Chapter 14

...Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important than fear...

~Ambrose Redmoon

La Bajada, Cuba
Eight minutes prior to Davin's rescue...
"Hurry the hell up Parker, We're already late", hollered a soldier running out the door.

"I know", Parker said from inside the doorway. Harry waited an agonizing thirty seconds before Parker finally ran out the building still trying to put on his boots.

Private Sam Parker, a relatively new soldier in Rodolphus Lestrange's division, hopped on his left leg while trying to put his right boot on. His pants hindered the movement slightly since they were not buttoned and falling to his thighs.

His squad was already assembled on the parade deck with the rest of the base. 'I can't believe they duck taped me to a toilet bowl, then bitch about me being late when they didn't cut me loose...bastards!'

They always give the newbies hell when they are fresh from basic training. It's nothing personal, they have all been through it. But for the dimwitted 'boot' Private Parker, it seemed to last a whole lot longer. He wasn't particularly intelligent or athletic if his belly was any indication. But he was gifted with magical ability and that made him priceless to the unit. Argentina didn't have many magical citizens, who have already been educated in magic, available to enlist. At least without the United States and the I.C.W finding out about it. The Lestrange brother's army was supposed to be secret after all.

Private Parker was still buttoning his top when his Sergeant walked by him. Parker's fire team leader let out a long breath of annoyance. "Parker", he barked out.

"Yes Sergeant", Parker said snapping to attention.

"I want you to take a good look at everybody else and tell me what you see different?"

Private Parker looked around. He took in the faces and uniforms of the soldiers next to him.

"Ok, now look at yourself! Notice anything different?"

Parker looked at his half buttoned top. It was slightly wrinkled since he didn't get a chance to use a charm to press it. When he looked down, he understood his problem. In his haste, he put on the wrong pair of pants. How that happened, he didn't know. He could have sworn that he had his camouflage trousers on. Parker dropped his head in shame and despair.

Parker's Sergeant knew that the unit had been hazing the chubby magical. He didn't know it had been going on for so long and since everybody gets a little hazing, he didn't think anything of it. But looking at the boy, the Sergeant knew it had been taken too far. "Look, just go back to the barracks. I'll talk to you about this later", he said.

"Yes Sergeant", Parker said quietly. He started to trudge his way back to his room until his Sergeant ordered him to move 'double time'. When he arrived, with tears in his eyes, he grabbed his forgotten wand and changed his jean pants to regular camouflage. 'Maybe I'm not cut out for this', he said morosely. He peeked out his window and seen that the parade deck had filled up and they were still waiting for the base commanders.

He was about to pick up his belongings, which were thrown about his room thanks to his squad mates, when the ground started to shake. Parker didn't think much about it at first until his window blew out and the screams of dying men echoed across the parade deck. The Private inched to his window and watched in fearful awe as a giant ocean serpent made of fire splashed into a platoon on the opposite side of the parade deck.

Private Parker could feel the heat of the flames on his face as the monster swam the outer edges of the parade deck. Obviously, the fire beast was conjured by a magical spell. The power to wield such a spell frightened Parker even more than he already was. Even though his unit has been hazing him since his arrival, Private Parker was still a solider; albeit a piss stained frightened one right now.

When the monster leapt out of the ground and overhead, Parker gripped his wand and moved to his door. His movements jerky and uncertain as adrenaline and fear ran through his system. The front lobby doors were in a melted heap so he ran to the rear exit and out his barracks. He ran around to the side and into a small alley between two buildings. The smell of burning flesh assaulted his senses first. The sight of cooked dismembered bodies sent his stomach over edge.

What little food he had in his stomach was emptied on the brick wall. Regathering his courage, he pointed his wand at the first casualty and cast an Aguamenti spell. The heat was so intense that the stream of water sizzled and dissipated before it hit the body. Private Parker's jaw dropped. 'Cursed fire!'

