Harry Potter and the Inquisition

by The Hallows

After saving the life of an Inquisitor at the age of four, Harry is taken in by the Inquisition and trained to hunt down Dark Wizards. When his next assignment leads him to teach at Hogwarts, it begins a series of events that will change his life forever.

6. Hogsmeade under attack!

Disclaimer: The wonderful world of Harry Potter belongs to JKR, the Inquisition belongs to Games Workshop, and the assorted characters belong to Games Workshop, and Dan Abnett.

Here for your reading pleasure is an extra long chapter of Harry Potter and the Inquisition!

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Harry sat in the office of the Minister for Magic along with Cornelius himself, Amelia Bones, Albus Dumbledore, the Warden of Azkaban, Vesner Brials and Amelia's Head Auror, Rufus Scrimgeour. Harry and Albus had arrived from Hogwarts a little over an hour ago and had called the gathering together at Harry's behest. The non-Inquisition members in the room didn't know what the conversation would be about and Harry only said that he'd discus it when the last member of the party arrived.

Exactly one hour since they had arrived, the door to the office opened and the group watched as a man entered. He was rather old and hunched, making it look as if the dark robes he wore were weighing him down. His beady eyes were frighteningly magnified by the large spectacles he wore and hanging from his neck was an emblem of the Inquisition. He shuffled into the room and, ignoring the gathered members of the British Ministry for the most part, gave Harry a respectful bow.

"Inquisitor Potter." The man croaked, his voice as rough as dry parchment. "I am Senior Requisitions Officer Halpner. I have been told that you have need of the Departmento Munitorum?"

"I do, Officer Halpner." Harry replied with a nod. He gestured for the ageing man to take the extra seat that had been set out for him and gestured towards the Ministry group. "Officer Halpner, this is the British Minister for Magic, Cornelius Fudge, Chief Warlock Lord Dumbledore, Madam Amelia Bones, the Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement, her Head Auror, Rufus Scrimgeour and the Warden of Azkaban Prison, Vesner Brials. I trust the Munitorum received my missive?"

"We did. I have been sent to catalogue your requests and file them with the Munitorum. When that is done, the munitions your request will be supplied to you if possible."

Harry nodded his acceptance and thanks.

"I'm sorry but what are you talking about?" Madam Bones cut in, somewhat nervous. "What is this 'Munitorum'?"

Harry and Halpner looked at each other and the young Inquisitor motioned for the old man to do the explaining. He readjusted his glasses on his hooked nose as he spoke. "The Departmento Munitorum is the department of the Inquisition devoted to the running of administration and the general issue of munitions, supplies and manpower within the Inquisition. If an Inquisitorial force needs additional supplies that cannot be gotten elsewhere, they contact the Munitorum and we dispatch those supplies to the force immediately. We create weapons, breed creatures, manufacture drugs and medicine, built transportation, research a myriad of topics and more besides. In short; we run the Inquisitions arsenal."

"Officer Halpner is here to hear what we need to fortify Azkaban and Hogwarts against the Death Eaters." Harry added.

The Ministry group were near ecstatic. A chance to build defences for the country using creations straight from the Inquisition's forges? It was a dream come true!

Harry saw their looks and decided to curb their enthusiasm. "Don't be too excited, these defences are only on loan and your Ministry will be responsible for covering any expenses or losses incurred as a result of the conflict. You break it, you buy it."

The group deflated somewhat but was still happy with the news.

"What about the Ministry?" Scrimgeour asked. "Are we going to receive defences for here as well? I should think that would be the top priority." Fudge nodded emphatically, agreeing completely.

Harry raised an eyebrow at the lion-like man. "We're talking about fortifying a school and a prison that has lost it's guards. Are you telling me that your seat of government is incapable of defending itself even when it is considered the Headquarters of the 'Light' side in this war?"

Scrimgeour spluttered. "W-Well no but it's not that simple."

"Yes it is. Start off slow. Restrict Floo use to a few certain personnel, increase security in the Atrium, erect a few defences, screen all your employees for the Dark Mark and you'll have a good foundation to build on."

That gave them pause. They were good ideas and quite simple but could prove extremely effective.

"We'll give the matter some thought and get back to you." Madam Bones said thoughtfully.

Harry shrugged in acceptance. This was why he could never picture himself working for the Aurors or even the Hit-Wizards. Change, even if it was for the better, was very slow to come about. He was pretty sure he'd go mad if he worked for a Ministry.

Hapner cleared his throat, getting their attention once more before turning to Harry. "You said you had already made a list of some of the equipment you required?"

Harry nodded and withdrew from within his coat a roll of parchment and handed it to the old requisitions officer. The man's gnarled hands unfurled the scroll and he peered down at it through his thick spectacles, his lips moving silently as he read down the page. When he was done he set the parchment on his lap. "Quite a list, Inquisitor."

"Riddle's forces will be equally diverse. He's had a full year to build his army and he's never been one to dawdle. Add to that the number of Death Eaters, hired wands and alliances from the last war and we can expect quite the battle on our hands." Harry noted.

Halpner nodded thoughtfully.

"What type of defences are being recommended?" Dumbledore made himself known. He acknowledged that Harry had far more knowledge of the intricacies of the Inquisition but he, along with the rest of the group, felt rather more like observers than participants in the conversation which was something he was not used to.

Halpner glanced at Harry who nodded his consent. "Well, Lord Dumbledore, let's begin with the fortifications for Azkaban. Inquisitor Potter has recommended that to replace the Dementors, several Ilqiud be placed in the sea around the fortress as well as numerous Battle Trolls to guard the gates. He has also proposed for the beach to be covered with a few hundred mines and behind that we would plant a wall of Dryad infested woodland that would thin the numbers of any attacking force before the ground cleared into a three hundred metre long No Man's Land between the tree line and the main walls. He has also requested a small force of Centauri archers to man the walls as well as several squads of Goblin warriors to oversee overall command of the defences."

The non-Inquisition members of the group were in shock, their jaws dropping lower and lower with each item listed. Such a varied and powerful force had not been amassed in the entire history of the Ministry and here was Harry, a boy of no older than sixteen, bringing a strong, varied defence force with but a few words. If this was even a small glimpse of the kind of power the Inquisition had at it's fingertips then what would happen if the entire Inquisition were to go to war? The very thought terrified them.

Of course, Fudge had to go and ruin it when he heard the last item.

"Goblins!?" He blustered. "You want Goblins to run the defences of a Wizarding prison? We may as well just leave the doors open and let You-Know-Who traipse in whenever he pleases! Why not just assign a battalion of Aurors, they would get the job done."

"Fudge," Harry warned, drawing a wince from the fickle man. "Your failings as a leader so far have been many and varied. Don't compound them with your prejudices. Goblins are the best choice not only for managing any defence but with them behind Azkaban's walls, the prison may never fall."

"What makes you say that?" Dumbledore inquired.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Honestly, get rid of Binns. I checked him out and I know that he lost his family during one of the Goblin Rebellions. A man with a grudge isn't the best choice for a History teacher and it's affecting the student's understanding of the world. Fine, I'll indulge you. Around one-thousand two hundred years ago, Azkaban Island was one of the last watchtowers of the ancient Goblin Empire. The Goblin King at the time, King Grimmjaw the Reaper, ordered the Goblin force there to abandon the island after the outbreak of the Pirigrim Plague that ravaged their people. However, Wizards were immune to this disease and claimed Azkaban for themselves, turning it into a penal colony. When the cure for the Pirigrim Plague was discovered and the disease wiped out, the Goblins decided to leave the island be for now. As far as they were concerned, it was more of a tourist attraction than a defence against invaders anyway. If they wanted to, the Goblin Nation could demand the island's return to them and there'd be nothing you could do about it."

Fudge was incredulous. "T-That isn't possible! The Goblins can't own Azkaban, it belongs to the Ministry!"

Harry shook his head. "Our records are far more detailed than yours, Minister, but we're getting off track. Officer Halpner, if you'll please continue."

The man did so. "In addition to these, Inquisitor Potter has requested that at least three groups of House Elf Sappers be assigned to assist the defence."

Fudge and Scrimgeour scoffed loudly at that and Amelia and Dumbledore looked rather dubious. Warden Brials however didn't seem to notice and by the look on his face he was more than happy with the arraignments so far.

Harry and Halpner ignored them. "I see you have also requested no less than four AN/TWQ-1 Avengers for deployment."

Harry nodded. "I assume they'll be refitted for use in magic saturated areas?"

"Of course, we simply need to remove the electronic systems and replace them with Rune powered alternatives."

"Excuse me." Dumbledore piped up, noticing once more that they were being ignored. "But what are these 'Avengers'? I don't believe I've ever hear of such a thing before."

Harry smirked at the old man. "Do you know what a gun is, Headmaster?"

Dumbledore nodded. "It's a type of Muggle weapon."

"Picture a very big one and there you go."

"That doesn't answer our question, Harry." Dumbledore responded, slightly miffed. "What are these 'Avengers'."

Harry sighed. "Fine." He took a deep breath and answered quickly, "The AN/TWQ-1 Avenger is an air defence system which provides short-ranged protection against cruse missiles, unmanned air vehicles, low flying fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. It was designed by the US military and is currently being used by the Army, and when needed, by the Inquisition and until recently, the system was also used by the US Marine Corps. The Avenger comes mainly in three types of configurations: the Basic, Slew-to-Cue, and the Up-Gun. The Basic configuration, which we'll be using, consists of a gyro-stabilized air defence turret mounted on a modified heavy High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle. The turret has two Stinger missile launcher pods, each capable of firing up to four fire-and-forget infrared/ultraviolet guided missiles in rapid succession." Harry grinned. "Understand now?"

"Erm…"

Harry laughed at their completely clueless expressions. "Don't worry, Headmaster, I'd have been shocked senseless if you did. In layman's terms they're Azkaban's defence against large-scale flying creatures like Dragons. Riddle likes to go all out and we need to be prepared for anything. The Avengers will see to that." He looked over at the Warden, who was slumped in his seat with a glazed look in his eyes. "I assume these defences will be sufficient?"

Warden Brials blinked before a large stupid looking grin bloomed across his face. He was positively vibrating in his chair with excitement, looking very much like a child on Christmas morning. "Oh, I think they'll do very well, Inquisitor. I doubt Azkaban has ever, or will ever, be this well protected. I don't think we'll have to worry about losing the prison any time soon."

Harry nodded back, a small smile on his lips. "Thank you. There are a few more things on the list but they're small in number and are mostly defences for inside the prison, not outside."

After allowing the group a few long moments to digest this very welcome information, Dumbledore brought up a matter that meant a great deal to him. "What about the defences of Hogwarts?"

Harry drummed his fingers against his cane. "Well, we know that Hogwarts has always been one of Riddle's primary goals since he launched a number of attacks against it during the last war."

Dumbledore nodded gravely. He remembered those days when Tom sent his followers to try and take his old school. "Indeed. Fortunately the Aurors, teachers and Hogwarts itself managed to repulse the attacks but not without loss." The others agreed. The Hogwarts attacks were some of the worst attacks during the last war.

"With that in mind, we'll be setting up a few Avengers on the grounds as well as equipping the walls, towers and battlements with gun turrets. You'll see." He waved off the inevitable question when he saw Scrimgeour's mouth open. "We'll also be brining in a pair of War Dragons, Battle Trolls, House Elf Sappers and I'll be adding to Hogwarts' Wards myself. I'm also curious to see what the Forbidden Forest holds that could help us out." He mused to himself.

