Before I continue with the story, I would like to address a couple things.
First, Sauron in this story is a goblin. There will be an explanation later, below, about his connection to Lord of the Rings.
Second, I have seen several different "Element's list." Most are short with about four elements. Some have five elements. And some have six plus. For the purposes of this story, I am using the Avatar: the Last Airbender elements. Namely because, as a fan of the show that has all three books on DVD, it is the one I know best. And in the ATLA Elements, lightning is considered to be the purest form of fire. I've seen it counted in various list as its own element, and part of the following elements: Fire, Energy, Soul, Spirit, Air, Aether, and Light. I just wanted to clarify this because I got a couple reviews about it. I'm not saying that lightning is part of the Fire element, just that, with the elements I'm using for the story, it is.
Third, the blood magic I'm using in this story is inspired by several different things, among them are The Mummy (the remake with Arnold Vosloo, I've not seen the original), books too numerous to name or remember, and Dragon Age: Origins (which has also influenced my shape-shifting).
And last, I'm sorry, but I will continue to bounce back and forth between past and present. Namely because that is the way I want to write this story. I do apologize if it is confusing, it was not meant to be. I did it this way because I wanted it to be different. I will stop at some point, namely because I'm time jumping in the Past, mainly because I've got thirty years to cover, so I'm basically focusing on the highlights. Eventually those will be over with, and I'll be left with just the present.
Chapter !)
Present
Minister Cornelius Fudge was sitting in his office at the ministry, smiling as he read the latest article to discredit Dumbledore and Potter.
He was pulled from his happy thoughts when the office door opened and his assistant, Percy Weasley, walked in. Fudge didn't like the look on the younger man's face. "What is it Weasley?" he asked, putting down his paper.
"There is a goblin currier wishing to see you sir," Percy replied. "He says he is here on business concerning Azkaban."
Fudge raised an eyebrow, curious as to what a goblin would have to say regarding the infamous prison. One thing he knew, was that goblin currier's always carried important news, though rather that news was good or bad for the one receiving whatever message they passed on was up for debate. Goblin's valued their time too much to use couriers for anything but the most important of messages.
They, like wizards, used birds for anything else. Though Fudge would be the first to admit that you didn't want to get on the wrong end of a Gringotts owl, he swore the things were bred for viciousness.
"Show him in Mr. Weasley," Fudge, commanded, sitting straighter in his chair.
A few minutes later, Mr. Weasley escorted in a goblin dressed in an immaculate business suit.
With a sword strapped to his hip, one Fudge had no doubt the goblin could use.
Unlike most who visited Fudge, or the Minister's office at all, goblin couriers were exempt from the law stating they must surrender their weapon. There were several areas in the country were certain people, lacking certain credentials, were required to surrender their weapons, wands included, one such place was when visiting the Minister's office. But by treaty with the goblins, couriers could not be disarmed, as their job was to protect valuable and/or sensitive documents they carried.
Of course, should the goblin draw his blade and kill someone that had not first attacked them or otherwise tried to steal whatever they carried, said goblin's life was forfeit.
"What business brings you to the Ministry today?" Fudge asked.
The goblin gave Weasley, who had yet to leave the office, a look, before turning back to the minister and replying. "I carry a message for the Ministry regarding the Isle Azkaban. I was instructed to present it to you, the Minister, and then return with your reply," he said, pulling a sealed document out of his jacket pocket and handing it to the Minister.
Fudge took the document from the goblin. Examining it, he recognized the Gringotts seal. Silently, he prayed that the goblins were about to inform him that there were problems with the accounts that had been set aside to maintain and staff the prison.
Opening the document, fudge began to read.
To the Ministry of Magic for the Realms of England, Scotland, and Wales
The heirs to the Isle Azkaban have stepped forward and claimed their ownership. The heirs, who do not wish to be named at this time, understand that in their absence Azkaban has been used by the Ministry, with the island fortress being used as a prison. And while they do not wish for recompenses for the years of use, they do demand the following:
The Ministry of Magic will provide a sum no less than one hundred thousand galleons a year for the continued use of the Isle Azkaban.
Or
The Ministry of Magic shall choose to vacate the Isle Azkaban. Should the Ministry decide to follow this course of action, they will be given a month to vacate the Isle of all prisoners, personnel, and properties owned by the Ministry.
Should the Ministry of Magic choose to not pay the asked sum or vacate the Isle, the rightful owners will forcibly dispose of all prisoners, personnel, and properties owned by the Ministry in a manner they see fit, including but not limited to claiming as their own, destroying, or selling
It is understood that it may take time for the Ministry to reach a decision. Should this be the case, the Mistry may have up to seven sunrises to decide their course of action.
