Disclaimer: I own nothing but my mistakes
Chapter Seventeen: He was, The-Boy-Who-Lived
Hermione and Luna hurried down the street towards the bookstore. Harry and Cedric followed at a more sedated pace. Neither wanted to mention that they doubted the store would have a wide selection of English written books.
Despite the small size of the nation's population, it boasted the highest percentage of magicals per capita. And the largest percentage of non magicals that knew about magic anywhere in the world. This resulted in a magical shopping district that was even larger than Diagon Alley in England.
When they joined up with the girls, they discovered that the store did have a selection of English books, mostly on the history of the country. That didn't stop them from getting a copy of each one. Harry also found a new respect for non-magical boyfriends. He couldn't imagen how difficult it was for them to carry bags around without an elf like Dobby ready to pop them back to the airship.
After a nice lunch, in which they each tried a bit of Kæstur hákarl on a dare and each immediately regretted it, the girls grabbed Wendy and Tonks for some 'girl time'. Neither Harry nor Cedric knew exactly what that would entail but guessed a great deal more shopping.
They found exactly what the girls had gone shopping for without they went to a magical hot spring that evening. Both Hermione and Luna stepped out wearing silver bathing suits almost identical to Flue's. Though Harry would swear that Hermione had gotten hers a size to small on purpose.
She delighted in Harry's rather obvious reaction and his retreat deeper into the water. She quickly followed him as they moved among large boulders with runes carved into them. The steam rising from the water quickly obscured them from the view of the rest of the party.
Even the noise of the other patrons became faint. It felt as if they had entered their own personal world. Hermione swam to Harry and placed her arms around his neck, pressing their bodies together. "So, do you like my new bathing suit?"
When the two finally returned to the group their red faces had very little to do with the hot water.
0-0
Harry lay in the shallow water of a small natural pool near the main hot springs. The water was just warm enough to be comfortable in the chilly air. Hermione lay wrapped in his arms as they watched for shooting stars to streak across the sky.
While their make out earlier had been incredible Harry would admit, at least to himself, that this was every bit as wonderful.
0-0
Minister Bones sat among the department heads and other advisers. The meeting had been going on for hours, it was well past dinner and it looked like they might have to order breakfast before they finished. She hadn't realized just how much Fudge had done to weaken the ministry.
Cutting funding across the board, diverting money to 'supplies' accounts that he controlled. Thankfully most of those funds were now back under Ministry control, and while that would help it did nothing for the things that had been neglected but would take time to fix, such as recruitment, necessary upgrades and the backlog of paperwork he had caused.
That would all take time, months at least, to be brought back to where they should be. But slowly they would manage. Minister Bones looked over her notes. "Next we have the settlement for the Blacks, I-"
"A settlement? Why should we give them anything? This is all their fault; they should be arrested." There were agreeable mummers from several others.
"Have you already forgotten Fudge tried that and failed? I'll tell you what though, you want to attempt to arrest them go ahead, but be warned I've already given the North American Ministry permission to deal with anyone who causes them trouble in their own courts."
"You can't!" One of the department heads cried out.
"I can and I have, I won't let this idiocy continue. Fudge tried to drive the Ministry into the ground with his unfounded hatred against the Blacks." She suspected that Malfoy had more to do with the matter than she could prove, at least until they finally got ahold of Fudge for his trial, but she doubted that would happen soon.
While the North American Ministry had passed on a great deal of information to them, they weren't going to do everything. "Now I was saying, the next issue is settling with the Blacks for multiple crimes committed by our Ministry against them."
Minister Bones held up a stack of paper. "Most serious among them the attempted murder of Harry Black and Hermione Granger as well as torture."
"Oh come on now, how are we responsible for that? Dumbledore is the one who cocked up the tournament."
"That's being treated as a separate issue, no this relates to the dementor attack from two years ago." Minister Bones said.
"There's no proof we had anything to do with that." The same department head said. Minister Bones made a note to have him looked into and most likely replaced.
"Actually, there is, Umbridge has admitted to sending the dementor after Harry Black as a method to harm Lord Black. Hence that attempted murder, also their Ministry classifies exposure to dementors as torture."
"They're just being childish." Well, that was the last straw.
