Chapter 814 - Ch 11-12

Chapter 11: The FinalsNotes:I've been looking forward to this one. Enjoy!

(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)

Chapter TextNow was the time for the World Cup Finals, and even knowing the outcome, he was excited to see the game again. There was just something about Quidditch that kept him from being bored, even with a game he had seen before. Stepping into the Top Box, he found familiar faces. Fudge was miming his way through introducing the Bulgarian Minister, Oblansk, to Bagman. The Malfoy's had yet to arrive, but someone else was here, a mass of shimmering silver. Next to it stood the house elf Winky. It wasn't hard to figure out who it was.

I take it that's Barty Junior?

Correct. That invisibility cloak does nothing to hide from us.

How is it that I can see, if not him, then the cloak itself?

Nothing can be hidden from the sight of my kind. And you've gained that power, even in your human form.

Taking that into consideration, Harry remembered that last time, Crouch Junior had stolen his wand while Winky was dealing with her fear of heights. Harry pitied her, and wanted desperately to 'trip' into the bastard, but held himself back. He had a part to play, in these plans he had set in motion. But someone had just arrived that made it very difficult to hold back. Stepping into the Top Box was none other than-

DUMBLEDORE!!!!

Goliath's rage flared like an inferno, and Harry just had time to grab his right arm, as it lunged forward, eager to tear into the throat of the bearded betrayer. Needing to focus, he slipped away from the main group, heading towards the Quidditch pitch.

NO!!! DON'T HOLD ME BACK!!! LET ME KILL HIM!!!

NO!! It's too early, and there are too many witnesses!

FORGET ABOUT THEM!!! HE AND RON ARE WITHIN ARMS REACH!!! LET ME TEAR THEM APART!!!

To Harry's shock and horror, his right hand began to change. Scales began to grow out of his hand, as it began turning into a fearsome claw.

NO! NO! NOT NOW! IT'S TOO-

"Harry?"

Suddenly all thoughts of vengeance faded as he heard a voice, as beautiful as an angel, coming from behind him. Turning, he saw Hermione looking at him, those gentle eyes filled with worry.

"Are you alright?"

"I... I'm fine. Just a muscle I pulled earlier. Thought it was better."

"Do you need something for the pain? I'm sure that Arthur can-"

"No. No, it's passed, I'll be fine."

"Are you certain? I'm sure it won't be a problem."

"I'm sure. But thank you, Hermione."

"For what?"

"For caring."

Smiling at him, she took him by the arm and led him back to the others, where the oblivious Minister Fudge was introducing the Malfoys and the Weasleys.

"Arthur, what a... pleasure to see you."

"Likewise... Lucius."

How the hell is Fudge this damned oblivious?

I wish I could tell you. The air is thick enough with tension you could cut it with a knife.

That was when Fudge noticed Harry, and decided to bring him into the conversation.

"And this must be Harry Potter! A pleasure to see you again, young man. I'm sure you're familiar with Draco, a fellow Hogwarts student, but have you had the chance to meet Lucius, or his lovely wife Narcissa?"

The three Malfoys turned from the Weasleys, and focused their attentions on Harry, and Hermione still holding his arm.

"I've met Lucius before, though I have not had the chance to meet Narcissa. Incidentally, Minister, I don't believe you've been properly introduced to my friend, Hermione Granger, the brightest witch of her age."

While the flattered Hermione was speaking with Minister Fudge, curious about the responsibilities that come with the office, Harry turned his attention back to the Malfoys.

"Draco."

"Potter." Draco's sneer suddenly turned into a wicked grin. "Should've known you'd end up getting kissy with the mud-"

"Be careful Draco. After all, it is a long way down."

"Are you threatening my son, Potter?" Lucius's eyes narrowed, and that scowl of his could scare a gorgon.

"Not at all, Malfoy. Merely reminding him to watch his step. I trust you are well, Lucius. Haven't seen you since my second year. A shame about your diary. Such fascinating stories within."

At the mention of the diary, Lucius, and the Weasleys, went stiff. Ginny began thinking back to when she had been at the mercy of Tom and his manipulations. Her brothers, the twins, in particular, noticed and gathered around her to comfort her. Arthur, meanwhile, shot Lucius a glare that would terrify the most murderous Dark Wizard. Draco had no idea what was going on and simply looked at Harry like he had just announced the sky was pink. Narcissa, on the other hand, only had a vague understanding of what was going on. She knew Lucius had been given a diary by the Dark Lord, and somehow it had been destroyed by Harry Potter. The full implications of the diary, and what exactly had been in her house, were unknown to her.

"It wasn't mine."

"Ah yes, that is correct. My apologies for the mistake, Lucius. Still, a pity about that diary. I can't imagine the owner will be pleased to hear what happened to it."

For a brief moment, a look of fear flickered across Lucius's face. By this point, Voldemort's survival was regarded as a distant hope by the more fanatical, or well-informed, of his supporters. While certain he had nothing to fear regarding his old master, there were others out there that might take offence to his carelessness.

Before Lucius could muster a retort, Harry had turned his attention to the last Malfoy.

"And you must be Narcissa. Draco mentions his father so very often, yet we never hear anything about you."

Looking at the woman in question, Harry remembered how the woman had saved his life by lying to Voldemort about his death. But then he felt Goliath, not roaring as he had become used to. Rather, it almost felt like he was purring.

"Harry Potter. I've... heard many things about you."

"All true, I assure you, especially when I grabbed a Golden Snitch right above Draco's head."

That little embarrassing reminder got Draco red in the face, but before he could spit a retort, Bagman announced that the game was about to start, and ushered everyone into their seats. Given the not-so-subtle glares Ron had been aiming at Harry, especially when Hermione sat to his right, Fred and George decided to intervene, by pulling Ron away from the Duo, having him sit beside Percy, while Fred sat beside Harry, and George sat next to Hermione.

As Bagman announced the game, and the mascots moved onto the field, Harry pretended to watch, while was thoughts were on Goliath.

What was that about?

What?

The purring. Since when do you purr? Especially for Draco's mum?

Since I realized just how fertile she is.

Excuse me, WHAT??? Where the HELL did that come from???

I can practically smell her fertility from here. It's a wonder she only has one child.

Well, that's more than I ever wanted to hear about Lucius' sex life. Wait, you can SMELL her fertility???

I can smell her pheromones, and they reveal much about her.

For now, please keep it to yourself, unless it can somehow help us defeat Voldemort.

As the match began, Narcissa found herself having difficulty focusing on the game. She'd briefly had to hold Draco back as the Veela arrived, and their Allure hit the men in the Box. But afterwards, she'd been thinking almost exclusively about the boy she'd just been introduced to. Harry Potter, the Boy-Who-Lived. Ever since Voldemort had been defeated, she and many others had wondered who exactly this boy was. After all, the Dark Lord was feared for good reason and the efforts of Dumbledore were hardly enough to defeat him. They were barely doing anything more than delaying the inevitable.

Then, Halloween of 1981 came. Voldemort had attacked Godric's Hollow, killing James Potter, the son of the legendary Charlus and Dorea Potter, and his wife Lily, the 'brightest witch of her age.' And he had been defeated. The most powerful Dark Lord since Grindelwald had been defeated by a fifteen-month-old, with only a scar for his efforts. It had beggared belief and defied expectations.

For a decade after, the boy had been kept separate, hidden from the wizarding world. Any attempts to find or make contact with him failed, no doubt due to the influence of Dumbledore. When 1991 came, and he began his first year at Hogwarts alongside Draco, she and Lucius had been waiting to see what their son would tell them. She knew that deep down, Lucius had always been more loyal to the cause of Voldemort, rather than the man himself. And she knew that Lucius, and others who avoided Azkaban, unlike her sister Bellatrix, were secretly hoping this boy would grow to become the next Dark Lord, perhaps even more powerful than Voldemort himself.

Nothing could have disappointed Lucius more than the letters he received that year. This boy was hardly an up-and-coming Dark Lord. If even half of what Draco had written was true, at best he was an impolite boy with no understanding of proper manners. At worst, he was thoughtless and cruel, needlessly provoking others. Neither of which was what she'd expect from the Heir to an Ancient and Most Noble House. Even his relationship with the mudblood Hermione, while it was... distasteful, it was hardly unexpected given James' marriage.

Now she had come face to face with him and was no longer certain what to expect. The boy had hardly been polite, or even courteous, granted, but he spoke like a man who knew more than he should. That little talk about a diary with Lucius had been quite interesting. She had known the diary was a Dark Artifact, one given to him by Voldemort himself. Beyond that, it was a mystery, one of Lucius's secrets. And this boy spoke about its destruction as casually as the weather!

But more than anything else, were those eyes of his. Merlin, the moment she locked eyes with him, it had sent a chill down her spine.

