Chapter 9: Making New Friends
"HE WAS IMMOBILIZED! HE WAS NO LONGER A THREAT!" Harry yelled.
"THE MAN HAD SEEN OUR FACES! YOU WANNA HAVE A STAY AT AZKABAN?! BE MY FUCKING GUEST BUT LEAVE ME OUT OF IT." Rupert had yelled back.
The argument had become a common place between the duos.
The partnership had been tensed as Aurors had begun an investigation into the recent break in and murder.
The matters worsened when Harry dropped a newspaper headline in front of a drinking Rupert.
THE DAILY PROPHET
EX-AUROR FOUND DEAD IN A BREAK IN. GRINDELWALD SUSPECTED BEHIND THE ATTACK. INVESTIGATION UNDERWAY.
That was the spark that truly lit the fuse between them.
Killing an old man for a break in was one thing. Killing a retired auror and taking his retirement fund? That was a completely different ball game.
The entire department will take this personally and be out for their blood.
Luckily, the lack of descriptions
That had spawned several hours of persistent rows between the two.
Rupert blamed Harry for not following orders and being too weak to do what was necessary.
Harry fired back by blaming Rupert's heavy-handed handling of the entire affair. He was too blood thirsty to care about collateral damage and its impact on them.
"Well boo fucking hooh if I don't feel melancholic for gutting that sorry pig, kid"
"Sure Rupert, go ahead, murder the rest of them. When the Dementors munch on our souls, you can tell them how much you love killing Aurors."
"We wouldn't have been in this mess if you followed orders in the first place!"
"What orders Rupert?! Piling up bodies?"
"The man was a dirty fucking pig who was a bitch of the corrupt Purebloods who held his leash."
Harry stared at him in puzzlement.
"Oh yes, I know who the fook he was the moment I saw him." Rupert said.
His drunk stupor had removed whatever mental filters he had on him earlier.
"The man regularly ran interference. Whenever a pureblood fucking nobel didn't like a muggleborn or low birth mage making too much money, he booked them on trumped corruption charges and locked him up. He ruined hundreds of families on behalf of his masters."
Rupert took a swing out of his bottle and continued his rant.
"So yeah PETROV! I am fooking proud of what I have done. And you know what?"
Rupert drunkenly stumbled towards him & stared him in the eye and whispered,
"I will gladly do it again."
That was two hours ago.
Rupert had sobered up and Harry couldn't decide which version of him he preferred.
The drunk Rupert yelled profanities and showcased a bravado, daring for the aurors to come and raid him. Vowing to kill anyone who tried to take him in.
The sober Rupert was a walking panic attack. He checked every ward thrice over and scanned from the windows whenever a shadow passed too near their hideout.
In between these two states of existence, he had taken to interrogating Harry.
"The bizzo with the snakes?" Rupert said.
"Yeah?"
"Never seen anything like it. What was it?"
"No clue. It just happened."
"Ahan, you have no clue how you somehow manage to tell snakes to fuck off."
"Right" Harry replied.
"Right" Rupert said.
Rupert got fed up with the lack of answers and headed back to the bar.
Leaving Harry all alone with his thoughts.
Harry grabbed a bottle from Rupert's personal stash and poured it on himself liberally.
If these were his last free night, at least he would die knowing how liquor felt like.
Time passed and things began to zoom in and out as alcohol took hold of his system.
He started remembering things in the long past.
He remembered winning the Quidditch cup in his third year. He smiled fondly at that memory; it was his crowning achievement in his short Hogwarts career.
He then had a faint vision of racing ahead of the Hogwarts express in an effort to get to school. As dangerous as that was, Ron & He had certainly laughed it off when they were all well and clear.
His vision then took a darker turn. He took a large gulp and remembered Voldemort's face burning off as he saved the stone from him.
The table in front of him faded away and he was in Hogwarts once again. Body moving without his approval. He moved towards the unused bathroom.
Harry felt as if he was reliving the horror.
He approached dazedly towards the unmonitored female washroom. Another presence took hold of him as he muttered in a language, he didn't know he could. Moments later, a slide emerged in front of him. He landed on a floor filled with discarded bones. All of them looked old. He noticed human skulls within the pile. He moved.
Harry took another swing of the bottle and started swaying in long motions.
