Herald

Niklaus reclined against the large ornate bed in the suspiciously large basement, a thin lipped smiled directed at Harry. Tyler had been a bit put out when he'd seen the prison, its window-like façade which showed images of far-off places and its expensive furniture: the desk and chair, the bed and the canvass for the immortal to use his pent up energy on, instead of plotting against Harry when was let out. The hybrid had said this wasn't much of a prison, to which Harry had commented, it didn't do to be inhumane.

"You know this all could have been avoided if we'd spoken like adults from the beginning," said Harry. "If you didn't steal my compass or my gun, I might have actually liked you. You are part wolf after all."

Niklaus grimaced at this, then said, "You gloat now. But so you know, I've gotten out of tougher situations before." Niklaus smirked. "It helps to have siblings who care."

"You've been locked in here a week," said Harry, "and Rebekah hasn't even so much as asked about you. Do you still have hope that you'll be set free?" The smirk left the Original's face, guilt the wizard didn't understand passing through his eyes. Harry pulled out a bag of blood from his pocket and threw it across the barrier before scaling up the basement stairs.

He walked into the empty living room and was greeted by the sight of Bree sitting cross-legged on the floor, a circle around her. For the entire week Harry had asked that she continually perform a Tracking Spell over the Cloaked Sirius. Harry was hoping that the man and his witches would slip up and Bree get a location of them and the Elder Wand. So far they hadn't had much luck, but Harry reasoned that it was Gregory they were dealing with, someone who showed far more magical prowess than most witches he had seen so far.

Harry passed her without saying a word, making sure not to disturb the lines drawn of chalk or her concentration. The continued draw from Nature's power was draining and it was only helped by Bree being technically dead, less she would have landed on the Other Side. The circle itself was a rough draft at a Circle of Empowerment, but from what Harry could feel from it, it wasn't enough. He would need to get it done if he was going to succeed creating the Veil of Death before the month ended.

For a moment the air became thick as Harry passed through the Silencing barrier and into a drawing room. "How are things in Mystic Falls?" Harry asked. Lexi sat on the kitchen counter, looking at something Harry couldn't see. "Alexander's already here?" the wizard asked.

Lexi nodded. "Been here for the last half-hour," she said. "Says he has important news." She and Alexander didn't get along too well, or at least Harry had heard. But the wizard couldn't say he was surprised with the older gentleman being a Hunter.

"I'm listening," said Harry. He waited a moment—which was really annoying all thing considered—and watched as Lexi's brows rose. "What?"

"We have another Hunter," she said. "One who knows about his lineage, particularly, the importance of the Sword of Alexander."

"Does Alexander know where they are?" Harry asked, his interest peaked. He hadn't found the sword, someone had taken it and cloaked it as well—Harry was really beginning to hate Cloaking Spells. But Harry only knew of one person who must have taken it but he didn't know why. Harry was sure Sirius more than anything would now be focusing on training with the Elder Wand more than looking for the Cure, then again who else would have had time to take the sword while Niklaus had gone to attack Harry and his hybrids?

"He does," said Lexi, "and it seems he wants to meet you."

Harry nodded. "Getting out of Mystic Falls would be a Godsend right now," he said. Being in the house, the constant reminder of all he had lost and all who had died because of him, was disconcerting. Especially not mentioning that he had been hauled up in the house for the entire week. Harry looked around nervously at the thought of death, perhaps fortune had smiled on him in taking away his ability to see the dead; he shuddered to think how he would feel if he looked into all their eyes. "Where are they?"

Harry waited before the answer was said. "They were headed towards New Orleans," she said. "There are rumours flying that there might be an 'infestation' in the French Quarter."

Harry nodded. "I should get to that immediately. You'll take care of everything?"

She nodded, her eyes shining with something akin to pity. Harry didn't like the look one bit but said nothing, only trudged upstairs, packed a backpack and grabbed his compass from his lab. He walked downstairs, said goodbye to Lexi, looked at his compass as it spun and jerked and turned on the spot.

A rope entangled itself around him as soon as he got into the tube of darkness and viciously pulled him forward; using the same magic of the tether connecting Harry to Gregory—which the wizard still hadn't gotten to end—he had upgraded his compass, now it also pulled someone during Apparition towards what they were looking for. It was potentially dangerous, but Harry would soon work out the kinks.

He appeared with no sound at all, backpack on his back, a compass in his left hand and his wand in his right. It seemed no one noticed his arrival, not that they would have noticed; Connor and another man, shorter and sandy-haired, stood in front of a burly man with a goatee and long bedraggled hair, whose skin had cuts and wounds, and hands bound to a wall by a heavy chain.

"Well this is a charming sight." The shorter man whirled around, throwing a knife mid-turn; Harry's reaction was instantaneous, two spells left his wand, the first shattering the knife into rubble while the second collided with short man and pushed him back, slamming him into a wall. Harry's wand pointed at Conner, but the man hadn't moved to attack, his hands were held up in the universal sign for surrender, though he looked a little shocked.

