A/N: Chapter 13 everyone I hope that it was worth the wait. I want to thank everyone who reviewed and favorited the story. Thanks to everyone in general, you guys are great.
Disclaimer: I never have and never will own the world of Harry Potter and neither do you except if you Rowling herself but then again what are the odds.
Character death this chapter.
Peter came bounding into his masters room in the most undignified way and shouted "Master I have great news!" He quickly realized his mistake and he threw himself onto the floor bowing at his master's feet.
"Rise Peter." The snake like man commanded. "Now tell me what is this most wonderful news that you have for me."
"Ronald Weasley is the wizard that I stayed with before your resurrection. I have found out that he has been put into a ministry holding cell for trying to rape the mudblood that follows Potter around. If we rescue him, we may gain information on Harry that could help us capture him."
"My my Peter I didn't believe that you could have ever brought me good news but here it is. This is most wonderful. If the boy joins up I will gain another ally and I will know all of Potters weaknesses." He paused to think. "Rookwood was not captured and no one knows that he has joined me. Inform him that he is to break out all of the captured Death Eaters along with the Weasley boy." Peter nodded quickly and retreated to tell Rookwood of his new mission.
Voldemort sat down in one of the armchairs that was in the room. Soon Nagini's body was curled around his feet with her head resting on one of the chairs arms. "Nagini I need you to do something for me." He said to his familiar while stroking her head.
Ron was currently sitting inside one of the ministry's holding cells. He had been there for the past two days and the food that they gave here made him wish for death. The portions were small and didn't even taste good.
He had hoped that his family would get him out of trouble but his hopes were dashed when his father came by and told him that they were waiting on Hermione to decide whether or not she wanted to press charges.
This had pissed him off but when Percy came by to visit Ron was ready to tear his brother a new one.
"Do you see what I mean Ron? This is what you get for hanging with Potter and you deserve it for not listening to me." Percy sneered at his younger brother before walking away.
Those words from his brother got him thinking that it might have been a mistake to befriend Potter. "People just see me as his sidekick. He gets all the glory, while I'm left in the shadows and forgotten about." These thoughts continued until lunch when the Auror slipped his food under the cell bars.
"Tonks I need you to make everyone in here fireproof." The young Auror nodded and as the students entered the Great Hall, she cast the fireproofing charm on them.
Harry was standing on the podium that Dumbledore normally used to give his speeches. Every single student was currently standing before a training dummy. "Today we will learn how to effectively use Incendio. If you all manage to properly do the spell today the next meeting I will show you how to use the flame whip." A girl from the back who Harry did not recognize raised her hand.
"I think that we should name this club." The girl shouted and many voiced their agreement.
"Well if you want a name I already have one Defense Association or DA for short." There was a short silence as everyone thought about the name and then a loud cheer went up in the hall.
"Now I want you all to pair up with a partner and take turns casting Incendio on the training dummy. So you don't burn the castle to the ground the person who is not practicing will douse the fire after it is cast successfully."
Harry walked around and helped the stragglers before he pulled Tonks to the side. "What can I do you for Harry?" The pink haired Auror asked.
"Well ever since the thing with Ron and Ginny Hermione wanted to learn how to defend herself and I was wondering if when you have time you could teach us how to duel?"
"Well I have some free time tomorrow morning since its Sunday so stop by and I'll see what I can do for you." She flashed him a smile and walked away.
On Sunday morning, Harry and Hermione were making their way to the defense classroom where Tonks told them to meet her. Neville and Luna had declined when asked if they wanted to join. When they found Tonks, the classroom looked different. There were no longer any desks and chairs just a pile of junk scattered all over the floor.
"Uh do you need any help cleaning up?" Harry asked. Tonks jumped when she heard his voice.
"Oh hello Harry didn't hear you come in and no this is part of your training." She said indicating to the junk that was on the floor.
"And how is this supposed to help us?" Asked a very skeptical Hermione.
Tonks grinned at the pair. Take out your wand and find out. Two hours later Harry and Hermione were both nursing their bruised and battered bodies. Tonks on the other hand had only 3 scratches on her all from Harry. "You guys should visit Madam Pomfery I know some of those bruises hurt. Are you coming back for more tomorrow?"
Hermione just glared at her. Tonks had not been nice when she told Hermione that she could not duel to save her life and it showed because Hermione had not beaten her once while Harry had managed to win twice out of the ten times he dueled her. "I'll take that as a yes." and she closed the door on their exhausted faces.
Harry seeing the depressed look on Hermione's face pulled her into a one armed hug. "Don't worry about it love it takes time but you'll get better." She just mumbled something that he did not hear. "Come on lets go find Luna and Neville."
Daniel and Emma Granger woke up bright and early on Sunday morning and the couple decided to go for a morning run together. They came home around ten and Daniel Granger went for a shower while his wife started on breakfast.
Dan turned on the tap and began brushing his teeth when he heard a loud hissing noise. He turned around and it stopped. Shrugging it off as nothing, he resumed brushing his teeth when he heard it again this time louder. He looked up into the mirror and the toothbrush fell out of his open mouth. Rising up behind him was the biggest snake he had ever seen.