He had only read about the Fiendfyre spell, he didn't think that anyone was powerful enough to cast it. Let alone with a fiery representation as massive as a sea monster. He felt his knees weaken at the prospect of coming across the magical with this type of ability. Slowly, he slid down the brick wall and sat down. 'I'm useless', he thought. 'I can't put out the fires and I sure as hell can't fight the wizard that cast the spell!'

Just then Private Parker seen a figure descend from the rooftop thirty feet to his left. The dark clothed man walked briskly down the road and didn't look back. His fear intensified as well as his curiosity. Steeling his nerves and making several attempts to get his body moving, Private Parker lurched in the stranger's direction.

He walked as silently as he could down the road where he seen the mysterious figure walk down. After a nerve wracking hundred yard stalk, Parker came upon body parts sticking erect out of the road. Half of a man's head was frozen in a silent scream; looking as if he was trying to pull his head out of a bed sheet made of concrete. The folds were attached to the man's skin and appeared to rip a portion of it.

Parker continued past the human gravestones and followed alongside the brick wall of another barracks. More bodies and fresh blood. Some were ripped in shreds. One man had been lynched by what looks to be barbed wire. The mysterious attacker was standing in front of him carving a symbol into the flesh of the man's chest. Parker recognized the holy cross. What disgusted him was when the intruder pulled the lynched man's heart from his chest for all to see. It hung like a grotesque Christmas ornament. Again, Private Parker had to fight down the bile that rose in his throat.

Task completed, if just barely, Parker looked back at the monster still 'painting' on the poor man's chest. 'How could anyone do such a thing? I have to do something', Parker thought. But what could he do? He didn't hate anybody enough to cast the killing curse. The desire to actually want someone, even this demented intruder, to die was not within him.

The need to act was intensified when the man started jogging away. 'I might not be able to defeat him, but someone else probably can', he thought. He pointed his wand and prayed to all that was holy that the fleeing man didn't notice his spell. The only difficult spell he could manage at his skill level, the tracking charm. Parker whispered the spell and took off running in case the deranged intruder came after him.

He waited in the darkest corner he could find for the man to kill him. His head hurt from clenching his eyes closed so hard. Tears and sweat leaked down his face and tracked the ash that had accumulated on his cheeks. He didn't want to think of how that very ash could actually be charred pieces of his burnt comrades; lest he loose what was left of the contents of his stomach again.

Hours passed by and Private Parker had yet to move. He didn't know how long he had been hiding, but the let out a relieved smile when he heard the distant 'whomping' of helicopters in the distance. Only three words immediately entered his mind. 'Rescue, safety, and success!'

The crazed monster of a wizard either never found him or didn't know that Parker's tracking charm had been successful. Again, Private Parker cried. Only this time, his tears were of joy and relief.

...The best revenge is massive success..

~Frank Sinatra

Imperial Center
Tom Riddle's Office
February 6th, 2000

Tom Riddle, Emperor to the free peoples of magical and non-magical Britain, paced his office floor. Three days ago, he received a message from Rodolphus Lestrange saying that they captured the damned assassin. They also said something crazy to the effect that their own Bellatrix Black had been working with him. 'No, that can't be true. Not Bella', he thought. 'Surely she must be under the Imperious curse or under some threat of death! She would never help the assassins willing...would she?'

More distressing than that, almost fourteen hours later, he received another message saying that the very base Rodolphus had taken the assassin had been destroyed. Over three quarters of the fighting staff stationed there had been burnt to ash or were charred remains. All of the armored vehicles and aircraft had been smelted down to ore! And most distressing of all, the Lestrange brothers were dead and Bella was once again missing. Rebastan suffered from fatal knife wounds while poor Rodolphus was hung by barbed wire, with his heart on the wrong side of his chest!

Now all of his friends, all of the people he had started this world wide venture with, are dead! Or as good as depending on Bella's predicament and whereabouts. The only good news he had been given was from General Smith. Immediately after they received word of the attack, the Spec Ops soldiers that were in sleeper cells in France, quickly deployed to Cuba. Now, three days later, General Smith's team had finally smuggled two persons that had first hand information of the assassin.