"Sorry," Harry said and putting the wand away. "I've been antsy of late."

Harry tried to ignore the bound man, but for some reason memories spurred of the clean-up; the charred bodies of the hybrids who had followed him and the even worse sight of the disembowelled sight of those who hadn't been protected from the fire by Harry's enchanted armour.

Harry shook his head, not the same circumstances.

"You got the message then?" Harry nodded.

"Alexander pulled through." The wizard's eyes found the hunter who was getting to his feet, brushing off dust from his clothes. "Who's your friend?"

"Harry, I'd like to introduce you to Galen Vaughn. Vaughn, this is Harry, the wizard I told you about."

Harry extended a hand and so did Galen. "A pleasure," said the wizard, the man only nodded before pulling out a wad of cash and handing it over to Connor. "Let me guess, you don't believe in ghosts?"

"It's more I don't believe that you can see nor talk to them," said Galen, his eyes shifted around the room nervously. "Are there any around right now?"

Harry looked around the basement, seeing nothing in particular but nonetheless said, "Excluding Alexander, no." He quickly changed the subject as he saw an expression he didn't know flicker across Connor. "Who's he?"

Whatever Connor was going to say was stalled as he turned towards the vampire. "Not sure about his name, but he and a few of his late friends tried to jump us when we came in," said Connor.

"I think they might be scouts," Galen put in. "It fits if the rumours of the horde are true."

Harry nodded. "And if that's true then we should expect someone to check in when they don't report back. Have you already gone into town?" Harry asked.

Galen was the first to shake his head. "Until we find everything we find out everything we can, I don't think it's a very good idea we go into a horde's dwelling," the hunter said.

"True, true," said Harry. "What have you gotten out of him so far?"

"Nothing," said Connor he reached into the loop of his belt and pulled out a knife. "But we haven't been going at this too long. We'll get him to spill."

"Torture," Harry said not sounding pleased. "I'll sit it out, scout out the city. I've heard of powerful witches who call this place home. We'll talk later, yes?" Harry asked looking at Galen. The hunter gave a nod. "Where are we anyway?"

"Some bar outside of the Quarter," said Connor.

Harry listened and heard not a sound from upstairs. "I'll be leaving them," said Harry. "Can I take the Cobra?"

"Sure."

Harry turned on the spot and appeared beside the Cobra, jumped in and drove off.

Thirty minutes passed all of which Harry had found himself enraptured by a tour of Crescent City, well it was that he was more enraptured by the tour guide than the tour itself. Magic came off her in the familiar waves of one who could wield the power of Nature herself. A witch and she was looking at Harry with a smile that said 'I'm only doing this because it's my job, don't get fresh'.

"Not interested in buying yourself a hex?" she asked when others of the group had walked into a quaint shop.

Harry shrugged. "I much prefer my own spells than those of others," Harry said. "Harry Potter."

"Sabine," she said with an interested look to her. "You a witch?"

"I prefer the term wizard, but I do magic yes."

She smiled a bright more welcoming smile. "It's been a very long time since we had new blood of witch in the area."

"I was in the area and I decided to go on a little witch hunt," said Harry. "I've heard the witches in this region have a particular way in which they use magic. I wanted to learn about it. Study it."

"A scholar," she said to which Harry nodded. "You'll have to speak to our Elder. She has authority in that region."

"I'd be up for it now…" Sabine shook her head.

"I've got tours all day today, but I know someone who can help you. Do you know where Rousseau's is?" Harry shook his head.

"But I'm adept with Tracking Spells," said Harry pulling out his compass. Sabine tensed at the word spell and quickly shook her head.

"Don't use magic," she said in almost a whisper. She smiled as tourists started piling out. "Take a cab, they'll surely know where it is. Ask for Sophie and tell her Sabine sent you."

Harry nodded, questions ringing across his head at why she had said not to use magic but he figured he could ask this when he got to Rousseau's. He hailed a cab and was lucky enough that the driver knew the bar. Going in Harry didn't know what to expect, but the place had the New Orleans feel to it, a cool ruckus reverberating from the patrons. The wizard didn't gather too much attention as he walked in and took a seat at the barstool, a bartender, blonde and donning a nametag with 'Camille' written on it.

"Welcome to Rousseau's what can I get you today?" she asked.

"Whisky," said Harry, "and some information." She paused mid-pouring a drink as he said that. "Do you, by chance, know a Sophie?"

"Sophie Deveraux?" Camille asked.

Harry only shrugged. "I don't know her last name, but a friend of hers, Sabine, said I could find her here." Harry took a sip of the drink.

"Sabine…yeah it sounds familiar. I'll get Sophie."

