Chapter 32: Domestic Enemies
At the castle, the General was improving little by little, but he would be out of commission for the foreseeable future. He was so pissed at his being on mandated bed rest that the healing elves had to sedate him before he injured himself further. Once he had rested, he called Jing to figure out how they would handle things while he got better. His soldiers surprised him and said that they would obey Jing, Longwei, and Mrs. Xu. They were now invested in the fight, as they had lost people too, and they would not leave until it was over and Riddle was dead. Having most of their defenses closer to Hogwarts was a tactical advantage. Harry had to go back to the island for the destruction of the cup. While that was accomplished, they would be working on strategy and plans for the last letter of their plan: T as in Trick. Their ducks were in a row. An interagency meeting had the muggle authorities willing to help, no matter what. The navy and the militaries of three countries were ready to engage at a moment's notice. Jing now had magically enhanced radios to contact authorities for help.
After their strategy meeting in which they decided who was staying in the castle and who was leaving, noticing how much Remus avoided his eyes, Sirius had decided to take matters into his own hands. Remus was not himself. It had always been Padfoot who would lay it thick on his best friend with the flirting and such, but it was for amusement… mostly. He had never shied from appreciating beauty regardless of the package, and Remus was very attractive to him. What happened in sixth year was… different. He had been in the most heated time of his youth and, honestly, when he became an animagus, his dog was instantly submissive to Remus' wolf. The dog in him knew that the werewolf could easily tear him apart but chose not to, and so when Remus was protective, caring, and loving, it felt particularly good for the dog within.
It wasn't just the animal side. His human side adored Remus' attention too. Growing up, Moony was never overly physically affectionate, not like James was. James was always very touchy-feely. That was the way he was brought up. His parents had only one son, and they showered him with affection. Sirius learned very quickly to be okay with that. He quite liked it as his case was entirely the opposite. He grew up without any physical touch other than the rare pat on the head or the even rarer cheek-to-cheek air kiss his mother gave him on his birthday and Christmas. When he met Remus, Moony was so shy that he would only answer by shaking his head, nodding, or shrugging. Getting him to smile showing his teeth was an accomplishment.
Sirius tried to get the boy to open up, but it wasn't until James started asking questions about the strange cuts and bruises all over Remus that Sirius realized there was much more than met the eye going on with him. Once they realized what was going on, with books provided by Professor McGonagall and their own research, they became animagi to keep Remus company. They did it as a surprise, and poor Moony was sad thinking they were avoiding him because of lycanthropy, but they were trying to stay away so he wouldn't smell their animals and realize what they were doing in case they failed. No need to get his hopes up if that was the case.
When they finally became their animal forms, they practiced for a full month before showing him. Sirius had the memory of Remus' incredulity and gratitude burned into the deepest depths of his brain. Their first time running together in animal forms was one of his favorite memories to power a patronus. They had felt so free, so close to each other, so happy. Remus had been there for him through his depression when his parents kicked him out, and his brother took their side. He had been there through his first heartbreak. They had been together when James told them Lily was pregnant with Harry. They had so many memories together, and in some way or another, Sirius had thought many times in his life that soulmates didn't have to be romantic. They could just be the one person that truly gets you and accepts you no matter what.
Sirius shook his head. He wrote to Newt Scamander. Somehow, he knew whatever was happening had to do with the wolf in Remus. How? No bloody clue. His dog could literally smell something was different. But what? Was it that the alpha within felt he was being pulled away from the pack? Was it that it felt his submissiveness lay elsewhere now? Was the wolf scared to be second best to Amy? Was it that the wolf felt Sirius would start his own pack and he wouldn't be welcome? That was preposterous. They were family. They loved each other. Scamander had to have an idea of what was happening. Amy was sure it was something else, and now they weren't on speaking terms. He loved Amelia. That much was true. He wanted to marry her, to grow old with her, but after their last conversation, he felt that ship had sailed.
FLASHBACK
"Do you think I'm stupid or deaf?" Amelia said with a sneer.
"Neither, love. What do you-?"
"Sirius, I am only going to say this once. How you decide to act once I do may either end our relationship or prove to me that you have finally changed and are ready for this commitment."
He frowned slightly but nodded.
"I don't want Remus Lupin in our lives."
Sirius' jaw fell. He stammered. He frowned severely. He shook his head. "What?! You can't ask me to cut him off. I can't."
"Can't or won't?" she raised a brow.
"Can't and won't. What the hell, Amy? Remus is my only surviving friend! How can you even think that I could possibly abandon him?"
"Because I am asking you. For the health of our relationship, distance yourself from him."
"Why?!"
She tried the easy route first, "Because he's dangerous! He's a werewolf, and he's unstable!"
"He is not unstable… He is depressed and confused. He has been through a lot."
"He is obviously in love with you or, at the very least, wants to fuck you stupid, and I don't have to put up with that. I refuse. Your whole bromance thing is weird, and it's not funny at all."
"Amelia… Remus and I have been attached at the hip since our third year at Hogwarts, and you have always known this. This isn't a recent development. It is unfair and frankly ridiculous that you expect me not to spend time with him."
"No, what's ridiculous is that you expect me to be a doormat. If Tonks wants to allow you to walk all over her and be your weird sister-wife, that's her issue. I don't know what she has been smoking to tolerate this, but I am too old to play such games, Sirius. I expect my partner to be only mine, not divided in percentages!"
"Fuck. There's so much wrong with what you just said! I am not an object to be owned! Tonks is NOT a doormat, and I don't appreciate your insinuation. You are acting like you just met Remus. You have always known we are a huge part of each other's lives. He has been one of the most important people in my life since I was a kid, and he's not going anywhere. If you don't like that… If you can't accept that… Well, Amelia, I am sorry, but there's the door," Sirius nodded with his head at his bedroom door.
Amelia blanched. She was not expecting this at all, "Excuse me? What the bloody hell did you just say to me?"
Sirius crossed his arms and looked more severe than anyone had ever seen him. Herself included. He took one step forward, "You heard me perfectly well. You knew what you were getting yourself into when you agreed to marry me… Amelia, I love you, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you, but Remus is family, and his presence in my life is non-negotiable. However, I understand if this is also non-negotiable for you. So, if you can't find a way to move past this, I guess we have reached a point of no return in our relationship."
