"I think I figured who else you should talk to" Rose said early Friday morning as Harry was just finishing up his breakfast. Just as he was about to ask for some more details Jack ran up to him.
"Hey Harry, Hey Harry, can I, can I borrow your firebolt?" the young boy asked, skidding to a stop after running down basically the length of the entire gryffindor table, barely able to keep his legs under him, sounding like a caffeinated squirrel. "Me and some friends we're goin' flying around the quidditch pitch this afternoon, and I wanted to show my friends my, err our, awesome new broom."
Harry had to laugh at his younger brother's antics, and just how excitable he was "sure thing Bud, How about I hold onto it until you're done with classes for the day?" He paused his incessant movement for a few seconds as if mulling the offer over.
"OK, Yup, Great Idea, You're the Best" he babbled out, tripping over his words.
"Did you drink coffee this morning?" Rose asked, her hands on her hips, a stern look of disapproval on her face.
He hung his face in shame, "Robby told me he'd give me a sickle if I drank some."
"Jack," Rose knelt down so she was eye to eye with him, placing her hand on his shoulder "You know coffee isn't good for you."
"I know," the boy mumbled, his head still drooped, "It won't happen again, please don't tell mum and dad," the boy pleaded, looking up at her his eyes almost comically large.
Rose let out a little laugh, "Sure thing, just promise me it won't happen again."
"Jack! Come on!" a boy with glasses and a mop of mousy brown hair called from further down the table. Jack gave Harry a quick hug before taking off like a shot, his feet once again almost slipping out from underneath him, only quick footwork kept the overly energetic child from falling flat on his face,
"By Harry, Bye Rose." he called as her ran to catch up with a few boys who looked to be his friends.
"It's amazing that kids still alive" Rose shook her head "I'm amazed the kid hasn't broken his neck" she watched Jack and his two friends march out of the Great Hall, arms draped over each others shoulder, laughing at a dumb joke.
"I basically raised the kid" Rose said, watching the trio leave the great hall, watching him disappear "Mum and Dad tried, they really did, but they were so busy helping Dumbledore with the order that more often than not, the task of actually raising him fell to me." he could almost hear the slight sense of resentment in her voice.
"He's a good kid, a great kid, but its just exhausting, more often than not he'll come to me when he's had a nightmare rather than mum or dad. They didn't even realize he was having nightmares for the longest time."
Harry reached out hesitantly, and pulled her into a hug, she broke down and began quietly sobbing.
"What are we doing Harry?" she asked, her head buried in his chest "Is it worth it, I mean for Merlin's sake, I'm trying to raise my brother, you're in the process of running a goddamn war, We're just kids. This shouldn't be our responsibility."
Harry stood there just patting her back, thinking about her question. "I know Rose, I know, but its the hand we've been dealt, we can either shrink under the load or we can raise to meet it" He said softly, "And if it helps I think you're doing an awesome job."
She sat there, tears quietly falling down her face. They remained like that for a while, Harry doing the best he could to comfort the crying girl.
"Sorry, what were we talking about?" she asked, suddenly all business. Wiping her eyes, she stood, and immediately became serious, only her slightly puffy eyes were any indication that she had just been crying.
"You had a list of people I should talk to." He said. Impressed at how quickly she changed gears. Standing strong, ready to do whatever was necessary. He was impressed with her strength, and her internal fortitude.
"Oh right!" she said, pulling out a roll of parchment and a quill.
"Ok, Let's start with the obvious; the Weasley's and Neville Longbottom" she said, making a mark on her parchment.
"Like I said, those were obvious, but these next few are also people you should definitely consider. Hermione Granger, and Dean Thomas, both are muggleborn, the exact ones that you-know-is targeting." she looked at Harry, her eyes boring holes into his skull.
"There's also Justin Finch-Fletchley, he's in Hufflepuff, another muggleborn." she said, still rummaging through her bag, looking for something. Giving it up as a bad job, she looked up at him.
"You know what?" Rose said, letting her bag fall to her hip, "Come with me tonight, I'll get the people I think you should talk to."
Finding that as possibly the best idea, Harry readily agreed. Rose glanced at her watch, and realizing she was going to be late quickly made her way out of the great hall and towards the dungeons for her Potions lesson.
