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Weapon
(Possession Chapter LV)
Chapter IV - Plans for the Future
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Harry leaned back, grateful for the supporting warmth of his Godfather. He hadn't turned sixteen yet so this questioning from the Aurors was barely legal, even with his Guardians presence.
But it was one of those things he had to do... He shook his head briefly. He couldn't think like that, he'd make a mistake sometime, if he did that. He had to immerse himself back into the person they thought he was, so that they would never know, not until it was too late. His beloved would understand, would wake him up in time.
Brilliant emerald eyes opened and he looked around. It wasn't their fault. These Aurors were actually quite nice. They were nothing like those Fudge had kept, all convinced of the Minister's brilliance. No, these ones were realists. They were battle scarred and tough. They remembered what it had been like to fight in the past and they wanted, desperately, to avoid that again. But they would not just surrender. Around them was a hint of panic. None of them knew how lax things had become, but they were all prepared to change that.
They were nice. They believed him. They knew what he was telling them was the truth and he could feel their respect. They regarded him, not perhaps as a warrior, but as one who understood what the true battle would be like. Even so, they were not taking it easy on him. They had to know, and they had to know now and they were fierce in their intensity. He did not have the luxury of time.
He hoped though, that when everything was decided that some of them would have the sense to bow to the inevitable. He didn't really want to destroy them all.
-Seduce them.-
-Huh?-
-They are loyal, they will be destroyed.-
-So how does seducing them help?-
-Make them loyal to you, Master, then there is no betrayal and they will follow where you choose to lead.-
Harry blinked carefully and then nodded, seemingly in response to one of the questions. It was a good idea, and it was perhaps the only way he would get an accurate picture of events. Dumbledore, even now, seemed reluctant to tell him everything.
-Dumbledore is waiting until you are inducted into the Order of the Phoenix.-
-The Order of the Phoenix?- Harry asked. He had heard of the Order, but he had no real idea of what it did.
-You will be a weapon in this battle, but you will be one provided by the Order to the rest of the wizarding world.-
-Thus keeping the Order powerful.-
-Yes.-
-How do I seduce them?- Harry asked quickly, now more than convinced that he needed the outside source of information. The fact that they would become his followers could be dealt with later.
-Let us handle that, Master.-
-Is there anyone else I should see?-
The shadows measured the question for a long moment. They had not thought that their Master was ready for such considerations just yet but it was an indication of how much he had grown. -The Vampires will need to be forced into submission, the giants are too few to bother with and goblins... we share the Dark Lord's sentiments there - they are only good at fighting themselves. Manticores and chimera act as individuals but will recognise your power, serpents belong to your beloved. Dark Elves are destroyed at birth and those few that survive live such a mean existence that death is a mercy. Dementors are already yours and...- They paused.
-And?- Harry prompted.
-What do you feel about werewolves?-
-I don't have a problem with them.-
-They don't... they don't have an organisational structure. The wizards keep destroying any semblance of organisation so now their structure is very fluid and informal. It works though. We can approach them, if you would like?-
-Won't Voldemort want them?-
-Yes.-
-Don't they already serve him?-
-Not with Lucius' Rebellion.-
-So why should I steal them?-
-He will be okay without them, and we would like it better if they are loyal to you personally.-
-But...-
-Master, will you always be subservient to him?- There was a hint of challenge in their tone.
-No,- Harry snapped back. -Approach the weres but let it be known that I am asking for their loyalty personally.-
-They will know.-
A flicker of memory hit Harry and he frowned slightly. -So what of Dragons?-
The shadows were silent. -We have no power there. They belong to neither Light nor Dark.-
-Can they be controlled?-
-They are controlled by the Fire Dragon.-
-So seduce the Fire Dragon.-
The shadows laughed but there was no mockery in their tone. In fact they seemed happy at his quasi order and the implications that he was ready to assume control of others. -We can't. They would not be attracted by any of our advances.-
-So the dragons will fall to the Light?-
-That is not determined. They might, they might not. We can not approach them though so if you want them, Master, you will have to seduce the Fire Dragon.-
-But I don't even know who it is!-
-We know, and we will not tell you Master. Just act on your feelings, both sets of feelings, and you will find yourself with a seduced Fire Dragon.-
-Both sets of feelings?-
-You have embraced the Dark, Master, by accepting us and the Dark Lord but to fulfil your task you are going to have to become that which you were, that which you perhaps should have been. Embrace those feelings as well, for they are you, and they are not a betrayal of your Lover.-
-I don't understand.-
-You will, Master, you will.-
Harry brought his attention back to the Aurors as they asked him where the Dark Lord's base was, signalling that they were beginning on the harder questions.
"I don't know," he answered honestly. He really didn't know. He'd apparated there but that had been instinctive. He truly did not know where Voldemort's base was although he did know what they were planning. If they could track down the Dark Lord, the Aurors would rally and attack now, in one strike to decide it all. They might lose half the force sent against the Dark Lord, but right not they knew they could win and such a sacrifice would be acceptable.
"I was unconscious," he added, perpetuating the story Dumbledore had spread.
"So you apparated by instinct?" One of the Aurors scoffed.
"Instinct," Harry confirmed, resisting the urge to roll his eyes. "And a shit load of fear," he added. It earnt a snigger from some of the more astute Aurors, most of whom had glared at their companion. "You can't imagine his eyes," he continued with a shiver of delight that was mistaken for a shudder of fear.
Oh no, they couldn't imagine his eyes. Burning rubies, bloody crimson serpentine eyes that they believed to be cold and dead but he knew otherwise. He'd seen the sultry emotion, the soft love and had watched them cloud with lust, the emotions so overwhelming that they seemed to leak out in raw motes of power. He'd seen, he knew, he loved.