Halpner cleared his throat to get Harry's attention and once he had it, he croaked, "There's also the matter of your special request in the missive you sent to us. As you know the Departmento Munitorum has no authorisation to issue the personnel you asked for. Such a request must be made to them in person."

"But you did pass along the request like I ordered?" Harry asked. Halpner nodded. "Then I expect them to send someone to talk to me in the coming days."

"Inquisitor?" Amelia asked, confused as to what they were talking about.

Harry waved away her question. "Don't worry, just trying to ensure us a few guards for the castle. Now, tell me what you have come up with to defend the country."

Happy to finally be included, Amelia spoke first. "We've increased Auror recruitment and patrols as well as set up permanent Auror posts in all the major cities as well as Hogsmade and Diagon Alley. We've also made it an offence to buy a new wand unless you're just starting Hogwarts, have an Auror permit or a letter of approval from the Ministry. This way we can at least hinder a Death Eater's fighting strength if he looses his wand in a fight. We also took your advice and closed off all Floo travel both from within the Ministry and without. We've also began to keep tabs on suspected Death Eaters in case the rumours turn out to be true."

"What about the emissaries?"

Dumbledore sighed at that. "I've already sent one of my staff to talk to the Giants and they've decided to join Voldemort." He ignored the others' flinches at the name. "We haven't been able to contact any major names in the Vampire community as of yet for they fear that any meeting would be a trap but we're still trying. The Goblins and Centaurs have pleaded neutrality so far and that doesn't look like it'll change soon. We've had contact with the Werewolves and it seems that Fenrir Grayback has been trying to rally them to Voldemort's banner. A few packs have joined but not a lot. Most say that if the Ministry actually shows that they mean to give them the rights they deserve, they'll have to deliver before they even consider joining us."

"What's the word on that?" Harry turned to Fudge.

The Minister looked rather uncomfortable as he squirmed in his chair. "I've been meaning to bring it up at the Wizengamot meetings but the political winds lately haven't been--"

Harry cut him off, getting quite annoyed with the little man so far. "Fudge, I've told you before. You're only going to be in this office for as long as I deem necessary. It doesn't matter if people won't like it or not, my authority will counter any Vote of No Confidence or any petitions. Do as I order and stop trying to salvage your non-existent prospects of staying in this office."

The man looked like someone had kicked his puppy but no one really cared enough to comfort him.

"Do we have any way for the Aurors stationed in the cities to give warning of any attacks?" Harry asked after a moment's silence.

"The Auror posts each have a small Floo that can connect to the Ministry but not allow travel." Scrimgeour told him.

Harry shook his head. "Too slow. We need something that an Auror could use quickly, on the move if need be."

"I'll talk to the Department of Mysteries and see what they can come up with." Amelia said thoughtfully.

"Alight." Harry scratched his head. "Let me see the drafts for the new laws for the Werewolves then the ones for the Vampires."

It was going to be a long night.

---

Early the next day, Patience was walking down one of the school's many corridors on her patrol. Most of the students were still at breakfast, getting in a hearty meal before the beginning of Monday classes. She topped a flight of stairs and turned onto the fifth floor. She was still getting used to the school and gaining her bearings, a difficult task considering that a great many things in the castle didn't want to remain in one place for very long.

The novelty of the old school was quickly wearing off and she was getting anxious for Harry to send her out to gather intel, catch a stay Death Eater or something! Walking around a castle filled with noisy, rambunctious teens was starting to grate on her nerves and there was nothing that she could do to relieve any stress. Sure, there was the blood runs she went on every few nights and the occasional foray into the Forbidden Forrest (She snorted at the name), but it just wasn't enough. It seemed that Harry was the only one getting to have any fun but she had to admit it was probably well deserved considering what he had to do on a daily basis. Incredibly boring teaching hours were balanced out by bossing around the people who were supposed to be running this war. Fair trade, really.

Speak of the devil, she had just entered the corridor where the young Inquisitor's class was located when she noticed a group of students gathered outside the classroom. Harry had arrived back from the Ministry a few hours ago and was still in the Great Hall, pilfering as much coffee as he could in order to wake up fully and classes weren't to start for another ten minutes. So what were they doing here?

No one had noticed her yet so she slipped up behind the group, managing to catch part of the conversation.

"--afraid I'm going to have to take twenty points from Gryffindor, Granger. Mudbloods shouldn't be walking the halls this early, it's rather unsightly."

Another voice, this time belonging to a girl, spoke up. "Oh, simply hilarious, Malfoy. What next, going to give me a detention for that time in third year when I broke your nose? How did that feel exactly, being beaten up by a girl?"

That got a few laughs from the group and Patience smirked seeing the blonde kid's ears beginning to glow pink.

Malfoy grit his teeth. The memory of Granger decking him with a single punch in third year was one of his least favourite memories and he'd endured quite a bit of teasing when it got out. It was time to show this girl how to respect her betters.

"I'd like you to try that again, Mudblood!" He snarled, his wand hand coming whipping up when an iron weight clamped down around his wrist, causing him to wince. His grey eyes shot up and locked with a pair of violet ones which stared back at him coolly.

Hermione blinked. She had been sitting in the Great Hall for breakfast, talking with her friends when the Daily Prophet arrived. It reported six more homes being destroyed over the weekend. All the families inside the houses were dead and the Dark Mark had been set over each of the homes. It didn't take her remarkable intellect to discern what happened. Subdued and suddenly without an appetite, she and a few of the other Gryffindors left breakfast early for their Defence class. They hadn't been there for more than a few minutes when Malfoy and the rest of Umbridge's Inquisitorial Squad came strolling around the corner. He must have seen them leaving and decided to be his usual irritating self. The 'Mudblood' comment didn't bother her, having grown used to them over the years, but the docking of House Points really galled her. How Dumbledore could allow that Umbridge woman to get away with her little Inquisitorial Squad was beyond her. So she decided to get in her own form of payback and reminded him of the time when she'd decked him after trying to get Hagrid's Hippogriff Buckbeak executed, knowing it was a sore spot for him. She knew she'd succeeded immediately and knew he'd go for his wand, being the petty little boy he was. Her own wand was half way out when something grabbed Malfoy's arm. Hermione looked up to see what had stopped the blonde and gasped softly.

Standing a good head taller than the students around her was a woman. Her long black hair fell around her shoulders in an inky cascade and her black clothes hugged her generous form. One hand was clamped around Malfoy's wrist and the other rested easily on her hip. The woman practically oozed sensuality as she stared down at the young Slytherin, her face cool and impassive. Vaguely, Hermione recognised the woman from the Sorting Feast as one of their Defence teacher's staff members.

Hermione was snapped out of her stupor by the woman's smooth voice breaking the silence that had descended on the corridor. "Duelling in the corridors is against the rules so what do you think you're doing with that wand, boy?"

Draco, taken aback by the woman's sudden appearance, could only stammer, "Wha?"

Patience arched one perfectly shaped eyebrow. "Are you deaf? I'll ask again; what do you think you're doing with that wand?"

Malfoy fumbled for a moment before managing to come up with a half-decent answer. "She tried to attack me, I was defending myself."

Hermione, and indeed the rest of the Gryffindors, looked incredulous at the blatant lie while the Slytherins looked rather smug at the thought of getting out of trouble.

Patience just stared at the blonde blankly for a moment before saying, "I read that Slytherin was supposed to be the most cunning of the four Houses and that was the best lie you could come up with? You're really quite pathetic, aren't you?"

Malfoy blinked at the insult before his face began to flush red. Off to the side, Hermione allowed a tiny grin.

It was then that Draco realised that he wasn't dealing with a member of staff and that this woman didn't have any real power over him. The thought provided a small sense of protection and he drew himself to his full height (Which he realised with indignation barely brought him up to her nose) and sneered, trying to ignore the numb sensation that was creeping up his arm. "And who the Hell do you think you are, woman? Don't you realise who I am?"

Patience had to smirk at the teen. "No. Though I do know that you're not important enough to garner my interest, boy."

Malfoy would have retorted if it wasn't for the jet of pink light that streaked past him causing everyone to jump and the girls to shriek in surprise. Lightning quick, Patience's head snapped to the side, allowing the spell to slam into the suit of armour behind her, causing the metal plates to clatter to the floor noisily.

A tubby pink clad figure waddled down the corridor as fast as it could, it's stubby arm holding a wand aimed at Patience, the figure's toad-like face pink with fury. Umbridge puffed a little as she stopped a few meters shy of the group, a sure sign of how out of shape the woman was. "What do you think you're doing, you monster!?" She shrieked. "Unhand that boy at once!"

Patience frowned at the woman, not at all concerned with the wand pointed at her face. In fact, she barely seemed to notice it was there. "Madam Umbridge." She drawled. "To what do we owe this pleasure?"

The Senior Undersecretary sneered at her, her white knuckle grip on her wand tightening. "I'm here to stop you from sinking your vile fangs into a helpless student, now release him at once!"

Patience's face crinkled in annoyance as she looked between Umbridge and the young Malfoy still in her grip. "That is not true and quite frankly I'm offended at the insinuation." She raised Malfoy's arm and shook it slightly, looking vaguely disappointed. "Inbreeding always makes for such lousy dinning. With the amount of recycled blood in this boy's veins I'd probably be violently ill after one bite."

Malfoy paled at that as did some others. The way the women were talking made it sound as if…

The student's gasped as the dark haired woman grinned slightly, showing off one elongated fang, it's point razor sharp, perfect for piercing flesh.

"V-V-Vampire!" Malfoy squeaked in terror, ironically turning as white as Patience. He began to frantically tug at his arm, desperate to get away from the monster before it could drain him of his blood.

Patience rolled her eyes at the boy's pathetic attempts at freedom and suddenly released his arm, allowing him to fall to the floor. He scrambled to his feet, wide eyes looking fearfully at Patience, and pretty much threw himself behind his two lumbering friends.

"Oh please!" Patience exclaimed, causing the Slytherins, Umbridge and some of the Gryffindors to jump. "Didn't I just say I wouldn't even consider draining you? Seriously, the amount of inbreeding your family has gone through makes it a wonder that you even managed to successfully tie your shoelaces never mind make it through six years of school. Word of advice: saturate your family tree with some new blood or you'll lose your magic."

"But…I thought that Vampires couldn't be out in daylight?" Hermione's voice spoke up somewhat hesitantly.

"Common misconception." Patience responded absentmindedly but not unkindly. "We're nocturnal by nature but we can move about in the sunlight if we want; just like owls only far better." They didn't notice her eyes quickly scanning the skyline, warily looking out for the pure white form of Hedwig, knowing that her master's familiar wouldn't hesitate to prove that owls were indeed the greater nocturnal race.

"Don't listen to her, Draco." Umbridge was consoling the distraught Pureblood. "This creature just wants you to contaminate your families pure line with filth."

"Well, if that's the case, Dolores, then why don't you and young Draco here get together. I doubt you'll find anything filthier than you outside of a dung beetle and even then it'd be a close contest."

"How dare you!?" The portly woman screeched, pointing her wand directly at Patience's face. The student's drew a collective breath as it looked like a fight was about to break out when a calm voice broke in.

"So what's going on here then?"

They turned to see Harry walking casually towards them, his cane resting on his shoulder and the other hand in his pocket. He stopped between Umbridge and Patience, looking between the two with a raised brow at the Under Secretary's drawn wand. "Something you want to tell me?" He asked them.

