Harry Potter and the Stone's Heart

Chapter 8 – Declaration of War

"Captain Potter? Am I intruding?"

"No, not at all," Harry said, looking up and seeing Saltina standing at his door. "Please, come in." He waited for her to sit on the chair opposite to him. "How can I help you, Senior Unspeakable?" He noticed that while she wore her Unspeakable robes, long and heavy looking robes colored in a shimmering grey, they were open and she wore the clothes that she had transfigured that day of the questioning of the Muggle smugglers underneath and her wristband was meticulously tied to her left wrist.

She frowned lightly. "That sounds odd, coming from you, for some reason. I know you say it as a form of respect, but it feels strange."

Harry blinked. "How do people in your department address you?"

"Senior Unspeakable," she said. Her eyes unfocussed slightly, lips pursed in thought, and missed Harry's open confusion. Her eyes focused back on him and she smiled. "I would very much prefer for you to call me Croatia. I have heard that relaxing of titles promotes a closer relationship."

"It can," Harry agreed, still slightly wrongfooted. "Would you like to call me Potter?"

"I rather like calling you Captain Potter, but will call you Captain for short. It's so very grand of a title and suits you well," she replied happily.

Harry got the vaguest sense of déjà vu and decided to simply go with it. "Sounds good to me," he said with a small nod and smile. "What can I do for you, Croatia?"

She beamed at his use of her name. "Ah yes, I am happy to report that I have made a discovery on the composition of the Slow-Go drug."

"Please, go on," Harry said, pushing his work aside and giving her his full attention.

"Oh I like that, you focus very well," she admired. "But yes. For the longest time, the examiners were trying to distill the drug into base elements to divine the contents. The problem with that was that everyone kept getting different compositions, even the same person doing the same test. Many different distillation techniques were used and while some components were consistent, others weren't."

Harry frowned at that. "How can that be the case?"

"I first thought that perhaps the drug was being made with differing recipes, which would mean it comes from different sources. Which would also mean that there would be differences in quality based on who made it, which would be criminally inefficient," she sniffed with professional affront, making Harry smile.

"Which could be the case if you assume the operation is sloppy. But that would also mean lack of quality control, which nothing so far has shown that the operation is sloppy or doesn't pay attention to detail," Harry mused.

"Precisely. I then had the idea to test the drug that was captured from the Muggle smugglers and it was in fact diluted in strength and efficacy. However, there I made my breakthrough. The solution that was used to dilute the drug was distilled water, not a weakening solution or any other way we normally dilute a potion."

"Probably to make it easier for the Muggles to use," Harry said, looking intrigued.

"My thoughts as well. I was able to gain a more comprehensive list of components and ingredients from the diluted sample and compared it to the other samples we have. From there, I and others were able to decide on a lot of the materials that we call foundational components, the base components that the potion is built upon."

She smiled triumphantly. "From there, I found that the drug is in fact a combination of potions as much as its own potion. Hence the difficulty in figuring out the ingredients."

"Brilliant. That's amazing," Harry said admiringly.

"Thank you! It's been a challenge but a welcome one." She gave him a piece of paper with things written on it. "I am still doing more testing, but this is what I believe to be the main components of the Slow-Go."

Harry read it. "A numbing potion, an anesthetic potion, a mixing solution, and some other things."

"The mixing solution is designed to combine different potions and allow them to act in concert," Croatia said. "I believe the clouded glasswort we found was also a veiling component, included to hide things and make examining the substance difficult. Which it has been."

"Wouldn't a numbing potion and the anesthetic do the same thing?" he asked.

"More or less," she agreed. "But they act in different ways so combining them does more together without doing too much and causing an effect that would be more detrimental."

"Aside from the fact that it's a drug and has been causing a lot of damage as it is," Harry said dryly.

"Correct, which is why I said more detrimental," Croatia said plainly. "For example, I believe one of the components here, powdered horned snake fang, is what helps induces the euphoric symptoms. Certain types of snake venom are known to cause delirium and or euphoria."

"Wouldn't the potions make that worse?"

"In this case, surprisingly not. The venom acts like the potions do on the body and if the potions are interfering with the system first, then the major danger of the venom in the fangs is nearly eliminated, leaving only the euphoria." Croatia shrugged lightly. "It's actually a well-crafted potion, all things considered. Must have had a lot of testing."

