Life Debt
He needed a plan. Dear God, right now, Harry needed to think of something. Anything. It should have been impossible for Death Eaters to enter the castle, but Pettigrew wasn't just a Death Eater who had been inside the castle until third year, always wandering as a rat. Pettigrew was also a former Marauder who helped make that map of the castle grounds.
It made sense why Peter would be sent to do whatever this was, but Harry's guess was to assassinate Albus. This shouldn't worry Harry, Albus was powerful and had his wand. Albus wouldn't allow this. It was probably to get information since Severus was no longer a spy. Right! Harry needed to get word to Severus to come; he could still get help by tapping into the castle's magic. Harry went to a post and put his hand on it.
'Hogwarts, hear thy plea of Lord Slytherin! Alert the staff of trouble. Intruders have broken in and threaten us. Please send help!' Harry begged in thought, hoping his magic would reach out to the castle's magic and send out some kind of warning to the portraits, to Minerva and the other staff. There was some wave of magic, and prayed it wouldn't be too late.
"Hello, Peter." Albus greeted.
"I'm not here for small talk, Albus." Peter told him. "I was given a mission by my lord."
"Peter…You know in your heart of hearts that you do not wish to do this. Mistakes have been made, long ago, I knew a boy who made all the wrong ones. Let me help you, as others have been helped to escape. I can offer you removal of the mark, protection." Albus said.
"I don't want your help. My lord protects me as long as I do what he says." Peter glared. "I know Potter is the only one who can remove the mark besides Lord Voldemort. He knows that's how Severus, the Malfoy's, Crabbe's, Goyle's, and Nott's have diverged from his following." He said.
"Peter, you were always a good boy. A Gryffindor like your friends. James, Sirius, Remus…I know you felt fear during the first war, and you believed the Light would wanted to be protected. Nobody blames you, my boy. You can do the right thing now." Albus tried.
"I am doing the right thing!" Peter yelled.
More footsteps were heard as Harry looked to find Death Eaters swarming to the top and he moved to see better. Albus seemed to know, despite Harry being under the cloak. Bellatrix was first to be seen, then a handful of others.
"Expelliarmus!" Peter cast to get Dumbledore's wand out of his hand. The wand went flying and Harry got nervous. Really bad now and he prayed someone would come in time because he couldn't face everyone, no matter how good he believed he was.
"Evening, Bellatrix." Albus glanced to her. "How did you get into the castle?"
"Vanishing Cabinet in the Room of Requirement." One Death Eater said.
"It has a twin, yes?" Albus inquired.
"Inside Borgin and Burkes." Peter revealed.
"Get on with it, Wormtail." Bellatrix ordered. "Our lord was clear…" She told the rest.
"It doesn't have to be this way." He insisted. "Peter…Please?" Albus asked softly.
For a moment, Peter hesitated. "Do it, Peter…Make our lord proud, ascend where the others failed." Bellatrix urged.
Harry watched from below, eyes widened as Pettigrew's arm suddenly locked. No. No. Harry wanted to rush up, but Albus gave a firm stare as Harry felt his body go stiff. The senile old fool body-bound him!
"Avada Kedavra!" Pettigrew cried out as the jet of green magic shot out and pierced Albus in the chest.
"NO!" Harry yelled. No one heard him and Harry watched the man fall over the railing to his death. Albus was gone; he was dead.
The Death Eaters rejoiced as Bellatrix sent up the dark mark in the sky before they all raced to escape the tower. Harry finally felt the spell lift as he threw off the cloak and rushed to the top to look down and Albus laid there, unmoving. Anger fueling him and tears leaking down his face, Harry grabbed Albus's wand from the floor and ran after Pettigrew and the others.
Harry ran blindly after the group, and they knew he was there. Most took part in trying to attack, but Harry was on a warpath and managed a full shield to deflect everything they threw while trying to fire back. Harry hit full body-binds on two, leaving them tied in the corridors. Once outside, Harry fired a blast at Peter.
"You coward!" Harry raged.
Bellatrix used a spell to knock Harry onto his back, but he still tried to get up and keep dueling. Pain and adrenaline were what kept him going, then worse when the other Death Eaters lit Hagrid's house on fire. Harry quickly put it out with a blast of water as the other Death Eaters descended on him.
"Give up, Potter. You can't beat us all." Bellatrix told him.
"You don't know anything about me or what I can do…" Harry seethed as his magic flared angrily. The wind picked up, confusing a few, then a red aura surrounded his body, whips appearing to throw the rest back.
"W-What the hell is this?!" Peter asked quickly.
It went back and forth, but Harry was able to hold his own against five Death Eaters. It was still a lot to do and the adrenaline was fading, pain setting in that Albus was dead. Harry managed to knock two more males unconscious, but Bellatrix knocked Harry back, causing the teenager to groan and try to get up.
"No!" Peter told Bellatrix and the rest. "He belongs to the dark lord…" The rat reminded. "No one is to kill him. We came to do what we were supposed to. Now, we leave…" He ordered.
