Having Fun Playing a Dark Lord
A/n: 1) Why is Dumbledore treating Harry differently? Owing to Harry's knowledge of the future and his information regarding the most sensitive topic, as well as the way Harry is forthcoming information with Dumbledore and is clear about his intentions, Dumbledore will treat him as a comrade-in-arms, or a trusted lieutenant.
2) While I was writing this Chapter, Sir Daniel Day-Lewis decided to become an eye-bug and superimposed his characters from 'There will be Blood' and 'Gangs of New York' on Harry at a very particular part, without caring for the context. It was much like a song that becomes an earworm and comes out into whatever a person is doing at the given time.
3) Why is Amelia Bones not doing what she is supposed to do? That's the question isn't it? She didn't do her job in canon either. In effect, she was a useless person in canon, who probably found some sort of benefit in letting sleeping dogs lie, till she became a big problem for Voldemort – just like any other politician. Don't believe that? Just ask the question: why did she never investigate the Cedric Diggory's death personally?
The next morning, Neville found himself being roused at five thirty in the morning. Normally he would have groaned and protested against being woken at that time, but having Harry hold a wand to his neck did wonders for his morning disposition.
"Harry?"
"Good morning, Neville!" Harry greeted him brightly. "I want you showered and dressed and present in the common room within the next, uh," he made a show of checking his watch and continued, "Thirty minutes, okay?"
The wand pointed at his neck did not move, and frankly, a too calm Harry Potter scared Neville.
A few minutes after the early morning wake-up call, Harry heard Neville's yell from the dormitory. Neville never did like it when he was turned a violent, shocking pink. But after nearly two years, this was the first time he was pranking his friend. Come to think of it, Harry decided that he wouldn't like it either. Deciding that the creation of newer pranks could be delegated to later, Harry turned his attention to the girls. Casually transfiguring objects around the room into a makeshift bridge (he still wondered how Wood used to wake the girls) to the top of the stairs, he clambered on and stood outside the door to the female dormitories and knocked.
It was Angelina Johnson. Harry was shocked into silence when he saw his team-mate. The last that he had seen of her was when she had been rescued from the 'Entertainment House'. He'd be damned if he let her face the same fate again.
Angelina was not amused when someone knocked on the door before six. Seeing Harry staring at her, she decided to be snarky and tease him at the same time. "Unable to sleep, eh, Harry?" she asked. "Want a cuddle with me?"
Harry stopped gawking like a fool and shook his head fervently. "No Angie. Just please send Hermione, Ginny and Lavender downstairs."
"Ooh, three girls? You're taking three girls to bed?" When Harry started colouring a bit, she added, "No space for me, Harry?"
"What? No! Not like that!" he started sputtering. Angelina started laughing, causing Harry to scowl. "Just send for them!"
The girls and a still pink Neville were in the room within the next twenty five minutes.
"What've you called us down here for?" asked Lavender with a jaw-cracking yawn. She absolutely did not appreciate being woken from her beauty sleep.
"Well, much apart from the fact that if I wanted to go all storybook hero on you lot, I'd have waxed eloquent about how much I love you lot, I've called you here to give you a heads up on what drama the day is going to bring."
Unfortunately, all four were still half-asleep.
"You didn't understand a word I spoke did you?"
"No," Hermione replied with a yawn herself.
"I am going to kill the Minister of Magic today in cold blood. I just thought you should know."
"'mkay..." groaned Ginny.
Neville had tried to vigorously scrub off the pink, so he was awake enough for that. "WHAT?"
"Don't shout Ne-eee-ville!" scolded Hermione half-heartedly around another yawn.
Harry had enough. "Spargo Frigida!" When he had decided that the girls were drenched enough he let up. "Are you awake enough now?" he asked testily.
"Ye-e-e-e-s-s-s, y-y-o-u st-stu-stupid, g-g-git," they stammered in unison.
"Good!" was the response, given too brightly to be allowed.
"Now, we are going to the Headmaster's office. You three, Neville, Hermione and Lavender, will go wake him up after you go and fetch Susan Bones. Ginny and I will fetch Luna Lovegood." The redheaded girl timidly followed as Harry left abruptly.
"Has he lost his mind?" Neville asked Hermione cautiously.
"He was alright till yesterday," Lavender concurred.
Hermione sighed and mentally cursed her newly minted boyfriend. Relating the events of the day before, carefully excluding the time travel thing, but including the deaths of the two Death Eaters, Hermione brought them up to speed.
"Sirius Black is innocent?"
"Yes."
"You lot caught Peter Pettigrew?"
"Yes."
"Snape got kissed?"
"Considering that a Dementor is the only creature that wouldn't have any qualms about kissing Snape, yes."
"Walden McNair worked in my Dad's office!" protested Lavender.
"That didn't stop him from being a Death Eater. His own axe fell on his head, killing him instantly."
"Is this how you normally end the year?" Neville asked at long last.
"Generally it is tamer, far tamer," Hermione answered with a sigh. "This time it seems that the year's end will be extended to today."
"And that's what killing the Minister was about?"
"It is likely. It is probable that it may not be in the figurative sense," Hermione cautioned.
"You mean he –?"
"It is probable. Honestly, I don't know."
"But why Neville and I?" asked Lavender, bewildered. "It's not as if we're that close, really."
"Lavender, I really don't know what happens in Harry's brain. Right now, whatever he has planned and asked us to do, seems to be something we can do." She strode to the common room portrait hole and pushed it open, striding towards the Hufflepuff common room.
"Have you got a strange feeling that we are soon going to be in over our heads?" Neville asked Lavender.
"Speak for yourself, Neville. Everything has already gone way over mine."
They exchanged commiserating looks, each privately hiding a shudder at having that moment of camaraderie with the other. It was a very odd start to the day, when shy Neville Longbottom and gossip-queen Lavender found something in common.
Ginny had to scurry along to match speed with Harry, who was striding towards the Ravenclaw tower, casually stunning both Filch and his cat when they jumped out from the shadows. When Ron hadn't returned to the tower the night before and Hermione had brusquely stated that he had broken his leg, Ginny had rightly recognised that it was all about yet another end of the year adventure. It didn't explain Hermione's smitten look and dreamy sighs, but otherwise it was all according to the general plan. The sun rose in the east, water was wet, and Harry Potter and his friends routinely got embroiled in a year-ending adventure.
