Chap. 60: Daphne's worries, the meeting, Gareth reminisces about Grindelwald, and Hogwarts' surprise supper.
Daphne checked her watch, which showed that it was now 4:30 in the afternoon, as she sat down by the fireplace in the Slytherin common room. Astoria and Tracey sat beside her on the sofa and began discussing their Hogsmeade trip, as Little Harry made his way to his dorm to drop off a few packages that he purchased.
Once settled in, Daphne glanced around the common room to look for anyone missing and found that there was no sign of her main target. Here, she lightly elbowed Astoria to gain her attention.
"He's not here," Daphne whispered.
"Who?" Astoria asked.
"Flint," replied Daphne.
"He's probably still with his 'date,'" Tracey said, who then blew up her cheeks to make her face look fat, dropped her chin to make her neck look short, and then, with a great exhale, guffawed. Astoria, of course, cackled out loud at her cousin's antics.
"I don't like it," Daphne said while glaring at the two. "There's something going down that Harry's not telling me, and I think it's more than just Flint."
"What do you mean?" Tracey asked, now looking serious.
"You know that Harry doesn't want us to worry," Astoria added.
"If Flint is missing during supper," Daphne stated, "then I think it might be time that we took a certain potion, and then, I think that we should tell the others to do the same."
"That's going a bit overboard, don't you think?" Little Harry replied from behind the sofa, before rounding the arm, where he squeezed himself in between Tracey and Astoria to sit. "Surely, Harry will send a message if things are that dire?"
Here, Daphne let out a loud harumph before staring into the fireplace. "All right, all right, if Flint is still missing, we'll wait until the end of supper, and call the DA together to meet with us if Harry doesn't contact us. I think we should sit with the Gryffindors tonight, just in case." Next, she began to think about how close-lipped and annoying her husband could be about these sorts of things, to the point of her wanting to loudly curse, whether it was unladylike, or not.
"What are you up to," Daphne muttered while staring into the fire in the fireplace, "my dearest conniving husband?"
Tracey, Astoria, and Little Harry's eyebrows rose up high on their heads over Daphne's worrying words.
Harry and Gareth, who were dressed for the covert operation that night, with Harry wearing black muggle military tactical fatigues along with steel-toed black leather brogans on his feet, and Gareth in black clothing and robes, made their way to Scrimgeour's office. Once inside, they found the entire Security Council already seated, leaving two seats open, for them. As both took their seats, Harry noticed the minister holding a folded piece of parchment.
"I declare that this meeting of the Security Council is now open," Scrimgeour said. "Tonight's the night for Operation Midnight, so, who has something for me first?"
Every department head spoke of the readiness of their department, and then, it was finally Harry's turn.
"I take it everything is a go?" Harry inquired.
"Yes," Rufus replied, giving Harry a serious stare after glancing around the table at all the nods.
"Is that it?" Harry asked while looking at the parchment.
"Yes," Rufus said as he handed Harry the document, which he then unfolded, and began to read aloud.
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"At the High Court of Justice for the Ministry of Magic, for the trial and judgment of Tom Marvolo Riddle of England, Saturday, February XV, Anno Domini 1997.
"Whereas Tom Marvolo Riddle of England is standeth convicted and condemned of High Treason and other High Crimes, and sentenced upon Saturday last, judgment was pronounced against him by this Court to be put to death by any means necessary, including the use of any and all magic, of which the sentence of execution yet remaineth to be done, these are therefore to Will and require you to see the said sentence executed in the boundaries of the United Kingdom by the twenty-third, starting on the twenty-second day of this month of February, between the hours of Ten in the morning and Five in the afternoon of the next day, with full effect, and for so doing this shall be your sufficient Warrant. This Warrant is to require all Officers and Aurors, and the other good people of the United Kingdom, to be assisting you in this service, given under our hands and seals.