"Opium poppy," Harry said, reading from the list. "That's used in Muggle narcotics and pain relievers, I learned that from Chief Inspector Steele." He looked at her. "Do a lot of potions have those as an ingredient?"

"Many of the old ones yes, brought over by Roman Magicals," Croatia said. "Since then, however, it is rarely used in most potions. The side effects are not desired."

"Are you still doing tests?"

She nodded. "Yes. While I am confident in this list, I am not certain. Some parts of it still bother me slightly, as in there is something more to it. It is one of my primary projects right now and I will keep you informed of my findings as I confirm them."

"Thank you," he said gratefully.

"No, thank you for the opportunity to do something so interesting." She rose gracefully to her feet. "Until next time, Captain." She saluted him and left the office, humming a tune.

Harry watched her leave the office. He noticed how her walk had changed since the last time he saw her, how she was almost like the other Aurors. Then with the way how casually yet comfortably said 'captain', it made for an interesting thought. He shook his head and went back to his work, grateful for some more light shining on the shadowy details that surrounded him as of late.

-0-

Harry walked down Diagon Alley and looked around. Ever since hearing from Sauveterre, he had informed the regular patrols of Diagon to be on the lookout for anything out of the norm. So far, no one had noticed anything and there had not been an influx of foreign magicals. If anything, things were very calm and quiet.

Thankfully.

He walked down the street, nodding to acquaintances and friendly faces, exchanging a word in greeting with many people. He finally reached the Cauldron and walked in, approaching the bar.

"Hello Captain," a smiling wizard said from behind it, greeting him. "Can I get you anything?"

"A Fickle Fizz please, Donald, thank you," Harry said, smiling back. "And a sandwich of some kind, something I can eat on the go. What's good today?"

"We have a really nice meatloaf today," Donald said, putting a bottle on the counter in front of Harry. "How about that in a sandwich? We can put a bit of mash on it and some of the roast veg and the gravy. Light on the gravy so it's not too messy."

"Sounds perfect," Harry said. "And if Hannah's free, I'd like to talk to her."

"I'll let her know!" Donald walked into the kitchen as Harry drank his bottle of Fizz. He smiled as the very tart lemon flavor became a smoother sweet taste of grape as he drank, before turning back to tart once more.

"Hi Harry," Hannah smiled, walking out and wiping her hands clean on a towel.

"Hi Hannah," Harry smiled back. "How're things?"

"Good. A smidge slow during the day but bustling at night."

"Have you had a lot of new guests staying here?"

Hannah shook her head. "No, why?"

"There might be some people in the country," Harry said, pitching his voice low. "People we're on the lookout for. Foreign Magicals that are here as mercenaries." He gave her some photographs. "Last known pictures of them."

Hannah frowned at them. "I haven't had any new reservations for big groups of people but I'll keep an eye out. Most of the people that stay are regulars that have been with the usual new people, but no one that made me think of them suspiciously. No one that looks like these people either."

"Good. Give me a heads up if you get a lot of reservations from people that give you a worried feeling," Harry said softly. "And if you could, ask the hotel owners in Diagon."

"I'll do that right after lunch," Hannah promised. "And show them the pictures."

"Thanks." He let out a sigh. "Everything else okay?"

She nodded. "We're good." She turned thoughtful for a moment. "A lot of Gryffindors have been in and out lately. Lots of them meeting and reminiscing."

"Oh, that's good," Harry said, wincing a little. "I wasn't aware."

"You've been working hard," Hannah said sympathetically. "They weren't excluding you, really. Especially when there was a rumor that her death wasn't natural. They knew you were the one to find that out."

Harry rubbed his eyes. "It ended up being ruled as natural. Nothing came up."

"But you don't think so?"

Harry sighed again. "I mean, I'm glad it was and wish it wasn't. I can't find anyone to hold accountable save for…well nature and time."

"Yeah, I understand that," Hannah said with a small sad smile.

He nodded in thanks when she gave him a new bottle of Fizz. "Everyone looked okay?"

"More or less. Everyone was upset to different degrees of course," Hannah said. She sighed. "Lavender and Dennis are taking it really hard. They were the last to talk to her before she passed we think."

"I should reach out to them more," he replied.

"You're doing all you can do and more," Hannah said soothingly.

"It doesn't feel it sometimes," he sighed again. "Thanks Donald." He took the bag from him and sniffed the air appreciatively. "Smells great."

