Harry received a letter on her desk. She never received letters.
She examined the envelope, and saw the wax seal was already opened. Of course it was. Looking at the back, she recognized Creedence's looped cursive handwriting, and saw her name in emerald green ink. Harry took a deep breath, and opened the letter.
Dear Harry,
Greetings from America! Nagini and I have been trying to lay low for the past few weeks, but given G's desperation it seems that might be pointless. Nagini is disappointed in the demise of the SoS, though I'm still hopeful some good may come from it. At least the Nomaj will know what they're dealing with. We smuggled on board a cargo ship and we're back in my home country. It's not a social visit, thank god. I saw a group of missionaries when we reached the docks and seized up, thinking of my mother. Nagini and I have been gathering intel on the MACUSA and the Nomaj, it seems our American counterparts are not happy the SoS is gone, and that the wizards are now fighting for Uncle Sam. Instead of bringing in more of their boys out in the field, wizards are being airdropped into Japan. Rumor has it they've even shut down some of their more top secret projects. I looked into that business you mentioned in Los Alamos. A few quick Imperios to the right people in DC, and you were right. It did exist, but it's been shuttered for now. It might be useful to keep tabs on them though. But for now, Nagini and I will stay over on our end of the Pond. MACUSA doesn't have an extradition treaty with Britain or Europe, so we might have a chance of building a life here. Albus, I know you're reading this too. I do regret that I never met you, but after all this time I doubt we'd have had a meaningful connection whether we were blood relatives or not. And Harry, thank you for everything you have done for us. If you are ever stateside, drop a line in the floo and we'll catch up.
Regards,
Creedance and Nagini
Harry looked at the letter in disbelief and read through it again.
So there wouldn't be a bomb, and the war was going to continue. Would it ever end at this rate? With Nagini gone from the Pacific front, there was no unified wizard resistance, leaving a vacuum that was uncooperative with the American wizards, who refused to work in a coalition with the other magical beings. Was this Gellert's plan? Had Creedence ever left Gellert's side, or had it all just gone wrong?
Harry folded the letter into the pocket of her jacket, and waved her wand, opening the door to her room. Albus had given her more independence lately, there was no need for an Elf escort. She briskly walked through the corridors and straight into Albus's office.
"Did you…"
"Ah, Harry. I see you have read the letter."
"This is madness! What's going to happen now? The war just can't keep going on." Harry exclaimed. "What are the Americans even thinking?"
"Total war, from the looks of it." Albus replied grimly.
"What are we going to do? Oh, this is all my fault." Harry fretted. She started pacing the floor.
"My dear, I think it is a bit extreme to put the burden entirely on your shoulders. Sadly, the Americans aren't the only ones conscripting their magical citizens. From what I've heard, there have been similar efforts from the Soviets. Though I do not envy them, most of the wizards in that region specialize in Dark magic and aren't as willing to follow Muggles."
Harry stopped pacing and looked at Albus. "So what do you propose? We do nothing?"
"We do what we can. We help any wizards who refuse to obey the Muggles go into hiding, and we wait to see Gellert's next move." Albus replied.
"Has he…has he gotten in contact with you?" Harry asked.
Albus frowned. "He has. Though not for anything substantial. He asked if I wanted to let bygones be bygones now that we were on the same side, as it were."
Harry stiffened.
"Naturally, I declined."
Harry didn't know if she believed Albus, but knew it was probable, at least.
"I've not heard anything new from the Muggle government. They were sending me letters to given them recommendations of students to hire after graduation for a new updated Auror program run by one of the few acolytes Gellert hasn't killed yet." Harry said.
"Anyone in particular you have in mind? I remember you were particularly close to the Head Boy." Albus said pointedly.
"Tom doesn't play nice with others, and certainly doesn't like following orders." Harry reminded Albus, who as soon as Harry looked at his expression, realized he might have been teasing her.
"Either way, you're quite right. Knowing Gellert, he's using it as an excuse to create his own battalion and the last thing we need is for those two to become entwined. I did read the boy's draft on that independent study paper on blood wards."
"Yes, it was fascinating stuff. Pity it won't be completed." Harry agreed.
