm comin."

Harry dived down. It felt like flying but it was different at the same time. It was more peaceful and less turbulent unlike anything he had expected before. On a broom you had to fight the wind and air. On a testral or hippogriff it would be even more difficult as you had less control. In this case, however, it was effortless. The air did not bother him and it was neither cold nor hot. Harry let himself descend until he was out of the clouds and could see Moriarty and Lucinda. Lucinda was flying as if she was swimming and Moriarty was just walking on a small piece of cloud that was being controlled by him.

"This is too complex to be Harry's imagination," said Lucinda.

"I wasn't just babbling when I told you the Magi's brains are more advanced than ours, dear Lucinda. Now, tell me, can you feel anything?"

Lucinda paused and closed her eyes. It took her a few seconds before she opened them and nodded.

"It's in that direction," she said, pointing at a mountain in the distance.

"The fragment is there," said Moriarty.

Harry could not feel anything in particular. It felt normal to him.

"This universe is creeping me out," said Moriarty, "Nothing lives in it. It's completely dead and there is no wind. Let's move."

It took Harry less than a second to get the hang of it. He could glide in any direction he wanted. It was so freeing.

"Thia place clearly does not follow the rules of aerodynamics," said Lucinda.

"It doesn't have to," said Moriarty, "It's a projection of ideal flight. You should have released that when we failed to fall through the clouds"

"What are we going to find when we get to that mountain?" asked Harry.

"In my experience, it's either a cave or a lake," said Moriarty, "Voldemort's soul is confined. You sometimes feel his emotions but he cannot control you. I guess the magus part of you is keeping Voldemort under control."

Moriarty was right again. There was a cave. He entered first and the other two followed him cautiously. This place was too familiar for Harry.

"It feels like the cave where we found Regulus Black's note."

"And it turned out to be useless because he is dead," said Moriarty tiredly, "This round is designed for me."

"Why do I feel that something terrible is going to happen to us?" said Harry.

Lucinda looked at Moriarty, waiting for his reply. Moriarty, however, Kept walking quietly.

Finally they found their way blocked by a deadend.

"This is where we sacrifice something," said Moriarty.

" Hello," said a timid voice behind them.

Lucinda and Harry looked back and saw a young girl. She was all wet and shaken. In the dim magical light of his wand Harry recognised her.

"Hermione?"

"Who are you?" asked the girl.

"Who are you? And who brought you here?" asked Moriarty gently in a friendly manner.

"Well, I'm Hermione Granger. My parents are dentists and I have no idea who brought me here, and you are?" said Young-Hermione.

"I'm Jim. This is Lucinda and this is Harry. We are trying to get past this wall."

Moriarty put his palm on the wall and closed his eyes. He whispered a few words and the wall began to emit light. Markings and signs began to appear and spread from his palm to the entire place. Moriarty opened his eyes and huffed.

"This one, we cannot trick. Voldemort's spell could be bypassed by animal blood. This one requires human sacrifice."

"So, one of us has to die and wake up," said Lucinda.

"No," said Moriarty, "It's not that simple. The sacrifice is specific. Not just any human would do. I'm afraid that we have to stop here, because the sacrifice is Hermione there."

Harry and Lucinda instinctively moved away from Moriarty and stood between him and the defenseless little girl.

"You will not be harming her," said Lucinda. "Even if she isn't real."

"Oh, she is real," said Moriarty. "The most real thing we've met after Lust."

"Oh so you have figured out," said Hermione with a smirk behind Harry. Something in her voice gave Harry chills.

"You are the magus side of Hermione," said Moriarty.

"I am," said young-Hermione. "It's so boring that you found me out so soon. I was going to force you to sacrifice me at the altar as I cried and begged you not to do so."

"You were going to test my cruelty," said Moriarty. "It is something that drives people away. I admit that I have a lot of it in me."

"How did you figure it out?" asked Young-Hermione.

"When you attacked Professor Snape some time ago, you left a print of your magic. Professor Snape and I are good friends. I met you before you met me."

"Pity!" said Young-Hermione. She came to Moriarty and stood very close to him. "I'm sorry for the mess."

Then the most unexpected thing happened. Her face turned red as if all her blood was going to her head. Young-Hermione smiled wickedly and her head exploded. Blood was everywhere. The wall and Moriarty were completely drenched by blood. A few splatters had reached Harry and Lucinda too. The blood ate through the wall like acid and opened the entrance to the horror Harry and Lucinda were sure were going to be worse.

Moriarty was standing in his place shocked. After a solid minute he wiped his face and body with magic. He waved his hand and Lucinda and Harry. Once they had cleaned up they quietly walked into the new path opened for them. After ten minutes of walking, Harry was the first to talk.

"Why would she do that?" he asked.

"She was trying to mess with our heads and I must say she succeeded," said Moriarty. "And she was trying to get Lucinda thirsty. Are you alright, dear? Sirius is going to kill me if he hears about what happened here."

"Don't worry, we talked about it. He will understand. It was a risk I was willing to take."

"And are you Okay?"

" Not really," replied Lucinda, saying to more.

"What about you, Harry. Are you alright?"

"Just shocked. That's all." said Harry nervously.

"We're almost there," said Lucinda. "I can smell something acidic."