"I'll let you know if I hear anything," Hannah said. "Take care of yourself out there."

"I will, thanks Hannah. See you later." Harry left the Cauldron and bit into the sandwich, chewing thoughtfully as he walked back down the alley.

-0-

Padma walked into her office with a smile. "Oh boy, you're about to ask me to do more work, aren't you?"

"Am I that transparent?" Harry asked, grinning back.

"Only when you buy lunch for the department and bring me a pizza," Padma smiled, taking the pizza from him and taking out a slice. "Sorry, I'm starving," she said, biting into it.

"Don't mind me," Harry smiled. "No thank you, I had a great sandwich from the Cauldron a bit ago," he said when she offered him a slice.

"What can I do for you?" Padma asked, sitting in her chair and eating hungrily.

"You were one of the first to be treating the people that came in with Slow-Go, right?"

She nodded. "I think so. I was so confused when I was doing the initial examination. Lethargic but lucid, clearly under the influence of something but not the usual intoxication profiles or potion sickness. The patient was brought in by a significant other if I recall. They were worried about their sudden strange behavior." She waved her wand and a filing cabinet opened and a series of charts floated over. She went through them while still eating and pulled one out. She read it and nodded. "Yup. That's it."

"And was it that sudden?"

"She thought so. She did mention the patient having smaller bouts of the symptoms that went away quickly but then he was in that state which was a lot worse than any time before. Why she brought him here to the hospital." Padma picked up a second slice. "Then all of a sudden, we got hit with so many patients presenting with the same symptoms. Finally found the substance in their system and knew they were all related."

"Could you go back further, before that first incident?" Harry asked. "Looking through past records?"

"I certainly could," Padma said. "But this was the first time we had a patient with these symptoms. Why would I go back?"

"Well I had a thought. One of the Senior Unspeakables has done some work and has figured out some of the potion composition and they said it was a well-crafted potion that probably involved a lot of testing. They think they have a tentative list." He handed her a copy.

"Huh, seeing it laid out like this, it makes sense," Padma said, reading the list. "Oh, so if there were testing, maybe there were patients that presented with symptoms that could be caused by these, and not necessarily the product we know how it is now."

"Exactly," Harry said. "And I was talking to Luna the other day and she made a remark about going back to roots, which made me think of this more."

"At the very least, it won't be hard," Padma said. "Just time consuming. Luckily I have a few interns that could do it."

"Thanks Pads," Harry said with a grateful smile.

"You're welcome," Padma smiled back. "And with this, we can figure out a better treatment for it." She sighed and shook her head. "We're still getting people coming in with these symptoms in overdose. Not as much as before, thank goodness, but still more than I'd like to see."

"You'll be the first to know when the final list is complete," Harry promised.

"Good. Then we'll know how to counter it directly. Then you'll come down on the maker like an insulted hippogriff and we can hopefully never have to deal with it again," she said.

"You think too highly of me," Harry laughed, getting up and hugging her goodbye before he walked to the door.

"Yeah? Who's the best Healer in your estimation?" Padma asked, raising an eyebrow at him.

"You," he said honestly.

"Then I think of you in equal regard," she said without hesitation.

"Even with Ron and Susan in the Corps?" Harry smiled.

Padma laughed merrily. "Susan and I are pals and Ron apologized for that disastrous Yule Ball date. We were kids anyways so no lingering hard feelings."

"Only hard feelings from after you two dated years ago," Harry teased.

"Not even then," Padma protested, shaking a hand at Harry. "And what do you know?" she asked, narrowing an eye at him.

"Not much and nothing I'd tell Parv," Harry smiled.

"You better not!" Padma laughed.

-0-

"Master Harry has returned at a reasonable hour and not due to meeting anyone here," Kreacher observed when Harry returned to Grimmauld that evening. "Unless they are coming?"

"No, not tonight. And yeah, I was out a lot in the afternoon and got a lot done." Harry sat down with a slight groan of weariness and closed his eyes. "Decided to just come back instead of going back to the office." He sighed in the ensuing silence. "I can see you roll your eyes," Harry said, his eyes still closed.

"Of course you can, Master Harry," Kreacher said with sarcastic propriety. "What would Master Harry like to eat for dinner?"

"Something simple please. Soup and bacon butty?"

"Easily done." Kreacher tilted his head. "Why is Master Harry…buzzing?"

