I certainly have no rights to Harry Potter, but this won't stop me writing this story. However, you probably already know this. As it is my specialty, and as in my other big stories, this shows how things go if something went different right at the beginning. Please note that I'm not a fan of bashing and also don't expect the two main pairings to differ from canon. However, the path to them certainly will be quite different. I also want to try and subvert certain plots and things that became common in the fandom over the years.
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Chapter 87: The Longest Day, Part I - Dawn
Snape knew that there was a very high chance that this would be his final mission. After all, the Dark Lord was not exactly known to show mercy to those who had worked against him. Yet, Snape felt strangely calm while entering the Riddle House, which was no problem now due to him knowing the secret. His discreet observations had helped to determine where exactly he needed to go and what he had to do to fulfill his mission.
Funny thing was, with Dumbledore dead there was nothing that was forcing him to do this; no magic binding him or anything. Nothing, except for the chains he had put upon himself and which would never vanish. There was no escape from those chains and there was only one way he would be released from them.
Despite knowing that he most likely wouldn't survive this, he felt strangely calm. In a way he was fulfilling his promise, since this was part of Dumbledore's plan. He had promised Dumbledore to help ensure Potter's safety and that was accomplished by weakening Voldemort. Most of his life had been terrible, but now that he was nearing the end, he felt a weird sense of peace at the thought.
Concentration. I can not allow anything to go wrong with this, Snape thought, pulling his mind back to the task at hand.
"Ah, Snape," Pettigrew told him when seeing him enter the house. Snape knew that Pettigrew even now had little love for him.
Snape had to try hard not to break every bone in that traitor's body, since he was the direct cause of Lily no longer being among the living. "Pettigrew, what is the availability of the Dark Lord at the moment?"
Pettigrew rolled his eyes. "You are out of luck. Ever since he returned from Germany he's available to no one but Bellatrix, and that is not to do that but to think about the next steps. Honestly, Bellatrix is more of a sledgehammer in her approach, which makes me wonder how she even made it into Slytherin..."
Snape had heard the news of Voldemort's rampage in Nurmengard, which had ended with Grindelwald and numerous guards dead and Germany now having a direct reason to want Voldemort dead. "Too bad. He seemingly has taken Nagini's death hard."
"To be honest, that snake always had been creepy, but the way he is mourning her makes it even more frightening," Pettigrew admitted. "You really got back into his good graces. Quite an accomplishment for someone like you."
"Do I have to guess what you are playing at?" Snape asked with a mocking undertone, though he knew perfectly well what that was about.
Pettigrew never had been to sharpest tool in the shed. "I have no idea how exactly you managed that feat that catapulted you into the inner circle, but you are not impressing me. From what I have seen, you still are Snivellus."
He didn't show it in any way, but the usage of that cruel nickname given to him by the Marauders brought back bad memories."I'm surprised, Pettigrew. While my opinion on Black and Lupin is abysmal, I'm man enough to admit that they have moved on from school grudges. Interesting you didn't manage the same feat. Perhaps you would like to be called Wormtail?"
Snape knew that his younger self would have been astonished to learn that one day he would defend Sirius Black and Remus Lupin. It seemed the years of having been able to do the job he really liked had changed him more than he had thought.
Hearing that, Pettigrew's eyes narrowed. "Never use that nickname again... The Dark Lord trusts you and thus I will, but don't misunderstand it, Snape. I'm no longer the weakling I used to be. One step out of line from you, and you can be sure to regret it."
"Well, a nice day to you too, Pettigrew," Snape said sarcastically, before leaving.
Walking further inside, Snape was surprised with his own self-control, since part of him had been down and ready to turn Pettigrew into a red smear on the floor. He then put his mind on the task ahead., since the fact that Voldemort and Bellatrix were being busy, and thus unable to run into him, was much to his advantage.
Knowing where he needed to go, he was careful not to run into anyone else of Voldemort's inner circle, since the part of the house he was about to enter was taboo to anyone but Voldemort and Bellatrix. His careful scouting had enabled him to pinpoint the exact room where Delphini was staying - which ironically was as far away from Voldemort and Bellatrix as it was possible in the house.
Dumbledore had talked with him about it and said, that regardless if he managed to kill Nagini or not - which he actually had accomplished - it would be Snape's burden to bring Delphini to safety, since the risk of her being hidden away and tainted with darkness to be used as a tool of evil simply was too great - that and it very much was the right thing to save her.
Look at me, Lily. For once I'm about to do a truly heroic act, Snape thought while carefully opening the door, having silenced it first.
He spotted the caretaker of Delphini looking down to the little girl who was sleeping in her crib. The room otherwise was painfully bare of anything that would create a pleasant atmosphere for a baby and showed how little her genetic donors valued Delphini as a person.
The caretaker then noticed the shadow. "Who...?" She didn't get any further than that when a non-verbally cast stunner hit her square in the chest, throwing her to the floor.
Snape knew not to waste any time and quickly walked up to the crib. Looking at the sleeping baby girl, he knew he was doing the right thing. "No, you won't use her for your plans..."
He then pulled something out his robes. It was frightening how fast portkeys had become common after the collapse of the Ministry (and even before) while before they had been tightly regulated. This portkey took the shape of a long and flexible ribbon. He quickly tied one end to the crib, then the other end around Delphini's wrist. Finally, he pulled out a letter and put it into the crib next to her.
Well then, good journey... Snape knew exactly where Andromeda was, and the portkey would send Delphini together with her crib to her - one way only. One tap with his wand on the ribbon, and Delphini vanished together with her crib.
Sadly, a portkey for himself was out of question, since he knew the Dark Lord had put in safety measures against unauthorized portkeys in this building that were connected to the Dark Mark on his arm. Trying anyway would have ended with terrible consequences for him. He thus moved then to make his quick exit, but...
"You traitor!" That was Pettigrew, who had followed Snape, though his hesitation to enter the forbidden wing meant he had just seen the tail end of him sending Delphini away. "ALARM! ALARM! SNAPE IS A TRAITOR!"
Snape knew his cover was blown. Swishing his wand, an invisible force swept Pettigrew aside and smashed him against the wall, while Snape made a run for it. He knew he had to be outside of the house to flee. Even though his chances were low to begin with, he at least had to try. However, Pettigrew's screams had alerted everyone else.
"There he is!" That were the Carrows, who looked to him like seeing the worst dirt imaginable and they stood between him and the stairs.
"You little shit! Once a traitor, always a traitor!" Alecto cursed while throwing curses at his. Unable to dodge, Snape used a shield and then forced his way through, though while jumping over the railing to land on the floor blow, his shield failed and Alecto caused an injury on his arm.
"Argh!" Snape knew that while he could have beaten them in battle, he had to get out before Bellatrix and especially Voldemort would reach him. Hell, even them ganging up on him would have ended badly for him.
