Groundwork
Harry appeared with crack.
"I know," said Bree as the wizard opened his mouth to speak. He paused, taken a bit aback, but then memory flooded back.
"You know what to do," said Harry and the wizard walked away and into an emptied drawing room. Connor and Galen stopped from their sparing and looked to Harry.
"Something's wrong," said Connor as he looked at Harry.
The wizard nodded. "Someone just killed Lexi. They have Remus."
Galen shook his head. "I don't know what that means," the hunter said. "What good does then having a loon do them?"
"I don't know yet," said Harry. "But I'm sure I could think of seven good ways to utilise him given the chance, so that means Sirius' surely got something up his sleeve."
"How do we counter?" asked Galen.
Connor grabbed and towel. "We sit and plan," the man said. "Hope that we get no nasty surprises, and if we do, we make sure the fall out isn't too large."
"You're used to this?" asked Galen.
Connor nodded. "Bree's finally awake then?" the man asked, his usually stern visage dropping for the barest second that Harry could see. Harry nodded and the man quickly made for the door. Harry stopped Galen as he made to follow.
"Let's give them a moment," said the wizard. "In the meantime why don't we talk? Get to know each other."
"He and Bree have a thing don't they?" Galen asked when the door had closed and Connor's footsteps had become soft even to Harry's ears.
Harry only shrugged. "They haven't told me anything yet, but it's a small house. It's kind of hard to hide these things. Why I asked you here," said Harry. "What Connor, Bree, Lexi and I are about to do poses mortal danger. Now, the others will stand with me because they consider me a friend and I in turn. But you. We don't know each other that well. We certainly don't know each other well enough to call each other friends. If you want to leave…" Harry pulled out his compass from his pockets. "This would lead you to your brethren."
Galen took the compass and looked it over, taking it all in. "How does this work exactly?" the man asked when the compass moved only as a regular compass would.
"Think of that which makes you happy and it will lead you to it…the fastest travelable way to it of course."
Galen continued looking at the compass. It was a moment, then a blue light started glowing. The compass started spinning rapidly before coming to a dead stop on Harry. The wizard raised a brow but the hunter was quick to shake his head. "It's not what you think," he said. "I just wanted the fastest possible way to get to Silas, and it seems that's you."
Harry smiled a little. "I hazard that this means you will be joining us?" Galen nodded. "Then I'll need a set of your clothes. You'll need armour if you're to fight against witches."
The piece of chalk finished drawing the circle, a pentagram within and Bree at its centre.
"Are you ready?" Harry asked.
Bree nodded, closed her eyes and extended her hands. Power rose and swirled around her as she began, thrumming around the room and shaking windows, chairs and tables. Her voices came out deep, threatening and echoing queerly as it hit the room. A wind started, moving around the room, causing a chilling ache to run up the walls.
Bree's hands came together, emitting a loud, sharp clap that pushed everything back, Harry, Connor and Galen only protected by their various armours. A white ghostly mist appeared within Bree's hands, stretching out until it hit the lines of the circle. The witches pulled with a massive heave and from nowhere the limp form of Lexi shot out stopping before it hitting Bree then dropping to the ground.
The power immediately subsided.
"Innervate."
The spell hit and Lexi jerked awake, she was instantly on her feet and snarling; her eyes darted around the room before they met Harry and she calmed down. "We have a very big problem," she said as she calmed down.
"Remus is out. I know."
Lexi shook her head. "That's by far not the most we have to worry about," she said. "Kol is working with Sirius."
"Fuck me sideways," muttered Galen.
"No need to be crass, mate. We can deal with this," said Harry. "We now at least know what they want, that makes it easier to protect."
"And what, by chance, would they be wanting?" asked Galen.
"That's obvious," said Connor. "We have Klaus."
"Holy crap you've got to be kidding me. You have an Original?" the man asked, clearly surprised. "How did you manage that?"