Harry was just about to follow her out of the great hall when a regal Great Horned Owl landed on the table next to where he was standing and glared at him, seeing the letter attached to its leg addressed to Mr Harry Getthen. Seeing the Gringotts Crest stamped prominently on the front he quickly grabbed the letter and broke the seal. Once the owl was divested of its load it once again took off flying back to the bank.
Harry skimmed the letter, his eyes skipping down the page at an impressive rate. Reading through the letter again, just to make sure he understood the letter he began making his way towards the Headmaster's office before stopping and realizing he had no idea of how to get there.
Noticing a giant of a man lumbering out of the great hall moving out the entryway, obviously deep in thought. Nearly bowling harry over, his head elsewhere
"I'm sorry I didn' see yeh there" he said, sounding apologetic. "My name is Rubeus Hagrid, groundskeeper at Hogwarts, but yeh can call me Hagrid." The man was giant at least seven and a half feet tall, with wide expressive eyes, and a kind face.
"Harry Getthen" sticking his hand out to shake, his hand was engulfed in the giant's much larger calloused hand.
"What can I do fer yeh?"
"Actually, there is something you can do for me, I need to know where the Headmaster's office is."
"Why?" Hagrid asked, looking slightly suspicious,
"Because, I have this letter from Gringotts. And I'd like to see if I can use his floo" Harry shook the letter in question.
"Sure thing,Follow me." Hagrid took long loping steps, moving off towards the headmaster's office. Causing Harry to move quickly he took three steps for every two of Hagrid's, finally they came to a familiar statue. The gargoyle seeing Hagrid coming up, jumped out of the way allowing for the two able to move right up to the door.
"Ah Hagrid, What can I do for you?" Dumbledore said, looking slightly taken aback by the sudden appearance of the half giant. his eyes twinkling, opening the door to his office.
"This student needed ta' speak with ya" Hagrid said gesturing towards Harry.
"Ah yes, Mister Getthen, to what do I owe this pleasure?" Dumbledore asked
"I was hoping to use your floo, apparently I have some business to take care of with the Goblins" Harry handed the letter to dumbledore. Skimming the letter he handed it back to Harry before stepping aside,
"Go right ahead , my boy" Dumbledore said gesturing magnanimously through the now open door,
Throwing a handful of floo powder in he watched as the flames turned emerald green. Calling out his destination he was swept up and began making his way towards downtown London. Harry stepped out into the opulent entryway of Gringotts bank.
"I need to speak to Ulnik, at his earliest convenience" Harry said to the teller, who was looking down at him from an awkwardly high counter.
"Ulnik is very busy, Wizard, he will not see anyone without an appointment" the Goblin said with a sneer. Handing the letter in question to the sneering goblin who read it before harrumphing unhappily, and stepping down from behind the counter and meandered to the hallway containing the offices of the various goblins. Harry watched impassively as the goblin teller disappeared.
Only a few minutes later he saw Ulnik come out of his office, unconsciously smoothing down his fitted three piece suit.
"Ah, Mister Getthen, I'm so happy you could come at such short notice, I'd apologise, but I like you too much to lie to you." He said with a predatory grin, "If you'd please follow me there's much We need to discuss."
Harry followed the goblin intro his office, no longer stretched to comical proportions unlike the last time he was in the office. The door swung shut with an audible click. Seeing the goblin relax slightly, he also let his guard down a bit.
"So tell me, Ulnik, What was so urgent you needed to see me right away?' Harry asked, skipping straight to business. The Goblin's smile defrosted just the slightest bit.
"Finally a wizard who understands the value of time. Straight to business; very well. Girst let me the first to congratulate you on your first international victory in South Sudan."
Harry bowed his head in acknowledgement, not particularly surprised that the goblins knew of South Sudan.
"Thank you, though you know that didn't go exactly to plan" He said, remembering the Colonel.
"Bah, there are always casualties." the goblin said callously. "Now for the real reason you're here." he grabbed a set of blueprints from a bookcase. "The Earl of Avon, Lucius Malfoy is interested in selling his 'summer home' in the hebrides, a lovely little thing set on 700 acres, I do believe you're familiar with the place." Ulnik said, his predatory grin returning in full force.
"What of it?" Harry asked intrigued. Buying the previous stronghold of the Dark Lord was a major psychological victory in his mind. The value of launching attacks from a place previously thought impenetrable by his enemies only to be proven wrong was worth an incalculable amount.
