The segment with Mooney and Padfoot is just my indulgence in what would a pair of filthy rich adult pranksters that suffer a complete lack of supervision do when they're goaded on by the likes of Bellatrix and Tonks. Anyway, this one was fun but I have two more chapters for others stories to finish to day so a bit shorter then normal.
Oh also didn't beta this one, so if things are mucky send me a PM and I'll fix it, as always PLEASE REVIEW!
As much as she enjoyed being around the goblins Lillith was sincerely getting sick of Gringotts, it felt like she was there almost as much as she was at the Granger's and it took all her will power to remain calm; snapping at the people who handle your money and investments is not only bad business, its bloody stupid. She'd hired four of the most ruthless solicitors the Goblin Nation had to tear through the Morrigan's contract and while it took them some time they'd managed to translate it to the Queen's English rather then 'thousand year old goat herder' English.
Everything seemed on the up and up except she needed to sacrifice an enemy at an alter to initiate the ceremony, what the hell is it with the pagan gods and sacrifices? So she paid the goblins their due and put the whole sacrifice thing in the back of her mind for the time being, nothing to truly do for it now. She aparated back to Hermione's place well after midnight and found her still asleep, smirking she shrunk the contract and jammed it into her pocket; walking over to her girlfriend she cast the levitating charm and gently guided her into their room, lifting the covers she lay her in the bed and cancelled the spell.
Turning to the door she closed it and cast a locking charm, stripping down to her underclothes she slid into bed and pulled the blankets over them, Hermione automatically shifted into her embrace which admitidly had Lilly grinning. Flicking her wand at the light switch the room went dark and she quickly fell into a thankfully dreamless sleep.
She woke up to a pleasant sensation, cracking her eyes open Hermione was gently kissing her while tickling her neck with light finger strokes, returning the kiss (and tickles) the two now laughing young women got out of bed and performed their morning rituals. Meeting the Granger's at the table Hermione cheerfully greeted them,
"'Ello mum and dad, how did you two sleep last night?" Emma waved groggily as she was preparing breakfast and Dan lowered his paper smiling at his daughter and her girlfriend,
"Well enough dear, you two look a bit rumpled though, everything all right?" It was an obvious attempt to figure out exactly how close their relationship was but Lillith just deflected it.
"Eh, she fell asleep reading on the couch for a few hours and I had to go out in the dead of the night to the bank, again to handle more stuff I'd rather not deal with," eyeing the coffee pot in Emmas hand she decided to forgo being a proper English woman this once and offered up her mug. "Drink tea later...need caffeine now..." snorting at this Dan went back to his paper while Hermione began chattering with her mum, eventually they heard a sharp tapping at the window.
Hermione let the post owl in and it offered a letter up to Lilly, taking it and giving the pleased owl a sausage link she cracked the seal and began reading, smiling she handed it to Hermione.
"So Remus is back, Bellatrix and Sirius should be moved into Potter Manor already so would you like to go visit them today and find out exactly where your uncles been?" Pecking her on the cheek Lilly immediately turned back to her coffee,
"Sounds like a plan brown eyes, considering I saw Padfoot hand him a rather large sack of money I'm quite curious, plus I need to talk to Bella about something anyway." Eventually breakfast wound down and the Granger's headed off to their practice, Lilly and Hermione then got dressed then aparated to her ancestral home.
That's when they heard the explosions, the girls exchanged a wide eyed gasp as they ran to the back side of mansion to see...chaos...utter and complete chaos. The open fields beyond the mansion were littered with destroyed lorries, autos, and what looked like a 747 jumbo jet, standing before the stunned teens in all their Communist glory were four tanks with the sickle and hammer emblazoned on their sides. Each tank had a cackling wizard or witch sticking their heads out of the hatches as they aimed their war machines down range, all in all this might actually hit number two on Lilly's list.
As one the Soviet tanks fired their cannons and took out several trees and an already burning lorry, casting a sonarus Lilly yelled,
"HEY!" Grabbing the attention of the trigger happy nuts the pair watched as Bellatrix hopped out of her tank first, she was wearing a full cassock outfit including the fur hat, she offered Lilly a bottle of Russian vodka while cheerfully stating,
"Budem zdorovy!" Looking to Hermione for permission she just rolled her eyes, Lilly returned the toast and took a swig, them promptly gagged,
"Merlin, Morgana, and Mordred are you sure that isn't lighter fluid?" Bella glanced at the label and shrugged,
"No not really, I can't read Cyrillic letters, what do you think of Remus' new toys? Sirius had him go pick these up for your Defense class." Hermione goggled at the batty witch as she tried to process this,
"Sirius purchased tanks for our DADA class?!" Nodding and smiling as the other three tanks turned off she began giggling,
"He wants the kids to see how a group of muggles could easily overwhelm the purist of the pure-bloods, I didn't believe it either before this morning, blowing stuff up is quite the lark!" Patting her Wicked Witch on the shoulder affectionately Lilly turned to face Sirius, Remus and...Tonks?