"Yes, That seems to be the theme," said Moriarty,

Lucinda was right. They soon found themselves in front of a lake identical to the one Harry had seen on his trip to find the fake Slytherin Locket.

"I'm pretty sure this lake is full of acid." said Lucinda.

Moriarty nodded. He put his hands on the grand and began to whisper an incantation. Harry knew this one. It could turn stones into sand. Then once Moriarty had enough sand he turned it into glass and shaped it into a small boat enough to host three people. He then carefully levitated the boat and let it float on the surface of the lake.

Harry and Lucinda smiled but then they noticed that the glass was fractured and suddenly it shattered into thousands of pieces.

"What happened?" asked Lucinda.

"That's very clever," said Moriarty. "This is liquid Zamharir. It's quite acidic and very cold. It's magically contained and won't affect the temperature of the air. That's why I never thought of it. I'll have to think of something else."

Moriarty thought for a few seconds and then snapped his fingers.

"Okay, here's what I'll do. I'll simply oxidise the acid and form tiny I will fuse the said crystals together and build a bout. The oxide won't transmit any heat and acid won't be fast enough to eat through the impurities."

Moriarty worked even faster than before. When he was done the boat he had made remained intact.

"Well, let's get on it and move on," said Lucinda.

Once they were on the boat it began to move towards the center of the lake where a tiny island was waiting for them.

They did not talk and instead looked around for any threat that could come by. Oddly enough they reached their destination with no interruptions.

"Are there any inferi here?" asked Harry as they got off the boat.

"No, but I feel a few hundred golems right beneath us. I think they will be harmless unless we do something to wake them up."

Lucinda looked at Moriarty with worried eyes. He seemed very tired.

"I thought you had more love for Hermione in you." said a voice behind a rock nearby.

Moriarty and Lucinda carefully looked around waiting for an ambush.

"I knew that was an illusion. " said Harry.

"Knowing that doesn't make it easier on you," Harry's other self emerged and opened his arms as if he wanted to embrace Harry. "Brave Harry Potter, always there to face hardships for others, always trying to save the world. Yet they treat you like a child. Aren't you bored?"

"Are you, Harry?" said Moriarty, " I think you would appreciate some boredom."

"Look I'm not your enemy," said Harry ignoring Moriarty, "We just need to get rid of Voldemort and ve have to start with the one that we are keeping inside."

The other Harry nodded.

"I agree," he clapped and a rather large cube of ice appeared in front of Harry. "He's in there. However, there is one tiny problem. I have no idea how to break the ice."

"You can make liquid Zamharir." said Moriarty, "And your very nature is ice. You could create mountains of ice if you wanted."

He walked forward and inspected the cube. His eyes widened once he touched it.

"Yes, that's how we initially reacted," said the other Harry. "I looks like ice and yet it's so warm. Hermione tried to help me, but even she could not make it melt."

"This is fiendfyre!" exclaimed Moriarty.

"It's impossible!" said Lucinda.

"Not for that woman," said other Harry curtly.

"Morningstar?" said Moriarty.

"Well, I met her in her true form. I rather not call her here where she has much more magical influence."

Moriarty sat by the cube and kept probing and testing it. He eventually sat up and hummed.

"So what seems to be the problem?" asked Lucinda.

"This is not magic."

Lucinda, Harry and the other Harry were dumbfunded. They asked Moriarty to explain. He told them that the fire was not solid. It was simply held in numerous tiny cubes slightly bigger than atoms.

"It's magi science. Very complex to break and dismantle."

"So we failed," said Lucinda, "I watched hermione's head explode, and drank blood so we could achieve nothing."

"I can get rid of it, " said Moriarty softly. "But I need a lot of time, and I need to think clearly. This is going to take some time. I've already sent the data to the Department of Mysteries. A team will work on it and they will have my undivided attention."

"I want to supervise that team," said Lucinda.

"Not that I mind your presence," said the other Harry. "But it's time you guys left. You see, I didn't create this landscape. And the golems below really don't want you here."

Moriarty jumped on Harry and they both landed on the ground. There was golem where Harry had been standing before, a monstrous muddy statue that resembled a mountain troll.

" I hate trolls," said the other Harry and pointed his finger at the pile of animated mud. The golem froze in its place. The other Harry snapped his fingers and it exploded.

"Impressive," said Lucinda.

"Go now," said other Harry.

The world around Harry began to melt away. Soon there was nothing but darkness and he noticed that his eyes were closed opened them.

"Well that didn't go as I had planned," said Moriarty flatly.

Dumbledore asked what had happened in Harry's mind and was given a slightly censored version by Morianty.

"I gather that being rid of the soul fragment within Harry is not going to easy," he said in the end.

Moriarty agreed. Harry had to bear the fragment for a bit longer than he wanted. Lucinda seemed particularly unhappy.

"Cheer up Lucinda. Our trip could have been much more eventful," said Moriarty. That earned him a painful punch on the cheek.

**HR**

Hermione did not return to the Fort until the last day of summer break. She was pretty tight lipped about her stay with her father.

Moriarty's plan was set in place with every tiny detail taken under consideration. Ginny, however, was so upset that Harry wanted to ask Moriarty to stop this stupid plot. Sirius did beat him to it yet the person who disagreed with him, was not Moriarty.

