Chapter 10

...Like branches on a tree, our lives may grow in different directions yet our roots remain as one...

~Unknown

Vermilion Bay Ontario, Canada
December 30th, 1999

Harry slowly became aware of himself. Echoes of muffled voices could be heard from the floor below. He was lying in very comfortable bed in a pair of very comfortable flannel pajamas. His throat was dry and scratchy though. His memories slowly came back to him. Dumbledore and his family packing an entire house. Attacking a ship yard with Davin and then attacking a couple of American destroyers.

Harry shivered involuntarily as his body recalled the cold ocean water. Then Harry was surprised to feel a warm hand cover his forehead and fix his comforter. "So I'm not dead then", Harry said hoarsely.

"No my dear Harry, you are very much safe and sound", said an unfamiliar voice.

Harry's eyes opened slightly but he couldn't make out the woman talking. She sounded almost like Minerva, only without the Irish accent. She sounded 'motherly', if Harry had to describe it. Her simple phrase put Harry at ease. "Who are you. Did they make it out?"

Harry blinked when a dim light came on revealing an older woman in her seventies. Her gray hair was pulled into a tight bun. She wore a cream colored wool sweater with a long dark brown skirt. When Harry's vision started to return to him, he noticed the woman's high cheek bones and her pale wrinkly skin. Then he looked into her eyes which were a brilliant shade of green. Eyes that were just like his.

The older woman started to smile as she seen the young man's expression turn to awe. "So you've noticed the similarities I see?"

Harry continued to look at an older version of his mother; unable to speak. He watched the way her smile lit up her face and the way her eyes sparkled. Then, like someone turning a switch, her expression slowly became saddened. "We are so glad you are alive sweetheart. It has been a long time since we last saw you."

She slowly moved up to him before engulfing him in a tight hug while he was still lying on the bed. "Your grandfather and I have missed you so much Harry. All these years have passed and we thought of you every single day. And your mother and father." Harry wrapped his arms around his long lost grandmother. Tears of joy stung the corners of his eyes as he just held onto her. They didn't hear the voices downstairs go silent. They also didn't hear the bedroom door creak open.

"So are you planning on hogging all of Harry's affection Rose", said older man.

Harry and Rose slowly parted and looked to the doorway. "Yes, your grandfather is a sarcastic old coot Harry", she whispered loud enough for everyone to hear. "I was just coming to get you Joseph. Harry just opened his eyes a minute ago."

********oooo********

An hour later, after a bathroom break and a long pull of water, Harry was seated near the fireplace of his grandparent's living room. Lilliana sat at the arm of his chair fussing over him while the others gathered around. He learned about his near death experience and hassle of obtaining an international portkey, even with the help of Dumbledore's friend.

"Davin said he heard the ship firing at him and looked back just in time to see it explode", Dumbledore explained to Harry. "He had circled around them a few times until you finally resurfaced. He carried you back to us using a rescue float and some rope. We healed the gash on the side of your head and cast I don't know how many warming charms. Then we had to keep you hidden until we received the portkey. Word of the attack spread quickly and the Americans were out for blood."

"So Davin's in Russia now", Harry asked.

Dumbledore nodded and added, "he was forced to take the train instead of a portkey, but he called and confirmed...by paging the numbers 10-4...that he was in Moscow."

"How long have we been here?"

"Two days."

Harry looked at his grandparents timidly before looking back at Dumbledore, "do they know about me? What I am?"

"Yes sweetheart. We are not going to judge you", Rose Evans said tenderly, "or pity you. Mr. Dumbledore told us about some of the events that happened. We knew somebody murdered your parents but who could we go to being non-magical? And then, a few days later, your grandfather got a letter by owl from a Father Jacobs."

Rose continued when she noticed Harry had perked up at the mention of his old mentor. "He said he was sorry for what he had done and that it was by accident. He said that you were alive but had to remain hidden. He also warned us that Riddle was going to come after us. Even going so far as to steal your stuffed Quidditch snitch to get Joseph to step down from running in the election."