Alas, someone was already blocking the way to the exit. Barty gave Snape a very disappointed look. "You've had it all and you throw it away like that? I don't get you," Barty accused Snape while starting to hurl spells at him.
"My reasons are my reasons alone," Snape returned while trying to find a way to pass Barty. Alas, Barty was too smart and made sure to block the only way out.
"No, they are not. You have to answer to the Dark Lord for this," Barty told him calmly.
"Yes, he indeed does..."
Hearing that cold voice from behind him, Snape knew that... "Aaaarghhh!" A nasty spell from behind hit his legs and it felt like his knees were shattering, causing him to fall. He was not on the floor for long however.
"Up to his knees with him!" Voldemort commanded and Snape felt like screaming when the Carrows lifted him up and forced him onto his ruined knees.
"Master, Master!" That was Pettigrew, staggering down the stairs, still looking dazed. "Snape... He used a portkey to remove your offspring. She is gone!"
"I'm disappointed in you, Severus." Voldemort was frighteningly calm, which was a bad sign. "I gave you the greatest honor of entering the inner circle of Lord Voldemort, and you thank me for it by revealing yourself to be a traitor. Where is she now?"
Snape felt it. There was a massive attack onto his mind by Voldemort using Legilimency, but that was what Snape had trained himself for almost two decades and the severe attacks were being diverted away from any useful information. It took a while before Voldemort looked disappointed.
"Interesting. Your considerable defenses mean that should I use brute force, your mind would rip apart first, leaving me with nothing." Voldemort then looked to Bellatrix. "Bella, you take care of that. Convince him it's in his interest to talk."
"Gladly, my Lord..." Bellatrix confirmed, giving Snape a frightening look.
What then followed was so horrible, it can't be described.
After long, long minutes of terrifying torture, where Bellatrix instead of using the Cruciatus Curse took her sweet time to horribly do so the manual way with the help of her dagger, she looked to Voldemort. "Let's try now, my Lord."
"Again, Severus, where is she?" Voldemort asked the blood-covered and maimed Snape.
"No longer where I sent her to. I gave Andromeda instructions to leave right away. You'll never get her back," Snape said with a small chuckle, but screamed it pain when Bellatrix kicked him into the side.
"You sent her to my blood-traitor of a sister?!" Bellatrix screamed into Snape's face.
"Of course I did." Snape knew he was dead anyway, so he was not afraid now to speak his mind. "You two after all hardly are material for becoming parents of the year." -slap!- That earned him a hard slap from Bellatrix, droplets of blood flying from the impact.
Voldemort looked like he was starting to lose his cool. "What Bella has done was nothing to what will come your way next..."
"I'm not afraid of that," Snape said with a laugh. "I have no fear of death and will take something truly great to my grave; the satisfaction of having utterly fooled the ah-so-great Lord Voldemort for countless years."
That unsettled Voldemort when realizing that Snape's treachery was not a recent thing. "What...?"
"You probably can't imagine it, but I haven't been your ally ever since the day you cruelly denied to promise to spare Lily Potter," Snape told him bitingly.
Voldemort was utterly floored by that statement, especially since the reason sounded so insignificant and dumb to him. "Years of treason... just for a mudblood?!"
"It's outside of your horizon, isn't it? Well, that's the problem, you are not nearly as smart as you think you are and there are lots of things you are ignorant about or outright incapable of even grasping. Just think about it; if I managed to fool you for years, how many other things did you utterly miss?" Snape taunted him.
"You..." Voldemort's mask was slipping, rage and uncertainty emerging.
"You are pathetic, Tom Marvolo Riddle!" Snap spat.
"RAAAHHHGH!" -blamm- That final insult and usage of his true name was too much for Voldemort. Shouting in rage, he did not use the killing curse, but instead blasted a hole straight through Snape's chest. Trembling with rage, he shouted "Get that refuse out of my sight! Dump it next to Hogwarts like we did with Dumbledore!"
Now, Lily, now you can judge me for my deeds... were Snape's final thoughts while being dragged away, before everything became dark before his eyes.
...later that day...
Voldemort would never admit it, but Snape's words had disturbed him more than he wanted to imagine or admit. Indeed, they had disturbed him so much that he now truly felt the need to check on his remaining Horcruxes, just to make sure for the peace of his mind. After all, the mere implication that there was more than only Snape's treachery...
That was especially disturbing due him now wondering what else Snape had sabotaged over the years without him knowing. The mere idea was driving him half insane, since he hated it when things did not go according to plan - his plan, that is.
He had already reached the inside of the cave and now was smearing some of his blood onto the hidden door to make it open. And open it did, revealing the lake. However, he knew right away that something was wrong when spotting several severed Inferi body parts at the shore. Checking the lake, he realized that none of the Inferi were still active.
Those news started to worry Voldemort. "Wait, could that mean...?!"
Not even bothering with the boat - he had no idea if it even worked anymore, Voldemort quickly disabled the protections on the lake - he as the architect of course knew how to do that - and then flew over it, landing on the small island. He then also disabled the complicated trap he had envisioned so that he could get to the locket to check. He did indeed find it at the bottom of the basin.
Taking it out, his relief was short-lived however. "Wait a moment... I'm not feeling anything." He then ripped open the locket, something that actually should be impossible since it should only open on command. "It's fake!"
With a scream of utter anger when realizing what that meant, Voldemort smashed the fake locket onto the rock, where it shattered. He then spotted something in the remains of the fake locket - a piece of parchment. Picking it up, he read the gloating message written on it. "R.A.B.? Who... Black." Voldemort finally remembered that he had taken an elf from Regulus Black for testing the defenses. Somehow Regulus Black had gotten word of what really was going on with the cave.
"Traitor... TRAITOR!" Voldemort shouted while exploding with rage, the parchment burning to ashes in his hand while his shouts echoed off the walls.
It was more than that however, since in his utter rage Voldemort lost control of his magic and caused lots of damage with wild bursts while shouting in impotent anger, since he knew that it meant his Horcrux by now surely had been destroyed - very likely by Sirius Black himself. The mere idea was causing him to flip out even more.
Once he finally had calmed down, Voldemort now had to face bitter facts. "The book... destroyed. Nagini... dead. Now the locket is gone and very likely destroyed. Only three left but..." Voldemort stopped when remembering something. "What happened at Gringotts... How did they know?!"
Voldemort now was spiraling. "The diadem... they could not know... but... I can't check... Yet it makes too much sense..."
Voldemort then looked at the ring on his hand, suddenly becoming horribly aware how his decision to wear it at all times had probably saved it from destruction. "They have fooled me!" From the desperation a horrible wrath grew inside Voldemort.
"Pay... pay! They will pay for this!" he shouted to no one, being half-insane with rage.
He would not recover from that state of mind.
o
The Six honestly had not expected to have so many visitors arrive at the safe house they were living in for the time being. Sirius and Remus they did expect - after all they came over regularly - maybe even McGonagall. However, Andromeda and Ted were rather unusual guests. Not to speak that for some reason Andromeda was carrying around a sleeping baby in a harness. Even Dora was present, though they at lest knew that the baby she was holding close was her own.