It was a few moments before she came back out, with her a petite dark-haired woman. She frowned as Camille directed her to Harry. "Hey," she said. "I don't know who you are."

"I'm new to town," said Harry. "I wanted to learn things from Sabine. She said I might need to speak to an Elder, that you could direct me to him or her."

Sophie looked around, particularly at Camille who seemed a little interested in the conversation. "Come with me," she said, her eyes still looking around but no longer at Camille but at the room at large.

Harry reflected her tenseness, looking around but finding nothing suspicious. He stood and followed, making sure to finish his glass first. She led Harry to a kitchen, a very hot kitchen with food still in the process of being chopped on the counter and something simmering on the stove.

"Listen, whoever you are," she started as she closed the door, "this isn't the best time for a witch in the Quarter." Her voice was a whisper.

"Wizard," Harry corrected. "But, I don't understand. Doesn't the French Quarter have one of the largest covens in the world? This would be the best place for witches…not that I'm a witch."

Sophie shook her head. "Leave," she said. "Before he finds out about you and thinks we're up to something. Sabine should have sent you away," she said in a frenzy, Harry hadn't noticed but he had begun moving and was being ushered out of a backdoor. Sophie took a few breaths, trying to calm herself. "Listen to me. Leave the Quarter and don't use any magic."

The metal door closed before Harry said a word, and he was left utterly confused. Witches who were afraid to use magic. It wasn't something Harry could say he'd ever come across, but he was sort of hit with a dilemma: did he now investigate why these witches were so afraid or was it more prudent to just leave, let those so closely related to him suffer under whatever it was that kept the witches in these parts in such a state of fear.

Harry stopped himself before he could turn on the spot, the alarm ringing across his mind: Don't use magic. He hailed a cab, returning to his car before driving back to the little bar, the sun had just dimmed as he arrived and the bar still sat empty, except for Connor and Galen who sat at the bar with drinks in front of each.

"Finally back," said Connor a slight slur in his tone.

"Yeah."

"Find anything out? Or run into any vampires?"

Harry shook his head. "Ran into witches though," he said not hiding his frown, "and for some reason they're afraid of using magic."

"Witches afraid of using magic?" asked Galen quirking his eyebrows.

"My thoughts exactly," said Harry. The wizard walked to the bar, took a seat and poured himself a drink.

"Could this have anything to do with the vampire infestation?" Galen asked.

Harry shrugged. "It could. But that would just be a blind guess right now. We're not even sure if there is a horde here…" When both didn't say otherwise, Harry assumed they hadn't succeeded in making the vampire spill. "I think we should pull back for the time being," Harry said after a few moments' thought. He didn't like the idea of taking on new enemies so soon. Niklaus might have been out of the game, but he still had Sirius and Gregory to deal with, he still had the Hollows, sans Cloak of Invisibility, to find and re-unite. He didn't have time for distractions.

"I'm of the same mind," said Galen. "I've not met many witches, but I know how powerful they can be. If they're scared and it has to do with vampires, then the three of us don't have a hope of dealing with them."

"We have more than just the three of us," said Connor. "There's Bree and Lexi, not to mention the hybrids."

Harry shook his head. "Bree is working on something she can't get away from, and Lexi is keeping an eye on Mystic Falls. I'm hoping she can weasel out where the Sword of Alexander is. Speaking of which, the man himself says you know the purpose of the sword."

Galen nodded. "I do." He took a drink. "It's a way to read the tattoo, which is a map to find Silas and has the spell to open his tomb. I've been looking for it for a while now," the man continued after taking another drink. "Following rumours, making friends who can do Tracking Spells and sometimes running from our enemies," the last was said in an exaggerated ominous tone.

Harry drew forward, highly interested. "These enemies being?"

"Two groups…well the last isn't really a group more than one person, but he's far more powerful than most groups so—I'm rambling. Anyway. The first of these groups is the Cult of Silas." He shook his head, looking disgusted by the mere thought of the cult. "These morons believe Silas to be a god, they want him released from his prison so he can bring hell on earth or some equivalent. On the opposite end, is the second group, who are so afraid of Silas that they kill anyone who knows about him so there isn't even the smallest chance that he might, even accidentally, be released.

"I've ran into both groups, the first can be somewhat easy to escape from when they're not witches but the last." Galen shook his head a slight ounce of fear playing across his eyes. "I don't know if you've ever heard of them, the Originals? Those who see themselves as the first Immortals?"

Harry nodded.

"Kol Mikaelson is the one I'm talking about." Harry noticed a shiver coming from Connor at the name and the wizard didn't know whether it was because of the surname or name itself, but he was left feeling a little confused. "The only vampire who the Hunter's Curse doesn't work on."

"The Hunter's Curse?"

Galen smirked at that. "Pure genius on the part of the witch who made us like this," said Galen with a bit of a grin. "If we can't kill Silas and instead he kills one of us, he'll see visions of us tormenting him until he doesn't have the strength to hold on but to kill himself."

