A/N: This one took a while to edit, and the earliest 'midterms' I've ever heard of didn't help. A lot happens here, and you may have questions, but I believe most issues will be answered in the next two chapters relatively well. Feel free to ask them anyway, as I can only read these chapters from my own perspective, and most of you are smarter than me. Thanks again for all the support!
Chapter 39
Bill's shield allowed his team to keep their feet, though the explosions hitting the platform made the area rock like a ship at sea. Harry's eyes darted around to find the attackers as his magical senses were completely overloaded, and he eventually located the source of the spells.
"MOODY! Ten o'clock, behind the train!"
Harry heard the General barking orders to the troops, and the Polish unit quickly moved to engage the enemy as they were closest.
"Robards! Tracey Davis' father gave them a signal, take Shacklebolt with you!"
The two men nodded at the order, pushing through the chaos in the direction of the families. Harry couldn't afford to watch the confrontation, as the spells were still flying fast and Bill's shield was taking a beating.
"That's about all I've got, Harry," the man called strenuously.
"Lean towards deflection and shielding," he told his team in response. "With Alpha behind us, dodging could turn disastrous. Drop the shield, Bill."
The dome fizzled out around them, and Harry was the first to send a spell back to its caster as their enemy surged forward. He knew the operation was now all about time, and took a quick glance at the families behind. Those capable of apparition were already gone, though the muggle families were still struggling to find the exit amidst the chaos.
He noticed the Greengrass' and Neville guarding those families' backs warily, and silently wished the group would apparate out. He forced his attention back to the task at hand a split second later, just as a second group of Death Eaters appeared at the opposite side of the train.
Moody was quick to adapt, pushing the Italian force towards the newcomers within seconds. Harry's team quickly found themselves in a bit of a lull, the two units on either side pushing the attackers back competently.
"Should we help the Italians?" Sirius asked, his eyes burning with anger.
"I don't think so," Harry answered with a grimace. "Their staggered entrance means we may not be finished with the surprises. Best to maintain dispersion..."
"It looks like most of the families are clear," Bill offered, still trying to catch his breath.
"Good. Moody has the recall spell for the portkeys, we may get out of…"
Harry was interrupted by another influx of magical presences, one of whom apparated directly behind him. He immediately spun, pushing the masked man's wand away with his offhand. An overpowered blasting curse turned the attacker to nothing, though two behind quickly fired in response.
He deflected the first curse back to its sender, the man crumpling to the ground in agony, and caught the second on his offhand. The action forced the Death Eater to hesitate in surprise, a moment that cost him his life. Harry spun back to his team when the man fell, seeing them working together to fight off a much larger force.
He added his own wand to the mix, quickly killing two before the enemy realized he was still a threat. Charlie caught another with a cutting curse to the neck and blood was strewn far and wide, turning their immediate area into a slippery mess. An area blasting curse from Sirius incapacitated three more of the attackers, and a second from Remus forced the group to disapparate out of danger.
"Fuck!" Bill hissed in frustration. "They must have eyes on us from somewhere to apparate in that close."
Harry cast a stream of tightly controlled fire towards a band of Death Eaters attacking Alpha, wincing as screams of pain filled the air. He saw Albus and Moody fighting their own group ferociously, and immediately moved to flank the dozen or so Death Eaters being fought to a standstill. He felt his team following, and led off with a well-aimed piercing curse. Two attackers fell immediately, and Sirius repeated the spell, catching three more.
"Thank you, boys," Albus offered calmly as the few remaining attackers disappeared.
"Our pleasure," Harry answered, wishing he could hide his anxiety as well as the older wizard. "Moody, keep an eye on the exit. Activate the porkeys as soon as…"
"HARRY!"
The scream pierced the chaos like butter, and Harry's heart dropped to his feet at the sound. He'd recognize Daphne's voice underwater and the desperation in her tone nearly broke him. He glanced at Albus in question, finding eyes filled with sudden concern staring back.
"Go!"
Harry didn't wait for a second word, apparating directly behind his girlfriend. Daniel and Neville stood next to her, and all three quickly turned, devastation written on their blood-soaked faces. Their number was worryingly short, and Harry's heart froze at the instant realization.
"Where are they?" he hissed dangerously, his anger fueling his magic to an uncomfortable level.
"Gone," Daniel answered, his voice both furious and heartbroken. "Four apparated right next to us, the two on the ground reaching for me and Daph. The other two portkeyed out with Emily and Astoria before we could even turn."
"Go home."
"Harry…" Daphne began, tears streaming from her eyes.