"This monster you brought into the school with you tried to attack and kill a student!" Umbridge accused at the top of her voice, which had long lost it's faux sweetness.

"Patience!" Harry exclaimed in shock. Umbridge smirked gleefully, glad that the boy was finally acting like a proper Wizard. "I'm shocked at you!" The Inquisitor went on. "I mean, the boy's family has gotten into the habit of shagging their cousins so much that it's a miracle that they're not all a bunch of fish-head eating knuckle draggers like those two unfortunates there." He pointed at Crabbe and Goyle, who didn't understand that they'd just been insulted. Harry shook his head disappointedly. "I thought you had more class than that."

"I do!" Patience near shouted, the two ignoring the looks of indignation on both Umbridge and Malfoy's faces. "C'mon, as if I'd lower myself to such levels of derogation like that. I thought you knew me." A rather cute expression of face hurt made it's way onto her face.

"You're right, I'm sorry." Harry placated, smiling at the gleeful expression on her face. He turned towards Umbridge, who had been growing steadily redder during the little exchange. "Well, now that we've established that Patience wasn't partaking of Café Malfoy, why are you still brandishing that wand?"

Umbridge blustered. "I demand that you remove that creature from this school at once! The Minister should have never allowed you to bring it in with you to begin with! For the good of the school you will remove it now!" She didn't notice the increasing look of both anticipation and pity on Patience's face nor the subtle frown that made it's way onto Harry's.

Said raven haired teen simply shook his head with and sigh and lay a hand on Umbridge's shoulder, patting it once. "Three things wrong with that statement, madam. Firstly; Patience is not a creature, she's one of my staff and trusted friends and you would do well to remember it. Secondly; as I have previously stated, the Minister has no say in what I do or how I go about doing it. And thirdly," His grip on her shoulder tightened, causing her to wince. "don't presume to order me around, ma'am, you don't have the authority nor do I have the tolerance for it." He released her and she staggered back slightly, held upright by her select group of students. Harry turned to Patience casually. "Now, what started off all this unpleasantness?"

Patience explained everything that happened prior to his arrival, from overhearing the student's conversation to when Umbridge tried to curse her.

When she was finished, Harry turned to Malfoy, who had been standing there moodily. "Mr Malfoy, as I remember it, Prefects such as yourself don't have the authority to remove House Points or issue detentions so what were you doing?"

Malfoy puffed out his chest importantly, showing off the two badges on the front of his robes. "Prefects don't but members of the Inquisitorial Squad do."

Harry raised a brow. "Inquisitorial Squad?"

"Yes." Malfoy bragged. "It's a group specially selected by the Hogwarts' High Inquisitor to help manage the school, selected from the best students."

Harry smirked slightly, causing the Slytherins to tense. That smirk didn't look good. "Well, since the position of High Inquisitor has been terminated then I guess that means your status as members of the Inquisitorial Squad has been as well." He held out his hand and the group yelled as the badges were torn from the front of their robes, each taking a bit of fabric with them. They landed in his hand and began to reform and before long, Harry was stood holding a small lifelike model of a Ukrainian Ironbelly. The tiny Dragon gave a squawk and lifted itself into the air on small metal wings and circled it's creator once before taking off down the hall.

As it disappeared around the corner, Harry turned back to the group with a contemplative look on his face. "Let's see. I guess I'll restore the twenty points taken from Gryffindor while taking fifty from you Mr Malfoy and I'll also be taking this." Malfoy gave a squeak as his Prefect badge was torn from his robes, leaving him with a very ragged appearance. Harry pocketed the thing. "Your Prefect status is herby terminated on the grounds of abusing the position. Oh and let's not forget the crème de la crème; the racism." Draco flinched at the sudden hard look in Harry's eyes and started to shiver involuntarily. "I warned you that such behaviour would not be tolerated ever, didn't I?" Harry asked coldly, waiting for Malfoy's hesitant nod. When he got it, he continued. "Since this is a first time offence and since generations of inbreeding has obviously addled your mind, I'll be lenient. Apologise to Ms Granger and mean it and you will get off lightly with a week of detention and a hundred points from Slytherin."

Malfoy gaped at him but the look in Harry's eyes told him clearly that any disobedience would be harshly dealt with made him gulp. Steeling himself with all his might, he forced himself to turn to Granger, who had been standing gaping at the scene before her. Gritting his teeth, he practically spat, "I apologise for my words and actions, Granger, I hope you can forgive me."

Hermione blinked. "Apology accepted." She said dumbly, still trying to catch up with everything before her.

"Good." Harry clapped his hands, getting everyone's attention once more. "I think that's enough drama for today. Everyone inside, the bell is about to go. Patience you can go back to what you were doing and Madam Umbridge, we have no further need of you so go away."

He waited until everyone did as they were told, giving Patience a small smile as she left, before striding into the classroom behind the students, ready to start the day.

'What a way to start the week.' Harry idly thought.

---

The rest of the month passed easily enough. Once he had found out about the situation, Snape immediately went to Dumbledore, demanding that Malfoy's Prefecture be returned. Albus calmly replied that there was nothing he could do and that it was indeed Mr Malfoy who was at fault in the matter, further galling Snape. Umbridge silently seethed at the treatment she was given and the entire school had found out that Patience was a Vampire. There was some wariness but they hardly saw her anyway so there was no big reaction other than some of the students demanding that she be removed from the school, only to be rebuffed by Dumbledore. The news of the disbandment of the Inquisitorial Squad however was met with much cheer, even from some Slytherins. Many had grown extremely agitated with the members of that particular group over the past year and now that their authority was removed, many were looking for a little retribution. Needless to say that in that month and the months to follow, it was pretty much open season on the former squad members.

As the year slipped out of September and into October, a matter arose that concerned the students greatly. This was of course the first Hogsmeade visit of the year. When it was brought up, Harry was adamant that the trip be rescheduled either to the end of the month or before September finished but Dumbledore insisted that it be kept as it always was. His reasoning was a supposed show of strength, telling Voldemort and his Death Eaters that they wouldn't be cowed by terrorism. Harry retorted that the sentiment was all well and good but many of the students would rather miss out and be thought cowards (Which they were entitled to under the circumstances) rather than dieing with a stiff upper lip in the name of visiting Zonko's. Dumbledore however would not be swayed and some of the teachers even agreed with him so the trip was announced at dinner on the 3rd of October, three days before the trip.

Harry just shook his head at the man, saying, "It's your funeral. I'll be sure to have you buried beside the brave students who gave their lives in the name of showing strength."

---

Harry paced just outside Hogsmeade Village, standing just at the bottom of Hogwarts Road which lead up to the castle. The carriages were scheduled to arrive soon and he was here to make sure the students arrived safely before they were unleashed on the quiet village. He had arrived a few hours before to scope out the town, check for anything suspicious and make sure the Aurors were in position. They were a little dubious when the teen walked up to the head Auror and asked what their patrol routes were. The man laughed and told him to go play and leave them alone until he saw Harry's forehead bearing the lightning shaped scar.

A moment before it impacted his face, knocking him out cold.

Harry turned away from the bleeding man to his second in command and calmly repeated the question. The woman blinked at Harry's calm face. Then looked at the downed form of her boss. Then back at Harry before she waved him towards a nearby table upon which were arrayed a variety of different maps of the village marked with moving ink showing who was going to be patrolling where and with whom.

There were a little over sixty Aurors in the village in total. In addition to these, there would be teachers patrolling the village as well as Bruce and Patience. Dumbledore also mentioned that members of some kind of 'Order' were going to be present as well but Harry didn't fully understand what he meant.

As he paced, his coat swished in the cold wind. He had pulled out the stops today. Listening to his gut instinct, he had his armour, coat and cane as well as his Basilisk hide gloves and his armoured boots. His Ruin inscribed pistol was strapped to his thigh, the weight familiar and reassuring. He didn't need to bring extra clips for the thing thanks to the array of tiny Conjuration Ruins inscribed to the inside of the barrel for which he was grateful. It always helped when you didn't have to stop in the middle of a battle to switch magazines. Clipped to the back of his belt was a small dispenser, filled with shrunken potion phials of all kinds. He doubted he'd need them for himself or his staff but it always helped to be prepared.

His pacing was interrupted by the arrival of the carriages. Sitting in the empty driver's seat behind the pair of black Thestrals was Bruce, his rifle gripped firmly in his meaty hands. He too wore his battle gear, if only at Harry's insistence. His red Dragon hide armour was wore over a black battle dress uniform which had been Charmed to be extra resistant to spell fire. His Limiter was strapped to his chest, tucked away safely under his breastplate. He'd be screwed if a stray spell managed to destroy it, taking away the Muggle's protection against the Wards surrounding Hogsmeade.

Harry's eyes were drawn to a black figure bounding across the tops of the carriages, silently leaping from one to the next with graceful ease, covering more distance than a human could have.

Patience landed before him in a cat-like crouch before standing and smoothing out her black coat which had been buttoned up to chase away the chill. She didn't know why people thought Vampires enjoyed the cold. Sure, they were far more resistant to it than humans and they could move around in a snowstorm wearing casual clothes if need be but they, like every other living creature, enjoyed things like sitting beside a nice cosy fire or huddling under a warm blanket. Having no heartbeat didn't exactly warm you up either.

They waited until Bruce clambered down from the carriage and joined them before speaking, each watching their surroundings carefully.

"You two remember the plan?" Harry asked.

They nodded. "We walk around the town, making sure to keep our eyes out for trouble, and make sure the students don't stray too far." Patience elaborated.

"And if there's an attack?"

"I cover the students as they head back to the castle while you and Patience get them out and clear the village." Bruce said.

"Exactly." Harry nodded then sighed irritably. "I don't know what that old fool was thinking. Keeping the trip on schedule is just like hanging a massive sign over the village that says 'Attack Here'." He shook his head. "Let's go. If there is an attack, all we can do is contain the damage."

The group split up, each going in the general direction of the mass of students. Patience could blend easily with the public, having nothing that made her stand out apart from her deathly pale skin and good looks. Bruce on the other hand couldn't have stood out better if he had been dipped in pink paint, lit on fire and had a large neon sign strapped to his forehead proclaiming his love of all things destructive. However Harry, even though he lacked Bruce's size or full battle gear, stood out better than the other two if only for his mere presence which seemed to flood the streets. As he prowled from one building to the next like some kind of silent predator, all eyes seemed to be drawn to him. People whispered and pointed as he passed but he ignored them, alert for any sign of a threat.

The winter wind billowing around him, Harry stalked further into the village of Hogsmeade.

---

Daphne Greengrass pushed open the door of the Three Broomsticks, her long winter coat and scarf wrapped around her tight. Behind her were her two best friends Tracey Davis and Blaise Zabini. She pulled her scarf from around her neck and sighed in relief as she led the small group over to a table tucked away into the corner of the tavern, out of the way of the bustling crowd.

"Bloody shite weather." She grumbled as they sat down. "I swear, the second I leave Hogwarts I am moving!"

Tracey smirked at her friend, knowing full well Daphne's aversion to the cold. "What's this? The famed 'Ice Queen' of Hogwarts doesn't like her natural environment? Should we call a Mind Healer?"

Daphne glared at the raven haired girl though it was with little heat. "One more word and I'll Hex you so badly that you'll be the one needing healing."

Blaise shook his head at the blonde. "You'd never hurt either of us and you know it." He said with a smirk of his own. "You love us too much."

"Yeah, love you like a bad illness."