For one, she could see the power that lurked behind those eyes. She wasn't sure how, but he had managed to suppress, and even conceal his power, from the rest of the magicals in attendance. But those eyes had given him away. There was power like nothing she had ever believed possible buried within this boy. And he was actively keeping it hidden! Now she wondered, all those times that Draco had written of Harry's attitude, was it all an act? Was the Boy-Who-Lived putting on a performance for Wizardkind? If so, why?

But there was something else she saw in those eyes. Something that gave her an interesting feeling: hunger. There was an intense hunger behind those eyes, and unlike the power she had stumbled upon, this hunger surged to life when it looked at her.

Throughout the match, she swore she could feel those eyes gazing at her, appraising her. And as much as she hated to admit it, she liked the feeling it gave her. It was a feeling of being desired she hadn't felt in many years.

'Perhaps,' she thought to herself, 'while Lucius is having his fun, I'll see what else this boy is hiding.'

The match ended as it had last time. Viktor Krum caught the Snitch, but it hadn't been enough for the Bulgarians to win. Unlike last time, Narcissa lingered behind, looking at Harry like she was appraising him. It wasn't something he had expected from her. But that mattered not. Right now, he and the Weasleys were in his enchanted tent, relaxing after an exciting match. The twins were testing their latest creation, the girls had stepped out, thinking they saw some classmates, and Ron was going all fan-boy about Viktor Krum.

But this didn't matter to Harry. All that mattered was that every second that passed brought the riots closer.

Just a little bit longer, and then the real party starts.

Do you remember what happened when you defeated Voldemort the last time?

Yes, I spent years cleaning up the mess he and his followers created.

But it wasn't just the damage they themselves caused, was it?

No, his ideals lived on after his defeat. A few aspiring Dark Wizards emerged in the intervening years, seeking to claim the mantle of Dark Lord.

Because you just wanted the war to be over. You beat him in battle, but you didn't truly vanquish him, not for years.

And this will help with that?

Absolutely. Fear and awe are powerful tools in the right hands.

But who will fear me, and who will stand in awe?

That is what will separate friend from foe.

Then came the shouts, the screams. Arthur stepped out to see what the commotion was, while Fred remarked the Irish must be celebrating. That all changed when Arthur ran back in.

"It's not the Irish."

Everyone rushed out of the tent and witnessed the terrifying sight of the camp in flames. People were screaming, running in every direction seeking some escape. The smoke clouded their vision, giving the camp an eerie glow, as the Death Eaters spread carnage. But others were nearby, two people Harry had expected to see in the forest, if at all, and Arthur shared in that surprise.

"Draco? Narcissa? What are you two doing here?"

"Just thought it would be prudent to warn you, Arthur, that I saw your daughter and her friend earlier. They were headed towards the rioters."

Harry's blood went cold at that revelation. He barely noticed Arthur giving orders to the others, until Draco decided to chime in.

"Better hurry, Potter. They're after Muggles, but they'll have fun with your mud-"

He never finished that sentence, because Harry's rage had begun to surge. With unnerving speed, Harry punched Draco right in the face, breaking his nose and sending him tumbling down. Before anyone could react, he took off toward the riots with a snarl.

"HARRY! Dammit. Narcissa, please, get the twins and Ron out of here. Bill, Charlie, let's go. We have to help Harry and the girls."

For Hermione Granger, these last two days were among the best she'd ever had during summer. She'd arrived at The Burrow, and here she had gotten a look at a genuine magical household for the first time. It had been incredible, and given her insight into the possibilities once she graduated from Hogwarts.

It had been fun seeing the twins again, and meeting Bill and Charlie was interesting. Bill was a former Head Boy, and while Charlie had been Prefect instead, his knowledge of dragons was fascinating, if slightly terrifying, given his vivid recollections. Percy was the same ponce she remembered and was somehow made worse by his new job at the Ministry. Ron, on the other hand, was the same berk he always was. Granted, he was slightly better behaved around his family, though not by much, Even his table manners seemed unchanged.

It had even been fun, if slightly awkward, seeing Ginny again. She knew Ginny had feelings for Harry, especially after what happened in the Chamber of Secrets. And though Hermione hadn't admitted it, she knew what it was like. Ever since her first year, when Harry saved her from the Troll, she'd begun to develop feelings for Harry. At first, it was simply her thinking he was handsome, especially when he went off to face Quirrel.

Then came their second year, and the Chamber of Secrets was opened, unleashing a monster on the students. She'd been terrified of the implications, especially given that she herself was muggleborn. But somehow, when she thought of Harry, all that fear faded away, and she just knew, that things would be alright. When she discovered the monster was a Basilisk, she was so eager to tell Harry, but then she heard it approaching her. She had the mirror, but one fear overrode all other thoughts: that she would never see Harry again.

But she did see him again. And she wanted to scream at him. Taking on a basilisk, alone, with a sword!?!? All the while a memory of the monster who killed his parents observed the whole thing. She had so desperately wanted to yell at him for his recklessness, but she couldn't.

How could she? It was at that moment she realized she fancied him.

And soon it was their third year. She was so excited about this one and more than a little scared! This was the year that they could visit Hogsmeade. It was silly, but she had daydreams of Harry asking her on a date to the village. She imagined walking down the streets, hand in hand, her gazing into those emerald eyes, while he gazed at hers. But that fantasy wouldn't come true. He didn't get permission. Even if he did, a mass murderer had escaped from Azkaban, with the sole intention of finding Harry in service to his master. She saw the pain he was in when he revealed that Sirius Black was his own godfather!

Then came that horrible day, when Buckbeak was to be executed. They'd visited Hagrid, to try and offer him comfort, when who should turn up but Scabbers! Ron was certainly pleased, though not enough to offer a genuine apology for being such a berk that year. Then of course he had gotten away, only to be recaptured as Ron came face to face with a large black dog. That same dog had dragged him through a tunnel to the Shrieking Shack, only to be revealed as the animagus Sirius Black.

But Black was innocent! After Professor Lupin arrived, and Snape was stunned, Pettigrew was revealed. They'd planned to hand him over to the DMLE, so Sirius could be proven innocent, but Lupin had missed his Wolfsbane potion and transformed. They'd survived, but the rat had gotten away (again!) in the chaos. There was some good that came out of that night, however. That blasted Time Turner had come in handy, allowing them to not only free Sirius but rescue Buckbeak. And it was that night, riding Buckbeak as he flew through the night sky, that she realized she didn't just fancy Harry.

She was in love with him.

And now, seeing him after the summer, she wanted desperately to believe he loved her too. The moment he stepped through the Floo, she had been amazed at the change he had undergone. He'd not only gotten taller than she remembered, but he must have spent the entire summer exercising because he looked like a professional boxer! It figures that she'd be caught staring the first time they meet during the summer. And Ginny clearly had the same thoughts, as they were both sneaking looks at Harry during dinner.

Then came that moment in the Top Box, when she saw him pull away from the group in a rush. The suddenness of it spooked her, and the relief in his eyes was almost palpable when she checked on him. She didn't care much for Quidditch, but watching the game while sitting next to him, had been wonderful.

Then Ginny asked to walk with her. Hermione could tell right away, she wanted to talk about Harry and didn't want her brothers listening. She could sympathize, though in this case, she only cared about the one brother: Ron. The entire visit, Ron had been glaring at Harry like a jealous idiot. You would think that after three years, he'd finally come to terms with whatever issues they had. But no, he'd just sat there, glaring and sulking. If Harry noticed, he never said anything and part of her doubted he would. Ron was the first friend he'd made since learning he was a wizard, aside from Hedwig of course.

"So, Ginny. How has your summer been?"

"Good... good."

"That's... good."

The two walked in an uncomfortable silence, both unsure of what to say. After walking past a tent with a chimney, Ginny gave a sigh of resignation.

"Let's just get this over with. How do you feel about Harry?"

"What??? I... well Ginny... I, um..." Hermione went beet red, embarrassed and searching desperately for an answer.

"You don't have to answer, that tells me everything."

"Ummm... why do you ask?"

"Because I have feelings for him too. And as much as I want to be with him, I don't want to force it."

"What do you mean?"

"Mum's been... pushy, lately, asking questions about my 'relationship' with Harry, and reminding me that now I can visit Hogsmeade."

"It's not exactly a secret you like him, Ginny."

She went red at the embarrassing reminder of how she acted around Harry. "I know that. It's just... I think of you as a friend, and I didn't want any secrets between us."

They kept walking, not going to any particular destination, just allowing their feet to take them where they will.

"I love him," Hermione whispered so quietly it was audible only to Ginny. Ginny just nodded her head, acknowledging the words.

"I'll make you a deal then, Hermione." When she had her friend's undivided attention, she continued. "Neither of us will pursue him, but we won't get in the way if he asks one of us out. Sound fair?"

Nodding her head, Hermione shook hands with Ginny in agreement. Their talk complete, they began walking back to the tent, only to realize they had walked at least halfway across the campsite. As they worked on getting their bearings, the screaming started. A blast of fire could be seen in the distance, and smoke began to fill the air. Neither of them could make out what the people were shouting, but it was clearly bad if the entire camp was in an uproar.

