Halstead: The Fortress

by Fairywm

A fast paced adventure, where a betrayed Harry and Hermione stumble across an old fortress. Who built it? What secrets will it hold? Will they find the answers they need to ending this war? Can they use the castle as a sanctuary? Will Harry finally become the Dark Lord's equal? What's up with the ghost? Follows canon up to Ron's leaving; AU from there. Powerful Harry.

11. The Puzzle

Chapter 11 The Puzzle

Thank you, darrelldeam and alix33, for looking this over. A special thanks to darrelldeam for rereading the story and pointing out a few things. All mistakes are my own.

I'm changing the back story of Beedle the Bard. Instead of him being around in the fifteenth century, he will have been born in the fifth, which of course changes the Tale of The Three Brothers, making them born before that.

Thanks to all of you who pointed out what I was missing, this chapter hopefully covers some of those plotholes. Thanks again for your support.

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It was near noon when Harry and Luna found Ashliegh in the keys office, which seemed to be his favorite place to haunt. The ghost was pacing from one end of the office to the other. He appeared to be deep in thought and turned when the couple entered. Harry escorted Luna to a chair and then took the other one. "Hey, Ashliegh. I haven't seen you in a few days. Is everything alright?" Harry asked, looking at the spirit. "Oh, and this is Luna," he added, indicating the blonde.

"Yes, I have taken to keeping to myself. While it pleases my heart to see Halstead full again, I am unused to so much company. That and your Ravenclaws are quite inquisitive," Ashliegh said with a small smile. "Good morning, Miss Lovegood," the ghost added with a small bow.

"Hello, Ashliegh, it is good to see you again," Luna greeted with a radiant smile. "Yes, my housemates are very pushy. It is good that you can escape them through the ceiling." She gave a small giggle at the thought. It would have been wonderful to have that ability while she was in Hogwarts. The thought of the looks on her tormentors' faces if she had done that caused her to giggle harder, which made Ashliegh and Harry give her confused looks, but she just waved them off as she tried to regain control of her tittering.

Harry just shrugged his shoulder at her mirth and turned his attention to the ghostly host. "Ashliegh, something's been bothering me, and not even Hermione can figure it out. I was hoping you could help. See, the Headmaster left us some stuff in his will and they don't make any sense. They're supposed to be clues on how to defeat Tom; at least I think that is what they're for. His messages were vague as usual, anyway we're stumped," Harry said, slumping in his chair.

Ashliegh drifted closer and took the chair behind the desk. "What is it that he bequeathed you?"

"Well, I got a snitch with a small note that says 'I open at the close', Hermione got a book of fairytales, 'Tales of Beedle the Bard', and Ron got a Deluminator. That's it. None of them seem tied to one another in any way. Like I said, we're stuck." They had spent many sleepless nights on this puzzle and got nowhere.

"I do not know what a Deluminator is, so I will be of little help there, but I have been pondering on your book of fairytales. Beedle the Bard was a wonderful entertainer of my time. He would take folklore and turn them into children's stories, or songs, and earn his keep while wandering. Such was the way of bards in my time. When he was going on eighty, he settled down, and he decided to write the book. Books themselves were very rare back then and only the rich could afford them. Merlin acquired one for the keep, but alas, it was not in my studies and my Master kept it with his other treasures. However, I saw him as a child, before Merlin apprenticed me, and he told the tale of The Three Brothers. I always found this story to be fascinating, and thus applied myself to researching the tale with fervor." The ghost's eyes lit up as well as non-corporeal eyes can. His ghostly form practically glowed with happiness at the memory. "Have you read that section yet?"

"Yeah," Harry said, rubbing the back of his head, trying to remember. "Something about three brothers crossing a river and tricking Death, who gifted them some magical tools. If I remember correctly, all but one died young."

"In my research I came across many passages that claim this story to be true. It is of the Peverell brothers. It is said that Death gave the Elder Wand to the oldest, the Resurrection Stone to the middle and the Cloak of Invisibility to the youngest. These are rumored to be very powerful artifacts and when brought together they create the Deathly Hallows. The Wand is preordained to be unbeatable, however given its bloody history that is rendered not true. The Ring calls up the shades of the dead, causing the person who does the summoning to fall into a great despair. The Cloak will hide you from anything, including Death. It is unknown what sort of power combining them might have, as no one has done it before," Ashliegh lectured, rubbing his beard.