"Would you mind if I took over supervision of Mr. Riddle's project? It would be a shame for him to lose academic credit over a disagreement." Albus asked.
Harry glared at him. "Albus, you should hardly be awarding Tom for inappropriate behavior."
"No, you are right. But, if you are unwilling to work with Riddle, someone should. His project might be what we need to defeat Gellert once and for all." Albus stated.
Harry looked at Albus curiously. "What do you mean by that?"
Albus motioned for Harry to sit down on one of the armchairs in his office. He summoned a teapot from his desk and two cups, one cup ending up in Harry's hand. As the piping hot tea poured into the cup, Albus looked reflectively into his own. "I do find tea to be quite calming in moments that can be quite distressing. It's startling, how simple rituals can take you back to moments as if you're reliving them. My mother used to call on her neighbor, Bathilda Bagshot, often and she had told me the secret of a good pot of tea was to let the water rest for five minutes, and the final result should be as red as madder, with plenty of milk. It was during one of those afternoons my mother had called Bathilda to tea that she introduced me to her great nephew…"
Harry listened until Albus finished recounting his story, taking in the details and parsing them from what she already knew of his relationship with Gellert. From both their accounts, neither mentioned that they had an intimate relationship, but it was obvious enough.
"So, all that is stopping you is the blood pact, or is it something else? Something personal?" Harry asked.
"You might not have the sentimentality I do, Harry. I certainly wish I could stop myself from feeling how I do, even after I know I was merely a pawn. Yet, here it is. There is no other choice."
Harry leaned over, grasping Albus's hands on hers. "You aren't alone. I will be with you every step of the way. But, how will Tom's project help you?"
"Traditionally, the pact Gellert and I made could possibly be broken with a few creative loopholes, many involving protecting a closely related loved one. I can't in good conscious ask my brothers, either Aberforth or Aurelius, to risk their lives in this folly. But, we can make Gellert break his oath first by thinking I am planning such an attack."
"So Tom would be bait." Harry surmised. She felt a twinge of irritation, this seemed familiar.
"Not exactly. I do care for Mr. Riddle, as I would any of my students, and you do as well. If we cannot break the pact from our gambit, we will need that goodwill in our last stand. Three against Gellert are poor odds, but we might make it nonetheless."
Harry downed the last of her tea. "When are we going?"
"Allow me time to contact Aurelius, and to set everything in place so Gellert thinks I'm asking him to return to Britain. Then, we shall see how Gellert proceeds." Albus replied, placing his teacup down on his saucer. He tapped his wand, vanishing it.
"And if Gellert decides to kill us all before then?" Harry asked. "I don't have the protection of a blood pact."
"No, you don't. You have the Hallows. If my pact fails, I daresay you will have to go where I could not."
Harry left Albus's office, her mind racing. The duel was going to happen, and she was getting roped into it. Worse, she was now going to have to grovel to get Tom to work with her again. She fumed at the indignity of it all.
She wondered how she was going to confront him. Send an owl? Tap his shoulder politely after class?
Perhaps, but it didn't really seem like something she cared to do. Instead, she let her footsteps guide her to the women's washroom.
As she opened the heavy wooden door, she heard Myrtle sobbing in the stall. Harry felt shame. She could have prevented Myrtle's death, but was so caught up in revenge she hadn't bothered trying. The crying stopped
"Who's there?" Myrtle asked.
"Anyone come in here? It's Professor Evans." Harry asked.
Myrtle floated out of her stall. "Oh, I know who you are. I hope you know you make me sick. You teach bullies how to curse people."
Harry paused. "I teach students to defend themselves. Unfortunately, I can't help if they choose to use those skills to hurt innocent people. I'm sorry."
Myrtle didn't say anything, floating above the stall.
"Did you see the Head Boy open up a wall?" Harry asked.
"He's not allowed in here anymore after he got caught." Myrtle said flatly.
"But did you see him?" Harry pressed.
Myrtle fidgeted, then nodded, floating away.
Harry lifted her wand, and in her best impression tried to phonetically sound out the words as Ron had.
It took a few tries, but as she saw the wall open up, she let out a sigh of relief.
To think, at one point she could do that without thinking. Harry wondered why she missed it so much, when that was a part f her that gave her nothing but pain.