Looking at each other, Hermione and Ginny silently decided to try and help. If someone had been careless with a spell, or an enchanted object, then there were almost certainly people that would need help. Even if they legally couldn't perform magic, they could get people to safety. Running to try and help, they found a family of four that had been knocked to the ground. A mother and father, along with two children, were coughing from the smoke and needed aid.

As the pair approached the family and helped them to their feet, they heard a voice as cold as death.

"Well, well, well, what have we here?"

Turning to face the source, Hermione and Ginny found themselves facing twelve witches and wizards. Each of them was dressed in robes as black as midnight, with a silver skull mask covering their faces. Ginny knew exactly what they were, and whispered with bated breath "Death Eaters."

"Clever little girl. Perhaps your father isn't a complete disappointment." They laughed at the insult.

Hermione stepped between the family and the Death Eaters, wand at the ready.

"My, my, my. The little mudblood fancies herself a witch? How adorable." Their cackling was cruel.

Ginny responded to their taunts by launching knockback jinxes at them. Each one was deflected effortlessly by one of the dozen.

"Don't make us laugh child. You are far beneath us in power and skill. Power and skill that belongs only to the pure."

Hermione cast Expelliarmus, hoping to draw their attention while Ginny got the family to safety. Like before, they batted the spell away.

"I think it's time someone taught you filth some proper manners. Crucio!"

The curse hit Hermione before she could block or counter it. Every muscle burned in extreme agony as she screamed to the heavens. Collapsing to the ground, she gasped for breath as the curse hit her a second time. Tears were streaking her face from the pain, and she silently prayed for someone to stop the pain.

She got her answer with a voice that did not speak, or even shout a spell. It roared "CONFRINGO!"

The Death Eater holding the spell on her exploded in a blast of blood and gore. Those standing nearest were hit with the spray, staining their masks with blood. Bones and viscera fell around them, along with a hand holding the wand.

Blinking to clear her eyes, Hermione now saw not the eleven remaining Death Eaters, but the one standing between her and them: Harry Potter. His voice carried concern, but a hard edge that would have been terrifying were he someone else. "Ginny, are you alright?"

"I'm OK. Harry, these people are-"

"I know Ginny. Be assured, they will not hurt you or Hermione ever again."

He sounded so confident, so assured. It was as though he had forgotten what fear even was. Hermione had many questions buzzing in her head until she heard more footsteps.

"Ginny! Hermione! There you... are." It was Arthur, and his two eldest, Bill and Charlie. The three took up positions beside Harry, blocking the girls and the family from their attackers. "Boys, get the girls out of here."

"But dad-"

"Don't argue Bill. Get them out of here." Bill acquiesced, this authoritative side to his father being rather new. Even Hermione was shocked at the iron in his voice.

"They're mine, Arthur."

"Harry, don't be reckless. We'll take them-"

"THEY'RE. MINE." The steel in his voice shocked Arthur, never expecting to hear something like this from Harry of all people. But he could see the fire within and took a few steps back. He would not leave Harry, but he wouldn't get in the way. This was his fight. He was merely a witness.

Lord Crabbe had not expected this to happen, not in his dizziest daydreams. When he arrived for the World Cup, he knew that Lord Malfoy had been planning this for a few months. The monotony of life had become too much for any of them to bare, so when he proposed they all have a little 'fun' after the Finals, he imagined it would be so simple. They'd don their old outfits, masks and all, and cause a little havoc. They never mentioned it to their wives, though they likely suspected something was going to happen when they were told to leave the campground early.

It had started off well enough. A few burning tents and some screaming fools got them going. It was just like the old days, bringing pain and fear to the unworthy! A few Unforgivables launched at those too stupid to run, and this was the best thing to happen in years! Then they found the Malcolm family, a half-blood and his mudblood wife, and things got even more interesting.

Tormenting these mongrels had been easy, and then came those two little witches. Ginny, the daughter of that blood traitor Arthur, and her mudblood friend Hermione. The little things had been brave, but foolish to stand against them. Then Lord Parkinson decided to Crucio the mudblood bitch, and that had been funny. Her screams were delightful, proper pay-back for every insult she had levied against their children at Hogwarts.

Then came the Confringo, and Parkinson had been reduced to a mess.

For a moment they were too stunned to react. Who dared to attack them!? When they finally recovered their senses, that damnable half-blood Harry Potter stood in their way.

"YOU DARE TO DEFY US, POTTER!?!?"

"I'll do more than defy you, fat man. I will destroy you."

Though the mask hid it, Crabbe went red in the face at that insult. He was so distracted, he didn't even hear the threat or the power behind it.

"HOW DARE YOU!!! FIENDFYRE!!!"

The cursed flames poured from his wand, taking the form of a massive boar. It charged at Harry with reckless abandon, crashing into him, and bathing the spot in flames.

The Death Eaters began cheering, seeing the source of their ire consumed by the cursed flames. But that excitement turned to shock, and fear, as they saw the flames begin to swirl in a cyclone.... revealing Harry Potter, standing motionless as the Fiendfyre formed around him. Crabbe's heart froze in terror as he realized he had already lost control of the fire to Potter.

The others joined in his fear as the Fiendfyre took the form of a massive dragon curled around him, its head rising fifteen feet in the air, malevolent eyes boring into Crabbe's very soul.

"No more holding back."

Those were the last words Crabbe would ever hear, when the Fiendfyre dragon launched itself at him, as he could do nothing but stare into oblivion.

Alecto and Amycus Carrow were not used to being scared. Why should they be? They were Death Eaters, the purest of wizardkind, chosen by the Dark Lord himself! Fear was for those beneath them. For the mudblood mongrels, and the wretched Muggles that spawned them. They should know, they had inflicted pain and fear on both with glee during the War.

But seeing two of their number die in a single minute? That was new to them, and they didn't like it. Nodding to each other, they knew what the other was thinking. It was time to bring this wretch in line and remind him what happens to those that defy the purebloods.

"Crucio!"

"Crucio!"

They both cast the Unforgivable, knowing he couldn't block both. And he didn't, or rather, he didn't bother trying. He just stood there, as though unfazed by the effects of the Cruciatus Curse. When they lifted the spells, he looked at them with a sadistic grin.

"That almost tickled. Let's see if this gets a giggle."

Wand in hand, he flicked it in an upward motion for Alecto, and a downward motion for Amycus. Neither of them heard anything but were suddenly very aware of a painful wound down the centre of their bodies. Their final thoughts were the realization he had wordlessly cut them in half, from top to bottom.

"Hmmm, that wasn't funny at all. Most unfortunate. Let's see if any of you can entertain me."

Walden Macnair was an executioner; a professional butcher employed by the Ministry. He loved killing, the thrill of extinguishing life in a mess of blood. Seeing the fear in his victim's eyes as they realized their final hour was at hand, was magnificent. It was even better when they struggled, helplessly trying to stave off the inevitable, until his axe or his wand brought the final blow, sending them to oblivion.

What he didn't like was being the victim!

He'd gotten used to his kills being easy. As far as his victims were concerned, he was the physical embodiment of the reaper, here for their souls. Instead, he found himself facing a wizard who was as merciless as he was! This wasn't how it worked! He brought suffering and death, he did not suffer it himself!

Fortunately, he had learned a delightful spell from Snape before the War ended. One that only the Death Eaters could learn.

"Sectumsempra!"

He eagerly anticipated watching Potter scream in pain as he slashed across his chest. He expected blood and agony.

But he got nothing! The Potter brat simply looked at him with a smirk. Before he could follow up his spell, Potter unleashed his own.

" Ardenti Gladio!"

Macnair felt a searing pain in his knees as he collapsed to the ground. Looking at his legs, he could see through the fog of pain that his legs had been cut off at the knees.

He screamed as his consciousness faded.

Lord Goyle was terrified out of his mind. This boy had mercilessly killed four Death Eaters and maimed a fifth! They were the ones who did the killing, not the other way around! It was time to end this.

"Avada Kedavra!"

The Killing Curse could not be blocked or countered. There was no way this brat could hope to protect himself against it.

Just as with the twins, he didn't bother moving. He stared at Goyle as the Curse flew towards him. Then, he simply held out his free hand and caught the Curse.

'HE CAUGHT IT!' To his absolute horror, the Curse did not kill him, or even hurt him. The green spell coalesced in his hand, forming a sickly green orb that he simply held in his hand. He inspected it, dramatically, then turned to Goyle.

"I believe this is yours." And launched the Curse back at him, like a bolt of green lightning.

Goyle didn't have anything to fear now.

Corban Yaxley was many things, but a fool was not one of them. This little party of theirs had completely turned against them. He wasn't sure how, but this brat had become powerful enough to dispose of six Death Eaters in two minutes. They had to stop the individual attacks. It was all or nothing now.

"Everyone, ATTACK!"