"Are you breaking up with me?" Amelia snapped angrily. Despite her anger, she was truly shocked at Sirius' response.
"No. You are breaking up with me because I won't give up a member of my family," Sirius countered.
"I am not breaking up with you. I am demanding the bare minimum. I need to be your first priority, as you are mine. I will not share that place in your life with anyone," Amelia frowned deeply and tried to keep her face neutral. "Not now, not EVER."
Sirius' face contorted in fury, "Bloody motherfucking hell! Amelia, how old are we? You are NOT my first priority. I came back from the dead for HARRY! He is my first priority! Not you! Not Remus! HARRY!"
Amelia gasped.
"Oh, enough with the selective outrage! Of course, he is my first priority! Harry, who is trying to save us all! Harry, who was robbed of any semblance of a normal life by a power-hungry monster that murdered his parents, who were my family! Harry, who I would die for any day of the week so he can win this never-ending dystopian nightmare and-"
"THAT is the esteem in which you hold me?! What place do I have in your life?! Third? Fourth?"
"For fucks sake! This is not about winning in the ranking of my life! Amelia… please think about this. I am perfectly fine not being your first priority. This is wartime. Your number one is Susan, and mine is Harry. It is what it is, and I don't-"
"Fuck you! I raised Susan since she was a baby. She's my daughter! You met Harry in his teens. Don't you dare compare the two!"
Sirius laughed a cold, dry laugh, "I am not even going to tell you how inappropriate what you just said was."
He stood up and stared at her with something so close to hate that she realized just how paper thin the ice she stood on was.
"I didn't mean it like that, I-"
"Save it. I am a firm believer in the idea that when people show you who they are you should believe them… You can look back on this moment as the one you did something really stupid that cost you our relationship. I only came back to life to help Harry. While Riddle isn't dead, anything else is merely a bonus."
"You will come to regret this, Sirius. Whatever the hell it is that you have going on with Remus, it will never make you happy the way I would. You know that. It won't work long time. I can give you an heir. He can't. Maybe the sex is good, but all of that will fade. He's expecting a baby with his wife, for crying out loud! His wife, who, need I remind you, happens to be your cousin! Do you understand how fucked up that is?"
Sirius rolled his eyes hard, "Merlin's saggy balls, Amelia! Remus and I have NEVER had sex! We snogged once! In sixth year! It was a prank that I tried to pull, and he one-upped me! We have never been intimate! EVER!"
"What else am I supposed to think?! Have you seen the way you act around each other? The looks, the touches, the hugs, the forehead kisses, the hand holding… the way you call him love. There is more than one way to be intimate. The intimacy you share with him… you have never shared it with me, not now and definitely not during our first year together! Have you ever noticed? You call him love with a lot more tenderness than you use with me!"
Sirius opened and closed his mouth several times. "It's a different type of love, Amelia. I am very comfortable with Remus because he and James were the first people ever to give me physical affection… You know full well how my birth family was. With James dead, my family is Remus… Remus, Harry, Hermione, Tonks, and the baby on the way, are my family now. I want you and Susan to be a part of that family too, but not with demands to abandon anyone else. I will not leave Remus behind any more than I would abandon Harry. You can hate it all you want, but it is not going to change. If I asked you to leave Susan behind, you would AK my ass. Try to see this from my perspective."
"I… I have to think. I honestly don't think I can put up with this. Up until today, you had never spoken about him like this. You sound completely devoted to him, and I hate it," Amelia turned to leave.
"Amelia, I don't- Amy! You are exaggerating! Amy? Amy, come on!"
Her response was to slam the door behind her.
END FLASHBACK
Mr. Scamander,
I hope you and your family are safe. I write to you baffled and deeply concerned about a werewolf friend of mine. I think you may be the only person who can understand my worries and not judge me. I was wondering if we could schedule a floo call. Please let me know as soon as you can.
Lord Black
Sirius sent the letter via box. The queen of goblins had given them one box to keep at Potter Castle, one to keep on the island, and one for the Delacours in Bora Bora. Her box was in her chambers and spelled so only she could use it. Anord was willing to be their mail carrier for the rest of the war. They could even send mirrors of galleons through the boxes, but nothing bigger than that. Right after his message went through, the box lit up, and he received a short note.
Lord Black. Diadem secured. We need one of you to come to destroy it.
He hastily scribbled back, What diadem?
Rowena Ravenclaw's long lost diadem. It's a Horcrux too.
His eyes widened, How did you get it?
No time. Bring Godric's sword.
Sirius lifted his left arm. He had made Remus and him a different bracelet just for the two of them. "Remy. I have a mission. Come to the study."
He didn't have to wait much.
"What is going on?" Remus asked after he did the customary wards.
"The queen secured a Horcrux. I need to go to Gringotts and destroy it"
"Which one?"
"Remember we thought he had chosen a relic from each House? We were right. Apparently, the last founder's relic is Ravenclaw's Diadem."
Remus looked pensive, "Why can't the goblins do it?"
"According to her, Harry decided it had to be his people who did it. But just between us… I think the goblins just don't want to deal with that filth."
"Well, write back to her. It has to wait."
"Why? I only asked you here so you can help distract the kids when we are on the island, and I can make a run for it."
"Absolutely not. If you are going, I am going."
"Your leg-"
"Is healed, thanks to Dharma."
"The full moon-"
"I already had my potion."
"Fine. But we have less than 24 hours. We need to get you and Bill to the Full Moon Safe Dungeon."
"I know."
"I am coming too because we need to talk."
"Sirius-"
"We need the sword."
Remus sighed, "Okay, then… As soon as we are able, once we are back on the island, we take the sword and go."
"You need Potter blood to open the safe that holds the sword."
"First of all, let me tell you that I am not proud of this," Sirius grimaced, but he produced an unbreakable vial at the end of a necklace. It was full of blood. "Ruki has this, just in case the pup…"
"Don't finish that sentence," Remus snapped.
"Yeah, well… I took it from her while she slept," Sirius looked a little green at that.
"Fuck. She will kill you," Remus groaned.
"Better her than Riddle," Sirius shrugged.
"Fine. We are doing this, then…"
"If I die trying," Sirius began.
"Don't! You know I should be the one to do it. My wolf protects me from a lot of physical pain."