"Fine, you think we're too useful to lose."

"Now you've got it."

The three chuckled and turned as the curvy Madam Rosmerta bustled over, ready to take their orders. After asking for three Butterbeers, the three lapsed into conversation.

"So," Tracey started as she shrugged off her coat. "Did anyone else notice how nervous the teachers seemed to be when we left?"

Blaise nodded. "They were glancing around as if they expected to be attacked at any minute. I think I even saw McGonagall with one hand on her wand as the carriages left."

"Can you blame them?" Daphne asked. "There is a war going on after all. I don't know why they didn't reschedule the trip, though. I mean it's practically an open invitation to attack. I think there might have even been trouble before we got here."

"What makes you say that?" Tracey asked, concerned.

"I say the head Auror when we were passing Zonko's. He had a bandage around his forehead. It looked like something hit him."

"There can't have been any trouble." Blaise shrugged. "If there was, do you think they'd have still allowed the trip?"

"Would you have thought they'd keep a trip on a fixed schedule in the middle of a war where the other side is known to torture, rape and kill at random?" Daphne challenged.

"Touché, Greengrass."

"Speaking of which, did you see those three from the Inquisition?" Tracey asked with a raised brow. "They were geared up as if they were going into a battle. If that doesn't say there's likely to be an attack during this trip then I don't know what does."

"Maybe they're just being cautious?" Blaise proffered as Madam Rosmerta returned with their orders. They paid for the drinks and thanked her before sipping the refreshing brew with content sighs. Nothing beat a Butterbeer on a cold day.

"I doubt it." Tracey said as she relaxed back into the leather padding of the booth. "That big bloke who sat on the first carriage was carrying enough firepower to take over Hogsmeade single-handedly."

"Firepower?" Blaise and Daphne asked in unison.

Tracey rolled her eyes at them. "Purebloods." She muttered. "That thing he was carrying was called a gun. It's a very dangerous type of Muggle weapon which can wound but is designed to kill."

"That woman didn't seem to be too worried. What was her name? Patience?"

Tracey nodded. "But then again she's a Vampire or so they say. They don't exactly need weapons."

"The Inquisitor seemed agitated." Daphne noted. "Did you see him pacing as we pulled into the village? He looked ready to unleash Hell."

"Well, Inquisitors do seem to be disposed to violence and if what we saw during our first class is any indication, Potter's no different." Tracey snorted as the other two nodded. The memory of Malfoy getting tossed around like a rag doll was still fresh in their minds and the image of him performing the three Unforgivables wasn't likely to go away soon either.

"So, you two want to browse for a while?" Blaise asked.

Tracey nodded and drained her Butterbeer while Daphne grumbled but reached for her coat. The three wrapped themselves back up tight in preparation for the bitter cold and pushed their way out of the Three Broomsticks and into the streets.

Deciding to get the minor things out of the way first, the trio went to Scrivenshaft's to restock their writing supplies and where Tracey indulged herself with a new pheasant feather quill. Afterwards, the girls dragged a protesting Blaise into Gladrags where they sampled the latest in Wizarding fashion. After nearly an hour of trying on a myriad of different clothing combinations, wearing the same thing more than once, they rewarded the boy's patience with a trip to Honeydukes. Though many may not have known it, Blaise was a glutton for any kind of candy coated confectionary and it showed with how he loaded up on the sweets, as if he were afraid three bags wouldn't hold him over until the next trip. It was a thoroughly annoyed Zabini that was forced to go back for more when the girls snuck some of his candy, even after saying they wanted none for themselves when they were in the shop.

It was when they were passing the Owl Office that it happened.

Blaise was happily munching away at his sweets while the two girls talked when suddenly a high pitched scream rent the frigid air and the window of the Wizarding Post Office was struck by a spell in a shower of broken glass. The two girls and one boy hit the ground, their hands over their heads to shield them from the glass before they looked up to see chaos claiming Hogsmeade.

Terrified residents and students ran up and down the street, screaming their heads off, as black robed figures fired curses of randomly, some aiming for property and others for people. The few Aurors that were in the street were quick to rush to the civilians aid and duel the figures but they were so few and were quickly being pushed back.

"Death Eaters!" Blaise yelled, dragging the two girls to their feet.

"We need to get back to the carriages!" Tracey shouted as she pulled her wand, dropping her purchases as she did so. Blaise and Daphne did likewise.

Blaise sent a quick Bludgeoning Hex at the nearest Death Eater while Daphne Stunned one that had been bearing down on them, wand raised. Together, the three ran in the direction of Hogwarts, making sure to keep an eye out for any attack.

A Death Eater burst from around the corner, startling Daphne who stumbled in surprise, but he was quickly Stunned by a nearby Auror.

"Hurry and get back to the school!" The woman yelled as she ran off to help a colleague who was fairing badly against two Death Eaters.

They didn't need to be told twice and the three tore up the street, dodging any stray spells that came their way. They had just turned into a side street when a Bone Breaker from behind caught Blaise's leg.

"ARGH!" He screamed, falling to the ground and clutching his mangled limb.

"Blaise!" Tracey screamed and the two girls ran back to him. They attempted to haul him to his feet but the broken leg coupled with the fact that the boy was much heavier than they were meant they had little luck before three Death Eaters rounded the corner, each with a wand trained on the students.

"Well, look what we have here!" One exclaimed in fake surprise, swaggering towards the Slytherins. "A couple of students out for a stroll. A couple of rather tasty looking students at that." He said, leering at Tracey and Daphne who shivered in disgust at the lust in the man's voice.

"Yeah." A large, fat Death Eater said. "What's say we sample the goods from Hogwarts; see if they've gotten any better since out time?"

The last Death Eater snickered, his eyes raking up and down the girl's bodies. "Sixteen, eh? Good vintage. Should be rather sweet."

The girls backed away from the men, half dragging a pale and panting Blaise who pulled himself along the ground, none of their eyes leaving the men at the end of the street.

"Hold it!" The first Death Eater ordered, pointing his wand directly at Daphne. "You're going nowhere, we still haven't had our fun. Maybe a little lesson is in order, eh." The two behind him chuckled evilly as he levelled his wand. "Crucio!"

Daphne's eyes snapped shut and she tensed in anticipation of the pain. She was terrified of what was going to happen. Would they really rape her and Tracey? Pft, of course they would, they were Death Eaters. But what about Blaise? Would they just kill him or would they torture him before he died? He didn't deserve that; none of them did.

She was beginning to wonder what was taking so long when she heard Tracey's gasp beside her and her eyes snapped open only for her own breath to leave her.

Stood before them, shielding them from the Death Eaters, was their Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, Inquisitor Harry Potter.

One of his hands was stretched out to the side and Daphne's eyes followed it to where she saw a large black crater in the wall, obviously caused by some sort of spell. Her eyes widened as she realised that he had deflected the Cruciatus and without a wand too. Although with what she'd seen of him so far she supposed she shouldn't have been surprised.

She was broken from her thoughts by the sound of a deep masculine voice speaking. "Are you three okay?"

It was Inquisitor Potter. He was looking over his shoulder at them, only one of his emerald eyes visible from the angle.

Daphne blinked until she realised he was talking to her and she shook her head to snap herself out of her daze. "Blaise's leg got hit by a Bone Breaker Curse!" She said urgently.

Potter's eyes flicked down to the boy and his outstretched hand came around his back to point at Blaise while keeping his body pointed towards the Death Eaters who were staring at the raven haired teen and muttering between themselves. Potter's hand came a small flick and Blaise cried out in pain as his leg was set before another flick of the hand Conjured a bandage and splint which tightly bound the injured limb. His hand then reached inside his coat before he withdrew a tiny, miniscule blue bottle which was quickly enlarged to it's full size. Potter dropped it into Blaise's hand with the explanation, "It's a pain reliever, it'll tide you over until you get to the Hospital Wing." His eyes snapped to the girls. "Can you two get him to the carriages?"

They nodded. "Good. My gunman is covering the students there, if you can get there you'll be safely taken back to the school. Go and remember to keep out of sight and stay low."

"But…what about you?" Daphne asked hesitantly. Three against one wasn't exactly fair odds and she couldn't not be concerned for someone who had just saved them from a fate worse than death.

Potter's one visible eyebrow arched and she could practically feel his smirk and when he spoke, his voice held some amusement. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine. Now go!"

"Daph, come on!" Tracey yelled as she helped Blaise to his feet and slung one of his arms over her shoulders.

Daphne immediately slung his other arm over her own shoulder and together they helped him limp towards the other end of the street. Just before they turned the corner, Daphne glanced over her shoulder to see their teenage teacher staring down the three Death Eaters, his stance casual and unworried.

Just before he was out of their sight, she sent a quick prayer that he would be okay.

---

Harry waited until the three Slytherins were gone before speaking to the Death Eaters who were none to pleased that their entertainment was gone.

"That wasn't wise, boy." One of the Death Eaters growled. By the was they stood, he appeared to be the leader of this little group. "You've cost us our fun for tonight. I guess we'll just have to make due with you."

Harry smirked with mirth, completely unconcerned with the wands pointed at him. "Sorry, hate to disappoint but I don't bend that way."

"Oh, so we've got a comedian here, eh?" The man asked sarcastically but it was easy to tell by his voice that he was getting angry. "Let's see if you think this is funny, you little prick! Crucio!"

With a snort, Harry casually sidestepped the spell and shook his head. "That was pish."

The man snarled and levelled his wand. "Avada Kedavra!"

The green energy streaked towards Harry, who braced himself. A moment before it connected, the spell suddenly changed course and slammed into the ground between the two groups.

"What the…" The Death Eaters muttered in confusion. Nothing could block the Killing Curse so what happened?

"So pulling out the big guns already, eh?" Harry asked as he lowered his arm. It was then that the Death Eaters saw what had blocked the Unblockable spell.

Clutched tightly in the teen's hand was a sword. It's silver blade gleamed in the weak sunlight, seemingly without a single imperfection. The double edged weapon was near a meter in length and it's guard-less grip appeared to be made of black, green-veined marble with a silver cap at the top. In his other hand was clutched the cane he had been carrying, which was now missing the top part and now had a small opening which looked perfectly sized for a blade to slide into.

It was a cane sword.

"Well," Harry said, gaining their attention once more as he cracked his neck. He swung his sword a few times, hearing the sound of the razor sharp blade cutting the air. "I suppose we should get on with it. Barbarisater hasn't had a good workout in a while so please make it a good one, eh?"

The lead Death Eater shook himself then forced a snort. "You think you can take on all three of us with just a sword? Boy, even fully trained Aurors would have trouble taking on three opponents with their wand and years of training so what makes you think you have a chance?"

Harry grinned and the Death Eaters unconsciously took a step back. That grin was one of a predator that had cornered it's prey.

Harry shook his head at them, grin still in place. "You're right. Aurors would have trouble with three opponents." His grin widened. "But Inquisitors are on a whole other level."

The lead Death Eater's eyes widened. "Inquis-ARGH!" He screamed as Harry disappeared and white hot agony tore through him as a gleaming metal blade carved through his spine.

Harry spun low and cleaved the legs out from under the second Death Eater before following the momentum around and up to take the head and wand arm from the third.

The Death Eaters fell, two dead and one near enough. The man grabbed at his bloody stumps, trying desperately to stem the bleeding. A shadow fell across him and he looked up through tear filled eyes at the green orbs above him.

"W-W-Who are you?" He whispered in fear, already growing cold from blood loss.

