I LIIIIIIVVVVEEEE! Hey guys. Don't be mad, I know I'm not updating frequently but I swear that I won't abandon this story. I also have big plans for other stories, I want to do a watching Merlin series fan fiction, set before Gwaine leaves on his trip in Season Five, that will have all the original members of the round table (that are alive) watching Merlin Season 1-5. This should then lead into a story of them trying to prevent the events they witness in Season Five (like, oh I don't know, someone *cough* Merlin *cough* treating Mordred a little differently so he doesn't turn evil). Anyway, let me know what you think about that idea.
Thank you Xartimus for your review. To answer your question, I believe that the members of the room blame Voldemort for Harry's actions. Every time Harry does something horrific, someone, or everyone, will look at the photo of Harry that was placed on the table in the centre of the room, to remind themselves of his previous innocence. Despite being horrified by the terrible things he does, they don't get mad at him, and aren't disgusted with him, aiming all ther bad feelings at Voldemort, blaming him for turning Harry into a killer. However, certain peoples feelings may change when they discover that Harry 'killed' the Longbottoms...
As always, nothing belongs to me. A rather depressing thought. Anything recognisable is the wonderful J.K. Rowlings, and Damien is Kurinoones, as well as Harrys background and the plot of the story.
Anyway enjoy!
Chapter Eight
Molly jumped off of the comfortable couch she was seated on, marching over to Liky an yanking the younger woman out of her chair. Keeping a firm grip on the other redheads hand, Molly asked, "Will you make food with me Lily? You're so much better at multitasking that I am." Lily smiled in acceptance, ignoring the blatant lie Molly told. The older woman was an expert multitasker, something she excelled at due to the demands of taking care of and raising seven children.
Standing together and looking around the room, both women ignored the curious stares they were receiving as they appeared to do nothing. "Mum?" Damien asked, "What are you doing? You said you would make food."
"And we will Damy," Lily smiled at her son, "just as soon as we find a kitchen to cook in."
Almost as if these words were a command, a kitchen sprung to life at the far side of the room. The witches and wizards watched in awe as benches unfolded like cardboard boxes assembling themselves, a fridge slid across the room into its spot by a stove/oven that descended from the roof. Pots and pans, well, popped into place inside one cupboard, knives zooming around before slotting into a knife holder on the bench. James ducked as all sorts of ingredients flew over his head performing loop-de-loops before resting either in the pantry or fridge.
Almost as soon as it had begun, everything stopped, leaving a gleaming replica of Lily Potters kitchen situated about ten meters away from the 'reading area', and as far away from a furiously scribbling Draco as possible.
"Well then." Molly smiled. "What shall we make?"
As the women scrambled over to the kitchen to prepare some tasty food, followed by the twins who, thanks to years of making tasty treats for their shop, were actually very good, creative cooks, a blond headed Slytherin was debating what to write in his letter.
Harry, 'No that's too obvious.' Draco thought, erasing it with a quick spell. He couldn't afford to be caught writing to his friend, lest the occupants of the room demanded that Draco invite Harry to join them, something the blond boy was certain his friend wouldn't appreciate. That ruled out writing in English. Draco mentally reviewed all the languages both himself and his friend knew, silently cursing the fact that despite numerous attempts, Harry was unable to teach him Parseltounge. He hesitated, before deciding to write in Latin. 'It is,' he thought to himself, 'after all, not very well known. Just have to make sure that muggle loving old fool doesn't read it.' With that in mind, he began to write.
Henricus,
Nunc autem scripsi vobis non putatis vos certiores et excting, alia vice in die amet.
Sicut superius cubiculum aliud accitus ad librum. Hoc libro de Harrius eam tibi. Alter locus est in hac misera tanti incolarum, aut tua tamen casu vocandi casus habes hic tuorum parentum vicibus. Certiorem te expetam conabor, quid agatur, non tamen obsecro te certiorem obscuris Dominum nec usquam.
Quod
Draco.
(1)
Finished, he sealed the letter and quietly snapped his fingers. A house elf popped unseen into the room next to him. "Take this," He silently hissed, thrusting the letter in to the elves shaking hands, "and deliver it to the Dark Prince. Make sure no one else sees you."
"Yes Master Malfoy." The elf bowed, and disappeared with a crack, that Draco masked with a cough. Pleased with himself, he gracefully stood and strode over to the dining table the others were seated at, sliding into place beside his Head of House.