"Oh, my phone." Harry fished out the cell phone and smiled when Kreacher gave it a very ugly look. "It's for work but I'm not going anywhere before I eat, if I don't have to." He shook his head when Kreacher left while rolling his eyes emphatically, and answered. "Chief Inspector."

"Captain." Natalie's voice sounded surprised. "I was expecting to leave a message. Are you still in your office?"

"No, I'm home earlier. But I kept the phone on me just in case. What can I do for you?"

"More like what I'm going to do for you," Natalie replied. "You'll be happy to hear that we managed to place the happy group of fellows you returned back in prison due to outstanding warrants and other crimes they committed and are arrest worthy."

"Couldn't have happened to a better group," Harry said with a small smile.

"Indeed," Natalie replied, sounding amused. "We did our own questioning and from what they remember and were willing to confess, they were hired to do the smuggling job by another person that's prominent in London's criminal enterprises. One that's proven to be slippery in the past."

"Oh?" Harry woke up a bit at that. "Got a name?"

"Still working on an official one," Natalie sighed. "That said, they did say there were a couple of other places that they moved material around so I'm having a few people do some investigating and observation. They also made it sound like this was their second run."

Harry hissed softly. "They didn't confess that to us."

"Well, their leader, Leonard, and one other made another run," Natalie clarified. "Sorry, that's more correct. Maybe they were holding onto that info for leverage."

"Maybe. Not loving that more magical materials could be out there in Muggle London."

"Me neither. As soon as we get a lock on them, I'll call you to help process it all."

"Thanks. Hey actually, question. How are investigation laws involving getting medical information from hospitals?"

"Need a warrant typically," Natalie said. "Depending on the severity of the investigation and how private the information is."

"Can you see if your hospitals had any recent cases of people with symptoms of delusion or euphoria, and lethargy and slowed reflexes?"

"That's your drug? I can ask around and get some basic stats. How recent?"

"Within the last few months," Harry said thoughtfully.

"I'll do my best," she said after a moment. "You just need some numbers of if there were any cases of it?"

"To start. There might be a chance that people were tested with it."

"Makes sense. I'll see what I see. I asked my colleagues in Narc and they're doing a look for me too. No one could think of any off the top of their head, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been around or isn't there."

"Thanks, I really appreciate it. I'll send lunch to your office tomorrow."

"Speaking of, did he really eat the whole pizza?"

Harry laughed. "Yup, not a bit left."

"He's a monster," Natalie said with begrudging admiration. "I'll have to think of something else for him next time."

"He doesn't love super spicy things."

"Look at you, grassing up your mate," she laughed.

"Just making an observation."

"Appreciated. Talk to you later, Captain."

"Good night, Chief Inspector." Harry hung up the phone and smiled at Kreacher who reappeared and was giving him a look. "She doesn't have a mirror or use the Floo."

Kreacher harrumphed. "Master Harry has questionable taste in dates."

"Not you too! She's a colleague!"

-0-

Harry woke up, blinking groggily. He had been sleeping, dreaming of something, when he found himself awake. At first he had no idea why until he realized there was a loud shrill sound coming from the mirror on his nightstand. He grabbed it and his glasses at the same time, answering it and jamming his glasses on. "Yes?" he said, fully awake.

"Harry!"

"Hannah? What's wrong?!"

"I need you to come to the Cauldron, now!"

"On the way!" Harry dressed in record time, not even asking for clarification. He pulled on his Auror robes and ran to the roof of Grimmauld, apparating as soon as he stepped out onto it. He appeared in the Leaky Cauldron with a loud crack, making people jump and cry from alarm. He looked around and saw Hannah running to him. "What's wrong?!" he repeated.

Hannah dragged him out of the door leading into the Alley and pointed up in the sky, her eyes wide and skin pale. "I was taking the trash out and saw it!"

Harry stared up at the Dark Mark floating in the night's sky. It was as terrible as the last time he saw it, thirteen years ago. A skull hung in the dark sky, a snake coiling and slithering from the open jaws, writhing as it climbed around the skull and through the empty eye sockets. It was a lurid green, emanating a sickly light that shone balefully down at the people below.

For a moment, Harry was filled with dread, seeing the dark symbol.

Then the dread turned into fury.

He looked around the Alley and more people were filling the streets, looking up and crying and gasping at the dark mark. Some, the youngest of them, looked at it with confusion and shock while the older people were obviously more distressed. A sense of panic starting to rise, a palpable feeling that clung to skin and tongue, feeling cold and tasting sour.

