Disclaimer: I obviously don't own the idea of Harry Potter or any of the money making forms of it.
A/N: Before anyone has a cow or wants to drag me to the stake, let me tell you I have an explanation for the things that happen in this part, they will just be explained. Questions are always welcome, but please have some trust. :P
A special thanks to those who reviewed: grace1237, LordScorpto, padfootstwin2, feuerfliege, albert87, hash-hash, Krisis, zeynel, The French Dark Lord, necrosdaf, Kyubbi-Sama, DobbyElfLord, and FrequencyQueen. And all those who reviewed previously :D.
And a thanks to my beta: Throckmarton.
Questions concerning…
The Ward Issue: Shall be covered, and I hope my explanation suffices. I believe it will.
The Chamber of Secrets and the Basilisk: Yes, he shall enter, but the details I am currently working out :P.
Neville's Gift: Shall come in handy here and later…
Potato chips becoming 'in fashion' with house elves: Seven Words-- 'potato chip companies owe much to Potter.'
Malfoy Sr.'s change of heart: Draco is his only son, blood-traitor or not. More on this later.
Well, without further ado, here's the next part.
- - - Book 2 – Part 3: Breach
Harry ran down, skipping two stairs at a time, feeling the energy from the seed flood into him, but before he even reached the bottom of the stairs, he felt a pulse of magical energy throb from the walls themselves.
The feeling was soon joined by a smooth sound of chanting…
He instantly knew what was happening. The Death Eaters were countering the wards with ancient magic…as old as Ward Magic itself. They had no doubt positioned themselves around the house to perform some kind of 'anti-ward ceremony'. He had seen one done before in Tom's memory; they had tried it on that small house with the woman inside. Hopefully the wards here would be as strong as the woman's in the memory.
He landed at the bottom of the stairs with a -thud- and charged into the Living Room as three startled Dursley's turned to him, confused as they too were feeling the static in the air and hearing the odd chants making their way through the walls.
"Boy, put that thing away this instant!!!" Vernon hissed as Petunia and Dudley gasped upon seeing the wand held tightly in Harry's hand.
"They are coming! Get in my room now!" Harry boomed, skidding into the room.
"'They'?! Who?!" Vernon shouted stupidly, already turning red, as Petunia instantly stood up, her face pale, and her eyes wide. Apparently, she was intelligent enough to see the danger that was linked with the sudden odd chanting and power coming from the house that was making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
" Vernon, Dudley, do as he says," she stated, her voice flat and hollow.
"Wha—??" Vernon began, turning to his wife as if she had lost it.
BOOM!!!
"GO!" Harry shouted, running past them into the kitchen to see at least two Death Eaters attacking the back door, trying to get past the wards that were now visible and shimmering bright red and silver across the doorway.
Harry didn't see the Dursleys, but heard them charging up the stairs as he literally felt the house come to life; it was angry…
Harry turned and was about to head for the stairs to follow his relatives as the magic within the house shuddered. It didn't go out, but Harry knew that what he felt was not a good sign. Whatever the Death Eaters were doing, it was not the same thing they had done in the memory to that woman's house.
BANG!!!
The kitchen back door blasted off, and Harry saw Death Eaters beginning to step through the threshold as the ward faltered slightly, forcing their way through with precise waves of their wands.
"Reducto!" Harry shouted, hitting the Death Eater who was just beginning to enter in the chest, before he quickly moved backwards towards the stairs, reentering the entryway from the kitchen.
Harry then glanced at the kitchen table, and with a flick of his wand and a muttered charm, caused it to fly towards the doorway.
"Vinculum!" Harry shouted, pulling a spell from his mind he had just recently learned.
At that, the table seemed to melt into the wall itself, glowing a bright shade of blue before glowing red, actually bonding to the house and wards.
Harry then ran to the stairs, hoping the Dursley's weren't freaking out over Dobby or Draco. Hopefully Draco had body-binded them off to the side or something and he was guarding the window and door.
