Chapter 11 - There's no Place like Home!
They walked into Gringotts in a tight group. Hermione was on Harry's right arm, clasping his hand with their fingers intertwined. Emma was on his left, her hand supportively placed on Harry's shoulder. Sirius led them into the building while Remus was surreptitiously watching their backs. Kingsley had arranged a guard of Phoenix Officers, guards who picked them up the moment they entered the Leaky Cauldron. The Officers then escorted the group to the very steps of Gringotts. All knew who was paying their wages, and none missed the irony that, in their former jobs, they had been tasked with hunting down Sirius Black.
Bill's offer of help with today had been gladly accepted, he waited inside the bank to greet them. Albus also offered but, since he held no sway over the goblins, his offer was politely declined.
While Sirius was shaking Bill's hand in greeting, he was still half expecting the headmaster to turn up and try to poke his nose in. Bill led their party through to an opulent meeting room where their contact was already waiting on them. The goblin, impeccably dressed in a three piece suit that any Savile Row tailor would be proud to put their brand on, introduced himself as Barchoke. The amenable Barchoke then indicated he was here to answer all their questions.
Giving them a more detailed outline of the ritual saw Harry's face gradually turn bright red as Barchoke broke the news that, as the ritual involved the painting of blood runes on his skin, he would need to be naked for the entire ritual. Hermione's was soon even redder as Barchoke said the three people closest to Harry should act as anchors to keep his spirit grounded to his body and provide loving support.
Hermione might have been red but her jaw was set with a determination that indicated she was certainly going to be one of the three. Seeing this clearly displayed in the young witch's demeanour, the goblin turned his attention to Sirius for a moment.
"Are these two betrothed? I only ask because it's easy to see the affection they already have for each other. Making that official could help with this ritual. It certainly couldn't harm his chances any."
After hearing that, Harry was frightened to even glance at Hermione. She reached and lifted his chin until he was looking into her eyes from mere inches.
"For me, Harry, this was never a casual fling. Neither of us go in for that kind of frivolous relationship where we're only out for a bit of fun. If you're as serious about me as I am about you, and want to ask a particular question, I'll give you a helping hand. My answer will be yes, Harry."
Their foreheads were now resting on each others, no questions or answers needed. They would have kissed but were unsure of goblin customs, they couldn't afford to offend anyone today. Hermione's head then shifted as her gaze locked on Emma. "Mum, if this helps Harry by even one percent, you know I've got to do it. We are so not losing him, not if we can help Harry win."
Emma had sworn to herself she wouldn't cry today. They needed her strong, but it was now going to be a close-run thing. Smiling at them both, she nodded her agreement to Hermione's wishes.
Barchoke then had some bad news for them. "If something goes wrong during the cleansing ritual, and Riddle manages some control over Harry here, Harry won't be leaving Gringotts until we can reverse that possession. This part is totally non negotiable and must be agreed upon before we can go any further."
While not exactly stated what would happen if that possession couldn't be reversed, all there understood the terrible implication for Harry. Both ladies felt Harry slump against them at hearing that news. They were surprised though to see the look of relief on Harry's face.
"Barchoke, thank you so much for that. Me hurting someone in this room because of being possessed was easily my greatest fear. Taking that fear away means I can give beating this arse everything I've got."
The goblins had thought this might be a sticking point, stopping the entire process in its tracks, so Harry's answer had actually surprised Barchoke too. A grin started to form on his features, a grin that was more predatory than pleasant.
"Spoken like a true warrior. That answer, and seeing how close you are to your anchors, has me thinking your chances of achieving the outcome we all want from this ritual are even higher than we anticipated. Riddle only cares for himself, and certainly won't have people who love him at his side to help. He has never loved anyone in his life, far less be prepared to fight for those he loves."
When the group eventually left Gringotts, Harry felt as if a great weight had been lifted from him. While Hermione, Emma and Sirius would be his anchors, none of them would be in any physical danger - from Voldemort or himself.
Hermione though had gained weight, a few stones at least. She couldn't stop her eyes from drifting to their joined hands - and the glittering diamonds that were reflecting the summer sunshine from the Potter betrothal ring on her finger.
Signing the betrothal document saw Emma breaking her promise and shedding a few tears. Seeing the moisture in the corner of Sirius' eyes as he signed too meant these tears didn't count. In both Emma and Sirius' cases, these were certainly happy tears. While sad that Dan had missed this, she was sure he would have approved of her signing. He always wanted what was best for Hermione, and there was no doubt in Emma's mind Harry was exactly what their daughter wanted.
Remus was actually pleased he wasn't chosen by Harry to be one of the anchors, it saved him having to disqualify himself. All three anchors would have to provide a little of their blood for the runes that would be drawn on Harry, they couldn't risk werewolf blood affecting the ritual. He also knew Harry had three exceptional people who loved him as anchors, and all would be ready to do anything to help him pull through this.
