Chap. 59: Black Manor, Hogwarts, Hogsmeade, Tom, and the return to school.
Harry woke up at four-thirty, an ungodly hour, he thought, where he tugged on some old jeans and a sweatshirt, made his way down to the first staircase's landing, sat on the bench beside the French doors, and pulled on a pair of old work boots. After that, he stepped out onto the flagstone-covered terrace at the back of the house, where the rear lawn sat a half-story above the front of the manor, and made his way out into the muck across the lawn, which was covered in snow and mud in places.
"Oh, for fuck's sake," Harry complained as he opened a wooden door leading into Daphne's newest project. It was her "Peacock-house," which he had built, and it housed eight Peafowl, six hens, and two cocks, which he began watering and feeding.
As he closed the door on the second cock's cage, since he had to keep the two separate due to their fighting over the hens, he scowled and made his way back outside.
"Bloody Peacocks!" Harry exclaimed. "Why, oh why, did I ever let her talk me into this." Here, Harry made a misstep and stepped into the mud.
"Oh, for double bloody fuck's sake!
"Buy them for me, Harry," Harry said in a high-pitched voice mocking Daphne, "I just adore them!"
"Well, I bloody well don't!" Harry groused as he tried to stay on the flagstone walk leading back to the terrace. "The bloody things have already cost me a fuckin' fortune, and their bloody calls, for Merlin's sake, always sound like someone strangling a cat! Why, they're worse than a bloody caterwauling charm!"
Harry's cursing and complaints went on like that until he made it back to the terrace, where he rubbed his arms with his hands while trying to stifle his chill.
After Harry entered the manor and took off his boots, and while still cursing under his breath, he made his way downstairs to the kitchen, where it had just turned five in the morning. He knew that Bathilda was still asleep in the drawing room since he'd just checked, so he sat down at the breakfast table in a chair closest to the hearth, and placed his head in his hands.
"Bloody well cold outside, and it'll be a wonder if I haven't caught a chill!"
"Master Harry?" Winky questioned, who had just stepped out of the scullery looking concerned.
"Oh, hello, Winky," Harry replied. "Did you sleep well?"
"Oh, yes, Master, Winky bes sleeping very well. The rooms yous had built for Winky, Dobby, and Kreacher are very nice, and wes even have good soft beds! We leaves the door open to the boiler room, and wes being staying very warm!"
"I'm glad to hear that, Winky," Harry said with a sigh. He had three small bedrooms built, which he supplied with small beds and furniture for a young child in the utility room under the back terrace, and over from the boiler, where he also had a loo built with a low sink, shower, and a small toilet. All of that was expensive, but he wanted the best for his elves, and they seemed to love their new quarters.
"Is something being wrong, Master?"
"Oh, no," Harry said with a shake of his head, "it's just bloody cold out where I went out this morning to feed the Peafowl."
"A good hot breakfast wills bes cheering the Good Master right up, Winky believes!"
"Not this morning, I'm afraid, Winky," Harry explained, "since I'm off to Hogwarts in a bit to see Daphne. I'll dine with her, Astoria, and Tracey this morning, and then escort them to Hogsmeade."
"Master Harry should bes eating once hes being up, Sir!"
When Harry looked over at Winky, which made him snort, she had both hands on her hips and was scowling at Harry. When he started to comment, the door opened, again, and in scuffled Kreacher who was rubbing his eyes.
"Master," Kreacher said in his bullfrog voice when he noticed Harry, where he quickly bowed, "what can old Kreacher bes getting the Good Master this morning?"
"Nothing this morning, old friend," Harry replied after he noticed Winky looking insulted over Kreacher asking that, "as Winky is going to make me a cuppa of strong coffee."
This seemed to cheer the little female elf right up, who made herself busy by putting on a pot of Blue Mountain coffee that her Master and Mistress seemed to love. She quickly made herself busy with grinding the beans that came in a small burlap sack, which she would next place in the filter basket on the top of the glass percolator, and set it to boil on the stove.