"You've done all you can for right now, Daph. Go home. I'll be there shortly, and I'll get them back soon after. I promise."
"How?" Daniel's tone showed his confusion, though his eyes held a glimmer of hope.
"However I have to. Now go, we're almost done here."
Daniel grabbed his daughter and Neville's hands, and the three disappeared without another word.
The fighting had slowed in the few seconds he'd taken with the group, and Alpha was reforming in order to exfiltrate easily. The Polish and Italian Companies were also reforming, though they held a defensive posture in case the Death Eaters moved forward once more. He rushed back to his team who were thankfully waiting for him peacefully, and cast a glance at Mad-Eye.
The man was scanning the platform with his fake eye, while the real one was trained on the few remaining families attempting to exit the platform. For all that had taken place, the fight had lasted two minutes at best, though the blood spilled on both sides made that number seem like a lie.
"Moody!" he called sharply, his heart feeling like a heavy stone in his chest.
"Thirty seconds!" the man called back, answering the unasked question.
He continued his pace towards his team, and as he neared, Remus turned with concern in his eyes.
"Are they…"
His words were cut off with a surprised gasp, and Harry's eyes widened in confusion. The man staggered forward slightly, and shot him a ghost of a wink before twirling powerfully. He fired a massive blasting curse, though Harry still couldn't see his target.
He could see, however, the knife stuck in his friend's shoulder blade. A body fell in front of Remus, and Harry recognized a mangled Fenrir Greyback from his pictures in the media. He moved to congratulate his friend, but Remus fell to his face before he managed three steps forward.
Harry quickened his pace, gently moving Remus to his side so he could check on him. A knife to the shoulder shouldn't be much of a danger to the werewolf, but his reaction contradicted that knowledge. The man's face was tight with pain, his eyes closed firmly.
"Moony," Harry whispered, his already stone heart hardening further. "What's the problem?"
"Silver…" the man whispered in agony before slipping into unconsciousness.
"MEDIC!"
Sirius' call was quickly answered, with Isaac Brunson arriving within seconds.
"What happened?" the Healer asked immediately.
"Stabbed with a silver knife," Harry answered, his tone devoid of all emotion.
He seemed to be empty of it. There was no sadness, no sense of loss or anxiety. He was empty, and the wand in his hand seemed happy to provide something to fill that vacuum.
"MOODY! Recall now!"
He ripped his own portkey from his belt as he declared the order, and breathed a sigh devoid of relief as his people disappeared around him. A backwards glance showed the last of the students finally reaching the exit, a welcome sight that was too long in coming.
He dug into himself to try and find a way forward through this experience, a plan for his current predicament and what comes after, but his brain wasn't working properly. He felt nothing. And the Elder Wand demanded to fill that void.
He saw the remaining attackers peeking out at him from behind the train, the front whispering towards those at their back. In response, he didn't move an inch.
He couldn't.
The loss of Emily, Astoria, Remus, and who knows how many others had robbed him of the ability to think, and he decided to trust the Wand instead.
The Wand wanted quiet, and Harry was happy to give it. The Death Eaters on the left finally stepped around the tail of the train, forty-ish wands all trained on his head. The group at the front was larger, though their posture was the same.
Harry closed his eyes at the sight of them, feigning surrender. He felt the groups converging slowly, and his magic seemed to rise with every step they took.
His skin itched. His fingers felt pins and needles where they held the wand, though his heart and mind were completely numb. He'd never felt this way before, and he wasn't quite sure how to react to it. The Wand, however, knew exactly what to do.
Just as the last of the Death Eaters stepped around their cover, Harry raged to his feet. He thrust the Wand in the air, and without missing a beat, pushed every bit of his magic into the instrument.
Instead of feeling spent, however, the magic kept pouring out. The world exploded around him once more, and he cast the strongest shield he'd ever managed to protect himself from the destruction.
He watched dispassionately as at least a hundred Death Eaters died miserably, most being blown meters into the air, yet still felt nothing as the world finally settled.
The nothing continued as the spell ended, though he knew he'd regret the Express' destruction eventually. He slowly sank to the ground, at a loss as to what else to do, and calmly crossed his legs. He recalled the Wand into his new holster, and wiped a thick layer of other people's blood from his forehead before closing his eyes.
"Harry…" the expected voice was hesitant and sounded distant, though it came from only a few feet away.
He took his time opening his eyes, knowing when he did he'd need to somehow perform the impossible. His vision was tinted red, and he removed his glasses calmly, cleaning them with a spell. As he placed them back on his face Neville came into view, Dobby standing anxiously next to him.