At this point, tears started to run down Rose's face. "Father Jacobs saved us. We were about to go to the authorities about Riddle's blackmail but he said it would do no good. He also said that there had been an assassination contract put on us. He used magic to pack all our belongings and gave us something called a portkey to the States. He also brought you with him. He assured us that you would be safe."

Rose broke down in quiet sobs clutching her husbands shirt. "Leaving you behind was the single most difficult thing I have ever done in my life", she choked out.

His mind lost in the past, Joseph picked up the story, "I wanted to kill that man with every fiber of my being. I had my pistol to his head and he even gave me the option to go through with it. We could tell that he was remorseful for what he had done to our family. That's the only thing that saved him."

Joseph looked to Harry and asked in a gruff voice, "did he make good on his promise? Did he treat you well?"

"I didn't know it at the time. It was only after we found their bodies and after talking to Davin, that I realized he held a special place for me. He trained me personally while the others were given to the other monks."

"What do you mean...found their bodies", Joseph asked. Harry looked to Dumbledore wondering why the old man hadn't told them.

"I didn't tell them", Dumbledore said quietly, "I thought it would be best coming from you."

Harry accepted Dumbledore's answer and then looked to his grandparents, "I was tasked with killing Albus. When Davin and I were at the Imperial Center, Sirius Black, my godfather, recognized me. His cousin Bellatrix walked in on us and started casting curses everywhere. I gather that when she seen us with wands in hand, she thought I was out to kill him. So, they ambushed our home and killed everybody. I still haven't figured out how they found out where it was", Harry looked into the distance. Lost in thought as the faces of his dead friends played before his eyes. "Father Jacobs. My friends. Children. Everybody. Our home...burnt to ashes."

"Luckily for Davin and I, we had found Albus and we just so happened to be fighting him that same night." Harry smiled at the old man, "he won. By a small margin of course", Harry said smiling. "When I woke up, he told me about who I was and now...I call him Daddy."

Lilliana smacked Harry's arm and laughed while the others choked before joining her.

********oooo********

The next two weeks were a blur for Harry. Between learning about his family and spending time with them and Lilliana, the world melted away. His grandfather did keep him up to date with the current crisis between Britain and America. Apparently, the Americans are saying that an experimental submarine was used against the destroyers.

Harry learned that a coalition was started, once again headed by the Americans, to further sanction and possibly go to war with Britain. Several of the larger nations joined the coalition and had already pledge thousands of troops and equipment.

Harry also learned that the coalition leaders, who also attended to I.C.W. Affairs, refused to accept Riddle's explanation and told him that he should have been prepared for rogue terrorist wizards when he merged the muggle and magical world. So basically, they threw everything Riddle preached back at him as a slap in the face. Which, in turn, infuriated the Emperor even more. 'War would break out soon enough', Harry thought to himself, 'might as well enjoy this time while I can.'

Currently, Harry was enjoying the cool Canadian air at a remote spot on Strawberry Island. Lilliana was straddled in his lap against a tree overlooking the water. To Harry, the day's temperature seemed to be rising along with the snog session they were currently engaged in. Touching, caressing, and soon to be discarded clothing at the forefront of their minds.

Until Harry felt a buzzing in his pants pocket and became elated at the thought of hearing from Davin. Lilliana, who became a little upset by the sudden stop, became elated for another reason all together. The vibrations of Harry's pager traveled up her thighs and into her nether regions. Her eyes rolled up into her head as Harry tried to take the pager out and check it.

Before he could, Lilliana startled him by ripping his shirt clean off. "I'm not done with you", she growled hungrily.

One hour later, Harry was finally able to call Davin. Using a combination of button presses for yes/ no answers, he determined that his mission was complete and Karkoroff was dead. He was scheduled to land in Vermilion Bay in twelve hours.

Harry hung up the phone and told Lilliana. Another hour later they finally returned to Harry's grandparent's house to spread the news and eat dinner.

********oooo********

Davin's small commuter plane touched down on an air strip north of Vermilion Bay. He shook the pilot's hand and walked to the road looking out for a car to pick him up. He stood there for a few minutes looking in both directions wondering what the hold up was when out of nowhere...

"What's the capitol of Thailand", asked a disembodied voice.