"Everyone, remain calm!" Harry shouted and heads turned to look at him. As they saw him, dressed in the Auror red, they did in fact calm, making him feel more relieved. "We are looking into this right now, please, stay off the street and remain calm."

He brought the mirror to his mouth. "This is Captain Potter, taking local communication control. All Aurors in Diagon Alley come to the Leaky Cauldron." He barely finished speaking when a couple of people apparated, coming into being and others ran up.

"It just appeared Sir!" one of them cried, also looking panicky. They had the look of a newer officer, one who got the night patrol shift.

"Any reports of violence or disturbance?" Harry asked, speaking calmly and authoritatively.

A grizzled witch shook her head. "None. One second it was calm, then the light appeared and people started panicking. Then you came, which, thank Merlin."

"Looks like it's originating over the central plaza. Talbots, take Knight and Hennick. Comb over the plaza, look for any kind of spellcasting that's abnormal. Sheets, Yang, Abbot, calm the crowd down. Instill order and tell people to go home and that we will be making a statement soon." The Aurors scattered and Harry brought the mirror to his mouth again. "Central, this is Captain Potter."

"Central, go ahead," a wizard replied.

"I need every Auror on duty to come to Diagon, now. Center on me. I need a full investigation team too. Major priority."

"Yes Sir," the wizard said. "Teams will be on the way as soon as possible."

Harry turned to Hannah who was looking relieved. "Tell me you can't see it from Muggle side."

"You can't," Donald said, also pale. "I checked."

"Thank Merlin for small mercies," Harry muttered. "Right. I'll handle this. Thank you, Hannah."

"Thank you, Harry," Hannah said, smiling bravely in the face of her fear.

Aurors came and all balked at the sight of the Dark Mark floating in the sky. Harry had gone to the central plaza of the magical district and joined the first group he sent there. When the others arrived, he briefed them on the situation and gave them orders.

"Bad news." Ron came back to Harry. He had been part of the first team to arrive and had left with direct orders from Harry. "Can't get a hold of Robards or Kingsley. They're on the continent for an ICW thing and aren't answering messages or mirrors. I sent a pair to try and find them but who knows how long it'll take. Percy isn't answering either."

"Initial investigations aren't turning up anything," Simon said. "Aside from the fact that the bloody Dark Mark is hanging over our heads. No bodies, no violence, or anything like that for now at least. Looks like someone showed up, shot the spell, and then fucked off like a fucking coward."

"We need to do something," Susan said. Despite the Aurors recommending people to stay indoors, more people were clustering around the plaza and looking out of windows. The panic that was abated slightly when Harry came was starting to rise once more. "People are starting to panic and I bet you word is going around the country."

Harry stared up at the Dark Mark for a moment. "I'll take point. I know what to do. Anything comes down from it, I'll take responsibility."

"As if we'd let you twist in the wind by yourself," Simon snorted.

"Someone go get the communications Director," Harry said. "And then get reporters from all the major news groups. Press conference in ten."

"You sure about this?" Hestia asked.

Harry nodded. "We have to do something to make sure this doesn't blow up any bigger than it is and I know exactly what to say."

"I'll go get them," Susan said and she and some others ran off.

"I hope you know what you're doing," Ron said softly.

"Me too," Harry replied softly.

-0-

In a short period of time, reporters from the Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly, and other major publications and news groups gathered. Everyone continued to look up at the writhing Dark Mark with fear and discomfort, trying to use chatter and speculation to keep their thoughts and fears in check. Among them were Lavender who wrote for Witch Weekly, Dennis who worked for the Daily Prophet, and Rita Skeeter, the Director of Communications. As people saw them gather, they came out and stood slightly apart, waiting to hear what was happening. Before the ten minutes had passed, Harry stood out in front of them. He had eschewed a platform, choosing to stand before them on their level.

"Hello everyone," he said, smiling just slightly and injecting as much calm and professionalism into his voice as he could. Heads turned and everyone there: Auror, Ministry official, reporter, and civilian alike, stared right at him. He took a moment, taking a deep breath, and continued.

"For the sake of professionalism, and for the blessed few who do not know who I am, my name is Harry Potter." He waited for chuckling and small snorts and laughter to pass. "I am a Captain in the British Auror Corps and have served Wizarding Britain for thirteen years now. It has been a pleasure to be responsible for the safety and the care for all of you, these last years."

