The Falling
Darkness Rising
Chapter Three: Privet Drive
Harry, Hermione and the scouting party apparated into a back alley near Privet Drive. He knew that the isolation of the alley would minimize the number of Muggles that might see them arrive. Besides startling a cat that was resting behind a nearby trash bin, they had managed not to be seen. Mr. Granger had convinced him to wait until dusk had fallen to approach his aunt and uncle's home. Sirius and Mr. Weasley had also agreed that, unfortunately, waiting a few more hours wouldn't place his relatives in any greater danger if they were being held against their will.
They had discussed to exhaustion the best way to approach Number Four. If there were indeed Death Eaters lying in wait, they would need to find a way to flush them out. Harry's was the most outlandish idea. He proposed that he, Hermione and Sirius boldly stroll up to Number Four as bait while the remainder of the scouting party remain hidden under Disillusionment charms. They needed a way to draw out any Death Eaters that might be waiting in the shadows. To his amusement and dismay, it was the best plan that they could come up with.
As Harry, Hermione and Sirius turned up the street and onto Privet Drive, they kept their wands hidden. Bill, Fleur, Mr. Granger, Ron and Mr. Weasley followed, hidden under Disillusionment charms and at the ready—Mr. Granger hidden beneath Harry's invisibility cloak.
"Wards are completely gone and there's no signs of any detection spells," Sirius muttered, waving his wand towards the house under his robes as they approached.
"No sign of any greeters, either," Harry breathed, his eyes scanning the front yard as they walked up to the door.
Harry knocked and waited, but there were no sounds of life from within.
"Maybe they've gone out," Hermione offered.
"They'd never leave without the car, Hermione," Harry sighed, pointing at the car in front of the house. "My uncle would faint if he had to walk further than the end of the street."
Harry waved his hand in front of the door lock and focused his magic. Immediately, the door lock clicked as the door slowly swung open. He hadn't even bothered to look for the spare key, as the Dursleys had removed it once they knew he had found it. They had thoroughly enjoyed locking him out and forcing him to beg to be let in.
He hesitated as he stepped across the threshold; the house deathly quiet. He flicked on the light switch and slowly began to look around, his wand drawn and raised; something was definitely wrong.
"Greetings, Harry Potter," a high cold voice called down from the top of the stairs. Harry's wand tip snapped immediately to the top of the stairs—several curses dancing on the tip of his tongue. "Strike me down, Harry, and your relatives will be dead before my body hits the floor."
Harry watched as the demon, that once was a man, glided down the steps towards them in black robes that rippled about him. He stopped half-way down and glared merrily at them. His red snake-like eyes danced with delight. Harry saw no wand in sight, but held his at the ready, as did Hermione and Sirius. He could feel the tension pulsing off Hermione next to him while Sirius seemed to exude a feeling of coldness as he stared at the murderer of James and Lily Potter.
"I considered sending an owl, but I doubted that you would accept an invitation to meet," Voldemort mused as he continued to stare at them with delight.
"Don't expect me to lower my wand and surrender, Riddle," Harry retorted, almost smirking as he watched Voldemort's snake-like face twitch at the sound of his name. "My aunt, uncle and cousin were never my favorite Muggles."
"See, Harry, you and I do have something … well, several things actually in common," Voldemort said, smiling darkly.
"We have nothing in common," Harry spat.
"Not true," Voldemort retorted. "You see, we both have a level of loathing for the Muggle world. We are both meant for greatness beyond the comprehension of the feeble minds that surround us. We both have followers that look to us as their future and we both have murderers within our ranks."
Harry felt the tension rise quickly from Sirius and Hermione at Voldemort's last statement. He wasn't certain what Voldemort's game was, but he wasn't about to play along.
"Why did you lure us here?" Harry growled, feeling his patience coming to an end. "Tell us before I decide exactly how I feel about the Dursleys."
"There's that darkness I saw at the Ministry," Voldemort cooed in delight. "As for these Muggles … I assure you that I can sympathize with your disgust. Ginnevra has told us how they treated you. Filth, I believe, is the word she used to describe them. I had to leave Bella with her just to make sure she didn't do them in."
Harry stared speechless at the demon before him.
"Don't look so surprised, Harry Potter," Voldemort continued. "We are playing a very similar game, indeed. Now, before we go any further, have Ms. Granger send the group outside away. They need not die here tonight."