"So, what are you all doing here?" Neville wondered. "Also, what is it with the baby Andromeda is carrying around?"
"Well, that is one of those things we didn't tell you because there was little you could have done about the situation," Remus explained, though he looked a bit emotionally exhausted. "We'll explain everything."
"Good. I understand operational security, but now we need an explanation," Hermione said, knowing that all six of them didn't like being kept in the dark about important things 'for their own good'.
"Then I'll start right away with the important news. Severus Snape is dead," McGonagall said, looking a bit shaken.
No one said anything for a moment. While they held little love for Snape, hearing of him dying came out of nowhere. "How did that happen to him?" Ron finally asked with a slight grimace. All the death happening recently had taken its toll on him.
"His death was not easy. His body was found close to the edge of Hogwarts property and he had been horribly tortured before his death. We won't tell you most of the details, it simply is too horrible." Despite how much Sirius despised Snape, he didn't wish such a fate on anyone. "He explained in a letter how this came to be."
"Is that where that baby comes into play?" Luna wondered, giving said baby an interested look.
"Yes, this is Delphini. You don't know about it due to operational silence, but Bellatrix did give birth to a daughter and the father is Voldemort," Ted explained to the teenagers.
The Six looked sick after realizing the implications. "The idea alone is sick. I know she has the hots for him in an insane way, but for them to actually go all the way..." Ginny looked ready to hurl when she said that. "If that's her... how is she being here?"
"My own sister..." Andromeda said with a faint sigh, still in disbelief how deep Bellatrix had sunk and how much she had debased herself. "The story of that is connected to Snape and I still have trouble to believe some of it."
"To understand that, you first have to look at this," McGonagall said and put something onto the table. It was the pensive that had belonged to Dumbledore. "Following directions from the letter, we did find a bottle with memories from Snape. There are two of them and the content is... enlightening."
She then poured the memory into the pensive and tapped it with her wand to make it play the memory.
The first memory did play out and showed Dumbledore meeting Snape in a stormy night on a hill, where the young man confessed to revealing the prophecy to Voldemort and that Voldemort now was after Harry and therefore his parents as well. Dumbledore showed open disgust at how Snape at first only cared about Lily, the object of his obsession, but not for Harry or James.
"Bastard..." Harry whispered. It hit closer to home when actually hearing it.
Then however Snape completely submitted and made the promise to do anything to protect Harry. In the memory as soon as he said that there seemed to be an electrical discharge between them. In the memory Snape looked alarmed and asked Dumbledore what that was and Dumbledore said that they just had invoked ancient magic without intending to, before the memory ended.
"Was that like the pact that we made?" Harry wondered, remembering Dumbledore's words.
"According to the letter, yes. It was a pact that made them both unable to talk about the night said pact was made and Snape could not reveal his role in what led to it, unless circumstances allowed him to," McGonagall explained. "When Albus died, said pact ended and he was free to reveal said events. As for the second memory..."
The penisve started again and it showed Snape and Dumbledore.
"And I can not convince you otherwise?" Snape asked Dumbledore.
"Not at all, Severus. I have made my choice and my preparations are complete," Dumbledore told Snape. "And the fake tooth will work as intended?"
"Yes, one nudge from your wandless magic and it will spray basilisk venom out of your mouth. Though, you know that it will kill you as well. Are you sure this is going to work?" Snape reminded Dumbledore.
"It has to be me. I know Tom's habits; he won't be able to resist the opportunity to gloat to me when it just is the two of us. And your reports make it clear that Nagini is always at his side. That is the only opportunity to get close to her. I'm fully prepared for the consequences," Dumbledore said.
"And you are sure the Dark Lord will reveal the secret to me for that?" Snape wondered.
"Yes. He always wanted to have me at his mercy and will reward you accordingly for it." Dumbledore then gave Snape a thoughtful look. "Once I'm gone, the magic that has bound you to your promise will be severed. However, I trust you, Severus, that you will do the right thing when it comes to Delphini."
"It's not exactly directly protecting Potter... However, I know this is not only to deny them using her for any plans in case of defeat, but much more for her own well-being," Snape said.
Dumbledore looked thoughtful. "Yes, in a way we both are in the some boat with the needs of the many... Come, Severus. Let us not dally any longer..."
The memory then ended.
"Both of them went onto suicide missions... For the needs of others," Hermione said softly. "Snape didn't have to do so, but did it anyway."
"In the end, the one person he hated the most was himself." Sirius felt that Snape even had been relieved to go out like that so that the pain would finally end. "Eh... Harry?"
"It does not mean I forgive him," Harry said, making it clear that it would make up for his dark deeds. "However... he willingly paid the ultimate price for his actions. While I won't forgive him, I also won't damn him anymore. Hating the dead also is very much pointless... let's let him have his peace."
"That is very mature of you, Harry," Remus said, being proud of Harry having reached such maturity. "That however brings us back to Delphini."
"To be honest, I still shudder at the idea of Voldemort and Bellatrix doing that together," Neville admitted, looking a bit green. "So... Snape did get her out of there?"
"That he did. Imagine my surprise when suddenly a crib with a baby - a baby that was upset at the portkey travel that is - appeared mere meters away from me. Thankfully, there was a letter next to her explaining things and then we had to get out of the house quickly."
"I can imagine Tommy-Boy wasn't too happy and would try to get her back," Ron guessed without a hint of humor. "So, what happens now with her?"
"She will stay with us. Neither of her biological parents are in any way fit to raise a child. Andy also is her closest family who wouldn't use her with dark intentions," Ted said, stating that as a fact.
"She clearly was neglected, since as soon as I gave her attention and held her close, she quickly latched onto me. A baby that has bonded with its parents would never do so this quickly." Andromeda was speaking from experience. "We'll give her a good home. But we also won't lie to her about her heritage once she's old enough to understand."
"That will be a difficult conversation once that day comes," Luna said sagely.
"Yes, explaining to a young girl that her biological parents were such utter monsters..." Hermione couldn't imagine how Andromeda could explain that to Delphini without the girl having a breakdown.
"We hope for the best," Ted said, knowing how hard that talk would be. "We already know she'll have health troubles in the future due the combination of the marriage habits of the Blacks and how horribly inbred the Gaunts were."
"Poor girl..." Ginny said under her breath, having seen what the Gaunts had been reduced to.
Sirius then took the word. "Now, before I forget it, we better be careful over the next days. MI-X and the government are coordinating with the Order to launch harsh strikes against the Death Eaters. The opinion now is, that we need to end the war as soon as possible. Under normal circumstances Voldemort would act irrational about what is to come, but in his state of mind after losing first Nagini and then Delphini?"
"He'll become highly irrational," Luna concluded. "There is no telling what he'll do once being under severe pressure."
