Chapter 14 Tom, Dick and Harry
Thanks to darrelldeam and alix33 for looking this over for me. All mistakes are my own, especially since I have a bad habit of adding to chapters and not sending them back.
I added about 600 words to the last chapter, on 2/11/16, it made it better. You might want to reread it. That will teach me to rush a chapter. Thanks again for all of your support.
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It was two days before Kingsley felt up to company. The spell that caught him was Dark, but since they had St. Mungo's healers here, he was just fine, though he would carry the scar on his face for the rest of his life. He was just happy to be alive. He was in his own room on the fourth floor; it was a simple room with just a bed, a chair and a bedside table. The walls were white with blue trim and the stone floors were grey. It had been a larger room, but the healers made them into individual rooms. Magic was a wonderful thing.
Harry went to visit him on the third day. "Hey, Kingsley, are you feeling better now? You look good," he asked as he took the chair next to the bed. "The healers said it was touch and go for a minute, but they said you'd be okay. That's a pretty wicked scar, welcome to the scarhead club," he added with a grin, pointing to his own famous scar.
Kingsley was sitting up with a lot of pillows behind him, wearing the dreaded open-back hospital gown. "Yeah, even if I'm starting to look like Mad-Eye and Dick, I'm good," the dark-skinned man answered, ignoring the quip and running a finger down the scar on the right side of his face. It stretched from the corner of his eye and curved out and down the side of his face to his chin, making a half-moon shape. "At least it missed the eye. Although having a magical eye would help my career," he chuckled.
"Right, I'm glad you're better. I wanted to let you know that we've done the trap a few more times. Killed a bunch of Death Eaters, and locked the other ones up. Some of the cells now have two people each; they're all still lower in the ranks. We were hoping for some of the inner circle, but Tom has them on a wild goose chase," he chuckled; the fights over the beds had been hilarious and he found it funny that the inner circle was chasing their tail. Harry shook his head and went back to the report. "We stopped when they stopped showing up. We're now getting ready for an invasion. I believe there are only the top dogs left." He then told Shacklebolt what he had heard in the cells.
Harry had listened in on a few more conversations and found that Tom was angry, no, raging. Voldemort had discovered that most of the Horcruxes were defunct, and he couldn't make more. Although when he found out about the necklace being a fake, he was hopeful that he still had one. His raging and cursing had the Death Eaters running scared; it was how they knew what was going on. Tom didn't lower his shouting when the inner circle reported to him. The prisoners were talking about how the man had lost his mind. Only the most fanatic defended him, the rest had fallen under his Crucio too many times and were convinced that he had snapped.
"Good to hear that there is dissention in the ranks. Tom might lose some fighters. I should be up and about tomorrow," Shacklebolt said with a grin and then sobered. "Don't forget Tom has creature backup. And if he is as angry as you say, then when he finds out where we are, or at least the general area, he's going to send them. Don't get cocky," he warned sternly, pointing a finger at the overexcited teen. He knew that is how many good Aurors fell.
"I won't. Hermione is looking into how the keep the Dementors from getting through the wards, since Ashliegh doesn't know if they will stop those demons. The Weasley twins have perfected a powder for the werewolves. I don't know what we'll do if he brings vampires," Harry said, wiping the smile off his face.
"The arrows should be fine for them. If not then we did get that sunlight spell off the windows in the portal room, and we know how to use it. Still, we better have some back up arrows," Kingsley answered, rubbing his scar again.
Harry nodded and looked the Auror in the eye. "I do have to warn you, Dick is not happy with us. We kicked him off the team when he threatened me. We can't trust him to have our backs," he stated seriously, his eyes hardening. "He fully blames me for you getting hurt and has done nothing but harass me since you've been here."
Kingsley sighed and ran a hand down his face. "Is he still getting through the wards?" he asked, looking at the upset teen.
"Yeah, but they're giving him a hard time. I'm not sure if we can keep him here. I don't know what your relationship is, but, Kingsley, we really, really, don't like him," Harry sighed, rubbing the back of his head.
"He's my brother," the injured man said with another sigh, leaning further into his pillows.
"What? How is that possible?" the dark-haired teen looked at the man. "I mean, you're black and he's white. No offence," he added quickly.
