Russia
General Gustav nervously palmed his medals. Such actions had recently and frequently begun plaguing the indomitable general's posture. His Lord Grindelwald had taken a flight of his senses ever since Poland was subdued.
The man had become a victim of his propaganda. Where he had relied on multiple tools in his arsenal to accomplish a task, Grindelwald now saw all problems as nails. Nails that needed the hammer of his legions to be corrected. Many a time where a diplomatic tactic would have bought low the enemy, Grindelwald had ordered irrational attacks.
Through his own considerable merit and military acumen, they had managed to subdue the blowback as much as humanely possible. Unfortunately, the recent Stalingrad fiasco had begun to become a bleed beyond his ability to patch.
Hundreds of troops died daily by coordinated attacks. An army built for agile warfare on plains was decimated in urban street battles and raids.
In a fit of anger and on the urging of those treacherous leeches, Grindelwald had ordered a 1/3 of his men executed for cowardice. Their blood had been used to set up blood wards. Despite the horrific act, the wards did stop the further slaughter of his troops by Russian partisans.
It lasted a few good months until Gustav had to write the worst possible report of the war, his troops had positively identified Albus Dumbledore on the battlefield.
That's when Grindelwald's madness and paranoia had reached its zenith.
"So, is it true?" Grindelwald asked while facing outside the tent.
"It is my lord. The third corp itself confronted the man." Gustav said.
"Confronted him and lost, you mean, General?" A voice said from the right. Gustav clenched his jaw in anger as Julius came in sight.
Tan complexion marred by undeath greeted him. The man was unusually tall and lanky. Julius was the head of the Vampire delegation accompanying Grindelwald's legions. Despite being sycophancy personified, Gustav begrudgingly gave the vampire credit. Julius was a formidable blood mage and a ferocious melee fighter.
Gustav took the bait, "Our legions have control over 70% of the city."
"After 8 months of fighting and considerable losses to man and beast," Julius sarcastically said. "Had your troops guarded our laboratories, we would have had the entire country on its knees by now."
"Those abominations should stay away from respectable eyes if we intend to keep assimilating the new territories into the fold," Gustav said.
"Assimilation will be a problem, General? Has the military failed in peacekeeping duties as well?" Julius shot back. "I did hear the French partisans have struck significant blows against you."
Gustav once again made to argue but Grindelwald's stern voice silenced them.
"Enough!" Grindelwald shouted.
A pause followed before he continued, "Mariam, do you have an opinion?"
"Dumbledore hasn't been sighted in Stalingrad, my lord," Mariam said.
Surprise filled the room and even Grindelwald paused to turn around and stare at Mariam.
Mariam was undeterred. "Credible sources under interrogation have revealed that it was not Albus but Aberforth Dumbledore that was in Stalingrad. The ruse was concocted by the discontented British elite to force Albus Dumbledore's hand in combating you."
"Y-yes, Aberforth was always the more belligerent of the brothers," Grindelwald muttered before he stiffened his posture. "I knew Albus was too much of a coward to directly challenge me!"
Gustav was now visibly flustered. "How can you spit such shit, spymaster?! What of the attack on Hogwarts? Why would Dumbledore ignore that?!"
"Language, General" Mariam chided. "My lord, news of the attack has been greatly exaggerated by the new British minister. Please note that the British government has a significant stake in the Daily Prophet. As such, they can force them to print whatever they want."
Stunned silence once again filled the room as all three occupants stared at her.
"Your will is indomitable my lord. Even now my spies within Russia tell me that their forces are at a breaking point. Soon you will be master of all Europe." Mariam said. "If anything, my calculations tell me we have the necessary forces to attack Britain."
"Completely nonsense!" Gustav bellowed. "This leech and you."
He pointed his finger between Julius and Mariam, "The two of you have never been honest to this movement. Always poisoning the ears of our lords for our agendas! I won't have it!"
Julius stood silent, clearly confused by Mariam's play. He crossed his arms and halted any rebuttals, more content to observe for now.
"All to the contrary, General. I have never been more confident about our triumph." Mariam said. "A war on two fronts has never failed anyone."