Minister Bones smiled, "I'm glad you feel that way, I'll be transferring you to Azkaban since they don't bother you."
"What?! But, no!"
"Yes, I'm not going to put up with this bickering. Fudge, Umbridge and others almost saw us in a war we couldn't win. If you can't figure out that attitude is no longer acceptable than just leave now and save us all a headache."
No one moved.
"Good, now let me finish the list of issues we have to pay the Blacks for."
0-0
"How's he doing?" James asked his wife.
"He still won't eat," Lily said.
James ran his hands through his hair. He didn't know what to do, it felt like everything was falling apart. If he was honest with himself, he'd admit it probably had been ever since they let Dumbledore convince them to send Harry away. "He'll come around, it's a hard blow for him."
"But what if he doesn't? We've already lost Harry; I couldn't stand to lose Daniel too!"
"He's tough, he'll pull through, just give him time." James put his arms around his wife. He knew he had to do something; he already had half an idea of what it was but it wouldn't be pleasant for him. Still for the good of his family, Sirius needed to know.
0-0
Wandwoods return to Hogwarts went about as well as could be expected. Dumbledore was less than pleased about the new security measures that had been insisted upon, including the right for that blasted air machine to have its own ward stones set around it.
As if the wards on Hogwarts were not good enough for them. He felt they were just trying to cover for their own inadequate security that had allowed children to be kidnapped right off the ship.
Not that he could actually say any of that. He had to play nice, especially now that the Ministry wasn't going to be going after the Blacks. Not to mention the souring revelation that Daniel was not in fact the one from the prophecy.
Thankfully he had convinced the Potters to keep quiet about that for the time being. What worried Dumbledore the most was the thought that Harry could be so twisted with dark magic that he might actually join Voldemort rather than fight him.
He needed to do something and quickly, but what?
0-0
Sirius was awoken by a bright light, though through sleep encrusted eyes he couldn't make out what it was, he recognized the voice instantly. "Padfoot, we need to talk, meet me at Moonys old place."
The light vanished.
Sirius got up and went straight to the Dean, explaining where he was going and asking Dobby to shadow him incase anything happened.
Padfoot made his way across the darkened grounds. To the whomping willow and down the secret passage. When he reached the house, he paused to listen, it sounded like there was only one person inside.
Carefully he slipped in. "James?"
"Sirius." James had definitely looked better, it seemed he hadn't been sleeping and his robes were rumpled.
"What's this about?" Sirius asked.
"I'm going behind Dumbledore's back, the prophecy isn't about Daniel, it's about Harry." James was pacing up and down the room. "Dumbledore said he'd inform you I doubt he will."
"Are you sure?" Sirius asked.
James paused. "Dumbledore is convinced it's about Harry now because Daniel couldn't pick it up. The only way to tell for sure is to have Harry try and remove it himself."
"Fuck."
"Yeah."
"Why are you telling me this? You haven't exactly been friendly since the start of the year."
"I swear on my marauders honor, I believed Dumbledore when he said you might have used dark magic to give Harry back his magic."
"Didn't you read the books about ICCS?" Sirius asked in disgust.
"Yes, that's where the doubt started. It made so much more sense, but Dumbledore, he promised to look into it but he won't, the old man really is starting to act as crazy as we all thought he was back in school. When my parents were alive family meant something to the Potters, somewhere I forgot that. I can't tell you how embarrassed I am at the way we acted."
Sirius nodded. "The road to hell my friend."
James sighed. "I'll keep you updated about anything Dumbledore lets slip to us."
"Thank you, and Moony?"
"Won't hear a word against Dumbledore. I know I have no right to ask but at some point, Lily and I really would like to meet Harry properly, if you'll allow it." Sirius didn't think he'd ever heard James's sound so meek, so defeated.
"That choice will be up to Harry, but after that stunt you pulled when Hermione was cursed, I wouldn't count on it."
James just nodded. "There's one more thing, something I'm not supposed to know. It's about how Voldemort survived that night. He made some kind of soul anchor, at least Dumbledore thinks he did, but I've got no idea where or what it is."
"Well, that's just another cluster fuck isn't it?" Sirius turn back into padfoot and snuck back out and to the airship. "What do you think dobby?"