Two words were his answer.

"Your executioner."

Silver flashed and the Death Eater knew no more.

---

Harry turned from the three bodies, flicking Barbarisater free of blood and strode towards the end of the street where the sound of fighting was loudest. He felt through the numerous magical signatures in Hogsmeade until he found the two he was looking for; the minds he had left a piece of himself in.

Despite what some may believe, magic does indeed have a nature. Now, Wild Magic; magic unattached to any life form or chained into an object like a Ward stone, did not have a nature as it was the source of all magic but Essence Magic did. For example; magic that made up the Magical Core of a Wizard, Goblin, Dragon, Muggle, tree, plant life, Wards or any other living or magical hand made thing was Essence Magic. Wild Magic was the ambient magic that made up the universe, waiting to be converted into Essence Magic.

Each creature's Essence was unique to them, with no two being the same. Each creatures Essence also gave the creature control over a certain kind of magic. Dragons were famed for their control over fire based magic and Dryads had an almost symbiotic bond with life magic but for more diverse creatures like Wizards and Goblins it was a little different. Wizards had a very loose hold on magic and therefore each Wizard could have an entirely different Essence from the next. Dumbledore had a fire based Essence even though he preferred Transfiguration. Nicolas Flamel was greatly gifted in the area of Alchemy based magic but also had a touch of Necromantic magic which allowed him to be the only person in history to create a Philosophers Stone. Merlin had the greatest Charms based Essence ever recorded in Wizard kind.

Harry's Essence was based around Mind Magic. With this, abilities like Occlumency and Legilimency were second nature to him and as such he could take their practices to new levels entirely. It also helped his control over other kinds of spells, following the first rule of magic: "It's all about intent". This made spells far easier to cast, regardless of what they were but spells that effected one's mind were his forte. It was near impossible to break his Occlumency barriers, his Legilimency skills were far greater than most and it was tough even for Inquisitors to throw off his Imperius Curse and even then only the seniors had been able to do it. It was with skills like this that Harry had been able to create many Mind spells, both offensive and defensive, one of which was a kind of telepathy. All he had to do was enter a person's mind, preferably willingly, and leave a kind of marker that he could connect to, even from many miles away and he instinctively knew where that person was. Within the small village of Hogsmeade, such a thing was easy.

+Patience?+ He sent. +What's your status?+

Her response was immediate. +I'm near the High Street. Death Eaters have engaged the Aurors and are attacking at random. Mostly Cruciatus and Killing Curses. Heading to engage.+

+Good, tell me if you need assistance. Bruce?+

+I'm at the carriages, covering the students as they head back to the castle, they're on foot. A few Death Eaters trying to catch them before they can get back to the school but I'm taking care of them.+ The large Muggle's gravely voice answered back.

+Place any injured into the carriages and send them back to the school and order one of the non-injured students to go with them. You should have enough space for six in each carriage if you lay them down on the benches and floors.+ Harry advised.

+Got it. What about you? What'll you be doing?+

Harry grinned and although they couldn't see it, they could hear it in his thoughts. +What I do best.+ He answered.

He withdrew his mind from theirs as he strode into the next street just as a Death Eater disarmed an Auror protecting a small group of Third Years. Harry pulled his pistol in an instant and levelled it at the Death Eater's head, pulling the trigger. The man's skull vanished in a burst of red, thoroughly shocking the Auror.

"Lead them to the carriages!" Harry barked as he strode past, firing at more Death Eaters.

Harry slashed and hacked, removing limbs and opening guts as he cut a bloody path through the street. A swift kick of an armoured boot broke a man's knee while a Banishing Charm sent another through a store window. Reversing his grip on Barbarisater, Harry impaled the first Death Eater and pulled, spilling his intestines onto the streets.

The sound of crunching glass drew his attention and Harry looked up to see a woozy but determined Death Eater trying to climb back out through the store window. When he had one leg over, Harry grinned and waved his hand. "Reparo."

The man's masked head tilted slightly in obvious confusion as the glass flew up reform the store's window.

The fact that the shards had to go through the Death Eater first were of little consequence.

Harry turned from the shredded body and started towards the group huddled near Honeydukes.

They hadn't been expecting this. When Aurors went into a fight they were ordered to Stun only but this kid was slaughtering them without even trying to take prisoners!

The Aurors just watched dumbfounded as the sixteen year old cut through the swarms of Dark Wizards with practiced ease, allowing them to help the injured or get the students to the carriages. They weren't about to get in that kid's path, that's for damn sure.

Harry quickly ducked a Killing Curse and a Cruciatus while allowing a low powered Blasting Hex to splatter harmlessly off his armour as he swept Barbarisater up, cleanly bisecting a Death Eater from crotch to crown. Three staccato burst from his pistol killed three more and he Banished a piece of rubble across the road and into the face of the last one in this street.

As he moved into Ravenclaw Avenue, Harry idly wondered how the others were doing.

---

The Death Eater screamed as he was tossed against the wall. Before he had even hit the ground, she was there, holding him up with a strength that belied her lithe body. His mask was ripped off and his terror filled eyes briefly met a pair of cold violet ones before she snarled and sunk her teeth into his neck. He screamed in agony and fear, his thrashing getting weaker and weaker as his blood was drained from him. In a matter of seconds he was dead, his corpse pale as winter snow and with two small teeth marks on the side of his neck, the only sign of what killed him.

Patience threw the body to the ground, licking her lips free of every last drop of blood as she turned and booted a chunk of rock the size of her head with amazing strength, sending it rocketing across the street, pulverising another Death Eater's spinal column.

Faster than any human could move, she ran forward and wrapped an arm around another's neck and jerked, breaking it with an audible crack! She bodily threw the corpse into a small group firing after retreating students, knocking them to the ground. She landed amongst them, claws tearing and shredding.

Like a cat, she propelled herself out of the street and onto the roof of the Apothecary before leaping into the back alley behind the houses. It was nothing more than a thin path between the back gardens, thick enough to only allow one man to walk down it at one time.

And right now it was packed with Death Eaters.

She launched herself off the Apothecary roof and literally dived into the group, moving with all the speed and grace her kind were known for. In the confined space, the Dark Wizards couldn't return fire quick enough and Patience easily slaughtered her way through, leaving a bloody carpet of bodies behind her.

She kicked the man in front of her in the sternum, throwing him back and knocking down the ones behind him that were trying to flee.

A few more slices and they were dead.

She ran across the bodies lightly, never once stumbling on the uneven mass, and burst into the next street. There were only a few here, maybe five at the most. The nearest two hadn't seen her yet and she silently made her way behind them. She leaned towards one and when she whispered in his ear, her breath tickled the hairs of his neck.

"Boo."

They started and spun but it was already too late. Patience grabbed the first's wand arm while backhanding the other, throwing him against a wall where his head connected with a sickening crack! She jerked the first forward by his arm and wrapped her free one around him, pressing her body to his. To the casual observer, it might have appeared to be a lover's embrace but they would have been terribly wrong.

Patience smirked at the man whose terror filled eyes were wide behind the holes of his mask. "Hi." She said pleasantly before tearing into his neck.

His screams alerted the others and they turned to see a beautiful woman with her face buried into the crook of their comrade's neck but judging by his screaming and thrashing, it wasn't pleasant. They fired Curses at the joined couple but the woman let the Death Eater's body take the brunt of the spellfire before spinning, her hand still with a firm hold on the man's arm.

Patience threw the Death Eater like a giant human discus, his corpse spinning through the air and knocking out another fat Death Eater while she tore towards the fourth, dancing around the Curses he sent her way.

She batted his arm away and with an Amazonian yell, thrust her hand into his chest, breaking skin, bone and sinew until she jerked it out.

Clutched in her bloody hand was his still beating heart.

The man gasped then coughed once before keeling over, dead.

Patience tossed the organ aside then threw herself into a roll as a Killing Curse passed through the space her head had occupied a moment before.

Her dodge took her to the middle of the street where she crouched on one knee, ready to dodge again as she stared at the final Death Eater.

It was easy to tell by the way that the robes hugged her form that it was a woman behind that skull mask, her wand pointed directly towards Patience but not casting any spells.

"How pitiful." The woman said, disgust evident in her voice. "The Ministry's resorted to using Vampire filth to fight it's battles. Just goes to show how weak they really are."

Patience's eyebrow rose, not raising to the bait. "Isn't that a little bit hypocritical of you? You're Master hired Vampires during the last war knowing that he couldn't win on his own."

"Be silent!" The woman snapped. "The Dark Lord may have used Vampires during his last rise but we always had a plan to be done with them when their use expired. They were just animals for the slaughter, actually thinking that they would have a place in the utopia the Dark Lord envisioned."

Patience scoffed. "Ah yes, Voldemort's infamous goal: kill off everything other than Purebloods and inbreed the human race into extinction. Really got a head on his shoulders that Tom Riddle."

"You dare speak His name!?" The Death Eater hissed in fury.

Patience shrugged. "Yeah. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is a mouthful and You-Know-Who is just confusing."

The other woman growled, her grip on her wand tightening. "You'll learn the proper respect when my Master topples your weak government and rules all."

Patience chuckled and shook her head. "Sorry to break it to you but Voldemort won't overthrow the Ministry. Not as long as my Master is there leading the fight."

This time it was the Death Eater's turn to scoff. "Albus Dumbledore? That old fool will be dead soon enough."

Patience smirked. "Not Albus Dumbledore. Inquisitor Harry Potter."

The Death Eater's stance faltered slightly before she caught herself and chuckled. "So you're Potter's pet Vampire that I've been hearing about. No matter. My Lord will deal with that child soon but he will reward me greatly for removing one of the Inquisition's own agents."

"Mmhmm?" Patience hummed disbelievingly. "And what makes you think you can kill me?"

The woman only laughed as she threw back her hood, letting her lanky black hair fall free and tore her mask away, tossing it aside. Patience recognised her immediately.

"Bellatrix Lestrange." Patience noted. "Wife of Rodolphus Lestrange, former inmate of Azkaban and supposedly Voldemort's right hand."

The former member of House Black grinned manically, her insanity obvious. "You've heard of me? I'm flattered."

Patience said nothing as she stood. Taking a few steps back, she undone the buttons of her long coat and slid it from her slim shoulders, kicking away. Her torso was now only clad in her bodice and the cold didn't seem to effect her at all. Lestrange was dangerous. She had to be to be the second most powerful member of the Death Eaters. While she was no where near as strong as Riddle, she was every bit as vicious. Patience would need to take her seriously.

"Oho!" Bellatrix giggled. "She's getting serious. Does the big bad Vampire want to dwink wittle Bella's blood." She asked in her grating mock baby voice.

"No, I wouldn't subject myself to that. I'll settle for bathing in it instead." Patience raised her arms to the side and four slivers of silver slid from hidden sheaths disguised into her bodice. Four handle-less Kine blades hovered before her, twirling lazily.

Like most Vampires, Patience was not a Witch. There was an unwritten rule to never Turn a Witch or Wizard, not matter what the reason. There was too much bad blood between the two people and Turning a Wizard was only reserved for as a grave punishment. That's not to say that she couldn't control magic. She could do some minor spells and charge low powered Runes if need be but her real power lay in her inert ability to manipulate objects.

Patience was a Telekine. A rather gifted one too.

"You think a few measly blades with save you?" Bellatrix asked mockingly.

Patience shook her head. "No but they should be enough to kill you."

The women stared at each other, bodies tense and ready.