"To Head of War Committee: Lord Potter, Harry, Head Auror: Robards, Gawain, Head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement: Thicknesse, Pius, Head of Magical Law Enforcement Squad: Smyth, Andrew, Head of Department Thirteen: Moody, Alastor, and Head Unspeakable: Croaker, Algernon, and to every one of them."
Rufus Scrimgeour, Minister for Magic
Pius Thicknesse, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement
Sidney Smith Esq., Judge of the High Court of Justice
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When Harry was finished reading, he noticed that it had been signed and sealed at the bottom, so, he run his tongue over his dry lower lip, sighed, folded the warrant, and placed it inside the pocket of the black tactical vest that he was wearing over his black wooly pully sweater.
"I take it that this fully covers Gareth, the Mercs, the Pieces of Eight, the MLE Squad Members, the other Unspeakables, and the Aurors as well?"
"Yes," Pius spoke up, "they're covered as the warrant states under the clauses: "'Officers and Aurors,' and 'the other good people of the United Kingdom, to be assisting you in this service.'"
"Good," Harry replied. "Do the Aurors and Mercs know where to go?"
"Yes," Robards answered. "We used the map that you printed, and showed the aurors where to station themselves in the woods behind the Whispering Knights."
Those stones, which were left unsaid, were a small group of stones across the field from the Rollright Stones.
"Three from the Pieces of Eight will also be hidden close to Gareth," the Head Auror concluded, "and close to the King Stone, to cover him."
"Alice, Meridith, and Helen will be at your manor, with Bathilda," Rufus added, "while I travel to Hogwarts at eight o'clock, to help watch over the school with the headmaster. Robards and Croaker will be with the Aurors in the woods."
"How's the weather?"
"Luckily for us, today is one of the warmest days this February, anywhere from forty-five to fifty-five degrees Fahrenheit tonight," Croaker replied. "We think it will be mostly cloudy up to about eleven AM, and change to partly cloudy after that. A light rain is expected between nine and ten.
"You should be able to use the moonlight to your advantage, as you wanted, and the rain will help deaden any footsteps.
"Now, Harry," Croaker finished, "we are curious about what will be called with that stone."
It wasn't a question but a demand, Harry noticed.
"Well," Harry said after clearing his throat, "it will be the Lord of Death, but I cannot guarantee that he will not bring another entity with him. He didn't in Louisiana, but there, he was called by a different means."
"We will be watching from a distance," Croaker said, "just in case."
"Right," Harry replied with a nod before looking back at Rufus. "Is the plan finalized for the Aurors?"
"When Tom springs your trap," Rufus replied, "the Aurors will disillusion themselves, leave the cover of the tree line, and seek out any Death Eaters that may have arrived with the condemned."
Harry nodded at this and noticed that it was now seven o'clock in the evening, so, he stood, along with Gareth, and jokingly remarked: "Let's get this over with, then. I'm a desperate man, so send lawyers, guns, and money, the shite has hit the fan."
Harry's statement brought several confused looks from the assembled wizards who were now standing, which caused the young warlock to smirk.
Gareth patted Harry on the shoulder at this, and then, with a small smile, he snorted with a slight shake of his head, as he was the only one, besides Harry, who knew of where the young warlock borrowed that phrase, which was from a song that Harry had been playing at Black Manor one evening, over drinks in the study.
Yes, Gareth thought, his niece couldn't have found herself a more perfect husband. Harry had, after all, brought Daphne out of her shell, as well as Astoria, and he was grateful for that. Now, though, Harry just had to survive the night.
As Harry and Gareth were making their way through the ministry to have one final talk with the Aurors before they apparated, he thought back to his and Harry's clandestine meeting at the end of January. That day, a Sunday, was very cold, and snow was on the ground. The memory of it was still vivid in his mind.
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When Gareth made his way onto the Millennium Bridge, he noticed Harry, who had steam rising from his breath, while standing midway and staring down at the Thames just under them, so he made his way forward. As he dodged several muggles who were wrapped up tightly in their winter clothing, he slowly came to a halt beside Harry, where he took in the view downriver.
