If you are all interested, please tune in on Monday. I plan to release a new fanfic.
It a asoif on Jon Snow as he builds a better north, and becomes the dragon king. So if that fits right up your alley, then check it out.
Thanks
Chapter 111: Barty Jr.
"Before we head out," the old man said as Harry made for the door, "would you like to pick any magical items for back up?" he asked as he indicated towards his shelves.
Harry noted the countless magical objects ranging from the most mundane and simple to the most powerful magic items he had seen filling the shelves like they were just random junk and not priceless items that you could rarely get your hands on.
It was the stuff of legends which would have you drooling from the mouth like he often did even though he had a much grander collection in his family vault.
"What would be useful for the battle ahead?" Harry asked as there was just too much to choose from and all of them would really be some good choices.
"Mmm," the old man said as he rubbed his long silvery beard while gazing at his collection. "I think this would do," he muttered as he withdrew a golden bracelet. "Oh, and this too," he added as he picked out a ring.
Handing them to him, Harry stared at them and asked the most important question, "What do they do?"
"This here," the old man said as he pointed to the golden bracelet, "puts up a very powerful shield, nearly impregnable to all spells and could take any sort of physical damage and still see you out! The creator of this item was once said to survive a mountain falling on top of him, though he did die of dehydration and hunger after being stuck there for months on end," he added on a grim note. "Though his bones were still shielded and protected by this bracelet when his body was recovered," he concluded with a smile as if that would make him feel better.
"And this," he said pointing to the ring, "this allows you to cancel a spell basically. It is an antimagic ring! You have to be quick on your feet though as point the ring at the spell you want to cancel out and the ring does the rest."
Raising one eyebrow, Harry slowly nodded his head, these were indeed some really impressive items. Putting them on, he spun them around looking at them from every corner. They could prove to be lifesavers in this little raid.
"Fawkes, keep watch," the old man said to the flaming bird, "and make sure he does not escape!"
Nodding its head, all quiet disposition was gone from the large bird as it became serious and stood tall on its perch.
"Thank you old friend," the old man smiled. Then looking to him, he nodded his head and uttered, "let's go!"
With that, they headed out of the office ready for battle.
As they made their way down the hallways of the castle, there really weren't that many people making their way about the castle grounds at this late of an hour with curfew arriving soon.
However they did meet a few people along the way who stared at them in confusion wondering where they were going in such a deadly show of force. They even meet Professor Septima Vector along the way who had a stack of papers in her hand she must have been about to grade tonight.
She came to a stop when she saw them and noticing that something wasn't right, she asked the headmaster, "What is going on, Professor Dumbledore?"
"Nothing, I will tell all the faculty members including you later what happened, but for now please back sure that all the students are back in their dorms!"
Nodding her head, she set aside any arguments she might have and said, "I will see to it. Best of luck on where ever you are heading," she amended as she gave them an up and down stare.
With that, she continued down while this time making sure to herd the students back to their dorms, but she didn't leave until she gave him a long lasting look clearly showing her worry for him. However, Harry gave her a reassuring nod and she took it or what it was.
Carrying on, it wasn't long before they came before Moody's office. It was in a secluded part of the castle far away from most dorm rooms and classroom, which was the only good thing they could look forward to since there wouldn't be any collateral damages or students that would be at risk.
Staring down at him, Dumbledore's eye clearly said it all, "Are you ready?"
Taking a deep breath, Harry held his wand out before him and calmed his beating heart. This wasn't your average run of the mill enemy they were about to face, but one of Voldemort's high ranking and most loyal death eaters.
There was no doubt in his mind that the snake taught his fanatical follower the three unforgivable curses and other useful things. So they could be looking forward to facing a very dangerous and tough enemy who wouldn't hesitate to one-shot them with Killing Curse or try to torture them with the Cruciatus Curse.
"Let's do this," Harry said. He knew eventually he would need to face off against Voldermort's true followers and today was it. No minions for him like last time, but true Death Eater who were the reason why those most ardent followers of Voldemort were feared.
Flicking his wand at the door in a complicated manner the old man slowly unraveled the wards set up and then finally he stepped back as the door slowly opened. He was the first to go in with Harry coming in behind him taking up the rear.
Entering, Harry took in the office as he never visited it before. There was just no way he was going to risk his life by meeting the Death Eater masquerading as a Moody, he had no idea if he would take the shot and end him for his dark master.
Seated on his desk, Barty was grading some assignments like any Professor would. For a moment Harry imagined that they might be jumping to conclusions, but when he looked at Moody with his magic sight he of course saw Barty through that Polyjuice Potion.
Ow, yes, they had the right man alright there was no doubt about it.
"Headmaster," Barty turned to face them, "and Harry," he added as he saw him walk in behind Dumbledore. Harry was pretty sure he saw the criminal's face contort in hate and fury which he then quickly hide.
"What are you doing here?" he asked in confusion then looking at their wands, he raised his eyebrow, "and what are you doing with those?" he asked.
Snorting the old man's eyes turned hard and Harry saw the magic leak out of him as light poured out of the edge of his eyes. He was the literal incarnation of a god!
"The game is up Bartemius Crouch Junior," he said in a deep booming voice that resonated across the office. "We know that you are masquerading as Alastor Moody himself! Tell us where you are keeping him and make this easier for yourself or else..." he said leaving the threat hanging as he had his and pointed right at the death eater.
"I have no idea what you are talking about, Dumbledore," the death eater replied still playing to his character. Harry had to give it to him, he really had some guts! Most men would have been squirming by now or would have just spilled the beans right about now with two wands pointed right at point blank range at them and with great power bearing down on them like a sledgehammer.
He had to say once again, the Death Eater really had some guts, but it wouldn't do him any good at all.
"Barty Jr? Why would I be him. Do you think that little punk could ever take me? Me who has arrested countless scum like him and defeated more powerful and experience wizards and witches than him?
HA, you insult me my old friend!" he said as he shook his head. "If he dared to show his face before me, I would have set him straight and arrested him on the spot. Now come on old friend," he said as he waved his hand to move the wands off his general direction.
But Dumbledore gave him a stern look which said it all, and the man dropped his hands to either side putting on a sad disappointed look.
"Enough of your games," Harry spoke up in a bored tone, though he was far from feeling that as his heart was racing like a wild horse. The man was like a snake using sweet friendly words to make themselves doubt each other, he had no doubt when their attention or defense slipped, he would strike like a cobra venom snake.
"There is one thing you didn't take into account, using polyjuice potion was smart and you could have gotten away with it if only there wasn't one thing that made it all useless, Magic Sight!"
"Yes," Harry said with a smile and a deep chuckle as he saw the man's face slip for a moment in shock. "Didn't take that into considerations did you now? Well it makes that mask you are wearing utterly useless, you might as well have come in with your true face and you would have made no difference!"
"I still have no idea what you are talking about," the man said still being adamant that he was who he wasn't. Harry had to give it to him, if anything he was one track minded in his dedication.
"You are only wasting our time," Dumbledore shouted losing patience with the death eater. "If you won't say where you hide Moody then I will make you say it!" he declared as his wand begin to glow at the very tip.
"That would be a grave misjustice," Barty growled, "I have right! What would the people think if you used legilimency against the most famous Auror in recent history! Your removal of office from the Wizengamot and the International Confederation of Wizards would look petty in comparison. I would advise you to rethink this Dumbledore and I could overlook everything that has happened today and take it as only an error," he spoke up hastily trying to delay the inevitable. And he couldn't help himself from adding, "Though I doubt our friendship would remain, still you will leave with your dignity and reputation intact."
"It is too late," Dumbledore declared as his eyes hardened in resolve, "since you won't tell us. I will just remove it from your skull..."
Just then there was a banging noise that sounded across the office, everyone paused what they were doing and looked around. The sound echoed across the room once again, and Harry's eyes landed on the suitcase laid in a corner.