The meal was a silent affair, all conversation cut off after Lily received a stony glare from Draco after enquiring about Harry. James looked furious, wanting to teach the Slytherin some manners, but remained seated next to his wife as she ate. Once everyone was finished, there was a murmur of "That's lovely, very nice, well done Molly, Lily, boys." Before everyone rose and moved to the reading area, sitting down on the same couches as before. Lily muttered a spell, causing all the dishes to rise and zoom over to the sink, washing, drying and putting themselves away. She joined her husband on the couch, and waited for someone to read.
Fred, after a moments hesitation, picked the book up and cleared his throat. He continued coughing away until his twin elbowed him sharply in the side. "Get on with it," George muttered, rolling his eyes. Smirking, Fred began to read.
Plan to Capture
"Capture?" Damien perked up, "as in, capture Harry?"
"Most likely, Mr Potter," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he saw the excitement his answer brought to Damien.
Harry walked silently through the grounds. He was heading back after a few hours of training. He knew that all the Death Eaters were inside the Manor but he still kept a hold of his mask in his hand, just in case he needed to use it.
"That's depressing." Ron announced suddenly.
"What is?" Hermione inquired.
"Well, he has to wear that mask all the time, right? He can never be seen, so he has to wear that thing. It'd be bloody annoying, if you ask me."
"Better than the alternative," Draco piped up.
"Alternative?" Ginny asked.
"Yes Weasley." The blond boy sneered, "If a Death Eater sees him without his mask on, and goes about spreading rumours that a boy who looks like a younger version of James Potter with green eyes," Lily and James noticeably brightened at hearing this, sitting up straighter with mile-wide grins on their faces, "then the 'light' side," Draco mimicked quotation marks with his hands as he said this, "is bound to find out about it, and stage a 'rescue'."
"And why is that a bad thing?" Sirius demanded.
"Because Harry doesn't want to be with you lot," Draco sneered, "he would consider your 'rescue' a kidnapping." James and Lily deflated at this, but didn't lose hope.
"That's because Voldemort has brainwashed him." James defended. "Once he finds out the truth, he will want to be with us, his family." Lily nodded, but Draco just shook his head disgustedly.
"And when the people in this room find out what you did, they won't want to be anywhere near you. Unless," he looked around the room suspiciously, "they were all involved too."
"What are you talking about?" Lily heatedly demanded.
"Never mind that!" Severus Snape snapped suddenly, "if we read, there is a high chance that you can find the answers to all of your questions. These constant interruptions grow tiresome."
Fred hurried to continue when he saw Sirius and Remus open their mouths to retaliate.
Harry was beyond tired. He had trained for nearly five hours straight.
"Five hours?" Hermione squeaked, quailing under the glare Severus sent her way.
He never usually spent that kind of time training
Sighs of relief were heard, no one liking the idea of Harry wearing himself down by training so much. They liked the idea that he was possibly training to kill even less, but pushed the thought to the back of their minds, determined to only think the best of Harry.
but lately it was all he wanted to do. He knew it was the pent up frustration inside him that wanted out and this was the only way out.
"He could do something else." Ginny meekly said.
"He does, he goes on assignments and kills people." Draco muttered, however in the silence of the room, everyone heard.
"I'm thinking that we get him into reading when he comes to live with us," James told Lily, who nodded in agreement.
Well, this and going on assignments.
Draco smirked.
Harry continued walking through the woodland area that separated his training grounds from the main Manor. Just as he walked deeper into the woodland he heard it, a sound behind him. Harry didn't stop walking but he instinctively strained to hear where the sound was coming from.
"Nice." Moody nodded.
His wand was safely tucked in the upholster on his arm. Harry continued walking, making it look like he didn't notice that someone was following him.
"Very nice." Kingsley agreed.
He could hear the footsteps behind him clearly now.
It all happened in an instant.
With one hand Harry threw on his mask and with the same hand he reached for his wand. He turned around on the spot and blindly grabbed the person that was sneaking up on him. Harry's hand was wrapped around the person's neck before he realised who it was. Harry slammed the person into the nearest tree before aiming his wand at their throat.
"Amazing." Tonks clarified. "Simply, amazing."
He was more than surprised to see the blond boy in his grip, moaning at the pain of being slammed against a tree.
"Asshole." Draco grumbled. "He's a paranoid asshole."
"That's you?" Ron asked, shocked.
"No, it's his other blond friend, Weasley."
"I thought he didn't have other friends, Malfoy?"
"Honestly Ronald." Hermione shook her head, ignoring Ron's indignant "What?"
"Ow! Paranoid much, Harry?!" the boy said angrily.