At some unspoken signal, they attacked.

---

BOOM!

BOOM!

BOOM!

Bruce's rifle bucked as he popped three more Death Eaters that had chased after the students. He was perched atop the carriage he'd arrived on, the elevation allowing him to fire over the heads of the retreating students. He'd already sent two carriages back to the castle, the insides filled with injured students. He'd hit fifteen Death Eaters so far and only used fifteen bullets, making sure to make every shot count. With his Rune inscribed weapons, he'd never run out of ammunition but it was a matter of pride that he only needed one shot. It was part of the reason Harry hired him.

His eyes scanned the area ahead, his keen eyes searching for white masks while watching for any injured students. His eyes caught a group of three Slytherins lumbering out of the village, a boy supported between two girls. His leg was bandaged, obviously broken and his weight was beginning to tire the girls out.

Bruce dropped off the carriage, landing with a loud thud and marched over to them.

The two girls looked up, somewhat fearfully, at the large Muggle but knew this was the man that Inquisitor Potter told them about. With this knowledge in mind, they didn't protest much when he actually lifted Blaise from between them and carried him over to the carriages with one arm, like you would a small child.

Blaise, while in pain, couldn't help but look a little indignant at being lugged around like a kid.

Daphne and Tracey actually managed a giggle at their friend's predicament and followed them over to one of the empty carriages.

Bruce opened the door and placed the boy inside somewhat gently before stepping aside and waving the girls in. He disappeared for a moment before returning with two Third Year girls, one a Hufflepuff and the other a Ravenclaw. They were bleeding from cuts to their faces and arms and crying heavily. Bruce passed them to Daphne and Tracey.

"Take these three to the Hospital Wing." He ordered before snapping the door closed. A smack to the rump was all it took to convince the Thestral to move and the carriage was on it's way back towards the school.

Bruce clambered back atop the carriage he was on in time to kill a Death Eater that had been aiming at an unsuspecting girl's back.

His gun gripped tightly in his hands, Bruce watched for any sign of danger as he did his duty.

He couldn't let Harry down; he had a perfect record so far and he wasn't about to lose it now.

---

Harry ducked behind the wall as a Killing Curse smashed into the stonework, obliterating it. He jabbed his gun around the corner and fired a small burst, making sure to aim high as to not accidentally hit a non-combatant. He rushed around the corner to see a Death Eater tucked behind a cart full of straw.

With a flick of Barbarisater, the cart was Transfigured into a Bengal Tiger which turned on the startled criminal and mauled him. Harry directed it to chase down two more who had been making a brake for it and released the spell when they were dead.

+Patience, what's your status?+

He had to wait for a long moment and when she did reply, her answer was an impatient, +Busy!+

Knowing better than to bother her at this time, Harry moved on. +Bruce? Status?+

His answer was a lot quicker than Patience's. +Most of the students appear to have passed me and I've sent three carriages full of students back to the school. I've got eighteen dead Eaters here.+

Harry smirked. +Getting slow in your old age, I've already tallied twenty five.+

+Yeah well you can go find your targets, I have to wait for them to come to me!+ He huffed back.

Harry laughed, confusing the few Aurors around him. +Excuses, excuses. Don't worry, you know me and Patience will visit you in the old folk's home. We'll even bring you some hard candies!+ He mocked.

+Yeah and you can have her shove them up your--+

+Sorry, got to go.+ He cut Bruce off. +Try not to break a hip while I'm gone.+

He cut the link before Bruce could retort and turned to the three nearby Aurors. "You three, come with me." He took off without making sure they obeyed him. These three had been there when he decked the head Auror and knew who he was. He led them down the street, deflecting the Killing Curses sent their way with his faithful Barbarisater.

He slashed at a Death Eater nearly ten feet away and a Cutting Curse swept from the blade, the white arc slicing him in half at the waist. A Levitation Charm picked up another enemy and Harry used him to bat aside two more before slamming him viciously into the ground a few times. He tossed the limp body away and directed the Aurors to assist a man who had been set on fire and was now thrashing in the street. The rushed off and Harry paused, straining his ears. The fighting sounded far away now, probably a few blocks over. These streets were clear so he turned to take off down Gryffindor Road when he froze suddenly.

He closed his eyes and reached out with his mind. Even with his eyes closed, he could still see the village, except this time it was through magic itself. Buildings and rubble were outlined in a dark blue that stood out amidst the black of the world. The five senses all seemed to meld together, creating something a whole lot more. He could see and feel the Essence of every single creature in Hogsmeade, all scrambling around like an army of glowing ants. Some were blue and warm, others green and cold and still some were red and quite a few were a mix of colours, flavours, textures and more. Some were dull, some were bright. Some pulsed, others flickered, each representing the very nature of a person. He looked down at his transparent hands which glowed the bright gold of a bearer of Mind natured Essence with a subtle undertone of black, no doubt a result of his constant tinkering with Wards. He reached out and he could see Bruce's very dull signature atop a carriage at the bottom of Hogwarts Road, the weapons in his hands glowing brightly with the amount of magic imbued into them. Further into the village, near Helga's Well was Patience, her Vampiric crimson Essence glowing vividly. She was fighting someone with a muddy Essence somewhere between green and an ugly yellow that reeked of lust and hate and insanity. That someone was powerful and Harry sent a silent warning to Patience to be careful. Within both of his agents was a small spark of gold; the little piece of himself that he'd left in their minds, with their blessing.

It was in Hogsmeade Square that he found who he was looking for. If the other Essences in the village were candles then this one was a verifiable bonfire. It's light obscured it's figure in a flame of silvery black. This Essence hurt to touch and merely looking at it forced Harry to resist the urge to vomit, feeling as if thick grease coated his skin, rust clogging his throat. Whatever this thing was, it wasn't human and it was incredibly strong.

Harry reined in his mind and opened his eyes to reality. Taking a breath, he slid his pistol into it's holster and reverently buttoned the flap. It wouldn't be of any use. Not in this fight. Picturing his destination, he let his desire to be there fill him and twisted, Disapparating away.

He reappeared at the end of Hufflepuff Road, just where it opened up into Hogsmeade Square. The Square was the pride and joy of the village. It contained the finest restaurants in magical Britain in a wide open space made of even light grey cobble stones. The fences were painted a pristine black and gold and the few flower beds that were around were kept immaculate, colourful flowers bursting from the earth. The buildings were made of a light stone, the same shade as the ground. Outside the restaurants stood small tables for when the weather was pleasant which surrounded the large, ornate fountain dedicated to the village's founder: Halgrum Hogsmeade and at his feet stood his ever faithful War Pig: Pinky. The bear of a man held his famous hammer high over his head, his bare stone torso carved so that it was covered by rich furs. It really was a beautiful setting.

And there, sitting at a table outside Relo's Bistro, sat Lord Voldemort.

Like excrement on a famed piece of artwork, the man that was Tom Riddle contaminated the area with his presence. The pale man sat at a small table, completely at ease. At his side sat a young couple. The woman was sprawled across the table and the man was slumped back lifelessly, his dead eyes reflecting the grey sky above.

The fighting was near non-existent now, a few dull poundings that seemed to echo from many miles away. They were the only people in the Square. Well, the only living people at least.

"Ahhh." Riddle's voice drifted across the Square as he looked up at the teen he had been waiting for. "Harry Potter. It's been so many years."

"Not near enough." Harry retorted.

Riddle tilted his head, a smirk playing around his slit of a mouth. "Harry, you make it sound like your not pleased to see me. And I went through all the trouble of setting this up so that we could talk too." He placed a hand over his heart as if wounded and shook his head in pain.

"Haven't you ever heard of owls? If you'd have sent me a time and a place I'd have gladly come over to chat." Harry quipped lightly, as if talking about the weather with an old friend.

Voldemort shrugged. "Sure but this way is so much more fun. Nothing beats a good fight, except perhaps a good kill."

"You're a twisted bastard, Tom." Harry said plainly. "Twisted and vulgar to the fullest extent."

"Thank you." He nodded graciously. He waved towards the only empty seat at the table. "Care for a seat?"

"I'll stand if you don't mind."

"Fair enough." He shrugged and he picked up one of the couple's crumpets. His crumpet now.

Harry raised a brow with a coy smirk. "No offer of a Lemon Drop?"

"Ugh, don't get me started." Tom muttered in disgust, biting into his crumpet. "The amount of times that man called me to his office to ask 'Is there anything you with to tell me, Tom?'" He rumbled in a rather convincing Dumbledore voice. He snorted. "Yeah! I've killed several people, found the fabled Chamber of Secrets, I'm gearing up with the Darkest spells I can and I'm plotting to topple the government when I leave school. What about you, Albus, what's on your social calendar?" He shook his head. "Couldn't get a moment of peace."

"I feel your pain." Harry said dryly.

"Cheers." He took a sip of the tea that had been the man's. Also his now. He set the cup down and looked at Harry intently. Harry felt a bang against his Occlumency shields and smacked it away. Riddle leaned back with a satisfied smirk. "So you do know a little Occlumency. I was wondering why I couldn't feel anything through the link."

Harry returned his smirk. "Can't let you see all my secrets now can I? That would ruin any surprises I had in store."

Riddle sipped his tea. "Never was one for surprises." He paused. "That's not true. I never was one for things that surprised me."

"Well, no one is omnipotent except Seers and God himself and somehow I doubt he'd clue you in."

"Well, if things all go according to plan, I'll never have to meet the Great One so I'll never know." Voldemort said as he leaned back, crossing one leg over the other.

"Why are you here, Tom? Why attack a school trip?" Harry asked, getting down to business.

Riddle quirked an amused eyebrow. Or at least, Harry though he did. It was hard to tell from this distance. "Haven't I already said? I wanted to meet you, Harry. The famed Boy-Who-Lived, if I'm correct." He smirked.

"Yeah, what about it, You-Know-Who?"

Riddle looked rather disgruntled. "Don't look at me, I didn't come up with the damn name. You think I like being called You-Know-Who? Imagine what the history books will say a hundred years from now. The governments of Britain fell to the Death Eaters and a few years later the world followed, all thanks to You-Know-Who. No, I don't know who and I'd very much like to find out if you don't mind!" He shook his head. "No Dark Lord, no Almighty Voldemort, just You-Know-Bloody-Who!"

"Moving on." Harry drawled, slightly bemused at the infamous Dark Lord Voldemort having a temper tantrum because no one would say his name. "Since you've gone to all this trouble to call me out, what is it you want?"

"Simply? I'm here to offer you a deal."

Harry groaned. "This isn't the join-me-or-I'll-kill-you-and-everyone-you-know speech is it because if it is, I've heard it a million times and I'm really not in the mood to hear any more variations."

Tom looked thoughtful for a moment before slowly saying, "It…may be but with a slight twist."

"This ought to be good." Harry muttered. "Okay, let's hear it."

Riddle swirled his tea, looking down into the warm brown liquid as he spoke. "There's a Prophesy concerning us as I'm sure you're well aware. I happened to hear a part of that Prophesy but sadly not the whole thing. What I have heard however, intrigues me to no end. It read: The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him, born as the seventh month dies. These words annoyed the Hell out of me for over a year. Who was this mystery person? When would they arrive and what was this power the Prophesy spoke of? I'd thought on this for countless hours until eventually all I wanted to do was beat my head bloody against the nearest wall."

"Psycho."