He was pretty sure that was where the noise which sounded like someone banging against a prison was coming from. It could only mean one thing and both Harry and Dumbledore come to the same realization at one...
Moody or should he say Barty Jr. saw that the game was up. Taking out his wand in a flash he sent a spell right at them and dived for cover.
Dumbledore was easily able to redirect the spell as I went flying towards a shelf causing it to explode into splinterings. While the old man put up a shield to defend against the raining down pieces of wood, Harry threw a body locking curse at the Death Eater who was crawling to cover the rest of the way.
As much as he wanted to end him right here and now, they still needed to question him and ask about his master's whereabouts.
Barty wasn't able to tuck in his legs in time so Harry's spell struck causing his legs to lock up.
Putting the shield down, Dumbledore shouted at him, "Get the suitcase, I will deal with Barty Jr."
Nodding his head, Harry ran past the old man and since the shields were down he wasn't obstructed from heading towards the suitcase where the real Moody must be trapped inside.
Before he could make it there, Barty Jr. got up from his cover perfectly fine as he must have unraveled the spell in time and he shouted, "Die you impious brat. My lord will cry out in joy at your death!"
With that, he threw a Killing curse right at him!
Watching the spell hurl towards him, time sem to slow down for Harry, he could have used it to cry out in fear as the most dangerous spell from the last war come heading for him.
But Harry pointed the antimagic ring at the incoming spell, he watched as it slowly unraveled before him in the time dilated moment his mind was caught in. At that moment as he watched the spell come apart with the basis of it laid out as he could see the Spell construct, he gained a bit of insight into the workings of the Killing curse.
His mind did countless Arithmancy equations as he tried to get a better understanding of the spell. There was some really advance magic theory going on, stuff he knew nothing of or could make heads or tails, stuff that he only glimpsed as he progressed in his understanding of magic, and very little that he truly understood.
This was truly a spell made by a powerful, yes evil, but powerful wizard nevertheless! It was no wonder few understood it and even less could cast it.
Then as if time came spinning back to him he was back in the moment, back in the regular time flow.
The ring did its duty, it canceled out the deadly spell which could have all but costed him his life, but in doing so it was a smoking mess and fell apart off his finger and on to the floor, destroyed.
Quickly Dumbledore sent a pillar of flames at the death eater in anger and shouted, "your enemy is ME!"
Taking no chances as the two wizards duelled it out in the room, Harry ducking and weaving underneath the spell being fired at an impossibly fast rate. There was no denying he had a few more close calls here and there as Barty fired deadly spells at him when ever he could.
Though he was hard pressed to do anything of the sort like throwing another Killing Curse at him as Dumbledore kept on pressing him and cornering him.
Fianlly Harry reached the suitcase which was covered in dust and pebble that fell from the roof and cracked off the floor. The room was being literally torn apart as the two wizards fought inside of it, the windows were already shattered with the glass laying on the floor, the cracks on the ceiling kept on expanding, and all the furniture were thrown about.
Soon this place would cave in and he did not want to be here when that happened. Heading back the way he came as he kept the suitcase close to his chest. Harry saw that the battle was wrapping up, Barty was on his last leg as his magic reserves must be all but empty.
Taking in deep breaths, he turned to look at Dumbledore with hate in his eyes, his mask of Moody was gone by now as some spell must have unraveled it at some point and his face was clear to all.
"You will never get me, you will never make me spill my master secrets," he said in a frantic voice as he threw a spell to keep the old man off of him. But Dumbledore was relentless as he inched closer and closer to him, nearly having him in his grasp. He wasn't even breathing heavily like the young man who was panting like he was in his last leg.
That more than anything showed the difference between them!
Seeing that his situation was hopeless, the death eater begin to laugh out loud in a manic tone. "My Master will soon arise, and he will avenge me!" he wheezed in between in laughter as he pointed his wand at his temple.
"Don't do this, boy," Dumbledore shouted as he tried to stop, "it isn't too late for you!"
Before the idiot could kill himself, Harry took off his bracelet which Dumbledore just gave him and activated it, then he tossed it at the Death Eater who prepared his final spell which would send him off in a glory of spellfire.
As the Killing curse left his wand it bounced off the shield which came into place, defending the Death Eater. That was something Harry never expected to do in his life, prevent a scum like him from killing himself.
He also found it to be impossible as he stared wide eyed as his spell was absorbed by the shield and prevented him from dying.
"Come on," Harry said with a smile, "you think you will go off that easy?"
Chapter 112: Mindscape
"Alright take a seat," Professor Dumbledore said as he sat Barty Jr. in one corner of his office. There were chains wrapping all along his body constricting his movement and stopping him from trying anything funny, though that didn't stop him from cursing at us.
He really had a tongue on him as any proper lady would faint if she heard what was coming out of his mouth and he would rot away your ears if you listened to him too long.
After the battle concluded and Barty was in chains and manacles, they were able to get out in the nick of time as the office collapsed behind them. After suffering all that punishment it couldn't stay standing any longer and it fell in on its weight, leaving a large gaping hole as the stone and rubble poured down outside on to the lawn, and the collapsed room was now open to the weather.
With all that raucous they caused they were bound to draw attention as people started to pour in. Professor McGonagall was first to come upon them as they dragged Barty Jr. out by the cuff of his shirt.
At that point the man was a raving lunatic as he tried everything to see himself killed and to be honest he still was. And Harry won't deny he was started to get on his nerve and would love nothing more than to shut him up, permanently.
Anyways that was the sight that many people came upon, a well known crimal in hand and an office room all but destroyed right behind him.
It was obvious to any idiot what went down, and Harry was sure by now the rumor mill which was the student body was already spreading the tale to each and every soul in the castle.
Professor McGonagall was also quickly able to draw her own conclusion as she stared long and hard at the clothing the man was wearing, namely Moody's.
She had the crowd gathering quickly dispersed which was a difficult task since students were a magnet to trouble though she wasn't having any of that none sense and sent back everyone to their dorms.
Now she was on her way to calling the Auror who would be arriving any time soon in the castle.
"I think it is time we withdraw Moody from that suitcase, don't you?" Dumbledore asked with a smile as he pointed to the suitcase Harry had clutched in his hands close to his chest.
"Oh, yes, yes," Harry said as he nodded his head as he set the suitcase down on the floor. He nearly forget about the poor man after all that happened today. Just being locked up in this suitcase for any few moments longer than was necessary must be unbearable to him.
Leaning down Harry saw that the traveling bag had some wards placed on it preventing anyone from inside for leaving, however for those who wanted to open it from the outside there were no defenses against it.
Unclasped the fastener open, Harry swung the suitcase open and peered inside.
Sitting in a closet-like room was the real Alastor Moody, he looked up as the light begin to pour in, taking in his saviors.
"Professor Moody..." Harry called out though he wasn't sure that was an accurate title for him, the man hadn't taught him or any of the students a single class all year long. It has been Barty Jr. the death eater who has been doing that all year long.
"Is that.. you Harry Potter?" the man asked as he squinted his eyes.
"Yes," Harry answered, "do you mind if I lift you up telepathically?" he then asked. He saw that the man wasn't in any state to climb out of there even if he conjured him up a piece of rope to do so.
"Yes, go ahead," the man said as he got up from his sitting position.
With a might of pure will, Harry lifted out the bedraggled man from out the confined space. Setting him down on the office floor of the Headmaster, he looked around the place as if it was his first time out of that suitcase in a long time which it truly must have been.
Spotting the Headmaster standing besides him, he nodded his head to the old man, "Dumbledore, I would say it is good to see you, but I am not in the best of states to greet people."
He was right, the man looked like he had been through the wringer as there was a forming bold spot on his head where Barty must have collected the hair he needed for the potion. He also looked underfeed as he must have been not getting enough food. Harry noticed as well that his left eye sockets was an empty scared hole thanks to his magic one being taken by Barty and to add insult to the wound he was hobbling on one leg as his wooden prosthesis was gone just to demean him since Barty Jr. didn't need one at all.