Bill had watched on in awe as lives were changed in that meeting. Shit, if Harry pulled this off the country would be changed too. That today's meeting had been handled with a quiet kind of dignity throughout impressed the hell out of the eldest Weasley son. It was such a far cry from the melodramatic scenes that played out in the Burrow last night, and left Bill shaking his head in wonder at such a comparison. Only Dumbledore being present last night eventually swayed his mother to take the proper action for everyone's safety. Even after all his faults being laid bare, Molly still thought Albus Dumbledore shat rainbows.
At least she would be leaving the Burrow tomorrow, and that was all that mattered to Bill.
-oOoOo-
Ginny found a disgruntled Ron down by the pond, aimlessly throwing stones into the water. "What's got you so worked up?"
"All that bloody training, during the summer holidays too, yet I'm still being sent away like a little boy. What was the point of working my arse off? I could have spent the summer just flying about the Burrow."
"Hey, suck it up. At least you're getting bloody training. While you and the twins are away seeing our friends, I'm stuck here with just mum for company."
"Some friends! We're not getting to see Harry on his birthday. We don't even know where he'll be, or what he'll be doing. Hermione will be with him though…"
"Ah, now we get to see the real reason for Ronald Weasley's strop." Ginny never got an answer, Ron just chucked another stone into the water with enough force to stun anything aquatic it might have hit.
"Neither Harry nor Hermione know what Sirius has planned for the thirty-first. This is not their fault, Ron."
Throwing another stone with just as much force, Ron took a moment to answer. "I know it's not their fault. This feels like the start of the changes we knew were coming, and I don't like it. They won't be at Hogwarts, we can't see them on Harry's birthday, what else is going to change? Are we going to end up seeing them a couple of days a year? I don't know if I can handle that, Ginny. They are my two best friends, have been for four years. I know it's not deliberate or anything, neither Harry nor Hermione would do anything like that. It still sucks though."
A loud splash signified another stone being cast into the water before Ron continued. "You don't think they'll be at Hogwarts when we go there tomorrow, do you?"
Picking up a few stones herself, a now glum Ginny then joined her brother chucking them into the water. The ripples spreading out from the site of impact had Ginny thinking about what her brother had just said. Harry and Hermione had such a large impact on their lives, the ripples caused by their not returning to Hogwarts was just beginning to sink in.
"I very much doubt it, Ron. Sirius and mum wouldn't have gotten into such a row if Harry and Hermione were simply going to be spending the day in the castle. I hadn't considered what it meant that they wouldn't be returning to Hogwarts, even though I knew about it. You're right, that really sucks."
-oOoOo-
After a night out in muggle London to celebrate Harry and Hermione's betrothal, Emma was sitting drinking cocoa with Sirius and Remus. Her excuse was to give the couple some alone time together in Grimmauld but there was also something about tomorrow Emma wanted to discuss without Harry or Hermione hearing.
"I don't know if I'm the best person to be one of Harry's anchors tomorrow. My blood doesn't have any magic in it. Wouldn't Molly be a better choice?"
While Sirius was choking on his cocoa at that suggestion, Remus tried to put Emma's mind to rest. "Hermione is one of the most powerful young witches I've ever met, and Sirius here his no slouch in the magical department either. There will easily be enough magic in the mixture of blood to get the job done."
Getting his breathing back under control, Sirius took over from his best friend. "Your daughter clearly loves my godson, which is why we both signed those papers today. I have loved Harry since the moment James placed a wriggling little bundle in my arms. You're not needed for your magic, Emma. It's just a question of whether you love Harry?"
This placed a slight smile on Emma's lips. "I've been hearing all about your godson for years now. Every single letter Hermione sent home contained some mention of Harry in it. Dan used to think there were no other witches at Hogwarts as Hermione's letters were full of Harry, and Ron got more than a few mentions too. That first Christmas she was home, it was funny to watch her entire face light up every time she mentioned Harry's name - and she mentioned him a lot. Well, I thought it was funny but Dan was ready to get his shotgun out to scare off his princess' first crush. Getting to know Harry, it was soon obvious it would take a lot more than a muggle dentist with a shotgun to part Harry from our daughter. I felt as if Dan was there with me today, smiling over my shoulder as I signed those documents. To answer your question, both Granger ladies love your godson. How could we not? The very idea that something serious could happen to Harry tomorrow means I won't get much sleep tonight."