"You're to come with me this morning, old friend," Harry said to Kreacher, "as we have a long day cut out for us."
"What can poor old Kreacher do for the Good Master, Master?"
"You will apparate me into Hogwarts," Harry explained, "and by the gargoyle that guards the Headmaster's Office. From there, old friend, I want you to stay hidden, and watch every move that Marcus Flint makes, today, along with his toadies, and if anything seems off to you, you are to go straight to Daphne and warn her as well as Dobby. Next, you are to go to Hermione and Ron, and do the same, no matter where they are."
"Kreacher cans bes doing that, My Lord."
It wasn't long until Winky sat a cuppa down in front of Harry, along with a basket of sweet rolls. Harry conjured Kreacher a highchair, which the old elf climbed into, where Winky gave the old elf a glass of warm milk and buttered bread.
Harry found out that elves had different tastes from humans, and that they consumed different things. Milk and bread were a staple for their diet and he was told that milk was their favorite, and they only ate a little meat, which was barely cooked. They did like beer, though, he was told, and lord help him if they ever took up drinking.
Well, Harry thought, Winky was a teetotaler now that she had a new master and mistress. However, now, though, she wouldn't tip beer, nor butterbeer, much less look at it.
Here, Harry took a sip of his coffee and stared ahead at the kitchen wall over by the bar. They always said that one would witness their life flash before their eyes when that time came, and that morning, it did.
First, Harry caught visions of his life, starting with the Dursleys. Next was Hogwarts, where he remembered seeing Daphne for the first time during their sorting. He knew, then, that she was a rather beautiful girl, for her age, even though she still had the baby-fat cheeks that they all did. If he only knew, then, what his life would later become.
Next, Harry took another sip, and his antics with Ron, Hermione, and the Weasleys flashed before him. Along with that came Sirius, which caused him to swallow down a huge lump that appeared in his throat. Next, came meeting the Greengrasses and Daphne, which made him smile while thinking about his wife.
Merlin's balls, Harry thought, what would happen to her if something was to happen to him? It would break her, and he knew it. What if he was seriously injured tonight, he thought, and she had to take care of him? Best not to think about it, he figured.
Finally, Harry thought back to everything that they had accomplished since Minister Scrimgeour had visited him at Little Whinging. How had he pulled that off? Illusion? Distraction? Lying and deceit? Skullduggery? Yes, he thought to himself, he would have made a great Slytherin, wouldn't he?
After taking the last bite of his bun, Harry looked up at the clock, and it was now six o'clock, so he stood and cleared his throat.
"I'll go get dressed and meet you in the entrance hall, Kreacher."
"Old Kreacher wills be waiting, Master," Kreacher croaked out, who then started helping Winky.
When Harry left the breakfast room, Kreacher hesitantly looked over at Winky.
"Old Kreacher bes worried about the Good Master, Winky. Master is being like young Regulus was - troubled in his mind, oh yes. Old Kreacher knows what is to come today, he does, and tomorrow, let's wes elveses hope that the young Master and Mistress bes having a good life from nows on."
Winky, of course, looked worried, too, but nodded.
There was a slight pop in the silent hall leading to the Headmaster's Office, where Harry suddenly appeared with Kreacher. Here, Harry squatted down and placed both hands on Kreacher's skinny shoulders before looking the old elf in the eye, and addressing him.
"Kreacher, old friend, I'm not sure how the rest of this day will play out," Harry said, "so if something bad happens, you are to take care of Daphne at all costs. However, do as I ordered, for today, and stay hidden, but stick to Marcus Flint like glue. If he acts in any way suspicious, then report it to Daphne and Hermione as I told you. After that, you are to come back to Daphne and stay close to her to protect her and Astoria."
"Kreacher will bes doing just that, Master," Kreacher said while looking at Harry with his huge tennis ball-sized eyes. "But Master, yous bes taking care of yourself, too." With that, Kreacher sniffed and snapped his fingers, apparating away.
Next, Harry stood, looked at the gargoyle, and said, "Cockroach Clusters."