"Very," Draco drawled.
Harry smirked behind his mask and released him. Harry reached over and took off his mask before pocketing his wand.
"So he can be seen around you?" Hermione asked. Draco stared at her, before impersonating the Defence Professor, slowing saying
"Obviously." In a pompous tone. Fred and George sniggered, before catching themselves. They weren't going to be caught laughing at a joke a Malfoy made.
"Draco, why were you sneaking up on me?" Harry asked his childhood friend.
"I'm not sneaking! I just don't want to get caught!" Draco exclaimed.
"Get caught? By who?" Draco ignored Molly Weasley's question, focusing on the book with a pointed look. Molly got the message, the book would answer her question where Draco wasn't going to.
Draco Malfoy was rubbing the back of his head and shot Harry an angrily look.
"I wasn't sneaking anywhere! I was just being quiet, that's all." He said.
Harry smirked in response.
"Afraid father would catch you?" Harry asked.
"What, doesn't he like you?" Ron smirked.
"Hates me, wants me dead." Draco flippantly said, drawing many concerned looks from the occupants in the room.
It was no secret the Lord Voldemort hated Draco Malfoy. He blamed him for distracting Harry from his training and his lessons.
"More like he distracts me." Draco said, grimacing, "I still haven't forgiven him for flinging those bat droppings at me." The Marauders, Damien, Ron, Tonks, Fred and George roared with laughter.
"Sounds like you, eh Prongsie?" Sirius managed to choke out around laughter. James nodded, still unable to contain his laughter. Soon they were joined by others, who didn't necessarily laugh out loud but did smile wide. The laughter died down as people realised that they weren't laughing because it was that funny, but because they were relieved that Harry was acting like a child, instead of the warrior he was trained as. When the last few slightly hysterical giggles died down, Fred began reading again.
Draco didn't say anything but cast a wary glance around him.
"See, this is why you should come over to my house." Draco told him.
Harry laughed in response. They started walking towards the Manor. Draco was a lot more relaxed now. If he was with Harry, then he was fine, even facing Lord Voldemort was possible if Harry was by his side.
The smiles brought about by the strength of the two boys friendship were quickly replaced by looks of horror when Fred read the next line.
If he was alone, then there was the chance that he wouldn't make it back home.
"Wh-What?" Hermione made a strangled sound.
"And you still go?" A very pale James asked.
"Well, of course." Draco said in a 'duh' tone, "Harrys my friend, I have to visit him."
"That's very brave of you Mr Malfoy, and loyal. You would make an excellent Gryffindor-" Dumbledore cut himself off when he saw the look of disgust on Draco's face. 'Maybe not,' he thought.
"So, when did you get back?" Harry asked as the trudged their way up the hill.
"I got back ages ago, but father thought it was best to stay away for a while. He said you were busy with things, so I had to sit around and get bored senseless for a few weeks." Draco replied.
"Hate it when that happens." Draco pouted, crossing his arms. Lily smiled, his behaviour reminding her of when Damien couldn't see his friends.
"I had assignments." Harry answered simply.
James flinched. His son couldn't spend time with his best friend, being a teenager, because he was off killing people.
"I wish I could go on an assignment with you." sighed Draco.
Harry snorted and gave Draco a funny look.
"You, in battle! I would like to see that!" Harry said while silently loving the look of incredulity that appeared on his friend's face.
"Why not? I'm a good dueller?" Draco said in a dignified voice.
"What! Why not? I am a good dueller!" he replied in a dignified voice.
Damien snorted in amusement and Ron chuckled. Draco glared at them both.
"You would probably keep on asking the opponent if your hair had fallen out of place." laughed Harry as Draco threw him a dirty look.
"Like you would know anything about looking good, with that messy hair." Draco laughed.
"It's no crime to look good, but of course you wouldn't know anything about that! When was the last time you tried brushing that mop you call hair?" Draco asked while shooting Harry a half heartened glare.
Draco struggled to not blush at the stares he was receiving.
Harry just shrugged and ran his hand through his hair while replying:
"Not everyone is as high maintenance as you, Draco."
Said boy scowled, mentally rethinking his choice to be Harrys friend.
Harry watched his best friend fumble around trying to find a good enough insult to throw back at him. He had gone quite red.
"Yeah, well you're a…"
"A what?" asked a high cold voice.
Draco gulped. The quiet sniggers that had been going around the room as the two boys traded insults ceased immediately.
Draco spun around to see Lord Voldemort standing behind him. His red, merciless eyes were fixed on him. Draco fell to his knees at once as he was brought up to do.