He stumbled into the chamber, his mind felt dull and his movement numb. The room appeared pristine, the black marble floors shimmering under an ethereal light. Macabre statues of strange beasts from a bygone era loomed in every corner, their twisted forms casting shadows that danced upon the walls. It was as if they were alive, watching his every move with cold, piercing gazes.
A sudden thud echoed through the chamber, forcing his attention forward. He turned around, his bleary eyes struggling to focus on the source of the disturbance. And there it was, an abomination that defied comprehension. The creature before him had the body of a snake, sinewy and serpentine, while its head hovered mere inches away, severed from its body. Shadowy clouds danced around its body obscuring much.
Its eyes, a mesmerizing shade of sickly yellow, fixated on him with slit red pupils that seemed to pierce through his soul. The air grew heavy with a palpable sense of dread, as if the very fabric of reality strained under the weight of the basilisk's malevolence.
His heart pounded in his chest.
Harry knew he should stop before something else happened, but he couldn't. His hands defied him as he took another swing from the bottle.
He felt the primordial fear coursing through his veins, the vestiges of an ancestral memory etched deep within his DNA. The image of massive serpents feasting upon Stone Age humans flashed before his eyes, a gruesome tableau of survival and savagery.
He felt his ancestor's fear as they kept the fire burning around them to prevent the snakes from feasting on their sleeping forms.
Harry took another swing and his perspective changed.
He now towered about the simpering fool that dared invade his lair. His feeble mind couldn't handle the pressure of being within the lair of someone as majestic as him. He would feast on his pitiful form. For that was his right granted to him by might.
He bared his true eyes and lowered his head to stare directly at his eyes. He stared into Harry Potter's eyes. Green eyes met yellow eyes. Harry Potter smirked, a spell itched into his mind, and all went black.
Whether it was a stressful fever dream or alcohol talking. Harry could feel the shadows turning into snakes.
He will betray you, master.
His smiled stupidly to himself and made a sharp jab with his wand.
Serpensortia
A small garden snake materialized and affectionately wrapped itself around his outstretched hand.
He is the enemy.
Kill him.
Feed.
Kill before he kills us.
Traitor
Follow the traitor. Defend the heir.
Harry nodded while smiling stupidly.
If Rupert thought he was merely going to take this lying down, he was sorely mistaken.
"The fuck is you doing, kid?" Rupert's voice rang out from behind him.
"RUPERT!" Harry merrily yelled in a drunken stupor and tried to leap at him in a bizarre attempt at a hug.
"My friend!" Harry once again sang out.
Rupert stared at Harry as if he'd grown a second head. Harry smiled at him.
"The fuck did you to your face, lad?" Rupert cried out.
Harry blowed a raspberry in response. Rupert rolled his eyes and conjured a mirror.
Harry grabbed at whatever sentience he had left and gazed into the mirror.
A somewhat familiar face blinked as Harry stared in the mirror.
A furious realization started to dawn on him.
It was him!
Tom Riddle's face stared back from the mirror.
AFTERNOON
Harry awoke with a throbbing headache. Every move made it worse.
Sod the glasses.
Harry lay still on the mattress. He had no idea how he managed to make his way from there to here. But that mystery could wait for a little while longer.
"Top of the afternoon to you, sunshine!" Rupert voice rang out from somewhere.
Harry merely groaned in response and got up to support his back on the bed frame. He accepted a smoky drink from him.
A few gulps of the hot cup and Harry could feel his headache reside and IQ points starting to rise.
"You really are something else, kid" Rupert said.
"I am Harry." Harry replied.
"Yep, Harry the kid. Who can talk to snakes and change forms at will."
Harry eyes shot open in response. He merely dismissed the earlier night's memory as an alcohol dream.
Now Rupert's comments bought Harry back to reality.
Tom Riddle's face started back at him.
"I have no idea what you're talking about." Harry miserably attempted to deflect.
"Of course, you don't. Illiterate cyka" Rupert started.
"'Tis called being a metamorphmagus. Y'all can change forms at will somehow within reason." Rupert said.
"I-I don't know what that is…." Harry stuttered out.
"Obviously, you grew up in a jungle. Not a classroom environment that, innit?" Rupert said.
Harry stared silently past him. His mind still reeled with the possibilities of what he was hearing.
"Kid!" Rupert snapped his fingers in front of him to gain his attention.
Harry snapped back at him.
"Now don't be lookin' at me like that!" Rupert smiled.
"Now love, I need you to focus. I have found us a way outta this mess."
"What is it?" Harry said. Hope was still in the game.