Once Harry was on the spiral staircase, which started revolving and taking him upwards, he remembered what he had said to the minister during their first meeting after Gareth had arrived.
"If you're not prepared, Minister, to put your scruples aside, like they have, then you stand no chance in hell of ending this. It's time to drop your morals if you actually want to reverse this, since, I already have."
Here, Harry sighed, walked up to the large oak door, took hold of the handle, and opened it where he stepped inside. Albus wasn't up and about, yet.
"Can one of you wake him," Harry said to the portraits as he took a seat in the chair across the desk just as Fawkes called out.
"Yes, old friend, it's important," Harry answered the ancient bird.
While he was waiting, he conjured two, large, wingback chairs to his right, which were covered in a very soft green leather.
About fifteen minutes later, Dumbledore appeared at the top of the steps leading to his apartment.
"Harry, what brings you here this early, my boy?"
When Harry looked up, the sickly headmaster was yawning, but he had slowly started making his way down the stairs.
Oh, for fuck's sake, Harry thought with a cringe, as the old man was now wearing a bright pink, silk, house robe, with a white feathered collar and cuffs, and he was wearing the same, white, fuzzy slippers, which happened to be the same type that his wife wore.
"Albus, it's time," Harry deadpanned.
This, of course, caught the old man's attention, which caused him to slightly stumble after stepping off the last step.
"Time for what, my boy?"
"Operation Midnight is tonight, Headmaster."
Albus' eyes shot up to his hairline at this, especially since he had no idea what Harry was speaking of. He never said anything, though, until he took his seat, and had an elf to bring he and Harry some tea. Niceties must always be observed, Albus thought. Harry, though, had the elf to bring enough for four, though Albus didn't seem to be bothered by it.
"I heard that you, your father-in-law, Gareth, Rufus, Bertie Higgs, and his son took a little hunting trip," Albus said to change the subject as he poured his tea after the elf had arrived back with the tea tray. "How did that go, if I may ask?"
Harry was a little stunned at the question, especially after mentioning an operation occurring that night.
"Oh, er, well, it went splendidly. I didn't know that they used large white hounds along with beagles, but that's what we did. We released the white hounds in the south, a good two miles away, and then drove north to let the Beagles out for cover.
"We hadn't but just started our hunt when we could hear the white hounds open up with their bawls in the far distance, and that was when the Beagles started, too. We bagged six hares before the larger hounds got close, and when they did, we bagged three Nogtails that they chased in our direction. The farmers, who were magical, were much grateful for the removal of both, it seems.
"You know, I didn't expect the Nogtails to burst into flames and disintegrate into ash, fire, and all when shot, but they did."
Here, Albus only nodded as he took a sip of his tea. "They're Demons, Harry. You just sent them back to where they belong before they could damage the land."
"Now, what is this operation that you speak of, Harry?" Albus questioned, catching Harry off guard as he poured Harry a cuppa.
"It all goes down tonight, Headmaster, so it would be best if both Severus and Minerva were here to hear this."
"Fawkes," Albus said with a surprised look, "please retrieve Severus and Minerva, and bring them here, will you?"
Fawkes gave out what sounded like a chortle before the bird turned into a ball of flame and disappeared. As the two waited, Harry noticed the old headmaster staring at his blackened hand.
Albus knew, after all, that Harry had said "after Christmas," but they had never given him a set time.
Within the next minute, Minerva appeared in a ball of flame, first, who looked flustered, and she was still wearing a tartan housecoat.
"Minerva," Harry said after he stood, "please have a seat and a cuppa. I'll tell you everything after Severus arrives."
At this, Minerva shakily nodded and began pouring herself a cup of tea. In about three more minutes, Severus arrived in the same manner, but he was dressed in his usual black attire. However, when he saw Harry, he immediately knew that something was up, so he cleared the surprised expression off his face, and sat down as well. Next, Harry began to pace with his hands held behind his back.
It took about a minute, but Harry finally cleared his throat and spoke.