The Order members curled their lips in disgust at that. They despised the way children of Death Eaters were brought up to be submissive to Voldemort, considering it the equivalent of brainwashing. Perhaps if they weren't, half of the teens wouldn't even consider joining the man.
"I hope you were not about to insult my son, were you?" Voldemort asked, dislike lacing his words.
"No, my Lord! I would never…" Draco started.
"Leave!" Voldemort ordered him.
Draco stood up and without as much as a backward glance at Harry, he made to leave. Lord Voldemort stopped the very pale and scared looking Draco and looked at him up and down with plain disgust on his face.
Draco paled further and looked down, missing the concerned looks many threw his way.
"Young Malfoy. I understand it that you have come home for the holidays. I want to remind you that this is not your home so I don't want to see you here!" He paused here to look over at Harry who was watching the entire scene with a curious look on his face.
"He isn't going to interfere?" Ron looked scandalised.
"No. His very presence is interference enough. If he remains silent, the Dark Lord may even allow me to come back over." Draco muttered.
"How do you know that?" Tonks inquired her cousin.
"Experience. It's happened before."
"You may come here only when Harry wishes you to be here, otherwise stay away. Understand!"
Draco raised his eyebrows as if to say, 'see?'.
"Y-yes M-master." Draco managed to stutter out before hastily leaving, not even looking back to see Harry glaring at Lord Voldemort.
Draco smiled. "So he does defend me then." He shrugged at the curious looks he received. "What? I always thought he didn't care, found it funny or something. Good to know that's not the case."
"How come you didn't know he cared?" Lily asked.
"Harrys a hell of an actor." Draco laughed, relieved that his mate really did care about what happened to him.
Once Draco had disappeared from view, Lord Voldemort turned towards the dark haired boy to see him glaring at him. Harry never disrespected his father in front of company; he always waited until they were alone to do that.
"Well, at least now I know why he never did it in front of me."
"He's very respectful of Voldemort's authority." The Headmaster mused. "That could be an issue we must address when extracting Harry from Toms care, and removing any prejudice opinions Tom has wormed into Mr Potters mind."
"Right." Fred said, awkwardly clearing his throat. "I'll just, continue then, shall I?" Without waiting for a response, he forged onwards.
"What?" asked Lord Voldemort as Harry continued to give him an icy glare.
"I don't treat your friends that way." Harry said, eyes still locked with ruby red ones.
"He has friends?" Sirius exclaimed, disbelieving.
"That is because I have no friends,
"Oh."
I have no need for them and neither do you, especially no-good cowards like that young Malfoy."
"Everyone needs friends, don't you dare deny my son that right!" James hissed.
'Why the hell do you care?' Draco thought, momentarily taken aback. 'He must be acting, keeping up appearances for the sake of those who don't know the truth.'
Harry folded his arms around his chest and looked at his father.
"I don't need Malfoy but it is nice to talk to someone who isn't decades older than me!"
"Gee, glad to know I'm wanted."
"He didn't say he doesn't want you dear, just that he doesn't need you." Molly gently explained.
"Thanks." Draco smiled a little, surprised by the amount of care in her voice. She sounded like she genuinely cared about his feelings, and wanted to make him happier.
Lord Voldemort smiled at Harry's comment and walked over to him. He placed his hands on both of Harry's shoulders and for a moment just stood over him. Harry looked up into his father's face and felt some of his anger fade away. 'He always does that with one look' thought Harry as he looked into his father's face.
James winced and Lily chewed on her lip.
"Why do you have a problem with Draco?" asked Harry in a more hushed tone.
"I don't have any problems with him. I just don't think he is worthy of being in close company with you. I don't like the disrespectful way he talks to you."
"Its not disprespectful, its having a laugh!" Sirius suddenly felt very defensive of his relative. Said relative was very surprised by the protectiveness in Sirius' tone.
Lord Voldemort had overheard many conversations to know the way Draco Malfoy had talked to Harry. How he teased and sometimes even ridiculed him. It took everything Voldemort had, and Harry's intervention, to ensure that Draco Malfoy still had all limbs intact.
"True." Draco nodded, once again missing the concerned looks being thrown his way. Molly had to resist the urge to shake him, and explain that there was nothing even remotely right about the way Voldemort treated him, so could he stop acting so damn casual about it! She took a shaky breath, before nodding to her concerned son to keep reading.
"Well, that's between me and Draco." Harry sighed, he was getting tired of arguing with his father.
"Do they argue a lot?" James asked.