"Shut it. Anyway, I eventually learned that two of the families consisting of Dumbledore's biggest supporters had recently had babies and had also went into hiding. I wondered why the old man had sent these families into hiding. I knew it wasn't just because of the newborns. The McKinleys had kids but Albus didn't send them into hiding. If he did they might still be alive now. Then I realised. These babies were born as the seventh month died. One of these rug rats was destined to try to screw me over! I had a choice to make. Would my opponent be a Potter or a Longbottom? I had a bloody long time to think about it, I'll tell you. An entire year to be exact. I was wondering how on earth I could get past Wards on a house that I couldn't find when my answer came to me. Your parent's Secret Keeper actually wanted to join me and would provide me with the address to where they were hiding. So naturally, I went as soon as I could; on All Hallows Eve."

"Let me get this straight." Harry said slowly, getting thoroughly annoyed. "You attacked my family…because it was the first option available?"

Voldemort shrugged as if to say "What could I do?". "I had been trying for a while. To be honest, I was planning to kill the Longbottoms as well just to make sure I'd covered all the angles. I'd also had a plan for when I toppled the Ministry to have all babies born in July killed just to be on the safe side but that's not important. I went to your house, killed your parents then tried to kill you. I hadn't counted on you mother, though."

"Her Blood Sacrifice." Harry said smugly.

"Exactly." Riddle glowered. "Smart girl that Evans. Shitty lineage but one of the better minds I've seen. Her sacrifice protected you from me and I found myself wounded and weak, lower than the meanest ghost."

"What's this got to do with the Prophesy?" Harry asked.

Voldemort threaded his fingers before him before looking at them incredulously, realising that he'd copied Dumbledore's pose and instead crossed his arms. "From what I've heard of the Prophesy, you have a power, one that I don't. I was very interested by the phrasing of the Prophesy as well. The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord. This could mean many things but would you like to hear my favourite theory?"

"Shoot."

Voldemort smirked. "I think that this Prophesy, this destiny, has decided that you are the one who poses the biggest threat to me. The Prophesy implies that only one person can defeat me totally and that person is you."

Harry kept his face black. "So?"

"Don't you see?" Tom asked. "This means that if you don't kill me, no one else can and that may work the other way around. Think about it, if neither of us kills the other, then neither of us can be killed at all! We could stride into a battle with the knowledge that we couldn't be killed. Injured yes, possibly crippled but not killed. If this is true then there's nothing stopping us from conquering the entire globe if we work together. Think of it. We could make things the way they should be, run things how they should be run. There'd be no war. No famine. No suffering. It would be utopia." Tom finished quietly.

Harry stared at the Dark Lord. Tom had proven his title as a genius with deciphering the Prophesy with what little he had of it, even if he wasn't fully convinced it was completely true. If he was correct, then they were effectively immortal until one got tired of the other and they settled things once and for all. In some traitorous section of his mind, Harry actually considered the offer for a fleeting moment. Not for the whispered promises of power, wealth and glory but for the chance to make things right.

No child would lose their parents to war.

No child would be starved.

No child would be beaten by cruel relatives.

No child would be locked away in a small, dark space for days on end.

No child would suffer.

It really would be utopia.

"There's just one thing you haven't considered, Tom." Harry said quietly.

Voldemort met Harry's emerald gaze with his crimson one. "What's that, Harry."

Harry's eyes suddenly hardened, becoming dark, icy pits. "You killed my parents. And for that I'll kill you."

Riddle sank back into his chair, shaking his head in disappointment. He really thought that the boy would have taken up his offer and like some of the other deals he'd made, Tom had actually planned to honour this one. "You would deny this chance?"

Harry's reply was immediate. "I would."

"I see." Voldemort said quietly.

Harry's eyes shot open as he sensed a large bolt of mental energy coming towards him…

From behind!

He threw himself to the side moments before a large crater was blasted into the stone ground where he had stood not a second before. Harry rolled forwards and slapped one palm to the ground to steady himself as he glanced over his shoulder at the hole before looking back at Riddle, who hadn't moved from his seat. "You've learned how to Project your thoughts." He accused. Thought Projection was the highest level of Legilimency there was; taking years of practice to achieve. Harry himself had only managed to achieve it in the last year and a half. It didn't require direct eye contact and could do a lot more than read minds.

"I have." Tom said simply.

Harry smirked as he slowly rose to his feet. "A battle of minds then. I hope you've had enough practice, Tom, otherwise this will be a short fight."

Harry closed his eyes, once more releasing his mind. Standing before the monster now, Harry could see through the beacon, flaring his own golden one to clear the silvery haze from his vision. The world was black and blue, held in much more definition that Harry would ever see without his Sight.

His conscious lifted from it's physical chains, leaving enough of itself for the cage of bone and flesh to function independently if the need arose. Harry's mind took the form of a great two headed eagle, an Auqilia, the heraldic animal of the Inquisition just as Voldemort's conscious broke free, forming a giant skull wreathed in flame.

With an ethereal caw, Harry launched himself at Voldemort.

Every head in Hogsmeade turned towards the Square as a mighty sonic boom echoed across the village, the magical discharge rattling the panes in the windows while those in the Square itself were shattered as the two minds clashed.

Harry arced high in the air and dived, his razor sharp talons ready to tear Voldemort's conscious apart. The green skull flew up to meet him and it's great maw opened to belch a ball of eldritch fire.

Harry gracefully avoided it, not once pausing in his dive and rammed into the skull, forcing it to the ground in an explosion of rubble. Harry backed off quickly lest Riddle's mind fire scorch him and watched as the skull floated out of the crater, grinning madly.

Suddenly, it exploded into a shower of pain darts that peppered Harry, causing him to screech in pain. A great Basilisk swam up through the air and bore down on the wounded bird, it's jaws ready to tear it's life away.

Frantically, Harry reformed into a tiny Snitch and snapped out of the massive snake's path, hovering just outside the Gilded Wand restaurant. Voldemort hissed in anger and launched himself at Harry again only for the teen to dodge once more, allowing the reptile to crash through the eatery's window, thoroughly demolishing the building.

Seeing that his current tactic was no good, Voldemort ripped his head from the rubble of the building, causing the roof to cave in, and released his current form.

Harry hovered nervously for a second before a large prism comprised of Voldemort's black energy appeared around him, encasing him in it's magical barrier. The Snitch fluttered around like mad as the walls started to close in, desperately looking for a way out. With little choice, Harry formed into a large ball comprised of many long, sharp spikes. The spikes shoot out, smashing into the constricting walls and stopping their progress but not piercing them.

Both minds battled for dominance.

Riddle pushed all his power into compacting the cage, knowing that if he could, Harry's mind would be extremely weakened, maybe even destroyed.

Harry pushed back, his greater experience with Thought Projection giving him the edge he needed over Tom's insane strength. Only one spike needed to pierce the barrier and he could get out.

The two opposing forces strained and pushed, each trying to overpower the other. Finally, with an almost Herculean effort and a roar of anger, Harry managed to force one spike through the barrier, shattering it. Knowing he didn't have long, Harry dropped his form into a cloud of smoke and rushed out of the hole a millisecond before the barrier snapped shut.

The giant cage shuddered in rage and swirled from a barrier into a Dementor. The spectral wrath swept across the Square, immaterial translucent hands reaching for the gold smoke.

Harry waited until the thing was close enough before he whipped around, smoke flattering and hardening into a giant spinning saw blade. Riddle tried to pull up but he was too slow. He crashed into the shrieking razor's edge, the blade tearing into him, magic leaking from his wounds like lifeblood. The Dementor jerked and screeched on the blade before the momentum finally launched him off, smashing into the side of the fountain of Halgrum Hogsmeade.

Had anyone witnessed the battle taking place, all they would have seen would have been quite possibly the two most powerful Wizards in the country staring each other down as Hogsmeade Square erupted around them, buildings and the ground being destroyed by some powerful but invisible force. This battle took place on another level of existence entirely.

Harry fired a shower of pain darts at the downed form of Riddle, further aggravating his injuries and before the ethereal creature could pull itself from the rubble, Harry reformed into a fully grown Entrumpment. The rhino-like beast gave a cry and charged. It's elongated horn caught Tom square in the chest and threw him into another section of restraints, scattering the tables and chairs in a cloud of chalky smoke as it pulverised one of the building's support beams, causing the entire thing to crumple inwards like a toppled castle of cards.

Harry flew upwards and reformed into many spikes, each as thick as Hagrid's waist, before the sharp points rained down on the pile of rubble, punching through stone and steel like tissue paper.

Voldemort burst from the piles of stone, his Dementor robes torn, his magic bleeding from him as he roared with apoplectic fury. He transformed his mind into a ball of thunder, bolts of energy crackling furiously as they whipped at the air in jagged, arcing patterns.

The cloud of electricity pulsed angrily before tearing across the Square, not towards Harry's conscious which now floated over the fountain as a large raven but towards his physical body which hadn't moved since the battle began.

Harry's mind froze momentarily in surprise before roaring after Riddle. He had been closer to his body and as such had the advantage. Taking a leaf from Tom's book, Harry reformed into a barrier only where Voldemort's was as hard a diamond, Harry's was malleable and ever changing; like a giant bubble.

The bubble barrier caught the cloud of energy just before it struck Harry's physical body and wrapped itself around it, absorbing it within itself and dragged it back across the Square, it's surface expanding and contracting to keep the volatile mind inside.

When it had removed the Dark Lord's mind a safe distance, Harry's bubble threw it to the ground, dashing the crackles of energy against the street.

This was getting out of hand. If things continued on this way, the entirety of Hogsmeade would be destroyed. The Square already looked like a war zone, nothing like the grand, proud place it was a few hours ago. Harry could only imagine what it would have looked like if there were people in the area. If they weren't hit in the scuffle or crushed by flying debris, the magical backlash from the battle would have scorched the skin from their bones if it didn't destroy their minds first. He had to end this.

I have to give it to you, Tom, for someone without a lot of practice in this technique, you certainly make up for it in tenacity. Harry sent with his mind, his thoughts echoing through the air so that only Riddle could hear them. But I'm afraid that you've forgotten one very important thing.

Oh? Voldemort asked as he pushed himself off the ground, once more in the guise of a Dementor. If he was angry, this thoughts gave away nothing, making him sound as cool and composed as always. And what's that, Harry?

I don't play fair. Suddenly, Harry threw himself back, away from Riddle and into his own body.

He felt his mind cry out in despair as he once more shackled it to it's physical bonds but he roughly shoved it aside as his eyes snapped open.

He leapt forward, Barbarisater raised, and Apparated directly in front of Voldemort's seated body, still missing most of it's mind.

With a roar, Harry attempted to cleave Riddle in twain before a pair of red eyes snapped open and Tom launched himself out of his seat, just as the blade carved through the chair. The powerful Cutting Curse that had been charged into the blade arced from the swing, cutting straight through the stonework of Relo's Bistro like a hot knife through butter.

'Damn, his mind made it back to his body!' Harry though as he reversed his swing and sent another Cutting Curse towards Riddle who's wand appeared in his hand just in time to raise a shield.

"Not very sporting, Harry." Tom said, unnerved at how close he'd came to being reduced to half the man he always was, literally.

"Sportsmanship is overrated." Harry shrugged as he slid his own wand from it's holster.

Riddle's head cocked to the side as he regarded the magical foci, his shield still in full effect. "Excellent craftsmanship." He commented, impressed. "Though I don't see any distinct characteristics or brandings pointing to the creator. If I may ask, who made it?"