"There's a bit of nerd fest 'round here that we need to rob-"
"Again?!" Harry interrupted.
"We need money to bail from this joint kid!" Rupert shot back.
"Do you have enough! Cuz the old coot's retirement fund isn't enough and I ain't got enough!" Rupert said.
Harry stayed silent, conceding to Rupert.
Rupert took a deep breath and continued again,
"Now as I was sayin'. We have a bit of a nerd fest about to happen in a villa uptown. Lots of witches & wizards bringing out their shiny toys to show off and sprout bullshit theories about one thing or another."
"How are we getting inside?" Harry asked.
"Simple, we pose as one of the scientists in attendance who came from abroad."
"And they will simply buy it? Two people random men they have never seen before?"
"Your lack of faith wounds me kid"
Harry glared at him in response. Rupert relented,
"Look kid, you just drank a metric ton of ayahuasca. Your mind is either in the 7th heaven or in the underworld. I only leave it for special occasions. I can't possibly imagine what you saw."
"All you need to know is we do this right, we will have enough money to head to pay a smuggler and get ourselves in China or Caribbean or whatever."
Rupert got up and headed out,
"Get yourself together and we head out in an hour."
Harry nodded in response.
He closed his eyes and laid back once again. The headache had largely faded but he still felt like sleeping again.
He liesss to you massster
Harry eyes snapped open, and he whirled to find the source of the voice.
A garden snake slithered from the right bedpost.
He intendssss to ssselll you off.
Harry's thoughts raced rapidly in a bit to find out what was going on. As if sensing his confusion, the serpent leapt at him and bit deeply, and then Harry saw the truth of the job.
He saw himself as a serpent leaping on the man's robe.
"And this kid, you know nothing about where he is from?"
"I swear I haven't the foggiest clue. All I know that is the kid has mad skills?"
"Get to the point here, Mr. Rupert."
"He talks to snakes & I swear on my mother's eyes, I saw him change forms infront of me. No potions, no wands."
"A metamorphmagus? Most useful…..."
"Damn straight!"
"Very well, Mr. Rupert. My Lord Grindelwald will appreciate this tribute. We have planned a mass conscription at a nearby villa. Ensure that the kid is present there. Pull this off and you will be handsomely compensated and granted safe passage to Germany. Nobody will dare pursue."
Rupert nodded in response.
Harry returned to his present-day surroundings. He felt his blood boiling within his veins.
That damnable hypocrite
With one breath he presents himself as an anarchist firebrand.
With the other, he sold Harry to Grindelwald's slavers to cover his rear for a murder he committed.
Never thought there would be a day where Harry would have felt thankful for being a parseltoungue.
But these were not ordinary times. He dismissed the snake and made his way to their stash.
The galleons gleamed in the afternoon sun as Harry took them all out. He gathered all that was necessary to plan his escape from Rupert.
The stash contained all of Rupert's plans about future marks, friendly fixes, and knuts.
It now all belonged to Harry. A direct confrontation with Rupert would be suicidal. He could either overpower Harry or somehow alert Grindelwald's people to his presence.
He too would need to be sneaky about this.
Hide in plain sight.
Rupert will rue the day he crossed Harry. Even more, he would despise the day he took Harry under his wing and made him what he is.
Harry read the man's file.
Rupert's details of him bordered with obsession and lust. He extolled his virtues, connections, and wealth. He then cursed him for neglecting him in equal measures.
Horace Slughorn
The man's name read out.
Rupert had marked him down as a mark to be robbed when he felt strong enough. It seemed more like Rupert wanted to prove himself to the old man in his own twisted version.
Horace was a potions professor at Hogwarts with notable worth. The man had a knack for potions and more than that, he had a nose for talent.
And Horace Slughorn was due to attend the "Nerd Fest" targeted by Rupert & slavers.
He had run a club during his life in Hogwarts, called "Slug Club". There he held parties that allowed the mighty, rich, & connected to mingle with the next generation.
Naturally, this made Slughorn friends with people in high places. Friends, that Harry intended to convince Slughorn to save him. Mainly his auror friends that is.
If that failed, he intended to blackmail the man for using Rupert as a procurer of goods.
Naturally, Horace Slughorn was a fix. The man had his fingers in every pie.
Government, Private Sector, and now the underworld – All had alumnus from the "Slug Club".
Harry had the bargain of a lifetime for Horace. He prayed that it was enough.
