Brynjar and Asta were lounging around the sittingroom waiting for Alastor to come collect them. The last two days had been a blur; what with preparing for tonight and Hermione bringing Asta, Brynjar, and Cuyler to the Burrow to meet the Weasley's and the rest of the Order, so they didn't think they were gate crashers, it was a busy last two days.
They had went back to the Burrow to set up their own tent outside the Weasley's protective enchantments, and set up their own, leaving Malfoy to stay in the tent to await their arrival later. Malfoy was less than thrilled that he was being left at the Burrow to wait for them, on the property of a family that hates him, but unfortunately for Malfoy he has no say in the matter. Asta had used the same enchantments on the tent that Alastor used on his house, to keep Malfoy in the tent.
Since they got back from the Burrow, Brynjar has been all over Asta. As soon as they came through the floo, he wrapped his arms around her waist and started kissing her neck, using tonight's danger as his excuse. Asta wasn't objecting in the least, she was just worried that Alastor would come earlier than discussed and see them at it, but that didn't stop them.
Now they were sated and lounging around talking about their meeting at the Weasley's the other day, and how surprised they were at how easily they welcomed the three Vikings in.
"I thought Cuyler was going to shit his pants when Mrs. Weasley came flying at him with her arms out!" Brynjar laughed, as he watched Asta stretch on the floor. "He went whiter than white, until he felt her hug him."
"Oh I know!" Asta said with a smirk as she rolled from a split to a straddle, and flattened her stomach on the floor. "I thought there would be more cautiousness and suspicion than there was! They were so….. kind and accepting. It was strange."
Brynjar just hummed a response as he watched her demonstrate her flexibility, finding it impossible to not be amazed at well she could contort herself. She could tuck her feet behind her head, lift her leg over her head, and fold her body in all different ways. To watch her contort herself was both impressive and arousing, but luckily for both of them; Brynjar didn't have it in him for a fourth round of sex.
"Ron didn't seem to happy with Cuyler though, did he?" Asta asked, noticing the look in Brynjar's eyes, quickly putting the kabash to another round of sex.
"No he looked really, really pissed!" Brynjar said with a laugh as he recalled Ron's reaction. "You think he's got a thing for Hermione too?"
"Yeah I do, he got way to angry about Cuyler being her date for him to not have feelings for her." Asta replied flatly as she pulled herself up from the floor, and sat next to Brynjar on the couch. "I think we need to discuss something before we leave with Alastor."
"Why? You're not breaking up with me already are you?" Brynjar asked nervously as he shifted so he was looking directly into Asta's eyes, trying desperately to read her face.
"What! No, you twat!" Asta said with a chuckle as she shoved Brynjar, who breathed a sigh of relief.
"Don't scare me like that you asshole!" Brynjar exclaimed as he shoved her back, making her topple backwards.
"I'm sorry!" Asta laughed as she straightened herself back up, and tugged lightly on his beard. "We need to talk about protocol for when we are off with Harry, Ron, and Hermione."
"What do you mean 'protocol'?" Brynjar asked, completely confused.
"We need to make sure that we don't let US get in the way of our job, you know?" Asta said slowly, afraid Brynjar might take her words the wrong way.
"No, I don't." Brynjar said, still confused.
"You know how before we became a couple, when we accepted my father's offer for the mission, how we said we would both lay our lives down to help Harry Potter succeed?" Asta asked imploringly.
"Yes I do?" Brynjar said quizzically, unsure of where she was going with this conversation.
"Well, I am just worried that we will always be trying to protect each other and we will lose sight of the job we are here to do." Asta said sweetly as she entwined her fingers with Brynjar's. "Because I know I will always be trying to offer myself up for the dangerous tasks, to avoid the possibility of losing you, and I know you will do the same."
"So you want me to treat you like one of the guys?" Brynjar asked fully understanding what she was getting at. He would offer himself up just to spare Asta the risk of losing her life, which could be a problem.
"Well, sort of. I want us to establish boundaries for when we are off with the three of them." Asta elaborated as she got pulled into Brynjar's lap.
