Opening Author's Notes
Whoa...whew...I kind of had to fight through writer's block and search for inspiration because I found that this chapter grew and grew on me, but I hope this is worth the wait! It got so big, in fact, that I'm having to split the climactic fight and the buildup to it between this chapter and the next one as well as move a couple of songs to the next chapter. I did, however, find the last bit of inspiration I needed when a certain music video for a song inspired by Hamilton and including Lin-Manuel Miranda was released just two days ago. Dedication goes to Katherine (GoldsberryDiggs), who makes a cameo in this chapter, with secondary dedication to Mikki (Her_Tulip). My military history buff also comes out to play a bit because I get to talk about Yorktown in more detail than the play does (again, that's understandable due to time constraints.)
Truth will ultimately prevail where there is pains to bring it to light.
–George Washington
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry
Near Hogsmeade, Scotland, UK
The Room of Requirement – Dumbledore's Army Training/Meeting
As if in answer, Lafayette had barely finished when the door opened again and Susan Bones entered, her face alight. Behind her was a woman who had auburn hair similar to hers but slightly grayer and who was wearing Auror robes and a monocle attached to a chain. Next to this other woman was a young man with long red hair tied back in a ponytail and an earring with a fang dangling from it.
"Madam Bones!" McGonagall exclaimed, a smile coming to her face.
"Professor McGonagall!" The woman with the monocle replied with a small smile of her own. "I'm glad you have your DA members and their friends here, because you're just the people I wanted to see."
Recognizing that Alex had not yet met Madam Bones and was looking puzzled, Susan brought him over to her and said, "Alex, this is my aunt Amelia, head of the British Ministry's Department of Magical Law Enforcement. Auntie, this is Alexander Schuyler."
"Actually, Susan," Alex said with a grin as he shook Madam Bones' hand, "You barely missed it – it's Hamilton."
At that, both Bones women's eyes lit up, and Madam Bones said, "Is it, now? Pleased to have you here, Hamilton – I'd been hearing about your heritage from Mulligan! I'll need to make sure he gets the news because I've given him a way of reporting directly to me."
"That would be wonderful," Alex said gratefully.
"Any update on the situation, Madam Bones?" Harry asked.
"I'm very glad you asked, Potter," Madam Bones replied, turning to him. "Before I say anything else, let me make this clear – Dumbledore's Army will need to explain to me how they plan to help the operation since I'll have tactical command of Rochambeau. Mind you, I know you lot are made of stern stuff after the vanquishing of Voldemort, but I want to make sure you have a plan."
"That's more than fair enough," Harry said. "What do we know about the house and who will be there?"
"It's big and impressive, but it certainly isn't Azkaban," Madam Bones said. As she spoke, a table appeared nearby with what appeared to be a living three-dimensional map or diagram of the Jugson House and the surrounding area. As they gathered around it, they could see it had two large floors and was made out of dark stone with a large wooden front door and a slew of nearly arranged windows. Two sizable streets led towards the front of the house, and they could see gardens in the back.
"We've cracked worse nuts than this, thankfully, but it's definitely going to be tricky because they look to have a numbers advantage," Madam Bones continued. "However, not all of them will be trained fighters. Some are unmarked Death Eaters, but many are Wizengamot members or senior Ministry officials who have relied on their money, power and pureblood status to keep them out of trouble."
"And Fudge and Umbridge most of all," Ron finished.
"Quite right, Weasley, but we don't know if they'll be there beyond tonight. It's a rare chance to break every rotten egg once they're all in the same basket," Madam Bones replied. "Some of the information Hercules has gathered indicates they have a dinner planned so they can raise morale and lick their wounds after Diagon Alley."
"If that's true, then they're even more vulnerable," Hermione said. "Do we know anything about what wards they have there?"
"Not as much as we'd like, Miss Granger," Madam Bones replied, "But we've discerned that the ward stone is in one of the gardens in the back and we have been working on how to pen them up inside the house while this is going on in any case. The French offered to help do so but needed some help with reversing those wards."
