Chapter 33: Taking Out The Trash

The first week of September had passed very quickly for everyone in the castle. The professors had assigned their assistants the job of teaching the first, second, and third year students and so far they had done well. There were rough patches, like when Blaise Zabini had a cauldron melt on him thanks to a cocky third year Slytherin. The young Slytherin soon learned that the deputy head of Slytherin House was just as cruel as Professor Snape himself.

Or when Hermione, who was giving her opening talk to the first years, caused half the class to panic and the other half to beg Headmaster Dumbledore to send them home. After a meeting with a number of professors, the issue was resolved and Hermione learned a very important lesson.

Today was Friday and Harry was scheduled to be meeting with Minister Bones and Albus about some Wizengamot business. That evening, there would be a full meeting of the Order of the Phoenix where they would go over the items that had been found in Tom Riddle's safe houses.

The bigger thing they were going to discuss was who was running the death eaters. Severus had told Albus and Harry that one of few remaining Death Eaters had obviously been giving out orders and not bothering to inform Severus. This of course scared the hell out of Albus and Harry; the idea of Death Eaters on the loose was not a pleasant thought. Unfortunately for everyone, they were never going to make it to those meetings.

One of the things that Severus and Blaise had been working on since they arrived at the castle was to identify any Voldemort Supporters in the school. They had discovered eight students, but they missed the one in Ravenclaw.

Harry was walking towards Albus' office when he felt a chill run up his spine. It was the castle telling him that something was wrong. Without a second thought, he walked into the nearest shadow and disappeared into the shadow world.

One of the abilities Harry had been working on was shadow walking. Shadow Walking was a different form of travel that used the shadows. Like Flame travel, Shadow Walking could not be stopped by any ward or form of magic. The biggest difference was that with Shadow Walking, the walker could choose to remain in the shadow and eavesdrop on a conversation if they choose too.

Harry liked shadow walking around Hogwarts because of all the conversations he could hear while traveling. A few moments later, Harry appeared out of the shadows in the corner of Albus' office. "Harry, I take it the Shadow Walking is improving?"

"Yes it has Albus. Listen, something is wrong, the castle is really agitated about something. As I walking up here I got a chill…" Suddenly one of new wards went off. It detected use of the Unforgivable Curses, however, it didn't say where. Albus and Harry immediately jumped into action.

"PEEVES!!" Shouted Harry while Albus moved to a replica of the Castle and placed his hand on it while saying "Sonorus!"

"ALL STUDENTS REMAIN WHERE YOU ARE UNTIL A STAFF MEMBER ESCORTS YOU TO YOUR COMMON ROOM! APPRENTICES PLEASE ASSIST THEN REPORT TO THE ENTARNCE HALL."

While Albus was making the announcement, Harry used his connection to the castle and placed it in lockdown. As he finished, Ginny stepped out of the same shadow Harry had walked in from along with Peeves who floated thru the door. "Peeves organize the ghosts and search the castle, someone has just caste one of the unforgivable curses, and we need to find who did it!"

Peeves disappeared just as Remus burst through the Floo. "Albus, someone just cursed Tonks in her own office. She was sliced open from her throat to her hip. Poppy already has taken her to the hospital wig. Ron is standing guard right now."

"Thank you Remus, I would like you to head to the entrance hall—"

Suddenly the door to the office flew open and five students burst into the Headmaster's Office with curses already flying. They were casting the killing curse in a wide arc in order to over power the room. However they did not expect the lightening quick reflexes from Albus, Remus, Harry and Ginny.

Within moments of the door flying open, the five students were on the ground unconscious. Harry and Remus moved to identify the students while Ginny ran out the door to see if there was any others, "Albus, I have Michael Corner from Ravenclaw over here as well as 2 other upperclassmen from Ravenclaw. Mr. Corner has the Dark Mark!"

Albus nodded his head slowly as Remus reported, "I have 2 4th year Slytherin students here."

Ginny walked back into the room and made her report, "George, the Gargoyle, is blown apart. And it looks like the entire hall way leading here was on fire, if I had to guess, I'd say it was Fiendfyre."

Albus sank down into his chair. Not only did these five students in front of him throw killing curses, they used other forms of very dark magic. 'They are so young; they had so much life ahead of them.' "Very well; Harry, Remus, please collect their wands while so that we may perform Prior Incanteum on them. Mrs. Potter, please head to the entrance hall and inform Minerva of what has happened. Then please help with the search. If we need anything, Harry can contact you."