"Dobby is thinking former master James Potter is speaking the truth."
"Yeah, so do I, but I really wish he wasn't. How am I supposed to tell Harry?"
"Dobby is not knowing."
0-0
Daniel snuck out under his family invisibility cloak. His father had given it to him for emergency's and as far as he was concerned this was the greatest emergency. He knew he needed information, specifically on prophecies and predicting the future.
The restricted section of the Hogwarts Library was laughably easy to get into. It took a few nights but finally Daniel was able to find a book with a ritual to discover one's destiny. It was just what he was looking for, he was sure it would reveal that he really was destined to defeat Voldemort.
The ritual was complex but Daniel was sure he'd be able to pull it off, he just needed the ingredients. And there was the reason the ritual was banned, it needed the blood of the caster. Daniel swallowed hard, he needed to do this, he had to do this.
0-0
In the end, after talking it over with Wattson to make sure Harry could expect some help, it was decided it was best to just tell Harry that he might be mentioned in a prophecy, to try and collect it and listen to it before they could decide what to do next.
That was how one late evening several days after his meeting with James, Sirius and Harry found themselves at the ministry, they were accompanied by Wattson and Minister Bones. Technically it was after hours and most of the ministry was empty, they'd chosen this time to reduce the chance of being discovered by anyone who would report back to Dumbledore that they'd been there.
A single unspeakable was waiting for them and guided them to the hall of prophecies.
Harry was too nervous to truly appreciate the majesty of the room with the near countless rows of glowing blue orbs.
It was a quick thing, Harry was able to pick up the orb without issue, though he actually wished he'd been tossed around by the security charms. In his mind this was far worse.
After he took the prophecy, they retreated back to the Ministers office and listened to it.
When they were done Wattson snorted, "Well that's helpful. I'll take a copy back home and see if they can figure anything useful out."
"Thank you." Sirius said.
"No problem, my advice Harry is not to worry about this yet. Just focus on the stupid tournament, we'll figure something out." Wattson clapped Harry on the shoulder. The poor kid. "I'll also need all the information you have on Voldemort."
0-0
Wattson walked into his brother's office. "It's confirmed, the prophecy is about Black."
"Damn." The Minister leaned back in his chair. "Any good news?"
"Actually yeah. The prophecy says Voldemort has to die by Blacks hand, doesn't say we can't chop off his limbs and bind him first. At least that's what the boy's downstairs have concluded. Of course, this is one of those twisty prophecies, got a hundred possible meanings and you'll only know the right one in hindsight."
"So, we deal with Voldemort and let Black take the final blow?"
"Might not even need to do that. Thanks to James Potter we know Voldemort is still around thanks to soul anchors. Well, the boy's downstairs think it we can find just one of them we can forcibly draw the others to it and destroy them all in one go." Wattson picked up a small puzzle from the Ministers desk and began to fiddle with it.
"The trouble is finding them then." The Minister said.
Wattson cursed as the puzzle locked up. "I've put some investigators on it, they worked up a psych profile on Voldemort, they think, based on all the information we have, that his anchors are likely important trophies to him, hidden in areas with special meaning."
"That's, better than I was expecting."
Wattson nodded, "Still not great but not hopeless either."
"Have you told the Blacks any of this yet?"
"No, only that we're working on a plan that'll mean Harry doesn't have to duel Voldemort to the death. Most of his attention is focused on just dealing with the tournament."
"Hopefully we'll have some good news to give the Blacks soon."
0-0
It hadn't been difficult for Crouch Jr to slip through the magical world. Even after his wanted poster showed up. He was driven, insane, and resourceful. It didn't take him long to seek out his master, and reinforce the idea that all the other followers who had remained free were at best worthless, and worst traitors. Oh, and how he longed to deal with them. But that was a pleasure he would be denied as it fell to his master.
Speaking of who. It pained him to see his master reduced to such a state, little more than an infant. At least that fool Peter had managed to find their master and restore him this far. Now the rat was gone, on a mission to gather more information from Hogwarts.
And Crouch Jr was left to care for their master. It was only a matter of time though until his master was restored. Of this he had no doubt.