"Harry," the teen repeated more confidently. "The Manor is in a state since you didn't return. I found Dobby and he jumped at the chance to check on you… Seems like we're done here, yeah?"
Harry breathed deeply in response, his two friends' loyalty somehow not warming him at all. He stood, an action as efficient as it was furious, and attempted a small smile.
"We're done here," he said, his voice sounding hollow even to himself. "But not for the day..."
"Count me in," Neville offered stubbornly.
"Me's too," Dobby added with a firm nod.
"It won't be easy."
"Doesn't have to be, mate. They took Astoria... I'll rip them apart with my bare hands."
The anguish in his friend's voice finally offered his brain an emotion to latch on to, and Harry grasped it with both hands. It seemed to force the cloud in his mind away a bit, and he struggled to the surface as much as possible.
"I'll help you do it, Nev."
—
The trio popped into the den of the Manor amid chaos, though silence quickly fell as they were noticed. Arthur and Daniel moved towards him worriedly, though Daphne beat them by a wide margin. Harry caught her as she leapt into his arms, her tears mixing with the blood on his shirt within seconds.
He felt a hand grasp his shoulder firmly, and looked up to meet Daniel's heartbroken gaze. Daphne pulled back after a long moment, and Harry led her gently towards a couch. The pair collapsed onto it, his girlfriend snuggling into her spot, but he still couldn't find any emotional availability.
He felt off, in a way he'd never experienced before. His bones felt like they were moving inside his body, and the urge to draw the Wand again was almost insurmountable. Despite the massive amount of magic he'd just expended, he felt like he could run a marathon maintaining a Patronus, and he wasn't even able to feel confusion at the fact.
His eyes searched the room, hoping to find Albus who may have answers, but the man was absent. Arthur, Molly, Ron, Ginny, and the Grangers were all present, and he watched as McGonagall entered, but his other friends and mentors were nowhere to be seen.
"Sirius is at the hospital with Remus," Arthur answered, clearly guessing his unasked question. "And Albus is at the Command Center."
"Any word on Remus?"
"Not yet," the man answered, his eyes showing confusion at Harry's flat tone.
He simply nodded in response, knowing the injured man deserved a better reaction, but having nothing else to give. He scooted over a bit as Daniel moved to sit next to his daughter, the girl immediately turning to hug her father for all she was worth. The pair's misery was almost tangible, yet it also held no power over him.
"The initial list of casualties is thankfully low," Arthur continued awkwardly. "Four dead, thirty-six injured. Of the injured, eleven are critical."
Harry nodded once more, not even capable of feeling guilt for his lack of emotion.
"Harry, I think you should…"
He cut the man off with a sharp look, standing abruptly and moving to the cabinet that held the Manor's stock of every day potions. He downed a Pepper Up without pause, though the typical steam failed to appear. He gulped down another, and tossed one to Neville who easily caught and downed it.
"Harry," Molly began gently, though she too quieted at his glare.
"Mr. Potter," McGonagall added firmly, refusing to quail as the glare targeted her. "I can't imagine what you're feeling, but you need to use your words right now."
"Neville and I are going to get Emily and Astoria," he answered simply, moving to the far corner to grab the Cloak from his earlier delivered luggage.
The silence behind him was thick with tension and disbelief, and he took a deep breath before turning as he didn't want to mistreat the people in this room.
"Do you know where they are?" Ron asked hopefully, breaking the silence.
"No."
"Then how will you get them?" Hermione asked worriedly, her hand squeezing Ron's tightly.
Harry thought for a moment on the answer, but quickly realized that wasn't the way to proceed right now. Instinct had led him this far, and he drew the Wand at its demand. The power he felt from the stick helped steady him a bit, and he could feel an answer was close.
Daphne stood from her seat on the couch, the only person in the room besides Neville that didn't seem to fear him in this moment. She approached easily, tears still filling her bright blue eyes, and Harry's heart skipped a beat as he got lost in them.
The sudden emotion he felt in his heart was briefly overwhelming, like a hurricane after a life spent indoors, and his knees sagged a bit in response. Her arms were suddenly around him, steadying him, and he reached up to brush a tear from her cheek. Realization hit him like a truck, and he pushed a lock of hair behind her ear with an appreciative smile.
"I need you, Daph."
"I'll do anything," she whispered breathlessly.
"You'll have to trust me more than you ever have. I'm going to enter your thoughts, and look for memories of your Mum and sister... I can find them if I can feel them."
"How?"
"I have no idea, but I know it's true. Do I have your permission?"
"Of course."