...the next day, January 6th...
"We are still being benched?" Harry asked, having hoped to hear different news.
"I'm sorry that it's not the news you expected to hear, but considering the circumstances, many felt it's best you wait a few more days," Alice Longbottom told the Six, having been selected at the bearer of the news. "It's especially due to how Ron and Ginny are faring."
"As much as I want to shout we are not fragile, there is something to that," Ginny admitted. "Fred's death has taken more out of us than we could imagine. I'm not ashamed to admit we do need some more time."
"Yes. I don't know what I would do, should I be on the field," Ron said, imagining himself using the Cruciatus Curse on a Death Eater. "But right now we wouldn't be sent out anyway due to those strikes against the enemy, right?"
"Indeed, all regular Order missions are on hold. Though, the results are already speaking for themselves," Alice said, remembering the reports. "Coordinating with MI-X and regular non-magical forces, we managed to cause the enemy heavily losses already."
"Eh, you mean lots of dead...?" Hermione asked carefully.
"No, but an understandable misunderstanding. Though killing the enemy is also being done, the main push is aiming to destroy their supplies and infrastructure. Now that their money supply has been made irrelevant, it was determined the best course of action is to destroy their ability to continue the war," Alice explained.
"Ah yes, you attack their logistics." Ron then noticed the looks he was getting from the others. "Oh come on! You know I'm more than just really gifted at chess. I've been reading books about warfare."
"Better be careful, Hermione. Your love of books is rubbing off on my brother," Ginny remarked to Hermione with a whisper, causing the other girl to blush a little.
"Ehm, Mum? We understand why we have to sit this out for a bit longer. It's also because right now we would get in the way of what is happening. That's perfectly fine however," Neville admitted to his mother.
"Your humility never ceases to amaze me," Alice told her son with pride. "But yes, besides you not yet being ready for field work after what happened, right now there wouldn't be any opportunity for you to be in the field."
"-sigh- Some weeks ago I would have complained loudly that we don't need to be babied, but now I understand you better. Though I honestly wish I wouldn't, considering the reason," Harry admitted.
"Harry, I think us recognizing that, despite the painful reason, at least made sure we won't do something stupid," Luna reminded her friend.
"Again, I wish you had not been forced to learn that lesson that way," Alice said, knowing that the price had been too high.
Some more minutes went by with them talking about all kind of stuff, before Alice had to take her leave, allowing the teenagers to be among themselves. They honestly didn't want to talk about them being benched - and the reasons for it - anymore, thus they found other things which had happened over the past days.
"Have you also read up on the fallout from Voldemort's rampage in Germany?" Hermione then asked.
Her friends looked at each other. "Nothing beyond the initial reports. What came from it?" Harry asked, honestly wondering what Hermione could be talking about.
They all had read how according to some survivors, Voldemort had stormed the prison of Nurmengard all on his own and killed over a dozen guards and in the end Grindelwald himself for whatever reason. They did know it had to be about the Elder Wand - and Harry had told them about having it - but no way they would reveal that secret. Considering nothing more had come out of it, Grindelwald must have kept silent about the matter.
Needless to say that the German government of course was seriously alarmed at being pulled into the conflict on the British Isles like that. The murder of Grindelwald also couldn't have come at a worse time, so shortly after the non-magical public learned about him and his crimes. It was bound to create serious reactions.
"Honestly, it wouldn't kill you to ready more international news..." Hermione found it to be a general weakness of people in their country. "For people who normally are rather calm, the reactions are really strong. Little wonder since they recently learned they got a magical equivalent to Hitler and now he got murdered by another madman on their soil."
"Yikes..." Thanks to Hermione drilling them on Eurpoean history, they knew who Hitler was, so they understood why the Germans reacted so strongly.
"The government is not wanting to be pulled directly into the hostilities, but that is not stopping some of the citizens wanting to take it into their own hands," Hermione explained further.
There were raised eyebrows when hearing that. "Wait, you mean people are coming here, even though they are not allowed to?" Neville asked Hermione.
"Yes, they do. Considering modern ways of transportation, it's basically impossible to control all borders - not that closing the borders is possible these days anyway. Though both governments implored people not to do it, there already are reports of such happening," Hermione explained.
The isea was strange to them that people who had nothing to do with the war would be willing to actually travel into their country to fight in said war. The mere idea was alien to them, after being forced to take part in said war due to no choice of their own. It honestly made them wonder what kind of people were doing so and what their motivations were.
"Well, that's one more thing on the Prime Minister's plate. Not like it isn't full already," Harry thought aloud. "I honestly don't envy him, considering everything that's coming together."
That was putting it mildly and everyone knew it.
Besides the fact that the reveal of magic was causing the government to work hard to get that somehow under control, as well as the whole war situation of course, Downing Street also had been caught in the magical reveal at the worst moment when it came to Northern Ireland and the new complications were proving to be a nightmare in ongoing peace talks taking place there.
Additionally, many other magical countries were really mad that the pressure now was on them and their secrets were crumbling. They were honestly looking for a scapegoat to blame for this new chapter in history and found it in the United Kingdom. The accusations were highly irrational and proved to be distracting from the actual matters at hand.
"As much as I dislike to admit it, it means we are living in interesting times," Luna thought aloud.
...January 7th, the Riddle House...
It was like a heavy cloud was hanging above the Riddle House in the afternoon of that day. That was little wonder, considering that not only had the mood of Voldemort reached a level that filled even his most devoted followers with dread, but also due to the fact that events of the past two days had worsened his mood even more, as impossible as that sounded.
Behind the closed doors of his throne room, Voldemort was listening to the latest news that Barty was telling him from reports that had come in. Barty for his part, while never shaken in his loyalty to Voldemort, knew he had to be careful how to relay the news to him. The way Voldemort looked constantly displeased now, twirling Potter's captured wand in one hand, was a big warning sign.
"We are suffering an assault from all sides, which is closely coordinated between the Order of the Phoenix and the Muggle forces, which use brute firepower to overcome our defenses," Barty reported, reading off the reports which had come in. "Despite having been hidden under a Fidelius, the Avery mansion was utterly obliterated and everyone inside killed,"
"How?!" Voldemort asked hotly, not having expected those news.
"From what the lone survivor, who had been outside on the premises, said, the mansion itself was never attacked. Instead the heavy Muggle weapon was aimed at the middle of the grounds.," Barty explained.
To Barty, that made a disturbing amount of sense. Despite the Fidelius hiding the house itself and the knowledge of it, the grounds were still known to belong to the Avery family and it then was easy to conclude that a building was hidden there. The Muggles had used such a destructive weapon that the mansion itself being hidden didn't matter once it collapsed into the crater.
"That was the last time Avery did a stupid oversight... Don't tell me there is more like that..." Voldemort looked distinctively close to losing his cool.