Dreadclaw
Director of Gringotts Bank
Chief of Clan Mordor
Lord of the Northern Isles
King over Europe
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Harry and Bellatrix were sitting in Gringotts enjoying wine with King Dreadclaw as they awaited the return of Prince Aragorn.
Dreadclaw, whose hobby was the study of history, was currently explaining why he gave his son such a weird name.
"So this non-magical human, by the name of Tolkien, came across some documents referencing Sauron of Mordor, Lord of the Rings" he explained. "Though the reference was vague, it inspired Tolkien, and he went on later in life, to write first the Hobbit and then the Lord of the Rings. And while it was nowhere near accurate, he has, for immortalizing our first king, even as a non-goblin villain, become a favored author amongst the goblin nation. I enjoyed his books so much I named both my sons after characters. My eldest is Aragorn, and my youngest is Thorin." He smiled a toothy grin. "My life-mate put her foot down when I wanted to name our daughter Galadriel, so she got named Hel instead."
Harry chuckled. "That is amusing, especially when one considers how he actually obtained the title Lord of the Rings," he supplied. At Dreadclaw's eager expression he asked, "Does the goblin nation of this day and age know the reason?"
Dreadclaw sighed. "Sadly, in our fifth war with the wizards, many records were destroyed and much of our history lost. While we have heard the title referenced top Sauron, we lost how he gained it."
The two humans shared a look, and then Bellatrix explained how the title came to be. "While Sauron worked to unite the goblins of Europe, he often had to fight those clans which would not share in his vision. And though he wished not to kill his fellow goblins, he was often forced to in order to gain control. But he would give every clan the chance to surrender and swear loyalty to Clan Mordor. To those chiefs that surrendered, he would present a ring, forged by his own hand, as a sign of goodwill. It was at…It was a solstice feast wasn't it?" she asked, turning to Harry.
The man chuckled. "Yes."
"Anyway," Bellatrix continued, "At the feast, his brother joked that rather than king, he'd be known as the Lord of the Rings. Afterward, his men jokingly referred to him as such. And I'm sure you're aware of how rumor spreads."
Dreadclaw nodded, smiling.
"Anyway, at some point we went into battle together, and when we accompanied Sauron to try and settle the battle peacefully, the opposing chief addressed him as Sauron, Lord of the Rings, and that was his title from that day forth," Bellatrix finished.
Dreadclaw chuckled, amused at the story of his ancestor
The King was about to speak again, when the door opened, admitting Prince Aragorn, still dressed in his currier outfit.
At the expression on the prince's face, all thoughts of amusement fled the room.
Dreadclaw was the first to stand. "What did Fudge say?" the King demanded, cutting straight to the point.
The Prince took a deep breath before replying. "He refuses to acknowledge that Azkaban is no longer owned by the Ministry. And replies, and I quote, 'I'd like to see whoever these fools think they are try and claim Azkaban.' End quote."
Dreadclaw was taking a deep breath to curse Fudge's decision when, to the King and Prince's surprise, Harry started to chuckle lightly. Turning, they saw the young man looking at his wife, who had a feral grin on her face.
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Within minutes, Prince Aragorn was dispatched to the Daily Prophet, with a new missive and a hefty bag of gold.
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Warden Gilbert Wilcox, didn't like Azkaban. In fact he hated the place, especially with the dementors wandering about.
But to the old man that had lost his wife and daughters to Deatheaters, he felt no higher calling then to prevent the scum that slaughtered his family imprisoned. And years of being around the wizarding world's worst prisoners and dementors had hardened the man.
But when the prison alarm ward went off, not even he was prepared for what he was facing.
A pair of the largest dragons Wilcox had ever seen were flying around the prison, breathing fire on all the dementors that came within range. Unaffected, due to being animals, by the dementor's most dangerous weapon, their aura of fear, the dragons mercilessly destroyed the dementors. The feared creatures were in a panic, some tried to flee the prison, only to be brought down in flames by the dragons, while others were retreating to the prison itself.
His men tried to attack the dragons, but even their deadliest spell, the killing curse, was ineffectual against the dragon's tough hide. And his men were neither coordinated enough, nor numerous enough, to strike each dragon with the barrage of spells necessary to bring them down.
It was only when there were no more dementors in the air that the dragons turned their attention to the fortress itself.
Streams of fire rained down upon the fortress, causing chaos amongst the guards. But it was when both dragons landed on the ramparts, that Wilcox was truly shocked.