"Genius for her goal, but not for you lot is it?" Harry said. Connor and Galen both nodded at this. "We should get out of here," Harry said. "Go back to Mystic Falls for the time being until we figure out if there's a way to hurry up the spread of this tattoo you lot have."

"Right, that," said Connor. "Actually there is," he said. "When Galen and I met, our tattoos grew, a connection between the vampires each of us had killed."

"So we have to bring you lot together?" Harry asked.

"If we want to finish the tattoos in our lifetimes, yes," said Galen. "The things are slow moving."

Harry smiled as a possible explanation hit. "Whoever it is that made you lot was a real genius that I have to admit," he said. "Look at it this way, how do you ensure that the first vampire ends up dead at all costs?" He didn't wait for them to answer. "Bewitch a group of powerful Muggles, give them the urge to kill those more powerful than them—In essence give them training—for a very long time—refining your skills—then bring that group together. I don't know if it's true, but I think that all the Hunters might be in America right now being pulled towards each other. It's the only reason you two would have bumped into each other at such improbable odds."

Galen shook his head. "Seems a little far-fetched don't you think." Harry was about to answer, but instead was interrupted by Connor.

"I don't think so," the hunter said with a musing looking to him. "Mystic Falls, I was directed there by someone who said it would give me answers, I meet Harry," the wizard snorted at that, "and not too long after I run into a potential, a vampire who knows a lot, then Harry meets Alexander, the leader of our brotherhood, and next thing I'm meeting you."

"There is such a thing as coincidence," said Galen.

Harry shook his head. "No such thing," the wizard said. "Only well thought-out plans and a game of chess played not only by two people."

"So you're saying this was all planned?" asked Galen.

"I think so," said Harry. "Otherwise it would all make no sense. The chances of you two coming together are improbable at best. I'm sure Galen could have hunted vampires in Europe for all his life and his supply wouldn't have ended, and yet he came to America."

"But I was on the run most of that time," the man said. "Who would know that and plan accordingly?"

"There are many who could," said Harry. "Remember, this isn't a game only concerning mortals, there are those on the Other Side, there are the vampires on this side, and there are those who have been alive since creation."

Both Connor and Galen frowned at this, but Harry didn't explain as he was suddenly pulled into thought. Nature hated Immortality. It liked balance beyond anything else. This was the reason it had given vampires their weaknesses, the sunlight, that they could be killed by wood, with even the Originals this was true, Mikael and Finn had been killed. But not in the case of Silas, Alexander had called him a true Immortal, something Nature must have abhorred. How then, had it made to fix that imbalance? Harry didn't know, but he guessed this was her greater plan. Bring together those that could kill Silas and ensure they had enough power to do it.

A great plan, but then again, Nature itself was a great power.

"He does this sometimes," Harry heard coming from Connor. "Give him a few minutes."

The hitch though, was where he fit in in all this. Harry had been asked by witches to stop the falling of the veil, how did this fit with the greater scheme? Perhaps it didn't, the wizard thought, even in the larger game there were smaller games at play. Perhaps the witches truly liked having that sort of power. The power to meddle in the lives of their descendants, to give and sometimes take power as they wanted, as with the case of Bonnie Bennett.

He was being used as a pawn, which Harry found he really hated. There was something about being used and manipulated that he didn't like, and just for the sake of it Harry felt the urge to mess everything up, free Silas, break the veil, and see what would happen. But he remembered why he was working towards the death of Silas in the first place. It was because of Connor and the hope that when Silas was dead, he would lose the compulsion to put himself in dangerous positions.

"I think we should find the rest of your brethren," said Harry. "With them around we might get the tattoo done within the month," not to mention Harry would need them with the entire Sirius matter, the highly trained against a group of witches, but this time Harry would be more prepared. "I think Sirius might have the sword but Bree is looking for him right now," he said. "It's only time before he slips in his cloaking and we find him."

"What? Why would Sirius be hiding?" asked Connor.

"Right, I haven't told you have I? The plan worked. He along with Remus, are out of the game, Sirius along with six witches escaped."

"How did you manage winning without your wand?" Connor asked.

"I was lucky enough to run into a man who possessed a conduit. I stole it and with the element of surprise on my side, waged war. I won, but the price…" had been too much, which is why Harry felt he needed to work faster in getting back his wand so he could work on the Veil of Death. "Let's just say that when I build the arch, there'll be a lot who I'm going to let pass through it without a price."

"Fair warning, though, we can't tell anyone of my victory. Less we attract others of his ilk." Though this was a forgone conclusion, Niklaus' spat with Harry had been evident to everyone in the town, if any of the Originals wanted to find their brother, Harry would be the first person they went to.

"You work with vampires?" Galen asked as he stared at Lexi, said woman only looked at the hunter with a cool look.