Spurred on by his words, the others launched their attacks. He recognized a number of spells launched at Potter. The Flesh-Rotting Curse (Caro Pereat), the Piercing Curse (Terebrare), and a Bone-Breaker (Frange Ossa). All geared towards causing suffering and agony. A quick death had clearly been taken off the table with the death of Goyle. But this meant that Potter was distracted, too busy focusing on the spells being launched at him.

While Harry deflected the multiple spells aimed at him, he decided to have a go with one final Unforgivable. If he could be distracted while defending himself, then the Curses would hit him while his defences were lowered. That would give them the opportunity they needed to end this.

"Imperio! Drop your wand and yield."

The words echoed in his mind, and he knew Potter was receiving his command.

But he didn't lower his wand, or even slow down. He was just as quickly deflecting the spells that came his way like they were nothing. As Yaxley prepared his second attack, Potter went on the offensive.

To his right stood two Death Eaters, though he wasn't sure which ones. Their exact position had been lost since they started their fun. On his left was the blackened spot Crabbe once stood, then Lucius, and one other. The one closest to his right was the first to fall, as Potter cast a silver 'Contere Ossa,' and rather than scream in pain, a wet gurgle escaped his throat, and through the openings of the mask, he saw blood be coughed up. The poor bastard simply collapsed after.

The one next to Lucius was hit almost immediately after. A dark red 'Ardeat Sanguis' struck him in the chest, and he screamed in agony. As rolled on the ground, he begged for someone to help, for someone to stop the pain. Then he went quiet, as it seemed someone, or something answered him.

The one furthest from the right was next. This time, Potter responded to his Piercing Curse with one of his own. This one struck with enough power that a gaping hole was punched through the man's chest. The force of the spell knocked him back, decorating the campsite with what remained of his internal organs.

Finally, Potter turned his attention to Yaxley himself. With a jab of his wand, he cast 'Bombarda' but aimed at Yaxley's feet. The force of the explosion launched him into the air, as he felt his legs being torn apart from the blast. Mid-air, he felt a magical force grab his body, and slam him down to the ground. He blacked out as he felt more of his skeleton cracking under the force.

Lucius Malfoy was the last one standing. Macnair had since passed out, or died, from the pain of losing his legs. Yaxley had been launched into the air by a Bombarda, and Nott was either unconscious or dead from whatever Potter had hit him with. All the others had died, quickly, and mercilessly.

This night could not be going any worse for him!

After being thrown back by the force of the Bombarda,Lucius rose to his feet, no longer wanting to win, just hoping to survive whatever came next. Then he realized, to his absolute horror, his wand had been broken.

"Now that is a pity." Potter was staring right at him, and slowly beginning to advance.

"What will you do now, Death Eater?" Lucius began searching for another wand, hoping one was close enough that he could, at the very least, try, to cast a defensive spell.

"You are alone, Death Eater. No one is coming to save you." Lucius realized, with great reluctance, that Potter was right. He needed to escape. Fortunately for him, he could still Apparate, even without his wand, and... nothing! He felt the intense pain that came with an Apparation-Blocking-Field, but who cast it!?

"There is no escape."

'It was him' As Potter raised his wand, he could hear the incantation "Halitus Hiems" and silently prayed to whoever was listening, as he was encased in ice, that it would all be over soon,

The whole time, Arthur had been watching in stunned silence. He expected that Harry would be skilled. After all, Ron had told the family all about their adventures, ranging from a possessed teacher to a Basilisk! Even without his reputation as the Boy Who Lived, it was clear he was no ordinary wizard. When they came face to face with twelve Death Eaters, he was ready to fight. He didn't know if he'd win, or even survive, but he had to give Bill and Charlie time to get Ginny and Hermione to safety. He had seen the Confringo cast by Harry and was ready to stand by him.

Then he made it quite clear, that he would be facing them. ALONE. Any other time, for anyone else, he would have refused, and been ready to fight to the end. But there was something about Harry, something that had been awakened seeing Hermione suffer from the Cruciatus Curse. Whatever it was, it was begging for the chance to be unleashed. He decided then and there, that he would step back, but the second things began going downhill, he'd intervene and get them out of there.

That hadn't been necessary, because Harry had been unstoppable. He didn't just fight the Death Eaters. He didn't just beat them. He destroyed them, without hesitation or mercy. One had his legs cut off at the knees, the second had been slammed into the ground after being launched into the air by a Bombarda, and the final one had been frozen solid.

It was both frightening and amazing, to see it in action firsthand.

But he wasn't done. With the Death Eaters dead or incapacitated, he turned his attention to the camp itself. The fires had been continuing to spread, reducing tents to piles of ash. Holding out his left hand, he began to summon all the fire to him. It was incredible to watch, as rivers of fire flow through the air, ending in Harry's left hand. There it all began to coalesce, into a single ball of fire, no bigger than a crystal orb. The more fire it absorbed, the brighter it got, becoming a miniature sun by the end.

With all the fire in the camp summoned to him, Harry simply closed his hand on the orb and released a puff of white smoke.

"Incredible." It was all Arthur could think to say.

"Thank you, Arthur. But come, we best find some Aurors. They'll want to-"

As he spoke, a group of wizards approached from all sides. "Aurors! Drop your wands and surrender immediately!"

"Speak of the devil. Calm yourselves, Aurors. Your job is already done."

As the Aurors closed in, they saw the carnage that had been unleashed. Of the twelve Death Eaters, only 3 had survived, one frozen in a block of ice. One of the group walked up to them, and Harry recognized it as Shacklebolt.

"Arthur, did you two...?"

"Not me Kingsley. This was all Harry's work."

"Impressive work Mr.Potter, albeit somewhat... disturbing."

"These men are followers of Voldemort," some of the Aurors, and Arthur, shuddered at the name "and they were actively torturing a friend when I arrived. As far as I'm concerned, this was the appropriate response."

"I'm not angry Mr.Potter, just surprised someone entering their fourth year would know how to do this."

Before Harry could respond, a sickly green light shone upon the campsite. Turning to the source, Harry saw the Dark Mark, floating in the air like a malevolent moon, as its baleful light covered the world.

"Arthur, where did you send the others?"

He pointed towards the forest below the Dark Mark. "There."

"BUGGER!" Harry charged off towards the forest and the source of the Dark Mark.

"HARRY! Not again! Kingsley, we need to-"

"I know. Aurors! Round up the survivors and get their identities! We'll grab the others after! Arthur, let's go!"

And with that, the two men took off, determined to catch Harry before he found the caster of the Dark Mark.

Notes:And there we go! The world has been given a taste of Harry's new power! Who wants to see more?

As a bonus, here are the original spells Harry cast during the fight.

Ardenti Gladio - The Burning Sword. A spell that functions like a cutting charm, but automatically sears the wound shut to prevent death by blood loss. A painful spell that can't be healed.

Contere Ossa - The Bone-Shattering Curse. Shatters the bones so they can't be healed. Unlike the Bone-Breaker, it requires the bones to vanish and then regrow completely. If used on the ribs, the shards of bone can eviscerate the lungs and heart.

Ardeat Sanguis - The Blood Boiling Curse. This causes the victim's blood begins to boil in their body. When underpowered, it just causes extreme agony. Overpowered, their internal organs will be severely damaged, shortening their lives by several years, or even killing them.

Halitus Hiems - Breath of Winter. A powerful elemental spell. Functions like a blizzard that freezes everything in its path. Humans caught in it are encased in ice that will not melt for twelve hours, or the caster releases them sooner.

Chapter 12: The AftermathChapter Text"Which of you is responsible for this!?!?" Harry could hear Barty Sr. shouting in the darkened air. He was getting closer.

"How dare you accuse the Lady and Heir of House Malfoy of such a deed!" Narcissa wasn't as loud, but there was no mistaking the indignation.

"Do not lie to me! You have been discovered at the scene of the crime!"

"Mr.Crouch, I'm telling you, they didn't do this!" Harry could now see his friends through the smoke. Crouch Sr. was pointing his wand at Narcissa and Draco, no doubt believing the Death Eaters' wife and son were connected to tonight's exciting events. Fun as it is to see them put on the spot, there was no time.

"What is going on here!?!?" Harry's voice echoed across the camp, startling Crouch Sr, who whipped around and aimed his wand at Harry.

"And who are you?!"

"I'm the wizard who handed the Aurors three Death Eaters for trial, now tell me, what is going on here!?"

Barty raised an eyebrow at the mention of three Death Eaters but turned back to the group, wand pointed at Narcissa. "The Dark Mark was cast from this area. This woman is the youngest sister of the notorious Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange. As it stands she is the most likely culprit."

"But Mr.Crouch, it wasn't them! We saw someone-" Hermione was cut off by Ron. "Why are you defending the snakes, Hermione?"

Before anyone could answer, Arthur and Kingsley came running up behind him, along with a pair of Aurors.

"Harry! There you are! And Barty! What's going on here!?" Arthur was glad to see everyone OK but worried seeing Barty holding them at wand point.