"He, Lucius Malfoy, is asking twenty thousand galleons for it." Ulnik grabbed a piece of parchment from a file that lay haphazardly across his desk, who flipped it around for Harry to see, a listing of the house and various amenities were shown. Harry whistled softly, that was quite the property.
"Let's assume I'm amenable to buying this property. How much would the goblins charge to repair and modernize the manor house with electricity, as well as relayer the wards?" the goblin looked to be thinking about the question before answering
"We could do it for a grand total of approximately two thousand Galleons, ten percent of them, purchase price" he said.
"As well as the one and a half percent closing cost, as well a a five percent finders fee,-" Harry began feeling irked
"Seven actually, the finders fee is seven percent" The Goblin cut in, "and a a three percent transaction fee."
"So you expect me to pay Twenty-four thousand three hundred galleons?" Harry asked after doing some quick figuring, "an extra twenty one and a half percent."
"Plus various fees and other sundry items." the goblin nodded.
Sighing in resignation, "Fine, I'll pay your bloody fees, you miserable money grubbing little bastard" Harry said tiredly, without any real heat behind his words. The goblin just stood there placidly, having heard much worse from some of the other wizards he worked with.
"I can put you in touch with the dwarves if you prefer," Ulnik said, a feral smile on his face.
Remembering the contract signed the last time he was here, and the promise to use goblin wards on the project. Harry sensed that it was a trap. He shuddered to think what kind of penalty would be levied if he didn't uphold the contract in its entirety.
"This better be the best damn warding job you've ever done."
Ulnik looked affronted by the insinuation that goblins would do anything other than their best work.
"For an extra thirteen percent on top of the costs of renovations, Gringotts would be more than happy to oversee any repairs or renovations your heart desires," Ulnik said, back to being friendly.
Harry just sighed, leaning back and rubbing his fingers across the bridge of his nose, trying ineffectually to stop an oncoming migraine. Waving his hand airily, he gave a grunt of approval.
Making his way back out to the entryway, Harry couldn't help but feel a spark of joy. He finally had a place to call his own, While Lily and James were wonderful people, he couldn't help but feel the desire for independence.
Harry followed his sister as she marched up and down the hallway, across from a ridiculous tapestry, of a man apparently trying to teach trolls some variation on ballet. He was getting more and more annoyed as they made yet another turn along the same wall.
He gasped in surprise as an elaborate door appeared where just moments previously there was nothing. Opening the door he saw what amounted to a classroom.
"What's this?" he asked, turning to see his sister just standing there a smug look on her face as if to say 'I told you so'
"Welcome to the Room of Requirement , the room within Hogwarts that can change into anything."
"Anything?" Harry asked, his mind whirring with possibilities.
"Well I mean within reason, We haven't exactly tested the full capabilities yet, but everything we've tried so far has worked pretty well." she said nonchalantly, "As far as we can tell, if it exists somewhere in, if not the world, then Hogwarts if not the real thing, then at least a decent facsimile of it."
Once again his mind whirred with ideas and possible training missions and combat simulations. His grin grew wider and wider as his mind came up with more and more ideas.
"What are you grinning at?" Rose asked, slightly alarmed. Harry was just about to answer when the door swung open and Ron Weasley walked in followed closely by his sister Ginny.
Ron looked around in confusion, "I thought we were resurrecting the DA?"
Rose shook her hand back and forth in a sort of gesture "Eh Sorta, We'll answer any questions once everyone else arrives."
Ron shrugged noncommittally before turning to Harry. "Harry, Mate, how are ya? I missed you in class today, you okay?"
"Uh fine," Harry was a bit taken aback by the young man's openness and concern for his wellbeing. "I just had some business to take care of, away from Hogwarts."
The door swung open again as Daphne Greengrass walked in followed by another boy he thought he recognized as one of the boys he had rescued.
"Getthen," Daphne said, a cool mask hiding any excitement or feeling towards seeing him.
"Greengrass" Harry returned equally cooly, but internally his heart fluttered at the sight of her wearing a dark navy blue jumper and skin tight muggle style jeans.