Sirius was grinning like a mad man as he clinked bottles with his fellow tank commanders and took a swig of the foul vodka,
"What do you think pup? Mooney really came through on this one I mean wow, you can buy anything in Russia, he nearly bought us a submarine but they wanted me to pay extra for the missiles and we didn't have enough, but!" He pointed to a stack of crates, "He did get us a bunch of automatic rifles and something called RPGs, dunno what those are he says they're like single shot demolition curses."
"You bought Ak-47s?!" Hermione shouted, Remus snorted as he wrapped an arm around Tonks...wow...well...far be it from the lesbian apprentice summoner to call the werewolf out on social norms,
"No, these are AK-74's, much better, that a few dozen RPG-7's, a few Dragunov sniper rifles and some Tokarev pistols, never liked the Makarov they just piss most dark creatures off." Letting out a very slow breath Lilly conjured a love seat and sat next to Hermione, taking a minute to relax she opened her bottomless bag and pulled out four vials."
"Drink these, talk to me in five minutes...," being as drunk as they were they followed her orders, now sober the four adults (both girls found this title questionable) looked at the destruction around them with satisfaction, eventually Sirius was finally coherent enough to explain the situation.
"So I had this idea right? We have all these Pure-Bloods who have no idea how the real world operates, most of them think muggles are still armed with flintlock muskets for crying out loud. So I remembered Mooney did some...questionable business transactions when he was forced into the muggle world and he still had a few old contacts, couple million pounds later I'm swimming in Soviet war material.
"I plan on having him show you and your little DADA club how to use the small arms, James and Lily had to figure it out on their own so you'll have an advantage, cousin Tonks is already designing some runes to reduce the weight, recoil, noise, and flash on the weapons to make the rifles even scarier. Anyway we're going to place a few minor shield wards on the tanks and since they have ATM shielding-" Mooney interrupted him there
"EMP Pads," nodding enthusiastically he continued,
"Yeah the Empy thingy makes it so it shouldn't be hurt by magic, I want to show the kids that not only do the muggles out number us they have no reason to fear us and we need to reevaluate things. Oh and I'm gonna see if we can make them fly, cause you know...why not one up Arthur." It was a very...in your face way of confronting the magical world on how truly outdated they were but it could work. Lilly dropped her head then said,
"Fine, ok, I get it, Bella come talk to me while we let these crazy people teach my girlfriend how to be a proper conscript," Hermione let out an amused snort as she smacked Lilly's bum and moved to follow a practically hopping Padfoot as Mooney led the group to the crates of weapons.
"If you are the only sane woman in a crazy world does that not make you the crazy one?" Bellatrix quipped while smiling at Lilly lazily, her dreamy half lidded gaze not making eye contact. Keeping her cool Lilly smiled in return,
"I'm doing something on the twenty-second that requires I...sacrifice an enemy, any suggestions?" Eyes lighting up in excitement she nodded,
"I most certainly do, and the best part is it will kill two birds with one stone!" Grinning she sidled up to her Wicked Witch and offered her the bottle of vodka she'd previously discarded,
"Do tell me more dear cousin."
Night of the Winter Solstice
It's a little known fact that Stonehenge is actually one of several magical leyline focal centers on the British isles, out of the thirteen originally built its the only one that stopped functioning correctly, hence why muggles found it. The twelve working circles are all heavily warded against detection and for the most part forgotten by the magical world at large, their original purpose long forgotten in the mists of time. Fortunately the Morrigan had given directions in the contract to the nearest one so no needless hours and hours of research needed, which was good because there was no way Hermione was going to dirty her hands with this one.