"Remy," Sirius grabbed his hand. "No. You have a child in the way, and one of us should live for Harry. If I die trying, the sword must get back to the island. I don't care what happens to me. Tell the goblins to unseal my will and burn my body. If this informant Kingsley captured does have a Horcrux like we were told, Harry will need it to kill it."
Remus grimaced, "You can't die. I can't mourn you again."
"It's alright," Sirius smiled lopsidedly. "Wouldn't be the first time, would it?"
Remus choked back a sob and held onto him for dear life. "You can't. You promise me you won't."
Sirius squeezed just as hard, "I promise you I will do my best. Now, let's go."
On the island, the magic locking box containing Hufflepuff's Cup was shaking and screeching. Unbeknownst to them, Riddle had begun a ritual to locate his soul bits, and they were meant to send him a signal. The ancient wards noticed this dark magic and began doing some screeching of their own as they tried to stifle the box. It was only Harry, Hermione, Ruki, and Omari's clan who knew that the box was at the bottom of the lake. That was what Omari's clan was doing to 'earn their keep,' and that was why Murcus' clan wasn't told any specifics. The water began to heat up, and bubbles came out of the box. Omari swam to the surface and touched his bracelet.
"Andromeda! Harry needs to come back now!"
"Who is this?" Andromeda asked, a bit confused as she had just woken up from a nap.
"Omari, at the lake!"
"Why? What's going on?"
"We are keeping something safe for him."
"Yeah?" Andromeda felt dread. Was it a Horcrux? Shit, she thought as she felt a slow earthquake moving the house. "Is that why the island is shaking?"
"Shaking? Probably. It's starting to heat up our water."
Fuck, she thought. "I'll call him… Can you get your people out? To the ocean?"
"Yes, but the box is still going to be in there. I promised to keep it safe and-"
"No! Leave it! Harry wouldn't want you to risk your lives. Get your clan out, do you hear me?"
"Yes, Andromeda. Thank you."
Omari swam as fast as he could. In his native language, he ordered everyone out and toward the beach.
Harry felt his mirror vibrate on the side table. He took it so it wouldn't wake Hermione. Not that it helped because as soon as he gathered his bearings, a high pitch sound blasted in his head, and apparently hers too because Hermione jumped off the bed in one fluid motion, and the Elder Wand flew to her hand. He jumped out of bed too, and bent over in pain. The noise made him feel ill and in danger.
"Yes?"
"Harry, you need to come back right now!"
"What happened?" he asked, grimacing in pain from the screeches.
"Omari says the box you have him protecting is starting to vibrate! It's heating up their water!"
"SHIT! Tell them to get out immediately!"
"I did! Is it a Horcrux? Is that what's in there?"
"Yes. Keep everyone away from the lake! Move to the Safe House in San Juan if necessary! Damn it! I knew we should have gotten boats! We are leaving right now, Andi."
"HURRY! The earth is fucking quaking! I don't think it's safe for us here until you destroy it."
"Shit. Get everyone to San Juan as soon as possible!"
"Will do!" Andromeda lowered her wrist and summoned her emergency bag. She had been working on it for a while. It was a minimized portable infirmary. TED! Get Firenze! We have to evacuate!"
Kingsley cursed as he paced the small living room of the room they had rented. Snape was still out cold. Diagnostic spells showed he had been through a shit ton of pain. But all his body said was that Voldemort was to blame as the Dark Mark was looking more like it was burned with acid than made by ink. He had a fever and kept mumbling unintelligible phrases. They had him in the bathtub with cool water. Potter's people weren't getting back at him. The last message he sent was an ultimatum. Either you take the prisoner and hear him, or I take him to England and throw him in Azkaban, at least until he was broken out by Voldemort's crew of deplorable minions.
A rapt knock made him and his Aurors jump into defensive mode. Wands before them, portkeys at the ready.
"¿Quién está ahí?" asked an Auror in horrible pronunciation. [Who is there?]
"Healer Greengrass."
They opened the door. She whispered an oath to prove her identity and was quickly ushered in.
"I bring word from Lord Potter."
"Finally!" Kingsley stared at her, willing her to continue.
"He will hear your prisoner, but not at Headquarters."
"Whyever not?"
"He doesn't trust anyone these days. Only his immediate circle."
"Is he okay?" Kingsley asked.
"As good as can be for the circumstances… Where is your prisoner? I was asked to check him and make sure he is not a danger to Lord Potter," Healer Greengrass said.
"Follow me."
To say that Healer Greengrass was shocked to see Snape would be the largest understatement of that year. The man was almost see-through. He was shivering violently in a bathrobe. The pulled-up sleeve showed a destroyed Dark Mark with some darkish liquid seeping from the burnt skin. She quickly did several spells to stabilize him and lower his temperature. Then, she focused and sent a patronus to Healer Tonks. Kingsley received a message requesting his immediate return to the DMLE. After a promise from Lady Greengrass, he left with both Aurors. She wasn't keen on this, but to make matters worse, Healer Tonks told her to get Snape to the Safe House Lord Potter had recently acquired in San Juan. They were evacuating the island. All she could ask was that her daughter be brought in as soon as possible. She took out her emergency portkey once she fastened Snape to her body and vanished.
Once they got to the island, one of the elves that remained appeared before them with the latest edition of The Daily Prophet. He was so excited he couldn't speak. He just kept waving the newspaper. Harry knelt in front of him.
"Suti, calm down. Whatever it is, it's okay. Give me the paper," Harry motioned with his hand.
The elf lost what little composure he had at his master's kindness and jumped into his arms. He wasn't sad or scared. He was happy. Harry awkwardly held the elf against him as he stood back up. He handed the paper to Hermione as he couldn't read it without dropping Suti.
"MERLIN!"
"What is it?" Harry maneuvered the young elf to support his weight with one of his arms as is done with toddlers.
"Citizens all over have arrested Death Eaters!" Hermione's smile had her eyes shining brightly.
"I'm sorry. WHAT?"
"YES!" Ruki threw her arms up in joy and hugged the younger elf as soon as he was put down.
"Finally, people are waking up!" Harry smiled.
"I know! Citizens' arrests! The people at The Prophet arrested their editor-in-chief. Remember? Barnabas Cuffe? He collapsed in a meeting, and his arm started to bleed profusely. Apparently, the same happened to many others, and the public has finally had enough!"