"Operation Midnight goes off tonight, at midnight," Harry said in almost a whisper, "and during the full moon. Tomorrow, everything will have changed, so, let us hope that I am strong enough to pull it off."
"What do you mean, Harry?" Minerva asked as Albus and Severus looked troubled.
"Tonight," Harry said as he glanced at his old head of house, "I face Tom."
Minerva almost spat out her tea, Snape's eyebrows raised high upon his forehead, and Albus, now, looked very worried.
"Why, you, Harry," Albus said in a loud but rough whisper as he shook his head.
"You know why, Headmaster," Harry deadpanned. "I'm not bragging, but I am, at the moment, the only one powerful enough to stand toe to toe with that thing. It is just an objective fact, just as it is that I must breathe to live. It was always going to have to be me, you know."
"A Fact!" Minerva, now highly upset, said with a scowl where she almost spat. "Surely not!"
"Winston Churchill said it best, Minerva," Harry opined, "when he said: 'Wishes and goodwill cannot overcome brute facts. Truth is incontrovertible. Panic may resent it, ignorance may deride it, and malice may distort it, but there it is...'"
"Surely, he's just a boy, Headmaster," Severus said as he quickly glared at the old wizard. "The Dark Lord bested me, Albus, and I fought him with all my might!"
"It was always meant to be me, from the day that Professor Trelawney made that prophesy," explained Harry. "Of course, it could have been Neville, if you didn't know, Minerva, but Tom picked me, and he marked me as his equal with that scar."
"But, you're too young," Minerva exclaimed. "You're just a lad, and an untrained one at that!"
Harry had now made his way to the steps behind the headmaster's desk, which led up to the large telescope in the room. Here, he went up the short flight, made his way to the window, and stared out at the dark grounds of Hogwarts before he chuckled.
"Surely, Minerva," Harry asked, "you didn't think that I would not train for this?"
When Harry heard his old head of house splutter, he soldiered on.
"No, Minerva, I have been studying hard," Harry continued with a smile, "in every form of fighting, which was how I was able to dispatch Dolohov down in Barbados." Snape scowled at this, but Harry didn't notice it. "I have mastered many spells, as well, and I have found that I am quite good at illusions. I can also cast a very good disillusionment charm, as well, where I no longer need my cloak."
"Yes, but what about curses and counter-curses?" Snape harshly questioned with a scowl. "Those are what you will need against him!"
"What libraries did I inherit, and what did I acquire with a certain lawsuit, Severus? I'm not proud of what I've learned, but now, I think that I could teach Tom a thing or two."
"Surely not," Minerva replied with a horrified gasp. Harry, learning dark magic?
"One cannot fight the dark arts without fully understanding them, isn't that correct, Severus? What did you teach the students about the many-headed hydra?"
Snape scowled again at this and crossed his arms over his chest. "You had no way to cast them, or check to see if you could cast them competently."
"You think so?" Harry replied with a smirk. "My dear in-laws and Gareth helped me with that. Killing a few goats and a hog may not have been pleasant, but learn, I did. Believe me, I have enough hate in me, now, for Tom, over me being married, that I can, in fact, cast certain curses with ease. Plus, there is my new wand."
"New wand?" Minerva muttered. "So, that is why you've been using your old wand, Albus?"
Albus merely chuckled.
"No, Minerva," Harry said, "the Elder Wand is hidden away. A new wand was fashioned for me, by a family friend, down in New Orleans, which is more powerful than that. There's no need to worry."
"Who fashioned it, Harry," Dumbledore inquired, "you've never said?"
"I think you know, Headmaster," Harry replied as he stared back out of the window.
"Death, then," Albus whispered, but both Severus and Minerva heard him, causing Minerva to gasp.
"Death?" Minerva finally questioned.
"Oh, yes," Albus replied as he sat back in his chair. "Harry's family can be traced back to the ancient Peverells, and the Tale of the Three Brothers."
"His cloak," Severus said with surprise.
"Yes," Albus replied, "and I had the wand. The stone, Harry obtained from me as well, which was what was in the ring that cursed my hand."