"Like what?" Brynjar said before kissing the top of her head and wrapping his arms around her tightly.
"Like, when we are on a mission to recover something or kill something, or whatever they are planning to do, we forget we are a couple until we are back in the safety of our tent or wherever they are staying. We go about our lives the way we did at Malfoy's house, we are battle partners." Asta explained as she nuzzled her head back against his chest.
"And when we aren't running from lunatics?" Brynjar asked seductively as he kissed just below her ear.
"Mmmm, we can be as couple-like as you want when we aren't protecting them." Asta purred enjoying the feeling of his lips on her neck.
"Good, because I don't think I would be able to resist you now that I know what it feels like to have you, literally." Brynjar said seductively as he slyly snuck one of his hands under the top of her shirt, filling his hand with her breast.
"Hey now!"Asta exclaimed, pulling away slightly and turning to look at Brynjar. "I think three times is enough for one morning and afternoon." Asta said smartly as she pulled his hand out of her shirt.
"Yes but you are just so sexy, and more is better is it not?" Brynjar said cheekily as he adjusted his hips, rubbing his erection against her back, groaning slightly. "Besides, who knows when we will get to be together again, what with having to share a tent with a hostage. I'll lose my mind if I can't touch you for a year or more." Brynjar added as he slowly reached his hand down, and started rubbing her over her shorts making her groan in defeat.
"Mmmmm, I suppose one more time won't hurt." Asta conceded as she spun around and grasped Brynjar's erection firmly, earning her a loud moan of appreciation.
"Fffffuuuuccckkk yesssss!" Brynjar moaned as he threw his head back in pleasure, reveling in Asta's every touch like he would never feel her again.
Half an hour passed before they were lying together naked on the couch, panting and sated for the fourth time that day. They couldn't get enough of one another, and were taking the idea of potentially dying tonight very seriously. If they both weren't too proud to admit it, they were both worried of losing each other. They weren't afraid of the potential injuries they may get, or the potential loss of limb, or anything like that; they were each worried for the other ones life.
Brynjar couldn't begin to imagine what his life would be like without Asta. She has always been in his life, there was never a day that went by where he didn't see or talk to her. If he were to lose her, he fully believed he would surely lose his mind.
Asta couldn't imagine her life without Brynjar, he has always been a constant in her life. She saw him every day and leaned on him with everything they did, he was her rock and her best friend. If she were to lose him, the Devil himself would be cowering in fear from her rage and vengeance.
Just as they both finished getting dressed and settled themselves back on the couch, the fireplace roared to life and they rose to their feet. After the light died down, they saw Alastor standing before them, looking miserable as ever. He surveyed them both before nodding his head slightly.
"Bought time you two got together." Alastor said dismissively as he waved his wand and summoned a potion to him, catching the bottle in his right hand while fishing in his pockets with his left. "I could feel the tension between you the day you offered me your help."
"Could everyone tell but me!?" Asta exclaimed throwing her arms into the air. "I mean honestly!"
Brynjar laughed at her outburst, earning him a jab to the side from Asta.
"It's not funny you twat!" Asta tried to say with a serious expression but failing miserably.
"Are you both ready?" Alastor asked as he tucked away the potion bottle in his jacket.
"Born ready." Brynjar replied, hoisting Asta to her feet and dragging her towards the fireplace.
"Good. Let's go then." Alastor said as he grabbed a handful of floo powder, before stepping into the fireplace. "The Burrow." He growled as he threw the powder into the fire-bed, causing bright green flames to erupt from the coals, and Alastor to disappear.
"After you." Brynjar said politely, gesturing for Asta to go first.
"I'd say, 'what a gentleman' but I know you are just saying that so you can look at my ass." Asta said smartly as she walked past him, deliberately overly-swaying her hips to cause him to stare. She grabbed a handful of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace. "The Burrow." Asta said loudly before disappearing from view as the flames swallowed her up.
"Can't say she was wrong." Brynjar commented as he took a handful of floo powder and stepped into the fireplace, looking around the sittingroom for the last time. He smiled as he looked around, knowing he will be forever grateful for Alastor's help and for allowing them to use his house, for without him, he and Asta may not be a couple right now. As he finished his sweep of the room, he chuckled to himself before calling out his destination and vanishing from Alastor Moody's house for the last time.