Harry swallowed hard as his anger rose even higher. Somehow, Voldemort was several steps ahead of him and he had walked directly into the snake's coils.
"Do it, Hermione," Harry breathed.
Hermione's face was contorted with rage as she reached inside her pocket. A second later, Harry felt the fake galleon in his own pocket burn.
"Now, where were we," Voldemort sighed smoothly. "Ah … yes. I admit that I was quite surprised myself to hear of Dumbledore's death. It wasn't a move that I expected from the Boy-Who-Lived, but that is why I say that we belong side-by-side. We can bring this world to its knees together – the prophecy be damned."
"You think that I killed Dumbledore and that I would join you?" Harry retorted, chuckling darkly. "That why you haven't killed us yet? You're mad, Riddle. Just as mad as the version of you I met in the Chamber of Secrets."
Voldemort shook his head. "Come now, Harry. I bear the burden of every drop of magical blood that is spilled by my followers. Do you believe that you're somehow above this? Has Dumbledore's Greater Good rubbish finally gotten to you as well?"
"You think that I would order one of my Alliance to murder Albus Dumbledore?" Harry asked, frowning. He wasn't sure what else to say, but he was truly beginning to believe that Voldemort had nothing to do with Dumbledore's death.
"Even if you did not, they acted on your behalf. All to protect the Chosen One. They believe that you can save them. Ginnevra once believed that you would save her. Just like her, you will fail them all."
"Don't listen to him, Harry," Sirius hissed. "He's just trying to confuse you—get inside your head."
"Go ahead, Harry," Voldemort breathed, his eyes reduced to slits. "Let the darkness out. Strike me down and allow Ginnevra to slay the Muggles. You know you want to. Avenge your parents."
Voldemort was taunting him now—daring him to strike. Harry could feel his magic surge as his anger rose. He would not give in, no matter the cost.
"Harry," Hermione whispered, a pleading in her voice.
"I won't play your bloody game, Riddle," Harry spat. "If the Dursleys die tonight, it won't be because of me!"
Electricity flooded the room as his magic surged. The explosion cracked the walls as a jet of purple light burst from his outstretched wand. Faster than the eye could process, Voldemort drew his wand, deflecting the spell as it shoved him backwards. The demon fired off several curses, forcing Sirius and Hermione to break down the hallway towards the kitchen.
"If the Dursleys die tonight, Harry Potter, it will be because of you!" A feral smile spread across Voldemort's face and Harry felt his blood run cold. "As for my game—you have no choice but to play."
"I'll play it my way then!"
Harry sent another curse up the stairs before breaking for the cupboard under the stairs. Sliding on his back, he aimed his wand up. "Bombarda!"
The wooden staircase above him exploded, a shard of wood striking him in his shoulder before he could get his shield charm up. Large planks of wood bounced off his shield as he scrambled up and out of the way. To his delight, a wounded Voldemort rose to his feet at the base of what was once the staircase, holding his left arm.
"There it is … the darkness."
"Careful what you wish for, Riddle! Confringo!"
Suddenly, there was a loud crack and a figure appeared between he and Voldemort. The cloaked figure deflected the spell before lowering their hood. Harry felt as though his mind had gone. Between he and Voldemort now stood himself. Both Hermione and Sirius gasped behind him. His mind was racing as he tried to make sense.
"It is done, my Lord," the figure said in Harry's voice, bowing to Voldemort.
The figure then glanced at Harry and smiled, causing dread to fill him.
"Amazing how valuable a single hair can be."
"Pollyjuice," Hermione choked.
"What have you done, Riddle?" Harry roared, his mind finally catching up.
"You shall find out soon enough."
"I'll find out now!" Harry shouted, aiming his wand at his doppelganger. "Confringo!"
Purple light burst from the end of Harry's wand as his doppelganger deflected the spell once more. Hermione and Sirius reacted as well, casting curses in Voldemort's direction. With lightning fast reflexes, Voldemort deflected their spells. The house groaned as the assault took its toll upon the weakened structure. Harry smiled as he launched a fury of curses at Voldemort, drawing his enemy's attention.
Shouts from outside the house confirmed that Voldemort wasn't alone. The rest of the scouting party had been warned not to use the fake galleons to communicate while at Privet Drive, thus ignoring Hermione's message. Harry had been concerned for a while that Ginny's fake galleon might have fallen into Death Eater hands after being arrested by the Ministry. Voldemort's actions confirmed his theory.