She indicated the redhead next to her and said, "Mr. Weasley here was the first to volunteer, and between his talents and the fact that he has so many family members in the Order of the Phoenix and at the center of this, there was no way I was going to refuse."
"Thank you very much, Madam Bones," Bill replied gratefully, smiling at her.
Madam Bones smiled back. Alex, meanwhile, had heard the name Weasley and was looking back and forth from Bill to Ginny and Ron. He then asked, comprehension starting to dawn on him, "Hold on...Ron, Ginny, is he an older brother of yours?"
"Oh, yes," Ron said with a grin, with Ginny nodding as enthusiastically as he was. "Alex, this is Bill – Ginny's, Fred's, George's and my oldest sibling. He was Head Boy while he was here and works for Gringotts as a curse breaker."
"Oh, that makes even more sense!" Alex said. "Pleased to meet you, Bill."
"Pleased to meet you, Alex," Bill replied kindly, shaking his hand before turning to Lafayette. "And you as well, Lafayette – Fleur talks a lot about you and I can see why!"
"Merci, Guillaume," Lafayette replied with a smile. "The same can be said about you."
"So we would need something that would thin their numbers and make a frontal assault more effective and less costly, then?" Harry asked.
"Precisely," Madam Bones replied. "Any ideas? And just so you know...these scum have shown that they are willing to attack and kill innocents, so I will not decry you for choosing lethal force."
Her vengeful smile was soon mirrored on the faces of the others in the room. Hermione was the first to visibly ponder again, and she said after a few moments,
"Well, as long as we're calling this Operation Rochambeau, set to take place in York and involving multiple namesakes and descendants of heroes who fought at Yorktown...I say, 'In for a Knut, in for a Galleon!' Let's go back over Yorktown for ideas."
"I'm all for that," Madam Bones replied with a grin. "It may also be a good history lesson."
"I may be daft for asking this since I'm in the same boat, but why the name 'Rochambeau'?" Ron asked.
"You're not stupid for that, Ronald...After Marshal Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, the Comte, or Count, of Rochambeau," Fleur replied. "He was field marshal of the French forces in America, including during the siege of Yorktown."
"It also sounds remarkably like, 'Rush on, boys!'" Alex added. "That's why it was also used as the Continentals' password for the attack on Redoubt #10."
A second table with a living map on it appeared, this time showing Virginia and the surrounding area circa 1781. Hermione began as they moved to it and forces and towns appeared,
"Lord Cornwallis had elected to go after Virginia to try and affect the American supplies and morale and had chosen Yorktown – which was simply called York back in those days, as you pointed out, Alex – as his headquarters because the Royal Navy had held control of the sea throughout the war, meaning he could be resupplied by ships coming into Chesapeake Bay."
"At this point, the French navy got involved," Lafayette continued, taking up the narrative. "Admiral de Grasse brought a French fleet from the West Indies and got the better of not one but two British admirals. Samuel Hood didn't realize that de Grasse was going towards Yorktown instead of New York while Sir Thomas Graves was unable to dislodge de Grasse and his fleet from the Chesapeake after a battle."
"Basically took away control of the Atlantic seaboard from us when it mattered the most..." Harry said, comprehension dawning on him.
"Part of that was due to a misdirection tactic that Washington employed to convince Henry Clinton that the French and the Continental Army were attempting to retake New York instead of going to Virginia," Alex pointed out.
"At that point, the Americans and French started their bombardment," Dean said, "Using siege guns, howitzers and mortars."
"I know you said you saw some of the cannonballs still lodged into houses there, Dean..." Justin continued. "What not everyone remembers is that as devastating as that initial Franco-American bombardment was, it was from an line that was a relatively reasonable distance from the British defenses. Captain Hermione?"
"Thank you, Lieutenant Justin," Hermione said, blushing but smiling as she added, "It's true – as the siege continued, the Americans and French were building a second line even closer to the British fortifications. Finishing it would enable them to fire on Cornwallis and his men from even closer range, which of course means with even more devastating effect. Redoubts 9 and 10 were the last British fortifications that prevented them from doing so."