The brown skinned boy caught the door just as it was closing, Dean Thomas, Harry recalled his name, he was followed by the brown haired girl whom he was partnered with during the very first Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
They waited a few minutes before the clocks struck 8 o'clock, during that time another boy walked in this time accompanied by Neville Longbottom, as well as a young looking blonde girl, who was more interested in the magazine she was reading upside down then where she was going it seemed, she was shadowed by another girl her features suggesting an eastern heritage.
Rose stood up at the front of the classroom, "I've asked you all here for a specific reason, and what I'm going to share with you cannot leave this room." Harry looked around and saw many surprised looks shared by everyone in the room, only Ginny didn't look the slightest bit surprised.
"What's all this secrecy for Rose?" Dean Thomas asked, taking a look at everyone in the room, "And What are the snakes doing here?" he asked, eyeing the two slytherin students sitting a little ways away from the rest of the students.
"I asked that they be here" Harry said, stepping up to the rostrum in front of the room.
"Who are you?" the Asian girl asked, looking at Harry like this was the first time she had seen him.
"There will be introductions in a minute" Rose interjected, gently pushing him out of the way, moving in front of the rostrum. "Just as soon as everybody signs this paper, binding you to silence."
"Woah, Woah, Woah, I'm not signing anything before I know what in the bloody hell is going on." the boy who walked in with Hermione said, sounding slightly alarmed.
"I promise all your questions will be answered momentarily, All I can really say is that we're going to be taking the fight to voldemort, the way we're going to do that will be very interesting." she said.
Slowly one by one the people in the room came up and signed the paper.
"OK, So now that everyone has signed, Harry if you could please introduce yourself?" she asked him, moving to the side allowing him back to the Rostrum.
"Hi everyone, I asked Rose here to gather you all here because-' he looked meaningfully at both Neville and Daphne. "-I intend to take the fight to voldemort, but I can't do it alone, and she thought that the people in this room were my best chance." he said looking everyone in the eyes.
"How are you planning on doing that?" Hermione asked, looking at him with her eyes wide.
"Before I answer that why don't we all go around and introduce ourselves, I'll go first. Like I've already said, my name is Harry Getthen."
"And you all know me; seeing how I was the one who invited you all, Rose Potter" she said with a self-deprecating smile, and wave of her hand. Ginny was next, having sat next to Rose.
"I think that, to nobody's surprise," she looked around the room and shot a flirty wink at Neville who was next to Daphne, who immediately blushed and looked away. "I'm Ginny Weasley." every man, save Ron had his eyes on her as she gently sashayed over to Harry and whispered in his ear.
"I know who you really are, Harry Potter" she said to him, quietly enough as to not be overheard by the rest of the group. he barely even reacted, simply shooting a glance over to his sister, who at least had the decency to look slightly ashamed.
Ginny barely missed the daggers that Daphne was glaring at her. Ron, having had enough of the awkwardness, stood up and introduced himself. One after another the group all introduced themselves.
"So now thats out of the way" Dean thomas said, clapping his hands together, "Let's get down to business, I think there are two questions that I, at least want answers to"
"Which are?" Harry asked intrigued, thinking he already knew which questions he was going to be asked, but wanting it confirmed nonetheless
"How you plan to defeat voldemort, and Why us? Why involve school children?" he said, leaning his chair back precariously far. Harry almost chuckled at the mental image of the boy accidentally falling. He noticed the rest of the group all nodding along with Dean's questions.
"I'll let Rose answer the second question" He said, surrendering the rostrum once again. Stepping up to the podium she began speaking
"Let's start with the obvious-" She pointed at the two Weasleys "-You two are blood traitors, and your parent's and at least one brother are already involved in this war, and Ginny, you and I have had innumerable discussions how you wish you could do more, well now here's your chance"
Turning to Hermione and Dean Thomas, she continued "You two, and Justin-" she motioned to one of the other boys in the room, "-are all muggleborn, among those who would be in the worst positions if Voldemort were to win."
Harry saw Hermione shiver at the mere mention of Voldemort winning. Harry had fought enough of these megalomaniac dark lords, and lost against them toi know just how bad it would be for those on the 'out' group.
"-figured you'd want at least the chance to fight back, but if I'm wrong, well… There's the door" she sais pointing. He saw all three of them stiffen shoulders and look resolutely at each other before shaking their heads.