Or assassins! There were TWO left, apparently. Riddle wondered which one he had fought when Bella was taken away.

The Emperor's buzzer rang out carrying him away from his current thoughts. "Sir, Colonel Ericson and Private Parker are here for you", his secretary said.

"Very good, send them in."

Riddle moved around his desk when the two survivors were escorted into his office. They smartly marched in and saluted their Emperor, "Colonel Ericson and Private Parker reporting as ordered sir!"

"At ease gentlemen", Riddle said and offered them a seat, "have a seat and tell me what happened."

Colonel Ericson started first. He reported that the Lestrange brothers had captured Bellatrix Black and a blond haired assassin who had numerous scars across his body. Riddle remembered the assassin's face well when they fought in front of the very building he was currently sitting in. He told Riddle about the Lestrange brothers interrogating both captives for a few hours before getting Rebastan's phone call. Then he told his Emperor how a dark haired, green eyed wizard put him under the mind control curse and had him walk naked throughout the base afterwards.

At that point, Private Parker reported his sad tale. The Emperor could tell that Colonel Ericson looked down at his subordinate for cowering in front of the enemy. 'He did seem pathetic', Riddle thought to himself. The Emperor began wonder why this particular soldier would be smuggled into his country. His story held no real significance other than to detail the magic used to kill over three thousand men and women. It wasn't until the end when Riddle realized why this man was so important.

"I'm sorry. Say that again", Tom asked Parker. Surely he didn't hear what he thought he did...what he hoped he did.

"I was able to put a tracking charm on him sir. He was leaving the base when I cast it and I've tested it a few times so it seems to be working."

The Emperor's hopes soared. They have a way of finding them! "And where is it telling you to go", he asked excitedly.

"Directly west sir and far away from here, so...Canada or North America I believe."

Riddle leaned back in his chair and smiled. 'I got you now!'

...Real knowledge is to know the extent of one's ignorance...

~Confucius

James and Rose Evans' Cabin
Vermilion Bay, Ontario ,Canada
Three weeks after Cuba

Harry was slowly coming out of his slumber. The bed he was in was exceptionally soft. The brightening sunrise made his eyes flicker involuntarily, begging him to wake up. As he did, he became aware of a long, smooth leg covering his waist. He brought his left hand up and rested it on the slim feminine arm laying across his chest. Finally opening his eyes, he looked down at the blonde beauty sharing his bed. Her breathing was slow and regulated. The complete opposite of what it was just a few hours previously during their lovemaking.

Harry thought back to when he returned to the cabin with Bella and Davin, who was strapped to a stretcher. He looked like he had tried to run through a metal wall at full speed. Bella told him that his brain was swollen from the amount of hits he had taken to the head. On the way through America, he slipt into a coma. That was three weeks ago.

Bella remained at his side day and night, never once leaving him. Just as Lilliana never left Harry's side. She was distraught when she heard what had happened and how an easy mission went bad. She vowed to Harry that he would never leave her behind again.

He was so lost in his thoughts that when Lilliana asked how long he had been staring at the ceiling, he jumped. Harry smiled and kissed her forehead. "Not long", he said quietly.

Lilliana knew better though. While Harry had been reminiscing about his return to the cabin this time, it wasn't uncommon for him to stare at nothing at other times. Nightmares, containing the screams of dying men and women, woke him up on some nights, leaving him in cold sweats and panting for breath. His imagination took it to another level when random faces would hauntingly accuse him of their murder. Sometimes, their accusations would come when he was wide awake.

Worried, Lilliana asked about the sudden change but Harry didn't want to burden her. Either that or he didn't want to admit to her that he had burnt over three thousand people alive. He hadn't told anyone about what he did when he recounted the events that had happened in Cuba. When he planned on taking out a good portion of Riddle's soldiers, he didn't think it would affect him this much. For a week straight, Harry took three showers a day trying to wash the perceived smell of burning flesh from his skin. He scrubbed so much his skin was raw.