"Foster brother. We grew up together," Shacklebolt said as he rubbed the right side of his face. The scar still pulled when he changed his expression. "He was an orphan of friends of my parents. So when his folks died they took him in. He was around four when it happened. They were overseas and were taken down by bandits. He was staying with us and we simply kept him, and made him part of the family. Not adopted, but my parents got permission from the Ministry to raise him. We've been best friends all our lives. We even attended Hogwarts together, both of us in Gryffindor. Then when we graduated we both joined the Aurors, that's where he got most of his scars. He's never going to let me live it down that I finally got caught," he chuckled, it had always been a bet to see how long Shacklebolt remained scar free.
"Why wasn't he in the Order? How come you never mentioned him?" the teen asked confused, thinking that the man Richard couldn't be Dick's father if he was friends with the Shacklebolts, perhaps an uncle or something. He still didn't know either of their last names. It had never been important enough to ask.
"He didn't like Dumbledore's policy of non-violence," was the answer. "Beside, you and I never really talked before. The others in the Order knew him, they didn't like him since he didn't like Albus, but they knew him. Though, now that I think about it, he and Aberforth got on well. They both refused to join the Order when Tom rose again, or rejoin in Aberforth's case. Kyle would join us; he was an Auror, until he went into the Department of Mysteries, which was right before Riddle came back. It was only good fortune that we got him to join us here. I should probably tell you to keep that under your hat," the Auror chuckled, remembering all the times they went for drinks at The Hogshead. Those three would grouse about Albus over shots of fire whiskey. It was many times he had to pour his brother and ex-coworker into bed.
"Well, that's something we agree on, and I will. I like Kyle," Harry replied, bringing the man out of his memories. "Still, we can't have Dick on the team. You're going to have to assign him something else. And make sure he stops stalking me. I can't go bloody anywhere without him being there, jeering at me and warning me that if you don't get better he's going to do something. I'm half tempted to lock him up until this is over. I just got the twins to threaten Ron to keep him from following me around."
"I trust him with my life," Kingsley said, shooting the teen a glare.
"Dumbledore trusted Snape. The Marauders trusted Pettigrew. All of them are dead, except Remus. I'm sorry, but no, either he goes or we go. I've already talked to Neville, Luna, Kyle and the others and they agree," Harry snapped back, his face showing he wouldn't give an inch.
"I'll talk to him. Perhaps he can protect the healers, which would keep him away from you. Is anything else happening?" Kingsley sighed, changing the subject from his hot-headed brother. He always knew Dick was quick to anger, but he never thought he would take it this far, to threaten a teen. He shook his head in disappointment.
"Not yet, but we're waiting."
"Okay. Is Tonks up and around? Is she ready to get back into the fight? Though I don't want a new mother to be in battle, she is one of the best. Moody trained her, after all," the Auror asked, hoping she would join in Dick's place.
"You'll have to ask her and Remus. I mean, she may be ready, but it is a lot to ask," Harry said with a tilt of his head.
"I'll do that," he said, thinking he would keep Remus and Tonks on separate schedules, so that if one went down there would be at least one parent to raise Teddy. He hated to ask it, but they were at war; needs must.
And the conversation turned to how Halstead was running. Everything was going well. They had enough food and supplies to hold them for months and the house elves were getting more. Bill, with the help of Fleur, had talked the refugees into coughing up the jewels and they had that cache. So things looked good.
Training was still taking place daily and the adults were getting better with each session. Many of those that had been injured were now healthy and learning to fight. They were now three hundred strong in fighters, and fifty in non-combatants, and it looked like they could hold their own. Those who wouldn't fight were researching or helping the elves.
The houses in the village were mostly full with families and pets. It would be a pleasant town, if there wasn't the underlying fear of death. The fifth and sixth floor still housed the students. And anyone not married bunked on the same floors as the students, pending their gender. The third and fourth were converted into the hospital wing.
Potions were being brewed for the final battle, by everyone who passed their OWLs. They were stocking up on everything they could think of, even boil cream. Nothing was left to chance. Now that they had found the money, the elves were getting ingredients from France.
The centaurs worked with the muggles to prefect their aim. They actually got on pretty well. Some of the muggles sported guns, mostly hunting rifles, with a few handguns, which they had the house elves retrieve. It was too bad they couldn't send the little guys to buy more. Harry was super excited about that, and asked if there was one for him. He was given a handgun and spent a lot of his time training with it. McGonagall made some bullets, once it was explained to her what they were. It took her about a day, but she finally got it. She couldn't not, however, replicate the guns, there was just not enough time to get all the parts right, since she had no experience with machinery.
They didn't have to wait long. The patrols spotted the Death Eaters in the woods the next day. They fired down arrows, bullets and spells at them, glad they were hidden by the wards. They killed about ten before the others popped away. Some of the magicals sent off Patronuses and warned the people in the keep.