With a nod to Albus, and a kiss to her husband, Ginny walked into a shadow and disappeared. Albus waited for a moment, then walked over to the cabinet next to Fawkes' perch and retrieved the clear bottle of Veritaserum and handed to Harry.

With in a few minutes, Michael Corner's wand been identified as the wand that injured Tonks as well as two imperious curses and one killing curse. Harry, who had gotten very-very upset due to Michael's previous history with Ginny, poured 6 drops, twice the normal amount of the truth serum, down his throat and then charmed a quill and parchment to take notes as he began the interrogation.

"This is the interrogation of one Michael David Corner, sixth year student, member of Ravenclaw House, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Scotland.

"Chief Interrogator, Lord Gryffindor, Harry James Potter, High Lord of Hogwarts. Also present are Remus John Lupin, Professor of Defense Against the Dark Arts for Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, Supreme Mugwump of the International Confederation of Wizards, and Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"I have administered six drops of Veritaserum, provided by the Supreme Mugwump. This dosage was used due to the fact that Mr. Corner carries the Dark Mark, which can only be willing taken as a supporter of Tom Marvolo Riddle a.k.a. Lord Voldemort."

Harry then enervated Michael who had a very blank look in his eyes. "What is your name?"

"Michael David Corner."

"When did you receive the Dark Mark?"

"I was branded by my lord on August 5 of this year. My mission was to infiltrate Hogwarts and gain information on Dumbledore, Potter, and the Order of the Phoenix. My lord told me that when I completed this mission, I could have the Weasley girl as my play toy."

"Who have you been reporting too?"

"Due to the animosity between Professor Snape and other houses, I was told to report to my cousin in order to not blow the professor's cover. Machiavellian, my cousin, would then report to the Dark Lord himself. After Potter and his whore defeated my comrades in arms, Machiavellian told me that he had taken command of the death eaters by order of the dark lord."

"Where is he hiding?"

"He could access any of the homes used by the Dark Lord. He established a base of operations in the Shrieking Shack."

"What was the purpose of your attack today?"

"To cause as much chaos as possible, and if possible kill any Potter, Weasley or Professor."

Remus then took over the interrogation, "How many other Death Eaters are in the school?"

"Including Severus Snape, there are 13 or us."

"Who are they?"

"Myself and my four brethren here, along with the ones that Professor Zabini have discovered."

Albus then asked the question, everyone wanted to know, "What spells did you or your friends use today?"

"I cast the imperious curse on two second year Hufflepuffs. They were to be the distractions for Professor Tonks. Jonathan then gutted her like a fish using Diffendo. We then charged towards the Headmaster's Office, Kyle and Chris summoned Fiendfyre to help cause chaos. Matthew fired the exploding hex that destroyed the guardian guarding your entrance. We all they fired multiple killing curses."

Harry then asked the final question, "Do you feel any remorse for what you have done?"

Michael turned and looked at Harry square in the eye. "The only thing I feel remorse about is that I was not able to kill you or your bitch."

The little bit of self control Harry had disappeared. He reached back and punched Michael square in his jaw. The magic Harry had poured into the punch amplified his strength and caused Corner to fly through the air and hit the opposite wall very hard, knocking him unconscious.

Harry didn't realize that Albus and Remus both moved far away from him as his Aura flared and the waves of magic rolled off of him. Finally Fawkes trilled a soft note, causing Harry to relax. He turned to the two professors and spoke as if nothing had just happened. "The wards extended beyond the Shrieking Shack. Whoever was in there is trapped. I think it's time we introduce ourselves to him, but first…DOBBY!!"

Dobby appeared in his Battle Armor and took stock of the situation. "Dobby, I need you to transport these five to the Dungeons and secure them. Post guards, if they moved, stun them again."

"Of course Harry Potter sir, Dobby will take care of this trash." With a small pop, he was gone.

Without another word, Harry grabbed Albus and Remus and flamed them to the entrance hall.

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Ginny stepped out of the shadows into the Entrance Hall. Many of the professors were surprised at this; it wasn't something that they had seen before. Minerva however kept herself collected, and moved over to the young woman.

"Minerva, we just five students force their way into Albus' Office and attempted to kill all of us with killing curses. We subdued them, but the ring leader was Michael Corner from Ravenclaw."

Gasps were heard from everyone assembled, they all knew that Michael and Ginny had dated last year, and that his betrayal did hurt, quite a bit.

Ginny began to concentrate on her link to Harry and used his ears to listen in on him. "…I have administered six drops of Veritaserum, provided by the Supreme Mugwump. This dosage was used due to the fact that Mr. Corner carries the Dark Mark, which can only be willing taken as a supporter of Tom Marvolo Riddle a.k.a. Lord Voldemort."