"A lot of fire," said Harry. "Lexi, we need Bonnie and Tyler on the ready in case we have to fight." The woman nodded and disappeared. "Bree, you protect the house, use the blood on the lawn if you have to. Connor and Galen will come with me. We need to make sure Rebekah doesn't join Sirius' army." Bree disappeared. Connor put his hand left shoulder, it was a moment before Galen followed suit. Harry waved his wand and Prongs spilled out, running around Harry for one revolution before trotting off and through a wall. Harry turned on the spot, letting the rope which settled around him pull him towards Rebekah.
Harry appeared wand already in hand and a spell at its tip; nothing. On all sides they were surrounded by old rock, a metal door in front of them. Harry looked up, a ceiling, then down was most certainly the door, only the desiccated body of Rebekah Mikaelson who had a dagger sticking out of her chest.
Swish and flick.
Rebekah rose and when she was within arm's length Harry tapped her three times, she went a bright blue before disappearing.
Harry waved his wand overhead him. "I think this basement belongs to Stefan," said Harry. "A day ago Lexi told me that Stefan was the one to tell her of Elijah's eventual arrival in Mystic Falls; said vampires was let on by Rebekah herself. Now, there are only two kinds of people who could do this; those powerful enough to subdue her, the other Originals, or those she trusts. Stefan."
"He was the one to orchestrate our loss before," said Connor.
"Then this makes him more suspect. We go upstairs and take him down," said Harry.
Connor pulled out stakes from holsters on his armour, Galen pulled out the twin daggers. Harry pointed his wand at each of them, layering them with charms to avoid detection, the wizard pointed his wand at the metal door and it slowly opened. They began walking, creeping outside, they room they had been in before revealed itself to be a dungeon cell. Harry turned left, opening another door which led into a wine cellar, a few more steps and another door, and they were quietly walking up a set of stairs.
They opened the door leading to the house a crack and sound burst in… "—crazy! This guy took down Klaus! Klaus!" came the heated voice of Damon Salvatore. "Do you think he won't wipe us out?"
"He won't," said Stefan. The man sounded confident. "I've made sure of that."
"I don't like this," said Damon. "We've done a lot of stupid crap in our lifetime, but this. I don't want any part of it and you, brother, would do well not to participate either."
Stefan sighed then there was a sickly crack. "You'll thank me when this is all over."
"I'll distract," Harry mouthed before turning on the spot and disappearing. Harry appeared in the Salvatore living room with a loud crack. There was no one in the room, but Harry's heart knew no difference, it thudded hard against his chest, fuelling the wizard with much needed adrenaline. He heard footstep moving quickly towards the room, the wizard quickly got to work, his wand moving in at intricate pattern and within moments spitting out a large fiery snake that towered over Harry ready to attack.
The vampire stepped in directing a cool gaze towards Harry. "You're here," he drawled. "I'm not surprised."
"Mutual feeling," said Harry.
"What's with the snake?" he asked, walking slowly, with even gates towards Harry. "Afraid to take me yourself?"
"You're a vampire, I'm a wizard," said Harry. "I wouldn't stupid enough to not have as many distractions as I can before I start shooting spells at you."
Stefan smirked. "Let's see how affective that is."
The man bolted forward and Harry enforced his will on the massive serpent. It struck forward but the vampire jumped out of the way before it could hit; the couch behind the man was instantly aflame. Stefan got to his feet and started towards Harry. The wizard pointed his wand, three spells shot out in rapid fire but Stefan side-stepped two and the third rebounded as it hit him. Harry turned on the spot and appeared on the other side of the room.
The snake lunged again, much faster this time and didn't give the vampire any more time before lunging again. Harry's wand moved collecting the fire from the couch and transfiguring into birds that zipped through the room chasing after the still dodging vampire. Harry pointed his wand at Stefan letting spell after spell shoot out, two hit and rebounded, though Stefan hissed as the last hit.