He was halfway up the stairs when the front door behind him was thrown open. With barely a glance back, he shouted, "Stupify!" as he clamored up the stairs, hoping he would hit whoever had blown the door away.
He heard his curse hit something, closely followed by a thud of a body.
"Protego!" Harry shouted soon after, feeling an odd warm pressure shooting towards his back, and knowing it was anything but friendly.
The wards of the house were under attack, and Harry could literally feel gaps in the protection around him, it was beyond disconcerting.
Dashing up the stairs, he felt something collide with his shield, and from the corner of his eye, as he turned at the top of the stairs, he saw the railing get blown apart—the curse having ricocheted off his shield.
Stumbling forward, he fell in front of the entrance to his room. Turning to get up, he looked into the room. Draco was standing by the bed, his nearly healed burns quite visible, his wand at the ready. The Dursleys were huddled together in the corner, looking horrified, and Dobby was beside Draco.
Harry met Dobby's eyes as he heard someone making their way up the stairs, and by the sound of their steps, Harry knew they were angry.
"Dobby, seal the door!" Harry shouted, beginning to raise himself up to face the stairs.
Dobby sadly did as he was told, remembering Draco's previous order to do whatever Potter said. He sealed the door shut in an instant before Draco could do or say anything.
Harry focused his sights to the stairs, his eyes coming to rest on a formidable form who just came from the stairs, robed in black, his face covered in a skull-like mask.
The Death Eater came forward, his black robes settling around him, wand in his hand.
Harry raised his wand as he straightened up, the chanting still going on around them, the wards' power fading.
Harry was certain the Death Eater was smirking behind his stupid mask, his eyes gleefully twinkling.
"Why, this is a pleasant surprise. Two birds with one stone…" the man lulled. "The Dark Lord will be pleased."
"I'm not so sure," Harry muttered, just before spells were exchanged.
"Diffindo!" the Death Eater shouted.
"Protego!" Harry boomed.
The magic settled into a temporary stalemate it seemed, until Harry felt, rather than heard, someone come up behind him.
"Expelliarmus!"
Harry tried to move, but it was too late, with the small amount of space in the hall, and the lack of warning, he felt his wand yank from his hand. He turned slightly, his back to the sealed door, his left side to the first Death Eater, his right to the new one.
His wand was now on the floor beside the newcomer who was twirling her own wand in her hand.
"My-my-my…what have we here? A defender of blood-traitors? A filthy lover of mudbloods and muggles? The Boy-Who-Lived?" the newcomer asked, her voice venomous. "Well, I suppose the lived part won't be for long. A pity we must cut this short…"
Time suddenly seemed to stop, for at that instant so many things happened that it felt to Harry that it should not have been possible, and he was right. They shouldn't have been possible, and yet they were.
He saw the Death Eater woman raise her wand, and her lips beginning to move…
"AVAD-"
He felt the wards of the house finally cave and fall…but something more…
- - -
[Overlapping. Again, should be self-explanatory)
Dumbledore had gone into action the moment he had gotten word from Kingsley Shacklebolt, a high ranking Auror, that something had occurred at the Malfoy Manor. He had just finished contacting Alastor Moody after he had alerted Snape of what had happened.
Kingsley told them what they had found, and that an investigation was now underway, one that they were currently keeping under wraps. The bodies of Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy had been found, but their son was currently missing. Due to the information, Dumbledore and Snape were certain that Death Eaters had been involved, but the question was why. That had been several hours ago, and now they were contemplating where to look for young Malfoy.
Snape had just reentered the Headmaster's office, returning from his quarters. A letter was securely in his hand, and by the look on his face, Dumbledore knew it was important, but before he could ask what was wrong, an owl shot in from the window, and landed right in front of him, parchment tightly in its claws.
Seeing that the owl urgently wanted to be free of its burden, Dumbledore took the envelope, and read. Snape was just as curious, but he didn't shake his grim expression.