But now it was time to milk Nagi and prepare his masters dinner.
0-0
Peter wasn't a happy rat, for a number of reasons. Right now, one of the most pressing issues was that he couldn't even get on the airship. Thanks to their own wards, stupide ministry just had to kidnap those girls, he couldn't even get close to it. Which meant his mission would take longer than expected, and that was never a good thing.
Voldemort was sure to punish him for the delay but Peters only choice to gather the information he needed was to wait and listen, unless…
0-0
The team assigned to look into Riddle and track down his soul anchors hit paydirt faster than anyone had expected. They tracked down his old orphanage and then those children who had been there with him. Their stories matched up with what the psych evaluation pointed to.
It also led to a sea cave, much to their surprise one that was heavily warded. Wattson was immediately called in to take a look at things.
"What do we have?"
"A sea cave, hard to get into normally but we set so wards near the entrance so we can come and go as we please. Warders are busy dismantling the protections but we've picked up a lot of dark magic from deeper inside. Necromantic magic."
"Well shit. How long until the wards are down?" Wattson asked.
"Three days, they think. Thankfully there aren't any alert wards tied to anything outside or it could have taken them weeks."
Watson snorted. "Lazy work that."
"The warders agree, they think whoever set up the wards was more focused on protecting whatever is inside with as much power as possible. One of the first wards they came across needed a blood offering to get past, dumb part is that amount of blood wasn't specified."
Watson didn't like this at all. Riddle, for everything thing that he is isn't supposed to be stupid. If he stored one of his anchors here surely, he'd want a remote way to monitor it. Some type of alert or alarm. Or was this a case of him being so sure of himself that he never honestly thought anyone would find the cave and be able to get in. Maybe a case of hiding in plain sight?
He shook his head, whatever the case they at least knew something dark lay ahead of them in the cave. That was enough of a reason to keep going for now.
0-0
Peter crawled through a drainage pipe deep under Hogwarts. He knew his target was close, he just needed to find the correct crack in the old clay pipe, there, that one looked right. Thankfully for him rats could dislocate their ribcage and squeeze through what should have been an impossibly small space.
It wasn't exactly pleasant for him but he did it.
By the time he reached the corridor it was well into the early morning hours. He'd need to be quick if he was to find his target before the students began to rise.
Thankfully his target was easy to locate, Peter returned to his human form and knocked on the wooden door.
A moment later it was answered by a grumpy Snape. "Do you have an…"
"Are master has questions, you may have the answers, may I come in?" Peter tried not to act nervous.
Snape sneered but nodded, Peter slipped in past him.
The best way Snape knew to get rid of Peter was to see his job finished as quickly as possible. "What does our master require?"
"Information on the Blacks." Peter answered.
Snape actually smiled, he'd been looking for some payback against those curs since his trial and the humiliation he'd been put through. "I think I can assist you."
0-0
Dumbledore leaned backed and sighed, few knew the true weight of the Greater Good like he did. To do what was right meant to do some distasteful things, things others who could not see the whole picture might even say are evil. Like providing the information Severus had just requested to pass on to Peter.
It seemed now that Fudge and the others had been dealt with the Blacks and Grangers were feeling a bit freer. He had already learned of their plans to travel into London soon and spend the weekend as tourists.
Now it looked like something tragic was about to happen.
Well, that was karma for them, had Sirius not gone down such a dark road, had Harry not followed, if they had only worked with him, not that he'd ever actually given them the chance to work with him, but in his mind the point stood.
Of course, Harry wouldn't die in whatever happened, if the prophecy really was about him only Voldemort himself could do that. Everyone else though, well maybe when he was alone he'd finally listen to Dumbledore's wisdom.
His thoughts turned from the Blacks to the Potters. The world knew Daniel was The-Boy-Who-Lived, that illusion had to be maintained. It was after all for the greater good. How to trick Harry into defeating Voldemort in such a way that Daniel was able to take the credit for it, now that was the problem.
As had become his habit over the last few years when he faced a great problem, he turned to a hobby to free his mind. In this case understanding the dark lengths a young Tom Riddle went to.