"Harry, wait…"
Daniel's words went unheeded, as Harry sunk into his girlfriend's eyes. He'd briefly covered Legilimency with Dorea in his time on the other side, but the formality of the training wasn't necessary to him right now. He immediately found himself in her mind, though it wasn't the metaphysical 'journey' he expected it to be. Instead, it felt like his mind was absorbing the required memories, and he could feel the influx of love as they did.
The process took the barest of moments, but his mind felt ten pounds heavier when it finished. He had a brief stroke of inspiration, deciding to thank the girl in the best way he knew how, and sent everything he felt for her in return.
The pair broke apart before Daniel could even rise from the couch, though both felt like they'd just gone through a lengthy ordeal. Harry nodded confidently, the smallest grin appearing on his face, while Daphne stared at him in shock.
"What was that?"
"That's what I feel for you every second of the day."
"I want to come."
"Hold your hand out," he countered gently, watching the hand tremble as she followed the request. "You're too emotional right now…"
"But it's my Mum and sister…"
"I know, and I'd be happy to agree if you were more in control. Truly ask yourself if you're prepared to apparate into a Death Eater stronghold… Be brutally honest with yourself, and if the answer is yes then you can come."
Daphne immediately opened her mouth to respond, but Harry cut her off with a look. The girl huffed frustratedly and took a moment to think, though the frustration quickly turned to tears. Harry pulled her into another hug, whispering comfortingly into her ear.
"It's okay. We'll get them back, and you'll be with me the rest of the way."
"You promise?"
"I swear."
"Harry."
He looked up at the interruption and saw Daniel standing close, his hand in the air, completely devoid of tremors. The stubbornness in the man's eyes told him everything else he needed to know, and Harry nodded firmly. He turned to glance at Neville, who's raised hand was also still.
Dobby approached silently, nodding firmly up at him, his large eyes full of determination. The odd group moved to stand next to him, and Harry sent one last confident look to Daphne.
"Harold," she said, interrupting the momentum. "It's love, you idiot. That's what you're feeling, and it's so strong I don't even know how to react..."
"I kinda figured," he countered with a grin, grabbing Daniel and Neville's shoulders and apparating without another word.
—
"Dobby."
The elf appeared immediately and Harry turned to his compatriots, glad for the cover the wooded area provided.
"I'm not sure whose house this is but Emily and Astoria are inside, and the Davis' too, I think."
"It's the Lestrange's," Daniel answered in surprise. "How'd you get us here?"
"It's called apparition. It's when a witch or wizard travels with magic…"
"The wards, Harry. How did we get through the wards?"
"Didn't notice them..."
"You're going in for a check up when we're done here."
"Fine," he breathed, anxious to get started. "But let's focus up. They're underground, but I'm positive I can get us into the room."
"How?" Neville asked in amazement.
"I'm not sure. I took what Daphne felt for them, and now I think I could get to them if they were on the moon. It's not important."
Neville shook his head to clear it, nodding determinedly in response. Daniel and Dobby wore similar expressions, and Harry was suddenly glad the three were here.
"We're apparating into almost assured chaos… Daniel, you and Neville turn right, and I'll go left. All we're doing is clearing the way. Dobby, I'll call for you once it's clear, and you'll pop the two Greengrass' and three Davis' back to the Manor. Think you can manage all of them?"
"Of course," the elf replied firmly.
"Mr. Davis will be unconscious for the journey, and you'll tell whomever greets you he's not to be revived until I return. Got it?"
"Got it."
"Thanks, buddy. You two feel free to dodge if you need to," he continued to Daniel and Neville. "The way my magic feels right now, I could detect a levitation charm in Korea... I'll move, so you do the same."
The pair nodded in response, and Harry pulled two galleons out of his pocket. With the barest of thought the coins were turned into portkeys back to the Manor, a spell he'd only begun practicing but pulled off without a hitch. He handed one to each wizard, and fixed them with a stern look.
"These are charmed to activate on my word... I may be a bit behind, but not by long. Keep them with you."
"But the wards…" Daniel repeated, starting to sound like a broken record.
"They didn't stop me coming in," Harry answered with a shrug. "They won't stop us going out. Ready?"
—
"That foolish boy," McGonagall hissed, though Daphne could see the worry behind her eyes.
"What do we do, Minerva?" Molly asked, her voice warbling with emotion.
"Nothing," Daphne answered confidently, wiping blood from her arms without a care. "We stay here out of the way, and wait for Harry to come back."
"Dear," Molly began gently. "I appreciate your belief in the boy… but you have to know this may not end well..."
"He'll be upset that you doubted him."
"I don't doubt him," she countered confusedly. "I just think he's acting on emotion rather than sense right now."