"Not on such a destructive scale, but active operations have nonetheless become very dangerous. Losses of followers have risen sharply, as the Order working closely together with Muggles means a lot of firepower is being brought up against us. While magic of course is superior, the sheer amount of firepower tips the scales to their favor," Barty had to report.
"Dumbledore sold out the magical world to the Muggles. Were he not dead..." That was the only explanation which made sense to Voldemort.
"We have suffered severe attacks onto our supply stores and a lot of it was either captured or went up in flames. Considering the utter collapse of the magical economy, I calculate that unless we steal basic supplies in great quantity form non-magical storehouses, with that setback we can only stay operational for two more weeks before we run out of supplies," Barty reported more bad news.
"Absurd! My followers are some of the richest people in this country!" Voldemort barked, finding the idea ridiculous.
"Sadly, those families had managed their wealth badly. To our ugly surprise we discovered that the vast majority of it was stored in the form of coins which now are worthless due to the monetary system breaking down and most of it is buried in the goblin tunnels anyway and thus out of reach. They also had been mostly unwise in their investments. As per orders we tallied their physical assets and which of them are useful for our cause. Sadly, little of it is and won't replace the lost supplies," Barty revealed the sad truth.
Voldemort's nails dug into the armrest of his throne. "Those fools... Investing in beautiful manors, frivolities and prestige objects instead of useful assets..."
"The enemy is systematically trying to force us out of the conquered Ministry building, even going so far as using tunnel digging equipment to breach the defenses," Barty gave more bad news. "We were forced to collapse and utterly seal all access points so that entrance is only possible by magic. Sadly, that will only delay them temporarily."
"How long?!" Voldemort didn't want to imagine losing what he had worked so hard to gain.
"We can hold out several weeks at best. Our forces are overstretched," Barty admitted. "However, the manpower shortages are getting worse, since only hours ago a full squad of our hired enforces surrendered to the enemy..."
"ENOUGH!" Voldemort finally exploded. "Cowards! Deserting us to save their own skin! Dumbledore is mocking me from beyond the grave, letting primitive Muggles do his dirty work!"
Barty was intimidated by how unhinged Voldemort looked. "Sadly, with success... Our position... has become untenable. It's now only a matter of weeks before our side will utterly collapse."
"They are all conspiring against me..." Voldemort started pacing in a circle. "I offered them a world free of all the weak riff-raff, of the unclean and unpure; a world where magic makes right. And that's how I'm thanked for it?! Well, all right then..."
"Master...?" Barty wondered, seeing how Voldemort seemed to have come to some sort of decision.
"Gather everyone with authority over the troops as well as their subordinates in the central place. Yes, even the scum we have hired. I have made my decision," Voldemort told Barty.
"Right away, Master." Barty however still was confused what the Dark Lord could want to announce that was so important, since there was no hint what it could be.
This is the last time they disappointed me, Voldemort thought darkly.
o
There was unrest among those that had gathered, since the recent severe setbacks had not remained hidden and damaged morale significantly. Thus the Dark Lord suddenly calling them to gather did create significant confusion what this now could be about and if perhaps their leader had already found a countermeasure to the current situation.
In the middle of the crowd, Greyback's Second snorted. "I wonder what our illustrious leader now has to relay to us. Is he about to present a solution to the mess which turns out to be a total ass pull?"
"I observed it. Things are going downhill for him fast. Too bad for him," Greyback said with a sadistic chuckle.
Greyback had not forgotten how Voldemort had humiliated him by using the torture curse on him in front of his entire pack until he had begged for mercy. Greyback's pride had been deeply wounded that day and now he would gladly enjoy Voldemort's plans all go up in flames. Granted, he had never felt any actual loyalty to that man in the first place, but he felt that time to make their exit would be very soon.
Have fun with your own mess... Greyback thought.
His own plan to abandon Voldemort had been put on hold due to said torture and Voldemort keeping a closer eye on them, not to speak that the situation had changed so much, that the original plan had been scrapped. However, Greyback already was working on a new plan.
"Look at them," Greyback said with a snort, pointing at various Death Eaters from old families. "Now that their wealth and power got wiped out, they are running around like headless chickens."
"How dumb of them. They got so used to throw money at problems, that now that their money is worthless, they suddenly are the poor paupers they accuse us of being," the Second agreed.
Greyback actually chuckled. "That sight alone is a great consolation prize."
McNair meanwhile snorted when looking to a group of individuals that were not Death Eaters. "The Dark Lord wants that scum to be here as well? They are bastards who sell their services for money and don't deserve to enjoy his presence."
"Yeah," agreed Rabastan Lestrange. "But look at them. No loyalty and ever since the currency broke down, there is talk they could try to abandon us. That greedy scum..."
"Well, I know the Dark Lord wll take care of that problem..." McNair said ominously, having his experiences how such situations would end. "Not to speak of those animals..."
Lestrange knew that McNair was talking about Greyback and his werewolves. "Ah, them as well. I think the Dark Lord feels that their usefulness is coming to an end as well."
"Everyone stand at attention for the Dark Lord!"
That call was the warning and everyone, including the hired scum and even Greyback, fell silent and waited. First Voldemort's inner circle appeared through the door and onto the balcony overlooking the crowd. Following them was Voldemort himself. There were some barely held down gasps how the otherwise composed Dark Lord now radiated an aura of anger and fury.
"Lord Voldemort has called all of you here, because the time for the final battle draws near!" Voldemort started without any great preamble. "The Ministry has already been destroyed, but our wish for a new society is being undermined by those who rather work together with Muggles to deny us our rightful place."
Everyone present knew that meant the recent setbacks.
"Therefore, one swift and final strike is needed to shatter the collaborators and the Muggles they work with, before we vanish and wait until the chaos has swallowed them up. And then... then those with magic will have understood the true meaning of order and beg us to lead them."
"You think he actually believes that?" Greyback's Second whispered to his boss.
Greyback snorted and then whispered back "I don't believe one bit of it, and clearly neither does he. That's all a big pile of crap."
Voldemort meanwhile continued. "All of you will play a vital part..."
"Well, we won't."
"Who said that?!" Voldemort demanded. That caused everyone to look to the source of the voice, who turned out to be the leader of a group of hired magical scum. "So, you refuse?"
"Yes, since we were only doing this for money. But your money is worthless now, so there is no reason for us to stay. We won't risk our necks for your lofty dreams of future conquest," the man told Voldemort, everyone feeling he had to be suicidal to tell Voldemort that to the face.
"I see..." Suddenly Voldemort drew his wand and...
"Aaaaarrggghhhhh-h-h..." The man died horribly when it looked like his skin was being ripped off and he was being gutted by unseen forces at the same time. It was a horrifying sight which caused most present - even those very hardened - to gasp in horror.
"If anyone else wants to drop out..." Voldemort's words made it clear that it was no option.
"So much for trying to make our exit," Greyback's Second whispered, noticing that even Greyback had paled a little at the sheer suddenness and brutality Voldemort had just displayed.