"Excuse me, can I borrow a match?"
"I use a lighter," Harry replied with a smirk as he dug out an old Ronson lighter from his black bomber jacket that had once belonged to Sirius.
"Better still," Gareth said as he lit his pipe and handed the lighter back. It was, in fact, Harry's silver lighter, which was engraved with the name, Sirius Black, on the side.
"Until they go wrong," Harry replied, which told Gareth that this was, indeed, Harry, since he knew the correct phrase to use as the password. Here, Gareth blew out a small puff of smoke.
"Exactly," Gareth said, which made Harry smirk since that ended their little identity test. "Ready?"
"Not really," Harry said as he turned and started making his way north, where both could see the great dome atop St. Paul's Cathedral. "We'll take a portkey from a spot close to the church. Wasn't followed?"
"No," Gareth said, "and I did keep an eye out. Nobody knows about our plans."
"Good," Harry replied, and then he glanced at Gareth out of the corner of his eye, "Daph and Meridith are going to murder us in our sleep for this, you know."
"Naw," Gareth answered, "they'll be celebrating the fact that You-Know-Who's finally gone in the end. I think that they can find it within themselves to forgive us."
"I know Daph, though," Harry remarked as he left the bridge and started walking along Peter's Hill, "and I would not doubt that if she could find out where we are going, then she would raise a huge stink. That worries me."
"You think so; you're sure?"
"Just as sure as you and I are having this conversation," Harry remarked. "She can complain and gripe for a couple of weeks at a time. Ah, there's Queen Victoria Street, so it won't be long now."
The street and walkway sloped upward, and it was bordered by steps that led up to a terrace in front of the buildings. Here, Gareth followed Harry up the steps on their left and made their way to Knightrider Street.
Gareth noticed that at the end of the buildings, they were connected with an overhead passage, which formed a tunnel for them to walk through. However, when they walked into the passage, mid-way, Harry picked up an old shoe that was resting against the left-hand wall.
"Latch on," Harry said, so Gareth placed his fingers on the shoe.
"I do hope that we can be in and out of Nurmengard quickly," Gareth remarked, "as we will need to retrieve Grindelwald's stash and lock it up before heading home."
"If he tells us where he hid everything," Harry replied. "Ready?"
At Gareth's nod, Harry muttered the trigger word, and the two disappeared in a flash.
.
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As Gareth came out of his memories, he glanced over at Harry. "I see that you're wearing his Gorget. Have you tested it?"
"Yes," Harry replied. "It hides you from all revealing spells, and it works like a charm, all pun intended."
At this, Gareth nodded, and just before they were to enter the Auror's bullpen, Gareth had one final question.
"Did you use the other skull-hookah?"
"Yes," Harry replied but left it at that. It was the brother to one that had been destroyed in Paris years ago, which came from two executed magical siblings, twins, that had been seers. When used correctly, they could show you the future.
"And?" Gareth asked after a slight pregnant pause.
"If we follow our plan," Harry replied, "everything will come to fruition as we wanted."
Gareth let out the breath that he had been holding at this and followed Harry into the Auror Headquarters, though Harry's answer had still been vague.
It was ten till seven when Daphne, Astoria, and Tracey sat down at the Gryffindor table. The Great Hall was just starting to fill up for supper, and it wasn't but a minute that Little Harry sat down beside Astoria, where he gave Daphne a smirk. Daphne, of course, rolled her eyes.
As the first Gryffindors started entering the hall, they seemed to be stunned for the moment by the Slytherins at their table, but their expressions cleared, and they began taking their seats. Here, and to the left of Daphne, Katie Bell, and Demelza Robins took their seats.
"Hello, Lady Potter," Katie said with a smile.
"Katie," Daphne replied, "you're a good friend of Harry's, you're this year's Quidditch Captain, and you're in the DA, so I think you can call me Daphne."