Albus,
I was told some disturbing news, and I have no reason not to belief it. Evidently, Mr. Potter owled Hermione, who in turn owled my son, about a serious matter. My son is rarely ruffled up by things, nor brought to such seriousness. With the things I was told that were contained in the letter, I have reason to believe the Malfoy's are in trouble, as well as their son and possibly Mr. Potter. I must be honest, Lucius and I are not on friendly terms, but the way Ron talks of Draco, I cannot ignore possible danger to his family, not to mention that if it is all true, it is now more than about his family. If you do not know what I speak of, floo me.
I await your instructions,
Arthur Wealey
Dumbledore quickly handed the letter to Snape to read, and he did so. At that, Snape straightened up, his eyes even darker than normal.
"Headmaster, I retrieved a similar message. It was from Potter, and I believe he has young Malfoy," he said, handing Arthur's letter back. "I'm afraid the people responsible for the attack will be after Malfoy. And If I am correct, they will not allow any witnesses to reveal what they might have seen, and I have little doubt Draco knows what truly happened to his parents. I replied to Potter, telling him to stay in the house, but…"
He paused, locking eyes with the wise old man, the message behind them boring into the solid blue eyes.
"The Beacon Charm…" Dumbledore whispered.
Snape's jaw tightened before giving a small nod.
"Yes, Lucius placed that upon his son, in case he was ever taken to a warded location. These charms are as old and just as powerful as Blood Wards. You know what can be done to the wards of a location if an individual with a Beacon Charm enters…"
At that, Dumbledore took out some parchment, and quickly wrote out instructions.
Arthur,
I am personally handling the matter. Keep an eye out for anything suspicious, and for the time being, keep your family at the Burrow. Something has happened, but I cannot say more right now.
I will get back with you as soon as I can.
Albus
Dumbledore then sealed the letter and handed it to the owl, who was still expectantly waiting, before the owl flew out the window.
Beacon Charms were just as old as Blood Wards. They were used to be able to find a person anywhere. This kind of precaution gave parents some piece of mind in knowing that if their child was ever taken, kidnapped, or lost they would be able to find them. However, just as there were different kinds of Wards, there were different kinds of Beacons, and Dumbledore and Snape knew that the one placed on Draco was the most powerful one Lucius could cast, which was saying it was the most powerful one possible.
All Beacons gave off a signal, one that could be used to lead those who knew how to activate that specific charm laid, but this specific beacon could do more than that; it could effect, damage, or even break wards, as long as that person with the Beacon Charm on them was within the ward boundaries.
However, never before had a Blood Ward and this type of Beacon been in conflict before, for the reason a Beacon would ever be called upon would be to save someone from being ransomed or held against their will. Blood Wards were foremost used to protect, not to hide. Those kidnapping people had little use for Blood Wards, a Fidelius Charm made more sense, since all the Beacon would be able to do would be to tell the approximate location, it wouldn't give anyone passage into the place.
Dumbledore looked his age as the full realization hit. There was no telling what could happen to the Blood Wards if the Beacon Charm was activated. The two spells could cancel each other out in a devastating explosion, they could slowly fight one another until the magic collapsed into nothingness, or they could even combine, which would result in Merlin only knew what.
Turning to the fire, Dumbledore called Kingsley Shacklebolt, knowing they would need more people than just himself, Snape, and Mad-Eye for this operation.
"Headmaster," Kingsley greeted, his head coming from the fires, looking a tad tired.
"Kingsley, I need you to get a group of your most trusted Aurors for an Alpha Level mission. I have new information on the Malfoy case that must be acted upon as soon as possible."
Kingsley's eyes widened in surprise for a moment before they went back to being neutral, the tiredness in them now gone. He then gave a stiff nod, and departed.
Dumbledore then fire called Moody and told him of the new situation, requesting him to help as well. Moody obliged and said he would arrive as soon as he got a few things in order.
Snape and Dumbledore didn't need to wait long before several people came from the fire place.