"I only know of the times Harry has told me about, so I really don't know." Draco explained. 'Like the time he found out Harry was sneaking off to fight muggles...' he thought, wincing when he remembered it was his fault the Dark Lord found out.
"Anyway, what are you doing out here? Is the meeting over?" Harry asked.
"Yes, it's over. I was expecting you to be back in the Manor by this time. I wanted to see where you were. Now I see why you were held back." Voldemort said, looking in the direction Draco had run off in.
"They only met a few minutes ago." Tonks hissed, joining Sirius in the 'lets defend our youngest relative who happens to be Harrys best friend and coincidentally very important in getting Harry back' campaign.
"I only met him a few minutes before you came. I lost track of time in training." Harry answered.
Voldemort looked at Harry closely.
"You've been training a lot more these days." He commented.
Harry shrugged his shoulders.
"It doesn't hurt to be more prepared."
Voldemort didn't comment but walked Harry back to Riddle Manor.
"I hate hearing about their relationship, they seem so close." Lily whispered to her husband, who nodded sadly.
xxx
It was late in the evening and most of the members of the Order
"Whoa scene change." Damien didn't know wether to be disappointed that he wasn't going to hear about his brother anymore, or relieved that he wouldn't have to learn more about to said brothers loyalty to Voldemort.
wanted nothing more than to go home. Lily sat again with James on one side and Sirius on the other.
James and Sirius grinned at each other. They had always sat in those positions in Order meetings, in order to comfort and protect Lily. It was good to know she was still oblivious as to their reasoning behind it.
James had been released a week ago now and had already resumed his post as Auror.
'Of course he did,' Lily thought fondly. 'Nothing can keep him from that job.'
She thanked all her Gods that James was okay. Thankfully there was no scarring, otherwise James would have had an ugly scar running from below his left ear all the way to the back of his neck, where the blade had cut him. She was brought out of her thoughts as Dumbledore stood up to start the meeting.
Draco sat up, interested to learn as much about the Order of the Phoenix as he could. He was determined to tell Harry everything so that Voldemort's supporters could gain an advantage.
Albus Dumbledore took his position in front of the tired looking group of people.
"Thank you all for coming." He started. He looked at the faces sitting before him before looking at James, Sirius and Kingsley. "It's true." He stated simply. "Voldemort has an heir."
Everyone in the Order sighed at this, knowing that their future selves wouldn't take the news well.
The atmosphere in the room changed almost instantly. Surprised gasps were echoed as were distressed sighs. James looked at Lily and tried to give her a small smile, to comfort her. It didn't work.
Just as the one he gave her now failed as well.
"How is this possible? How can no one know of his existence until now?" McGonagall asked.
"Because he was hidden away, and forced to keep his identity a secret." McGonagall sadly answered her future self's question.
"I don't know, Minerva but Severus has confirmed to me that the boy who killed Larry Hunt was in fact Voldemort's son. His true name is not known and so he is referred to as the Dark Prince." Dumbledore replied.
"I can't believe Voldemort managed to keep him a secret. This is just unbelievable." Tonks commented, shock written on her face.
"Yeah!" Tonks agreed. "I mean, keeping him secret from all of his followers can't have been easy!"
"I believe that Voldemort kept him a secret from his own men. He was revealed to the Death Eaters only two years ago.
"Then how come Snape didn't tell us about him?!" James demanded, looking rightfully furious with his childhood nemesis. "If this is some kind of petty payback, then I swear-"
"Honestly Potter, it's because I didn't know myself. I wasn't invited to the meeting, another sign that I don't have the Dark Lords full trust." Snape sneered.
James seemed content with that explanation, however Draco was shocked. Did that mean that his godfathers true loyalties lied with Dumbledore, and he was faking loyalty to the Dark Lord?
"You must have learnt about him after!" Sirius shot at Snape.
"Rumours I believed false-" Snape was cut off by Dumbledore this time.
"Severus you must report these things, wether you believe them false or not." Snape nodded once before looking away, frustrated.
Even now, no one has seen his face or knows his real name. Only the Death Eaters that are trusted and close to Voldemort have met with his son." Dumbledore said.
"Like Bella and Malfoy." Sirius stated.
"How come Snape didn't tell us about him?!" James asked at once.
"Because, Potter, I wasn't part of the meeting when he was revealed!" Snape answered back icily.
"You must have learnt about him afterwards." Sirius added in.
"There are many rumours floating around in that place. I didn't want to say anything until I saw anything with my own eyes." Snape curtly responded.