The walls now had at least thirty people roaming them at all times; muggles, centaurs and wizards alike. McGonagall and Flitwick, with help of some of their top students, finally got the top big enough for the centaurs. This was a big help, since the centaurs were deadly with bows and not opposed to using them with deadly force. They were still very angry at being hunted.
Harry never learned what Kingsley said to Dick, but the man stopped following him everywhere, though he didn't stop glaring at the teen whenever they were in the same room. Tonks and Remus were on patrol of the wall, one during the day, and the other at night. Remus was also not on the team anymore, he felt his son was more important, but he would be in the final battle. Tonks was of a different opinion, she felt that the world would not be safe if Tom won, so she took up his place. It had been one hell of a fight.
A few days later, it was Grawp's territorial bellow that alerted them that there were giants in the woods. Hagrid and Charlie immediately went to the giant to make him be quiet. They brought the confused Grawp closer to the walls, and then retreated to the castle.
The catapults were released, when they spotted the heads of the five giants coming through the trees. They were loaded with larger bombs, which the twins whipped up just for this enemy. The bombs hit the giants in the head; two died instantly, the others fell, causing the ground to shake.
"What do we do with them? They won't fit in the cells and to tell the truth I don't want them in the fortress," Harry asked from his place on the wall, where he stood to see what was happening.
"We'll just have to kill them," Kingsley sighed, he seemed to be doing that a lot lately, but this war was taking its toll on him. "Hagrid, do you think you can handle that?" he turned to the gentle half-giant.
"Naw, sorry Kingsley, but I don't like ter take lives. Dumbledore wouldn't like it. Great man Dumbledore," the tall man sniffed and took out a large handkerchief and blew his nose.
"It's okay, big guy, we'll think of something," the bald Auror said, patting the emotional man on his beefy arm.
"We will remove the beasts," Gulland stated firmly as he indicated his herd, who were all standing below. He twirled around and galloped down the ramp. The herd gathered axes and spears and moved to the woods to the fallen giants.
Harry and the others watched dispassionately as they dismembered them. It was a gory sight; they first put spears through the hearts, which they had to climb on the body to reach, and then cut the heads clean off, which took two on either side. There was no way those guys would ever give them trouble again.
"Remind me to never piss off a centaur," Neville stated as he watched the bloody scene.
"Right," was all Harry could say as he tried to keep down his lunch. "What do you think Tom will send next?" he turned to Kingsley.
"My bet is on the Dementors," the bald man answered as he turned way. The centaurs were especially vicious. They were making their way back, covered in blood. They left the bodies in the woods.
"We'd better check with Hermione and see if they've come up with a way to keep them out. That and get everyone brushed up on their Patronuses," the dark-haired teen stated, taking off his glasses and cleaning them.
"My bet is on werewolves," Kyle added, still watching the herd return, and shaking his head at their sadistic grins. They really must not like giants. He had to wonder why they tolerated Hagrid so well, not to mention Grawp.
"We should get the silver powder near the 'pults as well. Kyle's right, we don't want to be caught off guard if it's werewolves," Neville stated, turning away from the grisly sight.
"Yeah, let's do that," Kinsley said, and with that the four left the wall, splitting up and going about their tasks.
Harry went to find Hermione. He found her talking to Ashliegh outside the library. "… add some sort of happy memory to the wards?" was what he heard her say as he came up to the two.
"What's up, guys?" Harry asked as he gave Hermione a one armed hug. She was still his best friend and he had no problem showing her that whenever he could. The break up with Ron had hit her hard, and she needed as much affection as she could get. Luna was the one that told Harry to hug his friend as often as he could.
"Oh, hello, Harry. Did you guys get the giants? I've been ever so worried," the curly-haired girl said, returning the friendly gesture. "The whole castle started to go crazy when we felt the tremors. It wasn't until Charlie came and told us you knocked them out that things died down."
"Yeah, the centaurs took care of them, and no I'm not going to tell you how. Well, the bombs got two, and then the centaurs got the rest," the dark-haired boy said with a thin, sickly smile.
"Okay," she answered slowly, noting his grim look and decided she didn't want to know. "Anyway, I was just talking to Ashliegh and was asking him if there was any way to add happy memories to the wards." She turned to the ghost in question.
"What like shooting Patronuses at the ward stone?" Harry inquired, thinking about how one would add such a defense.