And Harry noticed all the wounds littered on his body, they weren't the old faded scars he was sporting when Harry meet him in the World Cup. No, they were fresh with some even bleeding out some fresh blood.
They were obviously the sign of one thing and one thing only, torture wounds!
Sighing, Harry should have known this would happen. If Barty Jr. got his hands on the most outstanding Auror of the decade who ended the lives of so many of his allies and got even more of them arrested, of course, he would want to exact his revenge.
Just then Professor McGonagall walked in along side Snape, already speaking ahead, "I made sure to see all the students back to their dorm and in their beds. And I eased the Headmasters..."
Stopping as she saw the state of the room, she took in a deep breath when she saw Moody, "By Morgan," she said as she nearly fell over, "What happened to you, Alastor?"
Snape on the other hand was silent as he stared at the death eater with a unreadable expression.
"I am fine," Moody said as he waved off Professor McGonagall's concern, "where is he?" he asked as he glanced about, then his remaining eyes landed on the chained death eater. "You," he growled as his eyes blazed over. There was no hiding his righteous fury as he glared at the Death Eater his hands balling into fists.
Barty Jr. smiled a harsh cruel grin as he looked Moody right in the eye, "What are you going to exact your revenge, or are you just going to stand there after all I have done to you?! I can't tell you how much I enjoyed cutting you up even though you didn't provide me anything at all."
Before he could go over there and give the criminal a piece of his mind, Dumbledore held his hand out. "We still need him," he simply uttered, "He has yet to tell us where his master is, why he came here, what's his plan, and all that he knew."
"I know," the old man nodded his head, "I know how this works!" he said as he unclenched his fist and took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Moody, you coward," Barty shouted at the top of his lungs. "Are you so afraid that you can't get your revenge, are you not man enough. Were all those stories told about you false!"
"Shut up," Harry said as he waved his hand at the man and a piece of tape was conjured and went right on his mouth. All he could do was mumble inaudible through the tape, cursing out all his hateful words.
"Thank you, Harry," Professor McGonagall said as she looked at the death eater in disgust.
"I know you do not want to revisit this as soon as possible, but I will have to ask you what happened. How did he get a hold of you, were you able to over hear any of his plans while he had you captive?"
Sighing the old Auror took a seat on one of the guest seats, Harry came over to him and offered him his magical eye which they collected off of Barty Jr.
"Thank you," the man said as he put it on.
"Sorry about your wooden prosthesis, Professor, but it was destroyed in the fight."
"It is alright, I needed a new one anyway," the wizard replied as he tried out his fake eye. "Now," he said as he turned to look at them, "it is really simple what happened that little punk got the jump on me," he declared as he stared at Barty who still shook in his confines.
"I am getting too old for this, that is why I retired this year! I trained one of my last and finest pupils so it was high time I left the scene. Very few of us could leave with our lives intact, I never thought I would make it to 129, but here I am. Aaah, there were so many better people that should have made it here instead of me..."
Harry knew what the man was doing, he was going off on a tangent. No matter how tough he was spending months with an evil fanatic wasn't something you can get away with unscathed. The old Auror must be in shock and still suffering from the trauma he had been through.
Dumbledore seem to sense it too so he just asked his final last question, "Do you know what he or should I say Voldermot had planned."
At the mere mention of his master's name, Barty seem to go wild as he fought harder against his chains, but it was useless as the enchanted chains only constricted tighter against him.
"No," Moody answered, "I would give him that, he was very careful. Even though he had me in his grasp, he made sure to never reveal anything about his master's plan. Some would gloat, you know, but if there was anything I had to realize about him is that he is dedicated and single minded in his task to his master. He didn't dare to take any risks at all."
"Alright thank you, Moody," Dumbledore said. "Now I think you need to be checked out by Madam Poppy Pomfrey. I think she might send you to St Mungo's Hospital with how severe your wounds are."
"No I am fine, Dumbledore," the wizard shook his head, "I need to see this through to the end. Then him and I are going to have a long chat," he waved his head at the death eater.
"You are in no state to fight, Moody! Minerva," he called out, "could you see Moody to Madam Pomfrey."
"Yes," she said as she grabbed Alastor by the elbow, he tried to resist but he barely had any fight in him and Professor McGonagall was easily able to drag him out.
"Severus can you stand guard outside?" the old man asked. Snape nodded his head and also headed out of the office with his cloak billowing behind him.
That only left the three of them in the room, Dumbledore turned to face Barty Jr. who finally quieted down.
"Are you going to give me what I want, or are you going to make this difficult?" Dumbledore asked as all levity which used to be always there no matter the circumstances was gone. Only the cold void was left in its place.
Barty Jr. just stayed silent even after Dumbledore painfully removed the tape with his wand. And Harry would have imagined all the fight was gone out of him if he didn't glare at them with pure malicious and hate in his eyes.
"Suit yourself," the old man said, "if I must then I will rip the answers out of your mind!"
Pulling back his robe sleeve, the old man reached out and placed his hand on Barty Jr's head ready to read his mind with Legilimency.
"Would you like help, Professor?" Hary asked as he came right besides the old man.
"Do you know the mind arts?" Dumbledore asked.
There was no point in hiding it, Harry felt the old man's mind press against his mental defense so the old man knew that he must have started practicing Occlumency. And where there is Occlumency there is also Legilimency.
"Yes, Sirius has started teaching me over the summer."
"Well then let's join forces and find out about the answers we seek!"
Nodding his head, Harry placed his hand on top of Barty jr's head, and right before they plunged into his mind the death eater spoke up, "Go ahead at your own peril, fools!"
Appearing in a wide-open space, standing on top of a grey murky body of water, Harry spotted a dark foreboding castle in the distance.
"So this is his mindscape," Harry uttered as his voice seem to echo in this place. Each living person has a mindscape, it is where all your memories, emotions, experiences, and so much more is stored.
For most people, they just have this, a mindscape where everything is unguarded, that is why for Legilimency it is easy to peruse their mind with no difficulty.
Then there is the Mindpalace, those that practice Occlumency builds it to protect their minds and keep their secrets guarded. It makes it all the more harder to get access to their memories. Since you would have to unlock what secrets they hold.
For Barty Jr. it would seem that his Mindpalace is that of a dark castle.
"Good, I see that you have made it," Dumbledore smiled at him. "Ready to invade the castle?" he asked.
Coming up to the front gates of the castle which were lined with skulls and other gothic materials, Dumbledore pointed his wand at it and it slowly begin to open.
Now the real trial starts whatever Barty Jr. set up as defenses they would have to defeat them to get what they want.
On the courtyard of the castle they ran into the first piece of memory, it was like a ghost image as they saw a much younger Barty Jr. eight or nine bowed down and facing a older man who it was his father, Barty Sr.
"You are a Crouch," the older man uttered harshly. "I expect perfect results from you."
"Yes, father," the little boy answered with tears at the corner of his eyes.
"Wipe them away boy," the wizard shouted as he noticed the too.
Continuing on, they saw more memories; one of a lady comforting a much younger Barty Jr. as she sang him a lullaby. Then there was an image of a new Hogwarts student Barty Jr. meeting his soon to be allies like Rodolphus and Rabastan Lestrange.
They past by more and more images, until they meet their face defense two giant dark knight in black armor who waylaid them along the way but Dumbledore.
And from there the smooth sailing was over, Barty Jr's mind threw at them all its defenses prepared beforehand and each and every single one of them was defeated with ease by Dumbledore.
"The secret is imagination," the old man said as they left behind the smoking ruin of a Skeleton Dragon.
"This is just a typical defense, you are supposed to confuse and bewilder your opponents."
It was then that they came upon a memory of Barty Jr. bowing down before someone, somehow they couldn't make out the image of the person but Harry knew that voice from anywhere.
"Barty, my most loyal servant. It is good to see you."