Harry glanced down at his faithful wand. The wood was a light smoky grey, almost white, and smooth. The handle hand a black leather grip around it, just to give a little extra friction. It was fourteen inches long and sealed within it was a single hair from the coppery mane of a rather venerable Manticore, excellent for Wards, high damage spells, high energy output and could be rather temperamental at times. The wood, while soft to touch, was extremely hard. On more than one occasion, Harry had actually used the thing like a knife and stabbed straight through a man with little difficulty. The wood was also highly conductive of magic, coming straight from trees that grew in only one place: the agricultural gardens in the Inquisitorial Conclave. Harry had often admired the Grey Sentinels, as the trees were often dubbed. Smooth grey/white bark with nearly no knots or imperfections gracefully curved up from the ground and into elegant branches bearing just the right amount of pure white leaves as to not look bare or uncared for. Their simplicity had always appealed to him.

Harry twirled his Sentinel and Manticore wand in his hand. "This?" He asked innocently. "I created this myself. Wandsmithing was a required class for all Wizards in the Inquisition. We need to know how to create them in case ours breaks and most Wandsmiths won't use the more advantageous additions one could place into a wand so we do it ourselves."

Tom nodded thoughtfully. "Very nice, almost at the level of Olivander's quality."

"How about I give you a demonstration of it's quality?" Harry asked with a tight smirk. "Avada Kedavra!"

Tom Disapparated out of the spell's path but the second he landed, he was beseeched by a barrage of spells ranging from Cutting Curses to the real nasties like the Entrail Exploding Curse, the Reveller's Finery and the Three Unforgivables.

With a speed and grace you'd have never expected from a man of Riddle's age, the monster weaved and dodge not unlike a snake as the two traded fire.

Tom launched a Cruciatus followed by two Cutters and a Killing Curse as he Banished a table into the path of a Reductor which shattered the delicate piece of furniture into kindling.

Harry deflected the Unforgivables with Barbarisater and danced around the sliver thin Cutters. With a flourish, he Transfigured the water from the busted fountain that covered the ground underneath Riddle into oil and fired an Incendo as he whispered an incantation. Three black shapes shot from the tip of his wand and quickly unfurled into three Dementors. The soul sucking wraiths flew across the ground behind the Incendo, towards Tom.

Voldemort cast a Flame Freezing Charm on the area around him as the flame spell hit the oil, lighting it ablaze. He swept up his wand and the flaming liquid swam up and engulfed the advancing Dementors, igniting their cloaks. The creatures squealed and thrashed as they were consumed and Tom Banished them against a far wall, destroying the Conjured things.

Before Riddle could launch a second barrage, he felt a pair of strong arms wrap around him tightly from behind, pining his arms to his sides. He looked over his shoulder to see the dead face of the man he'd killed at the table staring back at him, unseeing eyes wide and haunting.

"Confringo!"

Voldemort's eyes widened and he managed to twist his body enough for the Blasting Curse to hit the Inferius, blasting it off him with all the power of a moving train, destroying the corpse enough that it wouldn't be able to move again.

With a flick of his wand, the rubble behind Harry was Transfigured into a rabid Hippogriff which gave a mighty screech and charged the boy.

Harry heard the screech and ducked just in time to avoid a large claw from tearing his head from his shoulder. He spun with Barbarisater, taking the beast's other front leg off with a spray of blood. The half-horse half-eagle cawed in pain as it collapsed to the ground, kicking madly as it tried to clamber to it's remaining feet.

A point blank Killing Curse put an end to it's efforts.

Before he could do much else, a Cutting Curse nicked his leg, thankfully not severing it but cutting deeply into the meat. Harry roared in pain and dropped to the ground just in time to dodge the Decapitation Curse that had been aimed at the back of his neck.

Harry rolled across the cobbled ground, firing blindly as he bought himself enough time to get to his feet, favouring his right leg slightly.

He jabbed his wand at the fountain and the statue of Halgrum Hogsmeade sprung to life. It leapt off the platform with it's hammer raised high, it's stone mouth opened in a silent battle cry. Tom jumped back as the weapon was brought down, smashing the ground. He fired a Blasting Curse of his own but only succeeded in removing a part of it's shoulder, not hindering it in any way. He ducked another swing just as Halgrum's ever faithful war pig Pinky came clopping around it's master.

For a fat stone pig, the thing was fast and Riddle didn't have enough time to level a spell at it before it's stone tusks, thankfully blunted, caught him in the chest and tossed him aside several meters.

Tom hit the ground and used the momentum to roll to his knees, one hand braced to the ground as his other felt his chest. He spat out a wad of blood. His Horntail hide armour had taken the brunt of the impact but he could feel a broken rib or two which was making breathing difficult. He cast a quick Numbing Charm on himself and levelled his wand at the pig who had returned for a second charge.

"Confringo!" He snarled and watched with immense satisfaction as the spell hit the statue head on, obliterating it. "Bloody Hell…" He groaned as Halgrum came in swinging, intent on avenging the loss of his partner.

He threw himself back, firing off another Blasting Curse, this time managing to remove the stone man's hammer as well as both his hands. The statue looked at it's new stumps in confusion and it gave Voldemort the chance to cast more Blasters, reducing it to a small pile of stone.

Harry watched as Tom dispatched his animated statues and painfully clambered to his feet, obviously still suffering pain from getting tossed by a stone pig. He had used the time the statues bought him to heal his cut leg, giving him full mobility again.

He drew his wand back and basically threw the Reveller's Finery towards the snake-like man, the purple and pink Curse cutting through the air with a screeching sound like a firework.

Riddle saw it coming and ducked to the side, allowing it to streak past him, striking one of the corpses outside Relo's Bistro. The body twitched and jerked violently for a second before exploding from the inside in a shower of gore and purple flame, covering the front of the restaurant in crimson humour.

With a whispered word, a great whip of flame erupted from the tip of the Phoenix feather wand and he cracked it.

Harry took a hasty step back but still received a small scorch to the front of his armour. He cast the Charm he needed on his hand and waited for the next attack. When it came, Harry's hand snapped out, catching the flame whip in his hand and holding on tightly. He wrapped the flames around his hand and jerked, pulling Voldemort off balance.

Quickly, he cast the Killing Curse only to bite back a growl as a piece of masonry intercepted it.

Tom cancelled his spell and instead fired of a chain of Curses. A Killing Curse, two Cruciatus', a Bone Breaker and another Killing Curse streaked across the Square.

Harry back peddled as they came nearer. Barbarisater bucked in his hand, deflecting the first Avada Kedavra before she knocked the others away from her master.

Harry brought his wand arm before him, his forearm horizontal, and rested the blade atop it, it's tip pointed at Riddle. It almost looked like he was taking aim…

Harry smirked. "Ictus."

Voldemort's look of confusion was replaced by one of surprise as the sword's blade shot out, elongating at an incredible rate as it speared towards him.

He Disapparated out of the way, the blade cleaving through the space he dematerialised in and punched into the stone wall behind, stabbing deeply into the thick stonework.

Harry withdrew Barbarisater's blade slightly and slashed with practiced ease, not as unwieldy with the over length blade as one may have assumed.

Riddle growled as the blade scored a hit across his chest, cutting his robes but thankfully not getting past the armour. He needed to end this. If he had to guess, he'd say that it had been two hours since the battle had started and little over an hour since he and Harry began their face off. It was only a matter of time before his Death Eaters withdrew like planned and the smart bet was the Dumbledore would be here soon, hearing of the attack from the returning students. He could face Harry to a stand still but against the two of them and he'd be quickly overwhelmed.

Making up his mind, he ducked another slash and Apparated to the top of the fountain, atop the pedestal that had once held Halgrum and Pinky.

"I'm afraid I'll have to cut our fun short, Harry." He called to the boy. "Rest assured, we'll meet again."

Harry retracted Barbarisater and turned to face Tom fully, his stance easy but ready. "So soon?" He called back, spreading his arms. "We were just getting started."

Voldemort smirked down at him. "Oh, don't worry." He chuckled. "I have a feeling we'll meet again."

Harry's grin was predatory. "I intend to see that we do. I still have a job to do after all."

They stared at each other for a long moment before Riddle Disapparated, returning to his base of operations for the time being.

When he was gone, Harry dropped his arms to his side and sighed, his confident façade dropping, finally allowing his face and posture to show how tired he was. He staggered over to the fountain and took a seat on the rim with a weary groan. He unshrunk Barbarisater's sheath and slid her back home, once more disguised as a cane. He propped it up at his side and set his wand beside him before dropping his face into his hands, his elbows resting on his knees. The fight had taken a lot out of him and he knew it had taken a lot out of Riddle too. His head throbbed with pain, there was a dull ache in his legs, he'd expelled a lot of magic and as a result he was starting to feel really hungry. Couple this with the general weariness that came from after a battle and the adrenaline leaving his system and you had one very tired Inquisitor.

Gathering himself, he managed to reach out to a familiar Essence. +Patience? You okay?+

There was a short pause. +Yeah, all fine.+ She sounded as tired as he was.

+Good. Bruce?+

+Yeah, boss?+ The Muggle answered back.

+You're in charge of clean-up. Help the Aurors identify the dead and catalogue the evidence. Make sure they know that no one sees it before I do but first do a quick sweep of the village for any stragglers. I want one alive.+ He ordered.

+Got it.+ He sent before Harry withdrew from his mind.

Cracking his neck to get rid of a kink, Harry glanced around at the Square.

It looked like two drunk Giants had decided to take up break dancing and had chosen the quaint little Square as their studio. Every restaurant was damaged in some way, all of them with their windows blown out and three were demolished entirely, their roofs and upper levels caved in. There was a large chunk missing from the side of the fountain and it's statues were gone entirely. The flowers were burnt up and shrived from the Legilimency battle and the once smooth cobbled ground had giant craters in it in numerous places.

To put it simply, the place was a wreck.

He groaned softly. The paperwork after this investigation was going to be such a pain…

He sighed and turned on the wide marble ledge until he was lying down on it, one leg on the ground to stop him from rolling over into the fountain's water. He was exhausted. He'd rest a bit, maybe even catch a few winks before going back to work. He yawned and covered his eyes with one arm, the other substituting as his pillow, and quickly fell into a slumber, his body winding down from the battle with his parent's killer.

In the ruins of Hogsmeade Square, Harry Potter slept.

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TOUCHDOWN!!!

This marks the end of what is officially the longest thing I have ever written on MS Word EVER! 43 pages of HP goodness. That's 19,135 words in total. Wow…

So, what did you think? Did you like my depiction of Voldemort? How did you like the fight scene? Could you understand it okay? What did you think of MY version of a Legilimency battle? Answer these questions and give your response and thoughts by hitting the little green button below. Go on, you know you want to.

Just so you know, I will go into more detail about Harry's abilities in greater detail later, especially the Thought Projection which will play a major part in the story as a whole.

This part is just to settle my own mind for you.

The Legilimency battle. The things that were fighting weren't Harry and Tom's physical bodies but their minds, independent from their bodies by use of Thought Projection, the highest form of the Legilimency arts. While like this, the world appeared entirely black with everything outlined in blue and people glowing with their Essence. If anyone was watching the battle, they wouldn't have seen the two minds going at it, but they would have seen the damage they caused, e.g. demolishing the Square. Only Harry and Voldemort saw and heard everything that went on during that battle.

Next Chapter: Harry discovers the truth about his family's betrayal, the Order of the Phoenix witness how this so-called "boy" faired against the Dark Lord and a long awaited conversation takes place…