Davin looked to where he thought he heard the person when he involuntarily dropped to his knees in pain. It radiated from the pit of his stomach down to his testicles. His pain addled brain barely comprehended the scuffing of shoes followed by, "Bangkok!"

Harry canceled his disillusion spell laughing his ass off, "get it? Bang Cock!"

Without warning, still on his knees, Davin punched out at Harry producing a slight shriek followed by him falling to his knees.

The two friends continued to roll on the ground when Lilliana walked up and canceled her disillusion spell. "Boys", she said under her breath.

It took a few minutes before they recovered, hugged it out, and apparated to Harry's grandparent's house. After introductions and a light dinner, Harry and Lillian met Davin in his room where he told them what did in Moscow.

His interrogation of Lucius had given him the location of Igor Karkoroff. He stood at the edge of Moskva River and looked at a tall building that clearly had to be magical. Davin could feel the muggle repelling wards surrounding the entire section he was standing in. Several buildings stood in the area that could only be held up by powerful magic.

The only one that Davin was concerned with was the building that was twisted around like something out of a Dr. Seuss book. How it was standing? Davin couldn't even guess but he had to admire it's beauty though.

The entire time it took for Karkoroff to arrive by limousine, surrounded by Mafia members, and take an elevator to the top floor, Davin stared at the modern marvel. Only now that his target had arrived, he looked at it with trepidation. He had never been afraid of heights, per se. It was the fall and sudden stop that freaked him out and the plan he had in mind for getting to Karkoroff required flight.

'Time to go to work', Davin thought. He walked briskly to an adjacent skyscraper and gained access to the roof. He looked down slightly at his target building and pulled out a small, crudely built, black hang glider. He pointed his wand at it and enlarged it back to it's original size before strapping himself to it.

The darkened sky would hide his flight to the target...as long as the winds didn't change. If that happened, he would end up off course and back to square one. He stepped back as far as he could to get a running start. Then shot forward and jumped into the night.

His glider sailed to the oddly beautiful building with barely any difficulty. He lightly touched down at the top, shrunk the glider and put it back in his pocket. He disillusioned himself and the rope he had tied to a metal pole so he could repel down the windows. Slowly, he walked to the edge and forced himself into a seated position in his harness. Fighting through the butterflies, Davin walked down the glass windows to the floor above Karkoroff's.

Being a magical building, Davin suspected that the window panes had an unbreakable charm on them along with a few others for maintenance issues.

But as smart as wizards are, they always forget to charm or ward seemingly small, yet critical, parts of a building. For instance, the giant windows that Davin was currently scaling were held in place by a permanent sticking charm. But, the glass was magicked to the black tar looking rubber insulation around the window, not the concrete. The insulation held no magic, it was purely a muggle invention that wizards used to save gold instead of using wards for drafts and air leaks.

All Davin needed to do was cast an Evanesco, a vanishing spell, at the seal around the window. After he cast the spell, he quickly cast the levitation spell to prevent it from falling. He used his wand to guide the glass to fit inside the window space and propped it against the wall. 'Entry gained', Davin said patting himself on the back.

He walked to the stairwell of the dark office floor and listened at the door. Hearing nothing he moved down to Karkoroff's floor and cast a Homenum Revelio spell. Davin could see eight heat signatures patrolling in pairs and a lone figure seated at the corner of the office floor. Davin pointed his wand at the stairwell door and found an intruder ward, which he easily dismantled. He cast a silencing charm on the door handle and the hinges before removing a pair of curved knives.

Ever so gently, Davin eased the door open just enough to fit through. Two guards stood a few feet away, unaware of his presence. He crept behind them and raised his knives level to his chest. Like a viper, he struck without warning. Davin swung his knives around and stabbed the guards on the outside of their necks. His blades sunk deep into their soft flesh before he violently pulled them down to the floor, opening the wounds even deeper.

Moving on, he grabbed pair of throwing spikes and edged to the corner of the hallway at a "T" intersection. He heard footsteps coming from both ends of the hall. 'Two man roving teams', Davin thought. Quickly coming up with a plan, he stepped into their path and launched a spike at one group before smoothing spinning and throwing another spike at the opposite pair.