"Who else-?"
"We don't have time for that right now!" Hermione pulled him toward Dobby, who was helping direct the younger elves.
"Dobby! How many are still here?" Harry asked.
"25 elves. All the merpeople. The Tonksies and Firenze."
"Were my parents already moved?" Hermione asked
"Yes, Kreacher tooks them. I saw him."
"Good. Keep moving everyone out. Where's Omari?"
"Harry!" Andromeda ran to him. "Kingsley had to go back! The UK needs the Head of the DMLE! Healer Greengrass took the prisoner to the Safe House."
"Oh, bloody hell! Fine. Please get your family out. Did Omari's clan leave the island?" Harry replied.
Andromeda took a deep breath to slow her panting. "Healer Greengrass went to see Kingsley. She sent a patronus to tell me that the prisoner was very sick. Whatever happened to all the Death Eaters has him feverish and delirious. His arm is seeping some gory mess."
"Ugh. Sirius, I need-" Harry turned, and his godfather wasn't there. "Remus?"
"They were coming right after us, right?"
"What? I thought they were staying," Hermione replied.
"No, I saw them apparate with us."
"They is comings," Dobby looked worried. "Then they is leaving…"
"What do you mean they left?" Harry asked Dobby.
"Dobby thinks so," he pointed toward the house. "They is hopings to come back soon."
"What do you mean hoping? You are not sure they left?"
Dobby blushed, "I was helping evacuating, master. I don't know."
Ruki's eyes widened. She palmed her neck and paled. She vanished.
"What the fuck?" Hermione asked. She angrily whispered, "Accio Sirius! Accio Remus!"
They waited a good minute. Nothing happened.
Harry frowned, "They left the island alone?"
Tonks asked, concerned, "Together?"
Bill, who had just come back to move some potion equipment, heard the commotion, "They left for the full moon? We were supposed to go together so Sirius could stay here. For the House Trial that will now be a suicide rescue mission!"
"Oh, fucking hell! Can we contact them?" Harry asked Dobby.
"They has a mirror," Dobby replied, nodding quickly.
"Remus isn't picking up," Tonks turned to face them. She had just tried that.
"Maybe he just can't right now. If they are in transit, it would be too dangerous," Hermione said, feeling Harry's dread as her own.
"In transit to where, though?" Tonks asked, trying not to freak out.
Ruki popped in next to Harry and went down to her knees immediately, "Master Harry! I have failed you!"
"What?" Harry crouched and pulled her up.
Ruki bawled, "Please forgive me!"
"What do you mean?"
"Someone took it from me!"
"Took what?" Harry felt his stomach churn.
"Your blood!" Ruki's tears fell in a cascade down her cheeks
Harry and Hermione blanched. Dobby and Tonks gasped.
Nymphadora took a shaky breath, "What on this island requires your blood to open?"
"The TNT cave… and the safe!" Harry replied.
Harry and Hermione shared a panicked look, "THE SWORD!"
"It's gone, Master! The safe is open and empty!" Ruki looked to be in physical pain from what she considered her failure to protect her master.
"Harry, was there anything else in there?" Tonks asked with a shaky breath.
"No…"
"I WILL KILL THEM!" Tonks threw her arms up.
"What?!"
"It was them! Sirius and Remus took the sword!"
"How?"
"Who else could have sneaked up on Ruki in close enough proximity to take your blood?!" Tonks growled.
"FUCK IT ALL!" Harry exclaimed angrily.
"I will kill that dog!" Ruki exclaimed.
"The only reason to take that is to kill a Horcrux…" Hermione whispered.
"Queen Anord! HELP!" Harry exclaimed into his bracelet. She didn't reply. "BLOODY HELL!"
The earth began to quake again. Harry held onto Hermione. It was as if the island was trying to throw the box out. "Andi, Tonks, get out of here, now!"
"Harry, no-" Tonks began.
Ted ran down with pockets full of minimized stuff. Before his daughter could realize what happened he had whispered a Somnus to her. He draped one of her arms over his neck, and his wife did the same with the other one. They moved to the apparition point and left.
"Omari!" Harry yelled, looking into the ocean. Nothing happened. Check the bracelet.
"Omari," Hermione spoke into a bracelet. "Are you okay? Is the box still on the lake?"
"L-Lord and L-Lady Potter, I am sorry," Omari sounded in pain.
"What happened? Where are you?"
"B-By the reefs. We h-had to rush here. M-Murcus's clan are s-surrounding it. They won't give it up. We were l-leaving the lake and were going to be by the beach. They… They killed two of my guards who decided to stay keeping it safe while you g-got here."
"THEY WHAT?!" Harry enlarged his staff, and Ruki dressed him and Hermione in dragonhide with a snap of her fingers.
"Ruki, help everyone left to get out of here," Hermione said as she enlarged her own staff.
"Master, she's dangerous!" Ruki pleaded. "Let me protect you!"
"No. Go to San Juan!"
"Master!"
"If we are not there in 1 hour, contact Jing and tell him to enact the SNAFU protocol," Harry insisted.
"Harry, please-" Ruki begged.
"GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE, RUKI! That's an order!"
Ruki doubled over, crying, as her core accepted the order, but she vanished to grab two elves and take them away with her. About ten more awaited.
"Dobby, go!"
"Master!" Dobby's eyes were full of tears.
"NOW! Take them with you!"
"I'm coming with you!" Bill exclaimed.
"Absolutely not! I will not be responsible for a fatherless child! LEAVE!"
"Harry! No-!"
"In my authority as Lord Potter, I vanish William Weasley off the island for one hour. He will be sent to the Safe House in San Juan, so mote it be," Harry bellowed.
Bill looked shocked and furious, but he was taken away by magic anyway before he could speak.
Harry and Hermione shared an infuriated look. Murcus and her clan were about to learn that old Black family saying, "You shall not bite the hand that feeds and protects you." They apparated by the waterfall. The water was stained with purple blood.
"MURCUS!"
Murcus' head and eyes protruded to the surface. She laughed evilly and pulled up the corpses of the two guards of the other clan. "Looking for these?"
She shouldn't be able to speak as a human, Hermione thought. This sent a shiver down Harry's spine, Unless-
Hermione looked around and saw a partially undone fiery orange braid caked with blood. "CHARLIE!" she yelled and ran to the rocks by the waterfall.