Luna's dreamy expression turned serious, her father was obsessed with this story. He too believed it to be real. "It is true, according to my daddy; many have tried and failed to reunite the Hallows."

"Well, that's all fine and good, but what does it have to do with my puzzle?" Harry asked, tilting his head to the side.

"I do believe you have two of these items in your bag," Ashliegh stated, pointing to Harry's Mokeskin bag that was hanging on his belt which he had gotten back from Hermione when she and Bill started examining the necklace. "Perhaps, your headmaster wanted you to reunite the Hallows."

"What?" both teens shouted.

"I cannot tell which ones. I can only say that there is a pull of death coming from your bag. I had thought it was the Horcrux, but when Miss Granger showed me she had it, and I still felt the pull, I decided I was mistaken. I spent many nights contemplating the things you told me when we first met. So it is now my belief that you carry two of the Deathly Hallows." His eyes were glued to Harry's bag; one of his lifelong, or deathlong as the case may be, pursuits might become a reality. Many long and lonely days and nights were spent on contemplating the story of the Deathly Hallows, and he was eager to see if what he felt were true.

"Well, I do have an invisibility cloak, but really, it can't be a Hallow. It's been in my family for years. That and it never hid me from Dumbledore or Mad-Eye," Harry said as he pulled his bag off his belt and took out the Cloak and draping it over his left arm.

"Oh, Harry, did you not study your family history? You are descended from the Peverells, from the youngest brother I think," Luna said as she reached over and ran her hand over the glossy material. "The middle brother's family died with the Gaunts," she added thoughtfully as she tapped her chin with her other hand. "The oldest brother died without issue, but no one knows where the Elder Wand is, though Daddy says he knows, but he won't tell me. As for hiding you, Dumbledore probably put tracking charms on it, so he didn't see through the cloak, just followed the charm, same for Mr. Moody. Both had magical eyes, you know, well, the Headmaster had magical glasses." She shrugged as if it were obvious. She wouldn't put it past the old goat to make it seem as if he were more powerful than Death, the man did like making it seem as if he were all-knowing.

"What? The Gaunts were Riddle's family. I remember Dumbledore showing me some memories. Nasty bunch of wankers, well, except Tom's mum she was just pitiful. Come to think of it the Headmaster had on a ring that belonged to them. I'm pretty sure it was a Horcrux, and I think that's what made his hand all black and withered," the dark-haired teen said, going over what he knew, and nodding that what she said about the Headmaster was probably true. Then he remembered her first question. "No, I never did research the Potters. There really hasn't been time, what with Tom trying to off me every chance he gets," he stated mulishly. He really hated that everyone seemed to know more about his family than he did, but then again, he only had himself to blame.

"So it is plausible that you somehow have two of the Hallows," she said, still contemplating things. "After all, if Ashliegh is correct, this is the Cloak of Invisibility," she added, picking up one end of the Cloak and showing it to the confused teen.

"I think I'd remember something like a stone or wand," Harry said doubtfully.

"If you would please, empty your bag so that we may see what you have," Ashliegh gently requested. He wanted to see what other wonders this young man carried.

Harry looked around the tiny office, there wasn't much space there, and so he got up and waved the other two to follow. He went to the largest cell, which only housed a bed and a hole in the ground, which he didn't want to contemplate. He then started taking things out of his bag and explaining them to his watchers. His photo album, the snitch, a Sneakoscope, a broken mirror, books he was reading, some clothes, his Gringotts key and other little treasures came out. There wasn't as much in there as he thought, but he laid them all out on the floor and Ashliegh drifted over them. When the ghost got to the snitch that Dumbledore left him, he paused.

"This item has the pull," he said, pointing to the little round gold ball with wings.

"Well, that doesn't make sense, it's only a snitch," Harry said as he picked it up and examined it.

"You said the note said 'I open at the close', which would indicate that the snitch is hollow. You just have to figure out how to open it," Luna said in her dreamy voice as she played hide and seek with her hand and the Cloak.

