His Name is Riddle
-From the Ashes, Book 2-
Chapter 1
The Invitation
Monday, 19 August 1996
At the request of three of his strongest supporters, Albus Dumbledore sat in his office at Hogwarts. There Tonks, Professor Lupin, and Professor Moody detailed the events of the Battle of Diagon Alley as witnessed by them and compiled from the interviews of the 27 students, all part of the D.A., who fought it. Their injuries were minimal. Other casualties were luckily minimal with only 24 dead, 14 of those Death Eaters. The cause was obvious. Nimbus Racing Broom's newest campaign was promoting its record breaking broom the Reign of Fire. This year they had opted not to celebrate a quidditch player, but for the first time ever they promoted a war hero, Ginny Weasley often known by her promotional name, Crimson Witch. The results were becoming a very successful Anti-Riddle war campaign. The Weasleys, including Harry Potter, had spent their summer rallying against the fear mindset the Ministry had operated under for 15 years. They had poked the hornet's nest often. Finally this time it stung back.
But when the Death Eaters struck, Harry rose to the occasion. He rallied the D.A. launching a flight team on brooms bombing from above, two teams of infantry, and a medical team. The medical team itself is credited for saving Tonks and Lupin, and very likely Daphne Greengrass. The D.A. in total recognized the defense of over 200 civilians in the alley at the time, against an estimated 60 death eaters. All done by 27 students, mostly just starting 6th year.
Now the three members of the Order of the Phoenix suggested a bold plan to potentially alter the course of the war.
Dumbledore sat in contemplation of their suggestion. "What you suggest, I feel, strikes against what Hogwarts has stood for since its founding. We have tried to be a house of learning and safety for our students. I fear this would lead them to premature ends."
Lupin pleaded, "And that sentiment is why we still believe you should hold that chair, but … that logic is faulty. It is Riddle, who brings the war. It is at Riddle's feet you should lay the dead. It is also logical that Riddle will NOT be stopping anytime soon. So the war is here and is coming. What we suggest is what Harry suggested, we train students who volunteer, how to defend themselves."
"Volunteers are generally of age." Dumbledore noted.
"If you think Riddle respects that, you are a fool, and you are no fool, Albus. Slytherin house has been a Death Eater recruitment bed for years now."
Tonks leaned in. "And they have been as such, it is in the best interests of ALL the students to even the playing field."
"And you feel our instructors through the Defense Against the Dark Arts are insufficient?"
"Frankly, when was the last time you had a qualified instructor who genuinely taught you students?"
"I thought you were a highly successful teacher, Remus."
"Yes, but I am not available as you have assigned me elsewhere."
"And Professor Snape-"
Tonks hopped in. "I will fully admit you have the right to appoint staff as you see fit. But I will never trust that man. I will NOT report to him. I am a trained, experienced, 2 year veteran Auror. Defense Against the Dark Arts has been my profession. I am more than qualified to do this. If anything, what we suggest will lighten his load."
"You will incur his ire." Dumbledore warned.
Tonks shrugged. "So? Irrelevant." Lupin smiled greatly at her.
"What you speak of is so… drastic. Would not reinstatement of dueling classes suffice. The school has had a long tradition in that."
"No!" Moody snapped, "And just for that reason. As you say, Wizards for generations have been trained to that being the way, when needed to, two face off, and likely only one walks away. That's largely how the Battle of the Ministry of Magic went, and look how that ended. Then compare that to the tactics Potter employed at the Battle of the Burrow and at now Diagon Alley. He is now a 6th year student who has been outnumbered and out experienced twice yet still won. And he's done that by being unorthodox, he never dueled. He fought as a team, with plan and tactics. That Crimson Witch's approach- "
"May get her killed one day."
"The same could be said to any of us who draw a wand." Remus countered.
"Regardless!" Moody refocused them. "Quite frankly, Mr. Potter doesn't fight like us. He fights like a Muggle! He's shown it's effective! What I find most ridiculous is HOW he's done it. My understanding is he built this… resistance cell… under the oppressive rule of Umbridge, with no help from anyone, no resources, he has built that team. Now it is my understanding that this summer he has come into more resources."
"Sirius's estate is Harry's now, yes." Lupin confirmed with a smile.
Moody raised his cane to Lupin. "See now he's Master of a major house. Do you honestly think he will simply try to take his girl and go home?"
"No," Dumbledore replied, "rather he has told me the exact opposite."
"Well that makes it simple doesn't it. He's NOT going away. So that reduces our options to two. We can allow him to continue being a rogue element and not knowing what's going with him until his spells show up on a Trace report, which will last less than a year now. Or we bring him into the fold."
"We have never done something like this before." Dumbledore warned, I can not predict the outcome of such an … unexpected door being opened."
"If we had done something like this during the First Wizarding War, we may not have seen the start of the Second."
Dumbledore took a deep breath and considered the facts that lay before him. "You all have done your duties well. You have offered me wise counsel. Much has been said of 'times that try men's souls. That is what I feel we have been in for the last 15 years and every day it feels more so. We will pursue this. May fate forgive us if we are wrong. "
A beautiful white snow owl flew into the open kitchen window of the Burrow and dropped a pair of letters at Harry's space at the table. Ginny gently petted him as it perched on Harry's chair. "Thank you, Hedwig, I'll take it from here." She grabbed the letters and took them over to Harry on a living room couch. "You have mail." she said as she sat down next to him. "Neville and -sigh- Dumbledore."