He pointed up at the Dark Mark. "And for the genuinely blessed few of you that don't truly know what that is or what it means, that is the Dark Mark. It is a symbol of hate and fear that was created by a man that has been dead these last thirteen years. A man that created a legacy of hate, fear, and failure." Murmurs greeted his words and there was intense scribbling by the reporters as they recorded his words.

"I say that, because it is the truth," Harry continued. "Tom Riddle, also known as Lord Voldemort," he waited for a few people to flinch involuntarily, "was a failure. He was a man that seized power due to his greed and his selfishness and while he succeeded in doing so for a period of time, he still failed. He failed because he underestimated knowledge that he deemed insignificant as well as dismissing people that he deemed unworthy when he was in fact, one that was worthless."

Harry spoke in a calm and conversational tone that carried effortlessly through the plaza and to everyone within it, watching him with rapt attention. He looked at the people around him, making eye contact with individuals here and there, talking slowly and clearly.

"Tom was stopped that day, at the Battle of Hogwarts, more than thirteen years ago," he said. "And in the years since, his followers who were known as Death Eaters, were then pursued and brought to justice one by one until the last fled the country." He waited for that to soak in.

"In the past, the Dark Mark was cast as a sign of intimidation," Harry said. "A sign that a household or a place had been visited by Tom and his ilk, to show a place that had experienced pain and violence. To show how little he thought of the people there, to scare others to not oppose him. It had been a point of personal pleasure and pride that it had not been seen save for history books for many years now, until tonight of course.

"It being here means one of several things. One, and because there has been a precedent of this, it could mean that Tom has returned." There was fearful chattering and nodding at that. "Second, it could mean that the last of his worthless followers has returned and is somehow trying to cling to relevance and to incite fear into us." More scribbling could be heard. "Third and finally, it could be a prank. A sick joke done by someone in an attempt to shock people for some fool reason."

Harry clenched his hands behind his back and looked out over the crowd. "As far as the first reason goes, that cannot happen. I know this because I was there that day. The day that Voldemort failed and died and the majority of his followers died with him. I see many of you here that were also there that day and we all saw the corrupt and false regime crumble. Some might ask if it's possible he still had one last trick up his sleeve and while one can never say never, I am certain it's not."

He took a deep breath. "In all honesty, whether or not it's the second or third situation, it doesn't matter. It doesn't matter if the last pathetic dregs of a terrorist organization is trying one last attempt at whatever or if it's a sad and misguided attempt by a confused individual that doesn't understand the gravity of their actions. Because I will respond the same way."

His eyes hardened and his countenance shifted slightly. He stood tall, shoulders square, spine unbent. "I will find the person that did this. I will learn why they did this, and respond accordingly. If it is the former, they will finally be brought to justice. If it is the latter, they will be educated on the severity of their actions."

His voice rolled over them all and people stared at him, emboldened and heartened by his tone and words.

"Because I did not serve all these years to let them tear down all we built." Harry's voice rose, growing in strength and sound. "We did not spend all these years after, rebuilding everything, to be threatened by individuals clinging to their past and greed. We did not work all this time to be intimidated now."

His voice grew as solid as stone and as cold as rock. "I will not let the memories of those that died fighting for our future as it is now to be tarnished by this…indignity."

He opened his arms and gestured to the plaza and the stores and buildings around them. "All of this, we did this together in the years after the Second War. We all did. It's a symbol of our recovery, of our growth. How we made it through and continue on. Are you going to let others take that from us? To ruin it for us?"

A ragged cry of no and other sounds were his replies, made by the watchers in the plaza and a few of the Aurors and reporters.

"Because that is the thing about the dark, about those that hate," Harry said. "To darken things, they need more darkness with them. To convince others to join them so they can drown everything out until it is dark like them."

He looked at them all. "But, no matter how dark things get, there only needs to be one light to stand against it. A light, no matter how small, no feeble, will always appear in the dark. It only takes one to prove the dark wrong, to push the shadows back, to show that not all is lost. To be a difference. To be seen."

He raised his wand and pointed at the Dark Mark that hung overhead. The tip of his wand grew bright and a line of bright silver light shone forth. It went into the night sky and struck the center of the Dark Mark, piercing through. The skull and snake shivered and shuddered and tried to force the light out, but it shone through, undeterred.