Kingsley stepped out, closely followed by a tall, slightly intimidating lady with flowing brown hair. She stepped beside Kingsley, her back straight, and her face blank in expression. Soon after, three others entered.
A short black man came from the flames, his hair silvery black and his eyes equally so. He had a short dagger on his belt, and his clothing was secured. No loose clothing would hinder his movements, or be snagged in a fight.
The next person was a stout young man. His hair was curly blond, and his eyes were golden hazel. His robes were light brown, and he had a vest of thick chainmail.
The last person was a raggedly looking man, who quite frankly looked as if he was out of a job, and lived on the streets, but he had an unmistakable sense of power about him, mixed with an impression of honor and unbreakable loyalty.
The four newcomers were now beside Kingsley, two one either side of him.
"Headmaster, may I introduce Stephanie Somac," Kingsley said, motioning to the formal looking woman. "She is new to Britain, she's an American. I trust her with everything I hold dear."
Snape gave her a respectful nod, as did Dumbledore, before looking to the others. Snape's eyes trailed over the man who had entered last, but held his tongue.
"This is Joseph D. Moy. I daresay he's the best with a blade, but any weapon will do for him. He's from Africa, and has been a friend of the family long before he became an Auror," he said, placing a hand on the short black man's shoulder.
"This is Forshaw Craw. A wards master, as well as a trusted companion and Auror."
The blond young man gave a small respectable bow.
"And, I am sure you know Remus Lupin," Kingsley finished, before solidly lifting a hand, more to silence Snape than Dumbledore. "You said to get the most trusted people I could get, and though Mr. Lupin is not an Auror, he fought alongside several who were the greatest of this generation. I passed him by chance at the Ministry, and needed a fourth body, and since the other Aurors that I trust for such a mission were not around at the time, I took a chance to ask for his services—"
"No further explanation is needed Kingsley, he is welcome to join us, and his help is appreciated," Dumbledore said, interrupting the determined man.
Just then, the flames ignited once again, and out stepped Mad-Eye Moody.
"Everyone here then?" he asked gruffly. He looked around, pausing at Lupin before continuing on to the others. "Good," he finished.
"What can we expect?" Craw asked, his voice much deeper than what would have been expected from someone who looked so young.
Dumbledore was about to give a quick run down, but before he could even form the first word, an object on his shelf wailed out in definite alarm.
Dumbledore's face fell.
"The Wards are under attack," he stated flatly, pulling out a twisted pen.
"Take hold, and prepare for combat," Moody ordered, even though everyone was already moving their hands forward to grab the obvious portkey, their combat faces on.
- -
They landed solidly on the ground in the peaceful residential neighborhood, but they knew that 'peaceful' was an incorrect description.
The air around them was alive with conflicting magics, and a disturbing chant was in the air. They took action immediately, weaving around the next street to find the source.
What they found was a house lighting up with red and silver, the classic colors of a Blood Ward. A dozen Death Eaters were around the boundary, chanting, the Wards of the simple house flickering.
Moody and the others went forward, but before they could send out their curses, the thing that none of them would have believed the day before, happened. A Blood Ward fell, diminished, and disappeared.
The protection Dumbledore had placed for Harry was no more. The house was just like any other now—defenseless.
At that moment, the Death Eaters who had been chanting, stopped, and charged into the house as Albus and the others made themselves known.
- - -
Snape charged towards the house, cursing every Death Eater he saw. Moody and Lupin were headed towards the back door to the kitchen. Snape was about to enter the house and rush up the stairs, but something stopped him.
A wave of power like no other brushed against him, shooting towards the center of the house. A roar of unbelievable energy cut through the house as a blinding silver flash resonated inward.
- - -
Petunia and Vernon dared to look up as the floor trembled from the roar. They focused on the shirtless blond haired boy, standing beside the horrifyingly shriveled monster, but then the light came.
It seemed to come from the house itself, and yet the boy appeared to be a source as well. In a blink of an eye, the roar came and went, and within that same second, light surged from and into the injured boy, leaving only a trace of magical residue across his frame.