"A vampire," Connor said in defence of himself, "and she isn't too bad. She's more of the refined vampires I've met."

Galen only shook his, but Harry focused more on the small smile that Lexi donned for less than a millisecond. "Strange," the man muttered.

"Harry we need to talk," said Lexi.

"Let me show you around the house," said Connor as the feeling of the privacy passed between him and the vampire.

"Yeah, sure," said Galen as he lugged his bag and left the foyer, climbing the stairs with Connor in the lead. Harry looked towards Lexi.

"We had a visitor yesterday," said the vampire. "Atticus Shane, says he wants his rock back."

"What did you tell him?"

"Told him you had gone on business for a couple of days, but that's not why I'm telling you this. I couldn't see him."

Harry frowned. "What do you mean you couldn't see him?"

"There was a knock at the door, I opened it and saw no one. Luckily Tyler was here, he wanted to speak with Klaus because of some wolf who disappeared, Hayley. He noticed that it was Shane who was here, they spoke and he gave me the message."

"I've heard of this before," said the wizard. "Sheila Bennett said she couldn't see him, but I didn't get much time to think about it. There's just something about Shane that I don't trust. I get the strong feeling that he might be up to something, but the problem is he's got a powerful witch on his side."

"Bonnie?"

Harry nodded. "I told her of my suspicions but she has more reason not to like me than him, I don't think that was all too helpful. I'll talk to Mr Lockwood, perhaps get him to spy on the professor. Anything else of import happened?"

Lexi shook her head. "But questions are still being asked. Stefan says Rebekah let slip that Elijah might be on his way to Mystic Falls."

Harry sighed. "Just what we need, another Original. I think we might have to oust them," said Harry. "To the town council that is. With the present climate I don't have the resources to deal with anymore Originals on my own."

"What about your oath to protect them?" Lexi asked.

"I'll keep it as well as I can," said Harry. "Send Rebekah halfway around the world or something of the like. Elijah though, will prove a problem. I've heard he can be as bad as Niklaus at the best of times."

"Let's hope we don't have to deal with Kol," said Rebekah, she shuddered. "If you think Klaus is bad."

"I'll go speak to Sheriff Forbes, ask her when the next council meeting is." The wizard reached into his pocket and pulled out his compass, then turned on the spot. He felt the pull and found himself in a living room, Sheriff Forbes dozing on the couch; voices came from upstairs, two talking in hushed tones.

Harry tapped himself with his wand, layering himself with a Silencing Charm.

"All we need now is a Hunter," the voice was saying, Bonnie's Harry was sure.

"I'm all for curing Elena and ending that stupid bond she has with Damon, but should we really trust Shane? A lot of things don't add up about him, how he knows so much or how he got the sword. Stefan said it was with Klaus."

There was a pause, then "He says he had someone on the inside."

"Right, because that isn't very suspicious," said Caroline. "I say we tell the others," she went on. "The more of us that know, the more we can do."

"Damon and Matt already don't trust Shane as it is, if they find this out, I don't know what they might do."

"Bonnie. These are our friends. We can't keep something like this from them."

A beat, then a sigh. "Perhaps we should. Maybe one of them will know a way we can get a hunter."

"That's going to be a problem," said Caroline. "But…we could talk to him."

Another beat, then another sigh. "I'm thinking that's the only option we might have."

Harry tapped himself with his wand then cleared his throat. "Good day, Sheriff Forbes."

The woman jumped a little. "Mr Potter, what are you doing here?"

"I wanted to speak to you, I thought you would be at your office," the wizard said.

"It's my day off," she said, rubbing her eyes. She sat up. "I haven't seen you in a while."

"I've been busy of late," said Harry, he took a seat on the couch. "Not that this has abated. I think another Original might be on its way to Mystic Falls, and this time I want to nip in the bud. I want to tell the town council about the Originals."

"What?" she said, this too echoed upstairs, there was the sound of footsteps and then Caroline appeared. Bonnie with her a few minutes later.

"Hello, Caroline, Bonnie." The latter of the girls couldn't look at Harry directly in the eyes, she instead chose to look between Caroline and her mother.

"What do you mean you want them to know?" she asked.

"Well, with Niklaus' disappearance all of us will be in a lot more danger. You," he said looking at Sheriff Forbes, "because I speak to you the most. Your daughter because she's a link to you. Her friends because of the various degrees of separation," he said. "We need to protect ourselves," said Harry, "especially if all of them work together."

Caroline shot a queer look at her mother, but the woman didn't look phased.

"Telling the council is a slippery slope," said Bonnie. "It could blow up in our faces pretty quick. Last time they knew there were vampires in Mystic Falls twelve of them ended up dead."

Harry shivered. Twenty-four had now died, another twelve and there would be enough fuel for the magic to break the other side, and still Harry had no idea who was responsible.