There were a few titters at the conversation in the book that was so similar to the one held moments before.
"So he's the one who has been killing all those Death Eaters? You were right. The Dark Prince has been killing on Voldemort's orders." Arthur Weasley asked.
Many winced, hating the truth in that statement.
Dumbledore looked at Snape before answering.
"It seems that the Death Eaters found murdered in their homes had misgivings with Voldemort. It seems that Voldemort sends his son out to carry out what he likes to call 'assignments' and gets rid of those he feels are threatening him or are in his way."
Lily shivered. Her boy was raised to kill.
Lily felt a shiver run up her spine. What a way for a child to be brought up.
"Do you know what age he is? Has he come of age yet?" Molly asked.
"No which means..." James trailed off, reluctant to finish his thought. Moody had no such problem, gruffly clarifying,
"It means that Potter can only grow more powerful, and dangerous."
"We need to get him as far away from Voldemort as possible before he comes of age." McGonagall shakily said. "Who knows what that boy will be able to do by then."
"We can't be certain but I think he is still under the age of seventeen. This is based on the information we have been able to gather." Here he gave Snape another appreciative nod before continuing.
"He works alone. That is why he was never seen during a raid. He doesn't work alongside the Death Eaters. There has only been one instance where he was with a team of Death Eaters." Dumbledore faltered here and it took him a moment to gather his words.
"What?" Lily said. "But Harry said that he only ever works alone?"
"I don't know." James shrugged. "Maybe when he was younger he needed protection?"
"It has been revealed that the Dark Prince was with the Death Eaters when they attacked the Longbottoms."
"No." Lily gasped. Molly raised a shaky hand to cover her mouth and McGonagall paled. Tonks looked shocked, and their were tears forming in her eyes as she thought of the two people who she had always looked up to in the Order.
Lily gasped out loud as did most of the room. She looked over at the two empty seats directly in front of her. Everyone in the room was looking in that direction as well.
"Oh Merlin, James..." Lily reached out a shaky hand to her husband, who gripped it like his life depended on it. He was praying to every god that he had ever heard of that Harry was only there, that he didn't do more...
"The Dark Prince was the one who tortured and killed the Longbottoms. He set them and their house on fire using a magical fire that killed them slowly, allowing them to be…burnt alive." Dumbledore stopped as he couldn't go on.
Lily burst into tears. James and Damien had tears silently slipping down their faces. The Order members looked like they had been slapped, even Dumbledore and Snape were pale as ghosts. The children looked like they couldn't believe it, couldn't believe that Harry, someone around their age could possibly do such a horrendous deed...
"Brainwashed he was-"
"Oh Merlin-"
"Twisted, cruel act-"
"Made Harry do it, he did-"
"Possibly-"
"He's just a boy-"
"Oh Merlin, Alice and Frank, he killed-"
"Didn't just kill, tortured them-"
"He didn't want to, surely-"
"Must have been forced to, must have been!"
Moodys reaction was the worst. While others frantically tried to convince themselves of Harrys innocence, he didn't bother.
"He's a monster." He hissed.
"We know, Voldemort is a vile, disgusting creature, twisting Harry's heart, making him do that-" Molly started.
"Not Voldemort." He turned to James and Lily, "Your boys a monster."
"Alastor, please-"
"NO!" He roared, cutting Dumbledore off. "YOU CANT DEFEND HIM! HE KILLED THEM! HE TORTURED AND KILLED FRANK AND ALICE! HE'S A MONSTER! JUST LIKE THE ONE HE CALLS FATHER! YOU CAN PRETEND HE CAN BE FIXED ALL YOU WANT DUMBLEDORE BUT THIS!" He shook his head, pointing to the book, "THIS PROVES THAT HE'S BEYOND REDEMPTION! HE'S A COLD BLOODED KILLER, WHO'S MORE LIKELY TO SLAUGHTER EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM AS HE IS TO JOIN US! AND I DON'T WANT HIM! I DON'T WANT HIM NEAR ME! YOU CAN ALL ACCEPT HIM IF YOU BLOODY WELL WANT BUT I WON'T!" He sat down heavily, and a tear slid down his scarred face. "Alice was like a daughter to me, and that, that thing killed her."
"Alastor-"
"Don't." This time it was Lily who cut Dumbledore off. She turned to Moody. "They were my friends, and to learn that my son killed them," she sobbed, before continuing shakily, "I-it kills me. Kills me. But I can't turn my back on him. I can't just not try to bring him back, he's my son, my baby boy, and I want him beside me. I need him back." She took a shaky breath, before continuing, fire in her eyes, "and what he has done is unforgivable, but so help me if you hurt my boy, you will pay."