Harry approached the man's opulent villa, a testament to its owner's vanity and flamboyance.
The sprawling estate buzzed with vibrance, emanating an aura of creativity, activity, and positivity.
The meticulously manicured garden boasted magnificent grass sculptures depicting wizards engrossed in potion-making, elegant dancing ladies twirling in midair, and intricate chemical formulae etched into the verdant carpet.
In the heart of the garden, marble fountains adorned the landscape, their cascading water forming a shape resembling a majestic waterfall. Each fountain told a story from history, immortalized in stone for all to behold.
It was a place of captivating beauty, but Harry had no time to appreciate it.
He moved purposefully, his eyes fixed on the grand villa, ignoring the enchanting allure of the surroundings.
House elves scurried toward him, attempting to halt his progress and subject him to an identity check, but Harry paid them no mind. Time was of the essence.
A flick of his wand and Harry stunned it in silence.
Harry stood before the imposing front door; frustration evident in his clenched jaw.
He pounded on the door, his impatience mounting with each passing moment.
A voice from within called out, grumbling,
"Hold your hippogriffs, Merlin, I'm coming!"
The door creaked open, revealing a pair of beady eyes set in an annoyed face.
With only a look at his disheveled appearance and tattered clothes, Slughorn weighed Harry's worth, processed the info, and compartmentalized it the poor and worthless section in his mind.
"Oh, it's you lot. I've had my fill of requests. I have given enough to charity. I am not interested in buying anything at the moment. Also, not taking any apprentices at the moment."
Slughorn made a dismissive gesture, preparing to close the door.
Slughorn made a dismissive gesture, preparing to close the door.
Harry's desperation grew, and he raised his voice, hoping to capture Slughorn's attention.
"If your life was in danger, would you then have a moment?" Harry emphasized. Already annoyed at the man's mannerisms.
The closing door halted midway, and Slughorn's face contorted with disbelief.
"I beg your pardon?"
"I know it sounds absurd, but I have information that could save your life. Just five minutes of your time, that's all I ask. Please, Professor Slughorn." Harry said.
Slughorn's expression softened slightly, his curiosity piqued by Harry's desperate plea. He hesitated, considering the possibility that there might be some truth to the young man's words.
The door closed and locks rattled off. All went silent for a brief moment. The door glowed and snapped open.
A smiling pudgy Slughorn stood in an expensive robe, gesturing Harry to enter.
They both stared at each other in polite silence.
Slughorn had led him to a salon and gestured for him to make himself comfortable.
Harry regarded his surroundings. Rupert would have a brain aneurism at all the vulgar wealth surrounding him.
"Honey Tea, dear?" Horace offered. His smiling face was a far outcry of the earlier disdain the man had displayed.
His instincts screamed at him to not accept.
Harry graciously accepted the drink, hoping to make a good first impression.
Slughorn settled himself into an armchair opposite Harry's.
Sunlight fell through stained glass windows. Creating an incredible vista all over the room.
Slughorn smiled looking at Harry's awestruck expression at his interior decoration.
"I believe we haven't met before young man. I am confident I have met all 2nd years by now and I don't think I have ever met you before." Slughorn started.
"I beg your pardon, Professor. I have never studied at this Hogwarts."
Slughorn amusedly raised his eye at Harry.
"Oh dear! Are there more than one?" Slughorn asked with faux worry.
Harry blushed outwardly and kicked himself inwardly. What the hell was he doing?
"Apologies again, professor. A slip of tongue."
Slughorn nodded in acceptance, but something told Harry that Slughorn was not buying it.
"Let me start over, my name is Harry Petrov sir. I am a refuge from Russia. The fighting over there had gotten too fierce for my parents to ignore."
Slughorn nodded in paternal understanding. Harry took another sip of the delicious tea.
"And how does this relate to my poor life?" Slughorn said.
"Right sir. I work for Rupert." Harry blurted out.
WHAT THE HELL AM I DOING! Harry roared internally as he saw Slughorn's expression darkened.
"You are in a dangerous position, young Petrov. I made it clear to Rupert I wanted nothing further to do with him after last time."
Harry could feel something take aim at him but not firing for the moment.
Harry had to salvage the situation fast.
"The government had blocked all refugee processing from Russia fearing infiltration from Grindelwald, sir. The wait times for everyone had grown considerably long."
Harry continued. The presence inside him felt stronger.