"It's a risk we'll have to take unfortunately," said Harry. "The last time I tried fighting an Original it ended with me being thought dead for two weeks, friends of mine dead and another tortured. I'm not going to have that again. I will tell the council about the Originals whether you want me to or not. But having your go ahead is something I would appreciate."

"Why?" asked Sheriff Forbes taken a little aback.

"I trust you more than I trust anyone else I don't consider friend," said Harry.

There was a moment's pause, time enough for Harry's words to sink in. "Mr Potter, this would be putting the residents of Mystic Falls in danger, this would be putting the council in danger."

Harry shook his head. "Power through solidarity. Currently it's only you and the mayor who know about the goings on in Mystic Falls. But if there were more, there could be action, I would have greater room to work."

"Room to work?"

"It would require seven people with the same goal, seven people of power, seven people who could promote real change in the town, and I could build a barrier that could keep out the Originals indefinitely."

"I'll call an emergency meeting," said Sheriff Forbes.

"Wait," said Bonnie. "I don't understand something. If you could have done this before. Why didn't you, when Klaus was still around."

"Because before I wouldn't have been able to," said Harry. "I didn't have the power. But by an unfortunate set of circumstances there are a lot of reserves I can use as fuel."

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Caroline.

Harry shook his head, trying to shake the memories from his thoughts. "It doesn't matter. It would be best if we hurried, who knows when Elijah will get here."

"How do you know about that?" asked Caroline.

Harry only shrugged. "Stefan Salvatore told Lexi and Lexi told me," he said. "I'm beginning to think your friend is starting to make amends. But that also isn't important. Elijah is coming and the council can help us."

Sheriff Forbes nodded, pulling out her phone and beginning to dial. Caroline was looking at him, Harry noticed, a look Harry couldn't quite place.

"Problem, Caroline?" Harry asked.

The vampire didn't say anything, only got to his feet and walked off in the direction of her mother. Bonnie muttered something Harry didn't catch but there was a rise of power and a pulse that swept across the four corners of the room.

"You're using the power of the dead hybrids?" asked Bonnie.

Harry nodded. "It seems a waste not to use their deaths for something worthwhile."

"You aren't telling her that its dark magic you're using."

"If I told her that, then I'd also have to tell her that twelve hybrids died on my lawn. Which would precede questions I'd rather not have asked." Voices came from outside the living room, but they were muffled and indistinct. "You're hiding their conversation?"

She nodded. "I've heard you have supernatural senses. I didn't want you listening in."

Harry nodded slowly. "We haven't spoken since that day," said Harry. "About your grandmother."

Bonnie tensed. "What about her?"

"I promised I'd bring her back," said Harry. "I can still do that."

"How?"

"How strong is this protection of yours?"

"Not very strong. But it keeps back unwanted attention."

Harry nodded. "Caroline, the first time I spoke with her, told me that I should perhaps try and trust you lot. I'm not one to trust easily, but, hear goes. Shortly after I arrived in Mystic Falls the spirits of these hear parts asked that I stop something in the works. A ritual that needed thirty-six to die. I've been working, trying to stop that for the last month, even with the entire Niklaus thing, but it seems I've failed."

"The hybrids."

Harry nodded. "That isn't the point though. The witches told me that this ritual was working towards shattering the veil to the Other Side. The spirits hate this of course, says it goes against Nature, but I believe they like being in power, with the veil gone they would be bound by the same rules the rest of us are. They live, the die and that's the end of it.

"But since I gave them my word. I have to stop that. The deaths that is, not the veil breaking. I know I don't have the power to break the veil, but I do have enough magical knowledge to create my own ritual with the resources I have on hand. I want to break the veil enough that it creates a door in which anyone who passes through one side comes back to life, but the other side they move on."

She nodded, taking a moment to let everything sink before she asked. "I still don't understand why you'd want to be building something like this?"

"I don't like the idea of the Other Side. I don't like the idea of being confined in general, so you can imagine being confined to Purgatory for all eternity."

Bonnie was a major player in this Harry knew. The wizard had yet to hear of anyone else to use Expression and that only left Bonnie to be used, this therefore meant that whoever was coordinating this ritual was close to the girl. He would need to watch, especially now that it showed that plans were coming together to end.

"Just so you know," said Bonnie breaking Harry from his thoughts. "The spirits won't like this. They'll try to stop you."

"The spirits don't scare me," Harry said.

Bonnie shook her head. "They might not now, but when they attack those you love…" she left the statement lingering, an expression of pain evident in her eyes.

"You are under no compulsion to answer me, Bonnie, but I feel I should ask. How did the spirits strip you of your magic?"

She paused for so long that Harry thought she wouldn't answer. When she spoke she caught the wizard off guard. "They tortured my grandmother," she said, tears threatening to spill from her eyes. "Brought her so much pain that every time I tried using magic I had her image playing across my mind."