As midnight approached Lillith shown her torch on the intricate rune she'd spent the better part of two days carving into the ground, it never hurt to double check your work. Satisfied she transfigured the soft soil into stone and waited for Bellatrix to arrive with the sacrifice, she'd been rather uncomfortable with it at first but when she found out what Bella had gleamed from the man's mind well...she was looking forward to this. With a crack her lithe cousin and a chubby man in night clothes aparated into the center of the circle, grinning Bella let the man fall over as she swept both hands around her presenting her prize,
"Tada! Now don't forget yor promised I get to pull my prank on the Auror's with him when we're done," Nodding trying to repress a morbid smile Lilly thanked her then approached the man, she enervated him and calmly waited on him to get his bearings. Eventually he groggily got to his feet and gasped,
"You!" as his sagging jowls quivered in fear,
"Yes, me Minister Fudge, me me me, see I was just going to ignore you for being nothing more then an incompetent arse, really I was but you see my Wicked Witch smashed right through your pathetic mental barriers and found out oh so many interesting things." As she said this she gestured towards Bella who waved, Fudge pissed himself as he gasped,
"Bellatrix LeStrange! That means...you...your the... the..." Lilly grinned evily while Bella let out one of her trademark insane cackles just for the laughs, Lilly then continued his sentence for him,
"The new Dark Lady? Not quite, and its Bella Black now, see no Dark Mark? Anyhow I digress we're getting off track here, see you had Umbitch send a couple dementors after me, repeatedly tried to have my innocent godfather executed, slandered my name for speaking the truth, and sabotaged an entire generations ability to defend itself with sub par defense education.
"But well, that really isn't why you're going to die, how you must have been looking forward to turning me into your nubile little pet wife, already had the marriage papers written up and the sex dungeon prepared. I honestly thought that entire trial was just to reel me in but you're just a self entitled pig who wanted my wealth and a plaything." She scoffed as she began pacing around the quivering man who was too terrified to move with Bellatrix staring him down, she hated admitting it but she was enjoying his fear,
"Well, can't say I'm sorry I avoided that, on the plus side my new teacher is most definitely going to love hearing who I used to bring her into the world, that being said, Wicked Witch, do you mind?" Bella stepped forward and in one quick motion slit Fudges throat with her concealed sleeve knife, careful to not let the blood splatter her she kicked the twitching corpse over to bleed out into the rune.
After a time she checked at her watch and nodded, flicking her wand at Fudge's corpse it flew out of the circle landing next to Bella, cracking open the grimoire she glanced over to her cousin, "this is gonna be awhile so if you wanna go have your fun knock yourself out." Grinning Bella nodded, grabbed the corpse and aparated out, 'That woman is utterly terrifying' she reflected. Reading from the book she began the incantation while making the proper wand movements, thankfully since the area was already overcharged from the solstice that it didn't draw too much from her own magic.
As the spell became more complex and demanding she realized how wrong that was, her power began depleting at an alarming rate and she became worried that she couldn't hold the spell much longer. As the incantation sped up to where it became one long word and her wand movements a blur there was a flash and she was thrown backwards, thank Morgana she didn't crash into one of the stones, as the light faded she heard one of the most beautifually terrifying sounds in the world.
"Hahahahehehehahaha! Ah corporeal again, its been soooo long," sitting up Lilly's eyes widened as a gorgeous red headed woman garbed in blackened steel and leather armor stood before her, sword in hand. "Thank you dear girl, as the contract states I'll begin your training when you return to your school, as for now I'm going to go catch up with some old friends, the Valkyries are going to flip when they see I'm back! I cannot wait to see Kára and Geiravör again!"
Lilly shared the smile while nervously saying, "Well, brilliant, I'm glad everything went off without a hitch, and I look forward to studying with you," Grinning the Morrigan stood before her and helped her to her feet, she bent down kissing Lilly on the forehead and she suddenly felt power flow into her. Gasping at the new energies swarming in her core her eyes flashed brightly before she was able to bring it into balance,
"My blessing little one, use it well, enjoy the rest of Yule, you deserve it," and like that the pagan goddess was gone, Lilly stood there for a few minutes before she burst out laughing,
"God my life is messed up, ah well," deciding to try out some of her new knowledge and power she spread her arms wide and shifted into a raven taking to the sky, 'Wait'll dad sees this!'
Lucius Malfoy was reevaluating his life decisions at the moment, following the Dark Lord had upon his revival had seemed like the right decision even though he really hadn't wanted him back, in the intervening decade between his fall and resurrection Lucius had grown quite comfortable in his position. Narcissa was furious when he'd allowed the Dark Lord to stay at their manor and had vacated to one of the country estates to cool down, he didn't think much of it until his mansion exploded in September. He was immediately put under investigation since even his money couldn't cover something like this up and he'd received a steady stream of howlers from his increasingly estranged wife over what a fool he was, he had begun to agree with her.
Then that bastard Sirius Black had claimed the Lordship that was supposed to go to Draco and disbanded the marriage contracts with the Malfoy's and LeStrange's, Bellatrix disappeared almost immediately bringing into question if she was ever actually willingly following the Dark Lord. To make matters even more complicated he received an owl the next day from Narcissa Black saying that she had already filed the papers to adopt Draco and she had moved in with her now reinstated sister Andromeda to make up for lost time. The parting line of "You chose your bed, I hope he bites you in your sleep," really hadn't helped, so here he was in Birmingham freezing his arse off preparing a ceremony he wanted no part of.