"They decided to storm both of them at night. The French were responsible for Redoubt #9, while Lafayette was asked to pick a commander to lead Continentals in an assault on Redoubt #10," Alex continued.
"Yes. He initially chose his aide, Jean-Joseph Sourbader de Gimat...until Hamilton asked to lead the attack and Lafayette relented," Lafayette (the current) added with a grin that Alex returned.
"And then told the men under his command to fight with unloaded muskets," Padma finished.
"Quite right, Padma," Alex replied proudly. "The surprise worked – almost the whole British garrison of Redoubt #10 was captured, and Hamilton's forces only lost 9 dead and 25 wounded in the process out of 400. Three days later, the British waved the white flag."
"I heard a bit of what we sang when we laid down our arms. Anyone who knows the story knows it was The World Turned Upside Down, but I heard a slightly different version," Luna said, speaking up.
"Really?" Alex asked, as not only his but the others' eyes turned towards him. "What was it, Luna?"
Luna intoned, with her often-used dreamy voice adding further gravity,
If buttercups buzzed after the bee
If boats were on land, churches on sea
If ponies rode men and grass rode cows
And cats should be chased into holes by the mouse
If the mamas sold their babies to the Gypsies for half a crown
If summer were spring and the other way 'round
Then all the world would be upside down
The others applauded as she finished, and Luna blushed but curtsied sincerely.
"So the French are helping with the blockade again since they're going to help Bill barricade them in using wards..." Hermione said, putting her hand to her chin and biting her lip slightly.
Harry, Dean and Justin nodded in recognition. Harry then added, "So now we need to figure out how we can besiege the house..."
Ginny whispered to Ron, "Ron, remind me to give you the new Cannons poster I got so you can put it up in your dormitory. I got one when I picked up a Harpies one for my own room."
"Wait, that's it!" Hermione said sharply, slapping her forehead and looking angry.
"Oh, sorry, Hermione! I wasn't trying to be a distraction – I just wanted to keep things light!" Ginny said frantically, clearly thinking she was in trouble. Everyone had turned to look at Hermione, eager to find out what the brightest witch of their generation had come up with.
"No, I'm glad you did, Ginny..." Hermione clarified. "I really was being daft trying to think of something else, but the answer's been staring us in the face!"
"All well and good...but out with it now, Hermione, or else we can't help put it into action!" Padma urged.
Over the next ten to fifteen minutes, Hermione outlined the plan while Harry helped fill in some of the particulars. Once they had hammered it out properly, everyone in the room – including McGonagall and Madam Bones – looked like wolves with a foolproof plan to scoop up a whole flock of troublesome sheep.
Harry was quickly writing a message and giving it to Hedwig to send. He then turned to the other girls in the room besides Hermione and Fleur and said briskly, "Parvati, Padma, get the word out to our members in Hogsmeade. Luna, Ginny, you do the same for the rest of us in the castle. Tell them that the alert is heightened and that we may be taking offensive action in 24 hours. Anyone who wants to be part of the strike team should contact Professor McGonagall so that she can vet them."
"Of course!" Parvati replied with a smile, and she and the other three saluted and almost ran out of the room to spread the message.
Harry grinned at that, but that disappeared when then saw Hermione looking anxious. He immediately went over and asked, "Are you all right, Hermione? I'm sure
Hermione neither nodded nor shook her head as she met Harry's eyes, but her voice betrayed some worry as she replied, "Thanks, Harry...it's not that...Alex showing us that he found Lafayette, Laurens and Mulligan made me wonder something...could you be with me when I ask him, love?"
They shared a look and Harry understood what she was talking about. He quickly nodded and they approached Alex, looking for a moment alone with him.
In the midst of this, Ron approached Madam Bones and asked, "I've got an idea. Is there a way I could meet Hercules? I could possibly pose as his assistant – under glamours, of course. It'd take some of the tailoring work off his hands and allow him to be more attentive to information, plus he wouldn't be alone if something were to happen."