"No, Sirius it has to happen," said Ginny, "Although it pains me to say it, I know why we have to do this, and we will."

"Miss Weasley, I must admit that you are perhaps the bravest and most interesting young lady I've met so far," said Stiltskin.

"Miss Weasley is a true Gryffindor," said Dumbledore, "Whose courage is not empty boasts."

"It's just for three months, I was in Odyssey for ten years!" snarled Moriarty.

"Yet, my dear Professor, there was one beast you never faced,"

"What worse could I have witnessed?"

"Loneliness," was Dumbledore's short reply.

"That is very insightful," said Moriarty with hardened eyes before walking away. "However, loneliness is always preferred to loss."

Hermione was not sure if Moriarty's mystery plan was the best idea, but what choice did they have? All she could do was to go along with it while trying her best to keep her secrets. Delphi could remain one for now. Since the moment she had come back she had tried her best to act normal, and spill no beans. She could tell them later if it became necessary.

Was this a mistake? Who could say!? It could be. But Hermione's had already made her decision.

She grinned as Harry used the staff to turn her into the midget first-year once more. She hated it and it wasn't going away anytime soon.

The Order of Phoenix accompanied the fakes as the real ones were accompanied by professor McGonagall. Who had opted to be bewitched and forget all about the plan. So McGonagall truly believed them to be first-years and thus she treated them as such.

"Careful, Mr Yang, it is easy to get lost in the crowd!"

Harry nodded obediently, wishing that soon people would realise they weren't stupid brats.

"I'm so excited to see Hogwarts, Professor," said Hermione, "Is it true that the Great Hall has no roof?"

"Of course not, Miss Molina, now, cease talking about such things, we are amongst Muggles."

She continued quitely, "However, you should note that it is indeed invisible."

Hermione tried her best to summon her enthusiasm and chuckle merrily.

"They are going to notice us, Margaret," said Harry.

Hermione was a bit slow to realise that Harry was talking to her. Fortunately, It was brushed off as lack of attention.

"Now, children, that's the entrance of Platform Nine and Three Quarters. Don't be scared, the wall there is just an illusion. All you have to do is go through it as fast as you can." Harry tried to seem skeptical as Hermione ran right through the wall to feign surprise.

"Alright, Mr Yang, it's your turn," said McGonagall.

Harry too ran to the familiar barrier and closed his eyes for a moment. When he opened them he expected to see and hear the familiar train, but it never came. Instead Harry found himself standing in the Department of Mysteries, next to a Hermione and in front of the magical arch that whispered.

"The boy can hear them," stated a familiar voice. It was Mr D standing behind then with two other people: Ollivander and Gregory House.

"You shall not call us by our true names!" said House.

"You shall not call the Serpent by her true name," said Ollivander.

"You shall accept our verdict," said Mr D with his bloodshed crazy eyes.

"We shall not," moaned Harry before gulping audibly.

"We are doing you a favour, children," said Ollivander. "Two of us will come with you as spiritual guides,"

"But…" said Hermione.

"Silence! daughter of Serpent," bellowed Mr D.

"I'm sorry, but what is happening now?" said Luna Lovegood softly.

"Luna?" exclaimed Harry and Hermione. Somehow they had missed her presence.

"Miss Lovegood, you are going to the netherworld," said Ollivander, "Where I …"

"Used to," said Mr D viciously.

"... Rule," said Ollivander calmly before giving Mr D a horrifying glance.

Mr D just chuckled and looked away.

"That wasn't the plan!" said Harry.

"Oh, Harry, you are so naive sometimes," said Hermione. She had expected something like this was going to happen. "Both plans were intended to distract the enemy. This is the real plan."

"Yes, Jim asked us a little favour," said House.

"And we had to oblige," continued Mr D.

"What is the catch?" said Harry nervously.

"Oh, there is none for you," said Mr D with an unpleasant smile, "Something between us and our old friend, Jim."

"What does Luna have to do with all this?" asked Harry.

"Miss Lovegood is just like you, and even more vulnerable than you." replied Mr D.

"The difference is that Her mother's a goddess who wants her little demimagi baby safe," said Ollivander. "Which means that she is not immortal but she can go to the netherworld and come back."

"With the help of a pure Magi, of course," said Healer House.

"Mr D, please initiate the process!" said Ollivander.

"With pleasure, Mr Ollivander."

"Hold on, don't you need our consent?" asked Hermione.

"Well, you could stay and wait for the Serpent to come for you," said Mr D, "Trust me, I'm not so excited about going to the netherworld either. I have always preferred Earth."

"Why?" asked Harry.

"You will see."

"If you two are really smart you should be able to figure it out without us saying anything," said House. "Judging from your vacant expressions, you probably have no idea."

Mr D chanted a few words and then touched the archway. It had no visible effects on it whatsoever.

"It is ready," said Mr D.

"How do we know you really are from Professor Moriarty?" asked Harry.

"You don't," said Ollivander, "But doesn't that make our adventure even more extraordinary?"

"We have proof," said Mr D eying Ollivander disapprovingly. "I've got a message from him."

He snapped his fingers and suddenly a silhouette appeared. It slowly took form and became similar to Moriarty. Eventually, it was him standing in front of them.