Harry smirked, whatever Protection Spells were on Stefan were beginning to fade with each hit. Harry's wand was a whip of motion as he collected fire from failed hits and conjured them into fast moving beds. Harry turned on the spot when Stefan got too close and appeared on the opposite side of the room and repeated; through everything Harry kept a careful watch on the two exits of the room. He Apparated to one and closed it, locked it and made it Unbreakable, the second he left open, hoping Connor and Galen would get here and take the vampire by surprise.
A dagger whipped through the air, sailing quickly towards Stefan. The vampire didn't notice, too busy with dodging the snake and birds simultaneously. The dagger struck and, with a few sparks, flew off. Stefan landed on a roll and took off in the direction of the door.
"Bloody hell," Harry said as realisation hit; turning on the spot would take too long. He wouldn't have enough time to get to Galen before the vampire struck—Stefan dove forward, landing on a roll and getting up all in a millisecond. A second dagger was thrown by the hunter but it missed. Galen would die soon if Harry didn't do anything. He needed to get there. He needed to be in front of the hunter. Protect him.
Harry felt a cord attach itself to his navel and pull him forward. There was a rush of wind and the sensation of being pulled forward, before Harry found himself in front of the hunter. Surprise overwhelmed the wizard for moments before he realised exactly where he was and what was happening. He brought up his wand, but the vampire was faster, his hands were on Harry head and with a force the human neck couldn't take, there was a sickly crack and Harry slumped on the floor.
The wizard took a large breath in. Relishing the air as it entered and coughing harshly as it became too much before his lungs to keep in. He jerked to his feet, the world around him harshly bright and shaking; his wand was still in his hand, he could feel the cold stone closed tightly within and flourished it around in a blind panic.
"Harry," the wizard heard and his heart, beating rapidly beneath his chest began to calm down as he heard Connor's voice. "Calm down. Everything is fine. We got the Ripper."
Harry slowed his breathing coming to a stop and the brightness began to fade and he took stock of his surroundings. Connor and Galen stood in front of him, both with concerned looks, behind them was a large fire engulfing the Salvatore House. Harry looked around, he was standing not too far off from the house, a forest surrounding at all sides. Stefan lay on the ground with his neck snapped and beside him Damon.
"I'm surprised you got him out," said Harry. "Damon, I mean."
"It was Galen's idea," said Connor.
"Tactical advantage," the man said. "We need everyone who will stand with us. If he died it would have meant one last ally."
Harry nodded and looked at the burning house. "The snake went nuts when I died?"
Connor nodded. "We managed to kill it with the daggers, but the fire had become too large by the time we had killed it and we couldn't put it out."
At the edge of his hearing Harry heard a fire siren's wail. He levitated the two vampires and charmed them into Portkeys. "We'd better let the firefighters do their jobs. It would be too suspicious if they got here and they fire was gone."
Harry put his hand on Damon and gestured for Connor and Galen to do the same. They disappeared with a flash of blue light, appearing in front of a tense looking Bree.
"I felt you die," the witch said.
Harry nodded. "Stefan snapped my neck. He's working for Sirius. Is Lexi back yet?"
Bree shook her head. "Not yet."
Harry pointed his wand and a door opened, Stefan's body began floating in the direction of the room. He pointed his wand at Damon and the man dropped to the ground. He began drawing a circle around him, one that floated a dark blue above the ground.
"That should hold Damon," said Harry. "Connor. You said there was a potential Hunter in Mystic Falls correct?" The man nodded. "I need you and Galen to find him. Convince him to let him you teach him. I want him able to shoot a sniper rifle in less than a day."
"That will be a little tricky," Connor said.
"Why?"
"His sister is the vampire you threatened. Jeremy Gilbert."
"Then all we have to do is convince the hybrid to get him to join," said Galen. "It should be easy. I think I can manage that. Let's go." Harry could see that the man already knew the gist of what Harry was planning. His eyes shined of a confidence of sorts.