"Harry?"
"Yes Gin?"
"What's going on?"
"A lot, really," Harry answered. "Can you speak Parseltongue on command?"
"Yes...WHAT? I am not a Parselmouth Harry! It was Tom last year, I swear! You can't seriously –"
"I know it was Tom last year, just as I know that as a side-effect, you were left with Parseltongue. Don't lie to me."
"Harry!" Ginny gasped.
"Ginny..."
"Harry you can't tell anyone about this, promise me," she hissed – in Parsel of course.
"I need you to use Parsel later today, Gin. It's all very important," Harry hissed back. Ginny didn't even realise it.
They reached the Ravenclaw tower. "What is common for the friend and foe?"
"The letters 'f' and 'e'," Harry answered dismissively. Luna had drilled him insistently to help get around traps with sphinxes.
"Enter."
"Go bring Luna down," Harry commanded Ginny.
Not understanding what was going on, but deciding to just 'go with it' in unfamiliar territory, Ginny quickly complied.
Luna, it turned out, was dressed in nothing. Her clothes had been stolen by her bullies. Ginny was blushing as she saw something that gave rise to feelings she had tried to quash ruthlessly. Harry shucked off his cloak and handed it to Ginny to help her cover up the blonde waif.
Luna came downstairs dressed in Harry's cloak. Harry couldn't help it. This girl was among the best friends he ever had. With Lavender and Neville, even though his instinct was to hug them as well, it would've been awkward. Awkward was a word Luna was not acquainted with.
Luna took one look at Harry and smiled brightly. "You did it, didn't you?"
"Yes. And I know your secret, and I promise you that whenever you feel it prudent to reveal it, I shall stand by both of you, no matter what." Harry wasn't surprised. Luna was someone who could surprise the omniscient.
"It's Crouch, you know. He got the present."
Harry paled. "Shit."
"It doesn't happen on command, Harry," Luna chided. "Mind your language."
"You have such a dirty mind, don't you? And by the way, hypocrisy really doesn't suit you, Lu."
Luna blushed. She swore like a fishwife when the situation arose. Ginny looked between them in absolute confusion. When did these two get to know each other?
"But he wasn't even alive at the time! And how could he get Snape's memories?"
"He is the nexus point Harry. You cannot stop him. He is balance."
"What are you two talking about?" Ginny asked curiously.
"Come on, now. I told you I'd tell you soon. All in good time," he answered with a patronising pat on the head, even though he was feeling horrible at the prospect of Crouch gaining future knowledge. "Ginny, please lend her a few clothes, would you? I can't conjure yet."
"Yes, Harry."
"Now listen, you two. I know why you have started drifting away. Ginny, what you feel is nothing wrong. Luna is a wonderful person. And Luna, you have friends to rely on. I won't push either of you till you're comfortable with acknowledging it, but remember this. I will stand with you." When Ginny looked at him in fear, he emphasised, "Always."
"Wh-what are you talking about?"
"Denial is not only a river, Ginny. Just remember that I shall always support you. Now, off to meet the Wizard we go!"
The three found the other four attempting to reason with the gargoyle.
Harry frowned. When did these innocent idiots become the bloody monsters he had had the honour to fight with, really? He retrieved a dungbomb from his pocket and placed it in the gargoyle's mouth.
"Open up or I set it off. You choose." The gargoyle opened up. "As a reminder to not impede us again," he warned as he did set off the dungbomb. The spluttering and spitting of a stone gargoyle sounded like a stone scraper quarrying away in the mountains.
Albus Dumbledore was in his quarters, dressed in mundane exercise clothes. It was another thing that the magicals had stupidly eschewed in their attempt to break away fully from the muggle world. As his years advanced, he found that light exercises and stretches from the Orient did wonders for both his disposition and magic. It kept him very much in tune with his mind and powers. It had helped him before in duels by keeping him spry as he found it easy to dodge and move out of curses in time.
It also aided motion.
Suddenly there was a muffled voice from the obscured portrait that informed him about the incoming visitors. "Students at your door, headmaster," it said, giving him a list of the seven students. Albus frowned. What on Merlin's earth were they doing at this hour? Casting a quick cleaning charm on himself, and transfiguring his clothes into purple robes, he strode into his office and let them in.
"Good morning Headmaster!" Harry called cheerily. Far too cheerily for someone awake at that time, Albus thought. But then again, perhaps he had had to be up the whole night several times in the future and this was nothing to him. The other students seemed more interested in using each others' shoulders for pillows.
"To what do I owe this wake up call, Harry?"
"Oh, please, I know you were in the middle of your Yoga routine. When was the last time that you have slept past four thirty? The grip of insomnia tightens as one ages...it is terrible no?"
Albus winced. This model of Harry Potter was a bit too abrasive. "Yes, yes...well, do come in."
"Thank you, sir. I had to call on a bit early because a Ministry contingent will be coming to Hogwarts to exonerate Sirius and watch me execute Pettigrew."
Albus' face grew cold. "When did you decide that?"
"Well, I just forced a meeting between Her Grace, Lady Bones, and my godfather last night. That was the drama I told you about, last night. It happens to show you in very good light."
"And you took the decision unilaterally, without confirming with me?"
"It was needed. Trust me on this. By tonight at least half the Death Eater force will be destroyed. It was actually a plan we had hatched just before Snape murdered you. I just thought it would be nice to bring it to fruition in peacetime."
The two wizards stared at each other, attempting to size each other up, when an almighty snore from Neville broke the moment.
"And will it help?"
"It will. Oh, and shut down all communication from and into Hogwarts for the day." Albus accepted that. As far as he could see this was something that he had helped plan. "How much can you manipulate Fudge here onwards? It will be critical."
"If the clique he surrounds himself with is done away with, Cornelius is a good enough person to not need manipulation to be on the right side of things..."
"However he needs to be manipulated into doing anything at all, which is what I need you to do."
So they certainly had an experience with Cornelius' incompetence in the future. It was absolutely unsurprising. "If his popularity and ratings are at stake, much can be done."