A smiling Sirius just received the answer he was expecting. "While Molly is a good woman, she tries to smother Harry. I get that wrapping our two in cotton wool and hiding them away until this is all over is an attractive idea, it's just not a practical or viable option. It's easy to see who Harry is looking to fulfil the mother role in his life, hence Molly's jealously. Had your home not been attacked, it might have been Dan in my place tomorrow…"
Holding his hand up, and still smiling, Sirius gave his reasoning. "Harry has a vast amount of respect for Dan. He made a massive impression on my godson, even in the short time they spent together. This parenting game is hard, and I'm doing my best, but tomorrow terrifies the life out of me. If anyone else had a better shot at being Harry's anchor tomorrow, I would gladly step aside. The final outcome is the most important thing here, not some wounded pride."
It was left to Remus to bring the conversation around to a position where Emma and Sirius could both go into that ritual room tomorrow with confidence in themselves. "There is not one doubt in my mind that Harry will have the three best possible anchors with him tomorrow, and I'll bet he would say exactly the same. Don't sell yourself short, Sirius. Harry has never had a father figure to look up to. I think you are both feeling your way along that route and building a strong relationship as you go. Emma, Harry will need all three of you to be strong for him tomorrow. He needs your unfailing and unconditional support, not Molly wailing all over him and screaming he's too young to be doing this. Barchoke was clearly happy with Harry's choices too, that was good enough for me."
The heartfelt truth of Remus' words buoyed their spirits up almost as much as the grin that Barchoke had been displaying by the time they left Gringotts. The goblin clearly thought Harry's chances were good, and he knew more about this procedure than they did.
All three then finished their cocoa in quiet contemplation, there was nothing more to be said. With what they had in front of them tomorrow, no one wanted to drink more than the celebratory glass of sparkling wine they'd had with dinner. If things went as they hoped with this ritual though, tomorrow night would be a different case altogether. All hoped they would be toasting Harry's success.
Harry held his betrothed in his arms as he and Hermione snuggled on the couch in their suite. He broached a subject that he felt could only be spoken about now they were alone. "You know I was always going to ask you to wear my ring…"
"Just as I was always going to say yes. Tomorrow moved the timetable up, Harry, nothing more. I'm very happy where our relationship is at the moment. While this ring confirms where we're going, I don't want it to change the speed that we get there any."
Hermione was looking into Harry's eyes as she said the last part. Seeing his love reflected back at her meant she didn't need to say anymore. They used the time they had left before Emma returned to continue their kissing practice. Both thought the other deserved an outstanding for their kissing technique but were great believers in the saying that practice makes perfect.
-oOoOo-
Severus barely had time to floo Albus and tell him he'd been summoned to the Dark Lord's presence before he had to leave. He had a bag of potions with him, as had been requested by the Dark Lord after their last debacle left Death Eaters injured - Severus included. All the signs were now pointing to a large operation being carried out on the day of Harry's birthday.
Albus immediately contacted the Burrow with the news. Molly and her four youngest would soon be spending the next twenty-four hours protected by Hogwarts wards and walls. Arthur was arranging to beef up his protection detail for the same period while the Order and the Phoenix Force stood ready to render assistance at a moment's notice.
Moody was going to be outside the Burrow, hidden just in case Voldemort planned a surprise for any arriving support group. Having lived there the first seventeen years of their lives, Charlie and Bill had utilised their knowledge in choosing a tactically advantageous location to construct a hide that would conceal the now retired Master Auror. From this location, with the aid of his magical eye and a mobile phone, Mad-eye should be able to direct any reinforcements required to exactly where they would do the most damage.
He, like everyone else who would be involved in this operation, also carried an emergency portkey. The possibility that Voldemort would do something totally unexpected couldn't be discounted. Like Harry Potter had said, a building wasn't worth dying for. They were as prepared as they could be, now it was all about waiting.
-oOoOo-
Harry was left thinking that, if this ritual didn't end him, he would probably die of embarrassment anyway. Standing there naked as goblins washed every single part of his body, using sponges attached to the ends of sticks, was only the beginning of his embarrassment too, there was worse to come. He didn't know that his three anchors were currently having to undergo this cleansing too, none of the trio had thought Harry needed that knowledge beforehand.
He was currently in a room that was about fifteen feet square, and at least that high. The room seemed to be constructed from white marble, and with exquisite workmanship. So much so that when the marble door shut behind him, any sign that there was previously a door there instantly disappeared.
The spokesman of the four goblins present had ordered Harry to remove every scrap of clothing and stand in the centre of the room. They had then taken up positions, with their sponges and sticks at the ready. Harry had assumed their positions were related to the points of a compass. As soon as they were all in those position though, all thoughts of anything else left Harry. He couldn't see where the water that was forcefully raining down on him was coming from, or where it was disappearing to after it hit the floor, nothing in the world mattered except how mind-numbingly cold this water was.
