Harry Potter and the Wizards of Malta

Chapter 23.

"Now... one of you will return with my daughter. Do you understand me?" Lasaurus bellowed, looking at Harry and then toward Hermione.

Instantly Harry felt relieved that Lasaurus needed them both and that Hermione was only stunned. Harry continued to struggle against the effects of the curse. He shook his head and managed to sit up. His head felt like it was coming apart.

"The others – we have to go get them," Harry managed with a thick tongue.

"NO – your actions have cost them their lives. It's your own life you need to be concerned with now."

Anger and now adrenaline coursed through Harry's veins. He began to rise and looked around for his wands even though Lasaurus still had his pointed between his eyes.

With an unimaginable amount of luck, which only a groggy and recovering victim of a stunning spell could manage, Ron had drug to his feet and entered the hall unnoticed through a back entrance. It took him several moments to appreciate the gravity of the situation. In the heat of the moment Lasaurus was keeping his eye on Hermione and Harry and hadn't noticed him. Shaking his head and fearful of the situation his friends were in, he raised his wand and took careful aim.

"STUPIFY," he conjured.

Lasaurus turned just in time to see the curse hit him squarely in the chest. He was hurled backwards by the curse, but to the big man's credit he managed to get to his feet and prepared to continue the fight. Seeing Hermione down, Ron attacked Lasaurus again with a killing curse that the wizard barely avoided. By this time Harry and Hermione had recovered their wands were struggling to re-enter the frey. With Ron about to be overpowered, they both began to renew the attack on Lasaurus. Realizing he was under attack from all three at once, Lasaurus split into a number of pieces that Harry guessed was eight. Trapped now and outnumbered four wands to one, Lasaurus couldn't use apparition to escape and could only stand and fight.

With Ron on Harry's right and Hermione on his left, the trio fired on Lasaurus and his images as if their lives depended on it. Within a few moments the huge room was filled with the ozone-like smell of a lightning storm. There was little time for conscious thought now, just act and react. Attack and counter and attack again. Time seemed to stand still as all three wizards were unloading on Lasaurus with everything they had.

In a few moments Lasaurus was hit by a stunning spell from Ron and Harry at the same time and was engulfed in a cocoon of light.

The big man stumbled and fell onto the floor in a heap. All three approached carefully with wands extended and as the wizard struggled to get up Hermione stunned him again for good measure. Harry was closest to the unconscious figure and kicked the gnarly wand out of his hand.

"Incarcerous," Harry conjured and the wizard was instantly wrapped in the vines of the restrictive curse.

"Incarcerous," Ron repeated and the wizard's legs were completely trussed.

They all three stood over Lasaurus for a few moments to catch their breath, and admiring their accomplishment like big game hunters standing over a trophy. Hermione's baggy clothes were burned and singed by killing curses that barely missed. Now looking at their own clothes Ron and Harry were also finding near-misses in the form of burns marks.

"The map!" cried Harry and magicked the map into his hands. "We've got to find Hannah and Mundungus."

"Harry, you better go. Ron and I will stay here and mind Lasaurus."

Studying the map for a few moments, Harry raised his head for one more look at Lasaurus.

"Stun him if he moves – I'll be back shortly," he said and disapparated with a zip and a pop.

Within moments Harry arrived at the long disused waterfront section and began looking for the shack. The trouble was, there were ragged buildings everywhere and the tide was definitely rising. He paused to study the map closely and decided to press on toward the mouth of an inlet.

With water lapping up on it's clap boards, and old shack had fallen off it's cornerstone and was very nearly in the water. This had to be the shack, he thought and rushed to the old shanty and magicked open the door. He poked his head around the frame tentatively. It was dark inside but he could see two sets of eyes as big as saucers reflecting light back at him.

Hannah and Mundungus were tied and gagged, both lying in the floor of the shack, and trying their best to communicate with muffled grunts and unintelligible noises. Running to Hannah first, he magicked the ropes away and helped untie the gag. Both victims appeared to be bound with silk ropes. The water was already past the door and rising toward the back where the two had been laying.