"Be careful of any witches," said Harry. The pair nodded before walking out and to the Cobra. "Bree, you still focus on the house. I'll be looking through the past few days in Stefan's memories, maybe I'll get the gist of Sirius' plan."
LEGILLIMENS
Stefan shivered as pain caused through him. The wounds weren't healing. But then again he knew from past that they would soon end. He was lucky though, he reflected. The memories had subsided, even if the feelings they called up would fade for a lifetime.
Self-loathing coiled at his stomach and it threatened to overwhelm him. Stefan pushed the feelings aside. He had lived with the self-loathing for centuries. This time it was no different. He would pull through for Elena. One of the few people who, even knowing his past, could love him.
Slowly he started gaining his footing and the world resolved itself around him. The room was dark except for the dim light shining from the other side of the room. The blond wizard stood staring at his wand, smiling as he looked at the little orb of light.
"My first bout of nonverbal magic," he said, his voice ringing with excitement. He smirked, turning his gaze to Stefan. "Make sure not to tell Remus. My brother would be jealous if he knew."
Stefan still didn't understand. One moment he had been talking to the man, discussing their mutual fear that Harry was still a threat, that the much stronger wizard was planning something, and the next he was stuck to a wall and reliving all the memories that made him want to take his life.
Why would Sirius do this to him, the vampire wondered. Between Remus and the blond, Stefan had really come to like Sirius. He had begun thinking of him as friend, an ally when he had needed to free Elena, and now he was pinned to a wall and going through a lot of emotional pain.
"Why?" the vampire asked, betrayal lining his voice.
"I have a sinking feeling," said Sirius. "I think Remus is too caught up on revenge to be listening to his intuition. But I'm of clearer mind. I don't know how, but I think Harry will come out of this stronger. He's going to win." Sirius shook his head. "I can't have that. Harry will find a way to destroy us when he finds out. I can't have that." The man turned his wand on Stefan and it blinked on a yellow colour. "Imperio."
Sirius appeared with a crack and stumbled a little. Fear lined the man's eyes as he looked around.
"Where's Klaus?" the man asked in a panic. Stefan felt a bit confused about it all, but for some reason the euphoria in him still didn't subside.
"The wolf told him of a betrayal," said Gregory, his tone far too calm. Sirius shook his head vigorously, starting at a pace.
"This is bad," he said. "This is very bad. When I dropped off Victoria they were in the process of Binding the yard. Harry's sure he's going to win, that's the only reason he could be doing through the trouble. We don't have a chance at winning. We have to leave."
Gregory looked at the five witches who looks identical to Sirius'. "Begin a Cloaking Spell," he said, still calm. "Vampire," he said. "Get our belongings and be quick about it."
Stefan shook his head. "I don't take orders from you," the vampire said, a fury starting in him. Being ordered around by a child of all things. The man was a witch, yes, but that didn't mean he could order someone older than him around.
"Do it Stefan," said Sirius. The compulsion started again. The words were far stronger than they should have been and his body moved on its own; zipping across the house gathering everything the witches owned and putting them in Klaus' car.
Sirius still looked tense, pacing at the door of the car and at times looking skyward.
"Done," said Stefan as he came to a stop in front of the wizard. He made to go into the car, but the wizard stopped him only to be stopped by the blond wizard.
"Don't think about this until I call for your help. Act as you normally would. Do not call attention to yourself," he said in rapid succession.
"The wand has come," said Gregory coming from the house. Sirius whipped around and caught Gregory with a punch to the jaw before quickly taking the wand, all before the witch knew what was happening.
"I'm sorry, friend, but it had to be done. The wand would not have given me its allegiance otherwise." Gregory gave a nod, but he didn't look too happy about it. Sirius walked to the car and tapped it thrice, it glowed briefly a blue colour and faded. "This will make things easier, but Harry is not someone who will take this lying down."