"I'm really sorry for the lack of honesty on my end, but unfortunately, sometimes it is very necessary to hide things, to hide sensitive information even from those who the said information is about," said Moriarty with a guilty face, "It was not my intention to lie to you, but as I told you before, Harry, there is a spy within us. I could not risk exposing my plan so only three knew of this plan. And they absolutely had to know."

Moriarty looked up as if he wasn't sure what to say next, "From what I've been told I'm putting you in a lot of trouble. Expect some hardship where you are headed to. Hermione, this is an opportunity for you to learn about things you had never thought possible before. When you arrive at wherever you are headed to, stay put. If you are attacked, it might be a good idea to find Yeshu. If it comes to that, Mr D will hopefully have some luck in finding him. Goodbye and farewell!"

Suddenly, Moriarty's realistic image turned into vapour and dissipated.

Harry and Hermione felt betrayed yet they couldn't lie to themselves. This probably had been the best planning they had witnessed so far. Apparently, even Moriarty didn't know where they were going.

"Off you go!" said Ollivander to Mr D who reluctantly walked into the archway.

"Healer House, you should probably revoke your spell now."

House asked Hermione if he could touch her head and Hermione allowed it.

"Mr Potter can no longer turn you into this form. While this spell could have been useful over there, it could cause the archway to malfunction."

"You should learn to do it neatly then," said Ollivander.

"I'm sorry but I have not created an entire realm for myself, so this is a bit difficult for me! And I did this much better than my uncle would have."

House concentrated and a bright orange light shone in his eyes. Thick orange smoke started to ooze out of his fingers. Hermione could feel his magic penetrate her skin and undo the work he had previously done.

"I never told you before, but you are similar to her," said Ollivander.

"To who?" asked Hermione.

"The Serpent," he said.

Hermione did not like how Ollivander was looking at her.

"When we go in we must be very discreet," said Mr D, "Even though where we are going doesn't have a large population we might encounter very powerful Magi. Don't do anything unless we tell you. Let us fight if anything comes up."

"Where are we going?" asked Harry.

"To a realm near my home," replied Ollivander.

"You first, Ollivander. Make sure that nothing dangerous is there." said Mr D.

"Young people are so disrespectful these days."

Ollivander smiled and walked into the veil and disappeared.

"You two …"

"Keep…"

Mr D and House looked at each other and smiled.

"When we go there," said Mr D, "make sure you keep an eye on Ollivander. You cannot trust that Magus."

Harry and Hermione looked at him with surprise.

"He's one of the Ancients. One cannot be too careful around then," agreed House.

Mr. D ordered Harry and Hermione to pass through the veil. Once they did, suddenly they felt intense cold.

It was night and dark. There was a small fire there and Mr Olivander was sitting next to it. Mr D came right behind and began cursing the weather.

"Forgive Dionysus's poor attitude. He is never comfortable in this world."

Harry and Hermione realised that Ollivander had called Mr D with his real name.

"Come and sit by the fire. You might be immune to death, you certainly are not not immune to cold."

"Anubis, why did we have to come here of all places!?" asked Dionysus.

"Because this is where the Serpent cannot hear or touch us. The realm is far out of reach."

"This is a terrible place," said Hermione. "It's dry and dead. Is it always so dim."

"I think it will get dimmer, but we won't be here long." said Mr D. "We will have to stay for one week only. Am I right, Anubis?"

Ollivander or rather Anubis nodded gently. Fire was shining in his eyes.

"Passage of time is different here," he explained, "This is the perfect place to hide. No sane Magus comes here. There is nothing for them."

"Thank you for insulting us all." said Mr D dryly.

"Dionysus, here lives one of the most dangerous Magi I know."

"You have yet to tell us who her mother is," said Dionysus pointing at Luna.

"Ah yes, must have slipped my mind. Do you happen to remember Kali?"

"I do, she is the blue demon, isn't she?" said Dionysus. His shivering increased and Harry was sure it had nothing to do with the cold.

"Are you sure this is safe?" asked Dionysus nervously.

"She asked me to bring Luna here."

"But she doesn't look like Kali! Not even a bit."

"And that's a good thing. If you had known we were going to Kali, you would have never helped me."

Anubis laughed while Dionysus began to curse him in Greek.

"Speak English! It's not polite to use a language others are incapable of understanding." said Anubis.

Dionysus huffed.

"I reserve the right to curse in my native language … and Latin,"

"Oh, yes, you got a name from Romans as well," said Anubis with a smirk.

"So where do we go?" asked Hermione.

"We currently do not have a place to go," said Anubis mysteriously. "When it gets darker I will be able to find Kali."

Harry's eyes could be tricking him, but that pitch black night got even darker. There was nothing in the sky, absolutely nothing. Hermione could not see any further than three yards. Their fire was hot but it couldn't keep her warm. Her magic sparked and a tiny mouse made of fire appeared in her hands.

"Oh, it's so cute," she said.

Harry looked at Anubis who was staring at the mouse.

"You have the power of fire, Hermione Granger," he said. "Which is the opposite of Harry Potter's powers. It is indeed curious."

Harry gulped. What did Ollivander mean?

"Why did you call us by our previous names?" asked Hermione.