"Thanks!" Katie said with an even bigger smile. "I don't know how Harry did it, you know."
"Did what?" Daphne inquired.
"Captained!" Katie replied, but then, she moaned. "Getting that lot to listen..., and then there are Ron and Ginny, who try to give orders to the team, and in front of me at that! Plus, I have that arse, McLaggen, playing this year, too. Harry led everyone during many practices when Angelina needed help, and they listened to him."
"Maybe I should teach you the Bollocks Freezer curse," Daphne opined with a smirk. "It will work on witches as well. Just ask McLaggen."
Katie broke out in a guffaw, while Demelza spoke up through her laughter.
"McLaggen, a witch... Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha!"
"No, that sort of came out wrong," Daphne said with a snort, but then, laughed as well.
"Oh, look, here comes the Silver Trio," Katie said with a nod toward the doors.
Sure enough, it was Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, who, with stunned expressions, made their way to the table, and sat across from Daphne.
"Is something wrong?" Hermione asked in a loud whisper, which everyone at the table heard.
"What? Uh, no, nothing bad," Daphne replied, "or at least it's not anything that can't be handled by the staff. Flint's missing."
Hermione's eyes, along with Ron's, quickly started scanning the Slytherin table just as Neville took his seat beside Tracey, where he gave her a quick peck on the lips.
"The last time I saw him," Neville remarked, "was at Hogsmeade."
"Yes," Tracey said with a snort, "with a date that favored Harry's uncle."
This brought laughter from both sides of the table, though Hermione looked slightly appalled at the comparison.
"Look," Daphne stated, "Harry said to watch Flint tonight, but he's nowhere to be found! He never made it back to the common room."
"Really?" Hermione replied looking lost in thought.
"Harry hasn't given me any orders but that," Daphne explained, "though something just seems off. He wanted me to warn the DA."
"Well," Ron chimed in, "Harry would send a message if something was up, wouldn' he?"
"We'll see," Daphne replied before staring at the doors in thought.
Hermione, though, quickly sent a message to everyone in the DA, on their fake galleons, which obtained several students' attention from around the hall. The message merely said: "Heads up."
Now, the hall was full, along with the staff, though Daphne ignored them while still lost in thought, even as Dumbledore addressed the students, sat, and the food appeared.
"Daphne," Hermione said in another loud whisper as everyone began filling their plates, "isn't that Hedwig?"
Daphne, shaken from her thoughts, looked up, and sure enough, it was Hedwig, and she was carrying a small square box wrapped in brown paper.
Startled, Daphne watched Hedwig's path, where she flew low towards her and dropped the small package, which she caught. Next, Hedwig made a circle and then landed on Daphne's shoulder.
"Oh, you're such a good girl, Hedwig," Daphne said, which caused the Snowy Owl to rub its head against Daphne's. "Yes, girl, I love you too."
Next, Daphne quickly cut off a long and thin strip from her slice of roast, which she gave to the owl.
"Eat up, girl, and while you're here, you might want to visit your mates at the owlery before heading home, yeah?"
Here, Hedwig quickly gobbled down the meat, gave one low hoot at Daphne, and then launched herself into the air off Daphne's shoulder.
"It's from Harry?" Neville asked, who was now staring at the package along with Tracey.
"Yes," Daphne replied, who had sat the box down beside her plate, "and it says: 'Open at once.'"
"Well," Astoria chirped, "open it, Sis! What are you waiting for?"
Daphne rolled her eyes at her sister, but then carefully tore off the brown paper, and opened the box. What was inside, surprised her, but she lifted it out and sat it on the table behind the cardboard box.
"It's a music box," Hermione deadpanned as she stared at the ornate gift, while the other witches were oohing and awing.
Daphne, hesitantly, opened the music box, but instead of music emanating from it, a cloud of golden sparkling magic did, which quickly floated up into the air above their heads that was halfway between them and the enchanted ceiling. This, of course, captured everyone's attention, including the staff's.