Harry shivered. The feeling of loathing that he had for most of the spirits only intensified and with it came back the urge to just rip the bloody veil so they all could die. Harry shook his head, he didn't need any more enemies at present.

Caroline and Sheriff Forbes walked in and Harry felt the spell shatter and disintegrated. Sheriff Forbes was putting away her phone as she came in.

"Most of them have agreed to meet," she said. "But I didn't think I should tell them about what you are until we met." She glanced at her watch. "Three hours. I need to get dressed," and she walked away not even once looking at Harry.

Harry stood. "I'd better go look presentable myself," the wizard said. Harry paused for a moment, looking at the two expectantly, but when they said nothing he gave a nod and turned on the spot.

There was not much in the way of action at his house, Galen and Connor were sparring, Bree still in the living room in a heavy trance and Lexi had gone to check into the Asylum. Remus was still a threat Harry had to keep in sight. Insanity was not the end to those who knew the mind arts, it could be escaped if one pushed hard enough and Harry was sure Remus, a part of himself who had already escaped from one prison, would push to escape even this. Harry informed the two of his plan for the Originals, making sure to get Galen in the loop sans details about capturing Niklaus or where he was imprisoned.

"Okay so these guys, Sirius and Remus, they came out of your head?" asked Galen. Harry chuckled, but he nodded. "Talk about a dangerous case of multiple personality disorder," the mutter. "So you and these guys get in a scuffle, you…curse Remus?" Harry nodded. "And he goes insane. But the other one escaped? With a bunch of other witches who probably hate you because you killed members of their coven?"

"You know," said Harry, putting on his shirt. "I just told you all this. You don't need to recap it back to me."

Galen shook his head, frowning in thought. "I'm just trying to understand something. Both of them seemed comfortable with working with an Original…so what's stopping him from going to this other one? Elijah."

"Merlin's beard I didn't think about that," said Harry. The wizard quickly put on a blazer, glanced at his watch and decided it was time enough that he could go to the Forbes residence. "Stay in the house," said Harry to the Hunters. "After this ritual is done we'll start looking for you brethren."

Both nodded and Galen added. "Weapons too right? Connor showed me that axe you made for him, I'm looking for something like that only smaller. A knife perhaps?"

"Connor can get you daggers from the lab," said Harry. "The door will open for him. I've got to go." Harry turned on the spot.

"For some odd reason I'm starting to get used that," said Sheriff Forbes as Harry appeared in front of her. For a moment the wizard just stopped and stared, this was the first time he had seen the sheriff out of uniform and it sure showed a difference. "Is something wrong," she asked fiddling with her hair.

Harry shook his head, coming back to himself. "No. Not at all." The wizard put on a smile. "Business as usual," he said. "I thought it might be prudent to come first, break the whole magic thing to them slowly."

"Oh," she said, nodding a little, however Harry heard a small sigh. "But I don't think that will be necessary." Harry was about to ask, but footsteps from outside reached him and a second later there was a knock at the door. "I'll get that."

The first voice Harry didn't know, it was low and rumbling, and when the man appeared his voice fit him well. He was taller than Harry, dark-skinned with short cut hair and world weary eyes. "I'll explain everything when the others get here," said Sheriff Forbes.

"Rudy Hopkins," the man said hand extended.

Harry took it. "Harry Potter."

The next knock reverberated and with it came a voice Harry found familiar. The woman was dark haired and when she saw Harry a look of recognition passed before her.

"I should know you shouldn't I?" Harry asked.

She nodded, but she didn't look even a little offended that he didn't. "Meredith Fell."

And that was where those who were unknown ended. The next to arrive was the Mayor of Mystic Falls, who was then quickly followed by Damon Salvatore, Elena Gilbert and Matt Donovan.

Harry sighed as the entourage came in all at once. "It's great to see that your Council is not made up of those you're supposed to be fighting."

Damon smirked, Elena looked disconcerted, Matt looked uncomfortable, out of place and Mayor Lockwood looked…Harry couldn't tell. There was anger in her eyes, but an anger that was lined with fear at times. Her cool demeanour won over however.

"You said you needed seven," said Sheriff Forbes. "These are the seven most influential people in Mystic Falls. Who also happen to know about everything."

"What's going on, Liz?" asked Rudy. "Why did you call us here?"

"Because of our recent Original problem," said Sheriff Forbes. "Harry might have a way to keep them out of Mystic Falls for the foreseeable future."

"I'm sure, Harry," said Damon putting stress on the wizard's name, "has more than enough reason to want to make sure the Originals never come here again."

"What's that supposed to mean?" asked Rudy, but Damon didn't answer. "Will someone tell me what's going on?" said Rudy sounding a slight exasperated, "and why children have been brought into the Council?" his eyes on Elena and Matt as he asked this, the look of discomfort on the boy's face increased three folds.

"Things have changed since you left, Rudy," said Mayor Lockwood.