"We must be getting nearer," Dumbledore said, "let's go!"
Suddenly shadows bellowed up from the ground and then right before them a large cloaked figure appeared. "WHO DARES INVADE THE MIND OF MY SERVANT!"
"Voldermort," Dumbledore uttered.
"AAHH, Dumbledore, you old goat, so it is you, huh?" the cloaked figure asked. "I should have known," he chuckled.
"You are not the real him, you are just an image of one of your servants! BEGONE FROM HERE!" Dumbledore commanded in a booming voice which sent the giant image reeling back.
"I SAID BEGONE! YOU FOUL FIEND!" Dumbledore repeated as the image started to shrink and distort.
"You shall never get the memories of my servant..." the image of Voldemort shouted as he disappeared.
Suddenly there were quaking noises as the castle itself shook, Harry had to steady himself as he leaned up against the wall. Then the real tremors came on as cracks formed on the ceiling of the castle and pillars.
"That monster," Dumbledore swore under his breath," he just destroyed his servant's mind!"
"And that means?" Harry asked.
"If we don't get out of here then will be trapped here forever and this place is just about to collapse in on itself."
"Great!" Harry said as he threw his hands up in the air.
"Come on," the old man shouted, "we need to find out where Voldermort is hiding!"
running along, Harry was surprised to see how spry the old man was as he was able to keep up with Harry's youthful vigor. That image of Volderot seem to be the last defense as they came upon nothing else in their way.
There were loads of more memories along the way, but they were looking for one specific one.
There was one memory that drew Harry's attention, where he heard VOldermort speaking to Barty Jr. "Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son. Flesh of the servant, willingly given, you will revive your master. Blood of the enemy, forcibly taken, you will resurrect your foe.
These are the three things needed to revive me to my full power! I already have my old man's bones..."
"I would gladly give you my flesh, my lord," Barty uttered.
"I know, I know, Barty that is why I can count on you! However, we need the blood of my enemy and there is none who stood against me as firmly than Harry Potter," he spat out.
"Harry Potter?" the man asked in confusion, "Isn't it Dumbledore, my lord."
"No, it that boy... I need you to bring him to me so that we can resurrect me! Can you do it, Barty, my loyal servant."
"Harry, my boy," the old man called out, "come on!"
Turning his gaze away from the image, Harry did not know what to make of that. No matter what they needed to stop that at all cost. The old snake was already a handful as a ghost or whatever he was at the moment.
To see him back to full strength...
That can not be allowed to happen.
"Here," Dumbledore said, as they came to a stop at a memory where Barty apparated outside of an old decrepit mansion covered in vines.
Walking up to the mansion, when he got up to the front door, it opened by itself allowing him inside.
Entering the living room where an eerie green flame flickered in the fireplace a rat like man stood to the corner shivering in place and a giant snake slithered beside a chair where a prone figure laid.
Bowing to his knees in front of the small figure, "Master, I have come at long last before you."
"Do you know where that place is?" Harry asked as he gazed around the collapsing place.
"Yes, yes I do!" the old man answered.
"Come on," he said, "let's get out of here and end Voldermort once and for all!"
Check out , I am 25 chapters ahead!
Chapter 113: Riddle Manor
Coming out of Barty Jr.'s mind, Harry snapped his eyes wide open and nearly fell as he got assaulted by a wave of vertigo. He felt like bending over and vomiting everything in his stomach as the world spun before him. His body was still getting used to the strange shift that happened on a mental level.
Removing his hand from off of Barty jr.'s head, Harry saw the state the death eater was in. Drool fell from the corner of his lip as he sat stock still in his seat, and his eyes had a vacant cast over them as all the hate and fury was gone from them replaced by nothing but glassy emptiness.
He was truly and utterly mind dead. Harry could see his chest rising and falling as he still breathed in and he looked perfectly normal in his seat, but Harry knew that he was long gone. His mind was completely shattered and was unrecoverable.
For the rest of his days, he would send his time as a drilling mess that can not do or say anything for himself.
It was a fitting end to a man who caused so much pain and suffering upon others, to now be left at their mercy and compassion.
Shaking his head in disgust, Harry figured the death eater should never have left his faith into his heartless and cruel master. The imprint that Voldermort left in his servant's mind showed no mercy at all in destroying his follower's mind when he saw that his secrets were at risk of being revealed.
All Voldermort really cared about was number one, himself. He had no love or compassion for anything or anyone else and if they thought he did, they would be sorely mistaken.
Some might see that as a strength, but Harry only saw it as a weakness.
You can drop his allies like flies and he wouldn't care at all, only reminiscing at the lost of a valuable tool or such. In the end, he will be left with no one and Harry would gladly make sure to see that happened as he finally delivers the final death blow on to him.
"What a sad loss," Dumbledore shook his head as he stared at the brain dead criminal.
Abruptly, they heard loud voices from outside the doors as it sounded like people screaming at each other in loud voices. Then suddenly, the door to the office spun open, and people begin to file in.
Snape who looked a bit ruffled and piqued, uttered, "I tried to stop them Headmaster, but they just wouldn't take a no!"
Looking at the people who filed into the room, Harry spotted plenty of Auror in their long military-grade trench coat, and amount them he spotted a very familiar pink hair, Tonks.
Of note among the crowd were two people he knew very well, Amelia Bones Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, and Kingsley Shacklebolt Head of the British Auror Office. He saw that they were each battle ready with enchanted trench coats on and their wands firmly held in their hands.
"It is alright, Severus," Dumbledore smiled at the Potion Professor. "Amelia, Kingsley it is so good of you to visit me!"
"Cut the bullshit, Dumbledore," Amelia said with a snort. "Minerva told us you apprehended the wanted criminal Bartemius Crouch Jr, a well known Death Eater. We are here to bring him in and see that he faces justice!"
Clearing his throat, Kingsley Shacklebolt spoke up, "Ahhh, Amelia I think you should look over there," he said as he pointed to the drooling mess which was Barty Jr.
Finally taking notice of the man seated on the chair behind them, Harry could understand why she didn't spot him any sooner. They were effectively blocking him off with their bodies and covering up what they had done.
"You..." the older witch tried to say as her anger seem to tongue twist her up. "You had no right!" she growled menacingly as she pointed her wand at the old man.
"He was under our preview, and we were to question him. Now what are we supposed to do with... with this!" she said as she looked at the Death Eater like a sad waste.
"Time was of the essence, Amelia," the old man tried to dissuade her. "And he wasn't going to tell you or me anything no matter what. So this was the only option left," he declared with a sad shake of his head as if he was all broken up about it. To which Harry really doubted he did.
"So," Kingsley asked in a somber, "Did you get anything out of him of use, or were you not successful?"
"On that front, I have good news," the old smile. "I know where Voldermort is hiding out in!"
The silence that greeted his declaration was deafening in the fact that no one even dared to breathe or speak up for that matter. Total silence greeted the room as the Aurors exchanged awkward glances disbelieving at what they just heard while Amelia and Kingsley and even Snape were stock still.
"So he is alive after all this time..." Kingsley asked, eyes hooded by his fez cap.
"Yes," the old man nodded his head, "though I am not sure if I would call the state he is in alive or for that matter even dead."
"It doesn't matter," Amelia said, "alive or dead, we will still hunt him to the ends of the earth and put a stop to him and all the evil he has wrought!"
"We should strike out right now," Harry spoke up, "Voldermort will soon know that something is wrong and might flee from where he is hold up."
Stepping up was Tonks, who he couldn't help noticing how fabulous she looked in her Auror outfit. "Don't you think we need a much much larger force to face the Dark Lord himself?" she asked as she emphasized the word much many times over.
Harry didn't miss the Aurors nodding their head to themselves, they might be fearless enforcers of justice willing to die in the line of duty to see order preserved. However, that didn't mean they were suicidal warriors willing to sign their death warrant.