Before Crouch could answer, Bill stepped in to settle the matter. "We've been trying to tell Crouch whoever shot the spell came from the woods behind us. We couldn't see them, but we all fired stunners. We must have hit something."

"Excellent work then. You two!" Shacklebolt pointed to the two Aurors that followed him and Arthur. "Check the forest, see if you can find anything."

As they took off, Hermione rushed up to Harry, wrapping him in a Hermy-hug. Harry wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as she trembled from everything that had happened.

I won't let anyone hurt her again.

"Excellent work with the three Death Eaters, Mr.Potter. It's a shame the others got away." Now that Barty had calmed down somewhat, he was managing to be civil. But his statement caused Arthur and Kingsley to share a look.

"Barty... you misunderstand. Those three were taken in because they were alive... mostly."

That line got several looks of shock, especially from Narcissa and Draco. Before either of them could ask questions, the two Aurors returned, one of them carrying a house elf.

"That's-that's impossible! Winky couldn't have done it!" Barty rushed up to the Aurors.

"I'm sorry, Mr.Crouch, but there was no one else." The first Auror, a heavy-set man carrying Winky, looked apologetic.

"When we found her, she had a wand in her hand." The second Auror, a thin witch, handed over a familiar-looking wand.

Ron, who had been glaring at Harry holding Hermione in his arms, went wide-eyed upon seeing it. "That's my wand! I thought I dropped it in the tent!"

Theories were bandied back and forth as everyone argued how she had gotten the wand. Harry wanted to tell them how she got it, that it was Barty Jr. still hidden under an Invisibility Cloak, that had stolen the wand. Winky was innocent. But right now, he had someone more important to look out for.

"We can sort this all out later. Right now, we need to find Hermione a healer!"

The rest of the night had been a long one. The Aurors had taken the three surviving Death Eaters into custody and spent most of the night picking up the pieces of the others. Harry and the others were brought to the DMLE to answer questions and provide statements to the Aurors. Hermione, along with several others, was given potions for treating the effects of the Cruciatus Curse.

The questions of the Aurors were rather standard, right until they realized that, among the dead and captured Death Eaters, were Lords of the Wizengamot, including Lucius Malfoy, after Harry released him from his frozen state. Then the Aurors became more... intense in their questioning. They began demanding if he knew the Death Eaters were Lords, and if he held personal grudges against them.

Harry's only saving grace was each of the Death Eaters was confirmed, upon inspection of their wands, to have cast an Unforgivable, the Cruciatus Curse, during the riot.

It figures they're trying to find out if I knew the Death Eaters were Lords.

Technically, you did know that Lucius was one of them.

True, but I didn't realize I turned him into an ice cube. I thought I had turned him into a carpet stain.

Please don't tell the Aurors that. I'd rather not have to kill them en masse.

It was only when the Aurors were convinced he didn't kill several Lords knowingly and intentionally, that they were free to leave. During that time, Crouch had released Winky, only with more witnesses, and Hermione was still upset over his treatment of her. Upon returning to The Burrow, Molly immediately hounded the group, demanding answers about what happened. She only relented her questioning when everyone promised to tell her everything in the morning.

When morning came, too soon in the opinion of many, Molly had already prepared a large breakfast for the household. Her barrage of questions would have to wait because the owl post arrived. Most notable, was a letter from Remus, courtesy of Hedwig, a letter from the Ministry, and the Daily Prophet. As Arthur read the Ministry letter, Harry decided to see what Remus had sent him.

Harry

I hope this letter finds you well. We never got the chance to discuss it, but these last two weeks, Padfoot and I have been going over wizarding law books in our spare time. I'm sure you've figured this out by now, but the Wizengamot is rather terrible at informing people other than purebloods of their rights.

I'm quite certain that the rioters captured are going to be receiving a trial. Brace yourself, as the defence will likely claim that you're violent and unstable, or that you knew their identities and pursued them due to petty grudges. If Lucius is paying for the defence, you can guarantee they'll pull out all the stops.

But more importantly, we've found an opening you can exploit during the trial. No doubt they'll expect it to be routine, claiming to be Imperiused to be let off the hook. However, according to wizarding law, if a witch or wizard, regardless of blood status, has been brought before the Wizengamot for crimes relating to murder, or the use of Unforgivable Curses, and claims to have been Imperiused, the Head of the DMLE can request an Unspeakable bring a DOM Truth Stone, to determine the validity of the claim.

This law has been on the books since the Unforgivables were outlawed, but it's never been used. If the Wizengamot objects, then the DMLE Head can override their objections, given the close ties to the Ministry some of them have. In any case, their being Imperiused would constitute a 'threat to the stability of the realm.'

Hopefully, this helps you.

Moony

Those two are bloody brilliant!

Pocketing the letter, Harry made a mental note to send this information to Madam Bones. But first, Arthur had passed him the Daily Prophet. The front page news was interesting, containing a photo focused on him in the Top Box after the Irish won the game.

CHAOS AT THE WORLD CUP FINALS STOPPED BY HARRY POTTER

BOY WHO LIVED CAPTURES THREE DEATH EATERS

By Barnabas Cuffe

The Quidditch World Cup is meant to be a time of celebration. A time when witches and wizards from all walks of life, from Lords of the  Ancient and Most Noble Houses to students, come together in a moment of camaraderie and the noble spirit of competition. Families join together with their friends, and for a few brief hours, all the worries and challenges of life are forgotten as we revel in the thrill of the noblest of sports.

That means, it takes a certain kind of cruelty and callousness to turn what should be a source of joy, and hope for the future, into a night of pain and fear. But that is exactly what twelve Death Eaters, followers of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, chose to do. The World Cup had been over for a few hours. The Irish had won, despite Bulgaria catching the Snitch, and the fans had celebrated. Drinks were drunk, snacks were had, and memories were created. Everything needed to make a perfect night.

So what should happen next, than twelve of the worst of our society should take advantage of these moments of vulnerability, to bring suffering and terror to others. First came the fire, as tents were ignited with families still in them. Husbands drew their wands, ready to defend their loved ones, as wives rushed to get the children to safety, as they suddenly found themselves surrounded by fire. Those closest to the carnage were treated to the terrible sight of twelve Death Eaters, casting fireballs at everything in sight.

Then, came the Unforgivables. The most evil of spells were cast as men, women, and children sought to find safety or help. The screams could be heard from the furthest edges of the camp. Smoke clouded the senses, creating a panic like nothing that has been seen in years. The World Cup was turned into a living nightmare, from which none escape.

But then, one wizard chose to make a stand.

Witnesses report seeing Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived, charging towards the Death Eaters, wand in hand, a look of fierce determination upon his face. There was no doubt in their minds, he was going to face the Death Eaters, and punish them for their evil! From there, the situation becomes difficult to ascertain with certainty, as few remained to watch the battle that would soon be unfolding, for fear of being targeted by the Death Eaters, or of concern for loved ones.

What is certain, is that by the end of the riot, three of the Death Eaters were in the custody of the DMLE. You might be wondering: what happened to the other nine? Well, dear readers, we here at the Daily Prophet would like to know that too! The Aurors have been unusually tight-lipped, with none of our reporters getting close to the battlefield. Though one anonymous source claims the Aurors were being required to "clean up whatever was left." One can only imagine the battle that took place that night.

Whatever the situation, one thing is abundantly clear: the Ministry must take action! The three Death Eaters now in custody are expected to receive their trial tomorrow. The unusual haste of the situation has been attributed to the scrutiny being levelled against the Ministry on how such a thing had even occurred in the first place!

Regardless, we here at the Daily Prophet thank Harry Potter for his actions last night and wish him all the best with the coming school year.

"Well, that's certainly an interesting article. 'One wizard chose to make a stand?' Who comes up with this stuff?" Harry passed the paper back, somewhat amused by the phrasing contained.

"Well, Barnabas is a massive Quidditch fan. It's no surprise he decided to take the events of last night personally." Arthur had passed the paper to Bill, who was reading it attentively.

"I'm surprised there's no mention of the Death Eaters being Lords. Or that the other nine are dead." Bill set down the paper. "You'd think there'd be a bigger uproar over it."

"My guess is the DMLE is keeping quiet over that matter, to prevent the uproar in the Wizengamot. That's why the trial is happening tomorrow, which you three," Arthur pointed at Harry, Ginny, and Hermione "are required to attend. You'll be called upon as witnesses, and will likely need to provide memories for the trial."

Molly, meanwhile, had run out of patience at being left out of the conversation. "Excuse me, but can we go back to Harry facing twelve Death Eaters ALONE!? What were you THINKING Harry?! You could have died!!!"

Impudent witch!!! How DARE she speak to you like that!

On the upside, this isn't her Howler voice.

"I was thinking your daughter and my friend were in danger. I wasn't about to let anything happen to them." Harry's calm, but firm, voice belied the rage in his heart.

"It was very brave of you, Harry," Hermione spoke softly, as though sensing the anger he was hiding, while Ginny blushed and nodded her head.