"Oh Harry – thank God – I thought we were goners," Hannah said as she regained her powers of speech.

"How long?" he asked as he moved to free Mundungus.

"Ah, since this morning? How did you find us?" she asked, bewildered.

"You were part of a trade – a trade gone sour."

She returned a puzzled expression.

"Well, the water – we could hear it rising for the longest time."

Harry nodded and cut away the last of the silk ropes from Mundungus. The wizard rubbed his mouth and jaw.

"Harry – sweet Jesus – I'm glad you showed up, I am."

"I bet you are Dung. Time to change your ways," Harry quipped and Mundungus gave him a defensive look.

Harry helped Hannah and Mundungus to their feet and watched the two for a moment. With no visible after effects Harry made a motion toward the door.

"We best be getting out – can you two make it back to the Leaky Cauldron?"

"For sure Harry," Hannah replied and Dung nodded.

"Hate to rush but I've unfinished business."

Hannah looked as if ready to burst with emotion.

"Stop by when you're done Harry."

He smiled and waved as the pull of disapparition yanked him out of the small shanty and onto the car park of the Roundhouse.

‡‡‡‡‡

Inconspicuously, he walked to the Roundhouse door they had previously opened by the Alohomora charm. He picked up the pace through the long corridor to the open music hall. His heart began to rise and then stopped to miss a beat as he neared the door. Normally Hermione would be rattling on about procedures at the point. Uniformed officers should be all over the place. But there was nothing. No officers – no sounds – and he knew something was wrong.

Simply terrified and worried for his friends, Harry pressed the door open to the music hall and peered in. Glancing toward the spot where Lasaurus fell, he froze at a sight so bizarre he couldn't move if he wanted to.

There was Ron and Hermione, standing in the same spot and not moving. They were standing there like two statues in a surreal pose. Ron had Hermione's hand and was about to give the witch a kiss when something turned them into statue-like figures. There was a rustling noise behind them, and Harry crept closer to investigate the sound.

Lasaurus was struggling to escape the Incarcerous curse and doing a remarkable job of getting the vines off his chest. Harry watched the wizard until his footsteps announced his presence. The wizard took a look at Harry and continued his panicky fight with the vines.

"What have you done to them?" demanded Harry.

The wizard stopped his struggle to answer the question.

"They're unharmed – just immobile," he assured Harry and went immediately back to the vines as if Harry couldn't conjure the spell again. He watched the wizard frantically struggling with the vines and deduced that Lasaurus couldn't use his powers of division while wrapped with the Incarcerous curse. Harry pulled the Holly wand with the intention to add more vines, then paused and let his arm drop.

Wrapping Lasaurus in a confining curse until help came was not a fitting conclusion for this man. He had used powerful wand-less magic to freeze Hermione and Ron and would always be a threat wherever he was kept. Harry watched as Lasaurus finally managed to free himself from the last of the vines. Kicking his feet free he looked around for his wand. He looked behind him and saw the wand ten feet away. He looked at Harry and now paused.

"Is that what you're waiting for – to kill me as I reach for my wand?"

"You want your wand? Well get it," Harry said and pulled his other wand slowly.

Lasaurus nodded and quickly pulled himself to his feet. Cautiously, he took two steps toward his wand and picked it up. He turned back to face Harry with a puzzled expression.

"You're a man of some quality Mister Potter. And I know now what my daughter saw in you."

"Do you?"

"Yes – indeed."

"Your daughter – I can't get used to you saying that."

"I'm sorry, but that's what it is," he said and paused. "What do you plan to do?"

Harry nodded ever so slightly and mulled the question.

"Why didn't you come to us first? We might have avoided all of this."

Lasaurus shook his head slowly.

"I wish now, I had done that, but I didn't. One makes a lot of mistakes in five hundred years, Potter. You have to put them behind you and move on. As I have. I tried to reason with Penny – after I discovered what had happened. I told her we could make up the time we had lost. I promised her many things, but I insisted she had to give up the quest for Ripley's treatise."

"You couldn't persuade her?"