"It is not about getting back up," Kingsley shook his head, "it is about not getting bogged down by political matters. If word got out we going after he-who-must-not-be-named there will be so many investigations opened up to investigate the validity and there will be those that will try to stop us.
"Besides," he said with a sad shake of his head, "I do not trust the whole Auror force, those who loyalties lay elsewhere will quickly attack us and we will be having a civil war within our ranks. Lord Potter is right, we need to move fast and decisively and handle this problem right now!"
"Also you don't have to worry," Dumbledore spoke up, "I will handle Voldermort myself! All you have to worry about is anyone hold up in the place we are about to go to."
"And where exactly is this place that most reviled man in recent history is hiding out in?" Amelia only curious to know, not trying to be antagonistic to the old man.
"The Riddle Manor, is his Paternal home of his muggle father!" the old man simply answered.
Harry couldn't believe what his ears heard and he still couldn't as they headed out, leaving the castle grounds.
This revelation had inconceivable consequences, Harry didn't know if the old man realized what he just told them, but this was game changing.
There were plenty of leaders out there that didn't believe a single thing about what they stood for. What comes out of their mouth and what is in their hearts of hearts is totally different. And Harry could understand it, power is power no matter how it is achieved.
However that wasn't the case with Voldermort it would seem, the man didn't believe in what he doctorated. No, no, no he was what he was fighting against what he was, a half-blood, just like him and so many other wizards and witches he persecuted during the war.
Harry would have found it hilarious if he didn't also find it sickening. To persecute and fight against your own kinds, even a beast wouldn't stoop that low.
Still he couldn't help himself form thinking about the expressions on the Death Eaters who followed him thinking he was the purest of them all. What would their expressions look like if they knew that their leader was a half-blood, someone who they saw as lesser than them and an insult to what a wizard should be.
He was pretty sure it wouldn't be pleasant at all.
People like them, who think that the world revolves around them wouldn't take it well having their world view shattered right before their ever eyes.
Though Harry didn't give two fucks about that existential crisis they would be facing, to be honest, he was going to be the first one laughing in their faces and he would love nothing more than delivering this Sword of Damocles down upon them. Once this operation is over and they finally have Voldermort in their hands, he would have Rita Skeeter assess the validity of this new claim and report it!
As they left the school premises with Fawkes swooping ahead, people begin to stick out their heads out of windows, rooms, and pipeholes; looking at them go by and leave out the front gates of the castle.
"Stick close to me," the old man pronounced as they came to the edge of the school wards that prevented apparating. Looking over at him, Dumbledore held out his hand, "Why don't you grab my hand!" he said, of course thinking he couldn't teleport great distances since his grade had yet to learn apparating.
Humoring him, Harry did as he asked of him while he took in a deep breath, and with that, they were gone, each disappearing with an audible loud pop.
Appearing outside at the edge of a little quaint village, the place was nestled between two steep hills, its church and graveyard clearly visible from all around as they stuck out like sore thumbs as was the house Voldermort was hiding in.
The village was called Little Hangleton a small muggle community in rural England. The village was approximately six miles away from the larger community of Great Hangleton and is about 200 miles away from Little Whinging where he grew up in.
It was already dark out and the lights had gone out in the homes as people must have gone to bed already.
It was quiet, so quiet in fact that they could hear audible popping noises as they apparated in.
Thanks to the cover of the night no one could really see the numerous souls that all of the sudden appeared from right out of thin air.
"Amelia," the old man called out, "secure the village and have some of the Auror lead the civilians out of here. Things might get a bit devastating!" he said in a low tone. Even though Amelia hated his guts and didn't hide her dislike for him she still followed through with his order, shouting at the Aurors to form up.
This operation solely depended on the old goat, he was the one who was going head to head with Voldermort and was going to bring him in if he could to face trial. So everyone counted on him!
"Moving in," Kingsley shouted as the Aurors headed into the village in five men squads. They started breaking into the home, dragging people out of their homes and waking them up from their slumbers.
Some put up fights and others resisted, but with magic on their side, it was easy to handle them all. Harry saw, they were more like chickens or children being manhandled by grown-ups more than anything.
One of the muggle men he saw was taking this at all as he brought out his shotgun from his house, and fire it at the Aurors in self-defense. All the bullets did were bounce off the shield harmlessly that the witch had in place, and then when he tried to fire again his gun jammed for no reason, but knew it was only the magic at work and in them wizards and witches.
The muggle man was quickly apprehended as he could only stare dumbly as the Aurors closed in nad put him with the rest of the people. After that little scuffle, none of the village folks put up any more fights as they kept their heads down.
Harry could feel the fear coming off of them in waves as they stared at the Aurors in dread.
Never before did Harry gain a deeper understanding on why wizards and witches saw themselves as superior to their none magical brethren. As he watched everything unfold, he saw how all too easy it was for wizards to subjugate a whole village of muggle up to a couple hundred if not a thousand, with only a fraction of that.
Every way you looked at it on an individual level muggles are lesser to wizards on average, with wizards always coming out on top.
"Don't worry," Amelia called out as she looked down at the huddled muggles, "you will be back in your homes before you know it." Then holding her wand out along side with Kingsley and a few Aurors including Tonks as assistances, she cast a mass Memory Charm on them as she shouted on the top of her lung, "Obliviate!"
With a loud bang and a massive flash of light, the muggles were left looking around with vacant looks in their eyes. They stared at the Aurors and Amelia as if this was the first time they have seen her.
"Kingsley, if you could do the honors of taking them to safety," Amelia spoked to the dark skinned man. "Make sure you keep them placid with calming charms. Don't want them losing their shit and running back to the sight of the battle."
"Can't do, Amelia," the wizard shook his head. "You know I have to see this through," he said with an unreadable expression.
Staring long and hard at him, the older witch finally spoke up, "You know you just resisted your direct superiors in the line of battle right."
"Yes," the man simply nodded his head.
"You know the punishment for that?" she asked in a stern voice.
"Yes, and I really don't care," he shrugged his shoulder. "No matter what, I have to see this done for the both of them."
Sighing, Amelia just shook her head and called out to another random Auror had him lead the Muggles away. "we will talk about this later," she promised the wizard.
"Are all the muggles to safety?" Dumbledore called out. With a nod from Amelia, the old man begin to prepare as his magic rouse up, raising his wand skyward, he began to mutter words in Latin.
Harry watched as the old powerful wizard shout, "Protego Maxima. Fianto Duri. Repello Inimicum." Then a wisps of light darted out of his wand and high up into the air, before his eyes he watched as that light spread across the sky like roots, and slowly a powerful shield was formed that enveloped the whole village.
"Let's move in," the old man said.
Walking through the streets of the abandoned village, they were aiming for the manor on top of the hill. It sat there overlooking the village with the crescent moon hanging near it, some of its windows boarded, tiles missing from its roof, and ivy spreading unchecked over its face. It seem to be once a fine-looking manor, and easily the largest and grandest building for miles around, but now the place was now damp, derelict, and unoccupied.
Or at least that was what it used to be as now it was home to the most evil wizard in modern history.
As if taking notice of their arrival the skies above the village begin to darken as dark clouds started to roll in. They filled the atmosphere with dread and emptiness as everyone knew the work they were about to undertake.
Coming up the hill, lighting started to quake the sky overhead and deep rumbling filled their ears and souls.
Finally they stood before the Riddle Manor, and it stood facing them with its dark foreboding feeling.
Chapter 114: Dumbledore vs Voldemort
Coming up the hill, lighting started to quake the sky overhead and deep rumbling filled their ears and souls.
Finally, they stood before the Riddle Manor, and it stood facing them with its dark foreboding feelings.
"Incircle the whole perimeter," Amelia Bones shouted, she unlike everyone else didn't seem to be fazed with the weight of what was laid ahead of them. "I want nothing to escape, everything must be under lockdown!" she made herself absolutely clear.