Suddenly, more Death Eaters apparated into the Dursley sitting room and began to flank them.
"We need to get back outside and regroup!" Sirius shouted, casting a shield charm towards the door to the sitting room.
"No!" Harry shouted, whipping his wand up towards the sitting room ceiling. "Bombarda!"
A jet of light exploded from the end of Harry's wand like a cannon blast. Immediately, the upper floor began to fall upon the Death Eaters below. He would bring Number Four down upon Voldemort's head before he'd allow them to leave.
"Let the darkness rise, Potter!" Voldemort shouted triumphantly.
Before Harry could react, Voldemort and the fake Harry disapparated with a loud crack.
"This is bad, Harry!" Hermione exclaimed, looking about at the ceiling which threatened to fall at any moment. "We've got to leave!"
"We've got to make a run for it," Sirius said, looking anxious.
Harry reached the door, but was blown backwards as the door imploded with an almighty boom. He heard Hermione scream and Sirius yell out as his back found the floor with a dull thud. He pushed himself up as fast as he could, ignoring the pain in his left hand, and quickly scanned the swirling dust. Hermione had flown into the sitting room wall and Sirius had found what was left of the stairs. The ceiling above him creaked ominously and he knew they had to move.
Harry grabbed a hold of Hermione and pulled her to her feet. Sirius was already back up and pushing Harry towards the gaping hole that was once a door. They toppled through the hole to the outside just as the second floor collapsed onto the first.
"Harry!" Bill shouted, rushing over to them. "What the bloody hell happened in there?"
"No time to explain," Harry replied, trying to catch his breath. "Is everyone okay?"
"Several Death Eaters appeared, but we were able to hold them off. Then as quickly as they arrived they were gone."
"We need to get back to Black Palace," Sirius coughed. "The Muggle and Magical authorities will be here any minute. Neither's arrival will be pleasant, I can assure you."
"You okay, angel?" Mr. Granger asked as he checked on Hermione.
"I'm alright, Dad. We've got to go."
A loud crack marked the arrival of a dozen witches and wizards that formed a circle around Harry the other members of the Alliance, their wands drawn. The scouting party responded in kind by forming a smaller circle and pointing their wands at the newcomers—Mr. Granger drawing his gun.
"Harry Potter!" a tall blond-haired wizard yelled. "Drop your wand immediately by orders of the Ministry!"
"What right have you to arrest my godson?" Sirius demanded as he stepped between the Auror and Harry.
"Lord Black, your godson is coming with us," the Auror stated firmly. "He is charged with the murder of twenty Ministry officials in an attempt to assassinate Madam Bones."
"That's a bloody lie!" Ron growled. "Harry hasn't even been near the Ministry tonight! He's been with us the whole time!"
"Silence!" the blond-haired wizard snapped. "He and a group of hooded figures were at the Ministry tonight. Matter of fact," a dark smirk covered the wizard's face "the report said that he was accompanied by seven cloaked figures."
"Harry," Hermione whispered, "he's the wizard that was watching me on Fleet Street. I'm sure of it."
"So much then for reasoned discussion," Harry breathed, setting his chin.
Red lights burst all around the circle as the Aurors opened fire upon Harry and the Alliance. The Alliance responded by producing shields to deflect the stunners. Mr. Granger pulled his cloak about him to deflect any spells before instinctively returning fire. The use of a Muggle firearm completely caught the Aurors off guard as he was able to drop two by shooting them in the legs. The rest immediately produced shields and broke formation.
"Everyone grab hold of me!" Harry shouted as he raised his wand hand.
The Alliance and Mr. Granger grabbed hold of Harry just as Fawkes appeared above them. The surrounding Aurors watched in awe as the group disappeared in a swirl of fire.
~~~Darkness Rising~~~
"What the bloody hell happened?" Rufus Scrimgeour demanded, Head of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement.
"One of the wizards had a Muggle firearm," the blond-haired Auror replied. "He caught us completely off-guard."
"Off-guard? You're Aurors! You deal with Muggles all the time! How did this catch you off-guard?"
"We weren't prepared for a Muggle response," the blond wizard replied, looking sheepishly. "We use a different approach for Muggles. He must have been a Muggleborn."
"I don't care if he was a centaur!" Scrimgeour shouted, pounding his fist on his desk. "Tighten your game, Mr. Yaxley. I want Mr. Potter arrested and his associates brought in for questioning."
"Yes sir. We won't be caught off guard again."