"Complete hogwash! My lord I implore you, let us pull out of Stalingrad before the Russians whittle us to the bone. My forward scouts have reported signs of an imminent encircle-" Gustav protested.
"Avada Kadevra" Grindelwald whispered.
Gustav fell dead with a shocked expression.
"Tell me more," Grindelwald said and Mariam smiled.
London
Irma Black was in a predicament.
She was in a heated frying pan sizzling away for all to see. Her brother, Sirius, had all but taken control of the House from her. Friendly cousins inside the family were in short supply. While Sirius hadn't actively moved to eliminate them, he had cut off their access to family funds, perks, and the library. Yet, it was only a matter of time before Sirius put his foot down and demanded total fealty from all family members.
Failure to comply will result in total exile. Given how many enemies she had among the muggle-born and other families, she gave it a month before the vultures moved in to tear her apart.
Unfortunately, jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire was even more dangerous than her current predicament. After the fool Redwood's hair-brained assault upon Hogwarts and failure to subdue the ministry, Grindelwald had completely cut off all contact with his British wizarding allies.
She knew Sirius suspected her to be behind the assassination attempt on him in his last "book club's" little meeting. She had hoped by using the relatively unknown "Technocracy's" name, she could flush out two enemies in a single strike. Regrettably, neither Sirius's allies knew about any Technocracy, nor had she succeeded in assassinating him.
Grindelwald had expected funding from British Pureblood families. All had gone to rot.
It was time to cut her losses and escape this country and hope Grindelwald's anger cooled sufficiently before she could parlay with him.
Pulling a hood over her head, she deftly moved through the bar and outside into muggle London.
It was time to flee Britain.
London, England
Predator
It had been perched on the spot for over two days. Terabytes worth of data had been absorbed and processed in its hunt for its elusive quarry.
A lifetime of safety had left the maleficent weak and complacent. The machine's lens flared as it zoomed in outside the bar scanning the patrons. Multiple computers well beyond their time whirred as sensors picked up multiple readings of dark energy.
The entryway and the bar were too open for a frontal entry the algorithm output.
Another approach was needed. With a wave, the computers folded in on themselves and sequestered in hidden spots. A lone hooded witch swiftly moved from inside the bar. The machine eyed its prey as it rapidly analyzed the characteristics.
Clothing. Robes confirmed. Wizard fashion standard.
Wand sighted. Leftie.
Dark energy buildup detected. 73% chance teleportation is imminent.
Requesting disruption procedures.
Combat authorized.
A calculated throw and a metal clanked near the witch and emitted thick almost greasy smoke. Irma could feel it deliberately trying to claw down her throat and nose.
"What the?!" The witch screamed as her surroundings went dark. She pulled out her wand and prepared to combat. If this was Sirius's idea of ending it all, she would not go down with a fight.
The smoke dissipated and she saw a tall muscular man approach like a tiger stalking a deer.
She raised her wand and shouted "Avada Kadev-" but was interrupted as her vision went red and she knelt over coughing blood.
"Spell casting is highly unadvised." A monotone voice intoned, and she glared up at the creature.
"W-who are you?!" she demanded.
"Your salvation" The voice replied. It grabbed her by the throat and lifted her into the sky.
She tried to aim his wand down at the hulking man, but his wrist was caught in a painful vice.
Crunch. A low sound echoed as the machine registered the crushing of a wrist. The wand clattered unceremoniously to the floor.
A glowing red light emanating from the attacker's body poured over her face and body. Irma's eyes widened as she saw a swarm of small grey worms pour from his nostrils and mouth. They soon engulfed its entire body.
Irma tried to scream in panic, but the machine throttled her voice by tightening its hold.
The bugs continued swarming the machine and Irma gasped when it cleared.
Her face stared back at her from below. "She" didn't register her shock and merely tilted her head in response. A hand whirred to life and shot straight through Irma's chest.
It pulled out its heart and Irma had a brief level of clarity as her life flashed before her eyes. She died in shock.
The machine wasn't done in its butchery. It took Irma's body back to its temporary HQ and started sawing away at her skull with a demented focus.