"Oh right, I remember the Minister said something like that. Well, shite, that doesn't help, since we can't figure out the note. Damn Dumbledore and his puzzles," Harry huffed, putting everything but the snitch back in his bag and making his way back to the office.

"If I did not know better, then I would say that Professor Dumbledore meant for you to open it right before you died," the little blonde said absentmindedly as she took her chair, still playing with the Cloak.

"What?" Harry said for the third time. This conversation was confusing the hell out of him. So many things were being thrown in his face at a rapid pace.

"Now that I think about it, it might just be so. Oh, don't fret so, Harry, the Headmaster loved you as much as a hubristic man can. He would have known about the Horcrux in your head, and in his infinite wisdom he would have thought the only way to destroy it would be for you to be killed. If that is the Resurrection Stone in there, then you would have been able to call your family for comfort," she added, reaching over and grabbing his hand.

"But that's just crazy. I mean, how would he have planned on that? It would take years of manipulation to get something like that done. And if he was dying in my sixth year, when would he have had the time? I mean, there is no way he could've concocted something like that," Harry denied, desperate to believe that Dumbledore wouldn't do something so drastic. Yeah, he had some misgivings about the man, but to set him up for death. That was just mindboggling.

"I think you should meditate on it for a while and come to your own conclusions," she said as she used her thumb to stroke the back of his hand.

"I do not know your Dumbledore, so I cannot say either way, however, you do hold two of the Deathly Hallows. I would keep them hidden, were I you," Ashliegh said, still looking at the snitch. That relic might just be what is needed to let him rest in peace and bring someone to take his place, therefore completing his vow. Or perhaps he could get Harry to call up the shade of Merlin to release him, and let that conniving old man dwell here. It was his dream after all.

Harry gently took the Cloak from Luna and shoved it and the snitch back into his bag. "Okay, okay, I'll think about it later. Ashliegh, this is a really big place and we've scoured most of it. Is there anything hidden here that we haven't found?" Harry asked, changing the subject.

The ghost rubbed his beard in thought and gave a vague smile. "Merlin was a mastermind, I am sure that not even I found all of his secrets."

"Well, okay, we'll just keep looking," the disappointed teen said. "I was hoping for a treasure we could use to buy potions. We found some stuff on the eighth floor, but most of it was junk jewelry. I had forgotten about it when I told the refugees to get wands and now it's all been claimed. I'm going to have Bill talk to them about donating some for the cause," he said, his mind still on what was in his bag, and still in firm denial that Dumbledore wanted him dead.

"Merlin was never one for riches. However, he might have put something aside for emergencies. It never hurts to look." Just like the late headmaster his eyes were twinkling with mystery.

"Okay, we will. Hey, is Dick the same man you met thirty years ago? I just realized that Dick is short for Richard," Harry asked, perking up at that thought, maybe he could get that asshat out of his hair.

"While there is a resemblance, the man I knew was very old. It could be his son," Ashliegh said thoughtfully. He shuddered at the memory of that vile man, and tried not to put the sins of the father on the sons, though what he had learned about Dick, the apple didn't fall far from the tree. However, he did get passed the wards.

"Well, damn," the teen deflated.

"Besides, Harry, Dick did get through the wards," Luna mildly chastised, echoing Ashliegh's thoughts.

"I know. I just don't trust him. Kingsley does, but that man creeps me out," Harry said, giving a shudder. Dick reminded him too much of Snape to be comfortable around. "I don't like that he's on the ambush team. I don't trust him to have my back."

"Do not worry, I will protect you. I will keep my eye on him," she said with a sincere smile.

"You're the best," Harry said and he leaned over and pecked her on the cheek. He turned back to Ashliegh and asked, "What do you know about potions? The twins found an old book, but most of the stuff they need no longer exists. So they need some help with replacements."

"We used potions far more than you use them now. I will join the Weasley twins and see if I can render assistance," the ghost said thoughtfully as he stroked his beard.

"Great, I need to talk to Bill and Dobby, so I'll check on you later," Harry said as he rose from his chair. Luna got up with him and grabbed his hand. She gave her farewells to Ashliegh and the two left to find Bill. They found him and Fleur in the library and made their way over.

"Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," Luna said as she sat across from Fleur.