His instincts yelled at him to put aside the tea. Harry obeyed this time around. A fact that made Slughorn more annoyed.
"I was desperate for money and food. Rupert offered to help with both, saying that he needed muscle for his operations."
Slughorn didn't respond.
"Normally, it was just a minor bit of thieving. A pickpocket there and a burglary there. Nothing major."
Slughorn still stared pensively at Harry. Harry took this as his cue to continue,
"He has gone greedy and bloodier as the month went on. We were at an auror's house to… get our hands on his money. It didn't end well."
"Collingwood" Slughorn merely stated.
"I'm sorry?" Harry replied.
"Auror Collingwood was a former student of mine and Gryffindor prefect., brave and noble. Same batch as Rupert. Always was onto his plans. He was the one who uncovered Rupert's drug business inside Hogwarts and got him expelled in his 6th year."
Harry could only shake his head at the man's lies.
"He did make it sound like a personal score."
"True enough. That still doesn't tell me why I should be involved in this all and why you shouldn't be in chains, Mr. Petrov."
Harry felt nervous as he continued, this was the moment of truth.
"He has a plan for a last heist before escaping Britain to Germany."
"Grindelwald" Horace spat out.
"Indeed. He intends to help the Grindelwald's slavers access Lady Beverly's estate during the prize fair and capture everyone inside. That included you. Grindelwald is conscripting for talent."
Horace's expression shifted from grave judgement to a muggle who had seen a ghost.
"S-s-SLAVERS? IN BRITAIN?" Horace roared in disgust.
Harry could merely nod.
Horace was no longer seated and paced rapidly.
For a man of his considerable bulk, he could be agile when he wished to be. Harry wondered.
Harry reappeared in Slughorn's vision. His casual demeanor was gone, and this was all business.
"What do you want in return?" Slughorn inquired.
"Immunity & citizenship. Let's not dance around this issue, professor. I have just saved your life from a very grim fate."
Slughorn harshly glared at him. Harry tried to ignore it and continued,
"You have contacts, high and mighty, in the ministry. Contact them and secure this thing. In return tell them where Rupert will be tonight. They can move in and catch both the slavers and Collingwood's murderer. No auror could resist that headline."
"Or I could just march to the Aurors right now and tell them all about this sordid affair." Slughorn harshly spat back.
Harry nodded. He had considered that possibility.
"Allow me to sweeten the deal then."
Harry pulled out a sack and emptied it all over Slughorn's mahogany desk. Galleons poured out by the dozen.
Slughorn stared in shock at Harry.
"52,000 Galleons to the point." Harry stated.
"This was Auror Collingwood's retirement package. He can no longer use it. But I'm sure you will find a better use for it."
Harry could see calculations happening in Slughorn's eyes that his mind was whirling at a hummingbird's speed. His expression began to soften.
Harry knew he had to now drive the final nail to the coffin.
"The thing is sir, above all, I would like to attend Hogwarts."
Slughorn turned his eyes from the gold pile to Harry. Harry had his attention.
"I have read about you sir. You know talent, sir. You know how students need an environment beyond the usual restrictions to boldly experiment. Sometimes those experiments fail. Sometimes badly. But you don't judge. I wish to learn from you, Professor. I have discovered so many things that make me question my place in this world. I just found out I'm metamorphous. I am worried about what I am becoming!"
Slughorn owlishly blinked at Harry upon hearing the last word. His brain whirred now even faster. Any longer, Harry worried he might see smoke emerge from his ears.
"All I ask for, is a chance."
Slughorn smiled warmly at Harry. Disregarding his defunct business skin.
Reacquiring the paternal teacher attire.
"Of course, Harry!"
Oh so it's "Harry" now. Harry mused.
"I would never turn away a soul seeking knowledge." Slughorn exclaimed.
Well played, Potter. Harry thought
"Now why don't you excuse me, young man. I have urgent letters to write. Or better yet, why don't you tag along and help me put all this nonsense into words."
Harry complied.
How quickly past deeds are forgotten in the shade of wealth and power.
Senior Auror Gloria Bones was not having a good day.
First, the minister had indefinitely postponed her promotion.
The minister had lost significant political capital, courtesy of muggles of all things, was determined to take the ship down with him.
Second, the inability to find a breakthrough in the murder case of ex-Auror Collingwood had not found her many friends.
Lastly, she was from the house of Bones. Her house matriarch had aligned their ships against Black post the disaster at the field research camp. Thankfully she hadn't fully aligned with the upcoming Potter pups.