"Even so, why didn't you help him, Arthur!?"

"You didn't see him in action, love. I've never seen anyone fight like he did. The whole thing was over so fast, I doubt there was anything I could have done." That got everyone, including Ron who had been stuffing his face, to turn and look at Harry. "Although, I would like to know where you learned those spells, Harry. I've only heard of the Bone-Shattering Curse, and that spell is rather advanced."

"I read about it. The rest, I worked out on my own."

"Oh come now Harry, surely you don't expect us to believe that? A 14-year-old inventing spells? Ridiculous." When Harry didn't respond, choosing to simply stare at her, her mouth fell open and she stuttered a response. "Y-You actually invented spells??? HOW???"

"Sorry Molly, but that'll remain my secret."

Are you certain insinuating you're capable of magic advanced as spellcraft is a good idea?

There were already going to be questions regarding my newfound power, once Dumbledore hears of this. At least this way, I've got something believable. Imagine how he'd react if he knew I got the spells from the Potter Grimoire and the Black Family Library.

Fair point. Just remember, everyone is going to be keen on learning, if not the spells themselves, then the method you acquired them.

"Inventing spells at 14? Not bad Harikins-"

"-but if you ever need help creating-"

"-a more, entertaining kind of spell-"

"-we'd be happy to offer you-"

"-our expansive expertise-"

"on one condition, of course-"

"We get to test it out first."

Fred and George doing their twin speak was something Harry forgot he missed. Chuckling at their offers to help with pranking spells, he replied "If I decide to write a book of joke spells, I will be certain to consult the pranking experts Gred and Forge."

Albus Dumbledore was in something of an unusual situation. Sitting at the Head Table in the Hogwarts Great Hall, he and the rest of the staff were enjoying a quiet breakfast in the leadup to the new school year. It was something of a relief, as ever since the Triwizard Tournament had been revived, Hogwarts was chosen to be the host school. That had placed an added responsibility on the staff, given the extra bodies that would be present.

The Triwizard Tournament was already proving to be something of a disappointment. Oh, he had been looking forward to this. Ever since the idiot Bagman began talking about reviving it, he could see how it would fit into his plans. But Madam Bones had been opposed to it from the beginning and had only been brought around by a guarantee no student under 17 could enter. Which would not do, not for his plans.

Ever since hearing that prophecy, Dumbledore had been concerned about the child that would be subject to the prophecy. Ever since Tom had begun his rise, Dumbledore had chosen to let him continue. After all, Dark Wizards were a dime-a-dozen, but a proper Dark Lord? That didn't come along every day. Every murder committed in his name, every atrocity that had his hands involved, all built the legend of the greatest Dark Lord since Grindelwald.

Then came that prophecy, decreeing that another would be responsible! This would not do, not at all! When the Potters became the prime choice for the parents of this child, he'd convinced them to go into hiding, casting the Fidelius Charm with Peter as the secret keeper. He knew the boy had joined Tom, and would tell him the secret. It was unfortunate that he had to sacrifice the Potters, but James and Lily had been increasingly defiant towards him. That kind of attitude couldn't be tolerated.

Then came that Halloween night, and it was far from what he expected. Tom had indeed killed James and Lily but somehow had failed to kill Harry. There was no doubt then, Harry was the child destined to defeat Tom. While Sirius went in pursuit of Peter, he had taken Harry to Gringotts, where Griphook had provided the Blood Test that nearly made him choke.

'An Unclassifiable core!?!?' It had been beyond even his expectations. Never mind vanquishing Tom, this child could vanquish him! This would not do. He'd gotten Griphook to authorize the 13 Bindings on Harry, and his other abilities, but that final binding was too unstable, and the healer didn't survive the aftermath.

Since then, he'd kept an eye on Harry, making sure the Dursleys kept him, forcing him to endure ten years of darkness. That way, when the wizarding world offered him an escape, he'd be relieved, he'd be grateful, he'd be malleable. He'd have the perfect pawn to martyr himself, allowing Dumbledore to stand, now and forever, as the greatest wizard the world had ever seen!

The Tournament would have been a perfect opportunity, not only to test Harry but to ensure he remained a devoted pawn. His recent encounter with Sirius risked pulling him free of his influence, and the offer to help guide him through the Tournament would have been perfect. Even better, it would have been an ideal moment to begin pushing his relationship with Ginny.

The deaths of James and Lily had not only delivered him the 'Chosen One' but given him an opportunity to gain access, not only to the massive Potter fortune but to the Potter Library as well. It, along with the Black Library, was the largest wizarding library in Britain. More importantly, it contained scrolls and books that no one else had access to. Access that he'd been denied by James. His deal with Molly would gain him the knowledge contained within, and with Ron dragging Harry down, the boy would be unable to save himself.

But with Madam Bones getting that guarantee, he couldn't put his pawn through his paces. He had planned to subtly encourage Harry to enter his name, as a means of proving himself, but that wasn't possible anymore. He'd considered entering Harry into the Tournament himself, but he discarded that theory. As Headmaster of Hogwarts, he'd be the one expected to ensure that only students over 17 could enter the competition. As such, if he had entered Harry into the Tournament, it would immediately raise questions, questions he'd rather avoid answering.

Musing over the coming school year would have to wait, because the owl post arrived, bringing copies of the Daily Prophet. As he unfurled his copy, he expected to hear about the chaotic aftermath of the World Cup. Before the game began, he'd managed to overhear Lords Crabbe and Goyle discussing their plans to cause a riot. How they weren't caught earlier was beyond him. But they had their uses, and this riot would cause panic, and begin to sow the seeds of fear, that when fully matured, would generate the perfect scenario for Voldemort's return, and inevitable defeat at his hands.

But that wasn't what he was reading. What he saw was one of the last things he had ever wanted to see. The Death Eaters had been stopped in their tracks, by Harry!? How was that possible??? Harry should be withdrawn, unsure of himself, and fearful of what was coming for him. Instead, he had charged off to face a dozen Death Eaters alone. And he not only survived, but he had also actually captured three of them singlehanded!? What the bloody hell happened to make this a possibility!? Lucius and his ilk wouldn't dream of going easy on Harry. If anything, they'd take the opportunity to inflict severe harm upon him, or even death if the prophecy didn't protect him!

Whatever happened, he needed to get a hold of the situation, and fast. Harry was still at the Weasleys, and Molly would almost certainly be questioning him. He'd need answers from her, and preferably soon.

Madam Amelia Bones should have been in a good mood. In fact, she should be ecstatic! A Death Eater riot at the World Cup had been stopped in its tracks! Nine of the twelve Death Eaters were now dead, while the remaining three were in DMLE custody.

Instead, she was in a mood that could only be described as murderous. After being brought to their holding cells, the Aurors had gotten the identities of the Death Eaters, both dead and alive, and it had caused quite a stir. Lucius Malfoy, Walden Macnair, and Corban Yaxley! A Lord of the Wizengamot, an executioner, and a DMLE employee! That last one made her sick to her stomach, though, fortunately, he was part of the Improper Use of Magic Office, not an Auror. Merlin knows what kind of damage he could do in that position.

In any event, when Fudge got wind that his biggest ally had been imprisoned, he'd arrived in her office in a huff, demanding an explanation and ordering his release. He'd backed down when she revealed his friends had been confirmed to have cast Unforgivables during the riot. Of course, then he had begun waxing about how it had to have been a mistake, that they must have been victims of the Imperius Curse.

As much as Amelia hated to admit it, there was little she could do if that was their defence. Lucius had already claimed innocence via Imperius, and given the DMLE couldn't force a pureblood to take Veritaserum, there was little she could do. Still, there had to be something that she could use.

As she was attempting to calm down and focus, Tibia popped in, with a letter, sealed with a familiar symbol. 'So, what does the Dragon have for me today, I wonder?'Opening the letter, it was everything she had hoped for, and more.

Madam Amelia Bones

Firstly, I can imagine the situation you find yourself in. Three Death Eaters have been caught, each of which is a pureblood. They can legally refuse Veritaserum, the very thing that will confirm their guilt, and because of the very laws you are sworn to uphold, there is little you can do. Fortunately, there is something you can do.

Each of the Death Eaters has been confirmed to have cast an Unforgivable during the riots. Given the punishment, their only hope is to use the Imperius defence and claim they were forced to cast the spells. While they can refuse Veritaserum, as Head of the DMLE you can request the DOM provide a Truth Stone for use in their interrogation. Normally the Wizengamot would vote on this matter, but as these three in particular can constitute a 'threat to the stability of the realm' if they were Imperiused, you can override them, and interrogate them immediately.

Best of all? Their blood status has no impact. They cannot refuse to be questioned in such a manner. This law has been in place since the Unforgivables were outlawed.

Secondly, I think it is time for us to meet. After the trials are concluded, I will seek you out. I shall identify myself with the phrase "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." Once that is done, we will need to speak in private, with access to a Pensieve, and someone who can verify the validity of memories. There is something you need to see.