Like when he had accidentally burned Narcissa and Draco Malfoy alive, Harry compared himself to Tom Riddle and became inconsolable. The Emperor had burned his adoptive family and mentor alive at Bowes Castle. What right did Harry have for hating the Emperor if he was committing the same crimes? Once again, it took Lilliana to pull him back from the brink of insanity. Somehow, she always knew how to heal him.

It helped that she knew what he had done. Bella told her and a few others, namely Dumbledore and Harry's grandparents, what the young man had conjured with Fiendfyre. The love of Davin's life hoped to help the young dark haired assassin whom she had come to respect.

"Are you sure", Lilliana asked lovingly. She rose up onto her elbows and looked deep into his eyes; trying to find a lie within them.

"Yeah, just thinking about how fast these past weeks have been."

Lilliana smiled and leaned down to kiss his lips softly. After a moment, they got up and got ready for the day. They met Dumbledore, Remus, and Arthur in the dining room. Molly Weasley, Arthur's wife, was carrying a plate of sausages when the two lovebirds sat down. "Good morning dears, sleep well", she asked, mostly looking at Lilliana.

"Yes, Mrs. Weasley", they both said. Lilliana conveying the truth with her eyes that they had indeed slept better than previous nights. Just then Ron and Ginny Weasley, the youngest of the Weasley brood, walked in and sat down across from Harry and Lilliana. Until recently, Harry didn't have much interaction with any of the Weasley children. It was Lilliana that suggested he help teach them some defensive spells or charms. Teaching was one of the little things that helped Harry heal, he actually enjoyed it.

After breakfast, the four of them bundled up and walked outside. They headed to a small clearing in the forest to practice. It was about a twenty minute walk, so they talked about inconsequential things like chess and the girls discussed magical cosmetics. For two hours, Harry taught them all the finer points of combat transfiguration. All three of them had done surprisingly well and learned quickly enough. 'I guess that's one of the benefits of living with Albus Dumbledore', Harry thought.

After a quick steaming mug of hot chocolate, at Mrs. Weasley's persistence, Harry walked to Davin's room. He opened the door and seen his best friend still lying in bed. Although he was slightly pale looking, maybe from the low lighting of the room, but Davin looked like he was at peace.

Bellatrix Black was sitting in the same chair she had been since they came back from Cuba. She barely ever left Davin's side. Harry moved through the room and stood at the end of the bed. Bella, who was staring out the window deep in thought, didn't make any motion of acknowledging his presence. For a few uncomfortably silent moments, the only sound was Davin's light snores.

Harry looked to Bella, "Do you need anything", he said softly.

Pulled from her gazing, she looked at Harry with a sad smile, "No, thank you."

"Of course", Harry replied. He started walking to the door to give her their privacy when she stopped him. "He's not an evil man, Harry."

Harry stopped and turned to look at the dark haired beauty with a perplexed look on his face.

"Tom Riddle", she elaborated. "He's not evil."

"Then why did he send an assassin after my parents? Why did he get you to blackmail my grandfather? And why did he eradicate the only family Davin and I had left?"

"I'm not saying that he didn't make mistakes. Huge mistakes", Bella added quickly. Harry looked like he was about retort an angry rant, but she promptly added, "please believe me when I say that none of that was supposed to happen."

"Then why did it happen", Harry growled. "None of them deserved what happened to them."

Bellatrix sighed. This was not how she wanted the conversation to go and she told Harry that. She implored him to take a seat, "Did you know that Tom was an orphan? When he attended Hogwarts, he traced his family line to one of the four founders of the school, Salazar Slytherin. According to the history books, Slytherin was against muggleborns learning magic; that only purebloods should be taught at Hogwarts. Years after Hogwarts opened, the debate reached a climax between him and another founder named Godric Gryffindor. It was a bloody fight that Slytherin won at the cost of being ostracized by the others for the type of magic he used."