"An admirable idea, Weasley," Madam Bones replied with a small smile. "Let me work on some of the details of that before we get you out to York. Make sure Potter and Granger know where you're going – you know they're bound to look for you if you go off without saying anything and aren't available around the castle."
Ron nodded fervently as she took him aside. Meanwhile, Hermione saw Alex by himself, approached with Harry beside her and asked,
"Alex, if you found Lafayette, Laurens and Mulligan...did you find Eliza too?"
A look that betrayed swirling emotions crossed Alex's face, but he nodded and resolutely reached back into his inner robe pocket. Harry's and Hermione's mouths fell open slightly as Alex pulled out the folder and drew another magical photograph out of it, showing him speaking to a fair kind-faced woman dressed in Ilvermony robes. She had long dark hair and a warm smile.
"Elizabeth Schuyler, my distant cousin," Alex said. "She also traces her ancestry to Phillip Schuyler, his daughter and her namesake, Phillip's other daughters Peggy and Angelica, and of course Hamilton himself."
He then took a deep breath and added, "She is indeed my girlfriend...and much like during the Revolution, I'm about to enter what looks to be the decisive battle of this conflict while she's pregnant with my child."
Hermione's and Harry's jaws both dropped. She asked him timidly, "Oh, my...Alex, you didn't...with her...did you?"
"Yeah, Alex, you don't come across as someone who'd have sex before marriage," Harry said, though he was still paler.
"Don't worry, I didn't. It was an accident related to a ritual she was practicing in an Ancient Runes class late last school year," Alex said. "She summoned the spirit of an unborn boy, and apparently, I made contact with her after class at a time where she was magically implanted with the spirit and embryo. One of our school mediwitches even confirmed her hymen was still intact while confirming that we were the parents."
Both Hermione and Harry had the color still drained from their faces and their mouths were slightly open, but they kept their eyes on him and nodded to indicate they understood and to invite Alex to continue.
"Knowing what I do about my ancestor and namesake, I've often wondered if a similar fate was in store for me and my loved ones especially if I fully embraced my heritage and took on the name," Alex continued. His voice then took on an even more emotional tone as he voiced the questions that had tormented him at times: "Would I die young like he did? Would I have to bury my firstborn child like he had to? Was I doomed to make the same mistakes?"
"It doesn't have to be that way, Alex," Hermione said firmly but bracingly. "You know that."
"I do now," Alex responded, now managing a smile again. "Hermione, Harry...when you, Dean and Parvati told me that you'd help me figure it out-"
"Don't forget Ron, Ginny, Luna, Justin and the rest of us are on board with that too," Harry pointed out.
"And by God, I'm grateful for that," Alex said, his smile growing. "I'd already promised myself that I would do all I could to make sure he grew up with a father."
"You're going to be a great dad, Alex," Harry said, clapping Alex on the back as his and Hermione's smiles also grew. "Oh, is it lighting up again?"
He had noticed a light from the robe pocket where Alex had placed the music box. Surely enough, light was visible under the lid and five of the keyholes had lit again. With visible excitement, the three of them each lined up their wand with a keyhole and turned before Lafayette and Fleur, seeing what was going on, joined them and did the same.
Once that had happened, Hermione turned the crank, and everyone took a couple of steps back as a new song began to play and Alex put the box away. Hermione then began to sing, and what came out of her mouth made Alex and Lafayette pale.
[Hermione] We may not have reached our glory
But I will gladly join the fight
And when our children tell their story
They'll tell the story of tonight
They'll tell the story of tonight (Tonight)
She had closed her eyes while singing and opened them to find Alex and Lafayette looking at her as if she was a ghost while looking as pale as ghosts themselves.
"I'm sorry, Alex...should I not have?" Hermione asked, nervous that she had misused the power resting inside the box somehow.
"It's not that, Hermione...it's that that's the song John, Hercules, Lafayette and I sang when we tapped into the box for the first time."
"Oh, that's it...it's basically your song? I'm so sorry..." Hermione said, fear that she had overstepped now very evident on your face.