"No really Mrs Weasley, I'm fine thank you though." Asta said politely as Mrs Weasley tried to force Asta into eating another helping of steak and kidney pie.
"Are you sure dear?" Mrs Weasley prodded, trying to plump up the petite young girl.
"Yes I'm sure. Thank you though, I really do appreciate it." Asta said politely as she wrung the hem of her shirt nervously.
"Stop that." Brynjar scolded playfully, as he swatted her hands. "You're going to stretch out our shirt."
Asta nodded nervously before excusing herself, and going out the front door towards the garden, Brynjar following in her wake.
"I know mothers make you nervous, but you need to relax love. This mother wants to fatten you up, not kill you." Brynjar said sweetly as he wrapped his arms around her, kissing the top of her head.
"I know… I know…" Asta said shakily, more to herself than Brynjar. "I just can't deal with mothers, aside from yours. I feel like they are plotting my death when they look at me, like she did. I'm afraid to disappoint them and make them angry and come after me."
Brynjar wanted nothing more than to bring Asta's mum back from the pits of hell, just to torture and kill her all over again for all the damage she has done to her. The girl will run head first into a fight that is six against one, but throw a mother she needs on her side in front of her and she becomes a nervous wreck.
"Well, Mrs Weasley told me she finds you absolutely adorable, I think because you're pint siz-ow!" Brynjar said as Asta jabbed him in the ribs. "Well you are!"
"That doesn't mean you need to point it out!" Asta said with a small laugh as she struggled to break free of his bone crushing hug.
"If I didn't pick on you, you would think I was mad at you." Brynjar said with a laugh as he watched Asta try to break free of his hold.
For a moment they both forgot that they were about to go and fight a bunch of Death Eaters, because Snakeman would be stupid to not have at least a few out on patrol. They were care free and childish for one last time before everything became real.
"Asta! Brynjar! We are heading out now!" Alastor called from the front door of the Burrow, before walking towards the edge of the enchantments.
"You ready?" Asta asked Brynjar as he released his hold on her, and grabbed her hand with his.
"Born ready. You?" Brynjar asked, casting a sideways glance at Asta to try and read her expression.
"Please." Asta scoffed. "That is like asking Cuyler if he has read any good books lately."
Brynjar chuckled and tugged her arm, pulling her into him before wrapping his arm around her shoulders, and squeezing her tightly.
"Alright, watch for Death Eaters on our way there. If you see any and you feel comfortable with it, kill them." Alastor said emotionlessly, as though he was telling you how his day was. "You two," Alastor called out, gesturing towards Asta and Brynjar, "do you need to borrow brooms?"
"No, we're good." Brynjar replied lazily, causing everyone to look at him curiously.
"How are you going to get to Harry's?" Ron asked suspiciously.
"Yeah, you can't get there before we do. He will try and fight you off, thinking you're with Voldemort or something." One of the Weasley twins said incredulously.
"We know that. We can fly without brooms." Asta explained impatiently, eager to get on with the task at hand.
"Wha-" The majority began to say before Alastor cut them off.
"We don't have the time for this now, let's go!" He scolded as he mounted his broom, and kicked off from the ground.
Harry was wondering around the empty house, recollecting all the memories from his time here under the Dursley's roof. The sittingroom was void of the hundreds of photographs of Dudley through the ages, and the pristine furniture, and expensive television. The Kitchen sparkled empty the way it did when it was full with food, dishes, and appliances. The whole house was empty of everything except for Harry, Hedwig, and his belongings.
Harry made his way down the hall, towards the front door, where he stopped abruptly at the door of his old cupboard. He stared at the door for a moment, feeling slightly queasy at the thought and sight of his old "room", if you could call it that, thinking about all the meals he went without from being locked inside it. He slowly reached for the latch and carefully slid it to the left, unlocking the door.