She cast Lumos, then cast a Featherweight Charm, floating down into the Chamber. The Basilisk was dead, or so it was claimed. Then again, the Chamber was supposed to be sealed too.
Harry walked down to the main room of the Chamber, following her memories from a lifetime ago, until she reached the center.
It was empty. She walked around to the smaller antechambers, where to her surprise she saw a series of rooms from a potions lab, a bedchamber, a small library, and what looked like a duelist studio.
As she looked into the window of the library, she saw that familiar mop of dark curls looking intently at an ancient time with yellow pages bound in snakeskin. She stared for a moment at the young man.
He was handsome. Harry tried to deny it, but it was hard not to when he hadn't any anger or hatred etched into his face. Harry remembered in her second year that night spent talking to his horcrux in the diary, and those moments in the Pensieve. It had disgusted her, how she had felt drawn to him in a way she could not describe. It wasn't a school girl crush, it was fascination, longing.
In hindsight, Harry wondered if she had let herself so easily fall into the idea of seducing the older Mr. Riddle as a form of wish fulfillment, of living out that long ago fantasy.
Harry tapped on the window with her wand, and Tom looked up at her in surprise, then took a moment to regain his composure to his usual inscrutable face. He stood up, adjusting his robes, then grabbed his wand. Harry could she him disarming his wards, then manually opening the metal door.
"What are you doing here, Miss Evans?" Tom asked, feigning polite curiosity.
"I could ask you the same thing, Mr. Riddle. I thought the Chamber of Secrets was sealed off as a stipulation for your continued enrollment at Hogwarts." Harry countered.
"Are you going to turn me in?" Tom asked, with a hint of edge in his voice.
"Hardly. Would you let me in, Tom? I don't bite."
Tom opened the door, gesturing for her to enter. She did, and as he closed the vault like metal door and warded it behind him, she knew she had broken the cardinal rule of safety.
Well, she had gotten this far.
"Have you redecorated?" Harry asked, taking in the sight of the green Persian carpets, the dark wooden bookcases, the black lacquered desk with a snake design, and the shelf of plants in silver filigree pots floating above them, their leaves almost touching their heads.
"No, actually. All of this was here when I opened the Chamber. I doubt they are Salazar's original items, but one of my goals is to study the preservation charms." Tom replied. He pointed at a silver watering can on the desk, and floated it up to the plants, watering them. "There's a sunlight charm that goes off on its own on the ceiling. It's frustrating."
"Probably good for your vitamin D levels." Harry said idly.
"I see your scar has healed nicely, Miss. Evans." Tom declared, a smirk creeping on his lips.
"Yes, wellI think I carry it well." Harry replied. She mentally counted to ten, wondering how to broach the subject. "Perhaps I was hasty in ending our project."
"I agree." Tom said evenly. "Though I admit, Miss Evans, I expected you to come to this conclusion earlier than this."
"Oh?" Harry said tightly. "Is that so?"
"I know you are a woman and prone to irrationality, I do not hold it against you." Tom said, nodding magnanimously.
Harry felt all those potential feelings for Tom dissolve.
"We will resume starting Monday." Harry said.
"Would you like to continue our sessions here, now that you know about the Chamber?" Tom asked. "I could, of course, give you a tour."
"There is no need, Mr. Riddle. However, I do have some assignments for you that might be helpful with your unsanctioned reference materials. But, this assignment must stay between you and me. If you tell anyone else, everyone in this castle will die." Harry warned.
She could see a glint in Tom's eye. "Tell me."
Harry could feel her throat tighten from the Unbreakable Vow as it burned on her arm. She gasped, doubling over in pain and coughing. Tom rushed over, holding onto her as she tried to support herself with the desk. Tom glanced over at the marking on her arm.
"He gave this to you, didn't he. You want me to help you defeat Grindelwald."
"Don't get ahead of yourself." Harry wheezed. He gasped for air.
"It's a blood oath, or a blood pact. That's the only thing close to what I'm researching since we agreed blood wards already have too much redundancy. So you want to void your Unbreakable Vow, or you want to void a blood oath."
Harry shook her head, and felt her throat squeeze tight again, almost fainting in Tom's arms. He gripped onto her tightly, his hands lifting her upright as she balanced on his shoulder.