He was eventually led, still shivering, through another invisible door into the actual ritual room. A robe casually draped over his shoulders provided a modicum of warmth but, since It didn't fasten at the front, did nothing to cover what he desperately wanted covered. Harry's embarrassment meter rose a couple of more digits on finding Emma and Hermione standing waiting on him. Sirius was there too, though his godfather caused Harry no where near the same embarrassment as his girlfriend and her mother did.
Seeing all three of them standing there barefoot, with damp hair and wearing snow white robes that came down to their ankles, Harry had his first suspicion that it wasn't just his current appearance that was responsible for turning Hermione's cheeks pink.
The three anchors were called forward and handed a silver ritual blade. Each then took a turn at cutting their palm and allowing the blood released to drip into the heavily engraved bowl. Hermione was looking Harry in the eye and smiling as she let the blade bite, demonstrating she really would do anything for him.
Harry was then instructed to remove his robe and lay on the stone ritual table. Taking a deep breath, and focusing his eyes on a featureless ceiling, Harry did so.
There were goblins who then started using the provided blood to paint runes on Harry's body. From his forehead to the soles of his feet, Harry didn't think they missed any area out. They were chanting as they painted and Harry actually felt himself beginning to relax. So much so that painting their runes on the soles of his feet never even saw him flinch. He was ready to face what he must.
Emma came forward and placed her palm on the runic symbol on the palm of Harry's right hand, their fingers curling automatically saw them holding hands. Sirius did the same on Harry's left, lovingly holding his godson's hand too. Hermione was at his head and waiting for the signal to begin. The goblins wanted to time this as near to Harry's birth as possible so, at four minutes past nine, Hermione was given the nod. While thinking that Lily only made the prophesy by a few hours, none of that showed as she spoke to her betrothed.
"Never doubt for a second that the people here love you, Harry. Use that to get him out of you." With that, she reached out and placed her palm on the runic symbol painted in the centre of his forehead. Harry's eyes rolled in his head as he lost consciousness, the ritual had began.
Harry found himself in a familiar scene, it was the one that haunted him when dementors were close. His mother was casting spells at the nursery door, trying to prevent Voldemort from entering. The battle downstairs had just ended and tears were streaming down her cheeks, but Harry could easily see the determination in those eyes he was so familiar with. He saw them looking back at him every single time he glanced at a mirror.
Harry stood there frozen, until a pair of arms wrapped around him from behind. "My brave boy. All grown up and so handsome too. Your father and I are so proud of you."
Time seemed to stand still as Harry slowly turned around to see it was another version of his mother who had her arms wrapped around him. His own arms were soon locked around the woman he could barely remember as his mind attempted to get his mouth to ask questions. His uttering sounded enough like 'how?' for Lily to continue.
"You've had my protection all these years, son. While the body that monster has now negated that protection, that protection doesn't apply to the bit in your forehead. I'm here to help you get it out."
Without saying anything, Harry's eyes darting between his two mothers asked their own question. "That version of me can't see us, neither can Voldemort, and we can't stop what's going to happen. We're not really here, in Godric's Hollow that is, rather just replaying the events inside your mind. There is a particular part we can affect however, and that is why I brought you here."
As Harry knew he would, Voldemort easily bypassed whatever protections his mother had placed on the door. The version of his mother holding him though surprised Harry by smiling at that action.
"By forcing his way in, Riddle just activated the initial stage of the ritual I had set up. I need him to kill me now, before he turns his wand against my baby. I have never regretted my decision, Harry. Seeing you standing here, ready to face him to protect those you love, lets me know you understand what I did - and why I would do it again in a heartbeat."
As Harry's heart was breaking watching his mother's refusal to move, the other version kissed his cheek. "What an egotistical arsehole Voldemort is! We need to get ready to take him down, son. I wasn't strong enough to prevent that parasite from attaching itself to you, I was able to protect you from it once it had wormed its way in though. Both of us together should be able to do what I couldn't. Wands out, son."
Having gotten such a shock at seeing where he was, and who was there with him, it was only now Harry noticed he was once more fully clothed - and that his wand was in the pocket of his robes. As the fated version of Lily Potter once more gave her life to protect her son, the second edition issued what amounted to an order to the teenage version of Harry.
"We cast our patronuses the instant Voldemort's curse backfires. Get ready, son. Now!"
As the historic killing curse rebounded from the boy-who-lived to finish off Voldemort, a silver stag and doe were now standing protectively beside baby Harry. The curse that disintegrated Voldemort's body also tore a jagged hole in the wall of the nursery. Only a black, viscous cloud remained of the once seemingly all-powerful Dark Lord.
This dark gaseous mass was clearly sentient as it floated towards a crying baby Harry. A shriek of pain and frustration seemed to emanate from this dark magical murk as it came into contact with the silver stag and doe. Its frustration and anger became clearer as the vapour's repeated attempts were continually foiled by a pair of patronuses that were becoming more powerful by the minute.