"Surely not!" Minerva exclaimed. "That's just an old wives' tale told to spook the children."
"Yes, the tale is, indeed, told, but all tales have a modicum of truth to them, Minerva. In this case, Death, I believe, was called upon. Well, he was called twice, wasn't he, Harry, which is what cleansed you of your scar?"
"Yes," Harry said but left it at that.
"Harry!" Minerva scolded.
"I would do anything for my wife, Minerva," Harry replied. "I never thought that I could fall in love, but after I met Daphne, I did, and it was head over heels at that. I never, once, thought that I would live to ever experience it to be honest. To protect her, and even my in-laws, I would stoop to using anything as an advantage to fight Tom and save them."
When Minerva shot the ailing headmaster a harsh look, he sighed.
"Love is the strongest magic known, as I've always said," Albus remarked, "and Harry, like any good Slytherin would, used that to his advantage." This made Minerva scowl, and she had a rather irate look about her. Harry? A Slytherin, she thought?
Before anyone could utter another word, though, there was a gravelly chortle that erupted to their left, and a snigger that erupted from one corner of the room.
"The lad is the rightful head of my house, and he has had you three completely hoodwinked," Phineas Black remarked, and then he sniggered, again.
"Now, young Harry, do you agree?" The Sorting Hat asked only a second later.
"Yes, you were correct," Harry said after turning around, "and I should have listened to you, then, though I would have had it incredibly hard in Slytherin."
"No, lad," the hat replied, "you did what anyone sly enough, and worthy enough to be a true Slytherin, would have done to protect themselves, where you asked to be placed in Gryffindor, which is why I granted it. You, Mr. Potter, are the quintessential Slytherin, the best of the best, who, when right under everyone's noses, bided your time until it was time to show your true self and strike, which is now. I have never been wrong, lad, NEVER!" With those final words, the hat slumped and fell silent.
"Don't look so incredulous," Phineas said through another snigger. "My great-grandson chose his heir well, and I, myself, have been teaching Harry all that I can. He is not one of those simpleton fools that I had no time for when I was here. Oh, no, he is the new face of the House of Black, and I couldn't be more proud, even if his Black blood has been somewhat diluted. No, I'm looking forward to the next generation, where he and Lady Black starts having children, which, he will do anything to make sure that it occurs."
"Secrets and lies, Harry, are not the mark of a good man," Albus muttered as he stared at his desk.
"Yes, Albus," Harry dryly replied, "and I'm sure you know all about that. Abe did say that you learned well at your mother's knee."
"Harry!" Minerva scolded him, again, and Snape scowled at the insult.
"No, no, he is very much correct, Minerva," Albus replied. "Today, I wish you to run the school while I'm gone, and watch over everything as Harry suggests. I will be back this afternoon."
"Where will you be?" Snape inquired.
"Visiting with my brother," Albus replied and he let the rest, drop. "When I arrive back, Severus, we must have a long-awaited conversation, because if this happens tonight, I am sure that Tom knows it is coming as well." Here, Harry nodded. "This means that Tom could send those who are loyal, and still remain free, here, as a distraction."
"That's what I and the Ministry think, Headmaster, as well. I hate to say it, again, but watch Marcus Flint."
"Now, Harry," Albus said as he stood, "I take it that you have everything in place for tonight?"
"Oh, yes," Harry replied with a smirk. "Gareth and I have readied the place, which we revealed to you not long back. Sanguini found Tom and relayed to him what we wanted him to know. He came back a few days ago, but he didn't stay long at Malfoy Manor."
"And why is that?" Severus asked.
"Oh," Harry explained, "I left Tom a little surprise while there."
"You were there?"
"Yes, since my darling wife figured out a way around the Fidelius charm. I rescued Ollivander and left Tom a surprise for his return, you see. It worked, as the charm failed when he started blasting the manor apart. We checked it after he left, and the blaring music, sniggering, and the foul smell were still there."
"Sniggering, music, and smell?" Albus asked, who was now, smirking.