"That's just a complication. We don't have one of those cute brandings he uses as dog collars. We can still bail out in the middle of the chaos. Spread the word among our people," Greyback reassured him.
While Voldemort continued to lay down what the plan was, Narcissa Malfoy stood at the edge of the crowd, looking worn down.
Ever since Draco and Pansy had run away, her status among Voldemort's servants - and she now knew that term was fitting - had drastically imploded, which then was compounded by the currency crashing and Gringotts shutting down, making her family's wealth essentially pointless. Voldemort had left no doubt to her that he now saw her only marginally more useful than Lucius, and she saw where that had ended for him.
What's the difference between me and the Parkinsons? Unlike me, they are fully willing to sell their souls to keep in his good graces, she thought bitterly.
The only thing left to her after she already had lost everything else ironically was the same thing her son had done, meaning to try and leave. She was no idiot however and knew that would be really difficult, until Voldemort had laid down the plan. She knew it would end in a massacre of their side and wondered why no one else could see that.
However, it also would give her the only opportunity to leave.
A little later Voldemort was done and had the inner circle around him.
"Bella, you have to give up quite a bit of your blood for something special. Your help will be needed to finally eliminate the sullied Black family," Voldemort told Bellatrix. "However, it will also shorten your lifespan by several years. That's why up to now I hesitated to use such means."
If anything, Bellatrix seemed honored. "What are a few year if it helps to finally cleanse the name of the Blacks?"
"Good, I will explain the procedure later. Bella, you will be keyed to your freak of a niece to eliminate her. Pettigrew, your job is to eliminate Sirius Black. Armycus, Alecto, both of you are to eliminate the brood of Sirius Black. You will get help of course," Voldemort gave his orders.
"What about me, Master? I thought you would send me after Andromeda or find your offspring," Barty asked.
"No, I want you at the battle itself. Your skills are more useful there," Voldemort explained to Barty, leaving unsaid how he didn't want to waste ressoruces on Delphini.
Somewhat later, Voldemort retreated to his rooms and a dark chuckle escaped him. "Oh, all of you think of yourselves as so important. You have all disappointed me greatly. Should you survive, you are worthy to continue to serve me. Should you die, then you were too weak."
He then let out a dark chuckle, showing how part of him had cracked. "Like in politics; everything back to the start."
Truth of the matter was, Voldemort had no illusions about his movement making it. No, he was now only thinking about himself and felt no remorse at all that he was about to send even his most loyal of followers towards certain death. For him it now just was about two things: causing as much damage as possible on his way out and kill Harry Potter once and for all.
Once that was done, he would retreat, rebuild somewhere else and then try once more in several decades. After all he was immortal and could wait, even if his impatience balked at the idea.
To him, everyone that disappointed him deserved their fate.
...the next day...
Had they been told a few months ago how much things would change to be like this, they would have thought it to be outlandish. However, it now had become reality. Drastic change was the only way it could be explained how members of the Order were being in a modern command center, working together with members of MI-X and the government. It was interesting how things could change once the need for secrecy was no long there.
It also was clear that while some members of the Order had adapted long ago to changing times - just the fact that Sirius and Remus had not worn robes since finishing Hogwarts showed how much they had changed - others found that far more difficult and stuck out like a sore thumb; like something that in only a short span of time went from being normal to now looking like an anachronism.
Right at the moment they were discussing a change that was highly suspicious.
"So, no activity at all? No obvious moves, not a single Death Eater or their lackeys showing themselves and attacks on several targets since yesterday afternoon result in those targets being empty of supplies and personnel." Shacklebolt then frowned when thinking about it. "They are planning something and are pulling in all the resources still at their disposal."
"That's what we have concluded as well," Mr. Morden said, looking at the reports and maps on the table. "The sudden change is highly suspicious, especially after the heavy losses we together caused them."
"To be honest, I'm a bit envious of the means that are available to you. We couldn't have dealt with the Avery mansion in the way you did," Shacklebolt said with a healthy does of respect.
"It helps having the Royal Air Force available," Mr. Morden added.
Indeed, while the Avery mansion being hidden behind a Fidelius had made it impossible to actually locate the house itself, the grounds also locating to the Averys was known - a stupid oversight of the Avery patriarch - and while there was no way to target the mansion in any way due to it fleeing their minds, aiming at the logical place where it should be did work. The Fidelius did break when the heavily damaged mansion fell into the crater ripped by the missile strike and was reduced to rubble.
"Makes me wonder why we don't bomb the Riddle House as well. I mean, there's a good chance that where Voldemort is hiding out, though it's highly annoying how often the knowledge is trying to slip away," Sirius wondered.
"Padfoot, you know that wouldn't kill him and only cause him to instead make his exit, meaning the problem would return years later. Also, the house is way too close to the village. Also a reason why we have to be picky about targets," Remus reminded his old friend. "Though I find that weakness of the Fidelius highly interesting of course..."
"Let's get back to the problem at hand," one agent said, putting her hands onto the table. "This all smells of something big. Considering how utterly paranoid and enraged Riddle has to be by this point, he could get desperate."
Sirius and Remus looked at each other. They knew that by this point, especially after Nagini, Voldemort probably had found out that his other Horcruxes got compromised, which was bound to make him crack in some way. While him becoming irrational on one hand was a good thing, it on the other hand also meant he now was capable of anything, regardless how insane it was.
"Though, question is what is he planning that is sucking up all his remaining resources?" Mr. Morden said while scratching his chin. "I have a bad feeling about that."
"Well, considering that he actually does not care at all about his followers and would not think twice about sending them to their deaths, the amount of possible reactions from him sadly is way too high," Remus said with a sigh.
"And with it the amount of possible damage," the female agent added, grimacing at the idea. "While that's a battle they can't win due to simple numbers, the amount of death and damage they could cause would still be horrifying."
"I'll talk with Mr. Clifton and the Prime Minister," Mr. Morden then decided. "That silence is damning, so we have to rise our level of preparedness."
"That's all well and fine, but sadly, with people who can use teleportation, attacks can happen anywhere, meaning we can only react once it actually happens," Shacklebolt reminded everyone.
It left them with the fact that regardless what exactly would happen, there would a nasty toll in form of lives.
o
"Complete silence? Well, you're right, that does sound dangerous," Ron commented after they all had heard from Sirius and Remus what was going on. "And you think he could be desperate enough to do that?"
"Remember that besides his complete lack of care for anyone but himself, things are falling apart for him rapidly. I think he had never even wondered what kind of resources the regular government could use against him and even all the magic at his disposal couldn't make up for it," Remus reminded them.
"Well, now that you point it out, he's basically screwed and he knows it now," Ron admitted.
"And he most certainly would not hesitate to send his followers to their deaths as long as it means causing the maximum amount of damage," Hermione added, knowing perfectly fine what kind of man Tom Riddle was.