"Thank you. I will leave that to you, but since we need to think of Voldemort's jewellery, you could always delegate that to Sirius. He could be the Order's political arm."
Which, given the importance of what was going on, was absolutely true, mused Albus. "Of course," he acknowledged with a nod. "Is that all?"
"Actually, no sir. I have to let you in on something extremely horrible. Do you trust me to cast a spell on any of my friends, to hurt them?"
Albus glanced at the boy's companions. "Miss Granger?"
Hermione Granger was more than just a friend for Harry, Albus knew. So whatever he wanted to demonstrate could be demonstrated on her. Harry shrugged. He'd expected that. Albus fired a noise-maker that jolted the other five out of their respective slumbers. Luna was awake and excited. He then asked Hermione to stand by another wall.
"Hermione," he said to the now attentive girl. "Do you trust me? Do you trust me to not hurt you in any way?"
"Yes."
"Even if it seems as if I am killing you?"
"Yes."
"Promise me that come what may, you will not be afraid of what I do to you in this office?"
"Yes."
"Good."
He levelled his wand at Hermione and cast a stunner at her – in Parseltongue. As the green light arced at her, several things happened. Hermione's eyes widened, and she slumped to the ground. The others in the room, except Ginny looked at him in fear and started shouting at him. He let them have their fill.
"What have you done?" Albus asked in absolute fear.
"Just a minute, sir," he responded, before casting "Ennervate!" again in Parseltongue. The others, again, except Ginny, saw him casting another Killing Curse at Hermione's apparent dead body.
As Hermione opened her eyes and looked at Harry, she was afraid. She was sure that Harry had cast the Killing Curse at her. She however, didn't feel dead. The rest of them had a fleeting feeling that Harry had found out the way to bring people back from the dead.
"What spell did I cast, Ginny?" Harry asked the girl.
"A stunner, and then you revived her." Ginny immediately clamped her mouth as she realised what she had just revealed.
Neville had moved to another thing. "But the spell was green! I thought it was the Avada Kedavra!"
Harry nodded and looked at Albus, who understood with rising horror just what he had seen there.
"Voldemort apparently killed many on our side. He didn't kill as many as he stunned and didn't revive. He tried that once and unfortunately for him, I understood. Parsel-magic spells are always green in colour. It is very likely that we have buried people alive, having thought them to be dead. As it happens, in our world, people never touch a dead body, unless the person touching it is a healer. The bodies are always levitated into coffins. A burst of green light and nobody bothers to check the pulse. He must have killed many, but several people have died because they were assumed dead, as well."
"You mean he made us kill our own people?"
"Yes. Ron stepped in front of Lavender. We thought he was dead, she was hysterical. Ginny cast the reviving spell and that was it."
Dumbledore stood up and started to breathe heavily. This was a very effective demonstration. Their hands were painted with the blood of their own, and they hadn't even known about it.
"Are you alright sir?"
"James and Lily?"
"He killed them. Dad landed a cutting curse to his privates. They were vestigial organs for him anyway."
Dumbledore couldn't help but snort at the bald way Harry put it. "I am not alright. But I understand now. I understand much better. I take it you're going to use it?"
"Yes."
"On me?"
"If things come to that, yes, I will. Please use Legillimency on me every time I look at you. When I am about to do it, I'll face you, so you will know. I am doing it for a specific reason. The Aurors must know."
"Indeed."
"Anything else?"
Harry thought for a moment and then added, "Could you please arrange for the elves to keep several sacks of sand and just as many sacks of stones, as well as lots of rope outside the infirmary?"
"What for?" asked Dumbledore curiously.
"The plan to force the Ministry's hand was there. You, however, left it to me to decide how I should execute it. And I have an idea that uses the 'marked as Dark Lord's equal' part for something," Harry answered with a truly devious grin.
Dumbledore looked at the boy in front of him and sighed. It took so many years for the prankster within James' son to rise forth.
"I hope it remains within control. Is there anything else that you might want me to know?"
"I request permission to tell my team everything. And I want to train them. Please allow me to introduce, Hermione Granger, Susan Bones, Ginny Weasley, Lavender Brown, Neville Longbottom and a missing member, Ronald Weasley."
"When did we become your team, Potter?" Susan snapped.
"All in good time Bones-y. Merlin, the sheer number of times I am going to have to say that today will make me allergic to that sentence."
"And why would I want to do that?" Lavender asked.
"Repeat allergen sentence," Harry quipped. "Seriously though, I shall tell you all everything. I am not insane, nor is the Headmaster, who now knows enough to understand what's going on. You will get your answers. Susan, I wanted you here because it is likely that I will have to use Parsel-magic on your aunt to save her life in the future. I want you to understand that what I shall do to her will not kill her."
"How dare you?"
"I dare because even she doesn't know that your father wasn't dead till he was buried. What I demonstrated was exactly what happened to him!"
Susan slumped against the wall in shock as she heard that. Harry turned to Albus.
"You can do it?" asked the Headmaster.
"Yes."
"Do it. I have a condition. I want the memories as well."
"That's no condition. I was going to give you all of them anyway."
"What other horror have you not spoken of?" Albus asked as he nodded gratefully at Harry brushing off the condition.
"He went muggle as well. Voldemort got his hands on nuclear weapons."
"Good Lord!" swore Hermione and Dumbledore simultaneously.
There was a long silence, before Amelia called the floo. "Albus, my Aurors and I are coming through."
Dumbledore glanced at Harry, who nodded. "You will explain to her?" the younger man asked.
"Yes."
"Then we shall meet at breakfast time."
With that, the students left.
Harry skipped breakfast, leaving Hermione to once again deal with the questions regarding the discussions between Harry and the Headmaster. Truthfully they had done nothing. All they had picked up was a bunch of things that they didn't understand. She'd have had a torrid time explaining things, but fortunately, Luna intervened.
"He has come back for many things, but mostly for us. In time we shall know, but we will have to decide whether knowing is really the best thing for us. Our presence was a certificate of bona fide intentions issued to us." Her eerie voice had ensured that no more questions were asked.