"Special Decoy Detonators," Harry replied, "which I had the twins create. One hundred of them, if you can believe it. When Tom triggered them, he would have heard a long and wheezing snigger as the first detonator let out a gas that smelled of excrement, which would fill the entire manor. Next, two songs would have played, with the first being 'Hell to Pay," and the second, 'Hangin' Tree'. After that, he would have heard the sniggering, again, and then it would loop to play that over and over, again, and loud enough to crack the window glass. It was designed to force him to act out in a rage, and leave the manor behind. Five hundred stink bombs, with five per detonator, could go off, with one every time he would try to clear the air."
Minerva couldn't help it, and she snorted with a nod and a smile. That was the twins to a tee, she thought.
"So," Severus inquired, "Ollivander is safe, then?"
"Has been for several weeks," Harry said. "He's at St. Mungo's recuperating under an alias, and guarded around the clock."
"Why didn't you tell me about any of this, young Harry?" Albus asked.
"Because, Headmaster," Harry replied, "loose lips sink ships! It was a state secret, which, mind you, only a very few knew."
"The War Committee?"
At the headmaster's question, Harry nodded.
As Harry and Daphne were walking out of Honeydukes, where he was holding a package of sweets with one hand and Daphne's hand with the other, he looked around at those that were with them. Neville was walking along with Tracey, Little Harry with Astoria, and Ron with Hermione. Harry also noticed the Aurors stationed everywhere, so they were safe, and he knew that Tom wouldn't act until tonight over the diadem. He imagined that Tom may have already checked his other Horcruxes, and now knew that only one was left, which, he had. If he hadn't, then, well, Tom was a flaming idiot, though he had been told that Harry would destroy an artifact, tonight, which would end the war.
"Remember what I told you, everyone, to keep an eye on Flint for the rest of the day."
"You mean," Little Harry said, "that Flint?" He then gave a nod over his shoulder, where everyone turned to gawk.
Sure enough, Marcus had just left the Hogshead, and he had a woman with him, who was snuggled up to his side. Well, Harry thought, she was as snuggled up as she could be, since she was short, about five-two, and looked to weigh about twenty-five stone. Her overstretched white tee shirt looked to be dirty from food spilled down the front, and she had saggy breasts. What was the most shocking, however, was that she looked piggish in the face, with no neck, and she had a mustache like Marge. Surely, Harry thought, she couldn't be a Dursley?
"Well," Hermione said, "it's like Daphne said, Harry, you shouldn't have mixed those two spells."
Everyone broke out in loud chortles at this as they turned to make their way back toward Hogwarts.
"What's worrying you, Harry?" Daphne asked after they had walked a short piece through town.
"Oh, uh, nothing, dear," Harry replied with a fake smile upon his face. "I'm just a wee bit tired is all, and I'm looking forward to a rest when I get home." That wasn't really a lie, as he did intend on resting up some before he was to meet up with Gareth, where the two were to apparate to the Rollright Stones from the ministry. His wife, nor friends, knew of any of this.
Once there, Harry would set his part up at the King's Men stone circle, a fake Voodoo alter, and Gareth would be hidden away across the road, and behind the hedgerow and wards with Harry's cloak at the King Stone. Gareth would destroy the diadem while Harry kept Tom occupied before he delivered the blow that would, in the end, lead to the coup de grâce.
The day before, on Friday, the twenty-first, Harry had made his way there to oversee a salt circle, which was laid down at noon and hidden around the King's Men under a slight amount of earth. When Tom showed up, anti-apparation wards would immediately be activated. Next, when Tom entered the circle, Harry would set off the Protego Diabolica charm, as well as another ward, where both would encapsulate them in two domes of magic. Both were deadly if one touched them, and one charm was considered dark magic. Harry was told that the Protego Diabolica was once used by Grindelwald, and the other spell, Protego Horribilis Inverso, was to stop any dark spells from leaving the circle.
Yes, Harry thought, the rest depended on illusion, trickery, deception, and pure skullduggery. He wasn't about to face that piece of shite in a fair fight, as Tom never fought fair, himself. Once this took place, he knew that the Aurors would arrive by apparation from across the south field, along with the Hit Wizards, and pick off any of Tom's followers that might be around the perimeter. The DOM would also send in a crew to clean up the mess afterward.