There were now screams of rage ringing around the nursery as doe and stag worked in perfect synchronisation to push the filthy fog toward the jagged hole ripped into the nursery wall. With one final effort, the evil spirit of Voldemort was expelled from the building.
The nursery around Harry began to fade to white, only then did he notice the rip in the wall was in the familiar shape of a lightning bolt. His mother's arms were once more around him as his surroundings became a brilliant white expanse without walls or a horizon.
"Well done my darling boy, I knew you could do it."
"The nursery wasn't really here?"
"I told you we're inside your head, Harry. I used that memory to help you focus and achieve what you must, and you just did. I know the battle you now face and am sorrier than I can say that I can't help you with it..."
"Mum, just having you here, being able to hold and talk to you - that's more than enough help for me. That's what I've wanted my whole life, and probably why my patronus was so strong."
Lily kissed her boy on the cheek. "You have three wonderful people helping you with the next part, and Remus prowling the corridor like a caged wolf - ready to spring to your aid. Use their help, feel their love. Just like our patronuses, their love can shield you from that monster. Tell Sirius I heartily approve of what he did yesterday, even though I swore to your father I would cut his bollocks off before a child of ours would ever be part of one of those contracts. Hermione's a wonderful girl, your dad and I like her family too. Dan was a good man whose death was not your fault, those Malfoys were bad to the bone. Take care my son, of yourself and your family..."
Harry fought against her leaving, only to feel as if his arms were trapped. An angelic voice was calling his name, calling him back home. He opened his eyes to see a tearful Hermione smiling down at him.
"You did it, Harry, it worked."
Floating a few inches above Harry's famous scar, a golden globe of energy contained the evil spirit that had previously taken up residence there.
Feeling no pain, a grinning Harry squeezed the hands of both persons who were still holding his and his excitement bubbled over as he spoke to Hermione.
"My mum was there, she helped me. She loves you and your family, and won't be cutting Sirius' bollocks off for signing our betrothal..."
The marauder's emotions had been all over the place since he got out of bed this morning. It had seemed to take an age for the clock to move around to where it was time to head for Gringotts, leaving his nerves shredded.
That now felt like a picnic, compared to the last forty odd minutes that his godson had lain here. Harry's body had twitched and spasmed while he was unconscious, leaving the three of them merely guessing as to what was happening.
When Harry's head began to glow, everyone understood the battle must be coming to its climax. Hermione gave a little shriek as Harry's scar burst open right next to her hand, that shriek soon became a cheer as she spotted the black vapour being forced out of that jagged wound. She verbally urged Harry on, irrespective of whether or not he could hear her. The glow around Harry's head began to congregate at his scar, moving to encapsulate and trap the vapour.
Sirius too had screamed like a first year cheering at his first quidditch match, here was the first sign his godson was actually winning. It felt as if all the air had been sucked out of his lungs when Harry mentioned Lily, only for it to rush back in when his godson confirmed his bollocks would be safe in the afterlife. His response was a half laugh, half choking with emotion cough.
"I'd forgotten about Lily promising to do that, she was serious too. You must really have met her, Harry, no one else could have told you that story. Only your father or godfather could sign for you, Lily warned James and I what that signature would cost us."
The goblin rune masters came forward and floated the contained globe of darkness away. The three anchors were advised to release their grip as Harry sat up for a moment. They were also warned not to touch him anywhere else until the entire ritual was over. The blood runes on Harry's skin appeared to pulsate with energy, a pulse that was tied to his heartbeat.
Harry was drinking the concoction that Snape had brewed for this very purpose. A goblin healer was covering his now leaking scar with a clean dressing while the runes on his hands and forehead were being repainted in the last of the blood mixture.
As Griphook approached, Harry had lost all sense of body shame and all but forgotten he was sitting there naked. Meeting his mum had this already being his best birthday ever, he was still buzzing from that.
"Our healer and runes master confirmed that all of Riddle has left your body. Well done, Harry. That was quicker than we anticipated too. This will afford you some extra time before undertaking the second part of the ritual. It must begin no later than one hour after the cleansing ritual began. We will destroy all three horcruxes just before the second phase commences."
Like Sirius, Emma's nerves were shredded. She couldn't help but ask the question she had already been told the answer to multiple times. "Does Harry need to continue with this? Voldemort is out of him now."
Understanding it was her concern for this young wizard that saw the mother in Emma ask that question, again, Barchoke gave her the same answer as the last three - or was it now four - times.
"Mrs Granger, a simple cleansing ritual would have no where near the needed power to remove a horcrux from a living person. Only incorporating it as part of a much more powerful ritual provided the power to get that out of Harry here, and left him remarkably unharmed. Those blood runes have been activated however, and I can feel their power from here. They can't be switched off before the ritual has been completed, not without the backlash seriously damaging the wizard they're painted onto."