"No. Not for a moment. And then she shut me out. When I tried to contact her she used her bodyguards and hoodlums to dissuade me. All along, the Order was getting impatient and I couldn't stop them from trying to intervene. She was in danger – but not from me – the Order."

"It's a shame it has to come to this."

"Well then don't. Give Penny back to me – and let the Order handle this," insisted Lasaurus.

Without taking his eyes off Lasaurus, Harry dipped and shook his head.

"Sorry – you know I can't do that."

"Another young man on a mission. I can't go to Azkaban," argued Lasaurus. "You must know this."

"The law has to be enforced Lasaurus. There can be no exceptions – even for you – even for Penny. And these two," he added and nodded toward Ron and Hermione. "They won't give her up either."

"Idealist fool. That's mental and you know it."

"If you're held accountable for your crimes, Penny will get off lightly. I can promise you that," reasoned Harry.

"You will stand by that?"

"I will," pledged Harry.

It would almost be possible to feel empathy for Lasaurus, except for the fact that he killed Jerry and very nearly killed Ron. Hannah and Mundungus would be dead as well if the wizard would have had his way. And his wandless magic – extremely powerful. No – it needed to end here.

As he had watched Lasaurus, in a near panic, grabbling and struggling with the Incarcerous vines, he now knew the man's weakness. Without his tricks of division, he was almost ordinary. And the problem with tricks were, they were not nearly as effective once they were known.

And the trick itself – Lasaurus would first split into two images, about ten feet apart. You only had to choose the correct image. The black wand could do that. Or he could attack both images at once. His spell would be a little weaker that way, but he could do it. That would make it too easy for Harry. Lasaurus would have to attack first to tie up one wand and then divide. That way Harry wouldn't be able to attack both images. He would have to choose, and if he guessed wrong – it was only his life.

Between Harry and Lasaurus an overhead light, damaged by a stray spell, was swinging on the end of it's cord back and forth like the pendulum of a clock. Like the clock you could see the – tic – tock – tic...

Suddenly, the dangling lamp popped one more time and began to fall. Lasaurus used the distraction to immediately attack as Harry had guessed. A white hot bolt of energy Lasaurus conjured was tear-assing his way.

"PROTEGO." Harry blocked the curse with the Holly wand, leaving the black wand free for the deciding counter. Lasaurus quickly split into two images and instantly raised wands to fire again.

The black wand responded, cross-handed, with a strong pull to to his right.

"EXPELLIARMUS," Harry conjured a cannon shot of red light, and it charged off toward one image and one image only. The gamble was only his life as he waited for spells to collide.

Lasaurus had lost a tempo by dividing and had barely finished muttering the curse when the small spurt of green energy gathering at the tip of his wand began to jet toward Harry. Immediately, it was hit and completely engulfed by a storm of red. Lasaurus was trapped in a surreal ball of green that was wrapped by a much larger ball of red.

Tock - the overhead lamp, which had slipped from it's mooring, had completed it's trek to the floor and burst into a million slivers of glass. For a moment Lasaurus paused lifelessly and then fell face first onto the carpet of scattered glass.

Harry stood there, guarded but also swayed by a storm of emotions. The great wizard had no doubt been killed by his own curse. It had been said that Harry relied too heavily on the Expelliarmus, but the curse carried with it it's own system of justice, and it was one that he still preferred. He approached with caution and kicked the wand from the wizard's lifeless hand. And then, as with all fallen wizards, Harry picked up Lasaurus' wand and stowed it in one of his own pockets.

"What the bloody hell?" he heard Ron exclaim and then nearly fall. Hermione too was recovering from the Immobulus jinx, and she stumbled after regaining consciousness .

"It's over," Harry announced.

"What – what's over," asked Ron, bewildered.

"You two were out of it – statues," he explained.

"Yeah okay – but how?" Ron asked as Hermione struggled to regain her balance.

"Wandless magic – Lasaurus was very good at it."

"Was?" Hermione piped in while looking at the lifeless figure laying face first in the floor.

"Yes, he was about to use you two as hostages to get Penny back."