"Don't apologize, Hermione!" Lafayette said dismissively, as Alex nodded his agreement. "It's deemed you worthy to join in because you – along with Harry, Ron and your friends – have also shown the courage to fight for freedom and make sure you create a better world for yourselves and your children."
"Thanks, Lafayette," Hermione said gratefully, "But I think I'd feel better if Alex picked up the next bit."
Alex nodded and sang, looking at Hermione and Harry,
[Alex] Have you ever felt like nobody was there?
Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?
Have you ever felt like you could disappear?
Like you could fall and no one would hear?
Harry slowly but clearly nodded, and next to him, so did Hermione. He only had to think back to how he had felt in the cupboard under the stairs back at 4 Privet Drive, while she only had to think back to Halloween night of their first year when she had been crying in a girls' bathroom just before Harry and Ron saved her from the troll.
Almost without thinking, Hermione took Harry's hand, and he took his cue and continued,
[Harry] Well, let that lonely feeling wash away
[Alex] (All we see is light)
[Harry] 'Cause maybe there's a reason to believe you'll be okay
[Alex] (For forever)
[Harry] 'Cause when you don't feel strong enough to stand
You can reach, reach out your hand
"I wish John and Hercules were here for this!" Lafayette exclaimed.
"They will be by tomorrow," Alex replied, his voice laden with resolve. "Until then, let's sing for them!"
They nodded at each other, and as Fleur stepped alongside Hermione and Harry and joined in, McGonagall and Madam Bones looked on, almost misty-eyed.
"If I didn't know any better, I'd say it feels like gentle phoenix song," Madam Bones breathed.
"My friends in the highlands tell me there is a certain magic that lies in honoring legend...or rewriting it," McGonagall said. "These young men and women and their friends are doing both."
[Hermione/Harry/Fleur] (And oh)
[Alex/Lafayette] Raise a glass to freedom
Something they can never take away
[Alex] No matter what they tell you
[Hermione/Harry/Fleur] Someone will come running to take you home
[Lafayette] Raise a glass to all of us
[Hermione/Harry/Alex/Lafayette/Fleur] Tomorrow there'll be more of us
[Alex/Lafayette] Telling the story of tonight
[Hermione/Harry/Fleur] Out of the shadows
[Fleur] Ze morning is breaking
[Alex/Lafayette] (They'll tell the story of tonight)
[Harry] And all is new
[Lafayette] (All is new)
[Hermione] All is new in-
[Alex] (It's only a matter of-)
[Hermione/Harry/Alex/Lafayette/Fleur] Time
The Hogsmeade High Street
Dumbledore's Army Command Post
The next day, there was a heightened sense of anticipation alert that something was happening even though Madam Bones, McGonagall, the Hogwarts student body and professors and their allies were doing a good job of keeping their plans under wraps. There was something akin to determination or vengefulness on the faces of the DA members who were rotating between Hogsmeade and classes (thanks to schedules drawn up by McGonagall and the rest of the faculty). Some had even been deployed again to Diagon Alley to fully retake it.
Harry was back at the DA command post and had a furrowed brow as he was looking over some of the intel that Hercules had sent before Ron had joined him in York. He then looked up to see a tall blond boy with green eyes approached the desk and remove his glamours to reveal Ron.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, looking up quickly. "Everything going well?"
"Yeah..." Ron said with a sheepish grin. "Maybe even too well if that's even possible, mate!"
"What's going on?" Harry asked. "Where's Hercules?"
"He's back down the street with this fit woman who came to us this morning. She offered to help out by modeling some of Hercules' clothes and robes, and we started getting even more business, including more from people who we know are in the pureblood supremacist camp and will be at the Jugson House tonight, which means we got even more information to match," Ron said.
He then continued with a laugh, "Some tried to get frisky with her, but we also found out how scary she was because she knows a few nasty hexes and wasn't afraid to use them! She's nice – we just had to learn quickly not to get on her bad side. Some of the townsfolk don't appear to have gotten the message, though-"
"And you want me there before it gets out of control?" Harry finished. When Ron nodded, Harry grinned at him and said, "Don't worry, I'm glad you asked. Neville, can you cover for us while I check this out?"