Standing around like idiots for a few moments, Kingsley growled at the Aurors, "Get to it!" as he waved them off. Following through with their direct orders from their supervisors, the Aurors started to break off from the main group and headed off into the surrounding area of the Manor.
"You are sticking with me," Tonks whispered to him as she walked up to him along with her own personal squad she was in leading.
"The more, the merrier," Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"So this is the famous boy-who-lived, why am I not surprised you are here?" one of Tonks's squadmates spoke up. She was a petite girl with brown hair and a very athletic build.
"I heard you guys are cousins?" another one of Tonks squad mates addressed him. He was tall dark skinned man with brown hair and eyes.
"Guys, focus," Tonks called out in a stern voice, "this is a very serious operation! There is no time for chit chat or any nonsense."
"Yes, bossman," an Auror in their ranks uttered as he gave a comical sloppy salute. He had blonde hair, and blue laughing eyes.
"Why do you always making a joke of everything?" the last member of the squad rolled her eyes at the comedian of the group. She was dark of hair and eyes with pale skin that looked as if they have never seen the sun for days on end.
"So this is your little attack squad?" Harry grinned at Tonks.
"Not. A. Word," Tonks growled at him as she saw the humor in his eyes.
"Hey, I didn't say anything," Harry held up his hands.
"All joking aside, be on the ready," Harry said to Tonks and her squad as he turned serious.
He knew he wouldn't be much help in the fight to come between Dumbledore and Voldemort, but that didn't weigh heavy on him.
He was gunning for one person and one person alone, the same person that sold out his parents for power and glory, and caused their death. Peter Pettigrew or as he was nicknamed, Wormtail!
Thanks to Barty Jr.'s memories, he knew that little rat was hiding out here along with Voldy. Really the only thing he could be thankful towards that Death Eater for. If he knew that rat well, then he would be fleeing with his tail between his leg, the first sign of trouble. And there was just no way that was acceptable at all.
That rat needed to pay dearly for all the crimes he had committed. Not only was he the cause of his parent's death, he was also the reason why he never got to know his Godfather for over a decade as he wasted in Azkaban for crimes he did not commit.
Really if you thought about it like he did everyday, it was his fault that he ended up with the Dursley because he was sure all hell be damnded Sirius would have fought tooth and nail to see him in his custody and not his so called relatives.
"Everyone follow me and stick together no matter what," Albus ordered causing the rest of the Auror to fall in line. Looking up at the sky, Harry could see Fawkes circling around high above where the dark clouds rumbled and roiled. Somehow he felt that the bird increased in size by a lot, like a lot lot. Though from high in the vaults of the heavens he wasn't really sure.
Albus led them up to the house where Voldemort was saying in.
As they came upon the house, that was when it began to warp!
Right before their very eyes, it slowly changed from the old decrepit home it used to be, into something out of your worst nightmare.
The house let out moans and creaks as the spell cast on it went into effect. The ground floor of the manor changed into a gaping maw made of razor sharp splinters and stone. Its windows started to glow an eerie red glow that became peeking holes into something savage and cruel.
Its chimney which stood inactive now started to spew out smoke. The vines that covered it started to grow at a visible rate especially to either sides of the manor until the thing sprouted two massive tree trunk arms.
Looking down at them, no longer did some old home just stand there, now there was something plucked right out of a nightmare. With a mightily bellow it let out an ear shattering, ground quaking, unearthly roar that shook the very air.
"My Merlin's hairy nutsacks!" the blonde joker in Tonks squad voiced, stating the thought on everyone's mind if not so dignified.
Sadly this wasn't the end of their horror filled nightmare. Floating up into the air from out of the manor was a small cloaked figure that was chuckling and wheezing at the same time. It stared down at them all, gathered before it as if they were chickens to the slaughterhouse. TO which Harry guessed they might be to a wizard as powerful as him.
"Tom, it is so good of you to make your entrance at long last. Here I thought you were going to bunker down inside and force me to draw you out!" Albus smiled at the shadowed figure.
"You think too much of yourself, you old goat," the thing uttered because Harry saw that it wasn't a man at all underneath that cloak when the wind breezed through the garment covering it up.
Instead, it was the twisted and gruesomeness sight of a man child so gnarled and wretched it filled you with dismay and alarm.
"Ahh, Tom my dear boy, look at what you have become," the old man shook his head as he too noticed the form that Voldermort was trapped in.
"Don't boy me," Voldemort screamed as he immediately cast a dark red spell at Dumbledore who blocked the attack with a pillar of stone that erupted from out of the death. The long pillar of stone immediately melted into a pool of sticky red blood like substance as it cooled on the earth.
"Still unable to control your temper I see," the old man shook his head as if he was disappointed with a little child. Harry had to give it to him, the old goat really knew how to get under good old Voldy's skin.
Calming himself and putting a damper on his seething anger and rage, the dark wizard uttered one single word. "Kill them!"
Just then, something very big and powerful broke through the manor's roof, it was colossal in size and dwarfed everything in miles around. Staring up at the slits of a giant snake, Harry thought why the hell not, Voldermort did seem to have some fetish for snakes.
However what gave him pause was that the locket around his neck started going off. Looking down at the ancient founder relic with the serpentine S inlaid with glittering green stones, Harry wondered what had the object all in a jitter, until realization struck him like a doorbell.
If the locket was going off it could mean only one thing and one thing only, a Horcrux was nearby.
Turning on his magic sight, Harry immediately regretted that decision.
As he turned on the sight to see magic in its truest essence, he was blinded by the radiance that the two powerful wizards were giving off. It was like he was in the presence of two suns come to earth, clashing against each other.
One was that of a shining white light enveloping everything in a warm glow like that of a carrying grandfather. The other was a dark light that slowly reached out with dark tentacles corrupting everything it touched with its evil light.
Besides those two there were two other lights of near equal might; one was that of a flaming ball of fire high up in the air every circling above them. And the other was a sickly green light slithering around them like a predator would its prey.
What drew Harry's attention to that sickly green light was stuck to it like a second skin was a ghostly form of a twisted creature and hanging over its head was a black skull. Harry knew that magical manifestation very well and knew what it represented, a Horcrux.
Voldemort's little pet snake was the Horcrux!
And what perplexed Harry, was within that dark green sickly light was a beautiful woman trapped inside as she huddled up with her head in her knees.
Suddenly the sickly green light came upon him and the Auror and Harry quickly snapped out of his vision. All that did for him was give him full sight of the gaping wipe jaw coming for him, ready to swallow him and everyone all at once.
At once at the command of Amelia, the Auror's put up a giant shield to block the incoming giant snake as they pooled together all their might. But Harry knew this little flimsy shield would stand nothing up against this creature.
Voldermort made sure to pump it full with potent magic and he could see the runes etched on its skin that had countless effects. This thing was more vet grown than something natural, but still it was a terror to behold.
Slamming against the shield Harry watched as it broke apart like it was nothing at all and then the snake came. However before it could devour them all, there was a loud shrill cry from up above.
Looking up, Harry watched as Fawkes swooped in, it's talons sending the giant snake slithering back before it raked its body. Harry noticed that his observation from earlier was correct, the Phoenix. No longer was there a large bird near to the size of a man, instead now there was super massive flaming bird in its place.
The two super giant legendary creatures clashed, and oh how they fight. It was like a battle between two titans vying for supremacy.
Us little wizards and witches down below were ignored like tiny insects as the two massive magical creatures fought against each other. And even though none down below weren't the main targets for the attacks being sent by the creatures against each other, everyone still had to dodge a flurry of attacks that could end them immediately if it even grazed them.
Sneering at the old man, Voldermort rasped in a venomous tone, "Always interfering, aren't you old bastard!"
"I unlike you care for others," the old wizard answered as he helped by blocking a powerful magical attack heading towards everyone from the aftershocks of the fight between the two familiars of the wizards.
Snorting in contempt, Voldermort uttered, "I will like to see you protect them against this!" Abruptly the warped and twisted manor house which stood stock still all of the suddenly began to move.
