Tides of Time
An Uneasy Gathering
By Michael Weyer
I know, I know, it's been a while since the last updated chapter. I apologize, was caught up in another fan fic. Hopefully, the wait will be worth it.
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It was hard to tell exactly who was more shocked at the news of Harry Potter and Lord Voldemort working together: The regular wizards or the Deatheaters. Both sides looked from one to the other in complete disbelief and shock. "You…and him?" Ron repeated in disbelief.
"Believe me, young man, the irony of the situation is not lost upon me," Voldemort stated in a cool tone. "But war makes for unlikely bedfellows."
"Tell me about it," Jack muttered under his breath.
"Harry," Herimone hissed as she grabbed his arm. "Have you gone mental? That's…that's…"
"I know who it is, Herimone." Harry's voice was tired as if he'd expected this. "And I don't like it. But desperate times call for desperate measures."
"We can't be that desperate!" Tonks called out.
"You've been locked up, changling," Draco fired back. "You have no idea how bad things are out there. The Valeyard is consolidating power, the Ministry and the press are on his side and we've got these…Daleks going around too."
"They are striking at all forms of magic," Voldemort stated. "Light and dark alike. Which means, as odious as I find the very idea, an alliance between us is necessary."
"My Lord," Lucius Malfoy began. "I…are you sure that is wise?"
Voldemort fixed him with a cold gaze and Malfoy silenced. "Do not question me again, Lucius."
"I can't believe this," Remus muttered. "I cannot believe we are actually going to…to him…"
For once, Minerva McGonagall appeared truly jarred. "Harry, you actually intend for us to ally with…with…"
"Voldemort." Everyone turned to where Jack was standing. "His name's Voldemort. Honestly, people, you're going to work together, at least drop this whole not naming him thing."
"And just who the hell are you?" Sirius demanded.
"Captain Jack Harkness," Jack said with a nod and a slight smile. "This is my team. We've been helping Harry out."
"Oh, wonderful, Muggles," Snape muttered. "Just what we needed."
"These 'Muggles' just saved your asses, mate," Owen pointed out. "How's about a bit of appreciation for that?"
"You don't know Snape," half a dozen people said at once, earning glares from the black-garbed man.
"I can see this is clearly a stressful situation," Jack announced. "I've been in prison before, I know how that can effect you."
"You were in prison?" Owen asked.
"And this is a surprise…how?" Tosh dryly asked back.
"Regardless," Jack said, ignoring them. "You're all tired, hungry and wouldn't blame you for being a bit scared so we just need to calm down and get some chow in there."
A loud cough came up and everyone turned to see Ianto standing in the doorway pushing a large cart packed with warm boxes. "Pizzas are here."
"Excellent!" Jack said with a grin. "Dig in, all!" He moved and stopped, turning to see everyone staring with uncertainty at the boxes.
"Pizza?" Remus asked. "What's pizza?"
Jack sighed. "Great, first have to teach the Brits about decent food, now have to do the same with the wizards."
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It wasn't a surprise at all that the two sides were keeping as much of a distance between each other as possible as they ate. The conversation was muted as each discussed the events of the last few days and the current situation.
"What a filthy meal," Snape muttered, wiping grease on the small table. "They actually consider this a delicacy?"
Sirius was eating his fourth slice and shrugging. "After time in Azkaban, beggars can't be choosers."
"Yes and you would know about begging," Snape muttered.
"Lay off it, Snape," Lupin said as he chewed on a piece carefully. "I swear, you're more annoying now then when you were a teenager."
Tonks cocked her head toward Snape. "It's hard to imagine you as a teenager, Snape," she said, licking some grease off her lips. "Truth to tell, hard to imagine you being a greaser git then than now."
Snape sniffed at her. "At least I graduated from a decent school, changer."
"Don't talk to her like that, Snivelius," Remus growled at him.
Snape's eyebrows rose. "Why, Lupin, are you sweet on the girl? Then again, beast calls to beast."
Both Tonks and Lupin leaned in but Sirius quickly put a hand up to block them. "Let's try to play nice here, given the circumstances."
Snape snorted at him. "Play nice with you? Please. Next you'll ask me to treat Potter with respect."
"What is your problem, Snape?" Lupin snapped. "For Merlin's sake, I know you and James had problems but there's no reason to take it out on his son, who never did you any harm!"
"I never did his father harm," Snape fired back. "That didn't stop you lot from making my school life miserable, now did it?"
Sirius was quiet before nodding. "You're right."
Snape blinked. Remus blinked. Tonks blinked twice. "I beg your pardon?" Snape asked, positive he hadn't heard right.
"You're right," Sirius went on. "We were horrible to you, treated you like dirt, ran you down, humiliated you, all because we didn't like the way you looked or the House you were in. You did nothing to deserve it…and…I'm sorry for all that."
Snape knew he looked completely undignified gaping at Black but was too stunned by his words to care. Remus and Tonks appeared as thrown and Black shuffled uncomfortably. "Two trips inside Azkaban gives you plenty of time to think about the past," he said defensively. "So, yeah, I'm sorry for what we did back when we were a bunch of young idiots." He managed a sideways glare at Snape. "So maybe, just maybe, it's time you stop punishing Harry for what his father did back then."