"What is your name?"

"Michael David Corner."

"When did you receive the Dark Mark?"

"I was branded by my lord on August 5 of this year. My mission was to infiltrate Hogwarts and gain information on Dumbledore, Potter, and the Order of the Phoenix. My lord told me that when I completed this mission, I could have the Weasley girl as my play toy…"

"They just started interrogating him. He is carrying the dark mark." Ginny spoke with a terrifying voice

Severus looked stunned. He should have known about all the death eaters in the school, that was the way the dark lord always operated. 'Unless he thinks that I have betrayed him…'

"…He could access any of the homes used by the Dark Lord. He established a base of operations in the Shrieking Shack."

"What was the purpose of your attack today?"

"To cause as much chaos as possible, and if possible kill any Potter, Weasley or Professor."

"We have a problem, Professor Snape, do you know of a death eater named Machiavellian?"

"Yes, he was a low level death eater, he was recruited from America. He is 25 years old and is very, very ruthless."

"He's Corner's cousin and is running the rogue groups of death eaters. He's using…oh my god, that was brilliant…he's using the Shrieking Shack!"

Minerva immediately organized the staff into some soft of a fighting force as Tonks and Ron walked into the entrance hall. "Dora, what in the hell are you doing here? Poppy will kill when she finds out."

Dora just smiled at the transfiguration professor and waved her arm behind her to show Poppy was following them. "She's not happy, but I feel fine enough to kick some ass."

Just as they were finishing, Albus, Remus, and Harry appeared in a fireball. Not wasting anytime, Albus, Ron, Minerva, and Harry all huddled together to plan out a plan to capture those in the shack.

Remus moved over to Tonks, who was a little pale. "Dora are you ok? That was one hell of cutting curse."

"I'm fine Remus, but I want to kick some ass. However, we also have to finish what we were talking about before we so rudely interrupted." With that, Tonks pulled Remus into a very deep kiss. Her hair began to flash every color in the color spectrum. When she pulled away, she looked the former werewolf in the eye and smirked.

"If you can't figure it out, then let me be blunt, YES I WILL MARRY YOU!!!"

Harry smirked and tapped Ron on the shoulder, "You owe me 10 galleons mate…Oh and remember what I said about not hurting those in the shack, well fuck it."

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With the plan laid out, Harry, Ron, Ginny, Hermione, Albus, Minerva, Tonks, Mad-Eye, Remus, Blaise, and Neville all headed for the Womping Willow. Luna, Pomona, Filius, Orla, Susan, Cho, Daphne, and Sarah and Hagrid all made their way to the outside of the Shack. Everyone else were waiting in the entrance hall.

Once Harry froze the Willow, Minerva transformed and made her way into the passage way with Crookshanks, who had tagged along with the group. When the coast was clear, Minerva mentally called Albus who then ordered everyone else into the tunnel.

Those who could transform into smaller creatures did and made their way towards the Shrieking Shack, while the others crawled. After a few minutes they arrived at the stairs the led up to the first floor. After transforming back, Harry and Albus quickly disabled the wards that were on the stairs.

They were advanced detection wards along with a few nastier wards. Once they were at the top of the stairs, Harry motioned for everyone to be ready. Harry and Ginny grabbed Ron and Hermione and stepped into a shadow and were gone.

They reappeared in a shadow on the first floor of the shack, after making sure the coast was clear, they stepped out and signaled to Albus to come through the trap door. Once the group was in, they fanned out and searched the first floor. They found food stores in the kitchen, couches and chairs in the living room, and a very used feeling. Remus' wolf senses told him that someone was still there, who they moved up the stairs.

After disabling more wards they made their way to the second floor where all hell broke loose. Harry had taken the lead and took an exploding hex to the chest, blowing him backwards and too the first floor. As soon as Harry started to fly, the others started throwing curses and hexes.

By the time the fighting was over, ten minutes later, ten death eaters were incapacitated and three professors were injured, the worst being Harry. Harry, who regained consciousness during the fighting, looked up at his wife smiled at her. "Tell Albus that I think our meting Minister Bones will have to wait. Also, you control the castle; I'm going to sleep…"

Without another word, Harry was asleep. Apollo flamed in and trilled a song of hope, then flamed Harry to the Hospital Wing. Ginny made her way to Albus, who was already dealing with the garbage that they had discovered.

"Well Albus, it looks like Harry left us to take to take out the trash."

Albus looked over at Ginny and laughed. "Yes, I believe he has, oh well…shall we?" Without another world, Ginny started helping Albus with the prisoners.