- - -
"AVADA KED—" the woman continued, green light forming on the tip of her wand.
Harry felt it at his feet, pure hot power, angry, loving, and protective surge into him. It was like bubbly warm water pulsing up his frame. If the Death Eaters had had more time, they would have seen after the flash, clear light shimmer over Harry's skin, but there was so little time.
Acting purely on impulse, Harry threw his hands out, his left to the man, and his right to the woman, and like the time with the troll, he shouted the first spell that came to mind, cutting off the woman's curse.
"ARDESCO!"
The pressure in his hands was indescribable, but it was nothing compared to the pressure the Death Eaters faced when the spell was released and hit.
The Death Eaters were slammed back to the walls behind them, and before Harry could truly register what he was doing, he stretched out his hand towards his wand.
It immediately, as if being called, flew into his palm.
Turning to the sealed door, the wards now clearly gone, the sound of people rushing into the house being heard below him, Harry began to feel unconfined panic.
If the wards were down, the Death Eaters could get into the room through the window. Draco, Dobby, and the Dursleys were beyond vulnerable.
I must get in…he thought, facing the magically sealed door, an odd fuzzy feeling surging from his center.
-POP-
- -
"AHH!" Petunia screamed when Harry popped into being in the center of the room and in front of Dobby with a POP.
Harry didn't bother to acknowledge anyone as he turned to face the door and raised his wand to his finger. There was no time to waste, he knew the wards were gone, and so, with a rushed whisper, he cut his finger with his wand, and let a red drop fall to the floor.
He felt Draco step closer to him, and he could surprisingly feel Draco's magic radiating towards him.
"Guard the window," Harry ordered as he bent down to one knee, pushing aside all distractions, and focused on the task at hand. This was their last chance. Even if help arrived now, the Death Eaters would finish what they came to do, especially now that they had met resistance.
He heard Draco grunt an affirmative, and Dobby turn to help before he closed his eyes and prayed that this would work.
Pressing the tip of his wand into his drop of blood on the floor, (his cut already having healed thanks to the Energy Seeds from Neville) he recited the spell he had heard from the woman in the memory.
It seemed to take forever to finish muttering the words, but once he finished, the air stilled, the rushing footsteps coming towards the room went silent, and the fear dripping from all in the room vanished.
Golden light, acting like a liquid, spread from the wand's tip, surging to every corner of the room, leaving a glistening hue on all of the walls, door, window, and floor.
They were safe.
The moment the light coated the room, sound came back to them, and they could hear those outside, and those beyond the door in the hall.
It sounded as if there was a battle going on the floor below them, but they were more concerned about the angry voices beyond the door.
"Just blow the door!" a voice shouted.
"Bombarda!"
BOOM!
The glowing gold door didn't budge at all, however, there were several startled yells, and a crash of something, or rather someone, breaking through a wall.
The spell had bounced off the door, and hit the person who had cast the spell as well as their companion, forcing them through the wall across from the door.
Harry stayed on one knee, Draco stepping beside him, ready to defend them if anything broke through.
He could still feel Draco's magic, and now Dobby's, now that he thought about it, but what was more startling was the magic he felt outside the room.
There were several powerful wizards in the house now, and though he could have been mistaken, they seemed to be fighting each other.
"What's happening out there?" Vernon asked gruffly, still holding his family to him.
"I don't know," Harry answered, taking a breath, trying to collect himself after having completed the Golden Ward.
"Go up! Go up! They're up there!" a deep voice boomed beyond the door as sounds of things breaking and shattering continued coming up the stairs.
"Stupify!"
"Diffindo!"
"Protego!"
"Craw, guard them!" someone else shouted as several more people could be heard entering the hall.
Harry stood up, now side by side with Draco, just as confused as him.
"Reducto!" the rough voice shouted, followed by a familiar voice shouting, "Protego!"
"Diffindo!"
"Don't you people get tired of using that?!" the same rough voice asked, the curse hitting the shield harmlessly, before the worn young man added, "Petrificus Totalus!"