"That's all good and fine, but does anyone have an idea where he could strike?" Harry wondered aloud.
He was greeted by silence before Sirius sighed. "You just pointed out our dilemma. We have no idea where and when he'll strike. That's the crappy part about magic; it makes transportation so much easier and we can't shield everything against it. That would be impossible."
"Oh, great..." Neville said, sounding resigned. "That means whatever he'll do, there will be much more death first."
"I've been on enough funerals already..." Ginny sounded tired. "Don't get me wrong, there are people who deserve to be put six feet under. Tommy and that bitch acting as his personal broodmare are at the very top of the list."
The reaction was understandable considering the circumstances. The Six were not even twenty yet, but had in their lives experienced more death than almost anyone else their age. The more recent deaths of people they had actually known more closely had hit even harder. Not to speak how Ron and Ginny felt after Fred's death, which had hit them very hard.
Their mood had changed and there now was an air around them, that they finally wanted this whole mess to be over with, since they already had seen enough death, yet knew they would see more of it before that would happen. Both adults had observed how recent events had changed the teenagers, like making them somewhat more cynical.
The war really needs to end soon. I remember what it did to us and how long we needed to recover from it. I don't want that to become worse or even permanent for them, Sirius thought.
"As much as others would frown over me saying so, but some people will only stop being a danger once they are dead," Luna added, showing no emotion at that statement.
No teenager should say that, Remus thought. He knew that the Six were still good and just people, but it showed they had seen too much that they came to such a conclusion.
"You know, I'm a bit concerned about that," Sirius admitted.
"We know all what's been happening to us screwed us up," Ron admitted openly, looking disturbed. "Even if it's over tomorrow, How long do you think we will need? Damn... Fred dying really drove it home. We only reacted so strong to it because..."
"...because we knew him so well," Hermione finished, taking hold of Ron's hand. "It showed us how much we already got desensitized to all the death around us if it's people we don't know personally."
Harry gave both adults a tired look. "We know that's not normal. Is that what the war did to you at our age?"
"Not directly while we were still at Hogwarts, though we still got nasty news. But as soon as we were out of it..." Remus remembered that time all too well and held it in bad memory.
Sirius found a harsh truth in that. "The older generations messed up by not ripping out the problem at its roots and you're now suffering from it."
"At least we know it'll soon be over one way or another and that it can't happen that way again," Harry remarked.
"How so?" Remus wondered.
"Because they themselves made sure that all of the factors which allowed them to get so much power are gone," Luna explained. "The economy of Magical Britain is utterly shattered and the currency worthless, thus making their monetary wealth a thing of the past."
"Then there is their political power and place in society," Neville added. "Thanks to them the Ministry is no more and that means no more political influence. They also helped destroy the very society that propped them up. No more special place in society and the power that came with it."
"And then there is simple numbers," Ron finished. "The war is hurting them way more than the other side and every loss on their side is irreplaceable. When this is over, they'll have self-destructed and there can't be one more war from their side, because their side won't exist anymore."
"Like what happened with Grindelwald's magical allies. The war in the end destroyed them, leaving behind only those they had oppressed." Ginny then noticed the looks she was getting. "Hey, while History of Magic is boring, the books about Grindelwald's War are interesting."
"While I'm impressed you've analyzed this all so well, I can't help but to be sad as well," Remus said with a sigh, even though the teacher in him was indeed proud. "Teenagers your age should be concerned with their marks, dating, partying and all kind of nonsense. Not having to get through a war."
"We know that all too well..." Hermione didn't look happy with that fact. "We are still trying to make the best of it."
Sirius and Remus nonetheless couldn't stop feeling bad over the fact that the Six had been denied the experiences and fun teenagers normally would have. That was a loss that could never be made up for, regardless how much better their lives later on would be. That special time was gone forever for the Six with no way to make up for it.
That was another way Voldemort had hurt them.
...at the evening...
An uneasy night had settled over the safe house, tension being high due to the knowledge that the final confrontation - regardless which form it would take - was close at hand. The waiting was difficult due to the need to let the Death Eaters make the first move so that they would reveal themselves. Everyone was tense and dealt with the wait in their own way.
The Six were dealing with it by seeking the closeness of their partners, feeling that spending the night with your partner was the best they could do. That of course meant that they were making love, having a feeling this could be the final opportunity before things would crash together. It was not about the sex - though of course it was very nice to experience - but about the closeness it gave.
In Harry's room, Harry and Ginny were very much enjoying each other, once again realizing how much both of them had physically matured over the past months. They did have several unspoken rules in bed, and one was that they were equals, thus no shows of domination, lovemaking was a mutual thing of taking and giving from both of them.
"Mhhh, Harry. Those hands most certainly know moe than just how to to hold a wand," Ginny purred, enjoying Harry's hands touching all of her sensitive spots while feeling like her sex was stuffed. "This makes the whole wait bearable."
"Well, your fingers are very much into exploring as well," Harry said while feeling Ginny's hands on his ass. "Once it's just the two of us, we can forget the outside world for a while.
Some would see it as weird that Harry and Ginny were holding a conversation while making love, but they felt it was when they were at their most intimate that they also were most open with each other. They had no idea if it was the bond doing that, and they honestly didn't care how that came to be.
"Oh Harry!" Ginny gasped when he gently kneaded her breasts. "I'm a bit scared."
"Oh, you are training those muscles a lot..." Harry also gasped when feeling Ginny's intimate muscles pull together. "It's no shame to feel scared. No one can be strong all the time."
Ginny then pulled herself up while holding onto Harry, never allowing him to slip out of her, before kissing him. "I want no regrets should things go south."
"The most beautiful girl I can imagine is naked in my arms. No regrets." Harry then kissed her.
"O-oooohhhh!" Ginny then gasped when the tip of Harry's manhood gently brushed against her cervix, the slight shock causing the insides of a womanhood to contract. Harry knew perfectly how sensitive her cervix was and Ginny repaid him with her fingers brushing against a spot at the beginning of his ass crack that she knew drove him wild. "Woooahh..." She was rewarded with a long moan from Harry.
"Mum would say we are living in sin," Ginny said with a small giggle, feeling her worries take a backseat for the time being.
Harry chuckled. "Would be really hypocritical of her, considering she gave birth to seven children."
They looked each other into the eyes before they continued to gently make love.
o
Just like Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hermione were being intimate as well. Just like them the reason was not only them wanting to be very close to each other - though they most certainly were enjoying it a lot - but also how they felt about what inevitably would happen soon. While the reasons were the same, what actually was happening in Ron's room was a bit different from Harry and Ginny.
Hermione and Ron were the oldest of the Six, and thus the most physically mature ones - especially considering how tall Ron had grown, though Hermione was quite tall for a girl as well. The way they made love also was different. While they both were equals, they instead took turns at gently dominating the other during sex. It was a game of respect and trust and they enjoyed playing it.
Right at the moment it was Hermione who was having her gentle way with Ron.