"So what happened?" Ron asked, eagerly.

"He ran out of tricks Ron."

‡‡‡‡‡

Solemnly, they all three returned to the Ministry after summoning the Uniforms and a cleanup crew to the Roundhouse. Harry and Ron returned to the Auror office and wrote a report of the incident. Hermione was busying herself with locating Shacklebolt. There was a feeling like a lump of concrete in the base of his gut as Harry pushed the papers away from his desk. Penny would have to be informed of the day's events and the fate of her father.

Musing on the waste of it all, Harry trudged once more to the bowels of the detention level. The demeanor of the security guard was quite different on this visit and she returned within minutes with her raven-haired prisoner.

Dressed again in the prison dungarees and cheap plastic flip-flops, Penny took a seat at the corner table and the guard stepped away to disappear in the shadows. Harry wondered if the guard was already aware of the fate of Penny's father.

Penny sat there with a look of apprehension. The only thing from Harry was a protracted silence that spoke much louder than any words he could manage. When he extracted Lasaurus' wand and slapped it on the table, Penny turned white and then buried her face in her hands. She sobbed gently and then finally lifted her head to speak.

"Did any others – did anyone else..."

"No," Harry quickly replied.

"Thank God. I was so worried for the girl."

"Hermione?"

"Yes."

"She's fine. And except for your trial – it's over. And if there's one good thing to come out of this – you won't have to pay for your father's crimes."

"I can't think of that now. And it should have been me. This is all my fault."

"Penny... you can't change that now. But you can help yourself. Your father would have wanted that."

She looked surprised and taken back.

"You talked with him then..."

"Shortly – yes."

She shook her head, dismissing the thought.

"I deserve whatever I get. I don't care anymore."

"I hope you change that thought. Azkaban can be a hard place. You won't like it."

‡‡‡‡‡

Hermione was the first one in the Minister's office when he returned from business. To her credit she never divulged the whole story. She allowed Kingsley to believe that it was always Harry's plan to use her masquerading with Polyjuice potion to impersonate Penny. Still, the Minister didn't like it and summoned Harry and Ron to join them in his office.

"This whole case has been a huge embarrassment," he went on. "You could have all three been killed... and Hermione – I'm a surprised with you – that you'd go along with all this."

The witch flushed scarlet, unable to tell the whole story without further incriminating Harry.

"We didn't know what else to do sir. I mean he had Hannah and Mundungus," Harry injected.

"Well, of course Harry, but the Ministry can't afford to lose you three in exchange. You should have taken everyone we have as backup."

"Yes sir," Harry assented, thinking it would be best to simply humor the man.

"Well, at least the reports seem to be in order. Ron, Hermione – you two can go."

"Yes sir," they chorused and left Harry with the Minister alone.

Kingsley reached for the pipe and Harry knew he was in for a long arse chewing. After filling and tamping and finally lighting the pipe, Kingsley leaned back in the chair and looked his way.

"Harry... I have to say I couldn't be prouder."

"But sir... I mean I thought you were pissed."

"Well," he said and waved his hand, dismissively. "On the one hand I hardly approve of your actions. And you let him have his wand back. This is wild-west stuff Harry. I may have to devise some little show of punishment for all this. But for now... I'm proud of the Ministry. This little demonstration shows that no one can come here and take out one of our own... No one."

"Yes sir," Harry replied and bowed his head humbly.

"But this is all between you and me sir," Kingsley added. "I don't want Ron or Hermione to ever do anything like this again. Do you understand? Never."

"Yes sir."

"So Hannah and Mundungus – they're okay?"

"I think they're fine," he he said and paused. "I have a question though."

"What?"

"It's about Penny. If she cooperates – will her sentence be lightened accordingly?"

Kingsley fiddled with the pipe for a few moments.

"She'll have to convince the court that every copy of the formula she made is accounted for. If she'd never done that I'd say her sentencing would be minimal. But under the circumstances – who can say."

"Judging from her reaction – I think she's suffered a hell of a lot sir. I mean, she's lost her job, her father, and all these grand plans."