"Hey," Harry said to everyone around him, "I brought a portable cassette player with me, which has the recording on it that was played to Tom at Malfoy Manor. Does anyone want to hear it before we get too close to Hogwarts? I think the player will work, here, if we keep it away from too much magic."
"Sure, mate," Ron said, who was quite interested.
Here, Harry fished around in his coat, where he dug out the small, battery-powered, player, and hit the play button. Immediately, a loud wheezing snigger emanated from the device, which set several off to chortling. They could all tell that it was Harry's snigger.
Next, and as they continued their walk, the first song started to play, which was called, 'Hell To Pay.'
.
.
There's gonna be hell to pay,
At the end of your day,
(oh, hoh, hoh, hoh),
For all of your wicked ways.
.
There's goin' to be hell to pay,
(Umm hmm).
.
Your love is pain,
Got venom coursing through your veins.
Your serpent tongue,
Strikes everyone,
And you're to blame,
(You're to blame...)
.
Ya better watch your back,
Cover up your tracks,
Ya better hope and pray,
'Cause ya know there's gonna be hell to pay!
(Yea, yea...).
.
At the end of your day.
For all your wicked ways.
(Yea, yea...)
.
There's gonna be hell to pay
(Hell to pay)
.
Well you made your bed,
And you put a price out on your head,
(Whoa, hoh, hoah...)
.
Ya better tow the line,
Or you might be sippin' poison wine,
(Poison wi-i-ine...)
.
Ya better double back,
There'll be a sneak attack,
No matter what you say,
Well, you know there's gonna be hell to pay,
(Yea, yea...)
.
Hell to pay...
.
There's gonna be hell to pay.
.
There's gonna be hell to pay,
.
At the end of your days,
.
For all your wicked ways,
(wicked, wicked ways...)
.
There's gonna be hell to pay,
.
(Yea, um-hum, um-hm, hmm...)
.
.
Next came another round of wheezing sniggering, and then, the next song started to play, which was 'Hangin' Tree.'
.
.
Glory be, glory be,
They hung him from a hanging tree.
Strung him up for all to see.
They done sent that sinner back home.
.
Glory be, glory be,
They hung him from the hanging tree,
Strung him up for all to see,
They done sent that sinner back home,
Sent that sinner back home.
.
There's a storm a'comin,
It′s riding down on me.
There's a change a'yonder,
Can′t ya see, can′t ya see.
Let the Lord, call home another,
Praise the Lord, don't come for me.
.
Glory be, glory be,
They hung him from the hanging tree.
Strung him up for all to see,
They done sent that sinner back home.
.
It's just the good, the righteous,
And couldn't find their way,
But I watched that noose but tighten,
Had today, had today,
Let the Lord call home another,
Against the one, that's soon to swing.
.
Glory be, glory be,
They hung him from the hanging tree.
Strung him up for all to see.
They done sent that sinner back home.
Sent that sinner back home.
.
Glory be, glory be,
They hung him from the hanging tree.
Strung him up for all to see.
They done sent that sinner back,
Sent that sinner back... home.
.
Send that sinner back home.
.
Glory be, glory be,
Gonna hang me from this hanging tree.
String me up for all to see.
They're gonna send this sinner back,
Send that sinner back home.
.
Glory be, glory be,
Gonna hang me from this hanging tree.
String me up for all to see.
They're gonna send this sinner,
Send that sinner back home.
.
Glory be, glory be,
Gonna hang me from this hanging tree.
String me up for all to see.
They're gonna send that sinner back home,
Send that sinner back home.
.
Send that sinner back home!
.
.
Next came the same wheezing snigger before Harry pushed the stop button.
"That's it," Harry said, "as it just looped over and over when he heard it."
"Really, Harry," Daphne said through her guffaws. "That was awful!"