Because he watched as one of the dragons changed to a person. Whomever they were, they wore a hooded cloak that hid their face. The remaining dragon clearly stood guard over the person.
The person spoke in an amplified voice that carried to all corners of the prison. "Guards of Azkaban, surrender now, and you will be allowed to leave this island in peace. Continue to fight, and at best you will be injured, at worst, you will not leave. The choice is yours. Those of you choosing to surrender, enter the courtyard. You have ten minutes."
Without another word, the man turned once more into a dragon, and the two flying creatures jumped into the sky and began to circle the prison.
Many of the guards turned to look at Wilcox looking to him for a response, and the warden realized that his twenty men stood no chance against two dragons. They may have been able to take down one if they had all been rested, both if they were lucky. But nearing the end of their week long stint at Azkaban, they were drained. The constant presence of dementors was just as detrimental to the guards as the prisoners. It was why the prison had four different wardens and four sets of guards. They alternated so that each spent one week at the prison and three away.
As much as he hated the thought of losing the prison, and the possibility of every inmate being freed, Wilcox knew that his men stood no chance, and that either way the prison was lost. So he did the only thing he could. "Everyone!" he called, and the eyes of each of his men fell upon him. "To the courtyard!" he ordered. "The prison is lost!"
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In the courtyard, the warden and his men watched as the dragons dived towards them, only to be shocked when, in order to fit into the courtyard, both dragons changed to large eagles, and upon landing, one changed to the human from before, while the other turned into a cat, similar to a lioness, only as tall as Clydesdale horse.
"Give Minister Fudge a message Warden," the person said. "Tell him the heirs have reclaimed what is theirs, and that the Ministry is no longer welcome on Azkaban. Any attempts to reclaim this island, will be met with lethal force." He paused for a moment to let the message sink in. "You and your men will be escorted to the ferry, do not attempt to attack either of us," he gestured to the large cat beside him. "We are assuming the forms of Nemean lions, your spells will simply bounce off, and we will kill you."
Without another word, the man changed into a lion, with a dark black mane, that was larger than his female companion.
The guards of Azkaban needed no more warning and obediently walked to the docked ferry.
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It was only when the ferry was out of sight that Harry and Bellatrix assumed their regular human forms.
"I'll deal with the prisoners if you handle the remaining dementors," Harry offered.
His wife grinned, "I'd love to," she agreed. Having spent thirteen years being tormented by the dementors, Bellatrix had no problems with Harry's suggestion.
Draining the creatures of their life force would be so rewarding.
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After destroying what remained of the dementors, Bellatrix met Harry in the actual ward chamber of the island, as opposed to the one the Ministry had set up when they claimed the fortress.
"How many?" she asked.
"All but four," he responded. "They're currently asleep in the infirmary awaiting our decisions. Three hundred and forty two total," he explained. While His wife was destroying the dementors, Harry had been going through the minds of all the remaining prisoners.
Azkaban was generally reserved for only the worst of magical criminals. Though as Sirius and Hagrid had proved, sometimes innocents were sent to the prison. And while he and his wife had eliminated all the Deatheaters imprisoned in the fortress on their previous visit, there were still many criminals that weren't marked. Harry had found only four that did not deserve death, either because their crimes were minor, or in the case of one, completely innocent.
He had absorbed the life force of all the others.
Just as his wife had done to the remaining dementors.
"How many dementors?" Harry asked.
"Thirty four," his wife responded, as they both placed their hands on the power-stone that fueled the wards. The two then began to pour all the power they had absorbed from the prisoners and dementors into the stone, using the power to reactivate wards that Merlin himself had taken down.
This included the ward that absorbed all ambient magic, similar to what Hogwarts di, so that they would only need to refill the stone should their not be enough magic in the area.
Considering what they planned, that wouldn't be a problem.
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Back at the Ministry of Magic, as Harry and Bellatrix were restoring the wards of Azkaban, Minister Fudge was being alerted to the loss of Azkaban.
And hearing the message from the new owners of Azkaban, Fudge called an emergency meeting with his Undersecretary.
He had no idea of the article that would appear in the Prophet the next morning.
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Having restored the wards, Harry and Bellatrix activated the portkeys they had left with Dreadclaw.
When the team of goblins appeared in Azkaban's courtyard. They were led by Prince Thorin. The prince smiled at Harry and Bellatrix before issuing orders to his men.
Trusting the goblins to return Azkaban to its former glory, Harry and Bellatrix both turned to eagles. Flying free of the wards, they apparated back to London.
They both wanted to see the Order's reaction to the Prophet tomorrow.
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