"According to what Tom read in a diary he found, that belonged to Slytherin, it wasn't dark magic like they say, but it wasn't light magic either. From that point on, the Slytherin family name and school house at Hogwarts were always treated differently, sort of like outcasts. Students in the Slytherin house were all viewed as dark even if their personality said otherwise. And the Slytherin family had to resort to incest due to a lack of willing suitors, depleting finances, and the few rotten apples that didn't help their family reputation. After centuries, the end result is Tom being the last surviving member of the Slytherin family line."

"During Hogwarts, Tom was treated no different than any other in the Slytherin house. He was ridiculed, picked on, and beat up until he eventually became feared by all students and adored by his professors. After Hogwarts, he realized that the muggles were being treated the same, if not worse, by all magical people. A whole hierarchy of hate based on blood purity and magical capability. He even realized the irony that pureblood fanatics ran the magical government, something he was sure Salazar Slytherin would have found amusing."

"So he left Britain and traveled around the world. He was surprised to see the same bigotry everywhere he went. I remember when he came to me, "Bellatrix smiled nostalgically, "he said...Bella dear, we are the only species on the planet that has the intelligence to make our lives and our very world better, but we are to selfish and ignorant to do so."

Bella once again looked out the window thinking back to those years. "He had this grand plan to change the world", Bella smiled again, "it worked too. At least back home." She looked Harry in the eyes, "can you honestly tell me that Britain hasn't been thriving since he took over?"

Harry thought back to when he wasn't being chased by the Emperor. He couldn't really say what the mood of the public had been. His only purpose at that point in his life was to train and take assignments from Father Jacobs without question.

Bella decided to educate the young assassin, "it's ok Harry. I understand that you and Davin weren't really mixed in with society. You can ask Dumbledore if you think that I might be lying, but there have been major changes in Britain since Tom has become Emperor. The cost of living has dropped, crime is nearly non-existent, agriculture is soaring, and even the air is cleaner. Ever since the house system was abolished at Hogwarts and the oppressive magical government was dismantled, the people are more tolerant of each other. Tom has truly made everyone's lives better."

"If people's lives were better then why does the world hate us", Harry asked.

"Money makes the world go round Harry. Corporations are funding government leaders nowadays. They fear what their profits will be like when something better would put them out of business. For example, did you know that there are seventy percent less petrol stations in Britain? Magical means of travel are far better and safer for our environment. Not to mention safer for people in general, because none of them fools can drive worth a damn", Bella laughed.

"All that these companies see are money signs, not the big picture! Did you know that charmed windmill farms produced all the electricity in London? Think about it Harry...clean, dependable energy. Power companies in America would flip shit if they weren't controlling the people's electric bills. Advancements in technology, energy, and science have been stuck for decades because these corporations want to keep you dependent on their services to maintain profits."

Harry never really thought about the changes in his home country. Of course Bella has, she had been part of the implementation of the current system and knew the benefits. He had to admit that it sounded great. He would have to talk with his grandfather later. "Why tell me all this", Harry asked.

Bella looked at Davin with unconditional adoration in her eyes, "because I love him!"

She smiled and looked back at Harry, "and he loves you. I know you two are going after him, I just...I don't know", she said sighing. "I just want you to know, that he has helped millions more people than he has hurt...and that his intentions are good."

Harry stood up from the chair he was sitting in and started to leave, "well, you know what they say about the road to hell and being paved with the best intentions..."

"Just think about it Harry...please. Our country is so much better than it was before he took over."

Harry nodded his head, "I will. Let me know if there is any change", he said referring to Davin.

That night, Harry had a long conversation with his grandfather. They talked about what Bella had said to him earlier about Tom Riddle and the state of Britain. Being a former politician, he provided Harry with a wealth of knowledge. Even though he had been holed up in Canada for over a decade, the old politician still kept tabs on his home country.

Harry was told about how the non-magical folk love that their broken bones and diseases could be cured magically. Unless you were really 'jacked up', your chances of living after getting to the emergency room is ninety-five percent. Muggle doctors have teamed up with Saint Mungos, the magical hospital, and integrated care for all people. The resulting medical procedures have benefited both societies.