Silence filled the room and Yaxley recognized his dismissal. He got up and walked silently from Scrimgeour's office, closing the door behind him. Instead of heading to his office though, he headed up to the Atrium. He nodded to the Aurors that were now guarding the entrance to the Ministry as he proceeded to exit topside to Muggle London.
Night had fallen and the London streets outside the Ministry were vacant of life. Yaxley lit a cigarette, drawing on it slowly as he contemplated what new levels of difficulty would be set in place by Scrimgeour. He had wondered if his newly appointed boss would seize the opportunity to rise to the highest office in the Ministry or if he would hold to the line and do whatever he could to protect the Madam Minister. The answer was unfortunate and clear. Scrimgeour had a good heart and a moral compass. If he could not be turned or Imperiused, there would only be one other option.
"Having a rough day?" a man asked, strolling casually up to Yaxley.
"Enjoying your holiday, Lucius?" Yaxley retorted, flicking ashes in the man's direction.
"There are no holidays while in the service of the Dark Lord. What have you to report?"
"Scrimgeour has six Aurors guarding the Madam Minister round the clock and has demanded that Potter be caught. I took a beating for letting them get away."
"Better to suffer being reproved by the Ministry than to suffer the wrath of the Dark Lord," Malfoy sighed.
"What do you think the Potter brat will do?"
"My wager is that Potter makes a run for it. The Dark Lord believes that Potter will turn himself in order to clear his name. If he does, you know what to do."
"I know what to do," Yaxley retorted, biting the inside of his lip.
"Well then, enjoy your cigarette," Malfoy smirked as he strolled away.
Yaxley would have loved nothing more than to have cursed the smirk off Malfoy's disguised face. Unfortunately, he also knew what would happen to him if he did. He threw his cigarette down on the ground and stomped it before heading back into the Ministry.
~~~Darkness Rising~~~
Hermione felt and heard her trainers hit hardwood floor as the swirling flames dissipated. Shouts rang out throughout the dining room, alerting Black Palace to their arrival.
"What happened?" Cassie shouted, sounding concerned as she raced over to Sirius.
"It was a bloody trap!" Harry roared, kicking over a nearby chair.
"Voldemort got the best of us," Sirius explained in a slightly calmer voice. "It was all a ploy to lure Harry out into the open."
"What did he do?" Mr. Lovegood asked, his tone somewhere between concerned and excited.
"He attacked the Ministry tonight," Harry spat "One of his bastard Death Eaters, disguised as me, attempted to murder Madam Bones."
Silence filled the room at Harry's proclamation. Her dad placed his firearm back into its holster before picking up the chair that Harry had assaulted and sat down. The rest of the Alliance followed suit, taking seats at the long table. Ron didn't even attempt to hide his intentions as he took Luna's hand in his as he sat next to her.
"Voldemort has Harry's relatives. He kept us busy while he waited for his Death Eaters to finish their attack," Sirius said, breaking the silence. "We had no idea what he was up to until it was too late."
Mr. Weasley wiped his face with his hands. "We knew that something was wrong when Hermione sent the message for us to leave. We were on guard when the Death Eaters arrived."
Fleur sighed, "Ze Aurors were a bit of a surprise." She laid her head on Bill's shoulder.
"Aurors?" the twins repeated in unison.
"Yeah," Harry interjected, folding his arms and leaning against the table, "a dozen Aurors showed up, led by a possible Death Eater, and attempted to arrest me. Now, every last one of you that were with me tonight are fugitives."
"It's not your fault. You had no idea—"
Harry slammed his fist into the table. "I should have, Sirius! He did it with Hermione's parents and now he's trying to do it with the Dursleys."
"This might be a bad idea, but—"
"Sounds like there's been plenty of bad ideas tonight, Weasley," Mad-Eye Moody growled as he entered the room. "Went and shot some Aurors tonight, did ya?"
"Hello Mad-Eye," Bill groaned sarcastically. "When did you get here? You have such a knack for blending in I almost didn't hear you enter."
Moody stumped his way across the floor. "Stuff it, Weasley. This is no laughing matter. Scrimgeour has classified Potter as priority one. The Prophet will have Potter marked as the next Dark Lord by the morning." Moody took a seat next to Ron just as Professor McGonagall entered the room. "Tell me what happened tonight."
Bill scowled at Moody. "Not sure if this is an Order matter, Mad-Eye."