"'ello, Miss Lovegood," Fleur said with a bright smile, looking up from her notes. Her accent very much improved since she started working for Gringotts and she was very proud of that. That thought caused her to frown; she hoped she still had a job after all of this was over. She looked at Bill and prayed for the same for him. If not, they both had the experience to go abroad, which made her brighten a bit, maybe she could talk her husband into moving to France. She missed her family so.

"Luna, I think with my mum and dad around you should call us Bill and Fleur," Bill said as he nodded to Harry.

"Yes, that does make sense," Luna answered, and then she grabbed a book and started reading.

"Alright, you two?" Harry asked, looking back and forth between the couple.

"Alright," Bill said, giving his lovely wife a goofy grin. They had made use of one of the smaller houses and were quite content in loving one another each night. His mum had tried to get them to move in with the family, but he was a married man and there was no way he was living under the same roof as his little sister and mum, not with such a beautiful wife to cater to.

"'Ello, 'Arry, 'ow are you doing?" Fleur asked, looking Harry up and down as if to see if there were any improvement from the last time she saw him. Bill had told her about the ritual and she wanted to make sure it had not damaged her young friend. What she saw made her happy, this boy was now a full adult, albeit young, and he carried himself much better than she had seen in the past. He practically glowed with power.

"I'm great, never better," the teen grinned, not at all lying. He had never felt so clean in all of his life, and he wasn't going to let that feeling go anytime soon.

"Bon," she smiled.

"Not that we're not happy to see you, but with the battle plans going on I thought you'd be busy," Bill said, looking at Harry with a lifting of his eyebrows.

"I want to let you know that we found some jewels and stuff on the eighth floor, I don't know if the refugees claimed them all, but you might be able to talk them into giving them back. Plus you might want to ask the house elves to finish looking up there. I also wanted to ask your wife about withdrawals from foreign Gringotts," Harry stated, turning his attention to Fleur.

"Gringotts is a British bank, zere are no branches off the island. 'owever, one can get a loan from ze gnomes in Switzerland, if zey are presented a key," Fleur explained, tapping her finger on the table as she talked.

"Do I have to go myself or can I send a house elf?" Harry asked, thinking it over.

"Ze 'ouse elf would 'ave to be bound to you," Fleur answered as her brow wrinkled into a frown. "I did not know you 'ad a 'ouse elf."

"Well, I don't really, but I have one I can ask," Harry admitted sheepishly.

"You had better tell Hermione first," Luna said, not once looking up from her book.

"Yeah, I will," he conceded, rubbing the back of his head, not looking forward to that.

"You can do that later," the little blonde said suddenly as she closed her book with a snap. "Right now I want you to come with me and meet my father."

"Why?"

"So he can help you with your puzzle. Most people think we are crazy, but we were sorted into Ravenclaw for a reason," she answered, getting up from her chair and grabbing his hand. "Good day, Bill, Fleur."

"Right, see you guys," Harry added as he was being pulled from the library.

"Later, you two," Bill chuckled. Fleur just giggled and waved her hand then the couple got back to research.

Luna took Harry to one of the houses in the village. It was a small two story house, with living room, kitchen, dining room and half-bath on the ground floor and two bedrooms on the first, with a full bathroom. Seems Xeno wasn't there at the moment, but Luna thought he'd return in any minute.

"I didn't think houses this old had bathrooms," Harry commented after a quick tour. He never really thought about why there were loos in the castle, but seeing them in this house made him a bit confused.

"The Hogwarts house elves added them," Luna explained as she brought out some tea and sugar biscuits. "Poor Tippy had no idea what they were, so the other elves got her caught up to date."

"Huh," was all he said, taking one of the biscuits, they had missed lunch after all.

"Down to business, may I see the snitch?" she asked holding out her hand.

"Sure," Harry said, putting down his treat and pulling out said item and placing it in her hand.

She examined it closely and didn't see where it would open, she tried a few spells to see what would happen, but nothing worked. So she shrugged and handed it back. "Professor Dumbledore may have been a manipulative old man, but he was a great wizard. I cannot tell how he closed this," she said as she handed it back.

Just then Xeno came through the door and his face brightened when he saw Luna. "Hello, pumpkin, what brings you here?" he asked as he removed his outer cloak.