Wools Orphanage
When he was younger in another life, a muggle priest had once droned about the virtues of being grateful. He preached gratefulness for one's possessions in life and how worse off others could be.
A mosquito buzzed near him, and Harry swapped it only to accidentally slap his arm.
For the first time in his life, Harry was forced to agree with a man of religion.
As bad as Petunia and the cupboard were, the shrill woman was a neat freak who kept the house clean and cool. Clearly, the muggles of this era weren't on board with the plan.
The orphanage was just awful.
Privet Drive was paradise compared to this.
No two words about it. The orphanage was hot, overcrowded, and dirty. Worst of all was the smell.
By Merlin the stench of sweat, sewage, and human filth nearly made him pass out on the first day he had been here. The stench was further exacerbated by the heat.
Clearly, modern technology such as air conditioners wasn't a priority invention for this timeline.
It got to the point where Harry forced himself to swallow his pride and venture to meet the then dark lord now lady to be Morrigan Riddle. Harry somehow just knew in his heart's heart that Morrigan in her infinite smugness enjoyed better living conditions than him. Unfortunately, the matron had shrieked at him for daring to venture into the girls' quarter of the orphanage.
A smug riddle looking down at him from the windows serenely waved at him while the matron frothed at her mouth.
I need to get out of here, Harry thought.
In another life, leaving the Dursleys would have been a death sentence with Death Eaters roaming Britain. Now, he seriously considered getting up and packing. He hardly doubted the matron would bother with informing anyone. Especially not with how many mouths she had to feed.
A teenager would have no hope of being adopted, leaving now would probably benefit her more than it would him.
She could utilize the space for younger children Harry rationalized as he sat in the warm summer night. He tossed a rock onto the street below. Strangely enough, the rooftop had been rather easy access for an orphanage housing teenagers and toddlers.
"I thought you would have more fight in you, Mr. Petrov." A voice said behind him, and Harry audibly groaned. "Come now, you surely couldn't expect me to not come to you after that lovely display with the matron."
Harry groaned again, "Morrigan, it's too hot for this. Can we not- Can we not just, I don't know, not do this right now?"
"Judging by the luggage near you, I take it you plan to escape?" Morrigan said and Harry nodded.
"I just can't stay here," Harry said. "I will be mentally dead in 2 days. Physically dead in 4" Harry said.
"Death is nothing to joke about, Harry." Morrigan chided as she took a seat near the ledge where he dangled.
"Death is all that is near me," Harry said. "Thus, I must escape. Give me liberty or give me death- it's that kind of business."
"That's quite unfortunate Mr. Petrov. You will not be able to escape." Morrigan said.
"Why is that?" Harry said.
"Dumbledore has tracking charms on this place to monitor me. I am confident they have grown to encompass you as well." Morrigan scowled. "He was afraid I might do harm to his precious muggles once I learned magic at Hogwarts."
Harry groaned for the third time in a single day.
"The man is hellbent on ruining summer vacations for me ever since I was born," Harry said.
"You know him from birth?" Morrigan asked.
"Never mind that," Harry said but he could sense her curiosity rising.
"Why haven't you gotten rid of the charms? In fact, how did you visit Malfoy during previous summers." Harry said.
She held up two long fingers in front of him, "One, I am still underage despite my prowess. My wand still has a trace. Two, Dippet made special exemptions for me to visit the Malfoys."
She titled her head, "How did you come to hear about the latter?"
"Martin." Harry simply said.
"Ah," Morrigan said.
A warm gust of wind passed between the two causing them to shudder in annoyance.
"Theoretically speaking, if one could acquire wands without traces, could one remove the trace?" Harry asked.
Riddle looked at him strangely, "One could most definitely do that among many other things. Theoretically speaking of course."
"Like what?" Harry said.
"Like cooling charms, cleaning, and apparate," Morrigan said.
"You can apparate?! Bloody hell you are not even sixth year!" Harry said.
"Do forgive the lack of modesty here, Harry, but I am not like most witches," Morrigan said.
Harry nodded and leaped up to grab parchment from his bag and jiggly coin bag.
"What are you doing?" Morrigan said.