Why couldn't they simply throw in with the Blacks, was beyond her.
Gloria couldn't imagine sharing a platform with those political babies.
To make matters worse, somebody was going around, making people vanish. Prominent members. Potion makers, herbologists, healers, and more.
Someone in the department had leaked the classified intel to Wizengamot. Matriarch Bones had roared at Black in the Parliament over public safety.
Minister Black had roared at the chief in his office.
The chief had roared at her in his office.
A bird chirped somewhere.
Her irate mood had sent many of her staffers packing for an early leave, lest they find themselves being voluntold for an impromptu dueling session.
The last voluntold had yet to leave St. Mungo.
The damnable bird chirped again. Gloria whirled with a wand, ready to blast any fool who would dare annoy her.
An annoyed owl chirped and moved its head. It carried a long letter.
Oh.
Gloria merely sighed and sent the owl away.
Of course, the letter was from Slughorn. Most likely asking her to once against ask the Matriarch Bones to attend whatever frivolous show he conjured.
Might as well take a look, Gloria thought.
Her hands gripped the letter harder as she read through it.
The specter of promotion and glory once again roared in her chest once more.
If she played her cards right, not only could she get that promotion – hell she could an entire transfer of her choice.
Hell, it might even improve her standing within the Matriarch's eyes.
Gloria got up to put on her gear,
"Yara! John!" Gloria yelled while fitting on her armor.
"We have to get moving! Yara, get to the Justice department's office. We have to negotiate plea bargains. I don't care who is there or not. Wake every son of a bitch up if you have to. If they still lag, throw around my family name."
Yara's eyes widened. She knew her boss rarely name-dropped her family to get what she wanted. Her ties to the Matriarch were tenuous at best.
"Move!" Yara apparated away.
"John, head out and round up every department officer who can fight. Whoever's not here, send them a howler telling them to get their asses back here in five minutes."
John apparated away.
Auror promotion, pfft that was too simple.
M.L.F.P, save up a seat for Gloria in the H.I.T squad.
Nothing will stand in her way.
Auror Gloria and Slughorn pensively stared at the scene playing before them.
A large Auror team sat outside Horace's office.
A lawyer read Harry through his rights and new life. In return for his cooperation with the Collingwood investigation, he was granted a partial jail sentence waiver.
The lawyer read out.
"In return for your cooperation with slaver investigation, you are granted full immunity and citizenship."
It was a testament to Grindelwald's terror that the Justice Department was willing to offer citizenship on top of full immunity.
They really didn't want him in the isles.
Harry nodded in full agreement to the lawyers and signed a dozen documents and attestations.
Gloria & Slughorn both wondered who was better off here among them.
Gloria stood to gain a promotion in nearly facets of her life.
Slughorn gained a pot of gold, not that he needs more gold, but damn it he craved more.
Also, he gained a massive favor over Gloria & H.I.T by introducing her to Petrov.
Gloria wondered what Slughorn would want in return. She remained clueless about Collingwood's gold.
Petrov gained a new life all together.
It was a win-win situation.
The lawyers collected all their documents and prepared to head back to the department. Gloria waved them off.
Yara and John entered the office and stood by her side.
"Mr. Petrov, I do hope you know the massive honor Professor Slughorn does you. I don't think anyone would have agreed in the ministry without him putting in a good word for you." Gloria said.
Harry danced along.
"Of course, ma'am. I can only hope to work towards my redemption from here on out." Harry said.
Gloria nodded.
"We still aren't in the clear yet. We need to draw the slavers to Rupert. In turn, you need to draw out Rupert. Your role is central to all this."
Harry nodded in affirmative.
She gestured to Yara and John to start working.
They both approached Harry and started spellcasting over him.
Yara explained the process to him,
"Standard tracking charms over you to keep checks." A blue light engulfed him.
A red light followed,
"Communication charms so that we can communicate & coordinate."
This went on for a while and Harry droned out Yara.
The sun was setting outside.
Nightfall blanketed the city with an inky darkness, its secrets concealed beneath the shadows.
At the designated rendezvous point, an abandoned alleyway nestled between towering buildings, two figures stood under the dim glow of a flickering streetlamp.
Rupert stood dressed in all black. Harry faced him, ensuring he concealed his true intentions beneath a facade of nothingness.