"For sure, Harry," Neville replied, taking Harry's place behind the desk. Then seeing Alex arriving, he said, "Oy, Alex, you should go with Harry and Ron. Hercules is coming back from York."
Hearing this, Alex quickly caught up with Harry and Ron, and within two minutes, the three of them saw what Ron had been talking about.
Hercules was next to a striking woman with long silvery hair, who was in a dress with a feather-trimmed collar that showed a lot of skin around the collarbones. Furthermore, through a high-cut slit, a lot of leg and a pair of high heels were visible. As Harry, Ron and Alex approached, they saw her scaring away a few men who had been too forward with their advances as her wand spouted a shower of yellow sparks.
"Did either of you ask who she was?" Harry asked.
"Of course we did! But she was very secretive and said she was simply a friend of yours who wanted to maintain secrecy while we were there," Ron replied.
As he finished, Hercules and the woman turned and saw them, and as they did, the woman smiled coyly at Harry. Seeing this, Harry took the initiative and said, "I'm glad to have you on our side, but can you tell us who you are?"
The woman nodded and turned around so that no one around could see her face. After a few moments, her hair turned bubble-gum pink. She then turned back to them and her face was now unmistakably recognizable now too.
"Tonks?!" Harry asked, flabbergasted but now bursting into laughter. Beside him, Ron was similarly gobsmacked but was also roaring in no time flat.
"Wotcher, Harry!" Tonks greeted brightly. "Sorry to alarm you lads! I just figured this was a time where I didn't want anyone but Ron and Hercules to know who I really was while it was going on so that we wouldn't blow our cover. It may have been dangerous, but I'm a little put out that that's over because it was fun!"
"A Metamorphmagus?" Alex asked, his eyes wide, though he was also laughing.
"And a British Auror and also a member of the Order of the Phoenix...but even more importantly, a friend of ours, so she really is the perfect person for a situation like that," Harry answered proudly. "Alex, Nymphadora Tonks – but make sure you call her by her preferred surname unless you want her to hex you back over the Atlantic. Tonks, Alexander Hamilton."
"Auror Tonks, if you ever got tired of being an Auror, I have a lucrative offer waiting for you," Hercules exclaimed as Tonks and Alex shook hands. "How many witches can be such a good model and also offer security like you do?"
"Oh, Hercules, you charmer. I do love my job and working for Madam Bones, but I might have to take you up on that if you keep offering discounts," Tonks replied. "A girl has to look good, after all, no matter what she looks like!"
"Let's get up to McGonagall and Madam Bones so we can tell them what's been going on," Ron urged.
Hogwarts – 7th Floor Corridor outside Room of Requirement
"Glad to see you again, Lee!" Harry said.
"All right there, Harry?" Lee asked, clapping him on the back. "This is one bloody exciting encore to the fight against Voldemort that we're in! Mind you, Angelina, Alicia and I came as quick as we could once Fred and George told us – we wouldn't have missed it for the world."
"And we're glad you did, Lee," Fred said happily. "But did you want to also tell Captain Potter your special role in the operation?"
"Oh, yeah," Lee replied. "I'll be helping with radio communications during the raid. We need to work on coming up with some code names."
Harry laughed at that. The sun was setting as the Room of Requirement was hosting briefings for Operation Rochambeau, with Dumbledore's Army and the Sons and Daughters of Liberty to be briefed last.
As such, they were outside in the dead-end corridor including the magical portrait of Barnabas the Barmy trying to teach trolls how to dance the ballet and were watching American, French and British Aurors and other adult wizards were going in and out of the Room, and when Harry recognized some of them as Order members who Alex had not yet met, he pointed them out to Alex.
"You've already met Tonks, Bill and Mr. and Mrs. Weasley," he said, indicating each as he or she approached and greeted Alex. "And these are two more British Aurors – Alastor 'Mad-Eye' Moody and Kingsley Shacklebolt. And this is Remus Lupin, our old Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher and an expert on Dark creatures."