For a several ton house, it moved fast, really fast as it's trunk of a clawed hand came down on them ready to squish them like bugs.
Before the blow could reach them, Amelia Bones stepped forward and with a shout of effort, she held the thing back. Looking down at her feet, Harry found what he expected; a magic circle set up on the ground. Harry saw that it was a Ritual of Protection to be exact.
And that is what the Bones family excels at, Rituals! And they aren't a weak bunch as well as they have a minor affinity to Battle magic so that they could stand their ground.
"Go!" Amelia shouted, "we will handle this thing! You handle Voldermort and give it you're all in defeating him!"
Nodding his head towards the witch, the old man blocked another attack from Voldermort who was screaming out his fury.
This time, Albus returned fire with a spell aimed at Voldemort's wand arm trying to disarm him quickly. He followed it up with another spell trying to trap his opponent, and for a 159 year old man, he moved very fast as he chained one spell after the other.
After sending a spell at Voldemort, Dumbledore animated a few gnarled old trees nearby. Voldermort made a returned favor by pointed his wand downwards and corpses begin to rise from the graveyards that used to be out back in the home.
For several minutes the two titans fought each other putting off more magic in a minute than most wizards used in a month. This continued until some spells nearly killed a few of the Aurors on several occasions.
Things weren't helped along by the fact that Voldemort sent a few curses their way, knowing that the headmaster couldn't stand watching others be hurt. Thankfully, Dumbledore was always a few steps ahead of him, as soon as the curse came towards the gathered Aurors, Dumbledore would quickly deal with it.
"Must you always involve others in your fight," Dumbledore sighed, shaking his head as if he was disappointed in good old Voldy using such tactics beneath him.
"I only do that because you chose to make yourself weak by caring," Voldemort answer coldly in his thin rasping voice. "Unshackle yourself Albus of these weaklings, and you shall be free!"
"As always, we will have to agree to disagree," Dumbledore solemnly shook his head. "Now let's go somewhere where you won't try your tricks with me again!"
Without any forewarning at all, Dumbledore pointed his wand downward and suddenly there was a gall of wind that sent him flying high up into the air. Voldermort was also caught in the current of wind and he too went into the vaults of heaven.
Craning his neck up to get a better view, Harry could only make up the flashes of light up above in the sky as the two Great Wizards clashed against each other. Down below in the village of Little Hangleton where there used to be over a hundred different homes, now there was only ruin as the two colossal sized creatures moved their battle there.
Amelia and Kingsley on the other hand were battling it out with a literal house as they exchanged blows after blows. The rest of the Auror were dealing with the undead that Voldemort left behind and they had some assistance from Animate Trees.
It was balls to the top, bat shit crazy here as the rain of spells echoed everywhere and the roars of creatures filled the air.
That only left Harry along with Tonks and her squad mates.
"Harry come on, we need to help where we can," Tonks said to him.
"No!" Harry shook his head.
"What do you mean no?" Tonks asked with furrowed eyebrows.
"Did our vaunted hero lose his bravery?" some Auror asked who ran past catching a snipped of their conversation.
"Hey, Clark, you take that back!" Tonks growled after the man's back.
"Ignore him," Harry said, "We will be dealing with someone else that everyone missed."
"Who?" the tall African man in Tonks squad asked.
"Peter Pettigrew!"
Chapter 115: Peter Pettigrew
"Peter Pettigrew as in the one... you know..." Tonks asked hesitantly unsure how she should address the issue.
"Yes, the same man who sold out my parents, who were his best friends, and lead them to their death. Also, the same man who had an innocent man imprisoned for crimes he did not commit," Harry finished for her. Not having the same hesitation as she did as he put everything out in the open.
"I got some valid confirmation that he rejoined his master and is hiding out here in this manor with Voldermort. So it is going to be our mission to apprehend him at all cost and make sure he does not escape. If I know that fucking little rat well enough, then he will be hightailing it out of here after seeing all this fighting going on."
"So you are telling me the same man who got an Order of Merlin, First Class is a Death Eater and backstabber?" the dark skinned Auror voiced with a shake of his head. "Man, you can not trust anyone these days."
"Yes," Harry said, "now let's go and capture him!"
Harry was prepared to see Peter captured before he came here today. Pulling out the magic item he withdrew from his Family vault, Harry held out an old antique compass. It had only one use ferreting out Animagus and honing in on them.
Harry never wanted the same thing that happened to him before were all these years he had been sharing a room with an Animagus he had no clue about to happen ever again. His safety was paramount and was something that can not be overlooked, he had so many people counting on him and he just couldn't die from unforeseen circumstances that he did not expect. So he had to be ready.
That is why he had this magic item on person.
As much as he wished to have on his Magic Sight every day of every single minute it wasn't possible not only did he view things not in the normal way, the vision took a lot out of him both magically and mentally.
One day he might be able to achieve a balance with plenty of practice, but for now he could only use this ability sparingly.
Anyways with this item on hand, he would be able to track down Peter where ever he might have gone within a several mile radius.
"Stick close to me," Harry called out as he opened the compass out. The first thing it did was point at him since he was the closest Animagus at hand. Tapping on it twice, he made it hone on in on the second nearest Animagus and quickly the compass needle spun around until it pointed due north.
"Got you," Harry muttered as his eyes light up.
"Let's go," Harry waved to the others with a nod of his head.
"You heard him," Tonks said as she clapped her hands together, "let's move people!" Following behind them, Tonks made sure to stick real close to him as he focused solely on the compass making turns and twist here and there along the way.
It wasn't long before they came upon the perimeter that Amelia set up so that no one could escape. Harry wasn't surprised when he saw that the needle still pointed ahead into the woods behind the manor and graveyard. Clearly, Peter got past the perimeter unstopped.
Those that could achieve an Animagus form in Great Britain are rare, so rare that there really isn't much of a plan of action that the Aurors have to follow to handle them.
"Hey where are you going?" the Auror standing guard asked them as he came forward to block their path. He kept on fidgeting in place as his eyes darted ahead where most of the fights were going on, here you could still hear the clashes especially between Voldermort and Dumbledore who were battling high up above in the sky.
"We are chasing after a criminal that got past you, Erick," the gothic Auror replied to the man with a eye roll.
"I thought that," the man said with a scuffed. "Now you heard Department Head Amelia no one can get past, including you all," he said as he held out his hand.
"I can understand if you guys are just making this up to get away from all that!" he added as he looked back at the battles going on.
"We are not fleeing in fear!" Tonks growled in anger.
"Hey, no one said yo-..." before the man could even finish his sentence he dropped unconscious to the floor.
Everyone turned to look back at the young lord who had his wand raised. "What he was wasting our time," Harry shrugged his shoulder.
"You... You.. you just can't attack an Auror like that!" the petite Auror stumbled out in shock.
"Don't worry, I will be willing to pay the fine after all has been said and done. What, doesn't the going fine of attacking an Auror of the government go at? 1,000 2,00 Galleons?"
"Let's just go!" Tonks shook her head, she knew how rich he was or had a general idea that he was just filthy rich and the fine would be nothing for him to pay. And the misdemeanor would be waved for unforeseen circumstances.
Entering the woods, Harry caught a scuffling noise coming from up ahead. He knew that there couldn't be any wildlife nearby for dozens upon dozens of miles around. Thanks to Voldermort's dark aura seeping through the surrounding area those small critters must have been scared off.
Holding his hand out from everyone to come to a stop, Harry activated his Magic Sight now and smiled a very cold and empty smile that exposed more teeth than any warmth. He honed in on the form of a rat trying to stand stock still in the underbrush as it didn't even dare to move a single muscle. It might have worked on others, but for Harry, he could see the form of a man overlapping with that of the rat.
Seemingly sensing him staring at him with malicious intentions, the rat begin to flee. It ran headlong into a log and just as it came out the other way, Harry tossed the spell he prepared.