Emma's hands were shaking as she held the flask to Harry's lips, allowing him to drink. With even his hands painted with blood runes, Harry couldn't hold it himself.
After swallowing the much appreciated liquid, Harry tried to put her mind at rest. "Don't worry, Emma. My mum said I can use the love of my anchors as shields against Voldemort." Looking at Hermione now, he gave her a wide smile. "Voldemort won't get anywhere near me."
He held the back of his hand out, allowing the betrothed couple to touch their new rings together. Emma was not alone in gasping at the magical bolt of energy that clearly passed between the rings.
Lying back down, Harry began to mentally prepare himself for the battle ahead.
-oOoOo-
As darkness began to fall in the Scottish Highlands, Molly sat surrounded by her four youngest children in the Gryffindor common room. Albus promising to place her family clock there too was the concession that finally tipped the balance and had Molly agreeing to this. Her beloved clock was telling her that Arthur, Bill and Charlie were all currently at home. Ignoring all the hands on the clock pointing to school, it was these three Molly was concentrating on. Should there be an attack on the Burrow, all three hands would swiftly swing to mortal peril.
Her youngest children chatting away quietly, and Arthur's head appearing in the fireplace every half hour to reinforce what her clock was telling Molly, began to lull the Weasley matriarch into a perceived sense of security. So much so that, when her clock chimed a change, Molly let an extremely loud shriek out of her.
It took a moment for Molly to realise what had changed, since Arthur, Bill and Charlie's hands still unerringly pointed to home - not mortal peril. When she finally deduced what had changed, Molly burst into tears.
She had of course now been joined around the clock by her four children, and it was predictably Ron who voiced his opinion first.
"What the bloody hell is that prat Percy doing at the Burrow?"
It may have been said quietly but all four heard their mother. "It's his home..."
-oOoOo-
With all nerves on edge, Percy's welcome at the Burrow was less than cordial. Arthur holding his hand up was enough to silence Bill and Charlie - for now. Their father though wasn't pulling any punches, he wanted answers.
"Percy, what are you doing here - and why now? Did the Minister send you?"
Having expected at least to have his mother on side, Percy was disappointed to see she wasn't here. Recognising that none of his younger siblings were present either, he actually now approved of his mother being missing and would face up to whatever came his way.
"No one sent me, Father. If the Burrow is going to be attacked by Death Eaters, my place is here. If you remember, I actually bettered Bill's N.E.W.T. scores when I was Hogwarts head boy..."
As Arthur stood there stunned, his two eldest sons took over. Charlie had Percy in a bear hug, one only a bear would be able to break out of.
"He's a cocky little bastard still. What are we going to do with him, Bill?"
Ruffling his younger brother's hair, knowing Percy hated having it mused, a grinning Bill had the perfect solution. "We set the twins on him of course. Since they're not here, we'll just have to settle for letting him fight any Death Eaters that turn up. Welcome home, little bro."
Releasing his hug, Charlie too was grinning as he slapped Percy on the back. "They'd better come. We'll need their help to eat that mountain of sandwiches mum left us. There's enough food there to feed two armies. Go grab a bite, Percy. It could be a long night. Welcome home."
His father's nod of acceptance saw Percy pass to where the food was. It had been so long since he tasted his mother's wonderful cooking, even Albus Dumbledore sitting there sipping tea couldn't dent Percy's enthusiasm. He'd taken the first step toward reconciliation with his family and was here, he was home.
There was also the traitorous thought that, if he was going to be fighting against Death Eaters tonight, Percy would much rather have Albus Dumbledore at his side than Cornelius Fudge.
He would worry about the threat of the twins being unleashed on him tomorrow, tomorrow was a new day.
-oOoOo-
The darkness, unnatural chill and lapping sea were all the clues Severus needed to know they weren't in the heart of the beautiful Devon countryside, so the Burrow should be safe tonight. After the last attack going so disastrously wrong, a paranoid Voldemort wouldn't even tell his Death Eaters where the portkey would take them. With the sinking of the Azkaban ferry, and the Ministry's severe lack of aurors, the small dock on the island had now been warded to accept portkeys.
The dock was guarded by dementors, and this is where the Dark Lord revealed his plans. By the interaction between the Dark Lord and the dementors, it was clear to all that this was not Voldemort's first visit to the island. As the dementors left, heading back to the prison, it was finally time to inform his Death Eaters why they were here.
"Tonight, we will strike fear into the hearts of those who oppose us. The dementors will join our noble cause, signifying that transfer by turning on the Azkaban guards. The prisoners will then be given two options, join us or die..."