Much like a Fidelius charm the wards on this Stonehenge'esqe ley focai prevented most from seeing it or harming it, so Lucius did his best not to recognize the fact they were in the middle of an industrial park, casting a tempus he nodded at the time then stated,
"It is time my Lord," The cloak wrapped man nodded, no one outside his inner circle had seen or heard Lord Voldemort since the accident in September, tonight's ceremony was intended to fix that. The massive runic circle carved into the ground was already pulsing with energy, nearly thirty muggles had been murdered to activate the array, the blood requirement was quite steep. Gingerly the deformed dark lord removed his cloak and slid into the cauldron in the center of the array submerging himself in the potions, sighing to himself Lucius took out the cup of Helga Hufflepuff that was placed in his care and began chanting.
At the stroke of midnight he tossed the cup into the cauldron and ran like hell, there was a flash of light and a great calamitous roar behind him so he cast the strongest shield he could muster, lucky him since he was thrown directly through a concrete wall. Groaning he crawled out of the hole he'd made and was shocked to see that the stone circle was destroyed, all the latent magic gone including the muggle repelling wards, standing in the center of the blast zone was the Dark Lord.
He was laughing manically as Lucius approached, throwing a robe over his Lords shoulders Voldemort turned around and Lucius was shocked to see the sharp features of Tom Riddle, he was still bald but he more resembled the charismatic man he originally followed rather then the delusional sociopath he'd been stuck with since the Triwizard Tournament.
"Ah Lucius, my ever so loyal Lucius, even when I was damaged and deranged you stayed beside me, I really couldn't have done this without you, you shall be rewarded," still grinning he tapped Lucius Dark Mark and suddenly they were surrounded by cloaked and masked Death Eaters.
"My followers, the ailment that the Potter brat brought upon me has now been lifted, we have been quiet for far too long but we must be patient, we will strike these unsuspecting fools at the turn of the new year, it is time the mudbloods and blood traitors remember why we are feared." Slightly confused he looked about a moment then asked, "Where's Bellatrix?" sighing inwardly Lucius could only think
'Oh bollocks'
A bleary eyed Amelia Bones flooed into the Ministry and paused seeing the utter pandemonium taking place, it was three in the morning and even though she'd been called in for an emergency she hadn't quite expected this. Making for the lifts she was stopped by two of her better auror's, Shacklebolt looked as dignified as ever but Tonks looked like she was ready to fall over,
"Late night Auror Tonks?" She grumbled something incoherent as Kingsley gave his report,
"Madam the Dark Mark was found above Minister Fudges residence, the press are in an uproar and general panic is spreading, I was asked by Head Auror Scrimgeour to escort you there immediately." Nodding her thanks they pushed their way through the frantic crowd and flooed directly to Fudge's home, the first thing she noticed was the place was a wreck, it looked as if someone had just started flinging reductos at anything that looked at them funny.
Gingerly stepping over all the debris she found her Head Auror standing by the splintered door to Fudges study, the normally taciturn man seemed a bit ill, he nodded respectfully before stating,
"Madam, you'll want to see this it's...well it's bad" entering the room the first thing she noticed was 'He Has Returned' written in blood on the walls, the second thing was the group of Auror's trying to restrain the flailing Cornelius Fudge, or rather the inferius that use to be the Minister of Magic. Gasping she stood back feeling real fear for the first time in years,
"He's back...You-Know-Who is back," Rufus nodded woodenly,
"So it would seem, the question is what do we do now?" Getting over her shock Amelia stood up strait and spun on her heel,
"Auror Shacklebolt I want a report on all our defenses, contingencies, and available materiel, Auror Scrimgeour wake that fool Dumbledore up and tell him we need an emergency meeting of the Wizengameot, Auror Tonks, black coffee, and lots of it. Move it people we have a war to prepare for."
A block away hiding under Lilly's invisibility cloak Bellatrix giggled as she dropped her omniocular's into her bag, the pig Fudge was dead, Amelia was in position to run for minister and it would be a forgone victory once she received the backing from the Potter's, Black's, and Longbottom's. She was pleased that she was able to give the good guys early warning, create mayhem and pull off the occasional justified murder, Lillith was seriously the best boss ever. Giggling again she quipped,
"Enjoy fighting a competent enemy just as ruthless as you are Tom, I can hardly wait!"