"I'm not going to hurt him, I'm going to kill him."
Draco smiled, and was seen by Moody. "What you laughing at, boy?"
"You try to kill Harry, and he will kill you."
"I've taken down wizards tougher than him." Moody sneered.
"I've seen him duel Voldemort and win." Draco shrugged as people gaped.
"Alastor, Harry is important. We cannot win without him. I beg of you to put revenge aside, and-"
"I'm sorry, Albus, but this time you ask to much." Moody grimly looked down. "This boy is just another animal I'm going to put down."
Silence followed his promise.
After a while, Fred began to read, causing a few to jump at the sudden sound of his voice.
The tension in the room had become unbearable.
'Just like it is now.' Draco thought. 'I have to warn Harry to look out for Moody.' He didn't think to mention Lily Potters oddly protective behaviour, as he believed her to be acting for the sake of maintaining the image of a caring mother.
Suddenly every Auror had forgotten about Voldemort and his Death Eaters. They wanted the Dark Prince, to make him pay for the atrocious attack he had made on the Longbottoms.
After a moments hesitation, the majority (minus Moody) decided that this wasn't what they wanted. They knew that Harry had to be punished, to be educated on his wrongdoings, to be made to feel guilty, but they still placed their blame on the one who raised him to kill, who brainwashed him from a young age. They still blamed Voldemort.
Frank had been a fellow Auror and his wife Alice had also been a member of the Order. Their deaths had affected them all and now that they knew who was directly responsible, they would do anything to bring their killer to justice.
"And we will." Dumbledore said. "But he shall not be killed, nor physically punished." He turned to James and Lily, "with your permission, perhaps a few months in the Ministry prison."
"Yes." James said. "I think that would be for the best." Lily nodded in agreements, although she wasn't happy about it.
Lily fought the sob that was threatening to overtake her as she grabbed onto James' hand. Frank had been a good friend of James. When Harry had gone missing fifteen years ago, Frank and Alice had been there for her and James.
"Oh Harry, why?" Lily cried, clutching onto her husband as Fred continued to read.
They were good people and did not deserve to suffer such an ill fate. The fire had taken 48 hours to put out and in the end there was nothing left of the bodies but ashes.
"I know that this news is upsetting but we have to focus on what we have before us. This is a chance. If we can apprehend the Dark Prince then we can eliminate a good part of Voldemort's confidence. With the Dark Prince under arrest, we can easily get to Voldemort." Dumbledore explained.
"That's true. Why didn't we think of that?" Tonks muttered to Kingsley.
"We were too focused on getting Harry back, we didn't think about strategic advantages it could have." He replied.
At this point, Kingsley stood up.
"I am sorry to say this but we have not even been able to hurt him, let alone capture him. The boy is unpredictable. He uses spells that we have never even heard of. I don't think we can plan his capture."
"How do we do it then?" James asked.
"See what future us does, and improve on it?" Sirius suggested.
The atmosphere in the room was already solemn and at Kingsley's words it plunged another couple of notches down.
"Our only option is to study the boy. We can learn a lot from the way he battles." Moody said, giving his solution to the problem.
James stood up so that every eye was now on him.
"See, I think that's a problem. We don't have time on our side."
Everyone stared at James as he made this revelation.
"What do you mean 'we have no time' Potter!" snapped Snape.
"Oh piss of Snivellus." Sirius muttered.
Sirius growled a little at him but Lily quietened him by placing a hand on his arm.
"What I mean is simple, we have no time to study him, this boy is simply wiping the floor with us and he is not even seventeen yet. He only has the usual one third of his powers. If we don't capture him now then…well can you imagine what he will be like when he comes of age and gets his full powers?"
Bill whistled.
"Powerful?" Ron guessed.
"Very." Hermione clarified.
James' words took their effect as everyone had a look of pure terror and dread on their face.
"We need to know more information about him. We have to know what his weakness is, since everyone has at least one." Dumbledore said, as he eyed the Order's spy, Severus Snape.
"What could his be?" Ginny asked.
"Loyalty." Hermione said. She blushed as everyone looked at her. "Well, he's loyal to those who raised him, maybe that could be used against him?"
"Maybe." Sirius said, starting to get an idea.
Snape looked at the Headmaster and felt that this was the time to report on his findings. He stood up so that everyone had turned their attention to him.