"Haven't I explained it to you before? Those are your real names," said Dionysus, "The identity of a magus is protected by a divine spell from humans. I thought I had already made that clear. You cannot use your real names for humans. It is ironic because humans and elves give us those names. Before they came to be, we had no names or any need for it. In fact when we speak the original language, we don't use names. The listener instinctively knows who we are talking about. Humans and elves never had such instincts so they had to name people, too."

"When we speak with the language of men we have no choice but to use them, and we do use our forbidden names when we are home," said Anubis.

"This is not home!" said Harry venomously. They had taken everything from him. They weren't talking his home away from him.

"Harry, calm down," Hermione whispered.

"Your magic reacts to this place, Harry. You see this place wasn't so cold before you came here. Of course, you barely feel cold, don't you?"

Right then, Harry realised that Anubis was right. He didn't feel cold. Dionysus was shivering and Hermione was using her own fire to keep warm. She had allowed her fire to keep poor Luna warm, too.

"So it's his fault?" cried Dionysus.

"He is not doing it intentionally," replied Anubis calmly, "I don't think he can control it either."

"How do I control it?"

"You don't," said Anubis as winds blew harder. "It doesn't matter, our sign is here. Let's go with the wind."

He stood up and the fire went out. It simply disappeared.

Hermione's shivered harder and suddenly she wasn't cold anymore.

"Did you do something, Harry?"

"No, but you obviously did."

Hermione was confused. She had done nothing. Harry was staring at her like he was seeing something very bizarre.

"She's got fox ears!" exclaimed Dionysus in horror.

"Yes, that reminds me of what the Serpent used to represent," said Anubis. "Fox ears made of fire. The Japanese used to call her Kitsune, Kyubi."

"Well, she doesn't have a tail," said Dionysus. "I'd remember that she had at least one."

"She rarely uses those tails, Dionysus. I once saw her fighting with them all, long before mankind came to be. That was so interesting to watch."

"I would hate to see that," said Dionysus as he followed Anubis. Hermione and Anubis were immune to the cold and Hermione was lending her fire to Luna. Dionysus had his own solution.

"Are you really drinking now?" said Anubis amusedly.

Dionysus did not answer and kept drinking until they reached a mountain. The wind stopped. Anubis laid his hands on the rocks and whispered something in an old language. Harry was not sure if any human spoke it.

The rocks moved and revealed a long hallway. They walked in and through. Finally, they reached a door. Anubis coughed behind the door.

"Come in!" said a woman excitedly in English.

Anubis opened the door and they walked in. It was a large room with small fountains here and there. There were some Indian symbols as well as Persian carpets. There was a freshly chopped head on the wall and it was still bleeding. Harry realised that someone had glued the skin of a goat on it instead of hair.

"Oh welcome dears! Come in," said a woman with blonde hair. She was caucasian and was wearing a Russian hat. Her face was painted with blue stripes and her nails were very long. Otherwise she looked normal.

"Mom!" cried Luna and jumped to her hugging her tightly.

She was crying and calling her mother as Kali kept caressing her.

"I saw you die, Mom!" said Luna sadly.

"You saw me disappear and leave your world. But I did not die. I cannot die. Once I make you immortal you will not die, too."

Luna looked a lot like Kali. Harry could see how happy she was to see her mother. They both seemed genuinely glad to see each other.

"So Anubis, you want me to teach the girl how to use her powers?" she asked.

"Yes, Hermione would benefit greatly from that."

"And you want nothing else. You bring me my girl here just for a piece of knowledge?" asked Kali suspiciously. She obviously doubted Anubis just like Dionysus.

"Luna, tell me, did he get blood from you? One drop would be enough." she asked Luna worriedly.

"No," said Luna timidly.

Kali faced Anubis and walked to him

"Then why, Anubis? Why would the Lord of Death, the Tyrant, the Heart Eater would want to help a young powerless Magus like her."

She locked her eyes on Hermione and stared at her madly.

"I have my own reasons, Kali," said Anubis.

***JM***

James Moriarty had made so many plans. He was a strategist and a meticulous planner. Yet no plan like this had made him so worried. He knew if his plan was exposed everything was doomed. Morningstar couldn't go to the land of Magi. She was too weak to enter a place where her enemies wanted her head and she probably could not return to the Earth. That was the same reason Moriarty wasn't able to go to the Magi world. He was a human and despite his immortality he was unable to return to the mortal land. Harry and Hermione could return, because they were Magi. This was something he could not wrap his head around. It must have been by design. Moriarty knew that Morningstar had retained some of the knowledge Kronos had given her to face Yahweh. A part of that knowledge probably concerned prophecies. Moriarty was with the fake Harry, Hermione and real Ginny. His agents were admirably good at playing their roles and Ginny was great at playing along. His other agents were posing as the first-years going to Hogwarts and were going to be considered the real Harry and Hermione. No one knew they were his agents. Even Dumbledore was kept in the dark.

The greatest concern Moriarty had was Harry and Hermione's age. When Yeshu was found by Lilith he was much older and mature.

He honestly did not know how long Harry and Hermione could mentally handle this situation. That was why he had them sent to a realm where movements were slower than Earth. According to Anubis, a week there was three months on Earth. Moriarty could only hope that he could keep Harry and Hermione safe for that one week.