A blue light flew into the room, forming a bird that settled on Stefan's shoulder.
"We have a plan," said the bird. "Distract Harry as long as you can."
Then the bird disappeared.
Harry pulled back, anything else would have been too much of an invasion of privacy for his morals to take. Not much, but it was enough. Harry looked into the Ripper's eyes, he could see them moving, he could see that the man was fighting.
"You need to keep fighting," said Harry. "Only you can break the curse."
Harry walked out of the drawing room and tapped the door, strengthening and locking it. He walked to the living room where the town council stood waiting. Meredith stood looking at the house in detail, more especially the picture on the wall; Rudy and Carole were in hushed conversations Harry didn't feel like listening to; and Elizabeth stood waiting. She was still out of uniform, which Harry thought was a good look for her.
"Stefan is okay," said Harry as he noticed Elena about to descend on him. "He's been cursed so I can't let him out of the drawing room. But rest assured with enough strength of will he should be able to break the curse."
"Can't you break it?" asked Elena.
Harry shook his head. "This particular curse doesn't work that way." He walked further into the room. Damon was skulking in a corner, looking morose. Matt still looked out of place. "Long story short, it's no longer Elijah we have to worry about, but Kol as well. That means we have to work faster. The ritual is quick, it should take no longer than ten minutes, but its effect will take about an hour before the shield covers the entire town."
"You never gave us details about this ritual," said Rudy. "You only said it would put us in danger. What more do we have to expect?"
"For one, you'll have to call Mystic Falls home for the barrier to remain in place. When you lot die a natural death, then the spell will move on to your descendants ad infinitum. But if you're killed, it doesn't work that way. Second, you'll have to have the same intent. We are protecting this town against the Originals and only them. If you get the crazy idea of protecting it from vampires, then the shields will cave in on itself. Damon and Elena are vampires and the barrier will push them out, they will be exiled. Then they no longer call this place home.
"If you try and take away the witches as well, then they will revolt. They will fight its magic and they will try and kill you. I won't be able to stop them. Then again I won't want to stop them. The safe option, then, is only focus on the Originals. Make sure that during the ritual that intention doesn't falter. I'll get working started on the preparations for the ritual."
Harry flicked his wand and started walking outside. He waited a few moments before a carpet flew out of the house and stopped in front of him. He stepped on and made the thing rise higher until he could see his yard; he pointed his wand and with a Gouging Charm made a large circle, drawing a seven-pointed star within. He drew smaller circles at each point, though they were still large enough that the every person would fit within and still have room to move.
"Incendio."
A fire came alive in the middle of the star, burning a bright gold that flared far higher than the wizard had meant; a cauldron flew out of the house and settled over fire. It was minutes before the cauldron was red from the fire; a spurt of water exploded from the wizard's wand and filled the cauldron. It bubbled, coming to a boil. An acorn plunked into the water, growing even though it was in boiling water then breaking apart, all its wood falling into the cauldron, next a whole lot of Vervain plunking into the cauldron.
"Lumos Solem," the wizard said, wand pointed at the cauldron. A stream of light shot and hit the water, changing it from a muddy colour to a bright yellow glow. The water stopped bubbling, settling. "Expecto Patronum." Prongs galloped towards the house, delivered the message and disappeared. The council stepped out walking towards the circle.
"I need each of you to step into a circle," said Harry. He pointed his wand at the house. "When the chalice gets to you, cut open your left hand and let the blood fall into in the chalice. When all of you are done, stay in the circle. There'll be a lot of power running around and it could harm you." He saw the nods and proceeded, moving the chalice and the silver knife to each of the council members.
They did as Harry had asked them, cutting their left hands and letting a few drops of blood drop into the chalice, when it all was done the chalice floated into the circle, over the cauldron and dropped in. The air stirred. Power rising from the ground in waves and swirling around the yard. Harry could feel the tendrils of magic making their way to the centre of the large circle and infusing themselves within the contents of the cauldron. The yellow liquid got brighter, shining as the sun and bringing day into the dark night; the liquid bubbled furiously, heat coming off the circle but was kept from going out by the circle. It was a minute, two, when the glow started fading.