Snape didn't reply but simply looked at the food on the table. "I never imagined I'd hear you saying that, Black."
"Before you get weepy, Snape, we're a far ways from being friends," Sirius quickly said. His eyes swept to a quivering figure on the other side of the chamber and darkened. "And given how one of my best friends turned out…"
Snape didn't have to look to know Sirius was gazing at Pettigrew. "Better stop talking now, wolf. It could lead to bonding and I'm nauseous enough as it is."
"Agreed," Sirius was quick to say.
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Draco Malfoy had never been as close to his father but the distance between them was far greater now. They sat on opposite ends of the table simply gazing at each other carefully. "So…" Lucius began. "You and Potter."
"There weren't many other options," Draco carefully responded.
Lucius sniffed. "I suppose not. Still, associating with one of his like is beneath us."
"Really," Draco dryly stated. "And Azkaban wasn't?"
Lucius glared at him. "Don't cross me, boy. I am your father. What I have done, I have done for the good of this family."
"Fat lot of good we have now," Draco said. "You were locked up, Father. You didn't have to endure the humiliation of being publicly ostracized and stripped of wealth. You know how difficult it has been to scrape by on almost nothing?"
"Oh, no, Draco, I have no idea having been in prison all this time," Lucius dryly responded. "I did what I thought right, to stand up for our entire true Wizarding race and show the pride we have."
Draco looked thoughtful. "Tell me, Father, because I've never quite understood this. If you have such pride in what you are and want to show that to the world, why do you wear masks?"
Lucius' nostrils flared as he leaned forward. "Do not test me…"
"Don't press me then," Draco fired back, surprising his father by the anger in his eyes. "Just consider, Father, that for all the supposed strength the purebloods have, we've been reduced to seeking aid from halfbloods and mudbloods. And you precious Lord and Master is facilitating that alliance."
"That doesn't mean we simply ignore what we are."
"What we are, Father, is in a war and we're losing." Draco sat back. "I don't like Potter or his friends and I'm not turning my back on our family name. But unlike you, I'm open to the fact that we can't let our pride be our undoing. That's a lesson you should know better than I do."
He made to move but Lucius grabbed at his arm, his face marked with anger. "Draco, don't be foolish enough to throw away your future."
Draco pulled his arm away. "I'm making sure we have a future, Father. All of us, not just the purebloods. Because like it or not, we need the rest if we're going to survive and frankly, even the great Malfoy name isn't worth my life."
He turned to stalk away as Lucius Malfoy seethed with anger…yet could not help but feel a tiny spark of respect for his son's new strength.
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"Not exactly the most cordial bunch, are they?" Owen observed from the far end of the room where the Torchwood team had gathered.
"Well, they are pretty much mortal enemies," Tosh pointed out as she chewed on her slice of pizza. "Just because they have a foe in common doesn't mean they're going to act nice."
"They're going to have to learn," Jack noted. "Otherwise, they don't have a hope in hell of fighting the Valeyard off."
"Alliances among enemies don't come easily, Jack," Gwen noted.
"Hey, the American colonies got it done."
"Yes, bring up the Revolution, we British just love to hear about that."
Jack shook his head. "I don't get it, it was over 200 year ago! How can you be so upset about it?"
"We're English, Jack," Owen dryly said. "Some of us are still upset about the Saxon invasion."
Jack smiled as he headed away. "I've got to check on something, keep an eye on everyone." He was walking toward the exit when a soft voice came from behind him.
"You're the one."
Jack turned to see a while eyed young teen staring at him, her hair so blonde it was almost white. "You're him," she whispered, her eyes rapt and a slight smile to her dreamy face. "The man who's stuck."
"I'm sorry?" Jack asked with a frown.
"The man who can't pass on," she continued as she moved closer to him, her voice dropping. "The man who can't be like everyone else. The one who can't die."
The smile had vanished completely from Jack's face. "I don't know what you mean," he tried to say but he could tell the blonde wasn't buying it.
"I know who you are," she whispered. "Don't worry, I won't tell. Just know…it won't be forever." She turned and walked away, leaving Jack Harkness at a very rare loss for words.
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"My…my Lord?"
Voldemort let out a sigh as he turned his head to face a quivering Pettigrew. "Yes, Wormtail?"
The man looked more nervous than ever, rubbing his hands together, the silver on the natural one. "I…my Lord, do not think I am questioning you but…is this…wise? To work with Potter and the rest?"
"Desperate times, Wormtail," Voldemort said in a calm tone. "You should accept that."
"But, my Lord…" He licked his lips as he stole a glance towards Sirius. "Many of his allies want…want to…want to kill me. I'd rather not have them so close by."
Voldemort turned his head and fixed an icy stare that chilled Pettigrew to the bone. "Pettigrew, because you allowed yourself to be discovered after my resurrection, I lost valuable time. Time I needed to consolidate my power and my control. Time that might well have put off this problem we all face. If I could afford to kill you, do not think for one instant I would hesitate to do so."