Harry, Sirius and a newly cured Ron came in, with the dog carrying a cage containing a still stunned (and newly forced into the animal form) rat. Harry had filled them both in on what he had showed Dumbledore. Ron had looked at him with horror, while Sirius, who'd presumably seen something like that happen, but hadn't understood it at the time, had vomited and then cried. As soon as they came in, a signal was sent to the Headmaster, who nodded.
"Students," declared Dumbledore. "We have dignitaries from the Ministry visiting us today. I bid them welcome."
The Minister had brought his pet toad along, as well. Well that was called luck. Madam Toad had been the judge and jury with McNair as the executioner for several innocent people who wouldn't fit the Voldemort mandated human profile.
Younger-Harry had nothing personal against Cornelius Fudge at that point of time. Well, apart from the fact that he put Hagrid in jail at Malfoy Sr.'s behest. But Older-Harry had so many bones to pick with the man that it just wasn't funny. Hagrid's incarceration, blatantly calling him confounded (read: liar) when he stressed on Sirius' innocence in the third year, ignoring his warning regarding the resurrection of Voldemort, calling him a liar again for a whole year, and then having the audacity to ask him to toe the Ministry line and appear to trust the Ministry, did not endear the man to Harry in the slightest. Interestingly, he had been disposed of by McNair, when it had been found that Fudge had a muggle in his ancestry. So much for the bribes he took.
"Ready for the show, are you, Sirius, Ron?"
"Like hell I am. That is the sort of prank that we could have never pulled," Sirius answered.
And so it started. Stunning spells found their targets, as Umbridge, the Minister, Dumbledore and Madam Bones collapsed like a castle of cards. Dumbledore had certainly convinced Amelia Bones, for she strayed into the path of the stunner which would have otherwise missed her. Harry called Dobby and ran to the Head Table, stunning Fred, George and Percy as he did so. They along with the absent Remus Lupin would have been the biggest problems. The elf did a wonderful job as before anyone could get their bearings, with a snap of his little fingers, Dobby had strung all four to the ceiling with the ropes. Each person had a noose around their neck with their hands tied far apart. They were also stood on the sacks Harry had earlier asked Dumbledore to arrange. That was where the similarities for the hostages ended. The sacks under both Dumbledore and Lady Bones were full of stones and sand. So even if he had to make a show of splitting a sack open, those two wouldn't be harmed, beyond the rope abrasions. Fudge was standing on a mixed pile, while Umbridge drew the short straw and was rewarded with an all-sand pile.
Ron remained seated and stared with horror at his friend, as did Sirius and the others among the 'team'. Whatever Harry had told them, it did not include that.
Perching himself on top of the Head Table, he revived the four. "Sonorus!" he cast, pointing at his own throat.
"Good Morning, my fellow students. You are today, lucky to witness the situation of the century. And We should really give you all Our thanks. Last year, all of you tried your level best to convince Us that We were a Dark Lord in training. And well, We must say, you have all succeeded."
There were shocked gasps and strangled shouts across the Great Hall.
"Oh, come on, now! The old protests and pleas drama matters not a jot, really. We have got a fair few things to go through." He felt a sensation ride up his spine. Mad-Eye was on the move. The Parsel-stunner left his wand even before he had turned to look at the old Auror, and found its target. "All Aurors, please, come to the fore. You wouldn't want to share Mad-Eye's fate would you?"
The people around the Hall burst into another bout of shouts and gasps. Some even started crying and weeping. How had Harry Potter gone Dark?
The Auror left the body of their senior seated in a chair after levitating him. The fools, mused Harry.
"Now, We have shown that We have little to no compunction in killing for the sustainment of Our Reign. Well, Minister, did you know who killed Walden McNair and Severus Snape?"
The Minister looked at the Boy-Who-Lived in horror.
"Yes, that's right. We did. It was funny to watch the blade turn on McNair. And well, Snape was so accidentally kissed..." he sighed. "Our enemies do tend to die violently."
Many people hadn't even known about the deaths of the two men. And now here was Harry Potter, admitting to killing them.
"So now, here is what you shall do, Aurors. As you might have recognised, this is a hostage situation. All the students and these four dignitaries are going to help Us get what We want. Are We clear?"
Who had thought that Harry Potter could be that straight-out debauched? How were they to work their way around when the first strike was on the future of magical Britain?
"So, here's how it will work. First of all, We shall read a list. All the sons, daughters, nieces and nephews, or any other relations of the following people will be taken into custody. Also, they shall be divested of any personal effects barring their clothes. They should be thoroughly checked. We shall know. We want them sequestered in full view of this Hall. And before anyone tries to escape and warn anyone else, let Us make it clear, that We have closed off all ways of communication outside of Our castle."
Ron was shocked. His best mate had become the Dark Lord? He wouldn't let it happen. "You are not Harry! Who are you, really?" He never got to ask the next question as he found the green arc of magic rushing his way.
"Is there anyone else that dares question Us?" he asked. "No? Good."
That was the cue for people to start a pandemonium. Harry Potter had just murdered his best friend.
Malfoy decided to show just how foolish he really was. "Finally Potter, you have seen the right w –" was all he managed to say as he fell next.
"Are there going to be any more interruptions?"
That brought the whole Hall to heel. To ensure, though, that no other person interrupted, Minerva McGonagall was made to silence everyone and stick them to their seats, at wand-point.
"Aurors, you will first bring Weasley and Mad-Eye to Us. We want a cover here so that nobody can see the magics We wield!"
Hesitating at having to touch a dead body, but fearing that they would die next, the Aurors brought the surprisingly warm bodies to Harry. Harry stunned the Minister and Umbridge again – normally.
When they were all sufficiently close, he lowered his voice and spoke to the Aurors respectfully. "Look, I am just helping you get rid of the Death Eaters. Don't attempt to contact any of them. If you do so, I shall really kill you." He then revived Mad-Eye and Ron, much to the shock of the others. "You both did well, he told them. If what I am doing is successful, by tonight Britain will have no Death Eaters left. Voldemort is not dead. This is the first step to defeating him."
"How?" croaked Mad-Eye, just as Ron asked, "You are pulling this as a prank?"
"Madam Bones knows. She is the one who should explain. The Malfoy boy is in a similar state. Don't touch him. And yes Ron. This is a prank. One that gets Lucius Malfoy for what he did last year. Now I need you two to act as if you are under my control. Mad-Eye, I know you don't like it, but please. Trust me on this."