I look forward to our meeting.

The Dragon of Time

'A DOM Truth Stone!?' Amelia was both overjoyed and stunned. How had no one else thought to use a Truth Stone!? If this law was legitimate, then three more Death Eaters would be in either Azkaban or the grave, by tomorrow night.

But first, she needed to speak with Saul Croaker. She was owed a few favours, and this was the time to call them in. 'Tomorrow can't come soon enough.'

"Order in the courtroom!" Albus Dumbledore's voice carried across the room with the authority only Chief Warlock was capable of. "Seal the doors!" A spider web of magical chains crisscrossed the large doors to the courtroom. "Bring in the Accused!"

Three figures were brought in. Only one was walking on their own. The other two were being levitated in by the Aurors, magically carried to their seats. Internally, sitting on the witness bench, next to Ginny and Hermione, Harry was feeling tremendously satisfied. These three, Lucius Malfoy, Walden Macnair, and Corban Yaxley, were Death Eaters responsible for an inhuman amount of suffering.

Lucius had been Voldemort's right-hand man, until his capture in the Department of Mysteries. Walden had convinced the giants to side with Voldemort, nearly killing Hagrid and Maxime in the progress. And then there was Yaxley, who had been head of the DMLE, and thus the Muggle-born Registration Commission. These three disgusting excuses for men would be responsible for the torture and murder of men, women, and children when Voldemort was on the loose, thanks to that corrupt moron Fudge.

Not this time. This time, they would be the ones to suffer and die. Lucius would not be funding the Death Eaters, Macnair would be the executed, rather than the executioner. And Yaxley? Yaxley would die in fear, helpless and abandoned, the very fear he subjected children to with glee. If Harry had any regrets, it was that he couldn't execute the lot of them himself. It would be a punishment long overdue.

"On this day, August the twentieth, of the year nineteen ninety-four, so begins the Criminal Trials of the Accused: Lucius Malfoy, Head of the Ancient and Most Noble House of Malfoy. Corban Yaxley, Head of the Minor House of Yaxley. Walden Macnair, Head of the Minor House of Macnair. Representatives for the Wizengamot: Chief Prosecutor Madam Amelia Bones..." Albus listed off the names of those overseeing the trial. Harry wasn't listening though, because he was very much aware he was being watched.

The entire Wizengamot had been assembled for this trial, while the observation stands were packed to the bloody brim. In several seats of the Wizengamot, were women that had never been there before, including Narcissa Malfoy. She, and the other wives of now-dead Death Eaters, would be voting on the fate of those before them. Meanwhile, in the observation stands, he could see a handful of familiar faces, including Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Greggory Goyle, and Pansy Parkinson. All of them, minus Draco, had lost their fathers to Harry, and they were staring down at him.

If looks could kill...

Let them stare. When the time comes, they will either join us, or their fathers.

"How do the Accused plead?" Dumbledore's question had brought back Harry's attention. When the three chose to plead 'not guilty' he was forced to suppress a smirk. "On what grounds are you not guilty?" They responded with the Imperius defence, and Harry wanted to shout 'Gotcha!' Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the unmistakable robes of an Unspeakable.

"Very well. Madam Bones, you may proceed."

"Before we proceed, as Head of the DMLE, I must ask Lord Lucius Malfoy to reiterate, does he claim innocence via the Imperius Curse?" In the affirmative, she offered no reaction, but Harry swore he saw a smile beginning to form. "Then, as Head of the DMLE, I call for the Department of Mysteries to provide a Truth Stone before we begin questioning the accused."

That got people murmuring. A brief look of panic flitted across the faces of the three, until their defence lawyer, one Edward Selwyn, spoke out. "Chief Warlock, I must object. Madam Bones cannot simply call for a Truth Stone during a trial."

Selwyn... that name seems familiar.

William Selwyn was one of the Death Eaters. This Edward must be a cousin.

"On the contrary, Mr.Selwyn, I can. Lord Lucius Malfoy is a known associate of Minister for Magic Cornelius Fudge. Walden Macnair and Corban Yaxley both work for the Ministry and thus have potential access to records and information contained within. Given these circumstances, their being Imperiused constitutes a threat to the stability of the realm, and thus, I invoke my authority under Article 5, subsection 3, of the Act Concerning the Unforgivables of 1717. As such, a Truth Stone shall be present during the questioning."

Now the murmurs got loud enough to qualify as shouts, with people alternating between demands this be stopped, and demands on why this wasn't done sooner. Before the situation could get any worse, Dumbledore fired several loud fireworks from the Elder Wand, with a call for "ORDER IN THE COURT!"

Meanwhile, Minister Fudge was discussing the situation with the toad, and someone he didn't recognize. In any event, when Fudge turned back, he seemed confused but otherwise unconcerned. "The law is clear on the matter. Madam Bones is within her rights to do so. We must bring in a Truth Stone."

The Unspeakable that had been sitting on the sidelines, completely unmoving before now, stood and walked over to the accused. From his robes, he produced a stone tablet, one etched with runes that he had never seen before. From there, he simply dropped it in Malfoy's lap and stood to the side. After a moment, when Malfoy went from slight panic to serenely calm, he turned to Madam Bones and stated in the robotic voice of an Unspeakable, "He is ready, prosecutor."

"Thank you, sir. Now, Lord Malfoy, two days ago, on the 18th of August, you and eleven other wizards donned the robes of a Death Eater and started a riot at the Quidditch World Cup. Were you, as you claim, under the influence of the Imperius Curse?"

"No, I was not." The viewing gallery all but erupted into an incomprehensible mess. Again, Dumbledore was forced to silence the courtroom.

"Were any of your fellows under the influence of the Imperius Curse during the riot?"

"Of course not, they all went along with it willingly." Again, the courtroom became a mass of angry shouts and shrieks. After silencing them again, Dumbledore declared that any further interruptions from the viewing gallery would result in forced removal from the courtroom.

"What do you mean 'they' went along with it willingly?"

"It was my idea of course. It seemed a delightful form of entertainment after the World Cup." This time, no one spoke out of turn.

"If it was your idea, why did you claim to be Imperiused?"

"Because it had worked before. I had no reason to doubt it would secure my freedom again."

"You've used it before?" Amelia Bones was struggling not to grin. She and everyone else knew what this meant. Clearly, Selwyn did too, as he attempted to object, but Lucius kept going.

"When I was first arrested for my service to Lord Voldemort-" people shrieked and shuddered at the name. Rather than throw anyone out, Dumbledore just shook his head, as though he was tired of everything. "-I claimed to have been Imperiused into receiving the Dark Mark. It was a lie, of course. I served him willingly."

"Minister Fudge, I must protest this line of questioning! It has no bearing on the event we are discussing!" Selwyn attempted to stop this, but Minister Fudge wasn't listening. In fact, he looked rather shocked by this revelation.

So he did believe Lucius was innocent. Well, that's something at least.

If anything, it's a sign of his poor judgment. He'll need something drastic to regain any credibility.

"How did you receive the Dark Mark then?" Madam Bones was in command now, and given the way everyone was looking, and listening, it seemed no one but Selwyn was keen on stopping her.

What followed was a half-hour of questioning by Madam Bones, and it revealed a disturbing number of crimes committed by Lucius and his ilk. As he admitted, the Dark Mark could only be given to one who was willing, and Lucius had been quite willing. When asked how he got the Mark, he described in vivid detail how he had used the Imperius Curse on a Muggle man, forcing him to strangle his pregnant wife, before casting a Killing Curse on him.

It didn't stop there. A macabre fascination had overtaken the entire court proceedings, with Lucius revealing the atrocities he and his fellows had committed during the first war. Lucius admitted to killing at least 50 Muggles, usually after torturing them to the brink of insanity or forcing them to murder loved ones. Lord Goyle was fond of using the Cruciatus Curse on children, forcing their parents to watch as they went through hell on Earth. Lord Crabbe liked boys, and he liked them young. Lord Parkinson, on the other hand, favoured girls. The Carrow twins would take turns tormenting their victims till they were begging for death. Macnair had only used the Killing Curse once, believing it was too quick. He much preferred bleeding his victims dry. Yaxley was a sadist who delighted in murdering children in the most violent way possible, then leaving their parents gibbering lunatics.

Every manner of evil wrought by the Death Eaters was admitted to in thirty minutes of horror. When she was finally finished, the Truth Stone was given first to Macnair, and then to Yaxley, their questioning barely lasted two minutes, with Madam Bones only asking if everything Lucius had said was true. It was. When she was finally finished, she simply turned to Dumbledore and stated "No more questions, Chief Warlock."

Nobody moved. Nobody dared to even breathe. After everything that had just been revealed, it was practically a guarantee these three would be getting, if not life sentences, then the death penalty.

Selwyn, no doubt sensing the same thing, decided to try to, if not salvage the situation, at least guarantee that someone else would be joining his clients. "I-I call upon Harry Potter for questioning!"