"Good, now moving on-"
"All of this is all well and good or whatever, why each one of us was individually picked, but that doesn't exactly answer the real question; why us, why school children?"
"Because," Harry said from his spot in the corner. "I've seen the old guard, their hesitancy to kill, only wound. If we are to be the ones to fight him, then we must be ready to do whatever is necessary to finish our enemies."
"How are we - mere school children" Cho Chang gestured to the gathered group of people "Supposed to fight a dark lord with years of experience over us?" skepticism clear in her voice.
A knowing smile graced his lips, "Tordy" he called as a male house elf wearing a cleanly pressed toga looking garment with the Hogwarts Crest shown prominently appeared "Yes, Sir Harry?" The elf gave a polite bow.
"Fetch my package if you would please."
"Of course, sir" the elf popped away. Tordy was a special elf, one that Harry had purchased the loyalty of and then asked to join the Hogwarts staff, and to retrieve Harry's mech from the Trainyard where it was kept in stasis until needed.
The elf popped in moments later, with the mech in tow. The room morphed from a standard classroom configuration into an amphitheatre. Only Rose remained unphased the rest were thrown to the side as their desks moved to accommodate the monstrosity that now sat in the middle of the amphitheatre
The group all looked nonplussed, unsure of what exactly they were looking at. Harry calmly climbed into the giant thing.
"Rose, the wards, if you please" Harry said, his voice projecting from the head of the robot, its eyes glowing a vibrant blue, pulsing in time with Harry's words. Rose raised her wand as transparent shielding surrounded the spectators.
"Targets" intoned Harry, his sword flashing with almost imperceptible speed and cut a wooden target in half almost before it finished materialising. Another target appeared on the far end of the arena, he lifted his left arm and spewed bullets down range, the target obliterating under the onslaught.
Harry moved seamlessly, destroying targets with ease. Moments later the arena was littered with destroyed targets. He stood while he watched the group come to terms with what just happened
"Are yous be needing anything else?" the house elf inquired, after banishing the targets. Looking around Harry saw everyone who hadn;t seen the merch before with their mouths hanging open, even Daphne and Blaise looked awestruck, having been in shock the last time they had seen it.
"Maybe you could help these wonderful people close their mouths?"
Harry watched with no small amount of amusement as the house elf walked over to the gobsmacked teens and began to gently push their mouths closed before they inevitably began to drool on themselves.
Daphne, Harry noticed, was able to get control of her reaction and slam her jaw shut before the house elf was able to touch her. She gently slapped the elf's hand away, who just smiled smugly at her.
"That certainly looks impressive" Justin Finch-Fletchly said after recovering enough to speak, 'Why do you need us? Because it seems to me that one of these could obliterate any wizard in existence"
"Because Lord Voldemort is, no doubt, currently working on his own version of the mech, and I won't be able to take on all the death eaters by myself, and I'll need help" he said matter-of-factly.
Dean Thomas was the first to jump up from his seat and run down to the arena floor. Harry dismounted his mech and stood to one side as the whole group circled the mech, examining every piece.
"I am most definitely in" he said, bouncing from one foot to another like an overexcited toddler. The magic spell broke and the rest of the group all rushed down to the arena floor and began to all blather on excitedly. Only Hermione Granger remained where she was, looking pensive.
"I don't care how rich you are" she began quietly, "you're obviously not giving these to us for free, so what's the catch?"
"How very perceptive of you" Harry nodded approvingly, he cleared his throat, getting everyone's attention.
"The cost of the mech is either one and a half thousand Galleons" He saw everyone blanch at that comment, but especially the Weasley's one and a half thousand galleons was a huge sum for anyone.
"-Or" he said "You sign a three year tour of duty, working for Dragonfire, and at the end of those three years the mech is yours free and clear."
"Dragonfire?" Ron asked, confused, his eyes had dropped at the price tag, he had known, of course, that he couldn't afford such a thing, but for a moment he had allowed himself to imagine mowing down death eaters in such a machine.
"My mercenary Company," Harry said, "I'm not expecting this technology to remain proprietary for long, I mean the ICW already has a squad of these things. The nature of warfare has changed."
A/N I've started a Discord Channel where I hope you all would join me discord. gg/2SKdmPbDhX Called I'mjake93's writing corner (Will A10riddick and Mark1 DM there)