"And when you see the light, it's a beacon," Harry said, looking back at the others while his wand continued to shine. "It can attract others, others who want to fight back, others who are afraid of the dark. It gathers, and with each person that sees it, joins it, it grows. And I know, the Wizarding Britain that we have fought for, built for, was built like this light."

His eyes met the eyes of everyone there. "Will you join me? Against the dark? With your light?"

Barely a moment's pause later, a second light shone from the plaza. It blazed into the air and hit the Mark alongside Harry's. Ron stood at the back of the crowd but he was the first to act and his wand was up, his light shining and bright.

Lavender's was next. Her face, scarred by the Battle, was determined and her eyes were bright. Her light shone fiercely, joining Ron and Harry. Then Susan, then Simon, then more and more. En masse, everyone there raised their wands and soon the Dark Mark was riddled with the light from the wands of determined witches and wizards, together in solidarity.

"Together, we can overcome anything!" Harry said and there was a ragged cheer. "Together, we will weather this storm and come through it for the better. Because together, we will show that we are determined! Despite being afraid, we stand against it! We deny it!"

He drew a symbol and pushed with his wand. The light gathered and blasted all the stronger and gathering the brilliance of the other lights, something took shape in the light and the Mark. An immense avian form with white wings flapped and a loud hunting screech filled the air and with a final flap, the Dark Mark was scattered, showing clear skies and fading lights. People lowered their wands and looked at the empty sky with wonder.

"For Home and Country!" Harry shouted, right arm raised. He stared at the faint but legible scars on his right hand and clenched it tighter.

"For Home and Country!" the people in the plaza shouted back.

"Forever Enduring!" Harry shouted louder.

"Forever Enduring!" they shouted back with fervor.

Harry brought his right fist to his heart, arm crossed over his chest. "Together," he said solemnly. "So I swear to all of you. The one responsible for this will be brought to justice. This will be another moment to be taught to future generations showing how Wizarding Britain continued to grow and to be the best we can be. Thank you. That is all." He bowed and walked off to the side, the press conference at an end.

As he walked, raucous cheers could be heard from the people in the plaza. The majority of people cheered and shouted, showing their appreciation and support to Harry. The reporters wrote and dashed off, eager to finish their work and see it published.

"That was a pretty good speech," Ron said as Harry walked up to him. "Nearly brought a tear to my eye."

"Only nearly?" Harry asked, feeling exhausted and invigorated in equal measure.

"Only nearly," Ron repeated, nodding. "I mean, it was only a pretty good speech. Not a great speech. A great one probably would've made me tear up."

"Thanks," Harry said, grinning.

"You know you just made yourself into a target, right?" Ron asked softly as the other Aurors approached.

"I know," Harry said quietly. "And I intended to."

Ron nodded and then sighed dolefully. "You know, you should really think about me before you act."

"Think about you?" Harry repeated, confused.

"Yeah. You making yourself a target means I'm in danger too since I'll be right beside you. Damn selfish of you if you don't mind me saying," Ron said indignantly.

Harry smiled at his best friend. "I'll try to remember that for next time."

"Good." Ron's expression turned professional. "Well, Captain? What do we do?"

"Finish the initial investigation," Harry said. "Then we get a good night's sleep. And after that, we get to work."

"You heard the Captain!" Ron said loudly. "We got work to do! Finding the bastard that did this and teach them to not do it again!" He led the rest in cheering.

Harry left the plaza with the others in formation beside him, all of them determined and ready for what was to come.

Together.

-0-0-0-

DOOOOOM Lord of Waffles - I'm hoping people will want to reread it once it finishes to try and catch the little clues and things I've seeded through. Hopefully it'll make sense by the end.

Hands Off MY Wolfie - Connotations and all that, makes things mean different things to different people like you said. I always liked Luna being very different and seeing things from a different angle, thus coming up with unique views. Thanks for reading.

odonnellzoo99 - Right? I do like the idea of fireflies spelling out rude words though. I also like Mugglers and Magglers. I hoped people would like that little reveal for Ron. It amused me and it seemed like him.

61394 - Not all of them, but definitely most of them.

alix33 - She really would be the best for the wand.

poka - She is and I always like how she comes up with her findings and how she approaches things.

TheSphynx - Yes, Defiance of Fate. She's one of my favorite characters too.

choquain - Hope you've been well and work has been kinder to you. She really is the perfect person and I laughed so hard at imagining her using immersion therapy literally for the wand.