Still invisible, the guards only noticed something was wrong when their partners dropped to the deck. Which gave Davin plenty of time to grab his wand and cast cutting curses at the exposed arteries of their necks.

Alas, powerful magical spells do produce some sort of light. One of the remaining two guards called out from the office door they were standing in front of. Davin reached back and unsheathed his bladed tonfas. He took a deep breath and sprinted towards the office doors. The area opened up into a large reception area with a curved desk off to the side and several pieces of furniture for a waiting area. The only obstacle in his way was a white leather sofa, which actually assisted him.

The two unsuspecting guards seen the sofa move slightly before they were thrown back into the wooden office doors behind them. They crashed through, ripping the hinges clean off the wall. Davin's tonfas stuck deep into their chests and stuck into the wood of the door.

Karkoroff looked like a deer in headlights as Davin rolled to the side of the crashed doors and pulled his wand. Rising to his feet, he sent a well aimed stunning spell at Karkoroff's chest before he could even reach for his wand.

"And that was the first night", Davin told Harry. "I planned on killing him and meeting up with you earlier but when I interrogated him, Karkoroff gave me all types of financial information. Turns out that Karkoroff was in charge of about forty percent of Riddle's 'under-the-table' income. So, for the next week, I tracked down and burned every bank and dealer I could find. I also erased as many files as I could so they couldn't reopen shop as quickly."

"I'm sure he'll be thrilled when he gets the news! Great work", Harry said with a brotherly pat on Davin's shoulder.

The blonde assassin smiled at the praise, "so what's been going on here? How's your grandparents?"

"Everything has been great! Joseph, my grandfather, has been working on getting us all passports for the trip to Brazil and my grandmother is making sure I get fat", Harry chuckled.

Davin did a double take at Harry before busting out laughing, "you always were a skinny little shit!"

"I'll have you know", Harry said pompously, "it's a full time job maintaining this hour glass figure and it's overtime keeping this here eight pack looking good!" Harry lifted his shirt and flashed Davin his abs.

While Davin didn't look at all impressed, "oh please mate! I'm the one that taught you how to get those!"

Lilliana on the other hand was ready to pounce on her boyfriend... again. Since leaving Britain, their physical relationship has been a little chaste considering the amount of people living at Harry's grandparent's house now. Illicit activities, like the one they just had twelve hours prior, were hard to come by. Also the fact that most of their "bonding time" had to take place outside in the cold was not really ideal for her. The lack of romantic physical contact had started taking it's toll and seeing her man expose his abs elicited a silent moan and a secret mission of her own.

She stood up and grabbed Harry's arm and whispered her desires in her boyfriend's ear. Davin gave her a weird look.

At this point, Lilliana started walking away at a brisk pace. " Good to see you Davin. I gotta run", she said over her shoulder. Davin stuttered a goodbye before looking at Harry, who was also getting up to walk away.

"Ummmm, right mate. Good to see you back. Go ahead and get some rest. I forgot to take care of something, sooooooo...yup!" Harry quickly ran after Lilliana as if the hounds of hell were chasing him.

Davin was a bit confused before he thought more about what happened. Then he laughed his as off, "they must be in heat!"

...Even today we raise our hand against our brother.. We have perfected our weapons, our conscience has fallen asleep, and we have sharpened our ideas to justify ourselves as if it were normal. We continue to sow destruction, pain, death. Violence and was lead only to death...

~Pope Francis

Imperial Center
January 9h, 2000

Tom Riddle slammed the telephone receiver down in anger. Yet another bank had just informed him that the money he had accrued was all but lost; except for the two hundred thousand that they insured. That was the fifth bank that had called in the past week giving him a total loss of over fifty million euros. Each one that he talked to said that their office building burnt down and they blamed computer issues for losing backup records.

Tom would have to go to court with his paper copies of financial statements to prove what was in his account. The problem was that the money that the Russian banks held were all from Karkoroff's criminal dealings. So taking the matter to court would shed unwanted light on him. With the American coalition knocking on his door so to speak, the last thing Riddle needed right now was the Russians to claim he was a crime lord. Then more countries would be out for his blood.