"Not you then. The only person who Grindelwald wouldn't ever fight against is…Dumbledore!"
Harry felt the tightness in her throat close entirely, as she fainted.
When Harry came to her senses, she found herself lying on a brocade bedspread on a four poster bed. Surrounding her were tapestries of Basilisks, roosters, and eggs woven in silver thread on green velvet.
"You're awake."
Harry lifted up her head, still weary, and saw Tom sitting on the bed.
"Did you carry me here?" Harry asked, her voice raspy.
"Floated you, obviously." Tom replied.
Harry looked down. Thankfully, she was still in her robes.
"You probably shouldn't get back to the surface so soon, you'll need to rest." Tom noted. "I have some Pepperup Potion."
"I can't stay, I'm not allowed out after curfew." Harry responded.
"Yet, you chose to be out anyway." Tom said. "I stay here frequently enough, the other boys are frankly glad to be rid of me and it's easier to come back here after patrol. You can take the bed. I will be in the study. I'll let you know if I find anything about the blood pact."
Harry nodded, drifting off to sleep.
Harry and Tom resumed working together at the start of the Spring Term. Now that she was teaching the Defense NEWT as well, they could only meet once a week. Harry had basked Albus to join in, for increased academic supervision but mostly for her own safety. She still felt Tom couldn't be trusted. So, they had started meeting in Albus's office. Tom looked out of place here, and he seemed just as uncomfortable for a man who once assumed he would have an office just like this as his own after graduation.
Albus suggested meeting them once a month for progress reports. So far, Albus's theory he had hinted to Harry months ago might work. But, it was all speculative. Too much was riding on this to fail.
"So, Mr. Riddle, do you propose a potion or a counter curse?" Dumbledore asked.
"No potion can defeat a blood pact as strong as the one you made. There is some sort of magical bargain that's sealed it, something that is tied to you. Could you elaborate on it, Professor?" Tom asked, looking into a book he had pulled from the Restricted Section and running his fingers over the Middle German.
"I suppose it does no good to protect myself in my usual shroud of mystery. The consideration you are thinking of, Mr. Riddle, is love."
Tom looked at him in confusion, than shock. "Professor. Are you implying you are a Sodomite?"
"I'm hardly implying it, but I do forget you were raised in a rather benighted environment, and I do not hold any ill will in your comments."
Tom scowled. "Yes, well, I suppose it is behavior that can be corrected, my, um, apologies."
"Duly noted, my boy. The magic that uses love is deep magic, held in the same breath as soul magic. Breaking it requires a sacrifice in kind."
"Murder?" Tom asked.
"No, beyond that. Are you familiar with the story of Abraham and his son?" Dumbledore asked.
"How are you familiar with it? I thought wizards didn't go to church?" Tom asked.
"My mother was a Muggleborn, and still held strong to her Anglican ways." Dumbledore replied. "Gellert will think he has us cornered, because we will be completing a separate, unrelated ritual. It will be the first time since the War that I have left Hogwarts and it will be known through backend channels I am doing this. Gellert will attempt to ambush us. If he attacks me, he breaks the blood oath and will weaken us both. He will kill me, and you will let him."
"Professor, that is insane, you can't do that!" Tom exclaimed. "If you die, the war is as good as over."
"Exactly, Tom." Albus said, that twinkle returning to his eye. "I may not be able to kill him, but Gellert has always had his hubris. He will not expect either of you to try."
"But sir, my Vow." Harry reminded him. "I'm useless against Gellert."
"Ah, yes. Your Vow. Unbreakable Vows have a level of efficacy, their strength ebbs and flows with the caster's level of magic. If you haven't noticed from the wireless reports of blackouts whenever Gellert travels with that wand of his, those magic levels are…erratic."
"So, the wand is weakening him." Harry guessed. "But those surges, I heard he could blast through tanks with that thing."
"Every burst needs longer to recover, or at least that is what our sources have noticed." Albus replied. "Gellert can only hold power so long, before he gets desperate."
"So, when are you planning on conducting this ritual?" Tom asked. He pulled out a small potioneering datebook from his robe. Inside each date was a picture of the phases of the moon.