"The quality of life for all, magical and non-magical, is a thousand times better", Joseph Evans told Harry. "I never thought I would say it, but the man knows how to run a country. I'm not saying that I forgive him for what he has done to our family, but sometimes, mistakes can be made that have epic consequences. And I don't agree with how he gained power, but the good he has done far outweighs the evil. I imagine he is feeling the weight of those mistakes now. You and Davin have killed his closest cabinet members... well all but one. You obliterated an entire military base, destroyed his secret shipyard, and cost him millions in recurring income", Joseph smiled proudly.

Harry took all the knowledge in and nodded his head. "Do you consider the debt paid grandfather? With all that he has done to us, do you think we should walk away now?"

Joseph thought deeply for a minute. On one hand, he was still bitter about his forced retirement-slash-exile and the death of his daughter and son-in-law; even if those deaths weren't exactly Tom's fault. On the other hand, he didn't want his grandson to continue with his vendetta. He seen the look in the boys eyes after he returned from Cuba. 'The violence is taking it's toll on the boy', he thought.

"Harry, listen to me. I'm not going to tell you what you should do, that's for you to decide. But, as far as my opinion goes...yes. I believe the debt has been paid. I want you to live in peace my boy. I want you to heal from these wounds and continue with your life as normally as possible." Joseph started to chuckle when he said, "I also know for a fact, that your grandmother is waiting for some great grandchildren."

Joseph Evans made Harry blush several more times before they called it a night. The young assassin walked to his room a little lighter than he had been. Like a weight has been lifted off his shoulders, 'I wonder if Davin would agree. I think I'll take grandfather's advice.'

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

The next morning, Harry woke up in a great mood. He looked forward to spending time with Lilliana, Ron, and Ginny. The Weasley twins, Fred and George, decided to join them also. The banter between the Weasley children amused Harry to no end. The prankster twins loved playing jokes on their siblings and they happened to teach Harry a few spells to add to his arsenal.

"For the love of Merlin", Ron shouted, "will you quit making my hair knot up in pigtails!"

The group laughed at Ron's predicament while he tried several spells to counter the effects. He even tried using Diffindo, the cutting spell, to cut his hair. It grew back within a minute and began twisting it's way into a pigtail on it's own. Finally, Lilliana took pity on the boy and countered the spell for him.

Harry was about to ask Ron a question when he felt a light buzzing feeling wash over him. A ward! And not one of ours! His mind instantly went into overdrive. The girls nearly bumped into him when he stopped moving.

"Something wrong Harry", Ginny asked.

Harry looked to her, then to Lilliana. His facial expressions hardened, "no, but I think I left something. We're going to need it for practice." Lilliana was instantly on alert. She seen the look in Harry's eyes enough these past few weeks to know that something was amiss.

"Teach us something else then, we are almost there", Ron said. He started to turn away when Harry hollered a quick "No!"

"Can't be that important...", started Fred.

"If the great assassin forgot to retrieve it", finished George.

Harry looked to his girlfriend for help. Frantic, he blurted out, "we need to do this first. I need your help with it."

"Go on ahead, we'll get warmed up", Ginny said. She tried to move around Harry but he gripped her arm hard enough to really get her attention.

"No, you guys don't understand! We can NOT continue without it," Harry said slowly.

Ginny's eyes widen comically before looking to Ron and the twins. Finally they comprehended what Harry was trying to do. While they didn't know why Harry acted the way he did, the order was clear: we need to get back to the cabin!

Harry walked between Lilliana and Ginny, he tried to hide his wand as he cast the human detection spell, "Homenum Revelio."

Harry staggered mid step, the forest all around them turned from a wintry green with light snow to a kaleidoscope of blues in humanoid shapes. There were so many that Harry couldn't count them. They were lying prone, kneeling behind tree trunks, and up in the trees themselves. Harry looked above him when something caught his peripheral vision. Again he staggered mid step when he seen over forty broom riders, under the disillusion spell, flying right above them.

Ignoring all pretext and subtle codes, Harry tried to warn his friends. But his mouth wouldn't make the sounds.

"Run", he finally choked out. "RUN!"