Rupert scowled as he tapped his foot impatiently. "Late again, ain't ya, Harry? What's the matter, did ya get lost on your way 'ere?"
Harry attempted to brush off Rupert's snide remarks. "Nah, just got caught up with some business. Nothing to worry about."
Rupert sneered, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Oh, nothin' to worry about, 'e says. We've got a job to do tonight, and if we're late, we'll miss our chance at that Beverly estate. The annual fair's goin' on, and it's a bloody goldmine, Harry. Need I remind you, it's both our heads here?"
Harry's heart raced, he had to tread carefully, his nerves taut with the possibility of tipping off the cunning man.
"Right, right," Harry stammered, feigning urgency. "We best get a move on then. Time's tickin'."
Rupert glared but relented, his attention diverted by the prospect of riches awaiting them at the estate. Harry knew what lay for him the moment he entered the state.
They slipped through the city streets, their footsteps silent and purposeful.
The moon's pale light cast eerie shadows as they made their way toward the Beverly estate.
The aurors had convinced lady Beverly to remove most of the heinous & tough wards to ensure Ruperts success.
If Rupert found this strange, he didn't mention it.
They pierced through the usual alarms and pitfalls. A sinking bog found itself hardening in response to "incendio" by Harry.
They traversed over it and made their way through the greenhouses.
Their vision began to go dark.
Dark, slimy vines grabbed a hold them and their concentration began to waver.
Rupert spat out curses, not knowing what was happening.
Harry recalled a young bright witch's lecture about a familiar plant. He was not fazed by this anymore.
Harry gathered himself and yelled,
"Lumos!"
His wand became alight with white light and the monstrous devil's snare retreated back.
Rupert lay panting on the ground. The horror of his almost death lay clear on his face.
"Devils snare. Weak to light. We used it a lot in Russia to trap Hippogriffs." Harry stated as a matter of fact.
Rupert nodded and they both continued.
A vine made its way to ensnare them, Harry fired a diffindo and cut it.
They were now at the very back of the estate.
A window on the second floor remained closed. It led to the estate's library.
Rupert gestured for Harry to climb on,
Harry ran towards the wall and ran up it and grabbed at a missing brick socket.
Gaining his balance, he climbed up the wall on vines & pulled out sockets when needed.
They needed to keep the use of magic to a minimum lest they trigger some unknown ward.
Muggle means sometimes worked best in such cases. Ergo, climbing around like an Orangutan.
Pointing his wand at the window, Harry whispered
"Evanesco"
The window vanished and Harry dropped a rope back to the ground for Rupert to climb up on.
They were now inside the estate.
"Harry, we have tracked 9 unknown signatures following a few meters behind. Stay frosty."
Gloria's voice whispered in his ear. The communication spell was working perfectly.
They made their way towards the library's exit and Harry waited for Rupert to do his part.
An invisible barrier shimmering across the exit to the library. Harry's eyes narrowed as he realized they had stumbled upon a barrier spell.
What will Rupert do now? Harry wondered.
Unfazed, Rupert rummaged through his pack, producing a vial of shimmering liquid.
He uncorked it with a flourish, the aroma of crushed moonstone filling the air.
With a precise flick of his wrist, he traced a counter-spell, each intricate gesture intertwining with the liquid as it cascaded in mid-air.
Impressive, Harry thought. Rupert had managed to convert his spell into a liquid form. This way the wards won't detect spells being cast.
Their last foray had made Rupert hesitant to even cast Lumos unless necessary.
The barrier shimmered away. The main ballroom lay just a staircase away.
They both nodded to each other and made to move. Rupert placed his hand to halt Harry.
"Wait 'Arry."
Harry paused. Was this it?
"After the last time's problems. I brought some mates with me. Extra safety. 'ope you don't mind."
Harry tensed and glared at Rupert.
"This wasn't part of the deal."
Rupert deliberately avoided meeting his eyes.
"I think you will find our talents to your satisfaction, Mr. Petrov."
Startled, Harry faced the voice stated behind him.
9 wizards stood behind dressed in faint blue robes and masks.
"Come now, we mustn't keep our guests waiting." The leader amongst marched forward, brushing aside Harry without a care.
Rupert quickly hurried behind him, not wanting to face Harry.
Harry stood alone glaring at the passing posse. They will soon get their comeuppance.
"Wolves in the house. I repeat wolves in the house." Harry whispered.
A reassuring hum ensured that his message had been acknowledged. Gloria's team had finished placing their own counter wards outside.