"Harry was just starting to tell me a bit about you, Professor Lupin – or should that be Remus or Moony?" Alex asked. "Once he knew I'd heard about Sirius, he was telling me a bit of what you two got up to with his dad."
"A lot of stories to tell there, Alex," Lupin said with a wistful but sincere smile. "But enough of that – your friends want to see you."
He stepped aside, and Alex's breath caught in his throat. John, Hercules and Lafayette were all there, looking at him. The others nearby took a few steps back to give them some space.
"I could say it's been a hell of a trip, but that would be an understatement," Alex said. "But I'm glad we're all here for this and I hope I've made you proud – because you definitely have made me proud."
"You absolutely have, Alex," Hercules said, clapping him on the back. "But yeah, wild doesn't even begin to cover this. I mean, all four of our predecessors fought the British 200 years ago, and here we are as wizards helping their magical community with their own revolution! If you'd told me we'd be doing this at the end of last year, I'd have called you certifiably crazy."
"Did they tell you what we found when we finished liberating Diagon Alley, Alex?" Lafayette asked.
"No, I didn't hear anything..." Alex said.
"Nothing to apologize about – I know it's been chaotic," Lafayette said, and he explained,
"It was after we stormed the Magical Menagerie. Parvati had just dispatched an unmarked Death Eater who had taken a hostage...as it turns out, she was a half-blood who the son of a gun was trying to make his concubine or worse. We thankfully got to her before anything bad happened, but I'd never seen John so angry in this life and I knew why even as he did everything necessary to make sure he was okay."
Alex and Hercules looked at John and knew where that fury had come from – he had helped narrowly avert someone being enslaved, and even after all this time, it still made his blood boil worse than the blood-boiling hex could make it.
A flash of that same righteous fury had crossed John's face, replaced almost instantly by uncertainty as he asked, "It made me wonder...were we called for this based on what our ancestors did? Did some heavenly force think we are spirits of freedom and liberty and arrange for us to be here at this moment?"
"It's just like you told me, John," Alex said reassuringly. "We may be called for such times like these, but we no longer have to do it by ourselves. Not when the likes of Harry, Hermione and Ron are around."
As if to underline his point, what turned out to be all of the American Aurors in the strike team, who had been speaking to Harry, saw Alex. Harry was genuinely in awe and bemused because they were even more starstruck by Alex, flocking around him and asking,
"General Hamilton?"
"Secretary Hamilton?"
Hermione and Harry were especially thrilled to see this, but Alex was predictably and clearly the most emotional at the sight of this.
"No, not a general, Secretary or President...not yet now, anyway," He said with a laugh and smile. "McGonagall has already flattered me with essentially a captain's commission in Dumbledore's Army alongside Harry, Hermione and Ron. And just Alexander or Alex will do just fine. But I'm glad you guys are here. What's your name?"
"Adrian Lincoln, sir," said the closest male, who had short curly sandy hair and was shaking his hand vigorously. "One of my great-great-great-uncles fought alongside your ancestor at Trenton."
"Katherine Fleming," said the closest woman, who had long red hair reminiscent of Ginny's and was also speaking reverently while shaking Alex's hand. "I had an ancestor who fought at Saratoga and another who served with your ancestor at Yorktown."
"Pleased to meet you both!" Alex replied, a further coupled chill and thrill of excitement running through him at hearing that. "However, I'm not the only one who deserves such company..."
He stepped aside so that the American Aurors saw John, Hercules and Lafayette and noticed that most of their eyes zipped towards Lafayette as they recognized him.
"I know one of you wants to say it," Alex said with a grin and a Dumbledore-esque twinkle in his eyes. "Who's it gonna be?"
It turned out to be Katherine, but she used a different phrase than Alex was expecting. She intoned something that had become a slogan as the United States had entered World War I on France's side: "Forget us, God, if we forget the sacred sword of Lafayette!"
Lafayette turned even redder, but his smile also grew as he shook Katherine's hand. Not far away, Ron and Luna were watching the scene unfold pensively.