The cover broke and Mad-Eye and Ron walked back to stand by Harry's side. "Rise, loyal ones! We shall reward you when the time arrives for your loyalty!"
Both drew their wands and stood by Harry's side. The other Aurors, now understanding their part, detained the children related to the people on the list. All of those people were Death Eaters.
"Now, you shall call the editor of the Daily Prophet, as well as all his reporters. We have news for them," Harry ordered. "You shall procure Veritaserum as well."
While the people were being called and the potion was being procured, Harry disappeared to the side, and transfigured Peter back. Touching his Dark mark, and focussing his magic on the scar, he called out to Lucius Malfoy. He called out with all the intensity he could muster. He focussed on getting Lucius to Hogwarts in the Death Eater garb, and getting him to enter the Great Hall. The idea was to use the sliver of Voldemort and imitate the way the monster called out to his minions as he had done at the time of the third task. It had been the one time, when Harry, not knowing the general tradition of not touching a dead body had touched Cedric's body. The magicals had a stupid misconception that anyone touching the body tried to steal its magic as it left the body. Such a person was looked down upon. He hadn't known it then, but it was why people had thought that he might have been the murderer.
Lucius came into the Hall in the Death Eater garb, as ordered by his Lord. The pain had been excruciating. Looking at the tied up cretins, including Dumbledore and Bones, Lucius felt both elation and fear.
"Come Lucius," called the Dark Lord.
"Potter!" was all he screamed before he was normally stunned.
Harry the Hysteric, as the papers would probably have named him if they had been allowed to print everything, looked at the now terrified but puzzled reporters. "Are you all ready to tell the truth to the magical world? Are you ready to tell the magical world how blood traitors like Lucius Malfoy have killed other purebloods as they bowed down to another, casting their pride to the four winds?"
This appropriation of the term blood traitor made everyone look at Harry anew. They could only nod.
"Proceed. Aurors," he called, "let the world know the deeds of Lucius Malfoy and his companions."
And so it started. Lucius was made to list all the Death Eaters he knew. Harry was only interested in the inner circle. Those were the people Voldemort had likely entrusted his Horcruxes to. He was then made to confess to the Hall how he wished to kill all muggleborn and destroy the Weasleys in one go. He was also made to list all the crimes he had committed, when and how. It was having the desired effect. The reporters and Barnabas Cuffe, the editor, were trying to understand how such upstanding citizens had erred.
"You all have the confession of the traitor to this Magical Society," Harry finally said. "It has been heard by several witnesses. You shall report it fully for otherwise, you shall be deemed traitors!" he threatened.
Harry had nearly forgotten about the four hostages. He revived them just after Lucius' confession wound up.
"Potter! What are you doing, you filthy half-blood? I am the Senior Undersecretary to the – URK!"
The sudden interruption was because her noose tightened. Harry had slashed at a sack and the sand had started to run out. The aperture wasn't too large, but Umbridge had moved, fearing the spell coming at her, spilling more sand than the action otherwise would have.
"We are half-blood, but you have no right to either question Our ancestry, or to condemn it, scum. It is a matter of pride for Us. You shall of course pay for it with your life."
The woman was promptly silenced – not killed, silenced.
Turning to the prior congregation, Harry spoke, "We shall now interrogate the following," and read out a long list. They shall be all asked a question that they will answer only to Us." All the while he was looking at Dumbledore.
"You cannot do this, Harry my boy. This is a dark path that you are treading."
"We are not pleased with you, Mr. Dumbledore. For your insubordination, Madam Bones shall pay!" And the green light struck and stunned Amelia Bones. Susan, even though she now understood what was going on, like most of the other members of the core seven, still struggled. Harry enlarged one sack on the sly, ensuring that she wouldn't accidentally be hung to death. He also cast a feather-light charm on both the Headmaster and Lady Bones; no need for them to have aching arms when they would have to sign a load of things.
Theodore Nott too had understood what was going on. He broke through the silencing charm with quite some effort. "You cannot do this Potter! You will be put into Azkaban for the rest of your life!"
Harry had a predatory grin as he approached the boy. He grabbed Nott by the chin and stared straight into his eyes, furiously. "For years, your father has murdered innocent people, rich and poor, mundane or magical, and has built his Empire, Theodore Nott. For years, boy, your filthy scum of a father has ensured the continued existence of my enemy. And today he shall die! HE SHALL DIE!" He then started laughing manically, much like Bellatrix Lestrange always did and Sirius Black had once done. "And do you know? You have had your share of the spoils, haven't you? Daddy gave you what you wanted?" He put on a very high-pitched baby voice and bawled, "Daddy! Mudbloods are taking away things I want but can't get because I am not meritorious enough! Get it from them for me!"
Nott would not answer.
"ANSWER ME! ANSWER ME, YOU LITTLE SWINE!"
Theodore nodded.
"And did your Daddy think that there would be no response?"
Theo was terrified. But he wasn't terrified by the threat. He was terrified by the madness of the Gryffindor Golden Boy. Said Golden Boy did a odd hop/walk-on-the-coals as he went to Lucius Malfoy and caused a jail of hard rock to grow around him as an extension to the Hall's floor. The jail was so tight that any attempt at removing Malfoy from the serrated spikes would cause him to bleed to death.
"Tell me Theo, what did your Daddy think he was going to get when he killed people? Did he think about his sins when he murdered? Did he?"
"Stop th-this nonsense Potter!"
"A nonsensical rambling is it? We shall see."
Harry strode up to Lucius Malfoy and this time focussed on Theodore Nott Sr. who came in within the next fifteen minutes. Harry levitated him upon arrival and crashed him into the Headmaster's dais.
"Hello Nott!"
Nott still was nursing confusion and fear as Potter approached him. Harry was concentrating hard enough for Nott to think Voldemort had taken hold of Harry.
"I hadn't known my Lord!" he pled. "I swear, if I'd known –"
"If you'd known what Nott? If you had known that you are a murdering son of a three-penny Knockturn Alley couple? If you had known that it was a sin to murder innocent people? If you'd known what?"
"My Lord, please..."