"I would have loved to have seen his face," Neville said through a chortle, "as he smelled the stink bombs, and when all the glass was shattering around him while being told that he was to be hanged. That would have been ace, mate!" Tracey nodded at this as well, who was also guffawing after she noticed Hermione's scowl.
Hermione was wondering just how corrupted Harry had become. What she didn't understand, was, that her best friend had always had it in him, even from the day they first met.
"It took me ages to find those two songs," Harry remarked with a smirk, "as they're muggle, and quite obscure. I was in a lot of record shops, I can tell you."
"Don't ever allow me to get on Harry's bad side," Little Harry remarked to Astoria, who smirked at her boyfriend. Astoria knew that her big brother could be a real bellend when he wanted to be, and this only proved the point. Others would be jealous, she knew, for not having an older brother and sister to look out for them the way Harry and Daphne did her.
At this, the eight slowly made their way back to Hogwarts, since it was now three in the afternoon.
Voldemort was furious as he gazed upon the locket in his hand while standing upon the small island in the middle of the black lake.
He had read the note, oh, yes, and found that he had been betrayed by one of his own, yet, again, and it was another Black!
"To the Dark Lord: I know I will be dead long before you read this, but I want you to know that it was I who discovered your secret. I have stolen the real Horcrux and intend to destroy it as soon as I can. I face death in the hope that when you meet your match, you will be mortal once more. R. A. B."
He could hear Regulus laughing at him, along with Sirius, and that sniveling little worm, Severus. Plus, he could see Potter, now, laughing at his expense.
White-hot anger built up in Voldemort as he thought about his remaining Horcrux. The journal was gone, due to Lucius, who had married a Black, and then, the cup had been in the Lestrange's vault, so, could Potter have sniffed that out as well? If so, that only left the diadem and his family ring, as Nagini was murdered before his own eyes at Malfoy Manor.
As quick as lightning, and without thinking, Voldemort's new wand, which was made of Birch and Dragon Heartstring by a Chinese wandmaker, whom he murdered, shot into his hand. With a loud wail, he aimed it into the air, and let out a torrent of magic. However, this had an effect on the roof of the cavern, where rock started to pour down upon him and, thereby, stirring up the Inferi in the lake; forcing him to flee in haste while cursing like a common fishwife.
Once outside and on the rocky shore, he quickly apparated to his grandfather's old and dilapidated shack just outside Little Hangleton. It was not far, after all, from where he was now forced to live, in his father's old and moldy home.
As Voldemort made his way along the overgrown footpath, he could sense a foreign magic in the area, and he knew exactly whose magic that was. Albus Dumbledore's!
"We're back, dear," Harry said to Daphne, as he took his wife in his arms while standing before the entrance to the great hall.
"Do you have to go, now?" Daphne questioned.
"Yes, darling," Harry replied as he gave his wife a chaste kiss, "as I really do need my rest. I was up early this morning, and I'm now, dragging. I'll be sure to call you, though, sometime tonight."
"You better, mister, and I'll keep a watch as you said."
"Good," Harry said, but before he could utter another word, Daphne had him locked into a lingering kiss, which was only interrupted by the headmaster's arrival through the front entrance.
"Oh, young love," Albus said with a smile. "It does an old man like me good to see that during these dark times."
"Headmaster!" Daphne squeaked as she turned as red as a beat.
"Headmaster," Harry said as he untangled himself from his wife, "I'll leave my wife in your capable hands."
At Albus' nod, Harry gave her one last chaste kiss before stepping away and turning to leave the school. "I love you, Daph."
"I love you too, Harry."
For some odd reason, something just felt off to Daphne, especially after Harry told her to keep her eyes on Flint today. She was still thinking this as Harry left the school.
TBC, next chapter.
A/N: Sorry for the delay, but work called, plus I had a few appointments I needed to keep. The next chapter should be up within a few days. It's next to the last.
The two songs can be found on YouTube. Look for the album, Swamp Rock 2, with the frog flying the bull horns on the cover. Though both songs weren't out back in 96-97, I shamelessly used them anyhow ;-)