"Oh gee, which should I open first?" Harry asked with as much sarcasm as he could muster. Thanks though," he replied as he took his knife out to open the envelope.
"You really like that thing, don't you?"
"I'm a bloke."
Ginny smiled. "You're a bloke so you like carrying a knife?"
"Yea, actually. I think this one is that simple." he nodded as he read the letter. "Gin, do we have any firm plans for Friday yet?"
"Sounds like we do now. What's up?" Harry passed over the invitation.
House Longbottom would request the honored presence of
Harry James Potter
Ginevra Weasley
For the formal recognition of the new Master of House Potter
Formal Attire
Friday 23 August, 6:00 PM
Longbottom Manor
Respectfully,
Lady Augusta Longbottom
"Formal recognition? Haven't you been Master for over a month now. "
"Yes, but let's be honest, we've kind of kept to ourselves. Neville mentioned his gran likes me, but I thought, normal average like. This feels larger. I mean, when was the last time you ever heard his gran put out the title 'Lady.'
"Well I get it this time, If she's trying to recognize you as Master. And let's be honest, this is more likely her way of saying thank you for Neville."
"True, she doesn't need to though."
"Harry, I love you, but learn to accept a compliment."
"True, but at least there is an upside."
"I'm not really seeing any downside but just what are you referring to."
"I get to see you in that dress."
Ginny just smiled and shook her head.
Then he opened the letter from Professor Dumbledore.
Dear Master Potter,
I have heard and read of your actions at Diagon Alley Friday last. I am sorry such events occurred but I am quite impressed by the efforts of you and your team. They are a credit to their leader.
As I have no doubt Miss Weasley is reading this as well. From what I have heard of her flying, I look forward to seeing her flying at the quidditch pitch this year.
In regards to your team, I have begun conversations with appropriate parties for opportunities to be available at the beginning of the session.
If you are agreeable, I should be grateful for your assistance this Wednesday evening. There is a role for you that would be most beneficial for our mutual efforts, and would even be acceptable to Miss Weasleys reasonable concerns for your safety.
-Yours most sincerely,
Albus Dumbledore
Ginny's eyes went wide as she read the note. "Holy crap, Harry, what did you say to him? He's using your title and even taking me into consideration."
"We negotiated," he answered grinning.
"Harry," she looked up to him with a pleading eyes, "please."
He sat back and slipped an arm around her. "He wants to keep using Grimmauld Place to manage the Order. And I truly don't mind, but after the last year I wanted to send a message that I'm not blindly following him any more. What I do, I do by choice. So we negotiated, my starting offer was a seat at the Order table."
She watched him for a moment waiting for the punchline. When she realized he was serious it registered. "Bloody hell Harry, You asked to be at the table?"
"My house, my table, my chairs." he shrugged.
He could feel her getting tense. "Relax, Gin, that was a show of force opening bid. It was theatrics. Bluffing. We settled on they get to use the place and I get briefed on what the hell is going on."
She caressed his cheek and looked at him with pure adoration. "Harry James Potter, You debated with Dumbledore… and won. I admit I don't know anything about your world of house politics, lords, and ladies, and I know you don't think you do either. Maybe it's instincts, genes, or magic, frankly I don't care. But don't you ever claim you don't belong there."
Previously in From the Ashes
(In the event you have not read the first book, please be aware of the major events.)
s/14360854/1/From-the-Ashes
Following the death of Sirius Black, Harry reaches a breaking point, finally leaving the Dursleys and moving in with the Weasleys. Harry finally confessed everything the Dursley's had done. Arthur becomes the father Harry never had.
Ginny and Harry finally start dating, and admit their love.
Discovering Harry now residing there, 40 Death Eaters attack the Burrow. Through creative tactics the Weasley Warriors defeat the Eaters, the event becoming the Battle of the Burrow. Ginny's activities, namely taking to a broom and aerial spell bombing, earn her the nickname Crimson Witch. To support the war against Riddle, Nimbus Racing Brooms hires Ginny as a war hero celebrity endorser to make their new broom campaign also a pro-war inspiration, the calling phrase being: "His name is Riddle… and we are not afraid."
Surviving the Battle, Ron summons the courage to actually grow up, including dating Hermione and admitting their love.
Arthur assists Harry in securing his inheritance from Sirius, namely the assets of House Black including Grimmauld place, making Harry Master of House Potter. In the search of Grimmauld place they find the journal of Regulus Black detailing the existence of the Horcurxes. They also find two, the locket and the silver cup. When they encounter the locket Harry has a vision: A book, a ring, a locket, a silver cup, a crown, a snake, and crying lightning.
From drawing the visions out, Ginny recognizes the book as Tom Riddle's journal, showing them they know how to destroy the horcruxes already, and Arthur recognizes the snake as Riddle's snake Nagini.
After a summer of raising public spirit against the Death Eaters attack again, the D.A. defend and defeat a squadron of 60 Death Eaters, the event being called the Battle of Diagon Alley