"What do you mean by that, Mr. Weasley?" Professor McGonagall asked, frowning.
Hermione was curious as to why Bill would say that as well. She glanced at Harry who was staring at Bill, a small smirk curving his face.
"I simply mean that the more people involved, the more chances of leaked information."
"You think that there be spies amongst the Order?" Moody growled. "What about yer Alliance, aye?"
"Can you trust everyone in your ranks, Mad-Eye? I'm sorry. I forgot. You don't trust anyone. You probably think Harry is guilty and we're all covering it up!"
"Bill!" Mr. Weasley exclaimed, standing up.
"Not much merit coming from a wizard surrounded all day long by goblins!" Moody snapped, rising to his feet. His magical eye was a blur as it scanned the room.
Bill rose to his feet as well, his arms folded defiantly. "Awfully quick with the inside information from the Ministry. Who does the Order have in the Ministry's inner circle?"
"Wouldn't tell you if we did!"
Professor McGonagall sent up several fireworks from the end of her wand. "Gentlemen! Please calm down! I think we all need to take a deep breath and relax."
Bill, Arthur and Mad-Eye sat back down, but it was clear to Hermione by the look on Harry's face that he had taken all he cared to for the night.
"Forgive me Professor, but I'll pass," Harry said coldly. "I'm done talking and I'm done listening."
Without another word, Harry walked out of the room.
~~~Darkness Rising~~~
Hermione sighed as she leaned against the bottom of the staircase while waiting for Harry to finish taking a shower. She could hear the water still running upstairs. She knew that he needed the time alone to clear his head after all that had happened.
"Hermione."
She looked up to see Sirius standing in front of her.
"The meeting over?"
"Wasn't much of a meeting. Harry kind of sucked the energy out of the room with his dramatic exit."
"He's upset. We're all upset."
"You need to go up there and talk to him, Hermione," Sirius sighed, his voice sounding off. "He needs to hear it from you."
Hermione frowned, "What are you talking about?"
"Dumbledore's death. You need to tell him."
Hermione felt as though her heart had stopped inside her chest. She stared at Sirius, unable to speak.
"I'm a Marauder. I helped create the Marauder's Map. In my room at Grimmauld Place, I have an enchanted book that keeps a log of everyone who enters and leaves—even by portkey."
"Why keep it to yourself if you think that I had something to do with Dumbledore's death?" Hermione asked, barely above a whisper.
"Not my place to tell or to judge. However, I do understand why. My advice is, that you tell Harry before he figures it out."
Hermione couldn't find the words, so she simply nodded her response before turning to head up the stairs and have the conversation that she knew was coming. She paused when she felt Sirius' hand on her shoulder.
"He loves you, Hermione. He'll listen to you."
Hermione could only nod as she continued to head up the staircase—her mind racing through all the possible ways Harry might react. She heard the water stop as she approached his room, her heart thumping in her chest as she pushed open the door. Harry was sitting on the side of his bed, wearing only a black pair of jogging pants and rubbing his hair with a towel.
"Harry."
"Hey Hermione." Harry smiled in greeting before dropping his head again. "Sorry I ran out."
"You've got nothing to apologize for," Hermione retorted, shutting the door and sitting down beside him. "Everyone understands why."
"Wish they'd explain it to me then."
Hermione took his hand in hers. "You got hit hard tonight. We all did. We underestimated Voldemort and now we're going to pay for it."
"He played my emotions tonight. He had me questioning everyone before I came to my senses."
"He knew too much tonight about the Alliance," Hermione interjected, mustering her courage. "He was too many steps ahead of us."
"Don't tell me you believe that bit about one of us murdering Dumbledore," Harry retorted, looking at her incredulously.
Hermione withdrew her wand and cast a silencing charm upon the door. She then looked down at her knees and squeezed his hand tightly.
"What aren't you telling me, Hermione?"
"I did it!" Hermione sobbed, tears pouring from her eyes. "I went to St Mungo. I used your invisibility cloak. I did it to protect you!"
"You?" Harry asked, barely above a whisper.
Hermione could only nod as she continued to sob, her eyes closed tight. Her hands shook as he pulled his hand free from hers before wrapping his arms around her.
"Please forgive me!" Hermione sobbed. "I'm a horrid person and I don't deserve you."
"I was going to do it."
Hermione hiccupped as she forced herself to cease her crying before daring to look at him.
"What did you say?"