After the first bank called, Tom immediately tried calling Karkoroff to get more information. But his phone just rang. He let it slide for the first day thinking that the man must be overseeing the issue and would get back to him. After two days of silence, he sent an owl only for it to return without delivering his message.

Worried and furious, Tom sent Bella to Russia to bring Karkoroff's ass back to Britain. Thoughts of betrayal ran rampant through his mind. 'It wouldn't be hard for the bastard to take what he could and run. Those damn assassins must be scaring the hell out of him', Tom thought.

And if Tom was honest with himself, he couldn't really fault Karkoroff for the 'cut-n-run'. Especially after what happened to the Malfoys. They barely found the remains of Narcissa and Draco at Malfoy Manor and what was left of poor Lucius would make the most hardened of veterans turn green. The blonde aristocrat was found in the shipyard office building missing a quarter of his body weight in flesh. Every bone in his extremities was broken and the skin he did have looked as if it was burned and healed over with magic.

The bodies of the Lucius' dock workers and the loss of his secret shipyard also infuriated Tom. Getting natural resources into Britain would be almost impossible now. Especially since the American warships around his country doubled in size and numbers.

Karkoroff must have been told about the Malfoy's murder by one of his Mafia contacts. 'The bastard didn't have to steal my money though', Tom thought, 'Karkoroff is a multimillionaire himself unless he got greedy.' It just didn't make sense to the troubled Emperor and deep down in his gut, he figured the assassin had something to do with this situation.

'Maybe the lack of sleep is affecting me', he reflected. Between the Malfoy's murder, the attack on the American destroyers, and Karkoroff's disappearance, Tom has had less than fourteen hours of sleep in the past week. The American led coalition meetings alone drove him to exhaustion. Tom did have a premeditated plan to attack the Americans, yes, but he hasn't moved out of the planning stage yet!

A knock sounded on his office door and opened up for his secretary. Tom, broken out his reverie, looked to the woman and noticed her hesitant approach. "The ICW has demanded a hearing Emperor."

Tom's head fell onto his desk with a solid 'thump'. He was half tempted to skip the meeting to see what they would do but he knew that he needed to appease them...for now at least. His battle plan against other world powers relied heavily on the element of surprise. 'I'm so tired', he thought.

"Very well", he told the secretary, "inform them that I will arrive shortly."

She scampered off to fulfill her duties as Tom grabbed another Pepper Up potion. He swished his wand to create the illusion of a healthier appearance and to take the wrinkles out of his suit before entering the floo network.

After two hours of deliberation, Tom had to admit to his country's terrorism problem concerning this damned assassin. "Combating muggle sleeper cells that are affiliated with extremist groups are just as difficult, if not more so, to find and stop as magical terrorist cells", he reasoned with the council. "I am confident that my Aurors are closing in on them as we speak."

This was followed by another hour of deliberation where all the council members 'nit picked' his government's law enforcement. They said that HIS people were behind the times with magic and muggle technology. They said HIS people were weak. 'Well, they'll find out soon enough', he thought.

When the Americans and their allies demanded reparations, Tom became furious. "Let me get this straight", he said with such venom that most of the ICW members recoiled slightly in fear. "You want me to pay restitution for ships that are illegally embargoing MY COUNTRY!"

"They are not illegal...", one of the Americans began.

"TO YOU THEY ARE NOT ILLEGAL BECAUSE YOU CREATED THAT SANCTION", Tom finished with a holler. A pin could be heard dropping before Tom spoke again, "My country has been alone for years now and we haven't looked back since. Your ridiculous sanctions have not hindered us in the slightest!"

Tom was about to continue if it weren't for one of his aides rushing up to his side. Tom looked at him with the same hate as the ICW until his message was given. "Bella sends word, Karkoroff is dead! The assassin has dismantled your power base in Russia", he whispered. The man backed off and returned to his seat as Tom's expressions went from sadness to white hot rage. Magic swirled around the Emperor making papers and clothing whip slightly from an ethereal breeze. Tom gripped the podium with both hands and squeezed the wood board until it splintered in his hands.