Harry levitated him and threw him across the room again.
"My Lord, all I have is yours to use, please..."
Harry grinned hatefully at this man who had brought in countless laws that made the hunting – yes, the actual hunting – of muggleborn legal. He would have got their progeny executed for their dirty blood. Turning to the hall in general he said, "Oh look, this is a grown man!" He then launched Nott across the room again, right at Theodore Nott Jr.'s feet.
"Look at your son, Theodore! Look!" Harry pulled Nott by the hair, not relenting with the magical call that caused Nott to suffer near unbearable pain in the mark, and shoved his face into his son's. "Look at him and tell him that your blood purity superstition is worth murdering for, is worth killing newborn babies, Nott!"
"My Lord, what has happened to you?"
"We are not your Lord, Nott! We are the son of the woman your Lord killed! Now you shall grovel at Our feet! You shall plead with Us to let your son live and to kill you instead!"
By this time, both the father and son were completely and truly afraid. "Please, let him go, Potter, not my son please!" He received a bone-breaking kick in the ribs for that.
"Aurors! Call in the Dementors please! They are to have breakfast! Two of three souls, we shall see which they are!"
"We cannot Potter!" Robards protested.
"Minister, say goodbye to your life!"
In a sterling example of real politics, Fudge decided to sacrifice the Notts and the Malfoys. "Damn it Robards! Bring them in!"
"Clever, minister, you are..." He then set his stag prancing about.
"So Nott, We shall spare your son's life if you tell Us where you have hidden whatever it was that Voldemort gave you..."
"Nothing! He gave me nothing!" Nott was tossed back across the hall.
"Secure the boy, Weasley. Kill him!" Ron, who had by now understood the subterfuge after Mad-Eye had whispered things into his ears at a furious pace, grinned in a feral manner and jabbed his wand into the younger Nott's neck.
"No! I swear! He only gave me a quill! He only ever gave me a goddamned bejewelled quill!"
"Where is it?"
"I..."
"Weasley!"
"It's in my Manor! It is at the manor, and there is a flesh-rotting curse, a layered compulsion charm and above that a notice-me-not charm on the cupboard door unless it is the blood of me or my Heir! Only the drops of our blood will reveal it!"
"So his blood will do?"
"No! No! Only mine! Only my blood will do! Spare him! Please!"
"As you wish, Nott!"
Theo Nott Jr. had started crying as realised that he was about to witness his father's death. "Why?" he burbled. "What has my father ever done to you?"
"Didn't you understand? It was Mary."
"Mary?"
"Mary McDonald, one of those that your father murdered. She was supposed to live. Your dear father sucked the life out of her. He sucked away her will to live. Now the dementors will return the favour." He turned to the Death Eater. "Now they will return the favour. Understand?"
The Dementors came in at that moment. "Noble ones!" called Harry. "Your food!" He pointed at both Malfoy and Nott. They took it at will. A little of Nott Sr.'s blood was taken and Moody was dispatched to bring in the Quill.
Within the next ten minutes, the Quill, which was attempting to get Mad-Eye to write something using it, was stored in a stone box that Robards conjured and placed on the Head Table, while Nott was forced to spill the names of every inner circle Death Eater he knew, along with all the crimes he had committed. Veritaserum and fear together made a wonderfully potent combination. The Dementors then ensured that the Houses of Malfoy and Nott would have underage Heads of Houses. It caused people to start crying and sobbing, of course. Good, normal, everyday innocent people don't really want to see anyone dying, even if the people in question are terrorists who should be put down like rabid dogs.
Meanwhile, taking pity on her, somebody had given Umbridge her voice back. "Help! Help me!" she gasped.
Dismissing her Harry blew a raspberry at her. "Alright, woman! I'll cut you down!" He raised his wand and shot a cutting curse...at another sack. Umbridge got even more strangled as the sand flowed out. Harry turned to the Hall at large and mock-sheepishly grinned, spreding his hands in a what-do-I-do kind of gesture, and said, "Whoopsy Daisy! Can't seem to get it right today!"
Harry turned to look at the four hostages. Dumbledore gave a minute shake of his head and mouthed, "Don't kill her at Hogwarts. She will haunt the Castle." Harry gave a curt nod. The man had a point. Saving Umbridge now vs. her haunting the castle was a no-brainer. So Harry sent the sand back in and repaired the sack. Then he waggled a finger at her and warned, "Don't speak until you are asked questions, bitch. Silence might probably prolong your life."
Funnily, ghosts were after all only imprints of souls. It was not an established fact that Dolores Umbridge had a soul, but it would do well to eventually ensure that she had no soul to speak of. No soul, no Umbridge, no ghost. It was why Harry particularly liked that so called inhuman way of executing criminals. They simply didn't retain enough of a sense of self to think of coming back to haunt people. It was also why Prongs the stag shepherded a dementor towards Dolores.
Of the common people on both lists, Myrridin Selwyn (a wholly undeserved name to a murderous ponce) was dead. Augustus had inherited the vaults, but had at the time been too young to take the mark (less than the sixteen at which Draco Malfoy had sworn the madman his life, wealth and fealty). So he couldn't be harmed. Walden McNair was, along with Dolohov, the top hitman for Voldemort. As they were sent into battle often, they had not been given the ceremonial gift during that time, Nott had explained. Then there were the Lestranges. Well, Sirius would get his revenge soon. They had something, of course. Harry realised in retrospect that Voldemort had to have gone after the full set of Blacks. They had collectively forgotten more Dark Magic than Voldemort had ever learnt. Snape had been entrusted with something to protect within the castle. Rookwood was a risk, considering the wealth of knowledge that he had. With the Diary, the Locket at Grimmauld Place, the Quill that Nott had, whatever the Lestranges had, and whatever had been stored in the castle, they already had five of the eight objects. Oh, and Wormtail still had the wand, even though the little shit had about as much chance of being in the inner circle as Hermione had of ever willingly bearing the Malfoy Heir. All in all, a very productive day, Harry mused. Staring straight at his Headmaster, Harry conveyed the information.