"I have taken your nasty box," Murcus sneered
"You better hope Charlie is alive, you ungrateful bitch!" Harry roared.
She cackled, "Alive? Yes… The same? Doubtful."
"What did you do to him?!" Hermione yelled. There was a lot of bright red blood, but as she followed the trail, it turned purple. Her eyes landed on a bite on his arm.
"In less than an hour, he will need to be underwater if he wants to keep breathing," Murcus replied with amusement.
Harry scowled and motioned with his staff. The water around Murcus encased her in a ball, and started flying out of the lake. Ever since he saw Dumbledore do this to Voldemort, he had searched many books to learn how to do it. It turned out that elemental magic was more about feelings than skill. He was so angry that he didn't even have to hold the spell.
Hermione, take Charlie and go.
She yelled angrily in his mind, No way!
Don't make me banish you because I will. I don't want you to see what is coming, Harry warned.
Harry, we are in this together!
Yes, love. Your magic will power me through it, but you must leave the island. I can't risk you! He pressed, Charlie needs help, love. We can't have Molly lose anyone else.
If you die doing this, I will find a way to bring you back so I can kill you!
I am counting on it. GO!
Hermione looked into his eyes as he held the ball of water surrounding Murcus rotating so that she couldn't escape. They mouthed 'I love you,' and Hermione vanished with Charlie.
Harry moved the ball and violently brought it down on the rocks, severely injuring Murcus, who was in so much pain she couldn't even speak. Harry felt ancient magic push around him, fueling his anger. Murcus had betrayed the island too.
"I opened this safe haven to you and your clan! I have put up with your ridiculous demands! We have helped you heal! We have fed you! We have kept you alive for weeks, and THIS is how you repay us! You better start talking!" Harry yelled. Murcus tried to drag herself to the water, but Harry wouldn't let her. He did a sticking charm to keep her in place, "No! I will make this lake boil with all your people in it! TRY ME, BITCH!"
"If you d-do that, you will n-never find the box. You can k-kill me if you'd like. The result is the same. You will n-never find the box," Murcus bared her teeth threateningly.
"You have no idea what's in that box! If you don't return it we will lose the war!"
"I don't care! All I need to know is how badly you want it! I want you to sign over the rights to this lake to my clan!"
Harry felt his very blood run cold, "You killed two members of Omari's clan and attacked Charlie over this?!"
"I c-can keep going, kid," Murcus sneered through her pain. The island wards were making it so that her natural self-healing mechanisms wouldn't work. She threw murky water at him to block his sight of her. With her injured tail and hatred-fueled adrenaline, she threw Harry a few feet away toward the trees. He shook his head and blinked harshly to get the murky, irritating water out of his eyes. Murcus summoned a spear and threw it at his chest before he could react, but out of nowhere, Firenze jumped in front of him, stretching his body to protect Harry. The spear went through Firenze's side, and he fell with a thud and a grunt.
"FIRENZE, NO!" Harry jumped toward Murcus. She seemed to be frozen. Tendrils of magic came up from the rocks beneath her and kept her in place. Harry began choking her with his staff, "You will not hurt anyone else!"
"LET ME GO!"
"NO!" Wandlessly, he augmented his voice. "I am speaking to Murcus' clan! I know you can hear me! If one of you doesn't tell me the location of the box that was in this lake, I swear on Magic I will boil the water in this lake until there's nothing but steam and dry sand!" Harry roared. "Murcus broke her agreement with me. She and anyone helping her are in breach of it, and I will use all resources available to me to make you pay handsomely for this! If you have been forced to do this... If she is no longer the leader you want, I will spare you," Harry grunted as Murcus violently fought against his hold. "You have 10 seconds to bring the box to the surface!"
"They will never turn their backs on me!"
Lots of bubbles broke through, and Harry realized they were probably arguing. "TEN!" he began counting.
Murcus twisted in his hold and tried to bite him. Without thinking, he summoned a rock and forced it into her mouth wandlessly. She didn't see it coming, so she bit harshly and shattered her fangs. Blood started to drip from her mouth, and she coughed. "I can do this all day too, bitch. That was for Charlie and the guards!"
The water moved in the lake as harsh swimming was happening below the surface. "NINE!" Harry bellowed.
Murcus spat out her fangs and began crying with desperation. Harry assumed she was crying in pain and tightened his hold, but she didn't seem to be fighting anymore. Harry didn't know destroying the fangs of a Chieftainess meant he was the new clan leader. Destroying the fangs was the aim of their fights when one clan leader was getting too old or too weak and threatening the clan's survival.
"EIGHT!"
"L-Lord Potter!" Omari's pained voice reached him from the top of the waterfall.
"Are you okay, Omari?"
"P-Push her head u-underwater and make s-sure they see her mouth!"
"What?! Why?!" Harry looked genuinely puzzled.
"D-Do it!"
Harry felt the island encouraging him to do so too. Hermione was pushing him there too. He grabbed Murcus by the hair and pushed her head underwater. Giant bubbles began emerging, and the merfolk of her clan jumped out of the water, hiding behind rocks. He felt her grow cold.
She's dead, Hermione whispered in his mind.
What? Harry pulled her out of the lake and toward the sand bank. Her eyes were frozen. She wasn't breathing.
The merfolk looked at him with horror as their heads popped out of the water. He realized he probably looked like a monster. This made him grow pale. It was the sort of thing Riddle would do. He shook his head. He had to persist. If they lost this Horcrux, chances were Riddle would make another before they could get to him. "SEVEN!"
Some of the younger merpeople whimpered in fear.
Tell them it's payback. You are within your rights, Hermione reasoned.
"Where's the box?!" Harry asked. No one answered. "SIX!"
Omari motioned for Harry to bring him down. He levitated the merman to the largest rock. Once he was closer, Harry saw the horrible injuries Omari had sustained, "Your leader is dead. Long live Lord Potter, Lord of the Most Ancient and Most Noble House of Potter and Chief of your clan by conquest!"
The merfolk waved their tails and threw water at him, drenching him from head to toe.
They are paying you their respect, Hermione explained. Charlie was whispering things to her from the bathtub in the safe house as she asked him questions from what she could see with Harry's eyes.