"The ninth of June." Albus replied, the creases in his eyes turning upward, the bright blue shining through.
Tom looked up from his book and did a double take. "The total eclipse. You're waiting until the total eclipse to ambush him?"
"It might be our only chance." Albus replied.
"But sir. The total eclipse and the effect on magical cores is spurious at best, even if it gives us a slight advantage, he still has the Elder Wand."
"That is a possibility." Albus relented, nodding. "Then again, perhaps all we need is a slight advantage."
"So, that's it then." Harry said. "Where will we go? For the ritual?"
Albus looked satisfied with himself. "Stonehenge."
The first attack from the Allied Wizard Army was more about shock and awe than anything else. Gellert was vaguely aware of a Muggle presence called the Geneva something or the other. Winston gave him carte blanche under the guise of wartime necessity, and that was enough.
Gellert smiled. The power of the Hallows was immense. Draining at times, but awe inspiring. Each moment he held the wand, magic surged through him.
The group of wizards joining him in this new country was small, less than one hundred against the full force of the Japanese army.
He did not need to have any of his troops cast a spell. Instead, he took a breath as he stood by the coast, watching the waves rise up higher and higher. Gellert lifted his wand, and the sky turned dark. Through the ripple of hundreds and thousands of black billowing cloaks and screams, what was considered a cloud by the planes flying overhead, was soon discovered to be something worse.
As every Dementor attacked in one strike, they rained from the sky, targeting anyone around them that Gellert seemed expendable. If they wanted total war, it would be what they received. The wizards ran for cover. most sending out weak Patronus wisps. Gellert chuckled. Only he was protecting them from the certain doom that befell everyone around them in the city. Anyone on the road, sitting outside, riding bikes, or in their own houses. No one was to be spared.
And when the Dementors had their fill and feasted, they left a city of living husks in their wake. A peaceful and bloodless solution that satisfied the self righteous politicians.
The silence was delicious.
The effort drained Gellert, as he commanded the Dementors to fly back where they came from, he felt sweat beading across his temples and his veins straining to pump blood as magic surged through him. As the last of the Dementors flew away, he could not hold on longer. He felt a surge of magic burst from his wand, as the ground shook underneath them.
Suddenly, there was darkness again as the ground collapsed underneath them.
Harry heard on the wireless about the earthquake. And the Demrntor attack. The results were so devastating, the Emperor immediately sent out the declaration of surrender. The war was over, at least for the Muggles.
Surprisingly, the dates did not match up with what she remembered happened in Hiroshima. Gellert hadn't even targeted the same place. But, she felt her blood run cold at the description of what remained of those people. It was the largest mass Dememtor's kiss. One that might increase cravings in the creatures.
Tom knocked on Harry's door.
"Come in."
Tom barged in. "It's happening. Albus said we're to prepare to go tonight. Grindelwald has recovered and is on his way back to the Continent. With any luck, he will still make it in time."
"And are you ready?" Harry asked. She summoned her suitcase, full of her clothes, potion materials and collapsible cauldron.
"Of course I am. What kind of a question is that?" Tom asked. He took Harry's suitcase for her. "I take it you can write a permission slip for me if I'm caught out after curfew?" Tom smirked.
Harry huffed. "Yes, alright. If we live. I'll write you that permission slip. Maybe you'll even earn back that Special Services to the School trophy you so greatly hold in esteem."
Tom glared at her as they walked out of her office. "You vex me, Evans. You should be careful if you don't want another scar."
"You'll have to wait, I think there are others already out for their turn." Harry replied, locking the door behind her. They quickly walked up the stairs, and through the secret passage, meeting Albus at the Apparition point.
"Ah, good you are both on time." Albus declared. He handed them two sheets of paper. "The Apparition coordinates. Tom, do you need to Side Along?"
"I would be happy to escort Miss Evans." Tom replied cooly. "I have heard she is prone to splinting herself."
Harry glared at him.
"Very well then, I shall see you shortly. Adieu." Albus lifted his wand, and with a crack, disappeared.
Tom extended his arm. "Well? Are you ready. We don't have all day."
Harry reluctantly linked her arm with Tom's, as he lifted his wand, and she felt the pull from her navel, taking her away from Hogwarts and to the end.