As he said those words, the Dark Lord suddenly clasped at his chest in obvious pain. He was down on one knee before screaming in agony and collapsing. With blood leaking from the Dark Lord's ears, mouth, nose and even eye sockets, there were a lot of Death Eaters who didn't know what to do next.
Peter Pettigrew had everything invested in the man lying there bleeding from every orifice. Looking around in desperation, his gaze fastened on the one wizard he knew could help. "Severus, you have to help our Lord."
"I have no idea what's happening here, what my potions might do."
"Pain relief and blood replenishing potions should stabilise him for the moment." The murmur of agreement with Peter that went around the Death Eaters was Severus' cue to act. He'd stated his objections and been somewhat overruled, just as he'd hoped.
He had of course lied when saying he didn't know what was happening here, this was obviously the result of Potter beginning his ritual. Having heard from Lupin what potions ingredients negatively affected the ritual, Severus was delighted that blood replenishing and pain relief potions were the absolute worst things that Voldemort should be ingesting at this time.
Having just forced both potions down the Dark Lord's throat, Severus had done all he could to aid the boy. The rest was up to Potter now.
Chapter 12 - Ambushed
Harry recognised his new environment at once, it would be hard for him not to. He'd fought Quirrell to the death in the real version of this chamber at the end of his Hogwarts first year. That unfortunately was an event permanently burned like scar tissue into his brain. He was going to have to face up to Voldemort for the second time this summer. This time though it would be Tom who was the one startled and surprised, after being unceremoniously ripped away from whatever he was doing.
A quick glance at the Mirror of Erised was like a tankard of the strongest pepper-up potion for Harry. His parents were of course there again, but now joined by Dan and Emma. Sirius and Remus were there too, though no surprise that Hermione was front and centre - and leading the cheering section. Dan giving Harry a double thumbs up while his dad patted Hermione's father on the back was all the reminder Harry needed of just what was at stake in this fight.
With a rather loud crack, a bewildered Voldemort then appeared. He seemed to be in great pain and was already down on one knee. His gaze immediately locked onto Harry.
"Potter, what's going on here? What Magic is this? What have you done to me?"
During training Mad-Eye, Amelia and Shack had hammered into them that there was a time to talk, and a time to fight. Harry had come here specifically for the second reason. This wasn't going to be a duel with rules and bows beforehand, rather a fight where you got down and dirty. Needing every advantage he could get, Harry had cast a burst of three spells at a totally shocked Voldemort before the Dark Lord had even finished speaking.
One second he'd been about to sack Azkaban, and was enjoying imagining all those fools in the Ministry of Magic shitting themselves. Next second he was here - wherever here was - and also in so much pain he couldn't actually stand. The Dark Lord had no idea if this was even real, he'd never heard of any type of magic that could do this. Real or not, he thought it best to try and avoid those curses while drawing his wand.
With only rolling to one side currently available to Voldemort as an option to dodge, that's what he did. While this manoeuvre saw him avoiding the blasting curse, the cutting curse slashed agonisingly across his torso. The piercing curse that punched into his hip was also particularly painful, and saw Voldemort's angry scream carry more than a hint of agony in its tone. Having no time to actually figure out what was happening here the Dark Lord was left with no other option but to try and fight back. Whether this was real or not was now immaterial, curses still hurt so he had to react to the whelp's attack. A few dark curses left his wand in Potter's direction, all of which would have ended this as a fight if they'd hit. The boy however was moving like quicksilver, while he was reduced to holding onto one of the walls in an attempt to get back on his feet.
The brat kept moving while firing blasting curses after blasting curse. Voldemort thought the boy's aim was way off, with panic probably accounting for him missing so often, that was until he remembered what had happened on those docks. Whoever had trained the boy certainly took that tactic into account as those blasting curses had shards of stone flying in his direction from the floor, ceiling and walls. While the wounds caused weren't exactly threatening as such, those multiple superficial cuts still had him losing a bit of blood.
As if to emphasise the deliberateness of Potter's blasting curse tactics, a barrage of slashing and piercing curses once more were very accurately heading in his direction. This was not a situation that would usually trouble the Dark Lord but something was seriously off here - wherever here actually was. His magic just didn't feel right, and a now terrified Voldemort could actually sense it draining away - like someone had pulled the plug on a bath.
As a few of those curses actually penetrated his defences, the Dark Lord knew it was way past time to end this. The angry green flashes of the killing curse were all that spat from his wand now.
Harry knew he had been incredibly lucky so far, and also that his luck couldn't last forever. As Voldemort started casting Avada Kedavra's like they were going out of fashion, Harry cast Expeliarmus. He was overjoyed when it worked and the wands once more locked. While Voldemort was temporarily taken care of, it was time for Harry to do what he came here for. Before the Priori Incantatem cage could form, Harry knelt on the ground and clearly spoke the words needed to complete the ritual.