He checked the international portkey his Department had made for this trip. Everything was alright. Now, all he had to do was go back to Hogwarts and wait. He had to wait for the spy to make his or her move and be exposed. He had to constantly use legilimency. Every single individual could be a suspect. He already had a list. Ronald Weasley was his prime suspect. He had been exposed to Morningstar and more importantly Lilith in her true form. Lilith was the co-creator of human species. She had a remarkable influence on the human race (as she used to have on Moriarty himself). She had somehow persuaded Orion Black to do all her dirty work and live a double life as another person for years. Orion Black was stronger than Lilith in one aspect: he had manifested a form of power that Lilith had lost when she had given her heart to Moriarty's parents, the power of duplication.

According to Anubis, Lilith could make at least nine clones when she had been at the height of her power. On top of that she had tricked Kronos into giving her all his knowledge (which could be counted as the entire knowledge of Magi excluding the knowledge of Yahweh). This meant that an enormous amount of power and knowledge was stored into her heart. Moriarty couldn't remember well, but Yahweh had somehow prevented her heart from ever truly joining her body. Lilith had tried to fuse her heart with her body for years, but she had only managed to keep it inside her body without being able to tap into its real power.

Moriarty arrived at Hogwarts and passed the wards as his mind was busy thinking about all the information he had on his enemy.

Moriarty was 90 percent sure that Morningstar was planning on invading the Earth with an army of Magi. A large army was already gathering in Avalon, her home, where she had most support. Her opposition was restlessly following her on Earth. Many Magi were after her, but at the same time they feared her. They were right to fear her. Even at her weakest she could handle any god or demon. She had proved it during their last interaction, by manipulating the freaking time! She had slowed time with her will. That was a terrifying fact Moriarty had come to accept.

Moriarty had created a few special wards that could stay hyper-active if he was present. They would prevent Magi from entering the grounds. Moriarty activated them one by one on his way to the seventh floor where Dumbledore was waiting for him in his office.

"Did everything go as expected, James?" he asked right after Moriarty entered his office.

Sirius was sitting next to Dumbledore's desk. He looked at Moriarty worriedly.

"Don't be stressed. Both parties are on their own way."

Sirius seemed restless. He kept pacing around.

"Are you sure?" he asked.

"Of course, my unspeakables informed me that Harry, Hermione and Ginny arrived at Ilvermorny minutes ago. Also, Mr Yang and Miss Molina are on the train safe and sound."

"So Harry…"

Moriarty looked at Sirius sharply.

"You have to believe that he is in Ilvermorny, Sirius. Even if you know that's not true. I told you about Morningstar's spies everywhere. Some of them are not human. I would be careful with my mind. Please try to act exactly as we agreed previously."

"So is Lili…"

Moriarty silenced Dumbledore with wandless magic so fast, it took Dumbledore a few seconds to realise he had been silenced by Moriarty.

"Don't say that name. Higher beings are very sensitive to it and might start taking notice of you. Especially when we are talking about important things."

"My father used to say some names were too sacred to be taken in vain," said Sirius.

"In this instance, your father was correct. I usually avoid calling Magi by their name." said Moriarty quietly.

"Ah that's why you never called Mr. D by his real name even though you knew it." said Dumbledore.

"Yes, and Mr D is a relatively young Magi. He is younger than me. Older Magi are more tricky. They can do awful things to you if they want, even if they are in their own realm. There are some prominent Magi who back Morningstar, or rather follow her. She has never needed much support. She and her husband exiled their enemies by creating a new race."

Dumbledore nodded. He did not like fearing a name, but he had to avoid using Lilith's name.

The fire in Dumbledore's Fireplace roared and a figurine emerged from it. For a minute Dumbledore thought it was Minerva but the woman was much younger. She was a girl with Muggle jeans and a white T-shirt that had the image of Pluto on it.

"Hi!" she said cheerfully.

"That's impossible!" said Moriarty.

"Let's not fight today, Cain," said the schoolgirl. She pointed her wand next to Moriarty and a chair appeared next to him.

"Have you come to kill another person?" asked Sirius angrily.

"Not really, Sirius dear. By the way, your father said hi."

Morningstar stared into Sirius's eyes and he felt immense pressure on his shields. He did not budge and stood her intrusion passively.

"Your defences are better than your father's. You truly have my blood running through you, Sirius."

For a second Dumbledore could feel how formidable Lilith was beneath Morningstar's vulnerable form.

"You guys really don't need to fight me. I'm doing you a favour," she said.

"What do you want?" asked Moriarty.

"I think I have the right to visit my sons."

"I am not your son!" bellowed Moriarty.

"Pish posh!" said Lilith. "Eve didn't raise you. I did."

"What do you want?" repeated Moriarty angrily.

Morningstar smiled and her face changed and morphed into the original form of Lilith.

"Hand me the boy and the girl." she said.

"I don't think I will."

Lilith laughed airily.

"Do you think all your efforts will make any difference? Eventually, I will get them both," said Lilith confidently.

"We will do everything in our power to stop you," said Sirius.

"And how much power can you exert, child?" said Lilith.

"I have told them what you want to do," said Moriarty calmly, " They know that if you succeed the Magi will rule this world once more."

"It's a small price for being together, Cain."

"My name is James Moriarty. Please stop calling me by a name I've discarded centuries ago."