Harry laid there, groaning as the Death Eaters got away. Harry eventually forced himself to move, dragging his feet back to the castle. Harry found his way after some moments, everyone had figured out what happened and gathered at the base of the tower where Albus's body lay dead.
Harry made his way through the crowd, no one saying a word as Harry got to the front and most just got out of his way. The Order was there, when Harry sent out the alert to Hogwarts; Minerva, or someone, had called them to help that there was trouble.
"Cub?" Remus was first to say something aloud about Harry's presence. Of course, Harry ignored him.
"Pup…What happened?" Sirius tried. Again, Harry said nothing.
"Harry…" Severus said gently upon seeing his husband and getting in front of him. "Talk to me, please?"
"Not now…Sev, please…Not right now."
Respecting his young lover's request, Severus moved aside and Harry went forward to get closer to Albus's figure. He looked so peaceful despite how he was killed plus the long fall. Kneeling down before the man, Harry grabbed the locket off the ground; it must have fallen from Dumbledore's pocket when he landed.
Harry held the object close before using his other hand to put over Albus's chest and he couldn't stop it any longer. Harry bowed his head and the tears slipped. Severus stepped forward to kneel beside Harry, and get his arms around the teenager. Harry didn't push him away, but laid his head on Severus's shoulder and sobbed silently. Ivy too had slithered into her place around Harry to try and comfort him.
Tears were falling from everyone's eyes, all who allowed themselves to cry. No one knew what happened, but they knew Albus Dumbledore was dead. This was the start of the battle, the first kill had been made. The first attack from the enemy had come. This was the beginning of the war. The dark mark raged above them as Harry sniffled, grabbing his wand and raising it up towards the sky.
A small light appeared at the tip. Following the lead, Severus did the same, then Minerva and so many others. It was a tribute to their fallen Headmaster. But also their response to his death, to the enemies who did this. Albus might be gone, but they were not and they would fight. With all the wands lit, a small light formed in the center of the dark mark and it faded away, overrun by light. By love.
"I don't wish to be insensitive…" Lucius began. "But perhaps, Minerva…We should clear out and move the body?" The blonde suggested. "No good will come of everyone remaining and staring."
"You are right…" Minerva sighed as she stepped ahead and faced the teachers and students. With her wand to her neck, she spoke. "All students, back to the castle and into your dorms. Heads of Houses, with the exception of Slytherin, will see to it that students go where they are instructed."
"Prefects and Head Students, will assist as well. In light of the events tonight, all classes and exams have been canceled to allow for a grieving period." She began. No one said a word, but their heads were lowering with their wands. "Any student in need of council, the teachers will be available to talk. When the arrangements are made, all will be welcome to attend as we say goodbye to our beloved headmaster."
As told, students began to fall on each other for comfort, but no one spoke as they cleared out. Teachers helped, Severus had to move Harry slowly away from Albus's body, but the teenager hadn't wanted to go. Holding onto Severus for support, the potions master managed to get Harry back inside the castle and the two went right to their room.
Hagrid, sadly, was the one to lift Albus's body and take it where he was instructed to. The adults who did not work for Hogwarts, nor reside there all left after Minerva said they would get together soon to discuss things. For now, everyone needed their time to grieve.
. . .
A week had gone by since Albus's death. It was now the 14th of June and students were preparing to go home for the summer. The funeral was held yesterday, beautiful. Albus was laid to rest on a little spot on the Great Lake. Everyone attended from school, and some from outside it. Many students needed counseling on the grief of losing the headmaster, but most leaned on each other to get through it. Harry was one who had gone radio silent, but much to Severus's thanks, Harry hadn't locked himself inside the room. Harry mainly sat awake on the couch, never speaking a word. He did eat, use the bathroom, and shower.
Nights were hard, Severus knew Harry had to be reliving the event. That was what no one knew. Nobody had any idea what had happened because Harry had been the one to see everything. The only thing anyone knew was that the castle alerted them of a problem, and they were all told or compelled to get outside to the base of the Astronomy tower. Everyone's first fear had been Harry lost it and jumped, but when they arrived, it was Albus's body laying there and no one knew where Harry was and they all knew Harry had been the last person with Albus.
"Severus…I know he's grieving harder than anyone else…" Minerva started.
An Order meeting had been called. Severus had not wanted to leave Harry alone, but Ivy assured through Salazar's translation that she would remain with him.
"But he was the last person with Albus before he died. We need to know what was said, and what happened?" Alastor completed the new headmistress's sentence.
"I understand that we need to know, but Harry is silent. The only time I hear him make noise is when he's stuck in a nightmare." Severus sighed. "I just don't think it's a good idea to push him right now. It's only been a week."
"Everyone wants to know, Severus. Now, I'm sorry…But I've got orders from the Minister of Magic himself. We need to know what happened that night on the Astronomy tower." Kingsley revealed.
"Well, we know it was something to do with Death Eaters." Tonks informed. "We found two in full body-binds and tied up without their wands. Rowle and Greyback."
"Three more were found by Hagrid's hut, unconscious." Alastor added. "Yaxley, and the Carrow siblings."