"Hello, Daddy, Harry here has a conundrum that we thought you might be able to help with," she said, getting up and giving her father a hug.

"Is that right? Hello, Harry Potter, I am glad to finally meet you," the white-haired man said. He was a short, willowy man, much like his daughter. His clothes reminded Harry of Dumbledore; in so much as they were very colorful with purples and oranges.

"Hello, Mr. Lovegood, it's good to meet you too," the dark-haired teen said, getting up and shaking the man's hand.

"So, what is this mystery?" Xeno asked as he sat next to his daughter on the small couch.

So Harry and Luna told him about the things that Dumbledore left the Golden Trio and the talk they had with Ashliegh. Mr. Lovegood rubbed his chin in thought, but you could see the calculating gleam in his eyes at the mention of the Deathly Hallows.

"Your ghost friend is correct. The Deathly Hallows are rumored to be powerful artifacts. It is said that to combine them will make one the Master of Death. However, there is no consensus that says what that means. It could mean that you control the deity, which no one has ever confirmed there is one, or that you will become immortal, which I believe You Know Who thinks, or they could just give you a boost in your magic, making you unbeatable. No one really knows," Xeno said after thinking about it for a few minutes.

"Right, so I'll do my best not to put them together. Perhaps, I should destroy the ones I have," Harry said thoughtfully, though he was loathed to give up his Cloak. "No one knows what happened to the Wand?"

"I believe Dumbledore was the last to own that artifact. When he was young, he and Grindelwald were partners. They coveted the Deathly Hallows. Something happened and young Albus turned to the Light, though I don't believe he ever gave up his dreams to mold society to what he believed it should be, hence all of his titles. In his fight with his old friend he won the Wand's loyalty. When he locked Grindelwald away, he started using the Wand. It is one of the reasons he was most powerful," Xeno explained with a faraway look.

"So Snape is the owner now?" Harry asked deflated, he had no idea how to get it from that slimy snake.

"No, from what you have told me about the fight on the tower, Draco is the owner," Luna said, shaking her head.

"That's right. Malfoy disarmed him," Harry said, perking up at that. Draco would leave Hogwarts before Snape did, it will be easier to get the Wand from him.

"Well, there is nothing to do about it now, so perhaps we should try and solve your snitch problem. May I see it, and the note?" Xeno asked.

"Sure."

Mr. Lovegood examined the snitch and the note and nodded his head a few times as if answering questions only he could hear. "I believe Luna is correct. Dumbledore meant for you to open this right before you believed you were about to die," he finally said, handing the items back to the teen.

"Don't fret, Harry, there are still many times in the future your life will be on the line," Luna said brightly.

"Yeah, thanks. I think," Harry said, giving her a queer look.

"So, Daddy, tell us what you've been up to," the little blonde inquired, turning to her dad.

"Why releasing the Quibbler, of course."

"You mean you've been leaving Halstead?" Harry sat up in alarm. Luna gave her father a scolding look.

"How else would I get my paper out?" the confused man asked.

Harry shook his head, not sure what to think about this man's sanity. "You could be leading the Death Eaters right back here. Especially if you're printing anything against them," he stated firmly.

"Don't you plan on doing the same?" Xeno asked with a tilt of his head.

"What do you mean?"

"Your trap will be right outside these walls. They will have a way of tracking the team they send. When that team doesn't come back they will investigate. You will be leading them right to this area," the white-haired man stated.

"Shite. I have to go," Harry said, getting up from his chair, grabbing his outer cloak off the hook on the wall and running to the door, Luna hot on his heels. He started shooting off Patronuses, not caring that it was supposed to be impossible, and calling a meeting of the team. He ran to the portal room and waited for the rest to join him. Luna sat next to him, breathing a bit heavily.

They came in, one by one, and gave him a curious look and took their seats. A few asked what was wrong, but Harry said he'd wait until they were all here and refused to say more.

"What's up, Harry?" Neville asked, when everyone had gathered.

"Mr. Lovegood pointed out a flaw in our plans. He said they would have a way of tracking the Snatchers. We will be leading them right to us," the dark-haired teen said, looking around the table to see how that news would be received. There was a look of shock that they hadn't thought of it before, and talk broke out on what they should do.