Tom, realizing what was happening, quickly calmed himself to stop the uncontrollable magic. His rage gave him a new focus. The ICW members all stood, wands out, and hollered at the British Emperor. Tom let it go on for a moment, taking it all in. He had enough! Tom mentally washed away all his frustrations with the ICW, the despair of losing his friends, and the loss of millions of euros. He felt clarity for the first time in awhile.

His low sounding voice cut through every scream from the ICW members, "I'm done with this."

His declaration brought instant silence. "I'm done with this council as well." Tom took a deep breath and straightened his suit, " You will find out how weak we are soon enough!"

While Tom and his aides made for the exit in a dignified fashion, hurried whispers erupted from the ICW until someone finally shouted, "That sounds awfully like a threat MISTER Riddle."

Tom noticed the lack of any title, the ICW member did say it blatantly after all. 'Such disrespect', he thought. He didn't expect them to call him Emperor, that would be too much. But to not even give him some sort of "earned" title like council member or ambassador...Even the enunciated way that bastard said "mister" was beyond acceptable tastes. It only fueled his rage further!

Tom smiled a sinister smile. One that a predator would give his prey right before their death. Then he whispered, and everybody heard, "I haven't threatened you...yet!"

Tom turned on his heel and started towards the floo. The sound of his footsteps echoed through the grand hall like thunder claps. He reached the fireplace and grabbed a handful of floo powder when a voice from his past spoke up.

"I knew this would happen Tom," Dumbledore said quietly. The old man appeared to walk out from an invisible curtain and stood a few paces away.

Tom, still in a rage, turned to Dumbledore, "So you are alive then? What have you told them?"

"I haven't told them anything, I didn't need too."

"So you have come to gloat then. I didn't think the great Albus Dumbledore would stoop to such methods?"

"You misunderstand my intentions Tom", Dumbledore said softly. "At first, I was going to inform the ICW about your intentions to go to war, but I can see that the they have the same plans for you. My main concern has always been for our country and it's people."

"You are a traitor to your people old man", Riddle snarled.

"Only because you have made me so..."

The two powerful wizards stared at each other for a moment to assess the other. But Dumbledore wasn't looking for a fight. "Believe me when I say that I want a unified world as well as you do Tom. But war is never the answer. A lot of people, good people that just want to get on with their lives, will die!"

"So what do you suggest Dumbledore? To let bygones be bygones? Let MY country suffer because these fools are afraid to see what I have created?"

Dumbledore smiled sadly, "What Britain has become is remarkable. Even in my...exile, I can see the difference in the people. But that took you years to accomplish. If you go through with this war, you would be forcing magic down their throats. Panic will ensue. Lives will be lost."

"They should have thought of that before..."

But Dumbledore cut off Riddle's rant, "What happened to the betterment of our species? You remember that speech?"

Tom looked at Dumbledore with an incredulous look on his face, "What the hell do you think I've been doing all these years? What you need to understand Dumbledore is that lives will always be lost for some cause or another. My cause, at least, has this world progressing forward into a new era."

Riddle looked at Dumbledore with conviction, "I would sacrifice millions to see a better world than the one we have now. Whether we win this war or not, it doesn't matter. The world will know of magic and it will force these idiots to admit to it. They will have to adapt or be overcome."

Tom walked away from Dumbledore and stepped into the fireplace, "kill or be killed old man. That has been a rule since the dawn of man." Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak but the Emperor cut him off, "this visit has been a freebie Albus. You are still a traitor to my country. The next time we meet will not be as pleasant."

Tom threw the floo powder down and left with a swirl of flames. He arrived back in his office still in a fit. He told his secretary to get his military council to report immediately. While she did so, Tom called Bella to get more details of Karkoroff's death.

********oooo********

A few hours later, Tom's military leaders, along with Bellatrix, were seated in Tom's expanded office. Tom would have liked the Lestrange brothers to attend but they just arrived back in South America and it would take too long to return.