Albus Dumbledore was in part shocked, in part appalled, and in spite of himself, in part also very much amused. If this was the panacea to the Voldemort problem, he could have – should have – done this more effectively years ago. People already feared him then. He really shouldn't have waited for desperate measures. But he had to be different from Voldemort which was why he had chosen the non-confrontational path. As much as he abhorred violence, he hated the loss of innocent lives even more.
Years ago, when he had had a friend called Gellert Grindelwald who sought to rule the world based on a children's story, he had coined the term – the Greater Good. For the Greater Good, unsavoury things would have to be done. Bigwigs would have to be toppled; some people had to be trampled upon. He hated it. It placed the rights of one person below that of another. He had only meant the use of the Greater Good as a metaphor for amassing political and magical power and for helping people. And this use of fame, this sudden burst of madness, the situation that had been created were all exactly what he used to privately think of as doing something for the Greater Good. His protégé had learnt that grim lesson. For the Greater Good, Harry was shedding his image as the Golden Boy, however briefly. For the Greater Good, he was giving people reason to fear him, just so that people would think twice before making the sort of mistakes that had led to the last war. It wasn't a situation he wanted for Harry. He wished the boy to be the standard that the people of Britain would accept as their leader. He wanted him anointed as his successor. But things rarely happened as one wanted. Harry experiencing a fall from his pedestal against the eventuality of Emperor Voldemort was no contest, really.
"Pettigrew, now," he mouthed. Harry grinned back.
"And now, folks, for the main entertainment of the day," Harry announced grandiosely. The dog came in with the cage. A quick Imperio on the rat ensured that if anyone asked Peter why he had pursued the animagus transformation, it would be because he wanted to help the Dark Lord's cause, and not because of Moony. "Auror Scrimgeour?" he called the man. "Please cast the Animagus revealing spell on this rat."
Scrimgeour had been a very pompous man in the other timeline, and had not held much trust for the Order or the Eight. All the same, he was a good man – who had arrested Nott before. That man had slipped then, and it had impugned his professional honour. To see the man have his soul sucked today had given him closure as an Auror. So casting the spell was a small favour on the person who had helped clean his record. His surprise though was uncontained, when he saw the person that the rat turned into.
"Isn't he supposed to be dead?" Scrimgeour asked.
In answer, Harry revived Amelia Bones. The Hall gasped as one.
"So was she. She isn't dead. Never was. Just as Ron wasn't and nor was Moody. But that's important information for later. This is Peter Pettigrew. This is the man who betrayed my parents to Volde-fucking-mort." The Hall gasped as one again. Harry tore open Peter's shirt, and showed everyone the Dark Mark. "This fucker is the reason why I have no parents, along with Voldemort, but that's for another time. This piece of vermin is why my INNOCENT GODFATHER SPENT TWELVE YEARS IN AZKABAN!" he ended with a roar. He then punched Peter squarely in the gut with the left fist, just as he revived him with his wand in his right hand.
Peter lurched involuntarily at the impact. He then saw James – as he had been so many years ago. He knew he was dead. Then he realised that he was worse off. James had Lily's eyes.
"Well, well, well; hello Peter. Haven't seen you as a human since you betrayed us to Voldemort, didn't you?"
Peter had gone as white as a ghost. He had been unveiled in front of the packed Great Hall. With the Aurors present. With the Minister present. With Amelia Bones present. He was dead.
"Harry..." he breathed, moving towards the version of his ex-friend.
"You lost the right, shiteball. I am not Harry. I am your death." Just as Peter inched closer, Harry struck him with the Sword's pommel, and divested him of Voldemort's wand which was promptly stored into another box.
"Trying to get close enough to kill me, are you Peter?"
Peter knew he was dead. He tried appealing to Harry's better nature. It was just his massive misfortune that Harry didn't have a better part left for him anymore.
"I am sorry," Peter started crying as he spoke. "I am sorry...Harry, please! He was just too strong! The Dark Lord..."
"He gave you a particularly easy thing to do in exchange for your life, didn't he?"
"Yes...yes, he did! I am sorry! I really never meant for James to die...I am sorry, he would have killed me!"
"You are a fool, Peter. Did you for even one moment think I wouldn't kill you?" Harry asked softly.
Peter blanched. "What are you saying? James wouldn't have wanted that for his son! No! Please..."
"What dad would have wanted for his son is something I'll never know, because of you, isn't it?"
Peter tried another tactic. "You have Lily's eyes, Harry, just like her..." He received a black, burst, useless eye for his trouble.
"Don't try it, Peter. Look, you are the wrong person. You weren't supposed to live. Dad should've. Mum should've. Sirius should've been free."
"No... He was just too strong..."
"I am doing what dad should've Peter. Dad should've killed you. But well would've, should've... it doesn't really work that way. I am going to kill you."
"No, you wouldn't... I held you once..."
"Stop snivelling, you rat. Stop your nonsense. Think about the rat traps in hell, Peter."
"No!"
"Where were you when your fool of a mother tried nursing you, Peter? Why did you decide to go lick Voldemort's balls instead?" Harry caught the man by his sparse hair and wrenched his head back so forcefully that Peter howled in pain.
"Spare me, please!"
"You know, both my dad and mum fought Voldemort. Dad even took of Voldemort's 'meat and two veg' off before Voldemort killed him. You know? Your betrayal sucked the life out of them. Now think. I have got this vial of veritaserum. You tell me all the things you have done."
Peter started crying. Harry did pour in the three drops and forced out more information.
"Please now! I told you everything! Please don't kill me!"
"No. What I can do is this. I have got a dementor around. I get it to kiss you." Harry mimed sucking the soul out of an imaginary person. "You know what a dementor does? It sucks you see? It...sucks...your...soul." He grabbed Peter by the throat and made a sucking sound. "It sucks out your soul!"
"DON'T DO THAT TO ME!" Peter hollered.
Harry roared like an insane hybrid between an elephant and a lion, before punching Peter's face inside out. "IS THERE ANYONE WHO STILL BELIEVES THAT SIRIUS BLACK IS ANYTHING BUT INNOCENT?"
A chorus of "NO" answered him. Peter whimpered.
"You had a reckoning coming, Peter! And I am the reckoning! I am the judge, jury and executioner!" Turning to Amelia, Harry 'requested', "This time, send his head to his mother, alright?" Sirius transformed back just in time to see the hatred etched onto James' features, reflected completely in Lily's eyes, as Harry cut off the tongue that told the Dark Lord the whereabouts of the Potters.