"Have you talked to her?"

Harry nodded somberly.

"You feel sorry for her then?"

"Sure," Harry replied. "It's hard not too."

"After she did you the way she did?"

"I know it's mad. She said she came back, to let me go."

"Do you believe that?"

"I don't know," Harry replied and bowed his head.

"Well, I don't think it really matters, and I hope you've learned your lesson Harry. Never get involved with a client."

"So you think she totally played me then?"

Kingsley mulled the question and tamped the pipe.

"No, maybe not – if it'll help by me saying that. I think she knew you had suffered a loss and you'd do everything in your power to protect her – and to avoid that happening again."

"Maybe you right."

"Well, this has been an unfortunate bit of business for you, and I sense you've suffered a bit yourself. So... your punishment – take a couple of weeks off Harry," he added with a wry smile. "Take some time off and get this mess out of your head," he finished and waved his hand dismissively.

"Yes sir. I'll do that."

‡‡‡‡‡

In the weeks leading up to Penny's trial, Harry was back at Grimmauld Place helping Kreacher with projects around the house and having most of his meals at home. They worked from sunrise to sunset the first week and it helped get his mind away from Paris and Penny, Jimbo and Harley, and even Ace and Piper. With fresh coats of paint and some new furnishings the old place was looking almost new again and he tried hard to forget the times there with Penny. He had just about convinced himself it had all been an illusion anyway.

Unlike the legal proceedings among Muggles, the Wizengamot preferred swift trials with a timely closure. Harry received an early morning Owl during his second week off, with a notice demanding his appearance in court. He knew all along he would have to testify and he tried his best to prepare for it. On the day he was to testify he rose early and dressed in a proper suit. Kreacher, as instructed, fixed only toast and black coffee on this day. Harry scanned over the first page of the Daily Prophet.

Penny Penthane Enters Third Day of Trial

Popular entertainer Penny Penthane enters a third day of

trial at the Ministry today. The beautiful bandleader was arrested

by Ministry Aurors last month on charges of attempted murder and the

possession and distribution of potions considered a threat to society.

The witch entered a split plea with a desire to...

Harry tossed the paper aside as if it caused physical pain. Exiting by the door to the yard, he wasted no time in getting to the Ministry courtroom on the lower level. Hermione and Ron were there and he made his way to the empty bench seat beside them. Rita Skeeter was there and her Quick-Quotes Quill was already buzzing.

Before the court was called to order, Penny with her solicitor were escorted in. She was dressed in business casual with a midnight blue jacket with matching trousers and conservative heels. The slick black hair was cut to a simple and straight pageboy. Immediately, Harry could see things were not going so well for her. The questioning and surly disposition of Wizengamot could easily attest to that.

When he was called to the bench, Harry did everything he could to negate the charges of attempted murder. He claimed Penny returned to the tunnel to set him free. But the court didn't buy it. First: he was either unconscious or already gone when she claimed to have returned. And two: It had already been made known to the court that they had been romantically involved in Paris and in London. In the end, the Wizengamot felt his testimony on this matter was unreliable and threw it out.

Harry left the courtroom after his testimony was complete. He returned to Grimmauld Place and continued the work he and Kreacher had begun. The next morning over breakfast, Kreacher had the morning paper on the table as usual.

Penny Penthane Found Guilty, Receives Five Years

Entertainer Penny Penthane was found guilty of

all charges today by an firm Wizengamot at the Ministry.

One charge was reduced to magical homicide, but the beautiful

witch received full sentencing for the possession of potions

considered a danger to society. Following recommendations from

the court the witch was sentenced to five years...

Harry read the shocking headlines and felt his heart sink. He had recommended a sentence of one year and an early off for good behavior. To Harry's mind, five years of Azkaban was cruel and unnecessary punishment. The human body just couldn't bear it without permanent mental and physical damage. After five years, Penny's beauty would be long gone and she would be reduced to a weathered hag.