Harry took a large breath, closed his eyes and started: words left him of their own volition. He could feel the raw power around him, but he didn't let the feelings threatening to overwhelm him distract. His words moved faster, gaining a rhythm that soon meant he didn't need to breathe; his eyes opened as he felt the power shift, the cauldron was gone, instead a ball of shining light as bright as the sun hovered in the circle, moving up higher and higher up as the spell went further.
A pulse of air rushed from the ball of light, pushing back everything in its way. It coiled, twisted and turned, and within moments a large stag stood over the circle looking at each member of the council before looking up into sky and shooting up. Exploding and stretching out in the same yellow light.
All at once Harry felt exhausted; his breath came out ragged and his muscles groaned in protest. The wizard sat on the carpet and couldn't do anything the magic snapped and began descending until it harshly hit the ground.
"It's done," said Harry though panted breaths. He flicked his wand and all the circles broke.
"You alright?" asked Elizabeth. She was the closest to Harry and the first to make it at his side.
The wizard nodded, taking deep even breaths. "I'm fine," said Harry. "Just a little tired, is all."
Elizabeth took a seat beside the wizard and she looked for the sky, the yellow light was still slowly spreading across the night's sky. "You know, today is the first time I've actually thought of you as a wizard," she said. Harry couldn't help chuckling at that.
"I've Apparated in front of you far more times than I can remember," said Harry. "Why wouldn't that convince you?"
"Blame Gandalf," she said.
"You read the Lord of the Rings?" Harry asked surprised.
"Caroline roped me in into watching the movies," the woman said.
Harry hummed. "Daughters. My own daughter was a handful. By the age of ten she wanted to slay her first monster."
Elizabeth tilted her head. "I'll choose to ignore the last and focus that you had a daughter."
"Have," Harry corrected. "I think she's still alive," it brought a smile to his face thinking of his daughter again. Harry looked at Elizabeth. The woman had a questioning look to her. "It's a very long story," said Harry.
"Aren't you scared though?" she asked. "That she might somehow be used to lure you in a trap. Originals aren't the most friendly sort in my experience."
"I doubt they would find them," said Harry.
"Them?"
"I have four children: James, my first, Albus, Lily and Primrose, though she hated being called that, said it made her sound staunch," Harry let out a small chuckle that had absolutely no mirth. The wizard cleared his throat. "I better go in," said Harry. "Damon will want an update on his brother."
The wizard stood on shaky legs. "Do you want to stay, perhaps? You're the sheriff. What we're about to discuss could concern you," he said, ending off with a shrug.
Elizabeth gaze a shrug herself. Harry extended a hand and held a hand out, failing in trying to lift. "Sorry," the wizard muttered a little embarrassed.
"It's okay."
"I'm not sure if Gandalf would have done this," said Harry. "But nonetheless." Harry waved his wand and the carpet began hovering. The sheriff started a little but she kept her balance. The carpet began slowly moving towards the house. "Not as fast as my car, but it's very magical."
"Very cosy," Harry heard Damon say. The wizard chose not to answer.
Harry stepped off the carpet and onto the front step.
"I'm wondering though," said Elizabeth as they walked in. "How did you manage the voice thing."
"Magic has a life of its own," said Harry. "It loves dramatics for some reason."
"Noted," she said. They stepped into the living room. Connor and Galen had decided to join them, along with Jeremy who, and Harry had no idea how, they had gotten to agree to being taught to shoot a sniper rifle. Harry had asked Matt to stay for the same reason. Damon still looked morose as he stuck in a corner with Elena beside him. Bree sat a circle, power coiled around her, though the woman was somehow doing the spell with her mind on the present conversation. Lexi stood tense, eyes at times looking in the direction that Stefan dwelled in.
