A/N:Holy Shit! A post in under three weeks...I think. Oh well, here is the next chappie. As the title says, we are in the final stretch. I'm thinking that another chapter after this and then a epilogue and that will be it. Before the chapter begins, I'd like to take a moment to ask for a moment of silence for a fallen comrade. As some of you may know, I actually write out my chapters on paper before typing them. Since the beginning of my fanfiction career, I have been using the same mechanical pencil. It was this blue bic that produced everything you've read until the middle of this chapter. Unfortunately, my trusted friend and coworker has passed on to the next great adventure. So please, a moment to remember a great pencil...
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Thank you. And now...
The Final Stretch
"I don't fucking believe it!" Sirius' bellow tore through Grimmauld place, immediately bringing the other two occupants tumbling down the stairs in various states of undress. Harry and Hermione had moved into the Black family home after Riddick's...'visit'... to the ministry. Sirius had explained some of the protections inherent with the old structure. All involved believed that, until everything was settled, living in the ancestral home was for the best.
"Sirius! What's wrong?" asked Hermione, trying to straighten the over sized green muscle-shirt on her slender frame.
"That bastard." mumbled the ex-fugitive, ignoring the half-naked people in front of him and glaring at the paper in his hands.
"What?" growled harry.
"Read for yourself."
The couple leaned over the angrily discarded Daily Profit. The headline brought out a growl from them both as Dobby walked in, having just woken up from a commanded nap.
"What's going on?" asked the little elf.
"Boy-who-lived exonerated!" read Hermione, drawing a slight gasp from Dobby.
"At a press conference last night, Supreme Mugwump and Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore, announced the boy-who-lived's innocence. 'Recent evidence has indeed proven that Harry Potter was not guilty of murdering fellow student Cedric Diggory five years ago. With further interrogation of recently captured death eaters, it was revealed that fugitive Peter Pettigrew was the true culprit. As supreme mugwump of the wizengamot, I happily pronounce Harry Potter cleared of all charges. I also invite Mr. Potter to Hogwarts, should he read this news, for a much over due discussion at his earliest convenience."
As she finished reading, all eyes turned to Harry. Only...it wasn't Harry standing there. The green eyes were a sheen of solid silver as his fists clenched to a knuckle-whitening tightness.
"That bloody, shriveled-up, ball-sucking piece of shit." Riddick's voice was colder than a Dementor's touch as he turned to leave, only to be halted by a soft hand landing his bare shoulder.
"Harry. I know you're upset. I know you plan to kill the bastard. Frankly...I don't blame you. But, before you do, let's let him explain. I want to hear his reasons first."
The tension in Riddick's body eased slightly at Hermione's words. Slowly, he turned and nodded as they climbed the stairs to their room to dress.
"I know this probably a stupid question..." started Dobby as the young lovers left the kitchen, "but isn't it a good thing that Harry's free. Why is everyone so upset?"
"Because this proves that Dumbledore was fucking Harry over. My cousin Tonks is an auror. She would have told us if the 'evidence' had actually been gathered. This is just part of the old man's plan."
"Ah...well this should be an entertaining conversation."
--oo00HPR00oo--
"All for the greater good." muttered Albus Dumbledore as he idly stroked his beard.
Sitting behind his desk at Hogwarts,the aged Headmaster glanced around his spacious office. His eyes fell on the empty perch that had once held his familiar. The phoenix, Fawkes, had left him not long after Harry Potter had been sent to Azkaban. Albus was not worried, however, for he knew that the boy would need the vold persona placed on him at the wizard's prison to save them all. Eventually, all would see that was for the greater good, and Fawkes would return.
"Dumbledore..." The low growl pulled Albus form his reverie and he looked to a particularly shadowy corner of the office. Standing there was none other that Harry Potter. Using his glasses, charmed to see through invisibility, Albus was able to spot no less than ten knife sheathes on the younger man's person. At least five of those carried what looked like multiple throwing knives.
"Harry, my boy!" declared the headmaster exuberantly. "I do believe that your father would not be too happy to see what you've done with his invisibility cloak."
"I don't give a fuck, old man. And it's Riddick to you."
"Ah, yes...Your alias. I've heard the stories of your deeds while in prison. I must say that your actions have disappointed me."
"You have ten seconds to tell me why I shouldn't kill you."
"Very well...Please, take a seat." Dumbledore graciously gestured to the armchair near the desk. He frowned when the shady figure remained stock still. Undaunted all the same, he resumed his grandfatherly smile and cleared his throat.
"Ahem. To begin, I would like to apologize for the necessity of your imprisonment. You see, it was..."
"Necessity?" interrupted Riddick, his growling becoming harsher.
"Yes. Twenty years ago, a prophecy was made. It foretold of a child that would be born to parents who had thrice defied Voldemort. A child that would be born as the seventh month died."
"Me."
"In all actuality, the two choices were you or Mr. Longbottom. However, the next part of the prophecy stated that 'the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal'. That mark on your brow proves that you are the one to defeat Voldemort."
"If you knew that..." asked Riddick, having temporarily forgotten his imposed time limit. "Then why the bloody fuck didn't you train me?"
"That was part of the plan, Harry. However, to teach you what you needed, I felt it was necessary for you to have a certain...temperament, if you will. The skills to defeat Voldemort are very...intense. I needed you hardened (wink) before you could learn them. I needed a cold survivor."
"Which is why you stuck me with the Dursleys."
"Indeed. I had hoped that their dislike of you would have hardened (wink-wink) you. Your first day at Hogwarts revealed that hope to have been unfulfilled (giggity-wink). Instead of the lone wolf, you were a weak and humble child.