"Do forgive the lack of modesty here, Morrigan, but I unlike most witches don't intend to die of sweat and nausea here," Harry said.
Morrigan snorted. "What are you talking about?"
"I, Morrigan, am modestly wealthy and surprisingly well-connected," Harry said. Morrigan leaned in and hovered above his shoulder as he started drafting the letter.
Dearest Amanda,
I find myself requiring your services once again…..
Diagon Alley
Hmm
Morrigan hummed as she scoped down another ice cream bowl.
"Woman. That's a kilogram of ice cream that you have just downed." Harry grumbled. Suddenly the whole breakout didn't seem as appealing as it did yesterday. Diagon Alley didn't look as appealing as it did.
"2 bowls doesn't equal a kilogram," Morrigan said.
"Remind me why I broke out with you again?" Harry said.
"Because I am the only one who can apparate and if you didn't take me, I would have told Slughorn," Morrigan said.
"So much for Slytherin unity," Harry said.
With a last flourish of her spoon, Morrigan let her bowl clutter on the table and eyed him.
"Well as lovely as that was, I would prefer if we avoided gluttony for the rest of the summer," Morrigan said. "What is the plan now?"
"I don't know," Harry said. "I never got to thinking as far as that."
"A flaw we will work when we get back to Hogwarts," Morrigan said.
"I don't know. Leave the country maybe?" Harry wondered. "But it's no chance, with the war in tow, we will never get the permission signed."
"I can make it work. Abraxas will have us cleared through in an instant." Morrigan said. "Although we will have to make use of forged identification cards to pass through. We are still underage."
"I can make that work," Harry replied. "Any preferred locations? A friend of mine visited Egypt a while back and had a great time."
"That won't work. Muggle militaries are battling all over the place and Grindelwald's rats are sneaking about the pyramids." Morrigan said and glanced at the sky, "Speaking of which, we should leave this place. I don't trust the steadfastness of these wards against Muggle bombs."
"Is magic really that weak against muggle technology? I mean Hogwarts is pretty much out in the open, but you are never worried about that." Harry said.
"Oh, absolutely not! Magic is more than enough. Hogwarts's wards were crafted by the four most powerful mages of their age and subsequently maintained by the likes of Dumbledore." Morrigan said and gestured to the sky again. "These were crafted by obese bureaucrats hired through nepotism. Ergo, I err on the side of caution. Now let us leave."
Diagon Alley.
Café.
It was nice to connect with Charlus once again, Henri mused. The pair had grown apart after Sophie's death and Henri's subsequent association with ECLIPSE. With Charlus finally off to Hogwarts, the chasm had merely grown wide. The near-death experience in Grindelwald's labs had changed his perception of mortality.
The two awkwardly sipped on small coffee cups as a pause filled between them. Neither had a feel for what the other was feeling and they were anxious about stepping on each other's toes, Henri more so than Charlus.
Henri cleared his throat, his voice filled with uncertainty. "So, Charlus, how are your studies going at Hogwarts?"
Charlus glanced at his father, his tone guarded. "They're fine, father. Just fine."
Henri's heart sank at the lack of enthusiasm in Charlus' response. He tried another approach. "And your friends? Have you made any close ones? Any lucky lady I should know about?"
Charlus shrugged. "Yeah, I've got some friends. Nothing special."
Henri's frustration mounted. He took a deep breath and decided to be more upfront. "Look, Charlus, I know I haven't been the best father lately, especially after your mother passed away and everything with work. I'm sorry about that. I wish I could have another chance."
"For Merlin's sake, father. For the last time, I told you everything is fine! You don't need to hover above me like a seeker…."
Henri inwardly groaned as Charlus mounted a rant and kept going. He took another sip of his cup and looked ahead waiting for Charlus to lose steam. His heart skipped a beat as he saw a woman approach them from a rooftop opposite them. A sharp stinging sensation jolted him awake from his misery and he glanced above.
Cousin Irma? Henri mused. She had been one of the concerned people marked by Lord Black in the suspect's list, but they never pursued it thoroughly. A wrong gut feeling engulfed him as Irma eyed them unblinkingly.
Imperious? Henri wondered.