"Won't the wards keep them out?" Hermione asked, talking loudly to be heard, making everyone quiet for the moment.

"I'm not really sure. Tippy," he called as the rest broke out in whispered conversations.

"Master Harry is calling Tippy," the little elf asked as she popped into the room.

"Yeah, can you find Ashliegh and ask him to join us? He should be with the twins in the potion labs," Harry gently requested.

"Tippy can do." And she popped away.

It was only a minute later when the ghost floated through the floor. "Greetings all," he said, nodding to everyone. "What may I do for you this afternoon?" Harry told him their problem and the ghost stroked his beard in thought. "Yes, the battle wards will hide the keep from those intending to hurt anyone inside. However, you will be leading them to this area. They will search the woods to find you. You can, however, use this to your advantage, until such time that the battle will be drawn here."

Kingsley nodded, seeing what the ghost was saying. "That's right, for every team they send we will have people waiting. But sooner or later, it will draw the attention of Tom. We might have to fight him sooner than we planned."

"Are we ready for that?" Harry asked, looking at Hermione. "Will you guys have that ritual done by then?"

"We can do it tonight," she stated with a nod of her head.

"Won't that let him know we're on to him?" Dick asked, glaring at Harry's scar. "Won't he feel when they are destroyed?"

"We cleansed that last night, so you can quit worrying about me being possessed," Harry snapped as he leaned forward in his chair. "I don't know if Tom felt it or not, since I'm no longer connected to him."

"Alright, you two, settle down. Dick, Harry is clear of the Horcrux, I checked myself this morning," Kingsley intervened, causing said man to back down, though not without grumbling. The bald Auror turned his attention to Hermione. "You and Bill hold off on the Horcruxes, we'll do it right before we set the trap. That way if he can feel them, Tom will be distracted."

"Can he make more?" Luna asked.

"As far as we know, no, he can't. His soul is too mutilated now, which is how we believe Harry gained a horcrux. With all the damage he's done to his soul a piece flew off when he was first vanquished. After Nagini, it would be even more frayed. If he tries he may destroy himself," Hermione said as she shook her head.

That caused a few excited whispers.

"We can't count on that, so we'll do the trap as planned and get the word out that we may be having a major battle within the next week. Start making escape routes to the towers. Remus, you and your friends found all the secret passages in Hogwarts. See if you can get with the twins and make finding the ones here top priority," Kingsley ordered. "Have the rest of the students help. Knock on the walls, cast revealing spells, but get it done."

Remus nodded and started thinking about where to start. He was a bit put out that he would have less time with Teddy and Tonks, but this was important.

"Ashliegh, I know you're meant to keep this place a mystery, but can you help them?" Harry asked.

"I will do my best, but like I said before, not even I know the secrets of Halstead," the ghost stated, but floated over to Remus to tell him what he knew.

The meeting broke off from there and everyone went to do as assigned. The professors huddled together to make plans on how to tell everyone of the upcoming battle. Dick, Kingsley and Kyle moved to the side to go over plans for the trap. Hermione went to find Bill, leaving Harry, Luna and Neville behind. Ashliegh and Remus went to find the twins and gather the students.

"So, Harry, are you ready to face Tom?" Neville asked a look of worry on his face.

"I hope so, because it looks like that's going to happen," Harry answered, running a hand through his hair.

"Well, I have your back," the sandy-haired boy said, clapping his friend on the back.

"Thanks, Neville."

"Right before the battle might be a good time for you to open that snitch," Luna said vacantly.

"What snitch?" Neville asked. So the two teens told the other about the conversations they had earlier. "Wow, you don't do things by half. Do you, Harry?" the boy said, a bit overwhelmed.

"Yeah," was all the answer he got.

"So what now?" Neville asked, letting that go for now.

"Now we practice," Harry said, leading the way to the sally, which had many people training. News must have gotten out. Harry and the other two watched the fighters, and were impressed at how far they had come in just a few weeks.

"I think we are going to be okay," Luna said with a beaming smile, grasping Harry's hand.

Harry watched one of the adults put his knife through the heart area of his dummy and said, "I think you're right."

Hphphp

Updates may be slower, since I am now coming to the weaker part of my writing skills—battle scenes. So it will take longer to get the next few chapters up.