Fate seemed to favor me, however. For that very year, Lord Voldemort infiltrated the school in an attempt to obtain the sorcerer's stone. I realized this was an opportunity to turn you into the warrior we needed. Keeping that in mind, I fed you the clues to guide you to the final confrontation. What I did not count on was Hermione Granger."
"She kept me grounded."
"Yes. I tried to influence your growth (giggity-giggity), but Ms. Granger kept you soft (OH!). Second year, I'd hoped that by allowing her to be petrified by the basilisk, it would force you to work by yourself. It took a rather powerful compulsion charm to convince her to skip that Quidditch match, especially considering her perfect attendance to every game after the two of you became friends."
"But she still managed to help me."
"Damn straight I did." Dumbledore threw a shocked glance to the the door to see four people and one elf. The Weasley twins, Sirius Black, and one incredibly pissed off Hermione Granger glared back at him in defiance. Looking lower, he recognized the elf as Dobby. This was impossible! He should have sensed their entrance, regardless of the means of travel."
"Dobby. I never gave you permission to enter this office. Let alone bring guests."
"Tough shit, Dimbledore." spat the little elf, shocking the old man again.
"Hmm...Regardless. Yes, Ms. Granger. I underestimated your devotion to Harry."
"What about me?" asked Sirius darkly.
"Yes, yes. By the end of your second year, Harry, I'd noticed the distraction that was Ronald Weasley. Using my connections, I allowed the Weasleys to win the wizarding lottery. It was rather simple to convince them to visit Egypt for the summer. Meanwhile, I talked the minister into visiting Azkaban for an 'inspection'. Knowing his tendency to gloat, I made sure that you, Sirius, would see the photograph of the Weasley family and young Ronald's 'pet'."
"Why did you send our family out of the country?" the twins simultaneously inquired, their anger clearly evident.
"To prevent Sirius form simply breaking into the Burrow to kill Pettigrew."
"Why?" snarled Riddick.
"It was my hope that you would confront him and kill him when you learned that he betrayed your parents. While dim, Minister Fudge would not be so stupid as to reveal such information under normal circumstances. Especially in a crowded pub full of gossip-prone children.
The incident with the Firebolt was also of my design. When the broomstick arrived at breakfast, I was able to make eye contact with Ms. Granger. Through that contact, I was able to compel her to contact Minerva behind your back. I knew that she would never go around you with out that compulsion. Subsequently, after you killed Sirius, I would reveal the truth, and you would begin to close off in guilt, thereby pushing Ms. Granger even farther away."
"What about the tournament?" asked Hermione, eyes cold with fury.
"Yes. I knew that the Moody that arrived at Hogwarts was a fraud. Veritaserum and an obliviation allowed me to learn Voldemort's plan. When your name was chosen from the goblet of fire, I again made surreptitious eye contact with one of your friends. This time, however, it was Ronald. It did not take much compulsion at all to convince him that you'd managed to enter the tournament and not include him. I had theorized that being abandoned by your best friend would force you into the cold persona needed.
I once again underestimated you, Ms. Granger. The two of you became closer, thereby keeping Harry firmly in the light. When the yule ball was announced, I called you to my office. The both of you."
"I don't remember that."
"That is because I obliviated you Harry. After I placed compulsion charms to prevent either of you from asking the other to the ball. It was a blessing in disguise when Hermione was asked by Victor Krum. A contending champion and equally famous individual helped to drive a wedge between the two of you. When my fellow judges decided that Hermione would was to be his hostage in the second task, I was thrilled.
I allowed the junior Crouch to guide you to his master. It was very unfortunate that you felt the need to assist Mr. Diggory. When the two of you vanished from the maze, I thought my plans ruined. You had shared the glory. You had been entirely noble. When you returned from the graveyard with is body, however, I knew what had to be done. Once you were brought in for underage magic, the charges of Mr. Diggory's murder were brought against you. I knew that only Azkaban could harden you.
However, after five years, I was beginning to believe my plan a failure. With what I see standing before me, it is obvious that you are finally ready to receive your training."
"So you expect me to just follow you. You fucked me over, you bastard!"
"It was all for the greater good, Harry. I regret that had to suffer, but we needed you cold."
"If you have the knowledge and power to defeat Voldemort..." began George/Fred.
"Then why didn't you just kill him yourself?" finished Fred/George.
"There was a prophecy that named me as the only one."
"Indeed. So, we really must begin your training, Harry. Voldemort must be stopped."
The old man barely flinched as a knife impacted into the nose of his portrait right behind him, grazing his ear on the way past.
"Listen here you fuckin' piece of shit. The only thing your going to do is die."
Before Riddick could take one step, however, the office door slammed open. All were surprised to see Neville Longbottom storm in, face red.
"Harry! I need your help!"
"What is it, Nev?"
"Voldemort's got Luna! I need you to help me get her back!"
Growling, Riddick turned to leave. He allowed the others out of the door before turning back.
"I don't need training, arse hole. I'm gonna kill Riddle and rescue Luna. After that, you will die."
As Riddick vanished out the door, a pleased smile spread over the old lips.
"For the greater good."
--oo00HPR00oo--
She delicately rolled her eyes as the door to her cell clanged open and the dark lord glided in.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Does Potter know my location. He somehow managed to find me before, but does he know where I am now?"
"As I have stated, my lord, I only see o..."
"Yes! Yes! I know! Then tell me, damn you. What are the odds that my location is still a secret?!"
"The odds are good, my lord..." she began, seeing him relax before an explosion rocked the walls. "that he knows exactly where you are."