"He's not. He somehow turned his emotions off, and when he passed what he felt for me, it's like he had to dig it out from the depths of his mind. He's running completely on instinct, and I swear to you, he'll be back before you finish your tea."
"She's right, Mum," Ron added supportively. "He had that look about him."
"He'll need you after this," Arthur interjected, his belief in Harry obvious. "He'll be a mess, Daphne, and you're the only one that will be able to get through to him."
"I know."
—
Remus knew he was back on friendly ground, but that was about the limit of information his senses were allowing. The pain radiating from his shoulder was enough to almost blind him, and he could feel the silver coursing through his bloodstream. He was jostled slightly before coming to a rest, and managed to clear his vision enough to see the austere surroundings of a room at the Village hospital.
"Padfoot…" he managed weakly, the sound too light to even register to his own ears. "Padfoot."
His second attempt was louder, though none around him seemed to understand. Confused murmuring filled the room, and he shook his head in frustration, forcing shooting pain to course through his body.
"Mr. Lupin," an unfamiliar voice soothed. "Try not to move. You're essentially being poisoned right now, and any movement could speed the effect."
"I… I need to speak to Sirius Black."
"No visitors until we figure out what's going on."
Remus opened his mouth to argue, but was saved from it by the door banging open violently. He knew it could only be the man he sought, and grinned slightly at the entrance.
"Mr. Black!" the same voice called indignantly. "We're trying to help your friend, and can't afford your interruption."
"It's Colonel Black, Healer," he heard the man hiss in reply. "I'll speak to Moony while you work on him, and I don't appreciate the attempt to keep me from the room."
"The guards were set as a deterrent to possible attacks," a different voice offered gently, which Remus recognized as Isaac Brunson.
"They'll need to be replaced, as they're suddenly incapacitated. And tell whoever's in charge I'll be coming in here whenever I damn well please."
"I'm sure that message is clear, Sirius. Feel free to sit near his head, but we may ask you to move."
Remus attempted a grin as his best friend's face swam into focus, though Sirius' own attempt was even weaker than his own.
"Making friends everywhere you go," he offered weakly.
"I don't need new friends… I have you and Harry."
"Padfoot…"
"Don't," Sirius interrupted. "Don't use that fucking tone with me, Moony. You're gonna be fine, and me and Harry'll get to make fun of you for getting fucking stabbed."
"Padfoot…"
"No, Moony!"
"Padfoot!"
The effort put into the whisper racked his body with pain, and the healers surrounding him muttered frustratedly. Sirius seemed to take the hint, or felt bad about causing pain, and chose to keep his mouth shut.
"Where's Harry?"
"At the Manor," Sirius answered calmly. "Arthur sent word as soon as he returned."
"He's not going to take my death well."
"He'll have his grandchildren around to help him through it."
"Sirius."
"You're not dying, Moony."
"A silver blade…"
"I don't care! You're not dying from some cowardly attack like that. You're gonna die with me when we're a hundred and twenty, doing something dumb, and that's final."
"Padfoot…"
Remus knew the man was hanging on by the barest of threads, and hoped he'd be able to keep it together for Harry's sake. His heart was broken at the thought of not being there for the pair, and he realized he'd gladly take the pain he was feeling forever if it meant sticking around.
"He'll need you," he continued weakly. "I know how hard this is going to be on you, but you need to keep it together for him."
"I can't," Sirius countered, tears finally falling from his eyes. "I can't do this without you, Moony. I can't be what you've been for us…"
"You don't have to… that's what Daniel and Arthur are for. You just need to be his lifeline for a bit."
"No, god damn it! You're not going anywhere…"
"Sirius," Brunson interrupted. "If you can't keep it together, we're going to have to ask you to leave."
"You'll have to do more than ask, Brunson…"
"My boys…"
Remus recognized his headmaster's tone immediately, and was glad for the help. The older man quickly came into view, conjuring a chair for himself next to Sirius. His expression was miserable, and Remus felt warmed by the older man's obvious love.
"'Lo Albus."
"Hello, Remus. You've looked better, my friend."
"I've felt it," he admitted with a grunt of pain. "Albus, I need you to pass on two messages for me."
"You're not going anywhere!"
"I'm happy to," Albus said calmly, ignoring Sirius' outburst.
"Tell Harry that I couldn't be prouder of him. That I love him more than I thought possible, and I have complete belief in his ability to win this…"
"I will, and I know he loves you too."