"Clear!" someone shouted from below them as the sound of battle calmed, the voice full of magic and power.
"Kingsley, I trust your people can handle securing them?" another voice asked, moving towards the stairs.
"Potter?" Draco whispered, giving him a side glance.
"I'm not dropping the ward 'til we know who these people are," Harry replied softly, adrenaline still coursing through him.
Draco nodded in agreement, the others in the room staying completely silent.
- - -
Snape stepped in front of the shimmering golden door.
What kind of magic is this? he asked himself. Moody and Lupin were on either side of him, wondering the same thing.
He knew not to touch the door, the two unconscious Death Eaters through the wall behind him told him that, though he had to wonder how two other Death Eaters had ended up in heaps on either side of the hall.
Is this more of Potter's magic?
Shaking himself, knowing questions would have to wait, he spoke.
"Potter, are you all alright?" he asked, hoping this magically sealed room wasn't holding those beyond their help, ignoring the werewolf startle beside him.
"Professor?!" a strong voice asked, no doubt Draco's.
Snape inwardly heaved a sigh of relief.
His godson was alright.
"Yes, it is me. Now, let us in, it is safe now," he answered.
"Prove it," a second voice demanded, a voice he was surprised to realize was Potter's.
"I took five points away from you once for carelessness, glad you have learned your lesson," Snape stated.
- - -
Harry hadn't moved from where he was after he had stood up, and now he was wishing he had stayed kneeling down. Upon hearing the proof that Snape was who he said he was, the spike in adrenaline fell, and the magic pounding in his ears shrank into him.
Harry lowered his wand slightly, and with a wave of his hand, the golden ward retreated.
Draco and the others tensed as the comfort the ward had provided left as the door slowly opened.
Harry, Draco, and Dobby kept their guards up, in case this happened to be a trick, but they soon realized it was not.
Beyond the doorway, in the hall, people were standing, staring at them.
Snape was in the middle, a large scarred man with a very large eye to his right, and a shabby looking man to his left. They found Dumbledore behind the tattered man to the left, and a blond stout man behind the scarred and war battered man.
Harry felt himself sway, but was quickly steadied by Draco's hand on his shoulder.
"You okay?" Draco asked in his ear.
Harry nodded as Snape and Dumbledore entered the room.
"Come, all of you," Dumbledore said, looking to the Dursley's and Dobby as well.
"What! We're not going anywhere with the likes of you!" Vernon stated, his bravery choosing now rather than earlier to show itself.
Dumbledore peered over his half-moon spectacles and stared at the blubbery man,who was still quavering slightly in the corner with Petunia and Dudley.
"I didn't ask," Dumbledore said flatly, his blue eyes revealing a flash of annoyance and pure power.
Dumbledore stared Vernon down until Vernon was forced to look away, after that he turned his attention to Harry and Draco.
Snape went beside Draco, quickly scanning his injuries, surprised to see evidence of a healing paste on his burns. It didn't take him but a second to realize it was Burn-Healing Paste.
"Dobby will get Harry Potter's things, Master," Dobby said, doing what Draco was about to ask him to do.
Dumbledore had lowered himself to Harry's level, a hand on his shoulder, Draco still keeping him steady.
"Professor?" Harry asked shakily, but before the old man answered, he felt himself being lifted up.
"We're going to a safe place, Harry," Dumbledore answered, standing up with him in his arms.
Harry's head rested against Dumbledore's shoulder, barely hearing Dumbledore's order to Snape to carry Draco down because of the rubble, Draco being shoeless.
- - -
A/N: Again, for those of you who review (kindly and honestly), -thanks- each of you help me improve and type faster. :)
Edit: I took out the A/N's within the story. Goes to show what happens when you post while being overly tired.
FYI: Vinculum means 'bond' in Latin.
NOTE: Sorry it took me longer than I had expected to post this part. I expect to post the next part in two weeks, but it will depend on my homework load and available time.
Next part: Safety