"Honestly, Harry, don't be obtuse. No, we can add a rune. There are about three that represent happiness. Two of them are really old; I found them in an ancient book. Professor Babbling is looking at it now. I don't know why no one has thought of it before, it really is rather simple. I just wanted to see what Ashliegh thought." She once again turned to the ghost.
"As I was about to tell Miss Granger, we did not have such demons in my time, so I am unsure how to thwart them," the ghostly man said, running his hand over his beard. "However, such a principle is sound. Let us adjourn to the ward room and see if we can implement it," he stated and turned to lead the way.
"Wait, we should get the Rune Mistress to help," Hermione said, and rushed to the library to get Professor Babbling. The tall, thin, dark-skinned woman emerged with Hermione following behind.
"Professor," Harry greeted with a nod when the two women joined them.
"Mr. Potter," she nodded back, "Miss Granger tells me we are going to do an experiment," she added with a glint in her eyes.
"Yes, I was wondering if we added a happiness rune to the wards, would that prevent the Dementors from coming near," Hermione said, bouncing on her toes, making her hair and chest bounce with her.
Harry valiantly kept his eyes on her face. Even if he was hugging her on Luna's orders, he didn't think his sorta girlfriend would appreciate him googling other women, though she might, you can never tell with Luna. Still, he kept his eyes firmly on his friend's nose.
"Oh my, that is a brilliant idea. I wonder why no one has thought of it before," the Professor stated, echoing Hermione's earlier statement, tapping her chin in thought.
"So do you think it would work?" the excited female teen asked, still bouncing. Not wanting to say that wizards had no logic.
"I would have to see the ward stone, but I do believe it would," the teacher answered. "If you will just show me where it is, I can take a look," she said, turning to the ghost.
"I will lead the way," Ashliegh stated as he once more turned to the basement.
The Professor's mind was going a mile a minute. She was thinking that there were other runes that could also be incorporated into the scheme. There were runes for memories and if they were added in conjunction with the happiness one, then perhaps they would have a foolproof way of preventing those soul suckers from ever bothering innocents again. Her thoughts were racing with the implication of how much money could be made on such a scheme. She looked thoughtfully at her prize student. It could work.
They made their way to the room and Professor Babbling was ecstatic to see it. She wandered around the stone and nodded to herself, and then stood. "It we place the runes here and here, next to the ones for protection, then yes, I do believe we can hold off the Dementors," she said with a huge grin and reached into her pockets for her carving kit. She placed the marks where she indicated (making sure to think of pleasant memories), and the runes lit up with a golden glow, mixing with the red stone and making the whole room shine in shades of red and gold.
"That feels really good," Harry said as a wave of happiness overcame him. It was close to what it felt like when he entered his core. "Why didn't we have to charge them?"
"Because the crystal is already charged, they just drew off the magic. That and I made sure to keep good thoughts in my head, akin to casting a wandless Patronus," the Professor answered, gazing at the wondrous sight.
"Yeah, it does feel good. I think it'll work," Hermione stated as she hugged her friend. "I can just feel the happiness."
"Anything to keep those monsters at bay," the dark-haired teen added with a grin. "You're bloody brilliant." He kissed the top of her head and then grabbed her up and twirled her around.
"Put me down, Harry," she laughed. All depressing thoughts of Ron Weasley flew out the window. She was very glad to have Harry as a friend. Now, maybe, she could find someone more compatible.
"He is correct, this was absolutely brilliant," Professor Babbling stated, watching the two teens.
They all looked at Ashliegh and for the first time since they met him he seemed content. His ghostly presence took on a shade of shimmering silver. "I do not believe I have felt this well in ages," the spirit said. "That does not mean I do not want to give up my final rest, however, I do feel it can wait now."
"I'm still working on getting that snitch open," Harry said. He had tried a few times right before battles, but there must be a specific phrase to open it, and he hadn't found it yet. Damn Dumbledore and his stupid puzzles.
"Don't worry, Harry, we'll figure it out," Hermione said, patting him on the chest.
"Yeah," he sighed.
"Anyway, we should tell the others, but I think we should still practice our Patronuses," the curly-haired teen added and started for the door.
"Right."
They made their way back to the second floor to the library. The despondence that had been felt in the castle before was almost gone. The people were wearing smiles and chatting with each other or the portraits. The house elves were popping all over the place, cleaning like there was no tomorrow. The castle just seemed to radiate joy.
"Well, if it doesn't keep the Dementors out, at least it has lifted everyone's spirit," Harry said as he looked at all the happy people.