"Not for the better in some instances," said Sheriff Forbes as she set a stern look at the mayor, then a sad one at Elena. "But we've been trying to make due. Harry, I'll let you take the floor."

Harry let out a sigh, but trudged forward no less. "Well, since most of us from the looks of it know what the Originals are, I'm sure I won't need to reiterate the danger they pose for this town especially since Elijah Mikaelson is making his way to Mystic Falls. For those who don't know, I'm a wizard," Harry was a little surprised that none were surprised by the revelation of witches but he didn't let that faze him, "and have a ritual I can do that will keep out the Originals."

"Why would that ritual need us?" asked Elena.

"Seven people standing for a common goal will afford the ritual direction," said Harry, "and your blood will lend into the power of the barrier that will protect the entire town."

"Wait, blood?" asked Sheriff Forbes. "You didn't mention anything about blood."

"There's power in blood," said Harry. "Unfortunately though, this will put you all in a lot of danger. Spells of the power that I will be using need to be bound to something and since it will be your blood that will be used, it will be bound to you all in turn."

"What does that mean?" asked Meredith.

"That if someone want to break the barrier they would have to kill all of us," said Rudy. Harry raised a brow at this. "I was married to a witch, Mr Potter, I know a little about magic."

"Bonnie Bennett's father?" The man nodded. "Well," said the wizard. "I have to admit I'm surprised that this council still exists to how far it's fallen." Harry looked at Meredith. "At least you're not tainted right? You don't have any sympathy for the 'enemy'?"

Damon snorted and that was answer enough, the wizard only sighed and looked at the members of the council. "So what will it be?" he asked. "You going through with it or not? Are you willing to take on the danger that comes with protecting your town?"

"Dark Magic," Rudy interrupted. "Blood," he said. "It's nothing but dark magic."

"Oh, come now," said Harry. "That's nothing but witch propaganda. There's no such thing as Dark Magic only the intent behind it. If the intent is dark, then it taints the spell."

Rudy shook his head. "I don't like this," he said. "I don't like what this council has become. Using magic, bringing children into our midst, and not to mention we have two vampires. Vampire! Who are a part of the council that is supposed to be keeping them out of our town."

"Your town," said Damon. He snorted. "I was there when this town was being built, your claim over it isn't as powerful as you think."

"Salvatore," the man said, almost spitting the word out. "Isn't he the reason that my wif…" he cut himself off, taking a breath then started anew. "Isn't he the reason Abby is dead, and we're letting him flounder around as though he did nothing?"

"First off," said Damon, scowling. "I don't flounder, and second, that was for the greater good. Self-Preservation."

"Mystic Falls is a shadow of its former self," the man went on ignoring Damon completely. "The animal attacks. Kids missing. Strange fires. Now we're putting our faith in some wizard who hasn't been in this town more than a month?"

"Harry Potter has done far more for this town than you think," said Sheriff Forbes. "I won't expect you to understand. But he's the one who dealt with the whole Klaus debacle."

"Be that as it may," he said looking at Harry. "We can deal with this by ourselves. The council has lived through the centuries because of human," he stressed the word, "ingenuity."

Harry chortled. "Says the man who married into a family of witches," said Harry. "You have to understand something Mr Hopkins, witches have been a part of this town before it was what it now is. So were werewolves, hybrids and vampires. This town isn't solely for 'human's' as you say, but for everyone and it is everyone's duty to protect it. Now, I admit I still haven't thought of the reason Elizabeth," the wizard had no idea why, but since the sheriff had decided to be on a first name basis, he thought he should return the favour in kind, "thought Matt should be a part of this—"

"Kind of wondering that myself," Matt muttered.

"—but her reasoning is her own and I won't fault her. This spell will protect Mystic Falls, it will protect those who live within. I think that's more important than dealing with this matter the 'human' way."

"No good will come of this I can already tell," Rudy said. "But this isn't about me. This is about the town and so we should we put to a vote. All those against partaking in this ritual," the said and raised his hand; a beat and Mayor Lockwood followed. "We—"

Harry's leg gave out, his hands clutched at his stomach; scorching tendrils of pain throbbing at his core. It was a moment where his mind lost itself and he knew nothing, only pain and the darkness around him, and the next people were standing over him.

"Give him room," said the voice of Meredith Fell and the memory finally connected. Meredith, Connor, Lexi and Jeremy Gilbert standing over him after he had been Splinched and the doctor vying to give him vampire blood. "Mr Potter, are you okay?"

The wizard slowly sat, his head pounding and his core still throbbing. He reached into his pocket and took out his wand, two ethereal forms of blue light spilling out and forming two stags.

"Bree and Lexi, disappear if they're alright come back if either of them isn't and tell me which." The Patronii disappeared with loud whooshed that had absolutely no wind. Harry quickly got to his feet, shaking the feelings of pain off.

"I need to leave," said Harry before turning on the spot.