Even Dumbledore raised an eyebrow at that, no doubt wondering what exactly he was hoping to achieve with this. Nevertheless, he allowed it, and Harry stood to answer the man's questions.

"Mr.Potter, describe to us the events of the night in question."

"Well, it was after the World Cup. We were all relaxing in the tent, though Ginny and Hermione had stepped out, something about classmates. I'm afraid I wasn't fully paying attention. Anyways..." and so Harry described the night in question. How Narcissa had warned them of Ginny and Hermione being in danger, how he punched Draco for taunting him about his friends, and how he had faced the Death Eaters. "... and after that, the Aurors arrived to take them into custody."

"And yet, you only captured three of them! The other nine are now dead! Lords of the Wizengamot, dead at your hands!"

"I did not know their rank, only that they were threatening my friends. If you doubt my words, Mr.Selwyn, I'll be happy to provide my memories of the event."

"An excellent suggestion, Mr.Potter. We shall take a ten-minute recess, to set up the Pensieve, and prepare it for viewing the memories of the riot." That Dumbledore of all people was coming out in support of him stunned Harry.

I thought he was all about 'second chances' for everyone. Why is he seeking my memories instead of dismissing them?

No doubt he wants to know exactly what happened that night, and since Molly couldn't get the answer out of you, this is the next best thing.

During those ten minutes, the whole court was filled with whispers. The viewing gallery came to life as people bandied theories back and forth, wondering exactly how he had managed to kill nine Death Eaters and capture the remaining three. While they were all gossiping, Harry took a look at the three men on trial. It was then he got a good look at the damage he was capable of.

Corban Yaxley wasn't able to move on his own, as most of his skeleton had been reduced to dust by his Bombarda,and being slammed into the ground. His entire body was still wrapped in a cast, the best the healers could do on short notice. It wasn't enough to keep him comfortable, but it was enough for him to live. Macnair, while he still had his arms, was still missing his legs. Normally, magic could be used to re-attach a severed limb, so long as it wasn't too damaged in the process. But his spell had not only severed his legs at the knees, but it also seared the wound shut, preventing any efforts at re-attachment from succeeding.

Lucius was the only one looking healthy, despite the fact he was shivering. Whether this was out of fear, or a side effect of the Breath of Winter, he didn't know.

Beyond that, only one other thing caught Harry's attention: Minister Fudge. During those ten minutes, he seemed to alternate between panic, determination, and contemplation. It was a rather unusual thing, to see the bumbling fool looking like a serious politician. Which only raised more questions.

What's on his mind, I wonder?

He's weighing his options, but what would he consider options?

When the pensive was finally set up, Harry, along with Hermione and Ginny, were able to provide their memories of the riots. It was a harrowing tale, to see the girls placing themselves between an innocent family and the Death Eaters. The Wizengamot applauded the girls for their courage, and several viewers cheered at the Confringo reducing Parkinson to a stain. What came next can only be described as complete and total awe at Harry. Him seizing control of the Fiendfyre, striking down the other Death Eaters without mercy, and finally freezing Lucius in a block of ice.

By the end of it all, the entire Wizengamot was staring at Harry. He could see the looks of fear and awe as he took in the entire room. He noticed, with some satisfaction, that it was fear in Dumbledore's eyes. Selwyn, likewise, looked at Harry with unmitigated fear and sat down, offering no rebuttal, nor further questions.

From there, it was a sure thing. With everything Lucius had revealed, the Wizengamot was given the choice of life imprisonment, or death. They chose death, by the Dementor's Kiss. A fitting end for such vile wretches.

As Dumbledore was about to adjourn the court when Fudge requested the floor. Dumbledore agreed, and Fudge stood to make himself heard.

"Lords and Ladies of the Wizengamot. Today we have all borne witness to a tragic event. Three esteemed members of our society were revealed to have been in league with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named while we pitied them as his victims. We have witnessed two young witches put their lives on the line to protect an innocent family, one they didn't even know. And we all watched the memory of Harry Potter facing twelve Death Eaters, without any concern for his own safety. All these actions are the actions of heroes, the very best of wizarding society. As such, for their courage in the face of extreme danger, the Ministry has decided to award Miss Hermione Granger, and Ginevra Weasley the Order of Merlin, Second Class. And to Harry Potter, for defeating the twelve Death Eaters and saving the lives of those attending the World Cup, the Ministry shall award the Order of Merlin, First Class."

Fudge finished this declaration with as much authority as he could muster, especially with everything that had just happened. There was a moment of silence, broken by thunderous applause, rising like a storm. Harry, for his part, looked stunned while Hermione and Ginny blushed with embarrassment.

I definitely did not expect THAT to be considered an option.

Apparently, the idiot can do something right, at least when he makes the effort.

Amelia was practically walking on air. After all these years, the Death Eaters that had escaped justice had been exposed for their crimes! The truth had finally, finally, been brought to light. Lucius Malfoy, Walden Macnair, and Corban Yaxley, all had been given the Dementor's Kiss. So many innocent lives were cut short by those vile fiends, and so many families were extinguished. Now justice had been gained, and the victims could rest easy, knowing their killers received their due punishment.

Of course, now she was on the lookout for someone far more important. This Dragon of Time had decided that now they should meet. Whoever he was, he had offered vital information that would allow her to prove Sirius Black's innocence. That just left the question of who it was. Only a handful of wizards and witches would have access to the information they did, and few of them would bother with this cloak-and-dagger attitude.

As she was nodding to a friend of hers, someone had decided to introduce himself.

"Good day, Madam Bones. I trust you are well." Turning to the voice, she found herself speaking with Harry Potter.

"I am indeed well, Mr.Potter. Excellent work, subduing a dozen Death Eaters, no easy feat mind you."

"Thank you, Madam Bones."

"Though I do worry about some of those spells. While they might not be dark spells, they did have a... sinister nature to them."

"Worried I might be walking a line between light and dark, Director? Well, perhaps an oath to assuage your fears."

"That won't be necessary Mr.Potter."

"I believe it will." Standing at attention, Harry cleared his throat. "Madam Amelia Bones, I solemnly swear, that I am up to no good."

Amelia went wide-eyed as he finished his 'oath.' "You???"

"Yes, me. Now, I believe we have a meeting to attend. Lead the way, Madam."

Upon their arrival in her office, she briefly introduced Saul Croaker to Harry, who then proceeded to reveal some fascinating things. Using his memories, Amelia saw the meeting between Sirius and Harry. How Sirius revealed the truth behind the Secret Keeper, how it was Peter Pettigrew that betrayed James and Lily, selling them out to Voldemort. But perhaps most shocking of all, Peter was still alive! For twelve years he had been hiding in plain sight as his Animagus, a rat. It had all been more than she ever expected. If she was happy before, now she was positively glowing.

'With this, I can get Sirius the trial he should have gotten all those years ago.' Nothing was going to stop her from getting Sirius what he was owed, least of all the Minister.

While others were celebrating the verdict of the court case, or mourning the loss of a friend and ally, Dumbledore was doing neither. In fact, he had returned to Hogwarts as quickly as he could once the court was adjourned. Arriving in his office, he slumped into his office chair and began to think hard about everything that had just happened.

That case had not gone as he expected. First, there was Madam Bones invoking her rights as Head of the DMLE, and carrying them out so fast, Dumbledore didn't have time to respond. Then came the questioning, and that raised a whole new list of problems. But more than anything else, the biggest concern of the entire day had been Harry himself.

Somehow, somewhere along the way, his little martyr had unlocked enormous magical power, along with advanced knowledge to boot. That display provided by his memories had been a terrifying experience, watching as Harry bent the Fiendfyre boar to his will, turning it into a dragon. All without even moving from his spot. It was more than Dumbledore had ever believed possible.

That of course had raised a series of questions, but at no point could he give himself a satisfying answer. That is until he realized something that answered a great many questions.

'The Dragon is breaking free, and his bindings are weakening.'

Both were things Dumbledore feared more than anything else. That animagus guardian would be a big enough threat on its own. Between its own immunity to charms, and extreme resistance to potions, the guardian would begin pushing Harry to become stronger, someone strong enough to defeat Voldemort without a second thought. In fact, that was probably how Harry had created those spells of his. Perhaps it had been guiding Harry, through visions or dreams, maybe even posing as James, pointing him in the direction he needed to become more powerful.

That alone would be bad enough, but the bindings weakening? That was another matter altogether. After what happened last time, there was no chance that Griphook would assist in restoring those bindings. And if one binding was getting weaker, how many others were getting ready to break? Harry could be one step away from attaining unimaginable power, the power that would not only vanquish Tom in a moment and force Dumbledore to be a footnote in history.

'That will not happen.' A promise he made to himself, as he began to consider the coming school year. Between the Triwizard Tournament and Harry's growing power, it promised to be an interesting school year. 'Thank Merlin Alastor has agreed to teach Defence this year. That's at least one headache I've been spared.'