"We don't know who else was there, but safe to say they got away and Harry knows who they were. I'm sorry, Severus…We have to know. Go get him, please?" Minerva stated.
"No need…" Came Harry's voice. "I'm here," The teenager stepped into the room and grabbed a seat next to his husband, but also next to Draco. Ivy was draped over his shoulders, head as close to his face as she could get.
"We know you would prefer to be by yourself right now, but-," Kingsley began.
"You want to know what happened?" Harry questioned. The rest could only nod. "Where would you like me to begin? From when we left here, or got back to the school?"
"From when you left…" Alastor inquired.
Harry began to tell them about their journey to the cave, all the things they went through to get the horcrux hidden there. Then it got to when they arrived back at school. "We apparated back to the school, on the Astronomy tower. Albus was still weak, and he asked me to get Severus for him, and explain he needed something for the Drink of Despair."
"As I was about to leave, we heard footsteps on the tower. Albus told me to remember my word, that I'd obey every command without question. He told me to get under the tower, hide under my cloak." He took a breath. "The first person I laid eyes on…Was Pettigrew. He had his wand on Albus…The two talked, Dumbledore trying to talk him down and it looked like it might work…Until the rest showed up."
"Who were the rest? We found five of them…" Tonks wondered.
"Bellatrix. Yaxley. Gibbon. The Carrow siblings. Greyback. And Rowle." Harry said softly. "It came out that they got into the school through the vanishing cabinets. I guess there is one in the Room of Requirement, and it's connected to another one at Borgin and Burkes. Pettigrew has been slinking about the halls for weeks, repairing it to create a passage." He informed.
"Bellatrix reminded Pettigrew of his task, and I realized what it was. To kill Albus. I tried to move up slowly, but Albus put me in a non-verbal body bind…And I watched Pettigrew cast the killing curse at Albus…He fell back over the edge of the tower…To where he was found."
"And…Where did you go?" Severus pushed gently.
"After the Death Eaters, angrily…The spell Albus put me under faded when he died. So I went after them. I stopped Greyback and Rowle first. They were easy enough to take down; stunners, body-bind, spell that ties them up. I continued after the others…Lovely battle, might have powered up and scared them."
"I knocked out the Carrows and Yaxley before all that. The remaining three tried to back off when my magic lashed out at them. Bellatrix hit me with a stunner, I think. It knocked me back and when she tried to attack again, Pettigrew made her stop and reminded them that I belonged to the dark lord. They left…"
"Harry, one thing we don't understand…" Minerva started. "How did the alert get out? The heads of houses got an alert in their offices, or chambers about a break in."
"I asked Hogwarts to let you know there was trouble…Guess it listened." Harry informed.
"How did you get the school to…Do such a thing?" Severus asked.
"Don't you remember what Sal told us when I put on the ring?" Harry asked him. "I could manipulate the school's magic as heir to one of its founders and the lord to one of its houses since the other lines have died out?"
"You…Sent out the alert?" Severus realized.
Harry nodded. "Help came too late, though…"
"You mentioned getting the locket, the horcrux?" Remus mentioned.
Harry dug it out of his pocket and tossed it on the table. "Yeah. Slytherin's Locket, like I theorized. But…This one is a fake. The real one is still out there."
"How do you know it's a fake, pup?" Sirius inquired.
"Aside from the fact there's no dark energy coming off it? There was a note inside from someone I don't recognize the initials for. This person claims they stole the real horcrux and hidden it, hoping that by the time Voldemort finds this one, he'll have been made mortal once more." Harry used his wand to open the locket and let the tiny note float out and unfold so everyone could see.
"R.A.B?" Hermione asked.
"No idea." Harry replied. "I suppose I'll work it out on my journey while I search for the rest of them."
"Wait…What do you mean, your journey?" Pansy said. "We'll all help, Harry."
"No. I'm going alone." Harry stated firmly.
"Going…Where?" Severus stared at his husband.
"I've decided in the last week that I'm not returning to school when term begins. I'm going out to find the horcruxes."
"Harry, wait a minute. This is…Mad. You can't go out on your own! Voldemort is hunting you!" Draco scolded.
"Then he can hunt me and leave all of you alone." Harry countered.
"Harry, you're only sixteen! You are not going out to do this by yourself. I-I forbid it!" Sirius ordered.
"Sixteen I might be, but I won't be end of next month. And have you already forgotten that between the tournament and getting married; I am already considered an adult?" Harry remarked. "I can make my own choices, Sirius, and you can't stop me." There was a pause.
"Harry, this is dangerous…" Severus reminded.
"You tell me when that's ever deterred me from completing a task?" Harry commented. "I made my decision, Sev. Not you or anyone else can stop me or change my mind. School is only going to hinder the time I can be using to search for the horcruxes. Voldemort isn't going to waste time waiting for me to finish school to attack again, he knows he can't take over unless he kills me because I'm the one in his way. I don't have time to hope for a lead on a horcrux, I need to hunt them down and destroy them so I can destroy Voldemort." He paused again. "My decision is final."