Lilith laughed and shook her head.

"No, it's not that simple. You cannot discard a name. You can fear it or try to forget it. You can stop ever using it, but you can never discard it. It's a part of who you are. That's why all the Magi fear me. They never speak my name, even in their land where it is allowed and encouraged to use true names. They all know I am Lilith."

"They fear your husband more!" said Moriarty.

"They respect my husband." said Lilith, "But my husband has been gone for about 6000 years."

"That's a vacation for someone who has been roaming this planet for at least two million years," said Moriarty.

"More like two billion years," said Lilith.

"That's nonsense," said Moriarty with a smirk.

Lilith's confident expression did not falter.

"Did he not tell you? I thought he had given you most of his knowledge."

"I never claimed that I had most or all of God's knowledge. Do you think if I had it, the Ancient ones would let me walk with it?"

"The knowledge you have or don't have is immaterial. What matters is whether you can keep hiding those kids from me or not. Can you truly keep them safe?"

"I shall."

"Just like you kept London safe?" asked Morningstar.

"Which time are you referring to?" asked Moriarty uncomfortably.

"I mean the 1660s."

Moriarty frowned. He had lost the center of London to Fiendfyre.

"No, your son did. I wasn't in London then."

"No, my dear boy. He did not save London. I saved London."

"That's the stupidest thing I've heard over this century!' exclaimed Moriarty.

Morningstar laughed softly. Dumbledore was keen to hear her answer.

"My fire cleansed the city of plague almost completely. I say 'almost' because that son of mine had to defy me."

"Your fire indiscriminately burned everything! You killed so many!" bellowed Moriarty.

"Yet by September there was no sign of plague, was there?"

Sirius looked at Moriarty skeptically waiting for him to reply. His father had told him about the plague in detail and how it was dealt with. For a minute Sirius wondered if his father had actually been right to join Morningstar.

"The Greater Good fallacy always works, doesn't it?" smiled Moriarty bitterly.

Dumbledore nodded.

"Miss Morningstar, I'm afraid you have no allies to gain here," he said "Kindly leave now."

Morningstar snarled and stood up. She assumed her teenage looks and walked to the fireplace.

"Of course, Headmaster. I wouldn't want to waste your precious time."

She looked at Sirius one last time before disappearing in wild green flames.

***Doctor PH - London 1666***

Peter Heart was a real physician, not one of those so called plague doctors who were more like priests. Doctor Heart was a respectable man. He cut fast and his diagnosis was mostly accurate. He came from Yorkshire to London to fight the plague and his wife followed him as a nurse. He had not expected things would become so bad. His wife was very sick and put in quarantine. He was running to the Mayor's office.

Once he got inside and he was surprisingly allowed to see him, he wasted no time to ask his request to get Lilian out of that dreadful place. However, Bloodworth already had a very angry visitor; Doctor John Dee who was the finest doctor in London. Most physicians swore in his name those days.

"... and the wildest decision you moranic bureaucrats had to make was to kill dogs and cats. This town is infested with rats!"

"Pish, it wasn't me!" said Bloodworth annoyedly.

"Foolish you are!" said Doctor Dee.

Dee left the office. Bloodworth was not in his best mood but Peter had to try. He naturally failed and was kicked out of the mayor's office.

"Doctor Heart. It seems that you have a predicament. May I be of assistance?" asked John Dee.

"Ah, Doctor, I do not wish to bother you. My wife has fallen ill."

"May Lord have mercy on her," said Dee grimly.

"Indeed," said Heart. He had lost his faith in God long ago. What kind of God could allow such pain.

"Is she held in quarantine?" said Dee.

"Unfortunately," replied Doctor Heart.

"I might be able to pull some strings. Don't expect much, Doctor Heart."

And with that Dee left.

Heart received good news a few days later. Dee had managed to secure a house for Lilian and had assigned a nurse to her. His wife wasn't in a good condition though. Eventually she died as her body failed to fight the disease.

Dee told him that he couldn't see her. He had pleaded and cried but Dee had refused him.

"You are too emotional, Doctor Heart. I cannot allow you to see her, lest you contract her sickness."

Doctor Dee was a kind man. He cared very much for his patients and his doctors. When the government asked Peter to leave his house, Doctor Dee was there for him. He had a young son, Aurelius, who was aiming to become a lawyer. Unlike his father he couldn't tolerate sick people. Hospitals smelled horribly. London generally smelled bad but hospitals were nightmares. Peter could understand Aurelius.

Unfortunately, Doctor Dee didn't have any servants so Dee cooked everything himself.

"This was a wonderful meal, Doctor," said Peter Heart.

"I wonder how many could afford this?" asked Aurelius Dee rhetorically.

"Do you always have to be so bitter, Aurelius?" asked Dee.

"It is something that has occupied my mind for some time, father." his son replied.

"Perhaps in a hundred years, when we enjoy having a more advanced society ordinary people could also have such a meal."

"Wealth must be shared…"

"On mundane, wealth is wasted, my boy. What good will wealth do to a father who has ten pigs and gives his children a dry barley loaf?"

"But father…"

"Wealth is not gold, Aurelius. Wealth is here!" Dee pointed at his head furiously. "We have gold because my uncle John Dee was a smart man, and we kept it well, because I am a reputable doctor. Someday your children will benefit from your head, too."