Freezing all the portraits in the office the headmaster made his way to a hidden safe and opened the complex lock. Inside sat the diary, Dumbledore smiled. "Hello again, let's see I you have anything new to say today."
0-0
"I'm sorry, what?!" Minister Bone almost screamed.
"We found a lake full of inf-"
"You don't need to say it again, I heard you the first time," Minister Bones said. Just when she thought she might be able to get things under control again this happened.
"Where is it?"
"A little sea cave in the middle of nowhere, we set up the usual wards to keep people away, not that they're really needed." Wattson said.
"Do you have any idea how many?"
"Between sixty and a hundred is our guess."
Minister Bones sat back with a gasp. So many would require a monumental operation to get rid of. An operation she didn't know if they could pull off right now. "Please tell me you have some good news?"
"Yup, you see they seem to be in a kind of stasis so we've got time. Trouble is they're also guarding the island where we think one of Voldemort's anchors is. On that note we've come up with a plan to deal with them if you'll supply some man power for us.
"We use Greek fire to set the lake ablaze, they'll disturb the buggers, when they leave the water, they'll meet the fire and start to burn. The cave also offers a natural choke point we can set up a line at. Shouldn't be too difficult to deal with them there."
Minister Bones nodded; a choke point would mean only a limited number could attack at once. She'd still need her best wands on the job but their chances of survival had just gone way up.
"How soon can you have some men ready?" Wattson asked.
Madam Bones considered it. "Is tomorrow morning acceptable?"
"Sounds fine to me."
0-0
Daniel waited under his invisibility cloak for the last of the astronomy students to make their way down from the tower. He already had all the ingredients prepared and ready, it was just a matter of time. As he waited, he watched the moonless sky and vibrated with anticipation.
This ritual would set everything right. It had cost him most of the money he had access to, to buy the needed ingredients, even with trading on his name.
Finally, he was alone, he pulled off his cloak and set about arranging the needed items. Bowl check, silver knife, gulp, check, ingredients, check. Copy of the ritual to follow, check.
Carefully Daniel began the ritual, casting spell after spell on the bowl, adding the ground up roots, chopped leaves, crushed flowers, more spells. Then it was time for him to add his blood, with a sigh to steady his nerves he cut his hand and let the blood drip into the bowl.
The potion inside went from bright purple to pure black.
Daniel held it close to his face, it seemed to suck in all light and he cast no reflection in it. Well, that was how it was described so it must have worked. With a gulp he down the potion and waited.
At first nothing happened. Then Daniel saw a shooting star, and another. One by one stars began to fall from the sky until it was empty and Daniel was sucked into the black void they left behind.
Falling up with a weird sensation.
He saw a flicker of light, and another, spell fire. He saw himself fighting who could only be Voldemort. Their magic locked together as each fought for dominance. Then Harry stepped up next to him and cast a spell that shattered Voldemort.
Daniel fell over panting, he was covered in sweat, the world was back to normal. But he wasn't. In a rage the threw the bowl off the tower. That was not his destiny! To be second best, he was the chosen one!
0-0
Glass bottles flew through the air, each enchanted to break upon hitting the water. In a moment the small cave lake was ablaze. As predicted the dead bodies began to shamble towards the surface, and became covered in fire. While Greek fire had several interesting properties the most useful in this case what that it was 'sticky'.
The fire clung to them like their tattered flesh, even returning to the water wouldn't have saved them. Not that any of them could have done so.
The first didn't even reach the line of waiting wizards before they fell over, the fire consuming their cursed flesh and bone. Soon a pile of the creatures had built itself into a makeshift barricade that prevented the others from reaching the choke point.
All in all, it was a little bit of a letdown for the assembled group, they'd taken every precaution they could, they were ready for a hard-fought battle. Instead, they hadn't needed to fire a spell. Stress bleed off them as they retreated back to the cave entrance and removed their bubble head charms.
It'd take some time before the group could reenter and begin clean up but everyone could agree the day and gone better than they had expected.
0-0
Peter could hardly believe his luck; Severus had been able to find the information he needed without issue thanks to Dumbledore. That meant that he had a few days to enjoy the castle before he was expected back and he intended to enjoy them.