"And tell Tonks… tell her I wish I'd said how much I loved her. How happy she made me, and how sorry I am for leaving like this…"
"I will. You've done incredible things, my boy, just like I knew you would all those years ago. You've been one of my greatest victories, Remus, and one of my greatest friends."
"Thank you, Albus. For everything."
"GOD DAMNIT, MOONY! Stop saying goodbye!"
"Padfoot… brother… I'll tell James all about how Harry's changed. And how you've changed to be the best father to him anyone could ask for."
"No…" Sirius countered, the fight leaving his body. "No, Moony. Please don't go…"
Remus tried to respond, but he felt a dark cloud moving over his brain. His mouth no longer answered his commands, and he slipped slowly into some bizarre sort of half-consciousness.
"Moony!" he heard Sirius cry, and wished he could extend a hand.
"Healer Brunson," Albus called emotionally. "What's happening?"
"We're putting his body into a magical stasis," he heard the man answer. "We're slowing his blood flow to the point that he's unable to regain consciousness, though it's not a permanent fix. I'm not sure what else we can do, but this might buy us time to come up with something."
Remus was surprised at the answer, assuming this is what death felt like. He briefly hoped the actual thing was as painless, before an ethereal voice interrupted the gathering.
"Albus," a new voice interrupted… Arthur's Patronus. "Harry's taken Daniel and Neville. He's going for the prisoners..."
—
Harry steadied his friends as their feet slammed to the floor, his two companions splitting away immediately. He felt Neville blast a Death Eater into the far wall, and repeated the action with the one standing in front of him. He caught a second with a cutting curse that split him in half at the waist, and blocked a Killing Curse from his blindside with a levitated chair before setting the caster aflame.
His mind was blank again, the brief respite provided by the trip into Daphne's mind a mere memory. All that mattered was the moment, and he intended to make it a bad one for Tom.
He stalked forward dangerously, peeking in the various cells the room held. He felt Daniel dueling two opponents behind him, though Neville quickly joined to even the odds. The pair was victorious within seconds, and he continued his search for enemies emotionlessly.
"We're clear!" Neville called excitedly, just as he finished checking his own side of the large room.
"Good job."
The four witches were stunned and restrained, though Tracey's father was half-alert and bleeding slowly from a gut wound. Harry couldn't find any sympathy in his heart for the man, but quickly realized his defection was more complicated than he first thought.
"My… girls…" the man said weakly, his eyes flitting around the room blindly.
"They're alive," Harry answered.
"They said… they said that we'd be safe…"
"So did I. You chose the wrong side."
"Harry?" the man asked in realization, his face contorting in fear. "Please… please don't punish my girls. They didn't know what I planned..."
"Why'd you do it?" Daniel asked harshly, obviously sharing in the lack of sympathy.
"They threatened Tracey… with more of what happened at Hogwarts. And they threatened my business… her future…"
"Well your business remains, Stephen, and I'll promise to protect your wife and daughter. Now do us a favor and die for your sins, you asshole."
Harry watched as the man followed the order, the remaining light leaving his eyes with a slightly comforted look. He tried to feel pity for Tracey and her mum, but none for the father that clearly cost his own men their lives.
"Dobby."
Harry pointed at the four women and corpse at the elf's arrival, though an alarm blared at his entrance.
"Take all five if you would, though Mr. Davis is no longer with us."
"Call if you needs me," the elf countered, levitating the group of prisoners close enough to touch all five.
Harry watched as the elf's eyes closed in concentration, and was somehow unsurprised when they reopened.
"I can't pop."
"They must have figured out their elf problem," he breathed in immediate realization among the claxon of the alarm. "Daniel, Neville, grab hold of all of them, I'll activate the portkeys."
"Are you sure they'll work if the wards stop elves?"
"Nothing is stopping me from getting your girls home. Go now."
Harry watched as the three clustered around the five prisoners, and sent Daniel a confident look as they completed the action. His look turned to anger as he felt a hated presence approaching quickly, though he nodded firmly at his friend.
"I'll follow momentarily."
"Harry Potter," Voldemort hissed as he descended the stairs at the far side of the room.
"Home," he whispered in response, feeling a brief loss of magic as his friends disappeared. He turned slowly, a merciful stillness coming over his entire being. "Hello, Tom. I looked for you at the station."
Harry counted at least twenty Death Eaters at the man's back, Bellatrix at their head. The numbers would've frightened him on a normal day, but in this moment, all he felt was a desire to inflict pain.
"I don't like when people take my things," the man countered.
"They were my things first. Though I did take a couple hundred of your men today, if that's what you're referring to."