When Daphne looked up at the staff table, Minerva had drawn her wand, but the headmaster motioned for her to lower it, and that was when Harry's voice echoed through the now quiet hall.
"Hello everyone, and hello, dear," Harry's voice rang out. "Also, hello to everyone in the DA."
That obtained many's attention, and now, Daphne felt very worried.
"I thought that I would give everyone an enjoyable supper this evening," Harry's voice continued, "with seven songs and a nice sunset. I hope that everyone enjoys them! Oh, yes, the DA should listen to the person spoken of in the last song."
Next, the floating magic seemed to form into a large golden ball, which, as quick as lightning, shot through the air and splashed against the rear wall, and just over the entrance doors to the hall. From that, a large moving color image appeared, and it was the sun setting over the sea at the beach down in Barbados.
Daphne and Hermione noticed that the clouds seemed to be moving slightly too fast, and it hit Daphne that the sun would set with the music. She also noticed that this obtained everyone's attention and that many were now whispering between them about what it meant.
Daphne also noticed the headmaster quickly whispering to some of the staff, and that Severus looked as worried as her, just as the first song started to play, which was called 'Never Surrender.'
.
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Take on the night,
To reach the morning.
Oh oh.
Oh oh.
We'll write our names in blood and glory.
Oh oh.
Oh oh.
.
Oh, our hearts are unafraid.
We're making our own fate.
We don't need to wait.
.
We're a phoenix rising,
From the ashes fighting.
Our courage climbing,
We'll never, we'll never, surrender.
This is our battle,
Won't stay in the shadows now.
Living for tomorrow,
We'll never, never, surrender...
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"I have a bad feeling about this," Daphne muttered as she felt for the small bottle in her pocket and tried to eat.
"What does it mean?" Hermione asked.
"I'm not sure just yet," Daphne replied. "Let's listen to the songs, and I can comment, then."
They were, in fact, Harry's message to her, the family, and the DA, she knew.
When the first song ended, the second began, and it was 'In The Air Tonight' that sent a cold chill down Daphne's back, which several caught.
"Daphne?" Hermione inquired with a concerned look.
"I'm not sure, yet," Daphne replied and then pursed her lips.
As several others tried to question her, Daphne just shook her head and did her best to eat, though she was mostly just moving her food around on her plate. Surely, she thought, "that" wasn't tonight, was it? What if it was?
Finally, the third song started to play, which was 'Low Rider,' and this brought applause from several, along with loud chortles from Seamus, Dean, and Ginny from down the table.
"Harry, the low rider!" Seamus shouted for all to hear.
"The what?" Ron questioned.
"It's really about a muggle car," Hermione said with a huff at the two and shook her head.
"Well," Tracey said, "it could be construed as meaning something else. Isn't that right, Daph?"
Daphne rolled her eyes and glared at Tracey over the sexual innuendo. Poor Neville looked lost, as Astoria and Little Harry chortled aloud.
"It was you, cousin dearest," Astoria said to Tracey, "that walked in on them in their bedroom." Little Harry almost spat out the pumpkin juice he'd just drank.
"I, I, I..." Tracey stuttered as Neville choked and started to cough.
"Really!" Hermione remarked, now embarrassed, as she quickly started to cut up her food. The other witches at their table looked to Daphne for her comment, though she quickly clammed up after blushing a deep red.
"I told you, Granger," Seamus said aloud, "he was drivin' spikes!" He also, again, made a rude gesture with his hands.
When Hermione looked as if she was ready to curse Seamus, Daphne finally spoke up.
"Remember our deal, Finnigan."
Remember it, he did, as his mouth quickly slammed shut. Harry and Daphne had offered Seamus a job at their new liquor store and pub, which was being built at the mouth of Knockturn Alley. He did have an aptitude for spirits and ales, it seemed.
Next to play was the 'Island Song,' which the entire hall seemed to like, especially as they watched the sun sink lower on the horizon. It was then followed up by 'Kokomo' and 'Margaritaville.' After that, the last song began to play while the sun disappeared on the horizon, which everyone in the DA took notice of, and it was 'The Girl From Ipanema.'