No... I can't think like that. Not now, not here, he reminded himself.
"Look, if I knew, do you think I'd be holding back? For me, the only way I can get peace is when he's gone, otherwise this will go on and on. Unfortunately though, to apparate, the way I did anyway, all you need to know is where you want to go. And I wanted to return to Hogwarts, very badly. And before you ask, Sirius has told me what happened with him dying and while I don't doubt you Captain Sturges, Voldemort was very much alive when I saw him. But I did not see any of his allies. I saw him, and only him, if you don't count the serpents."
"We understand, Harry," Captain Sturges smiled before his expression became grim. "It's as we feared though. He has allies, more than we thought he had, perhaps allies who are or have knowledge of the ancient power."
"But how could they possibly..."
"How, why, where..? I don't think they are questions we need the answers for," Sturges forestalled the barrage of disbelieving questions, using his authority as a field commander of many years standing. "What we need to be concerned with is how we are going to stop them, or at the least neutralise them, if we can't arrange something more permanent."
The others nodded in agreement before Captain Sturges nodded towards Harry, rising. "Thank you for your help, Mr Potter. If you remember anything else, no matter how small, please tell us. Aurors will be stationed around Hogwarts for what remains of semester and throughout the summer. Mr Black, a reapplication will not be looked upon disfavorably," Sturges agreed as he motioned the others out.
Sirius smiled briefly returning the mans regard as the Aurors filed out, already murmuring amongst themselves both the need to recruit and the need to speak with the Department of Mysteries and their Unspeakables. There was the hope, unspoken at the moment for it was too fragile to risk, that they would know how to deal with the Dark Lord's new allies.
Once the Aurors filled out, Harry turned to Sirius, his emerald eyes shimmering. He knew the shadows had already told his Godfather everything.
"Harry?" He questioned, concerned at the sudden change in demeanour.
"How do I do it?" Harry asked, clinging to him for support, relaxing slightly at the warm comfort he could feel.
"Carefully," Sirius answered. "Very carefully... There is a trick though. I'll teach you."
"A trick?"
"A trick. In Azkaban, not everyone and not everything is as it seems. You couldn't afford to be human because the Dementors would have your memories striped within a month. You had to become something else, you had to develop a shield. It's a trick. I'll show it to you. You can hide your true self and let them see only that which they want to see, that which they need to see."
"You're using it now?"
"Not now, I was though," Sirius smiled at Harry, stroking his back as he shifted his mind about. "Look at me," he instructed softly as a few shadows flickered around them.
Harry looked up, his eyes focusing on his Godfather and he blinked. He could almost see two Sirius', like an echo. There was the usual man, his magic bright and strong, but disjointed to him, almost completely contained within the other was another Sirius. This one wasn't as bright but the power was different. This was the true Sirius, the controlling Sirius, but it was protected completely by the other, and to anyone who didn't know what they were looking at, this inner Sirius would simply be considered the soul imprint, something only manifested by powerful wizards - an imprint of their power within their power and it was speculated that this imprint was what allowed truly powerful witches and wizards to cast multiple charms simultaneously. The best most wizards could do was charms in rapid succession. Those with a soul imprint could cast several charms at once.
"It's brilliant."
"It's a trick. You hide that bit of yourself that needs protection or that can't be seen within the rest of yourself. It's still there, it still controls but is hidden and where it's not in its best interests, it is overridden by the protecting half."
Harry nodded, and the shadows helped him with the initial shifts within his mind. Once it was over he felt blanketed, as if he was looking out at the world through layers of himself.
Sirius looked at him, assessing the shield. "It's not fool proof," he warned gently. "But it will help. However it will not help with the guilt. He understands and if he does not blame you, you should not feel guilty."
"I can't help it."
"Harry, it's not betrayal! Rather it is the most efficient pursuit of your combined goals. Although..."
"Although?"
"Are you sure about the perpetuation of Dumbledore's lie?"
Harry nodded, grinning tightly. "Only Draco and his cronies know what really happened here and when I go to breakfast tomorrow, do you think they are going to refute a lie that protects them? Besides, it's not like they've got any evidence of their actions."
Sirius laughed. When you looked at it like that, Draco's position became comical, for to convince anyone that Harry, or rather Xaos was responsible for the Slytherin Student's deaths, he would have to reveal that he was responsible for attacking Harry, and then his links with the Dark Lord's, or his Father's forces would be revealed. Draco had done what had been asked of him, but his efforts had been thwarted by a higher power. "Check and mate."
"Just check," Harry disagreed. "I want him to squirm before the check-mate."
Sirius laughed. "Is Xaos safe?" He asked as the little basilisk was the only one he was unsure of the shadows' ability to control.
"Xaos is more than safe." He grinned as his eyes flashed red for an instant and he felt a tickle against his skin as the living tattoo shifted, becoming faintly visible for a moment.
"Ah," Harry could hear the smile in his Godfather's voice. "I see. Have you cast a patronus lately?"
"No, should I?"
"No, I was just wondering if there were any effects. Transmutational magic is of particular interest. I'm not saying anything has or should have happened, I'm just interested in if anything has."
"Not that I know of, although depending on the Initiation into the Order of the Phoenix, that might change."
Sirius shook his head. "It won't, although be prepared, it does delve into you."
-We will help.-
Harry sighed. "I will be ready," he said firmly, already strengthening his mental shields.
He wasn't about to let this opportunity pass him by.
He would be ready.
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