His neck stung again, and Henri angrily swept at the spot. A small object, similar in shape to a muggle dart was stuck to his neck. Henri's instincts roared at him to flee this place.
"And there you go! You have completely tuned me out! Just like the fucking old days!" Charlus said and angrily placed his cup on the table. Charlus got up and prepared to leave but Henri was quicker. He grabbed Charlus by the arm and pulled him away. Charlus protested but Henri squeezed his arm tightly.
"Charlus, something's wrong. We are being tailed." Henri whispered urgently as they walked through the streets. "I will apparate us back to the manor."
He closed and concentrated on the manor grounds. A flash of red went behind his eyes and Henri kneeled over and started to violently cough. Charlus stared in horror as blood spewed forth from his father's mouth and instantly pulled out his wand.
Henri, not to be outdone, forced himself up and pulled Charlus into a narrow street opposite them and immediately regretted it. They were now cut off and Irma was slowly gaining on them. With the limited number of people visiting the alley due to the war, Henri's desperate yells attracted no attention.
"Father what happened?!" A panicked Charlus demanded as he shook Henri's coughing form.
Irma merely stared at them unblinkingly as pulled an unfamiliar object from her bag.
"Black! We are cousins for Merlin's sake!" Charlus shouted through a bloodied mouth at Irma. "Whatever is between us, leave my son out of this!"
"Facial recognition match: 90%" Irma intoned. She pointed the object at Charlus and said, "Come with me if you wish for your friend to live. The Union demands your life."
Charlus sneered at her and raised his wand to her, but Irma was quicker.
A silenced thud sound echoed and Charlus howled as his hand was suddenly torn and bloody.
"Combat authorized. You will not escape me, Harry Potter." Irma said.
While Irma proceeded towards Charlus, Henri reached into his knapsack and pulled out a plastic container. With a smirk, he lobbed it at Irma's back and watched in satisfaction as it exploded in purple. The subsequent electric shocks flying from her and the black metallic-esque frame that was suddenly exposed to the elements stunned Henri.
Wasting no time, he pulled Henri over his shoulders in a muggle's carry and ran. Whatever witchcraft Irma was using had suppressed their magic. He needed to get away from her. Henri's instincts could feel Irma recovering and beginning to follow them in a slow manner. Henri ran through the streets for a while Irma pursued them. He spotted a young man and woman standing outside a portkey circle.
The younger of the boys heard Charlus's pained grunts and questioned in horror, "Charlus?". The girl pulled out her wand in a defensive posture.
Smart. Henri thought of the girl.
The blow glue of long-distance apparition was beginning to engulf them. Wasting no time, Henri tossed Charlus towards the duo and watched in satisfaction as Henri was taken away with them.
Merlin, I hope those were his friends Charlus thought. His thoughts scrambled as a loud bang echoed throughout the street, his legs erupted in pain and a shower of blood pooled on the street.
Predator Machine
The machine's algorithms repeatedly input negative feedback as it watched its quarry disappear in the magical teleportation. The scanners identified the visual input of the blue light and output, "Long Distance Apparition".
At lightning speed, it pulled out a Baretta and shot two rounds into the other mage's kneecaps. It fell in a pool of its own blood. Unfortunately, the sensors detected multiple heat signatures approaching from the North.
The machine glanced at Henri's face and scanned it. Facial recognition detected 70% familiarity.
Possible blood relation. The output reported.
Energy build-up detected. Spellfire imminent! The sensors output.
The machine reacted with lightening speed and lobbed a frag grenade towards the three Aurors running towards it. The younger, possibly junior of the two started at the object in puzzlement. The veteran's eyes widened, and he hastily conjured a shield charm to protect his team from the engulfing explosion.
The machine grabbed Henri, flexed its synthetic muscles, and leaped away from the area. To the author's watching in horror it looked like a flying Irma Black with a partially flayed skull carrying away what looked like to be Lord Potter.
The veteran looked on at the bizarre development shook his head and spat, "Gloria is gonna be mad."
Author's Note: Sorry for the slow update. I was very ill and not doing mentally ok. Future updates will be slow. Apologies.
Read & Review.