Pettigrew swallowed his dry throat. "I…I….my Lord, I only meant…"
Voldemort cut him off with a wave of his hand. "The alliance with Potter is temporary, Pettigrew. Once it is done, I shall deal with him as I see fit." His eyes narrowed. "But make it clear that if any hand but mine eliminates him or any of his friends…I will not be pleased. Is that clear?"
Pettigrew bowed his head as he scampered away, leaving Voldemort to mull over his plans once more.
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"Have you heard from my parents?" Herimone asked Harry. As usual, the trio were tight together at one end of a table.
Harry nodded. "I had Jack's people check on them, they're okay. It looks like the Valeyard is only interested in true wizards right now, doesn't care about muggles as of yet."
Herimone sighed with relief. "That's good. I still don't know how to deal with this."
"She's got a point, Harry," Ron said, glancing at the shadowy figure at the far side of the room. "I mean….it's….it's him. After all he's done…"
"Believe me, Ron, I know," Harry snapped. "Your parents weren't killed by him." He looked away. "Sorry but as much as I hate to say it, the man's right. We need to fight together or else the Valeyard can pick us all off."
"Yes but working with Deatheaters, mixing light and dark magic together," Herimone went on. "The dangers of this are just so extreme."
"I know, I know," Harry waved them off. "Like I said, I'm aware of the dangers but we really don't have any choice in the matter."
"But…"
"If Harry says it's the only way, it's the only way," Neville Longbottom said as he came up to them. He was staring toward Bellatrix with a tight expression but kept his voice warm to the others. "We'll just have to learn to handle these…people."
Herimone still seemed unsure. "There's never been a situation like this before."
"Good, we're inventing a new type of combat," Harry said. "Which means the Valeyard won't expect what we can do together."
"Well, I don't like it Harry, but if it's the only way, we just have to live with it." Ron rubbed his arms as he looked about. "By the way, where the bloody hell are we?"
"Some abandoned school on the other side of the country," Harry answered. "It's somehow ripe with darker energies so Voldemort figured it'd be a good place to shield us from whatever scans the Valeyard has."
Ron was quiet before speaking. "You can't trust him."
"I know. And he knows I can't." Harry bit his lip. "But he needs me alive as much as we need him so that'll do for now."
"What about these muggles?" Ron asked. "Can we trust them?"
"They've helped us out well so far." Harry made a small smile. "And believe me when I say that Jack Harkness is willing to give his last breath to help us out. And whatever else is left afterward."
Herimone frowned at that remark as she glanced over. Her frown deepened as she saw someone nearby. "Who is that?"
Everyone turned to look to where she was pointing. Hanging on the side of the room sipping a cup with a straw was an attractive, if shapely, young woman with short black hair hanging in bangs around her face. She was dressed in a red outfit that accented her curves, one boot tapping on the floor, some fancy earrings, necklace and thick red lipstick. She seemed to take in everyone with curiosity but not too much interest.
"How'd she get in?" Harry frowned. "I don't recall seeing her before."
"There's something about her…" Herimone muttered. "Can you feel it? Her aura?"
"She's no Deatheater," Ron noted. "They'd never wear anything that bright."
Harry frowned and headed over to the girl. "Um, excuse me? Miss? Miss?"
The girl seemed to not hear him for a moment before facing him. She blinked and looked over her shoulder as if expecting someone behind her. She turned around and her face changed to amazement. "Wha….me?"
"Yes," Harry said. "Who are you?"
"You…." The girl blinked. "You can see me?"
"Yes," Harry said, baffled at her response.
"You….you can…you can actually see me?!" The girl's voice carried, getting the attention of most everyone. She stared around and appeared shocked to see all the eyes on her. "Bloody hell, you can all see me?"
Minevera stepped forward with her best teacher tone. "Young lady, just who are you and how did you get in here?"
As the woman stammered, Voldemort rose to his feet, his face hard. "I would answer her, if I were you," he hissed, his hands on his wand. "Crucio!" Before anyone could stop him, a bolt of green energy ripped out and toward the woman…
And passed right through her.
The woman still gasped a bit as if feeling an electric shock but no pain at the blow which hit a wall behind her. Surprised looks went all around as Voldemort was jarred to once more meet someone his curses had no effect on. If this kept up, he might start to get annoyed.
"It wouldn't have done any good," a clipped voice came from the far side of the room. "You can't inflict pain on someone who's already dead."
All eyes turned to the stairway leading into the chamber as a woman came down to the end of it. She appeared to be in her 20's and very attractive with red hair in a pageboy cut and was clad in a pair off pants and a quite tight purple bustier with knee-high boots and a long coat. She gazed around with a look of mischief but those who looked closely could see that her eyes appeared older than her body.
Of all of them, Jack was the most surprised. "Ella?"
The woman turned to him and smiled. "Jack Harkness. As I live and breathe." She motioned to the other woman. "And as Thelma here doesn't." She took in the whole room and smiled. "Well, well, what sort of mischief have we gotten into now then?"
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For those who don't know, the two new arrivals come from the underrated and too short-lived BBC series "Hex." Hopefully not as long until the next update, provided circumstances don't interfere.