No one will escape her. Two auror squads meanwhile assumed ambush positions inside the ballroom.
Rupert's new friends descended down the staircase. They constantly cast spells. Evaluating their surroundings for any traps.
Clearly, the friends didn't share Rupert's passion for subtlety.
The lead slaver fired a spell at the door to the ballroom. It opened with a bang and if they expected outraged party guests at this faux pass, they were wrong.
The moment the door opened, spells flew towards the slavers and Rupert.
Horror and realization downed on them.
"WE HAVE BEEN MADE!" Roared the lead slaver as a chain whipped itself around his neck and he fell to the ground immobilized.
The slavers and Rupert bailed in different directions as Aurors poured after them.
The aurors outnumbered them 2 to 1. It will soon be over.
Rupert's heart pounded in his chest as his gaze darted around the estate, the gleaming treasures that once promised unimaginable wealth now paled in comparison to the imminent threat closing in on him.
The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning. Harry, his partner-in-crime, had been playing him all along.
Betrayal seared through his veins, fueling a desperate surge of rage. His own treachery lay forgotten.
A small voice in the back of his head whispered to him, he had bought this on himself.
As the echoes of the Aurors' footsteps grew louder, Rupert's eyes locked with Harry's.
The air crackled with tension as the two former allies stood on opposite sides of the unfolding battle.
A bitter smile twisted Rupert's lip,
"So, this is how it ends, is it? I took you in, gave you a place when no one else would. I fed you when you had nothing but scraps, you bloody traitor!"
Harry sneered in response as he dodged Rupert conjured fire.
"And what about your treachery Rupert?! You planned to pawn me off to Grindelwald the first chance you got!" Harry shot back.
"It's what you deserve you fooking coward."
Thunderous spells exchanged between the two. Harry knew he couldn't keep up for long. The aurors needed to catch to them and fast.
The Aurors, outnumbering but not overconfident, fought back with a synchronized elegance.
They advanced with practiced precision; their formation unwavering as they unleashed a relentless barrage of spells.
Each team fired spells. Fire, Ice, Chains, and beasts all thundered towards the slavers. The teams were shielded in turn by another so that their attack proceeded uninterrupted.
The aurors had a license to kill but Gloria emphasized prisoners to interrogate. Nobody wanted to cross her.
"TETSUDO!"
The lead auror yelled and the team closed ranks and conjured a shield 360 degrees.
A moment dark axes and fiery spells splashed off them harmlessly.
The Aurors relented their shields and fired back at the now demoralized slavers.
A few tried apparating and port-keying out of there but failed. They were rewarded by curses as their limbs turned against them and the lights went out for a few of them.
The air hummed with power as explosions erupted, sending shards of stone and debris cascading through the estate.
Rupert fired a barrage of bone breakers at Harry. Whatever fondness he had for Harry now replaced with unhinged hatred.
Harry responded by conjuring cobras who rushed at Rupert.
With a flick of his wand Rupert set them alight.
"Yer gonna hav' to do betta' than that brat!" Rupert yelled.
Harry responded by setting the air around Rupert on fire.
Rupert howled as the fire ate at him but retaliated with a black spell that struck Harry in his leg.
He glanced down to see a missing stump below his knee and rapid blood loss.
By now Rupert had managed to get rid of the fire and advanced on Harry.
The fire had taken his toll on him as he came in Harry's view. Hair singed and skin now ugly pink, Rupert aimed his wand at Harry,
"See you in hell, punk."
He began,
"Avada ka-"
He never got to finish.
Rupert's wand ripped itself from his hands and landed in Yara's palm. She smirked at him.
"Gotcha!"
Rupert, not fully registering his fate ate a stunner as John fired at him.
He dropped limp and felt chains wrapping around his bruised body.
He could no longer move. He could no longer apparate. His face glanced towards Harry where a panicking Yara worked on him.
John made another flick towards Rupert and blow struck him on the back of his head.
Rupert was no longer conscious.
Harry had outplayed him. The student had surpassed the master.
Author notes:
"And so, came Rupert's inevitable downfall" - Old Gandalf Voice
Wew. This is longest chapter I have ever written for anything fiction related. Fight scenes aren't my strongest feature, but I tried with this without making Harry look OP. That comes later ;). Anyhow, I hope y'all enjoy this massive labor of love. Don't forget to fav, follow, & review. Srsly lemme know what you think about the story so far.