"Ohhh, you little tease," Ron moaned while Hermione was straddling his hips, having taken his dick deep inside herself.
"This is my little payback for how you teased me," Hermione said with a smirk while gently rotating her hips. "You already feel relaxed?"
"Yes..." Ron breathed, peeking at where Hermione's big brown bush was merging with his red hair. "All what's going on right now doesn't appear that bad. Though I can't help it..."
Like with Harry and Ginny, Ron and Hermione had realized that it was during being at their most intimate that they also were at their most open with each other. Both of them by nature were not the most open of people when it came to how they felt - a remnant of their childhood experiences - so they were eagerly using this opportunity. That, and making love simply felt incredible of course.
"We all know it will be nasty, regardless what happens." Hermione then showed she had some control of her inner muscles, causing Ron to gasp. "I know you like when I do that."
"I wish I could promise you to stand by your side, but things are so chaotic in battle..." Then suddenly Ron pulled Hermione close before flipping both of them so that he was on top of her. "Fair is fair... Now it's my turn."
Ron first gave er a kiss with lots of tongue, before... "Woaaahhhh!" Hermione moaned in delight and arched her back when Ron angled himself so that his manhood rubbed against her love pearl. "Oh... No promises... But I swear, should we both survive this, you better propose to me!"
Ron of course knew how his own parents had married right after finishing Hogwarts and part of him actually was surprised at how they would be mirroring Arthur and Molly in age and circumstances. However, Hermione's words also felt increibly meaningful and one look into her eyes told him that she was dead serious about that.
"Mum and Dad would be proud of us." That said, Ron kissed Hermione again while they continued to make love.
o
The final of the three pairs also was being busy with the same activity as the other two. While also gentle and loving, their sexual tastes had developed a bit different, which mostly was due to Luna getting 'interesting' ideas how to get more diversity into their sex lives and prevent it from one day becoming stale. That had resulted in things getting a bit... unconventional at times, though they also loved the simple classic way.
Professor Flitwick's eyebrows would rise beyond his hairline should he ever learn what they were using the locomotion charm for. On the other hand, knowing him he perhaps was expecting such recreational use of his teachings. Right now Neville and Luna were lying on their sides, kissing and fondling while Neville was deep within her feminine depths. The unusual part were the two thin and well-lubed toys slowly moving in and out of their rear holes.
"Uhhh... I had no idea... I was so reluctant," Neville said with another gasp when again feeling the toy push against his prostate. He'd been reluctant to do this, but Luna had convinced him to try and it felt great.
"The stigma is that with men only the gay ones take it up there. But a girl... oooh... can give a man this as well," Luna said, a moan escaping her when the toy inside her brushed up against the wall that separated her rectum from her sex, causing friction with Neville's dick filling said sex.
"I trust you, Luna..." That said, Neville carefully moved his hips while claiming her lips. "What... what do you think will happen next? I have a bad feeling about what's going on."
Luna moaned when feeling movement into her from the front and the aft. "They... they will be destroyed. However, not without wanting to take many with them.."
"Are you afraid what could happen to us?" Neville asked, looking into Luna's blue eyes.
Luna gulped hard, but hen answered honestly "I am afraid. I want to live to marry you, give birth to our children while making the world a better place. But to get all of that, we first have to go through this."
Neville knew that Luna often was bluntly honest, so hearing her say what she wanted their future to be was not shocking. Surprising was how much emotion she was putting behind those words, making Neville realize how much she wanted those things. "I will protect you, Luna. I won't let them hurt you."
"And I protect you in turn." That said, Luna kissed Neville, taking one of his hands and putting it onto one of her breasts. "Let us enjoy the moment."
"Gran would suffer a stroke should she ever find out what we do behind closed doors" Neville half-moaned when the toys in their asses increased a bit in their speed.
"Which would be rather hypocritical of her, considering that the more buttoned-up a society is, the more perverse its members are in the bedroom. We are more honest about who we are." Luna then kissed him to indicate that the time for talking was over for the moment.
Neville did not complain at all.
...the morning of January 9th,...
Despite all of the wonderous changes going through the world due to the reveal of magic being real and the equally magical terrorist campaign the country had found itself in the middle of, life of course could not be put on hold and still continued. People after all couldn't drop everything just because the world had changed significantly. Like every other day, the sun did rise above London, heralding the beginning of a cold winter Friday in early January.
It was now shortly after 9:30 in the morning and most people had by now commuted to their workplaces in the city, the office buildings having filled with workers who were now sitting at their desks, ready to face the day. The city also was filling with other people having some sort of business there, the streets, while never being empty even duiring the night, now again being filled with car traffic and pedestrians on the sidewalks.
Yes, despite the very weird times the country and the entire world had entered, and all the changes which already had happened due to that, it looked to be an ordinary Friday in London.
That however would change very fast and make it a day that would go down into history books - though perhaps not for the reason the instigators hoped for.
With a loud -crac- someone appeared, floating above the rooftops of the metropolis. Voldemort looked down at the city with contempt, though he also didn't bother to worry about how things would proceed after this. His only goal was to lure out Potter and finally put an end to him before he would prepare for the next time he would try. Other than that there was nothing left for him in this place.
Onto your knees, you disgusting city, Voldemort thought, remembering his early years growing up in the orphanage in London. You were utterly uncaring about me and now I will repay you in kind.
"Let death and destruction begin!" Voldemort then declared loudly.
And begin it did.
to be continued...
Next Episode:
"The Longest Day, Part II - High Noon"
Notes:
Here the notes.
The endgame has arrived.
Dead named characters in this chapter: Severus Snape.
Some already guessed it. Snape is essential to get Delphini out of her horrible situation and into safe hands. I honestly can't add much to what the scene itself shows and how it end Snape's arc. It did give me the chance to have one more confrantation with Pettigrew as well.
I really couldn't wait to write the scene where Voldemort searches the cave and finds out that the locket is a fake, as well as his following breakdown. Regulus here got late satisfaction that the message did go to the intended person. Of course Tommy cracks after putting the pieces together.
We also get more details about the situation surrounding Snape and Dumbledore. In canon it always rubbed me the wrong way how Harry suddenly worshipped the man after years of Snape being a complete piece of shit to him. Here, Harry shrugs and decides to just let the matter rest and little more than that.
I felt Delphini is best put into the care of Andromeda and Ted. They after all are her closest relatives who aren't bastards and have proven they can raise a child properly and with love. This will prevent all and any funny business in the future (thank God!).
I remembered the saying that logistics win wars, and that is true here, too. After the collapse of the magical economy and their money getting worthless, destroying their supplies cripples the Deat hEaters. Sadly, Tommy now being irrational is also a bad thing, while others have their own plans.
The scenes in the bedrooms are not about sex, but to show how close they are. That it also involves physical intimicy is part of that. Funny enough, it also allows me to show differences in personality and character.
And then... let loose the dog of war.