Harry wouldn't have been so torn if the water wasn't bloodied. He forced his face not to grimace. He wanted no part of leading such a problematic clan, "FIVE! I took you out of Hogwarts as a thank-you for your help. I did right by Murcus, and I did right by you. Murcus betrayed me. She agreed to live here temporarily while the war ended. She knew that I hold my people and my creatures as a part of my family, and any attack on them is an attack on me personally. FOUR! She took the box and tried to use it as leverage to force Omari and his clan out of this lake that has been theirs for hundreds of years. She had two members of his clan killed, and even Omari himself is very injured. We will get you healed as soon as we can," Harry nodded at Omari. "She attacked Charlie Weasley, who only tried to help you all be comfortable here! I have come to your clan with friendship, and I was stabbed in the back by your leader. I don't want to hurt any of you. I just want the bloody box…"
Many of the merpeople were shaking in fear. Harry could tell most didn't know anything about the box.
"THREE!"
Two older mermen came up, pulling the box with chains. They looked at him, terrified and apologetic. "Box," they said with difficulty.
Harry levitated the box out and did some spell work to check it still contained the cup. It did. He could no longer feel the Horcruxes near him.
"All of you are to return to the pool built for you immediately, pending my decision on what to do with you. If I so much as suspect one of you has tried to invade Omari's clan's property or undermine him in any way, I will banish all of you. Am I making myself clear?" Harry roared.
Most of the heads popped out from behind the rocks and nodded quickly.
"Omari, what is the best way to dispose of her?" Harry nodded with his head at Murcus.
Omari grimaced. "It is their tradition…"
"Yes?"
"To eat the old leader once a new leader wins," Omari replied with distaste. No clans outside of the UK did that.
Eeew, Hermione was dry heaving. He could feel it through the bond.
Harry's eyes widened when Omari looked pointedly at Murcus. Oh, hell no.
"The new leader must cut off the head of the old leader. Once he bites the corpse, marking her end as Chieftainess, and his beginning as Chief, the merfolk will eat the rest of her," Omari said in an apologetic tone.
Harry, I am so sorry, Hermione said in his bond. You have to do it. Charlie insists that it's necessary.
Is Charlie okay?
He will survive... Firenze?
I don't know yet... I don't want to be their Chief! Harry replied.
I know, love, but you are, Hermione replied. Charlie says you can't use magic to behead her either.
BLOODY MOTHERFUCKING HELL! I am never eating fish again!
Harry tried not to dry heave himself. He could feel all the judgy and daring stares from his new 'clan.' He summoned the blade of one of the guards that brought the box. Wandlessly, he made her corpse levitate in front of him. He looked at Omari to confirm. He motioned for Harry to cut right beneath the jawbone. Harry closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and brought the blade down. Pulling the corpse down, he looked at Omari with a thousand questions in his eyes.
"Worry not. You will not take on her physical appearance. She would have had to bite you while Chieftainess for that."
Harry inhaled deeply and bit the bloodied neck with a grimace. Eeeeeeeeew. She was cold. The blood tasted really weird. Harry felt all sorts of wrong about this. His core seemed to be drawing something from this. He let go as soon as his teeth were deep enough to leave a mark, and Omari nodded.
Omari instructed in a whisper, "Hand her to the guards, and say, There's the loser. Do as your parents did before you."
Harry motioned to the guards, who approached slowly. Facing all the merfolk in the lake he said, as solemnly as he could, without wiping his mouth as he thought that would not be acceptable in these circumstances. He opened his mouth and realized he was speaking mermish, "There's the loser. Do as your parents did before you."
Harry tried not to look terrified as the merfolk, young and old, pounced on Murcus with hatred, biting and ripping off pieces of her flesh. They swam down with the corpse. Once they couldn't see him, he threw up in the roots of a nearby tree.
"What about the head?" Harry looked at it with aversion.
"Usually new clan leaders use the head of the previous leader as decoration on their trident."
"That's so morbid. Can I just turn it to ash?"
Omari nodded. The head became ash very quickly. "You h-handled that better than most humans would, L-Lord Potter."
"Thank you. Now how can we get you and your injured some help," Harry grimaced. His head felt weird. He palmed his neck just to make sure there were no gills. He rushed to Firenze when he heard a soft grunt. He feared the centaur was dead.
"Firenze! You shouldn't have done that!"
"I p-promised Ruki," Firenze replied, grimacing in pain.
"Sir, the box," Omari's eyes widened. The box was levitating of its own accord.
No, you don't! Harry jumped on the box. He thought about the island. Where can I keep this until the sword is back?
The TNT cave, love. Empty it out first, though.
Yes! Thank you.
Harry focused and lifted the vanishing. He spoke into his bracelet. He just knew Bill was wearing himself out trying to return, "Bill, come back. The island is safe. Firenze, Omari, and his clan need help," he spoke into the bracelet. Turning to Firenze, he did a pain-relieving spell and promised, "I'll be right back."
At Gringotts, there was a vicious fight taking place. Giants had ripped off the main doors, and it was carnage inside. Blood was dripping from the ceiling, the walls, and the furniture. Corpses and severed limbs littered the floors. Remus and Sirius were crouching under James' Invisibility cloak and strong notice-me-nots. They saw an opportunity and ran among the clangs of armor and weapons and the swooshes of spells and their resulting explosions. They made it to the other side of the clerks' area and ran through a narrow passage barely missing injured goblins.
"Anord!" Sirius whisper shouted once they reached her chamber, where she was exchanging weapons.
The injured queen reached back into her armor and, with her dragonhide glove unclipped and handed him the diadem. "GO! They know this is here! Bring back up! If they kill me, my Nation won't recover!"
Anord placed larger swords in a cross pattern and turned to go back into battle. A silver dagger was coming toward them. Remus' wolf instincts kicked in, and he jumped to cover her, but in his current tired and potioned state for the full moon, the dagger went through his defensive spell and stabbed his side. He fell, and his body curled up.
"NOOOOOO!" Sirius yelled as he killed two death eaters in one rageful move of his wand. Three spells narrowly missed him.
"I'm sorry, but I have to go!" the queen ran toward the battle after handing him a portkey and a shield. "This will take you to Potter Castle. It can bring back and forth blocks of twenty people. Good luck!"