"Oh, I do hope that doesn't make them compliant. We need them to be on their toes," Hermione fretted, worrying her lip.
"I hope so too, but it might just have the opposite effect. You know, make them fight harder," the male teen said encouragingly.
"I hope you're right."
The next few days were peaceful and the keep was bustling with activity. The catapults had the silver powder and the bombs next to them. The walls were covered in weapons, both steel and silver. The rain even let up for those few days. Training was still going full force, but now everyone had more confidence in themselves. They hit the target more forcefully and almost always hit their mark. There was a quick meeting with the trap team and it was decided that they would patrol the woods; in the area they had held the traps.
Those wards did a wonderful thing. The Longbottoms awoke from their years' long trance like states. They were not ready to fight, but they were now aware that there was a war. The whole family was moved into the castle, so the healers could watch them.
"Harry, Hermione, oh Merlin, do you know what you've done?" Neville shouted with great joy in his voice. He ran into the library and grabbed the two teens, one by one, twirled them around, making everyone laugh and cheer, or look at each other confused.
"Neville, what's gotten into you?" Hermione said when he let her down.
"My parents are awake!" he shouted with great happiness.
"Oh Merlin, really? Oh my, that is great news," the girl stated, giving him one more hug.
"It was your wards. They finally felt safe enough to come out of their illness." His face was like the sun coming out after a cloudy day. Harry never knew how much his mate had kept hidden until he saw just how happy he was now. "The healers want to add the runes to the wards of St. Mungo's when it's rebuilt. They say it could shorten recovery time."
"That's wonderful, Neville, about you parents and the wards," Harry said, clapping the happy boy on the back.
"Yeah, it is." The smile never left the sandy-haired boy's face.
"Are they okay with you fighting?" Harry asked, worried they would pull a Molly.
"They're right proud of me," Neville puffed out his chest.
"Great. Let's celebrate. I think the twins have some butterbeer stashed way," Harry stated, ignoring Hermione's frown. He took Luna's hand and went to find the twins. The whole DA joined them up in the Longbottoms' new rooms and partied until the break of dawn. The Longbottom parents watched over them from their beds, though they had tea, smiling at the fact that Neville had such good friends. Augusta tried to break it up, but Frank put his foot down and said to let them have their fun.
One night, just at dusk, after those peaceful days, the sky started to cloud and anyone in the woods felt the effects of the Dementors. Then the howling came, and they quickly made their way inside.
"Get the silver ready, but keep the steel! We're not sure how many are coming and if they have wizards. Marksmen, prepare your bows and guns! All fighters to the walls! Everyone, get in place!" Shacklebolt bellowed as they closed and barred the gates. "Combat Healers to the houses! Wait for the injured! Get the non-combatants to the chamber! If you don't hear fighting and there is no Patronus then get to the woods! Get out of the country and warn others that we lost!" he barked out orders.
Everyone scurried to comply.
"Grawp is out there," Hagrid said as he rung his hands. "'e's jest a baby."
"He won't make it past the wards, Hagrid. Maybe you can take him to the other side of the castle. He should be safe there," Harry said, not wanting his first friend to lose his only family.
"Right, I'll jest go and get 'im," the determined man stated and left as quickly as he could, making sure to close the gate behind him, they had to bar him out. They watched as he quickly made his way to his brother and started leading him to the other side of the castle. Harry felt bad for the little, big guy.
"Why did you tell him that?" Ron snapped, "We could have used Grawp in this battle."
"Would you leave your brother unprotected?" Harry snarled. "He's only a child."
"Well, no, but he's only a giant," the redhead stated confused.
"I'm done talking to you, bigot," the dark-haired teen spat and made his way up the wall.
One hundred people lined the wall, some of every race and species. Seventy-five more were on the roof of the castle. Seven healers were in the nearest houses. The rest were gathered around the non-fighters and injured, making their way to the chamber. After they got them secured, they would then use the windows to attack, in case the wards were breeched. The house elves were preparing for an invasion, closing the shutters and locking the doors. They then set themselves up with knives and clubs. They would do their best to protect the innocents.
Around one hundred Dementors, fifty Death Eaters, thirty werewolves, twenty vampires, three trolls, two giants and one Voldemort came into view.
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Yes, it was mean to leave it there, but I'm hoping to prolong the battle (pending on my muse) and it won't fit here. So, sorry, but this was a good place to end it.
There is a new poll on my profile, thanks for voting in my last one, it helps a lot.