"And I got your pet werewolf… almost feels like a fair trade…"
Harry's emotional dam broke at the barb, and the anger he felt shook the foundations of the house worryingly. His eyes were glowing bright enough that the reflection from his glasses was distracting, and he ripped them from his face without a thought. He tossed them to the side, not noticing they disintegrated before they landed, or the fact that he still saw clearly.
"He's come to play…" Bellatrix sang excitedly from behind her master. "He thinks he has a chance, my Lord."
"The brave and brainless always do at the end."
Harry responded by raising his offhand, his wand still pointing at the floor. He pooled all the magic he felt coursing through his body, and casually pointed at Bellatrix. The witch smiled disgustingly in response, though the expression turned to shock as a burst of blistering magic left his finger.
Voldemort jerked away from the unfamiliar magic while Bellatrix raised a shield, but the raw magic ignored both, boring a galleon-sized hole into the woman's forehead. She fell without a sound, dead before she hit the floor.
Harry pressed the issue by raising his wand, collapsing the stairway under the other Death Eaters behind. Another wave brough the ceiling down on their heads, with only Voldemort and two others managing to escape unscathed.
"YOU KILLED MY WIFE!" one raged, storming around his Master furiously.
Harry swept a backhand through the air, casually flinging the man into the wall. He hit with such force that his body stuck briefly, eventually dropping into a pool of his own blood.
"You fucking piece of shit!" the other unnamed Death Eater screamed, whom Harry could only guess was the third Lestrange.
"No," Voldemort breathed in response, his eyes glinting furiously as he glared at his opponent. "Go upstairs and prepare the men to dig out your comrades."
"Master! I wa…"
"I said no…" the man hissed angrily. "Do as you're told, or you'll be buried with your brother."
Lestrange glared at the back of his master's head, though he eventually capitulated and moved to the remaining staircase. Harry extended his senses to ensure he wasn't cursed in the back, though his eyes never left those of his nemesis.
"What are we to do, Harry?" Voldemort asked calmly once they were alone. "Two titans, battling for years, countless lesser-folk dying in our conflict… shall we burn the world down around us?"
"I'd rather see it burned than you sat on its throne," he answered neutrally, his wand itching to be used.
"A shame… we'd make a good pair, you know. None could stand against us, and I'd even allow your friends their lives."
"Theirs without the offer..."
"But for how long? One sits dying as we speak, and I have plans in place for others…"
"You had a plan in place for the Greengrass'. How'd that go?"
"Fair point," the man said with a grotesque grin. "Somehow, despite my attempts otherwise, I keep underestimating you. There's something different in you today, though…"
"Lack of mercy."
"No… something more than that. Your magic feels almost… complete," the man countered, his eyes widening in realization. "It's maturing, Harry. A bit earlier than I thought it would, but it's happening as we speak. Maturation because of a traumatic experience can be quite dangerous…"
"I was already dangerous," Harry snapped, feeling the truth in the man's words. "If this makes me more so, I'll welcome it happily."
"Not the type of dangerous I meant, child. It will be dangerous to you, and to those you love," Voldemort argued happily. "My my, you're a ticking time bomb! I'm almost tempted to let you live, just to see the destruction you'll cause."
"Like you let Tracey's father live? How sweet..."
"I can't stand traitors like my potions master. Davis merely reached the end of his usefulness..."
"I'll make sure your own death is as painful," Harry promised firmly.
"Such confidence. I understand what the magic coursing through you must make you feel, but don't overreach."
Harry jerked backwards as chains flew out of the floor, reaching for his ankles. The man hadn't so much as gestured, but the metal snaked towards him still.
"You're quick," Voldemort congratulated, raising his wand. "But your death won't be."
A huge purple spell shot from his wand, rocketing towards Harry's chest with blinding speed. He allowed instinct to take over once more, raising the Elder Wand while conjuring a stone wall with his off hand. The curse shattered the wall, but he caught the debris with his wand, sending it hurtling towards his foe and obliterating the chains simultaneously.
The Dark Lord turned the stone to ash with a careless gesture, returning fire with the three fastest Killing Curse's imaginable. Harry sidestepped the first, ducked under the second, and fired a blasting curse while spinning around the third.
Voldemort deflected the curse, though he wasn't ready for the second that immediately followed. The monster flung himself to the ground in desperation, the curse barely passing over his body. Harry didn't allow the moment to slip away, however, firing a constant barrage in the man's direction.
Most of his spells were fired at the man as he moved, though every third was aimed at the location the first two would force him. Voldemort blocked, deflected, and dodged with ease, though he quickly grew overwhelmed by the sheer number of spells. He was caught by a cutting curse after a few seconds of struggle, the spell grazing his left forearm, drawing blood immediately.