"I was going to kill Albus Dumbledore to protect you and everyone else from him." Harry's eyes bored into hers. "I secretly hoped at the Ministry that he wouldn't recover from his injuries."
"Oh Harry!" Hermione cried, throwing her arms around him. "What's happened to us?"
"In a sick and twisted way, Dumbledore won," Harry sighed, his voice sounding cold. "He became the martyr and left behind an army that would one day finish the fight—no matter the cost. We're still his pawns."
Hermione's hands shook. "What do we do? Do we tell the others what I did?"
"No," Harry replied firmly, pushing her back so that he can look at her yet still holding on. "This secret must remain between us. Let Dumbledore remain a martyr. Something like this could tear the Alliance apart."
"Sirius already knows. He confronted me before I came up to talk to you."
Harry swallowed hard and Hermione wasn't sure what was going through his mind.
"We'll talk to him later," Harry said, biting his lower lip. "This has to remain quiet."
"What about what happened at the Ministry tonight?"
"I'm not sure what to do," replied Harry, running a hand through his hair.
"One thing you're not doing is turning yourself in," Hermione growled, her eyes narrowing.
A sheepish smile curved his face. "It only crossed my mind for a second when we were downstairs. You know me too well."
"Not well enough," she sighed, standing up and folding her arms. "I didn't know you enough to tell you what I'd done. It took Sirius to make me see that."
Hermione jumped as Harry stood up, grabbed a tea cup off the nightstand and cursed as he tossed it against the wall. "He played me! That bloody bastard lured me in!"
She touched his arm and his shoulders slumped.
"Sorry," he muttered.
She pulled him into a tight embrace and could feel his heart pounding. "It's okay, Harry. The Alliance is still behind you. I'm still here. I love you. Sirius loves you."
Hermione relaxed as he wrapped his arms about her. They stood there for several minutes in silence—swaying softly. While they stood there, the words from her dream floated through her mind.
As surely as the sun will rise in the east, you will kill Harry Potter.
She shuddered at the thought, worrying that Harry might question why. Instead, he tightened his embrace—comforting her. Mustering her courage, she pulled away just enough to look him in the eyes.
"Harry, I had a dream."
~~~Darkness Rising~~~
A pristine man in a pin-striped suit walked slowly past the barricades that surrounded Number Four Privet Drive. The London Fire Brigade worked tirelessly, searching the rubble for clues as to what had transpired. They didn't seem to notice the man as he passed around the outskirts of the house and into the backyard.
"Gas explosion, I'd wager. Happens a lot these days."
"Good thing nobody was home. Neighbors said they took an abrupt vacation."
"Gas explosion my good eye," a man wearing a hooded cloak growled, as he joined the man in the pin-striped suit. "Muggles can be—"
The pristine man groaned, "Alastor … the firemen are doing their best with the knowledge they have available. They couldn't possibly comprehend what is transpiring in the world around them. As far as they know, this was but a simple gas leak which resulted in the destruction of said structure."
"A lot of words, Albus, to state the obvious," Moody grunted, scanning the area with his magical eye. "Ministry must have recovered the bodies before the Muggles arrived."
"You mean the Death Eaters."
"No difference these days, Albus. We're the ones in hiding now. What do you think our pale-face foe is playing at? He knows that Harry would never turn himself in."
"I do not believe that this was a way to apprehend Harry. Oh no. Tom is playing a much grander game. His intentions are to either turn the Wizarding world against Harry or to turn he against them."
"What if he turns, Albus? The brat has somehow become quite powerful and has a loyal following. You prepared to have two dark lords?"
"I have no fear of Harry rising to become the next dark lord. He will rise up and cast down our enemies in a fearsome war. In the end, I shall rise from the ashes and cast down both—bringing peace to the Wizarding world once more. The greater good shall prevail. In the meantime, we will guide him from the shadows and Ms. Granger has become an unexpected asset. We shall use his love for her to focus his resolve."
"The kid's always been nothing more than a martyr to you."
"Sympathy, Alastor?"
"Sometimes I wonder who's more twisted … you or snake-face."
Dumbledore straightened his suitcoat. "Alas, Alastor, so do I. Did you bring what I asked?"
"Don't bloody understand why, but yeah."
"You will understand soon enough. Time to plant the seeds."
A/N: New update at last! Hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. Thanks for reading. Hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please leave a review and let me know what you thought.
I've added a Recommended Reads list to my profile. Check it out! (No self-promotion, I promise!)
Updated: 6/9/2019