"Blimey, maybe that's how I should look at it...maybe that's how I should measure a life well lived," Ron remarked softly. "If I were fortunate enough to come back and live another life, if people were glad it was me..."
"-That would be enough, Ronald?" Luna asked, turning to him as she gently took his hand.
"That it would, Luna," Ron replied, meeting her eyes and grasping her hand more firmly.
The Room of Requirement – Dumbledore's Army / Sons and Daughters of Liberty Joint Briefing
The four Dumbledore's Army captains McGonagall had chosen after they had come forward during the chaos in Diagon Alley – Harry, Hermione, Ron and Alex – were front and center. Flanking them were the DA lieutenants who had interacted with Alex the most and researched his history – Ginny, Luna, Dean, Justin, Parvati and Padma. Susan also joined them since Amelia was also up there, and so did Alex's classmates and fellow descendants – John, Hercules and Lafayette – representing the Sons and Daughters of Liberty. Lafayette had also brought Fleur, which no one objected to.
Behind this front row were the other DA lieutenants. Not only were they all veterans of the fight against Voldemort, but many of them had come to Hogwarts with Harry, Hermione and Ron, and most who weren't had played Quidditch for Gryffindor alongside Harry. Among these were Neville, Fred, George, Lee, Hannah, Colin, Colin's younger brother Dennis, Lavender Brown, Seamus Finnigan, Angelina Johnson, Katie Bell, Alicia Spinnet, Ernie MacMillan, Terry Boot and Anthony Goldstein. Behind them were the other DA members who had volunteered for the attack and whom McGonagall had vetted to fight.
It took them about ten to fifteen minutes for them to outline their plans to soften up the defenses at the Jugson House, and by the time they were finished, Madam Bones was smiling proudly at them, clearly convinced that they belonged in the operation.
"I know this school and this country will not forget your bravery. I'm glad you're on our side and glad that you'll help us finish this," she said. She then turned to McGonagall, who was also at the front, and added, "Right, that just leaves one more matter. Minerva?"
Madam Bones also nodded at her here and signaled that she had the floor again. McGonagall nodded back, stepped forward and announced, "I have been speaking to Professor Flitwick, and he has agreed to watch over the school for me tonight."
There was a commotion, and Parvati said reassuringly, "Professor, don't worry, we'll win and come back alive!"
"No, wait, she must mean...but you're not doing that, are you?" Hermione asked, stunned as she realized what might be going on.
"I am, Miss Granger. I'm joining you in the assault," McGonagall replied, a fiery version of Dumbledore's twinkle in her eyes. "I've been raring for a fight myself."
As if to underline her point, her wand leapt from an outer robe pocket to her right hand, and as soon as she took it, Gryffindor red and gold sparks burst from the tip. The assembled students cheered as one, as they sensed that even Dumbledore would have done no such thing.
"Come off it!" Ginny exclaimed, but she then added, "Oh, this is going to be something else!"
"One reason why I don't intend to miss it, Miss Weasley," McGonagall said, smiling at the roar of approval from the gathered students. Then she nodded at Hermione and Harry and said, "Potter, Miss Granger, if you please."
"Gladly, Professor," Hermione said as she and Harry now stepped forward and turned to face their comrades. "Given that we'll be part of an operation, a slight change in decoration is in order."
Closing Author's Notes
I definitely had fun including Susan, Madam Bones, Tonks and Bill in this chapter – and I have to say you haven't seen the last of Katherine's character either! I did consider cutting the chapter earlier, but it didn't feel right to me when I did, so I apologize if I went longer than some folks would like. The idea for Eliza's virgin pregnancy comes from an interesting HP fanfic – Unexpected by Avain1991 right here on , which has a multi-pairing (Harry/Hermione/Susan/Daphne) in that circumstance. I'm not sure when the next chapter is going to come out since it's busier and I'm getting set to transition into a new role by the grace of God after a bumpy period, but I'll definitely work on making it not too long because this has definitely been therapeutic for me. Also, in case you haven't seen it yet, check out the official video Found Tonight, which co-stars Ben Platt, on YouTube.