"Right," said Harry. "The sheriff will be joining our conversation about our current situation."
"Why?" asked Galen.
"I trust her," Harry said.
There was a moment of complete silence before Harry noted the barest hints of smiles from Lexi and Bree. "Okay," they said, a few seconds off each other.
"Okay?" asked Galen. "Just like that, huh? He gets to bring in anyone he trusts without have to consult any of us."
Bree and Lexi didn't answer. Connor only shrugged. "Something to talk about another time," the man said. Galen shook his head, but showed he accepted the statement.
"We'll get started then. Stefan was cursed by Sirius a week ago. This particular curse, unfortunately, is something I cannot fight for Stefan. He only can do that for himself."
Damon swallowed. "What does that mean?" he asked.
"It means that anytime Sirius gives an order, Stefan will follow it. For the time being the order is to distract me. Which means Sirius is planning something."
"Do you have any idea what it might be?" Lexi asked.
Harry shrugged. "I'm still not sure about Sirius' character. But I think he might be working to get Niklaus back. Sirius is scared that I might destroy him when I find something out. I don't know what that is yet, but it has the man terrified."
"Destroy?" asked Elizabeth. "Why would he say that instead of saying you'll kill him?"
"He's a figment of Harry's mind," said Bree. "I don't think those can be killed, only assimilated."
"Not to mention I don't have an exact idea what will happen to me long-term if they die," said the wizard.
"What could would make you want to destroy him then?" asked Lexi. "What would push you that far?"
"I'm not quite sure," the wizard said, utterly baffled. He had never seen that kind of panic before. Whatever Sirius believed he had to hide from Harry, he was seemed genuinely scared that it would make Harry flip. "But it concerns Remus too," said the wizard. "It doesn't make sense otherwise why he would break him out. The curses around that Asylum would have incapacitated most…except creatures of powerful magic."
"In this case Originals," said Damon. "Kol?"
Harry nodded. "He must have promised them their brother and sister," said Harry. "I don't see them working with Sirius otherwise."
"He's surrounding himself with powerful people," said Galen. "Making sure you can't get to him without a battle. Hoping to wear you out?"
"It seems like that," said Harry. "But if he said he'd help the Originals get their brother back, then he'll have to get Niklaus."
"Which means he'll come here," said Connor. "That makes things easier for us. We only have to protect the house."
"The wards will help us in that," said Bree. "Tire the witches out."
"But we'll also have vampires to deal with," said Damon. "Vampires can be Compelled by Originals. I'm betting my left hand they'll play to that."
"It's why I want snipers," said Harry. "Connor and Galen will supply us with their special vampire-effective bullets. They'll be shooting from the sky, invisible and protected by the strongest shields I can muster."
"We've done this before," said Connor. "When we fought Klaus the first time. It didn't work out too well."
"It worked before forces unforeseen worked against us," said Harry. "Even if Sirius does guess we'll use the tactic, I believe it will nonetheless remain effective against their greater numbers."
Conversations continued in the same vein for close to an hour, discussing ways they could protect themselves. Bonnie, Tyler and Caroline arrived after the hour had passed, Harry making quick work of telling the about what they had already planned. Harry didn't realised how long they had stayed until he noticed a gold light begin to tinge the sky and the fact that man of his allies looked dead on their feet.
"Well, I think this should be enough for now," the wizard said. "We continue tomorrow at ten, at which point I will have gotten two extra sniper rifles and Matt and Jeremy will be trained." The pair nodded. "Bree, I need you to protect put protective enchantments around each of the homes of the council members in the meanwhile. I'll get started on an effective way we can communicate."
"What about a cell phone?" asked Matt as though it was the most obvious thing in the world.
"Magic doesn't work well with technology," said Harry. "Speaking of which, you might want to buy new ones because I don't think that any of the ones you have will be working anytime soon."