He turned around slowly and the snake hissed menacingly at him. "Shite." Was the last word that Daniel Granger ever uttered as the snake launched its self at the man and clamped it massive jaws around the mans neck.
The force behind the strike sent Dan's lifeless body crashing into the mirror causing it to shatter and a yell to come from the floor below.
Emma was busy toasting the bread when she heard a loud crash coming from the bathroom. "Dan." She called out but she received no answer.
She climbed the stairs and walked down the hall to the bathroom. She gasped when she saw blood trickling out from under the door. Pushing the door open, she was met with the sight of her dead husband and a very large snake that was looking right at her.
Emma shrieked and ran from the bathroom. Nagini saw the woman run and slithered after, Nagini had orders from her master to kill these humans and she would not fail him. As the human began running down the steps Nagini launched herself and her jaws clamped around the neck of the woman. They landed at the base of the stairs where the woman tried her hardest to escape from Nagini's bite, but alas it was futile and the woman died as the poison from the bite stopped her heart.
The Auror pulled out his wand and cast the noise-making spell that effectively woke Ron Weasley from his sleep on Sunday. He picked up his tray that held his meager breakfast of bread water and two slices of cheese. He scowled at it and thought of how he could be back at Hogwarts right now eating all the delicious food that the house elves had cooked, but instead he was stuck in a cell eating crap.
A disillusioned Rookwood crept up behind the Auror who was currently guarding the prisoners and stunned him before grabbing the keys to the cell. Canceling the disillusionment charm, he began freeing his fellow Death Eaters. Soon he came upon his target who was staring at the tray in his hands. "Psst Weasley." Ron looked up and was stunned.
He motioned to the newly freed Bellatrix who grabbed the boy by the scruff of his robes and began dragging him out of the cell. "Here" Rookwood whispered and pulled out a length of rope from within his robes. "Grab on this activates in a few seconds." Every Death Eater quickly grabbed on and they soon vanished leaving empty cells behind.
They landed in the empty hallway of Riddle manor, before them stood Voldemort. Every single Death Eater scrambled into a bow. The low laugh from their Lord made them look up. "It seems that most of you are in need of a place to stay since you have been discovered, your living accommodations will be discussed later leave and wait in the main hall. Bella come and bring the boy."
Bellatrix smiled, stood, and began dragging the redheaded boy into her master's study. Upon entering, she noticed the large snake that belonged to her master. Nagini hissed before slithering away. "Bella I have a new task for you."
Together the dark lord and Bellatrix went through a small wooden door to another room. Voldemort stopped for a moment pulling out a wand from the nearby desk and handing it to his loyal servant. They entered another room, which was in complete darkness, and she tripped.
"Be careful Bella Nagini did not appreciate you kicking her." The lights turned on and right in the middle of the floor were the bodies of two lifeless people and resting on their cold bodies was her master's snake.
"Who are they?"
"These are the deceased parents of Hermione Granger. She is one of Potter's mudblood friends and Lucius tells me that his son said they were a couple. I want you to deliver both bodies to the main entrance of The Daily Prophet. I want their faces to be on the morning editions of the Prophet" Bellatrix nodded and with her new wand began levitating the bodies out of Riddle Manor, while listening to Voldemort laugh evilly.
As Harry sat down for Dinner he and everyone around him was startled when an owl landed next to him. He quickly took the letter and noticed the stares in his direction grinning sheepishly he stuffed the letter in his robe pocket and proceeded to hurriedly stuff food into his mouth.
Hermione sent him a questioning look but he just shook his head then she motioned to the head table and Harry looked over. At first, everything seemed fine until he realized that Tonks and Dumbledore were not there.
"What do you think is going on?" He asked her. "And where are Neville and Luna?"
"I don't know I haven't seen the two of them since last night and maybe we could ask McGonagall where Tonks and Dumbledore are." Harry nodded and when dinner was over, they approached their Professor. "Uh Professor you wouldn't happen to know where the Headmaster or Tonks are."
The stern head of Gryffindor turned to face her two students. "Yes the Headmaster and Tonks have been called in by the ministry and that is all that I know, I suggest heading to bed you may be able to read about it tomorrow in the papers." Hermione thanked her and both she and Harry headed up to the tower.
"Who was the letter from Harry?"
"Not here let's go to the room of requirement first." When they got there, they could not get the room to open up. "I wonder who is in there." His question was answered when Neville stuck his head out of the door.
"Hiya Harry, Hermione!" He said cheerfully he stepped back and Harry opened the door to walk in. The sight of Neville shocked the two of them. Neville looked like he had just come back from battling a Hippogriff. His robes were torn and there were large bleeding wounds all over his face and exposed arms.
"What the hell happened to you Neville?" Hermione shouted. She began trying to heal the bleeding wounds.
"Nothing." He said still smiling at the two of them. "Is just that Luna and I decided that we should train on our. She really isn't at the level of Harry and you Hermione so we trained at our own pace." That was when they noticed Luna's small form lying on the ground of the training room breathing hard.