Back at the Auror office, Harry had finally found the time to speak with Ron about Ginny. Sorta on and off, was how Ron described Ginny dating the Quidditch player from the Chudley Cannons. Probably more on than off at the moment, he later went on to add. There didn't appear to be much future on that front, and he didn't bother Ron with any more questions. He remembered Kingsley's suggestions about getting on with life and remembered how easy advice was to give. He had enjoyed his time with Penny, and Grimmauld Place had never been better. His meals with Kreacher were already dreadfully boring. He tried not to think about the good times he had, but the thoughts were persistent and hard to kill. Now, his greatest fear was that experiences like that might never come his way again.

Before her transfer to Azkaban, Harry dropped in to see Penny several times. He did the best he could to improve her spirits and promised he would find a way to help, but her mood was beyond repair. She did manage, before she left, to prepare a statement to the band and she wanted Harry to read it. He was able to get in touch with Ace one afternoon. The hard rocker almost seemed pleased to hear from him.

"POTTER," he hailed.

"Hello Ace."

"Any word from Penny? We desperately need her Arse back here."

"Well Ace, there is some news. And I have a message for the band."

Ace got very quiet on the other end. This was not what he expected, but he agreed to allow Harry to meet with the band at the next days practice.

Everyone was there and it reminded Harry of the time he met the band on Penny's terrace. It was the same level of enthusiasm, but with a little cloud hanging over.

Harry read the note as best he could:

First, I know many of you have wondered what's been going on for the past few weeks. I have to tell you now, the news is bad – very bad, as I wont be returning to the band. I have done something I shouldn't have and now must atone for it. I'm sorry, that's all I can tell you.

I've tried to make arrangements to leave the band to Ace. I know he'll do the right things and I totally trust his judgment. If you must get a message to me, Harry can arrange that. I'll leave his number with Ace.

You must believe me when I say the band was the best thing that ever happened to me and that I loved you all. Continue to work hard and make me proud. I'll always be thinking of you.

Love Always,

Penny.

A hush fell over the group, and a few moments later, whisperings and mumblings and the confused assembly began to break up and drift away. He made sure Ace had his mobile number and lingered for a moment or two before turning to leave. Just before he got to the door, he heard his name.

"Harry."

He spun around to see the girl.

"Mary Ann. Good to see you."

"Good to see you," she replied and sauntered over. "Thought you were long gone."

He shook his head – not quite sure how to reply.

"Nah, I've been around. How's work?"

She shrugged and looked away.

"So Penny, she's gotten herself in trouble then?"

Harry nodded slowly but didn't answer.

"Well, I don't know what'll happen to the band, but I don't think Ace will keep me," she went on.

"Why not?"

"He's never cared for my voice. Soooo, I guess it's back to looking for another job," she said with a what the Hell attitude. "How about you?"

"Fine. Things are fine. Busy at least."

"Really?" she asked with doubtful eyes.

Harry nodded. "Yeah."

She paused as if wanting to stay but then stepped back as if thinking the better of it.

"Well, so long Harry Potter. Take care," she said and turned to leave.

"Good luck Mary Ann," he said and watched the cute Muggle walk toward the exit gate. With her hand on the door, he could feel Kingsley's foot in his arse.

"Mary Ann!"

She stopped immediately and wheeled around. When he walked toward her, she moved to meet him half-way. She paused a few feet short and looked at him meekly with huge expecting eyes.

"You know – all that back there," he said, struggling. "It was just a job..."

"I understand," she said with a look that said she knew there was more to his story.

"I mean I would have liked to... Ah..."

She anguished at what he was trying to spit out.

"Anyway... I'd like to call on you – if I could."

She paused one more time to consider his request and found the answer in his eyes.

"Sure Harry – I'd like that," she said and pulled her mobile from her bag.

:

A/N: Thanks for the new favorites and the many new follows. Grats for the kind comments from Chelsea08 and downright flattery from gthompson.

Well, this is the end of the numbered chapters and the story will be marked complete after this one is released. However, and that being said, an epilogue has been planned since of the early days of the story. It's just too many loose ends not to have one, so look for that in the near future.

And last but not least, thank you again for reading and the comments, favorites, and follows – thanks...