The Sword soon claimed another life. As promised, Peter's head, now separated from his body was intact, barring the tongue. The rest of him wasn't. The castle elves had extra work to do that day, given the blood, gore and sick they had to clean. Poppy Pomfrey had to order surgical obliviations for Hogwarts students that day. It was necessary to ensure that they wouldn't suffer from trauma. The reporters had been ordered to keep things regarding 'where' exactly the interrogations had taken place. It had only been laced with a mild threat. They really didn't need it.
"JUST WHAT THE FUCKING HELL HAPPENED TODAY?"
Amelia Bones wasn't in a happy place. Three big members of the top political echelons (two of whom had turned up in Death Eater robes) and a man thought to be dead for twelve long years had just been murdered – executed, if one wasn't looking from the point of view of the Head of the DMLE – in front of her. Her department had been turned into a laughing stock. The blood and gore had been such that the Minister had had to be given calming draughts and sent home. It was why she and her Aurors had stormed into Dumbledore's office to demand answers.
"You'll get that answer, but I'll want an Unbreakable Vow from you that you'll do your job. Hitherto, you have just been warming eggs in that ivory tower of yours."
"Potter!" snarled Amelia.
"Shut up, woman. You know as well as I do, that you have been useless. I don't care what problems you've had. You have let sleeping dogs lie. You are useless."
Everyone looked at Harry in shock.
"Don't believe me? You didn't review Crouch's decisions after he was removed in disgrace. You let Fudge and his toadies run roughshod over Auror investigations, when instead you have the authority to arrest them for interfering with the law. You haven't investigated your force and tested their loyalty. Go to Knockturn Alley. You'll find a long list of crimes that have germinated there and which you and your department have failed to stop. Azkaban inspections – are you not supposed to personally check each prisoner? How was an innocent allowed to rot there? No answer? You are useless."
Amelia sat down. She felt physically ill as she heard the allegations being levelled at her.
"But...Susan..."
"Of course, your weak point; they threatened you using Susan, didn't they?" Amelia nodded weakly. "No Dumbledore? You couldn't have told him? You couldn't have trusted him to keep her safe here or to put her under his personal protection or to make her a ward of Hogwarts?"
Amelia could only nod morosely.
"Shit!" Harry slapped the table with a hand. "And you have that bloody ego! Of course, you hadn't the balls to investigate and take an Auror at hand, perhaps people like Aurors Moody, Scrimgeour and Robards, and protect her? You couldn't fight back?"
"I am going to resign..." Amelia accepted sadly.
"And what good will that do, pray tell?" Dumbledore asked as he entered the conversation for the first time. He had placed a hand on Harry's shoulder to stop him from losing all control over his temper. He could very well understand the time traveller's frustration. Amelia was not the person he had expected to roll over for the Death Eaters.
"I have failed Dumbledore. It is my responsibility."
"And saving Britain from itself during the coming times isn't?" the man countered.
"You heard Potter. I have done nothing."
"I am disappointed, Amelia." Unlike Harry who was a certified hothead, Dumbledore didn't need too many words to make people feel an inch tall. "You were a true Hufflepuff in school."
"Albus..."
"No. I think I need to be your Professor once again. You were once a woman with such ideals, Miss Bones. You were one of the few people I was proud to teach. Lily, James, and then Harry are some of the rare people after then that I have been similarly proud of..." he sighed.
Harry couldn't take that praise easily. Dumbledore had never said that before in either timeline. "Sir, how can you be proud of me after what I have done?"
"Because you did what you had to Harry," Dumbledore answered. "You killed when there was no recourse. You did things that had to be done to protect people. You sacrificed your innocence for that. If I can't be proud of who you are as a person, then I can't be proud of anything at all." Turning to Amelia, Albus gravely declared, "You, Ms. Bones, have some way to go before you can regain my trust. And the only way to do that is to do what is necessary; the only way to do it is by doing the job you have been entrusted with properly. As far as the lawmaking matters go, I give you my word that you will have political support. But you have to redeem yourself."
"Yes Professor," Amelia answered.
"Good. Now I have terrible news to deliver to you all."
"Yes?" Even Moody was wary – which was positively sorrowful for the man.
"Harry, if you'd do that green spell thing?"
"Yes sir. Auror Moody, would you care to volunteer again?" Mad-Eye grunted.
Harry clearly enunciated the spell in Parseltongue, and stunned Mad-Eye, before reviving him the same way.
"You have found the way to counter the Killing Curse?" Robards asked with far too much hope for an Auror.
Harry gave him a look that clearly stated his opinion about the Auror's apparent idiocy.
"If that were so, would Professor Dumbledore have said that it was bad news?" Robards flushed and looked away. "No. I only stunned Mad-Eye in Parseltongue." He explained the matter to the Aurors completely.
"So we buried people who were alive?" asked Mad-Eye, quite green around the gills.
Dumbledore nodded sombrely. "When Harry told me about it, my reaction was just as bad as yours, Alastor. The superstition regarding bodies actually cost us good people." Looking over at Amelia he added, "Your brother, Richard, included."
Amelia couldn't help it. She choked a sob.
"How did you find it?" asked Rufus.
Harry looked at Dumbledore for guidance regarding the unasked question: should Rufus Scrimgeour be told? Dumbledore shook his head and decided to ease the pressure. "I have been thinking about an experiment in spell-casting. What happens exactly when someone casts in say Mermish, or Parseltongue, for that matter? Luckily Harry was at hand. He cast several spells. All Parseltongue spells are green. A stunner would be so too. People assumed the stunned person to be dead, as Harry told you."
"Merlin!" exclaimed the four visitors in unison.
"Indeed."
They lapsed into a contemplative silence. Harry stared at Dumbledore, who picked up his student's thoughts. Amelia had to be told as Susan was one of the eight. And Alastor was a person that Albus trusted completely as well. That was their next challenge. Dumbledore had been easily convinced because of certain pieces of knowledge that Harry had shared. He knew that bringing the other two on board would need a concerted effort. And he would do that for the young man seated across him.