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Tall and tan, and young and lovely,
The girl from Ipanema goes walking,
And when she passes,
Each one she passes goes, "Ahhh."
.
When she walks, she's like a samba,
That swings so cool, and sways so gently,
That when she passes,
Each one she passes goes, "Ahhh."
.
Oh, but he watches her so sadly.
How can he tell her he loves her?
Yes, he would give his heart gladly,
But each day, when she walks to the sea,
She looks straight ahead, not at he.
.
(At this point in the song, every member of the DA was looking at Daphne.)
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Tall, and tan, and young, and lovely,
The girl from Ipanema goes walking,
And when she passes, he smiles,
But she doesn't see.
.
Oh, but he sees her so sadly.
How can he tell her he loves her?
Yes, he would give his heart gladly,
But each day, when she walks to the sea,
She looks straight ahead, not at he.
.
Tall, and tan, and young, and lovely,
The girl from Ipanema goes walking,
And when she passes, he smiles,
But she doesn't see.
.
She just doesn't see.
No, she doesn't see.
But she doesn't see.
She doesn't see.
No, she doesn't see.
.
.
When the song ended, and the sun had set, several things happened quickly, starting with a sudden pop of apparation, which startled several.
"Good Mistress," Kreacher said, who looked to be hiding something behind his back, "the filthy Flint heir bes still at the Hog's Head, and hes being speaking with several dark wizards."
"Is his father one of them?" Daphne questioned.
"Yes, Mistress," Kreacher replied.
"Go back and watch them, Kreacher," Daphne ordered, "and if it looks as if they're trying to slip into Hogwarts, you're to come to me at once."
"Yes, Mistress," Kreacher said, as he brought the butcher knife from behind his back, held it with his teeth, and apparated away.
This, of course, brought several gasps and shrieks from around the tables just as the doors to the Great Hall opened, and in walked Minister Scrimgeour and four Aurors.
"Oh, fuck me," Daphne muttered, looking horrified, as she watched the five make their way towards the staff table.
"Daphne?" Hermione asked, now looking very worried. "Now would be a good time to explain!"
"As my dear husband would put it, Hermione," Daphne deadpanned, "the shite has just hit the fan. I've got to go and see what they're talking about, so, have the DA to assemble in the Room of Requirement at 8:30!"
When Daphne finished, she leaped from her seat and ran to the front of the hall to speak with Dumbledore and Scrimgeour.
Hermione, immediately, began messaging everyone in the DA, and all around the hall, she could see the members retrieving their coins from their pockets.
"What's going on?" Ron demanded.
"It's tonight!" Hermione loudly exclaimed. "Harry's taking him down, tonight!"
"Lightning has struck," Seamus yelled, "Lightning has struck!"
Immediately, every member of the DA began to stand and head toward their table for directions. Utter chaos, within the hall, had suddenly begun.
A/N: Sorry for the long delay, as I had to have knee surgery on both knees. It was time to fix the damage, as the swelling kept coming back in the right one. Sports injuries can haunt you after you gain a little age, and the PT, afterward, is hell. It was laparoscopic surgery, so it wasn't as bad as it could have been, though the right one needed an incision to fix a ligament on top of it.
I wanted to write this as one chapter, but it was going to be too long, so I'm breaking it up into two. Plus, there's the suspense at the end ;-]
The song list can be found on YouTube, and it's called: ATSR1, which should come up in a search, by typing Youtube, ATSR1 songlist, or visiting the link, below, after modifying it.
youtube dot com forward slash playlist?list=PLAed9m_G6uj_RAgUT65aJDIS0Q0HqYxE2
Two of the songs were not out in 97, but I shamelessly used them anyhow, and they are Never Surrender and The Island Song.
Kudos to anyone that can name the song that Harry and Gareth knew.