Quickly the Animagus reversal spell went into effect with a snap a grown man stood stuck inside the log with his head sticking out.
"Peter, Peter, Peter," Harry whispered in a disappointed tone as he came up to the traitor with his hate and disgust on full display on his face. "Where were you going in such a hurry?!"
"Harry, child..." he pleaded as he put on a simmering smile on his face.
Before he could get another word out of his traitorous mouth, Harry was upon him with his wand pointed at his face. "Don't you EVER dare to say my name with your filthy mouth!" he growled as he looked like a savage wild beast ready to tear into him.
Eyes going crossed-eyed as he stared at the wand pointed at his face, he whimpered back like the coward he was as he shivered in fear and terror, hiding his face as best he could.
"Give me that," Harry snarled as he took the coward's wand away from him. He didn't even try to put up a fight as the only thing on his mind was to flee instead of standing his ground.
"Let's go," Harry ordered as he pushed the rat man in front of him not so gently. "You already wasted more time than there is," he said pushing the traitor again to get him walking forward.
Seeing that he wasn't getting any mercy or pity from Harry, the rat man begin to plead and beg with the others. However he seem to forget who he was dealing with, Aurors. They were trained and used to this as every scum on the earth promised them riches beyond their wild imagination if they let them go or pleaded just like him for mercy as they wept how sorry they were for what they did.
Still Harry was getting sick and tired of hearing his annoying whining voice and barked out, "SHUT IT! If I hear one more word from you, you fucking traitor then I will make sure you never, ever get to say one more damn word from your traitorous!
"Are we clear!" Harry shouted as he stared down at him with eyes that promise no mercy at all.
After that threat of violence, they finally got peace and quiet and could carry along their way without hearing another word from the rat's mouth.
They meet the Auror that Harry cast a stunning spell, he wasn't too happy to see them at first but when he saw who they were dragging along, he couldn't say anything else.
Still, the man glared at Harry's back as they headed back up the hill, Harry really didn't care what he thought of him and whatever he filed in his report. Peter was going to escape if the man held them back any longer, and he just couldn't have that happen again.
Coming up to where the Manor used to be, all Harry saw was a ruin. The twisted and warped house was no more as only rubble and ruin remained. Amilia was ordering about people, setting the injured to the side and having emergency healing administered so that they could be stabilized. While she had the rest deal with the last few remaining undead, and some people check around the place sniffing out traps and other spells that might have been left in place.
As they walked into the clearing, Peter whimpered in fear as he stared about all the Aurors walking around with their wands held tightly in their hands.
"I see that you captured the accused," Kingsley came up to them, he had a long gash across his cheek where splinters of the monster house must have gotten to him in the fight.
"Yes, he tried to make a run for it, but he didn't get far," Harry answered as he pushed the traitor forwards as he started to gain cold feet.
"Mr. Shacklebolt," Peter whined, "I am innocent. I have been wrongfully subjected to unlawful treatment and been apprehend for no reason at all."
"If that is true then tell me this," Kingsley said, "why were you hiding in your unlawful Animagus form for over 13 years! And why did you try to run right now, if you are as innocent as you claim!"
"I.. I..." he tried to squeak, but then Amelia came towards them and with just a glance from her, he swallowed whatever lie he was about to utter.
"Secure him! I want him to stand trial when we get back," the witch directed two Aurors over to arrest him and keep him in custody.
"Make sure you hold on tightly to him," Harry spoke up as he came behind the traitor's back. "He is so very much like a rat and might slip between your fingers if you allow him so!"
"Will do Sir," the Aurors nodded their head to him. And what they did not notice was Harry silently casting a spell on the rat man, what it's use was no one really knew yet. Then without a word, he slipped a wooden figurine of a cowering rat into his inner pocket.
Acting natural as if he wasn't up to anything suspicious, Harry asked both Amelia and Kingsley Shacklebolt, "So how does your Auror force stand at right now?" Harry asked both Amelia and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
"We got a couple of injured men, but other than that we are fine," Kingsley answered.
"If you are thinking, what I think you are then no," Amelia shook her head. "It is not going to happen."
"Hey," Harry said, "I didn't even tell you what my plan was!"
"I know you very well," Amelia shook her head, "You are so like him in so many ways to count. One of them being reckless and heedless of anything in your way!"
"Okay, are we even on the same line?" Harry asked.
"Yes," the older woman said as she craned her neck back to look up at the battle happening high up in the sky. "You want to interfere with that!" Both Voldermort and Dumbledore were going at it as they let spew all their skills and powers against each other.
They were more akin to two gods clashing against each other while the rest of us were just mere mortals only bearing witness to their awesome might. And it really wasn't so great for their health, spells kept on rating down to the ground and everyone had to give it their all to either dodge or put up shields which were flimsy against these powerful spells.
To make matter worse Harry noticed that the giant dome that Dumbledore put up to insulate this fight only to this village was slowly breaking under the onslaught of the two wizards.
Still this was indeed a true awaking for Harry, finally he got to bear witness to the true strength of a Sorcerer. And he knew that he was nothing compared to them as they showed such power he could never imagine matching up to them.
Nevertheless, it presented him a goal to reach, somewhere to aim for. Now he knew where he was going, and one day, very soon, he would reach it and go toe to toe with the both of them and surpass them as well.
"Well first of all we will need brooms to get there," Harry clarified for her. "And anyways," he said as he got a glare from the older witch, "I wasn't thinking that. Even I know that is so far out of my league. No, I want to interfere in that," he said.
Pointing to the two creatures battling it out in the ruins of the village, Harry looked at them with an obnoxious grin. Fawkes and the giant snake had laid ruin to the village that used to be there, instead of the homes and shops that used to be there now there were only ash and noxious clouds of poisons in the air.
The village was totally leveled like barrages of missiles had been dropped on it them chemical warfare was waged on it. It was nothing but barren land as the two mightily creatures battled it out.
"You can't mean..." Kingsley said as he looked between him and the battle going on between the two giant creatures.
"Yes, exactly!" Harry nodded his head. Then sighing when he saw how hesitant everyone was, Harry voiced, "I can't say exactly why, but we need to make sure that giant snake is defeated! All I can really say is that it is paramount we do so somehow!"
"I agree with Harry," Tonks stepped up besides him, even though he hadn't told her why, she was still willing to back him. Smiling at her, he was glad that he had her always at his back.
"Come on guys," she said, "we are our nerves of steel and bravery. Are we not Aurors!"
Staring long and hard at him, Lady Bones finally uttered, "I will want an explanation once everything is said and down!"
"Deal," Harry said, willing to explain to her this Horcrux secret.
"Everyone let's move out," the witch ordered. "I want a few to remain behind with the injured and the rest of you with me!"
Quickly following through with her commands, Tonks whispered to him, "If we die, I am so blaming you!"
Chuckling, there was no humor in Harry's voice, he knew that was a very high risk. These creatures, both Fawkes and the giant snake were on a whole nother level, but still he needed to see Voldermrt's Horcrux destroyed if he wanted any chance of killing the snaky bastard.
"Can we bring along, Peter?" Harry asked the older witch.
"Why?" she asked, as she turned to look at the rat man in disgust and hate. Noticing her stare, the cowards shivered back in fear hiding behind the two Aurors flanking him.
"Well aren't snakes and rats best of friends?" he joked.
Crossing her hands over her chest and staring at him as his joke didn't seem to get across to her, she didn't utter a peep.
"Okay, I have a plan," Harry simply answered. "And it would need him," he said as he glanced at the back-stabber's back with not so kind eyes.
"Alright, let me hear," Amelia said as she listened up to him tell her his plan.
"Mmm," she said, "it might work."
"It might? More like it will absolutely work out like I planned!" Harry boasted.
"Hey Peter," Harry called out to the coward, "how would you like to be bait for us!"
If you guys want advance chapters check out my Pa/ treon I am 25 chapters ahead!
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