Sirius rushed to gather Remus in his arms. "You arsehole! Why did you do that?" Sirius made sure Remus' hand went around the spear portkey and wrapped his own hand around it, covering them both with the shield. Remus was seizing, but Sirius knew he couldn't just pull out the knife. He made sure he had the cloak in his pocket, activated the portkey, and they were gone.
Harry locked the box within the cave. He added additional layers of wards and spells. Ruki popped in next to him and did elven magic on top of his.
"Ruki, I'm so sorry for yelling at you," Harry blushed and looked down.
"You can't do that again, Master," she was very upset.
"Ruki-"
"Failing to protect your parents almost killed me the last time. I will not have you preventing me from helping you. I am on this Earth to take care of you. You are my mission. Promise me you won't force me to leave you ever again," Ruki was close to tears.
Harry took in her expression, and it hurt him, "I promise."
"Good. People are coming back from San Juan," Ruki informed him. "Sirius and Remus better come back soon. That box reeks of evil, and I don't think we can control it for long, even with the added protection. It senses danger. At least the island stopped screeching. I will have a couple of elves move the dynamite to the greenhouse."
Sirius landed in the castle with the diadem and an unconscious Remus in his arms, the sword of Gryffindor strapped to Remus' back. The wards of the castle began screeching.
"HELP!" Sirius yelled. Ten elves popped into the yard and took a still-seizing Remus from him. "Silver! The blade is silver!"
The elves shared a terrified look and vanished. Sirius fell to his knees and begged magic to spare Remus. He couldn't stop the tears that fell all the way to the carpet. He was holding the diadem so harshly that it was about to draw blood
"Sirius!" Amelia ran to him. He had blood and soot all over him, but she didn't care. She hugged him tightly, "What happened? Are you okay?"
"Harry! I need Harry!" Sirius said. "Call him!"
"What? Sirius, wait! Are you hurt? Where are you going?" Amelia called after him.
Susan had rushed after her aunt and crashed into Sirius. "Remus was stabbed! The blade is silver! He can die. I have to be there for him. It's all my fault!"
Susan, who had no skin in this, grabbed his forearms, "Sirius, stop! Look at me! Let us help you. What do you need?"
"Harry! Harry and Dora... in case he... Oh fuck... He can't d-die! Susy, Get Jing! Anord needs as much backup as we can spare. Gringotts is under attack! This is a portkey back and forth for 20... I c-can't go back there... I-I have to be with h-him!" Sirius shook her hold off him and ran to the Infirmary.
Susan looked at the portkey he handed her, "Auntie?"
Amelia stood frozen. It made her feel like the lowest being on earth, but a part of her would be relieved if Remus died. This made her feel physically ill. Tonks' face flashed by in her eyes, and she hated herself for even thinking that.
"AUNTIE!"
"What?"
"Harry is not picking up!"
"He has to feel the wards. It may take a while because it's far away, but-"
"Auntie, if the knife is silver, Remus doesn't have time for that!"
"Dharma!" Amelia yelled, half-expecting no response.
A burst of flames to her left and the Phoenix appeared, alarmed at the wards' screeches. "What is happening?"
"Harry and Tonks need to get here NOW!"
The bird didn't wait for an explanation. It just flamed back up and vanished.
"I'll get Lord Chang!"
"This is an all-hands-on-deck situation!" Jing exclaimed, holding hands with Daiyu. "If you are sufficiently healed, grab your weapons and follow me!"
Longwei took his shield and grabbed his sister's hand, "Stay."
"What? Why?"
"They are bringing Tonks, and traveling so far into her pregnancy may precipitate delivery."
"So? There are healing elves here."
"She will need female support, Chyou, please," Longwei begged.
"Fine. You all better come back to me."
"We will do our best," Longwei kissed her forehead.
"First block of 20, hold on to the portkey! Everyone else, be ready to leave!" Daiyu exclaimed.
"What do you mean we are going back?" Ginny asked the twins as she added more water to the bathtub.
Charlie's body had begun to change. His fingers and toes were webbed, and he had gills on his neck.
"Harry took care of it. We are the last ones still here."
"We can't go with him like this!"
Charlie lifted his head from the water where he was in an awkward position to stay below. "Leave me here. You can come back later. I'll be fine."
"Hell no, fishy! You are coming with us,"
"Messers Weasley, your mother is freaking out about you! Why are you still here?" Minerva asked with a frown. "Oh!" she exclaimed, noticing Charlie, who waved at her with his new tail.
"We can't apparate with the bathtub, Headmistress McGonagall."
Minerva looked pensive. "Inverted bubble head charm."
"What? That's a thing?" the twins looked at her like she lost her marbles.
"Yes. It's the closest we have to a muggle torture method called waterboarding. Out of my way!" McGonagall pointed her wand at Charlie, and a bubble formed around his head and neck, except it was full of water. "I trust you can carry him," she looked at the flabbergasted twins, who nodded. McGonagall was scary. How the hell did she know that? She snapped her fingers, "Come on then! Quickly! Ms. Weasley, hurry up!"
Dharma appeared on the island and flew to Harry. Her core pointed her in the right direction. He had yet to feel the wards of Potter Castle beg him to come home. Hermione was with him. Little by little, everyone who had been on the island before the box incident was being returned. Hermione noticed her and called Harry's attention.
"Sirius needs you and Tonks in Potter Castle immediately!"
"What happened?"
"He brought something to the castle that has the wards-"
Harry and Hermione grabbed their heads as the screechy wave hit them. "Can you take us now?"
"Yes."
"Can Tonks travel?"
"Yes, but her traveling may induce delivery."
Ruki popped in with a green-looking Tonks. Even elf side-apparition would make a pregnant woman so close to delivery feel horrible.
"What happened?"
"We are being summoned to the castle."
"I knew he was hurt! Let's go! Right now!"
Harry looked torn. He wanted to go to Remus and his godfather, but a Death Eater was to arrive with Lady Greengrass, and he didn't need Hermione to deal with that filth alone.
Hermione grabbed Harry and gave him a quick peck to stop his mind, "Harry! Go! I can handle this one, love! GO!"
"I'll be back as soon as I can! Tonks, how can I help you?" Harry asked, looking at her belly with concern.