Aurelius stormed out and ran to his room angrily. Dee wiped his face tiredly and growled.

"You must be terribly upset," said Heart.

"I am not. Aurelius has a good heart. A wonderful son, really. And he's smart. I have no concerns," said Dee dismissively.

"Are you truly related to the late John Dee, the Court Wizard?"

"Indeed. He was a scientist, of course."

"So he wasn't a wizard?"

"I did not say that, my dear Doctor Heart. I simply said he mostly saw himself as a man of science."

Dee smiled and stood up "Why don't we go to my study. I have something to show you."

Heart was excited. Maybe Dee wanted to show him some of his uncle's magic. Heart had always hoped that there was more to occult than silly superstitions.

Dee's office was very neat. It was filled with books and tools.

"My uncle gave this house to my father, who in turn left it to me."

"This place must have some magic then?"

"It has more than some magic," said Dee with a pleased smile. "Peter, this is where magic meets magic. It's a really unique place indeed."

Dee walked to his desk slowly. "And this room is the center of it all."

"Doctor, I'm afraid there's nothing magical here," said Peter.

"Doctor Heart, as impatient as always. You must know better that magic is not sparks and lights dancing around! Magic is the will of mind. You command things to be and it they will be,"

Dee said a very strange word and a shadow appeared. It was Peter's wife. She was healthy and vibrant.

"Lilian!"

"Peter!" she said as she tried to hug her husband. Disappointedly, she realised that she could do so.

"Is it truly you?" asked Peter.

"I am. But I do not belong here." said Lilian.

"Of course you don't, my dear," said Dee to Peter's anger, "Living as a mere shadow is not life."

"Then bring her back whole!" cried Peter.

"I cannot do that," replied Dee sadly, "To bring back the dead, you need tools of very rare essence. One cannot snap their fingers and bring dear ones back. Trust me I would have done it if I could. I would demolish Death!"

"Then how?"

"How much patience do you have, Doctor Heart?" asked Dee seriously.

"I have patience."

"Can you wait 400 years if need be?"

"No!" cried Lilian. "Death would be faster. We can have our family there!"

"Ah but it will be only you two," said Dee.

"What?" asked Peter with a raspy voice.

"You cannot have children. No one can. Once you die you change. You can never have children in that world."

"It doesn't matter!" shouted Peter.

"It does," said Lilian Heart. "I have never wanted anything more than children, Peter's children. I shall wait even if it takes 1000 years."

Lilian disappeared and Dee sat on his chair tiredly. He seemed drained.

"Are you alright, Doctor?" asked Peter.

"I am fine, Peter. Summoning souls drains me a lot."

"How can we bring my Lilian back? We cannot wait a thousand years!"

"It will not take that long, Peter," said Dee. He snapped his fingers and a bottle of fine wine appeared on his desk.

"How do you do that?"

"I concentrate my will and snap my fingers. Though, I am a special case. Most Wizards and witches require a wand to bind their spells."

"Was your uncle like you, sir?" said Peter.

"I thought you had already figured out that there was no uncle?" said Dee with a kind smile, "Normal human beings don't live more than a hundred years and look as young as I do. I have to change my identity from time to time."

"Who are you really?" asked Peter. Having no hope to hear the truth.

Dee smiled and his features changed. Suddenly, a very beautiful woman was sitting in front of Peter Heart.

"Are you a demon?!" he said horrified.

"Some of my kind are called that. Some are called gods and one of them is called God."

"But God is one!" said Peter.

"Isn't he three according to your religion? Jews believe he is one, Muslims, too. Others have disputed this for long. What do you think?"

"I don't believe in him. He has left us to rot."

Doctor Dee or whoever this creature was laughed softly.

"That's not true. He is simply lost. He took mankind out of bondage after all." said Dee softly.

"He only took one nation out. What about so many others who suffer as slaves?"

"Ah, you are not a fan of slavery, aren't you?"

"No, I am not, Doctor, but God of Bible apparently is!"

"That is not true. The Bible is a bunch of fairy tales. The real story is never told. My husband elevated mankind. He fought for them and banished his own race to liberate you."

"Where is he now?" asked Peter. He felt a bit afraid. If this woman was God's wife she had to be as strong.

"He is otherwise occupied. He will return when we immortalize mankind."

"So you are actually trying to get your husband back?"

Dee laughed. Her velvet laughter made Peter feel awkward.

"I miss him. And to see him I've waited over 5000 years."

"That must have been a lot,"

"I am at least four billion years old. It's like a few weeks for me."

"The world isn't that old!" exclaimed Peter.

"This world is at least 14 billion years old since it's conception." said Dee determinedly.

Peter didn't know what to say.

"Don't worry. When you become immortal like me, you will have time to learn."

"Immortal?!"

"Yes, hold my hand," she said as she stretched her hand to him. "I can do this only once in a century."

Peter hesitated but then remembered that he had to save Lilian. He took her hands reluctantly. A pleasant and warm sensation took him over. Her skin was incredibly soft and magical. Her smile could charm Pope himself. He soon realised this wonderful sensation was not sexual. It was something else. He felt more alive.

"Now, Peter, we must save London before it's too late."

"How?"

"You will see soon."