The man disappeared as the spell connected, and Harry raised his senses warily. His magic, maturing or otherwise, was more attune to the man that it had ever felt, and he sensed Voldemort's presence before he even reappeared.
The Dark Lord popped back into existence directly in the path of a blasting curse, barely managing to raise a shield in defense. Instead of allowing Harry to press the advantage once more, however, the man fired his own barrage with ferocity, proving he was equal to the teen at the very least.
Harry moved smoothly through the first few, firing his own in the process, though none found their mark. Voldemort's sixth spell was an overpowered cutting curse, and Harry spun directly into its path after avoiding the one before. He swayed to one side on instinct, catching the tail end of the spell on his left shoulder.
The pain was immediate, but Harry forced it into the box with the rest of his emotions. He knew he was bleeding, but the thought didn't matter at the moment. All that mattered was surviving, though the thought belied his actions.
As he blocked and dodged the rest of the barrage, he took a moment to ask why he still remained. His magic was demanding the fight, despite good sense telling him to escape. As he ducked under another Killing Curse, a glint of metal reflected the green light, and he realized why he was still here.
"Accio ring!" he called firmly, Voldemort's eyes growing wide in surprise.
The Elder Wand shook under the power of the spell, though the Dark Lord was stubborn in his refusal of it. Both of his hands clamped around his ring finger, though the pull of the magic pulled the man across the floor nonetheless. Harry struggled to remain where he was, as the Wand seemed to crave the ring's closeness, and he forced his offhand to rise despite the pull on his own body.
He focused his thoughts as best he could, as the Wand pulled what felt like all of his magic from him, and cast the strongest banishing charm he could manage with his left hand. The spell impacted, and Voldemort was tossed bodily across the room, sans one bejeweled finger.
Harry caught the digit as it sailed his way, sending its shocked owner a wink as he did. He saw the man's mouth open angrily, but his words would go unheeded.
Harry's departure shattered the wards, and collapsed the rest of the dungeon on a terrified Dark Lord.
—
His return to the den of the Manor went unnoticed for a few glorious seconds, though the cloud in his mind returned stronger than ever. The group was clustered around the four surviving prisoners, Mr. Davis lying forgotten at the moment, and Harry was pleased to have the chance to collect his backpack. He checked the bag to ensure he had what he needed, preparing to apparate when he was done.
A tap on his shoulder proved him less sneaky than he thought, however, and he shut his eyes in disappointment as he turned. They reopened on the most beautiful pair in the world, though the blue eyes didn't have the familiar pull he'd experienced in the past.
"Harry," Daphne whispered into the silent room, the other occupants watching the interaction closely. "I don't… I can't believe… thank you."
"You're welcome," he answered neutrally as he mentally kicked himself for lack of other reaction.
His heart was simply stone, and now that everyone was as safe as he could make them, that was an infuriating fact for Harry. He loved the girl in front of him, and she deserved more than what he was giving her, but anything else felt impossible at the moment.
"Why don't you go take a shower?" she asked, her eyes full of empathy and confusion. "You look a mess. I'll wait outside, and we can talk on the way to the hospital"
"I can't, Daph…" he answered neutrally, healing the cut on his shoulder with a distracted wave. "I have to go."
"Go where? We need you here... I need you here."
"I know…but I can't be right now. I'm… I need to figure some stuff out."
Harry watched as Daphne absorbed his words, knowing an angry reply was coming. He mentally set his feet, preparing to ignore her plea, but was surprised by the girl's eyes clearing slightly.
"Take Hedwig."
Her simple response seemed to melt his heart a bit, though the ring in his pocket and Wand on his forearm tingled in anticipation.
It would've been a worrying sensation if he was capable of the feeling, but the only thing he understood at the moment was the need to escape. He looked down at her, gratitude in his eyes, and watched as she turned back to her family.
Daniel was quick to pull her into a hug, the blood on his shirt staining her blonde hair even further. Harry's eyes met her father's reluctantly, but only found the worry his friend was experiencing.
He was right to be worried. They all were. Something inside him was broken, and he wasn't safe to be around.
Hedwig interrupted the silence, winging into the room like a wraith, and landed softly on his shoulder. Harry was glad the bird knew she was needed, and sent the room filled with loved ones a final nod.
A/N: This was where I intended to end the first story, but the outline didn't reflect the writing that followed. I planned to take a break on uploads to flesh out the rest of the story, but I've been able to do so while writing more than I expected. The next couple chapters need some work, so it'll be once a week at the earliest. Thanks for reading!