Tonks still looked sick, "Hold me from behind. Knit your fingers together and lift my belly weight."
Harry nodded and did just that. He really hoped that helped during the landing. Dharma's talons held onto his and Tonks's shoulders, and they were gone.
Chyou and Susan were waiting, ready to sit Tonks in a wheelchair and run to the Infirmary. With a burst of flames, they appeared. Tonks was pale and grimaced, even when Harry's hold supported her belly and most of her body weight. They helped her to sit, and Harry ran, pushing the chair to the Infirmary, the girls after him. It was a gory mess. Remus looked translucent. The elves were doing their best to remove all the silver in the wound, but Remus was bleeding profusely, and the blade had melted into his flesh and blood. He had stopped seizing, but it looked as if he wasn't breathing. Harry and the girls pulled Tonks up toward her husband. The girls took one arm each, and Harry went back to holding up her belly.
Sirius was staring unblinkingly, rivers of tears down his face. He was staring at Remus' face so intently that he didn't notice Tonks. The Auror removed her arms from the girls' hold and punched Sirius with closed fists on his back.
"YOU MOTHERFUCKER! YOU PROMISED ME YOU WOULD ALWAYS TAKE CARE OF HIM!" Tonks roared.
Sirius turned to her "I'm s-sorry! I'm s-so sorry! I couldn't- I"
Tonks slapped him with slightly curved fingers. Her nails left four thin lines on his cheek, "If he dies, I will never forgive you for this! This is all your fault! You and your stupid Gryffindor ways running headfirst into hell without support!"
"D.. Do... Dora," Remus strained. "It's m-my fault. I w-was trying to s-save Anord..." he trailed off as he began seizing again.
"Someone do something!" Tonks exclaimed. The elves looked helpless, but they never stopped their attempts.
Dharma flew toward them, "Harry?"
She landed on his shoulder. "I was hoping this life would be longer."
"I-I... What?!" he asked, confused in all the madness.
"Bleed me out and pour the blood into his mouth," Dharma explained.
"You would die!"
"I know. But I may come back. He will not. I am not saying this will save him, but I think it's his best shot."
"Dharma, I-" Harry's eyes swam with tears.
"I know, Harry. Me too. There's no time. Under the golden feather in the center of my neck, you will find a tear reservoir. Use them all. First, the blood down his throat, then the tears on his wound. The elves should keep doing what they are doing while one of you adds drop after drop," Dharma stared deeply into Harry. She had no idea if she would come back. Phoenixes returned when their lives exhausted naturally, not forcefully.
Harry nodded, and Chyou and Susan jumped in to take his place holding Tonks's belly. The baby's kicks were very strong. They pilled her away so Harry could approach Remus.
Sirius handed him a blade, and Harry cut right over the feather. He felt his very core rebel at this. He dug his fingers inside the cut and pulled out what he just knew was the tear reservoir. He pulled it out, feeling like a monster. Dharma's song started to sound. Offer my blood to Remus. His wolf knows what to do, she pushed.
Harry held Dharma like a baby and put her near Remus' mouth. His nose detected blood, and he sat up violently, his fangs on display, biting into Dharma's neck and sucking her blood with an unquenchable thirst. Dharma closed her eyes resignedly and sighed. Sirius and the elves pushed Remus down to the bed. He didn't resist. Every ounce of energy he had left was focused on making the most of this magical sustenance he was getting. Harry summoned a dropper and began applying the phoenix tears to the bloodied wound. The wound began to close, and bits of partially melted silver was bled out. The bleeding stopped, and the organs, muscles, and skin affected knitted back together as best as they could. There would be a ghastly scar, but maybe, just maybe, Remus would live to tell the tale. Remus drained Dharma and fell unconscious.
Harry took a deep breath and turned as an ear-piercing scream from Tonks shattered the tense silence. She doubled over in pain, and bloodied water began trickling down her legs. "Chyou! We need Andromeda here!"
Tonks growled in pain, "S-She won't make it in time!"
Harry began to freak out. We need a fucking midwife! he thought.
She's on her way, Harry! Hermione thought back.
"It's okay, Harry. We can handle this. Go get Mrs. Xu and the army nurse!" Chyou told him as they levitated Tonks to the bed next to Remus. Half the elves that had been attending to Remus snapped their fingers, and all their dirty uniforms were changed for pristine ensembles. The bloodied bandages and potion flasks vanished. They moved to help Tonks.
A pop made him jump. Ruki appeared by Harry carrying a hospital bag and a case of medical supplies. "I will do my best to help Dora deliver as I did your mother," she nodded at Harry.
"Thank you, Ruki," Harry had no idea how she got there so quickly, but he ran, yelling for Mrs. Xu and the nurse.
She jumped on the bed by Dora's head. "Your mother will be here soon, dear."
Tonks didn't reply as another contraction hit her, and she yelled in agony. She couldn't call for Remus, but her hand was gripping his hand with enough force to break his phalanges. "SIRIUS!"
Sirius ran to her, "Anything, Dora!"
"Y-You will sit... Bloody motherfucking hell! IT HURTS! Sit behind me and... FUCK! You will help me push this baby out!" Dora growled at him.
Ruki disappeared his bloodied clothes, exchanging them for a medical gown. He climbed behind her as the elves placed her legs in stirrups and held her free hand, grimacing in pain at her death grip.
"Mrs. Lupin," Ruki nodded. "I know this isn't how you wanted this to happen, but it is what it is. You are young and strong, and you can do this."
Tonks nodded, although she was still terrified. "I want my mum!"
"I know, love. She's coming, but babies wait for no one. You are a goddess, Dora! I am right here! So is Remus! We can do this!" Sirius said all this very convincingly for someone scared shitless.
"Dora, I need you to take a deep breath and give me a strong push. Hold it as long as you can. Try not to scream, as that reduces the energy your body uses to push."
"Easy for you to say! A watermelon isn't about to rip you apart!" Tonks groaned.
"I have disinfected the area and applied as much numbing as I can apply without affecting the baby. Now, inhale," Ruki motioned.
Tonks inhaled deeply but shakily. Her hold on both Sirius and Remus got tighter than it already was.
"PUSH!"
A/N: Thank you for reading and for your patience! I hope you are safe and healthy wherever you are. We are nearing the final stretch of this story. Thank you for following it for so long. -Lux-