The blond girl lifted her head off the floor and smiled at them. After half an hour, all of Neville and Luna's wounds were healed and they were all sitting in comfy armchairs the room had provided.
Harry pulled out his letter and opened it.
Dear Mr. Potter
We have gathered the last of the Horcruxes with the exception of the snake. We shall be destroying them November 7th at precisely twelve o' clock. We require your presence to determine whether the objects we have gathered are Horcruxes or not.
Respectfully Ragnok
He passed the letter around after he finished reading it aloud. Neville began cheering. "I can't believe it we're just one Horcrux away from finishing Voldemort for good." Harry got a far away look in his eyes and Hermione saw it.
"Harry is everything ok?"
His eyes focused on her and a smile appeared on her face. "I'm fine Hermione I'm just thinking of a life without Voldemort." Hermione took his word and the four friends stayed up late into the night talking about the future.
Harry's eyes snapped open and he glanced at the alarm clock. Five thirty it read. For the next half an hour he tossed and turned in his bed. Sleep had effectively been lost to him so he decided to do something productive. He slipped into some loose panths and a shirt and threw the invisibility cloak over him self.
Grabbing his map, he activated it and made the journey to the room of requirement. When he got inside the room immediately began to reshape its self into what Harry wanted. Serenity candles sprung up in a small circle already lit and a large cushion appeared right in the middle of the circle.
Carefully he sat down in a meditative state and inhaled deeply, it took about five minutes but his body began to calm down enough for him to start the training the Phoenixes had told him to do.
Clearing his mind of all thoughts, which in fact was very difficult, Harry began searching for his magical core. He did not know how to do this and after an hour, he began to get angry, as if sensing another need there was a loud thud he opened his eyes spotting a large tome that had not been there before.
He picked it up and dusted off the cover. Finding your Magical Core: A Guide to Accessing your Magic.
Ron Weasley was a very unlucky wizard. First, he had been arrested and put in a stone cell where he was not fed properly and now; well now, he didn't know where he was and he was starving not to mention chained to the wall unable to move.
Calling out for help had proven useless. So he was just forced to hang from the wall. Voldemort walked down to his dungeons where he kept his new prisoner. The sounds of the boy struggling made Voldemort laugh. The snake man stepped into the cell and watched the boy. It struck him how similar this wizard was to Wormtail.
Dismissing the thought he cleared his throat loudly and the boy stopped struggling. "Oh thank Merlin." The red head said turning his head to see the person. "I'm sta-" Ron's voice died as he saw the man in front of him.
Voldemort smiled and moved closer to the boy. "Do you know who I am?" He asked the wizard. Ron shook his head no. "Well boy I am the all powerful Lord Voldemort." Ron lost control of his bodily functions and soon a slow trickling was heard.
Harry was ready to try some of the techniques that he had read in the book but as he stood up his watch alarmed stating it was seven forty five. Cursing he grabbed his cloak and the book he used the map to get back to the tower and shower.
Hermione Neville and not surprisingly were all waiting for him outside of the portrait. The group made their way to the Gryffindor table and sat down for what they thought would be a nice quiet breakfast. Oh how wrong they were.
Harry once again noticed that Dumbledore and Tonks were missing. He was about to point this out when the post came in. What surprised Harry was that there were more owls than usual, but he got another surprise when Hedwig nipped his finger.
She stuck her leg out and he was astonished to see the prophet tied to her leg. "But I don't have a subscription." He said to his owl who hooted and pecked his finger forcing him to untie and take the paper. Neville was already reading his and Luna was leaning on his shoulder reading too. Harry unfurled his paper and it immediately caught his attention for two reasons. The first reason was the picture of two dead people who had their inners become their outers and the name of the people.
Right there in front of him in black and white was the name Grangers. His hands went limp and it fell out of his hands. Hermione seeing his shocked expression reached for the paper because she had not gotten hers yet. "What's the matter Harry?" She was about to look at the paper when Harry snatched it from her. "Harry!" She yelled.
The entire hall had grown quiet and Hermione had noticed they were all staring at her. "What's the matter?" She demanded. Harry looked to Neville and Luna who appeared to be in the same state of shock as everyone else.
Hermione was growing impatient. She was about to yell when Harry slid the paper towards her. The witch snatched it up and was about to read it when the doors to the Great Hall flew open with a bang. Every head in the hall turned to the source of the noise.
Standing there looking old and tired was Dumbledore. Behind him was Tonks and two other members of the order and the New Minister of magic. The group began marching forward and every head followed until they stopped by Harry and his friends.
"Miss Granger." Dumbledore started and then stopped. It was always hard telling someone especially a young teen that his or her parents had died.
Seeing Dumbledore unable to continue Amelia Bones stepped in. "Miss Granger I am the newly appointed Minister of Magic and I have come to tell you that your parents have been murdered."
Deafening silence best described the Great Hall.
A/N: I hope you guys like this chapter. I know its late. A lot has happened and even more will happen in the coming chapters. Things are beginning to pick up.
Please Please Review. It means a lot to me.
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