Tom told the assembly what the ICW said about them being weak. He worked up an uplifting speech to get his people rolling and ready to launch a war. For the most part, the planning had been done already. They didn't want to get into smaller details because they wanted flexibility and the fact that 'shit happens' and that no plan survives contact with the enemy.

"So to recap", Tom said to the assembly, "South America will not be an issue due to the Lestrange brothers...influence." Tom referred to the control of the drug trade that came out of the South American countries. They had used similar plan before with great success in the States. They stopped the flow of illegal drugs into the country which resulted in mass riots and death. Eventually, they allowed it back in at double the price before settling back into a routine again. This time, however, they were going to fatally lace all the drugs after a short retraction of the product. "Their teams have already set up surveillance on the government leaders and they will either submit or die. Rodolphus has already given the word to stop all drug trade until further notice and the laced product will be distributed before the assault."

"From Columbia, the Lestrange brothers will split the army and take a combination of brooms, ships, and warplanes to California and Florida. Lightning quick strikes coupled with an overwhelming force will see the job done. Basically, a blitzkrieg, as far inland as they can get destroying everything in their path. General Wyatt's division will land in New York, after our naval forces destroy this silly embargo, and meet up with Rodolphus before heading inland. Generals Smith, Rourke, and Abelson will land attack France, Spain, and Germany in a similar fashion as the Lestrange brothers."

"What are we going to do if they move too fast in America and they rebel or we miss some targets", asked General Wyatt.

"I'll leave that to your discretion General. Do what must be done", Riddle replied. "Hopefully before we launch, I have a plan that will put an end to this assassin. With the Lestrange brothers in South America and myself being heavily guarded, Bella is the only member of my closest advisers that he has a chance to get at."

Every person in the assembly looked to the woman Tom was referring to as if on impulse. "She has agreed to surgically implant a GPS device under her skin as well as the placement of countless tracking charms that will be cast on her clothing. I am getting the Daily Prophet to interview her on a personal level by Rita Skeeter tomorrow. When Skeeter asks about our murdered friends, Bella here, is going to issue a challenge and play down their deeds as simple 'smoke and mirror' magic."

"So you are expecting them to kidnap her? What happens if they just kill her? I would like to suggest at least a few Aurors to remain undercover around her at all times until we put this behind us", said General Rourke.

"Normally, we would General. But given the fact that they have tortured information out of every one of my friends, it is safe to say that they will do the same to Bella. It goes without saying that eyes will be on her at all times. If they try to take her we can move quickly without any harm coming to her."

Bellatrix Black sat barely listening to Tom and his generals talk about the trap for the assassins. She was fighting an internal battle within herself and had been since that day she was hogtied in Sirius' office. The blonde man's face continued to invade her thoughts along with the searing kiss that they shared; or rather, that he took!

Half of her wanted to find him just to shag the life out of him. The other half wanted to just snatch the life out of him. It was all very confusing. The deaths of Lucius and Igor were also weighing heavily on her. Poor Karkoroff looked like a voodoo pin cushion from the photos the Russian police showed her. She wanted very badly to meet the assassins again, especially the blonde one, but the idea of being tortured didn't appeal to her.

She was about to daydream about him again, with her naked and tied up, both willing participants, until she noticed Tom's meeting had adjourned. Quickly clamping down her feelings, she stood and left to prepare for her "hostage situation."

...The heart wants what it wants. There's no logic to these things. You meet someone and you fall in love and that's that...

~Woody Allen

Joseph and Rose Evans' cabin
Vermilion Bay
January 10th, 2000

Harry, Davin, and Lilliana were enjoying a light breakfast together when Joseph Evans walked into the dining room with a somber expression. All three of them turned their heads and watched as the elderly man tossed three passports and the Daily Prophet onto the table. Harry and Lilliana grabbed the documents and studied them. Davin, however, seen that the front page was entirely devoted to Bellatrix Black.

He disregarded the passport and dove into the paper with gusto. He learned a lot about his "lady in waiting". Rita Skeeter talked Bella up as a feisty, strong minded, single witch, with immense intelligence. She also added a few quotes from current Aurors about how her skills were unmatched in dueling. Davin fell in love more and more with each sentence, each word, that he read about her. He was but a junkie and Bella was his long awaited fix. Until the end of the interview when she had insulted him.