He pulled the door open slowly and squatted down, reaching into the cupboard to find the cord for the light. Finally finding it he gave it a tug, and illuminated the small cramped space. Memories of being shoved into the cupboard gruffly by Uncle Vernon, and screamed at and bullied by Aunt Petunia through the slats on the door, came flooding back to his mind. All those memories made Harry question he decision to protect the Dursley's from Voldemort.
'Why did I bother helping them?' Harry asked himself, as he continued to stare blankly into the cupboard. 'They starved me, treated me like shit, and constantly called me and my parent's freaks.' Harry grew increasingly angry as he continued to stare into the hell that was his childhood. 'I should have left them here to be captured. I should have left them here to be tortured, they way they tortured me.'
Harry was shaken from his angry trance by a free flying Hedwig, who screeched before landing on Harry's shoulder. After she nipped Harry's ear affectionately, grateful he let her out of her cage to roam and fly freely, she spun her head towards the front door. Harry followed her gaze toward the door abandoning his dark thoughts, and his cupboard for the last time.
As soon as Harry slammed the cupboard door shut, the front door swung open and Mad-eye came stumping through the front door.
"Professor!" Harry exclaimed as he saw Mad-eye stump towards the sittingroom hurriedly.
"Potter." Mad-eye said un-emotionally, moving past Harry quickly so he could set up.
"Harry!" Hermione exclaimed as she flung herself at him through the front door.
"Hermione! What are you doing here?" Harry asked completely confused and surprised to see her, suddenly getting the feeling Mad-eye changed the plan.
"To help of course!" Hermione said with a cheeky smile as she made her way into the sittingroom.
One after one all the members of the Order came filing through the front door, even Kingsley!
"Kingsley, I thought you were meant to be looking after the Prime Minister?" Harry asked.
"You are more important." Kingsley said in his big booming voice, as he grasped Harry's hand within both of his.
Harry felt more love than he could know what to do with. Everyone he cared about was here, with the exception of those who were passed and Mrs Weasley and Ginny. Everyone was here, which meant the plan has become something more in depth and the risks were higher than Mad-eye originally thought.
"As you can tell by the additional help," Mad-eye paused, looking around the room with a confused and annoyed look on his face, "Asta! Brynjar! Get the hell in here!" Mad-eye called towards the entry to the sittingroom, making Harry think he had gone mad until he saw two additional people move into the entry way. "The plan has changed a little."
"Who are you?" Harry asked a little more rudely than he meant it to sound, but he hated being kept out of the loop.
"That is my cousin and her boyfriend, I asked them to help us tonight." Mad-eye growled, annoyed at his attitude. "Problem with that?"
Harry felt his anger subside, and a wave of embarrassment wash over him. He didn't mean to offend anyone, he was just tired of being kept out of the loop when HE is the ONLY ONE who can destroy Voldemort!
"No. No problem." Harry said as calmly as he could. "I'm just tired of being kept out of the loop."
Mad-eye rolled his eyes at Harry's childlike fit, and beckoned for the two new members to come stand next to him.
"This is Asta Akeldama, my second cousin." Mad-eye said as he gestured towards the dark haired girl standing close to the large man on her right. "And this is Brynjar Kykrbani, her boyfriend." Mad-eye said as he gestured towards the man to his left that towered over him. "I asked them to help us transport you safely to the Burrow, they are skilled fighters and I would trust them with my life. There, now you know them, moving on."
Harry listened long enough to catch both of their names, then he instantly tried to remember where he had heard her last name before. He knew it was a name he read or heard Hermione talk about from 'History of Magic' textbooks, but he couldn't remember where, or why that name sounded so familiar. He gave up trying to figure out where he heard that name before, when he heard Mad-eye say "the real Harry Potter".
"Excuse me?" Harry said incredulously, looking as though his Aunt just called his mother a freak.
"The Death Eaters won't be able to tell which Harry Potter is the real one." Mad-eye repeated, growing annoyed. "Didn't think it was that hard to follow, Potter."
"Absolutely not!" Harry shouted, completely furious that Mad-eye would even suggest this. "I will not allow them to take polyjuice to become me, absolutely not!"
"It's the safest way to-" Mad-eye began but was cut off by Harry.