"Well I think that everyone must realise his most obvious one, the Dark Lord." He paused to listen to the collective intake of breath. He continued. "I have found that the Dark Lord and the Dark Prince share a very close relationship. I have never seen the Dark Lord react to anyone the way he reacts to his son. Even the Dark Prince seems to be really connected to his father. He would gladly sacrifice himself if the Dark Lord asked him to."
"What are the chances we can ask Voldy to do that?" Sirius piped up. A few people chuckled nervously.
At these words, Sirius spoke up.
"What are the chances that we can ask You-Know-Who to do just that?"
The repetition of this joke caused a few to laugh. (Fred, George, Damien and Ron)
Lily looked at him sharply, honestly he had no sense at all.
"Hey." Sirius pretended to look offended, holding a hand over his heart dramatically. "You wound me Lily-flower."
"However" Snape continued after sending Sirius a glare. "I have found out that he is quite close to another one person. Bellatrix Lestrange." he looked straight into Sirius' eyes as he said the name of his cousin.
Sirius' eyes darkened and a blush crept up onto his cheeks.
Sirius blushed as everyone stared at him. He missed Bellatrix, and wished she had of come with him instead.
He and Bella had been very close when growing up but as they became young adults, Bella fell into the Black family's tradition, and took the Dark Mark. Sirius had to literally flee his home in order to save his life from his own family.
"You did?" Damien looked at Sirius.
"Yeah Pup. They weren't nice people." Sirius sighed sadly.
"Where did you go?" The boy questioned.
"To your dads, of course. I was always welcome at the Potters."
"And you always will be." James whispered to him as Fred continued reading.
James looked over at his best friend and noticed his jaw clenched and his fists in tight balls. He glared back at Snape. 'He could have worded that differently' he thought. 'Slimy git!'
Snape glared at James but didn't say anything.
Snape had a satisfied smirk on his face.
"It turns out that Bellatrix has brought up the boy and cares a great deal about him. Although the boy shows resistance to her, he secretly cares about her too. I had to spend considerable time as a certain inner circle Death Eater to get this information."
Snape paled slightly as the memory of being Lucius Malfoy came back to him. He had used up the whole supply of Polyjuice potion for that.
Draco scowled. 'So he isn't loyal.' He thought, making note to tell Harry.
"So you're saying that in order to get to the boy we have to either get to You-know-who or Bellatrix Lestrange?" asked Kingsley Shacklebolt a little sarcastically.
"Kingsley is incapable of sarcasm." Snorted Tonks. Remus laughed a little louder than most at that, turning pink at the knowing looks James and Sirius gave him.
Snape only responded by sending an icy glare his way and sat down. Albus Dumbledore looked sadly at the room full of defeated faces.
Sirius rounded on Snape again.
"How come you never saw the boy's face, I mean he can't walk around all day and night wearing that awful mask?"
"I didn't go anywhere near the boy. He would have surely been able to realise what was going on as he is very close to Malfoy!" Snape answered in a much clipped tone.
'Damn right he would.' Draco furiously thought.
"Thank you Severus. I know how hard this must have been for you to find out this information. Now we must come up with a foolproof plan."
"Easier said than done." Arthur muttered.
Slowly the room began to formulate plans on what they could do and how they would manage to trick Lord Voldemort's prodigy into capture.
Sirius slowly lifted himself from his chair and stood up. He looked directly at Albus Dumbledore.
"I have an idea." he said slowly, everyone had turned to stare at him.
"But I don't think you're going to like it."
Sirius shrugged at the curious looks he received. "Hey, it's the future, I don't know." Truthfully he had an idea of what future him was planning, but he decided to keep it to himself.
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I had way to much fun with alliteration in this chapter. Snape sneered, Sirius stated, Draco drawled, Sirius shot, Severus Snape snapped suddenly... way to much fun. I laughed hysterically for ages after unintentionally writing that last one, only stopping when I was called a 'crazy hyena' by a disgruntled family member. Anyway, hope you enjoyed, the letter is written in English below, and as always please review and definitely let me know your thoughts on the Merlin idea, I want to know if its worth writing or not.
(1)
Harry,
I write to you to inform you about an interesting, and exciting, turn of events in an otherwise boring day. Earlier I was summoned into a room like no other, in order to read a book. But this book, Harry it's about you! The other occupants in this room are miserable and not worth my time, or yours, however the disasters you have the misfortune of calling your biological parents are also here. I swear I shall endeavour to keep you informed as to what is happening, however I plead that you do not inform the Dark Lord about this, not yet anyway.
Regards,
Draco
Until next time
Mythology-Is-My-Religion.