After reading and then rereading her claim that their, Harry and his, skills in combat were creative but lacked real power and skill...his heart shattered. He pushed through the insult only to receive more, but he kept reading in the hope that it was a cruel joke. When he was done, he flipped the paper back to the front page and stared at Bella's picture feeling betrayed.

Lilliana noticed Davin's forlorn look and questioned him about it. He nodded his head toward the paper giving her the hint to read it. "Last surviving member of the Emperor's closest friends", she read aloud. Harry perked up and walked behind her to read the article over her shoulder. His face sifted through shades of red as his temper started to boil over.

"SMOKE AND MIRRORS?" Harry paced back and forth as his ranted and raved about the absurdness of that bitches comments! Joseph just watched his grandson with an amused expression. 'Lilly used to do the same thing when she was angry. God rest her soul', her thought nostalgically.

Dumbledore and Minerva walked into the dining area wondering what the commotion was about. After they read the Daily Prophet article, Dumbledore tired to reason with Harry. "Do you not see the ploy Harry?"

The young man paused long enough to retort, but Dumbledore cut him off, "it's obviously a trap. The title of the article says it all."

Harry, Davin, and Lilliana reread the title again. "Last surviving member of the Emperor's closest friends", Lilliana supplied. Her father smiled at her, "is she the last of his friends?"

Harry's face opened up in shock. 'Why the hell didn't I think of that?' Davin's face looked the same with a sprinkle of hope mixed in. Perhaps she didn't say those things or she was forced too?

"The Lestrange brothers", Harry whispered. Thinking back to the article, Skeeter nor Bella even mentioned them. "They are putting Bellatrix in the spotlight", Harry said. "They probably have all types of tracking charms and undercover Aurors watching her. They might even have a damn army guarding her at all times."

"But why her", Lilliana asked, "why not set the Lestrange brothers up as bait?"

Joseph Evans spoke up for the first time, "perception my dear. If one of the brothers said those things that Bellatrix did, everybody would see that as a 'calling out'. By using Bellatrix, they are playing to your egos, and quite successfully I might add", he chuckled. "Also, by using a female, the perceived threat is lessened because of her gender. Even though we all know that it is not the case." Joseph spied his life partner in his peripheral vision. "We all know that a woman could be, and most are, more powerful than a man." The old man looked at his wife as if he didn't see her just enter the room, "isn't that right dear?"

"Oh don't try and butter me up for brownie points you old fart. I know you seen me enter the room", she replied in mock anger.

The room at large laughed at Harry's grandparents which helped bring tempers down. Harry couldn't help but to wonder if his parents might have acted the same way. Friendly, good natured bantering that was said lovingly. He looked at Lilliana, and try as he might, he couldn't stop the flash of their lives as a married couple coming before his eyes.

Harry smiled before forcing his mind to the present, "so, we leave Bella alone. Let them spend their resources watching her. While they do that, we'll go to South America."

With a plan in mind, and a plot foiled, chatter soon turned to lighter topics. At least for everyone but Davin. He had been given the hope he was desperately seeking, 'maybe she didn't say those things. If so, maybe they forced her to say them', he repeated like a mantra.

Davin knew he was being stupid. His life long training was screaming at him to forget this woman; hell she is old enough to be his mother anyway! But he couldn't. His willpower was not strong enough, or was never present to begin with. A crazy idea turned into a conceivable plan that turned into an impossible mission. One that he knew he might not be able to survive.

In the darkness of the night, Davin shrunk the items he would need into a bag and stuffed them into his pocket. From his other pocket, he took out a letter and placed it on the dining room table. It had taken him most of the night to write it. He hoped that his friends would understand why he went back to Britain.

He seen the looks that Harry and Lilliana gave each other. And while he wasn't the slightest bit jealous, he was guiltily envious. That's why he was willing to give his life to try and achieve those feelings for himself.

Like the assassin he is, Davin silently exited the cabin without a sound and disappeared into the shadows.

Destination: Britain.

Target: Love.