"Bull! There are other ways to do this that don't involve polyjuice!" Harry countered.
"Yes but all could get us caught! You still got the trace on you, so you can't apparate without the Ministry knowing!" Mad-eye began, stumping towards Harry. "The floos are heavily guarded due to Voldemort's return, and there's no way to know if the light is monitoring them, or if the Death Eaters are!" Mad-eye stopped, coming to a halt in front of Harry, breathing heavily. "I have taken other methods into account, but this is THE SAFEST way to move you, Potter."
Harry stood tall against Mad-eye's attempt to intimidate him, angry at the thought of the people he cares about flying across open skies as "The Chosen One". But in the end, he had to admit Mad-eye was right, this was the safest way to move him.
Harry looked around at all the people in his Aunt's sittingroom, everyone he has ever cared about were standing with him, prepared to die to protect him, even the two he just met. He was both overwhelmed with love for them and angry that Ron or Hermione didn't tell him about this plan.
"Fine." Harry said in defeat, running his hands through his hair. "Fine. Here." Harry said as he ripped out a few of his hairs, and handed them to Mad-eye.
"Good." Mad-eye grunted as he took the hairs from Harry's hand, and began fishing around in his coat pockets for something.
Harry looked from Mad-eye to his cousin and her boyfriend, who were looking up towards the ceiling like they could see something, and they were whispering to each other. Harry didn't know them at all, and wasn't sure he should just trust them so easily, so he found their behavior odd.
"What is it?" Harry asked as he came to stand in front of them, looking skeptical.
Asta and Brynjar looked at each other, then back at Harry before either of them spoke.
"We can sense them up there, waiting for us." Asta said seriously, glancing from Harry to the ceiling. "We can't see them or hear them, but it's like that feeling you get when you are being watched from a distance."
"What?" Harry said urgently, beginning to panic at the thought of leading his friends into a death trap. "How many?"
"It doesn't work like that, we can't physically see them through the walls and such, but we can sense that they are there." Brynjar explained to Harry again, clearly his friends risking their lives for him makes his brain foggy. "But we do feel a heavy presence, like at least 20 of them waiting up there."
"At least?" Harry repeated as his heart raced in his chest and he began to panic. "I can't send them up there pretending to be me when there's an army of Death Eaters up there!"
"Well I don't really think it's an option now, Harry." Brynjar said as he pointed past Harry, making Harry turn around and see what Brynjar was talking about.
When Harry turned around he saw six duplicates of himself staring at back at him.
"Wow! We're identical!" Fred and George exclaimed cheekily.
"Not yet you're not, put these on." Mad-eye growled as he threw a bag of clothes in front of the fake Harry's. "You'll need to change to Potter." Mad-eye said gruffly to the real Harry, who was standing in awe at all the fake Harry's changing without any disregard for Harry's privacy.
"How many do you figure?" Mad-eye grunted towards Asta and Brynjar, who were trying to not watch the odd sight of seven copies of one man changing.
"Uhhhh, at least 20." Asta said as she turned her attention to Alastor, who didn't look shocked by the answer.
"I assumed as much, there will probably be more though." Alastor said flatly, before giving the two young Vikings a meaningful look. "Are you sure you still want to do this? There's no shame in backing-" Alastor began but was cut off by Asta.
"There is monumental shame in backing out! You know our ways!" Asta replied looking offended.
"We know the consequences that could come from this, we have accepted it." Brynjar said flatly.
"Good." Alastor said before turning back to the Potter's that stood before him. "Which one of ya' is the real Harry?"
"Here!" Harry shouted from the back of the room near Hagrid.
"You are riding with Hagrid, everyone else remember who they are riding with?" Mad-eye asked, scanning the fake Potter's faces for signs of confusion. "Good. Now, Asta would you care to explain you and Brynjar's part before you head out?"
"Sure." Asta said as she dug in her pouch that was strapped to her leg, only to come up empty handed. "Brynjar I think you have them in your pouch, will you hand them out?" Asta asked, before beginning her spiel.
"Got them." Brynjar announced before beginning to hand each person a pendant on a chain.