Stealing a little food from the kitchen, a few hidey holes he had used before and he was warm and content. If he got bored, well there was a whole network of tunnels that led everywhere in the school. A rat could use them to get just about anywhere in the castle.
Peters' contentment lasted until he returned to his master's side, where he was punished for taking so long. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Voldemort stilled his wand. "You would have suffered even greater had you not returned with such useful information." In truth Voldemort wanted to punish the rat further, but his magic was weak and this was all he could manage without it showing.
"Junior, you will take this information and use it to infiltrate the Blacks group. Use the mudblood family to get close and kill Blacks son. It will be an educational lesson for those blood traitors." And should the loss of their wayward son harm the Potters all the better.
"It shall be done master."
0-0
Despite the weight of the prophecy now hanging over his head, and the tournament, Harry was determined to enjoy his time in London. The Blacks and Grangers had decided to see the city now that the magical government wasn't as hostile towards them. The Granger parents offering to act as guides since Sirius had limited interaction with muggle London.
They did the typical tourist things, bought souvenirs, and general enjoyed their time together. It was a tired but happy couple that returned to their hotel room with their youngest daughter, Hermione choosing to spend more time with Harry to no one's surprise.
Junior had been waiting for this moment. It had been easy to enter the hotel and imperius some muggle into finding the room he needed, that being one piece of information the rat hadn't been able to get. From there a simple disillusionment charm and a quick unlocking charm on the door saw him safely hidden away in the corner waiting for the filthy muggles to return.
The plan was simple, imperius the mother, Polyjuice himself as the father and wait. Either Black would arrive back with their mudblood daughter or a quick imperius of her would see him there in moment. A quick curse to end Black and the muggle filth and he was one his way.
What he hadn't counted on was the appearance of his family's old elf!
The muggle mother was just about to hand the child to the elf when he revealed himself. "My my my, Winky, I wasn't expecting to find you here."
The muggles gasped, Winky froze. Perfect. "Imperio!"
Emma's arms went limp and dropped Cordelia, thankfully Winky managed to catch the falling child.
Dan took a step forward to protect his family when he found the intruders wand pointed at him.
"Not so fast, I need you alive, not them."
"What do you want?" Dan demanded
"That isn't for a mongrel of a muggle to know. Don't resist and it'll all be over soon, do, and well it'll be over just as soon but much more painfully for you. Winky, bring that child over here."
Winky didn't move, eyes wide as she looked at the once child she had helped raise all those years ago.
"Come on Winky, bring the child. I know what my father did to you. Wouldn't you like your honor back? Not the shame of severing muggles?"
Winky didn't answer.
"Hurry up, have you forgotten, we're family, and family helps family." Junior forced himself not to yell, his master wouldn't take kindly to a failure here because he lost his temper.
Slowly Winks head fell. In a tiny voice she said. "Wink remembers, Winky remembers staying up all night when you is being sick. Winky remembers comforting you after your parents had been hurtful. Winky remembers all the good times and little secrets we had. Winky remembers family."
Junior smiled.
Winky's head shot up. "BUT YOU IS NOT FAMILY!" Winky shot out her arms still holding Cordelia and let loose a burst of magic to protect her family.
Junior scowled.
Unfortunately for Junior his position was between Winky and the window. He was thrown against it, the glass cracked under the unrelenting force of house elf magic, then shattered. Junior was thrown out of the building.
Thankfully for him he was still half conscious and that was all he needed to slip into his animus form. The squirl twisted in midair as it readjusted its fall.
It hit a tree and disappeared into the foliage.
On the street below no one had been hurt by the falling glass but several people had seen a man suddenly disappear. In the years to come the hotel would become locally famous for the leaping man ghost.
0-0
Daniels room was a mess, not that you could see that with how dark it was inside. The knowledge that he wasn't the one destined to save the world ate at him. He'd been raised into it, worked his butt off for it. Now Black thought he could just stroll in and take that all away from him.
No, Daniel wouldn't allow that. Something would happen, something to put him back in his rightful place, he knew it. Even if he had to make it happen himself. He wasn't some spare, he was The-Boy-Who-Lived.
(A/N: Lots of stuff happening, we get to see a bit of how Daniel's handling it. I hope everyone enjoyed.)