"Right, these a pendants that are charmed to call Brynjar and myself to you. Should any of you at any point tonight feel outnumbered or become injured, wear this pendant somewhere that you can reach easily. All's you have to do is squeeze the pendant, and either Brynjar or myself will be there." Asta paused briefly, to watch everyone place the chain around their neck or shrink it to fit on their wrists before continuing. "Brynjar and I are here to help you all get Harry safely to the Burrow. We are good fighters, avid duelers, and strong; dealing with these scumbags will be nothing new to us. Brynjar?" Asta said, gesturing for Brynjar to take over.
"Asta and I will be going up first to try and clear the way for you all, so you all face as little death threat as possible. As those of you who flew here with us tonight saw, Asta and I can fly without brooms. When we fly the smoke that emits around us is blood red, so please don't aim any curses at us." Brynjar paused momentarily to let that sink in. "When we have taken out as many Death Eaters as we can before becoming overwhelmed, if we become overwhelmed that is, we will signal you all by creating a red bolt of lightning. When you see the red bolt of lightning, and only when you see the red bolt of lightning, take off because that's the signal that it is as safe as it is going to get."
As Brynjar finished his piece, him and Asta looked around the room to make sure everyone understood the plan and how things were going to start off. Thye were both pleased to see that they all seemed to be following what he and Asta told them. When he looked at one of the Harry Potter's before him, he knew they weren't thrilled about the plan, making it obvious it was the real Harry.
"So I'm supposed to be alright with two other people now putting their lives at risk for me?" Harry spat out, angrily eyeing Mad-eye. "What are they twenty-something? They should be living their lives not laying them on the line for someone they barely know!"
"We're seventeen mate, just like you." Brynjar corrected, looking smug. "You shouldn't be fighting a grown wizards battle, but you have been since you were eleven, so don't go all righteous on us."
Harry looked like a first year seeing the Great Hall for the first time as he looked at Brynjar and Asta. They looked so much older than they were, much, much older. They had streaks of gray in their hair for Merlin's sake!
"You're only seventeen? Both of you?" Harry asked, completely stunned. "You-"
"Yes, we know they look older than they are." Mad-eye interjected, clearly getting tired of the lolly-gagging. "We don't have the time to sit and chat, we need to go!" Mad-eye said as he stumped out the front door, the fake Potters and protectors following behind him.
Harry sighed and followed suite, leaving Asta and Brynjar alone for one final moment. They turned to look at each other, both completely calm and eager to see some action.
"This will be the ultimate test of whether or not this will be an easy task, seeing as we are a couple now." Asta said with a cocky smile as she punched Brynjar's arm.
"Yes, it will. But I think we can do it, we both enter our own little world when we are fighting people." Brynjar replied, before shoving her playfully.
"Alright, I say we give it five minutes before we signal for them to come up." Asta said dutifully as she began to walk towards the entrance to the sittingroom. "That should be more than enough time to clear away a majority of the threat, don't you think?"
"Sounds like a plan to me." Brynjar replied as he grabbed Asta's hand and spun her into him.
"What are you doing? They are waiting for us." Asta said in surprise as she tried to pull away from Brynjar.
"Yeah, and I'm not going anywhere until I get a good luck kiss from my girlfriend." Brynjar said cheekily as he lowered his head towards hers, before capturing her lips.
The kiss was longer than he meant it to be, but he wanted to put a lot of unsaid feelings and words into the kiss, in case something went wrong tonight. By the time they pulled away from each other, they were both shaking because they knew what the kiss meant, and that shook them to their very core.
They looked at each other for one beat, before Asta straightened herself up and slapped on her cocky "I already won" smile, and gave Brynjar a devious look.
"You ready to show them the damage we can do?" Asta said cockily.
"Born ready." Brynjar replied with a cocky grin.
Asta raised her arm up in front of her, Brynjar did the same, and they grasped each other's hand.
"To Valhalla and on." Asta said confidently.
"To Valhalla and on, my love." Brynjar replied, then they both dropped their arms and made their way outside, where the whole of the Order was waiting for them.