"I, Harry James Potter, call on that which was stolen from me to return. Tom Marvolo Riddle is no kin of mine. I am the last of the Potter blood and he is my family's sworn enemy. I call on that which was stolen from me to return."
Instead of a cage forming, the walls of the chamber now held glowing projections of the blood runes that had been painted on his body. Those runes were not only glowing, they were pulsating with power.
The Priori Incantatem effect between their wands was no longer a surprise to the Dark Lord, and he thought here was the mistake that would finally see this cocky Potter brat die. As the boy dropped to his knees, Voldemort's hand slipped into his robes for the spare wand he now kept there, specifically in case these exact circumstances ever repeated themselves. While pumping as much power as he dared into his original spell, hoping to ensure his locked wand battle with Potter at least bought him enough time to use his contingency plan, Voldemort cast a piercing curse at Potter's head with the other wand.
The Dark Lord thought he was beyond being shocked any more tonight, seeing his piercing curse deflected by a shield Potter couldn't possibly have cast proved him wrong. His extra wand quickly cast the homenum revelio spell. The spell indicated they're were only two of them here so a blasting curse aimed at Potter's head soon followed. When the exact same thing happened again, Voldemort's gaze fell upon the mirror. As the only other thing in this chamber, he'd previously been forced to ignore it while fending off Potter's attacks.
He now recognised the ancient mirror as the same one which Dumbledore had used to trap Flamel's stone in. Voldemort also recognised Potter's girlfriend being reflected back at him, and that she was not alone in the mirror. He couldn't believe these people having wands in their hands could make a difference but also couldn't see any one else capable of casting those shields. Now thinking anything was possible here tonight, he switched targets.
The Dark Lord's next curse was being aimed at the mirror when his body began to convulse in sync with the pulsing runes that had appeared on the walls. Both wands he held now dropped to the floor as his unresponsive fingers could no longer grip them. Blood had begun to pour out of his multitude of wounds, pour out at a rate that was as unnatural as it was debilitating and unsustainable.
Voldemort watched as Potter carefully walked toward him, burning both the dropped wands as he approached. It took a monumental effort on his part but the Dark Lord managed to ask. "How?"
Keeping the downed Voldemort covered at all times, and staying on his toes for any tricks, Harry gave the self-proclaimed Dark Lord his answer.
"You took something of mine. It didn't belong to you, so I took it back. Rituals go both ways you know, I wouldn't have been able to do this if you hadn't taken my blood. This one's for Cedric, you bastard!" Harry then cast a piercing curse that hit Voldemort on the forehead, in exactly the same position where the Dark Lord had marked Harry all those years ago.
A dead Voldemort slumped to the floor, lying in a lake of blood that had been expelled from his body. There was no gloating from the victor, there were more important things to do. Instead Harry quickly moved back to the mirror - hoping to have one last moment with the family he could never actually have.
-oOoOo-
As Voldemort lay bleeding and unconscious on the rocky grounds of Azkaban Island, not one of the assembled Death Eaters stepped forward to take command of the situation. With very little information on whatever deal the Dark Lord had made with the dementors, it would be a brave Death Eater who approached the prison without their master walking beside them.
The amount of blood being lost by their master saw Severus having to administer replenishing potions an additional three times. When a bleeding wound then appeared on their master's forehead, it became blindingly obvious that the Dark Lord would not be leading them into Azkaban prison tonight.
Worried Death Eaters were staring at the downed Dark Lord, but also with one eye frantically searching the skies above the prison. When the stars in the clear night sky began to be blotted out by the swarm of dementors pouring from the prison, not one Death Eater wanted to remain where they were.
Carefully levitating his master, Peter made sure the portkey would take both of them away from here. As every Death Eater then grabbed the rope being used as a portkey too, they left the island of Azkaban only moments before the dementors would have been upon them. With their master unconscious and lying in what looked like a gallon's worth of spilled blood, none of the Death Eaters were confident that these most feared of creatures would have obeyed anyone else. They didn't even know what the Dark Lord had promised them, leaving no other option open to them but to hastily retreat.
Severus knew he would have to stay and take care of the severely injured Voldemort for now, though he should be able to fabricate an excuse to return to the castle for more potions. He was dying to discover what had happened with the ritual that left the Dark Lord clinging onto life by his fingertips.
-oOoOo-
Arthur had forgotten Molly would know Percy was now at the Burrow, thanks to the family's clock. She practically pounced on him when he made his next 'all clear' report. It took all his persuasive powers to stop her returning home immediately, only the thought of leaving Ginny, Ron and the twins at Hogwarts stayed her hand.
Nothing though could stop her returning to make their breakfast before he and Percy had to head off to the Ministry of Magic tomorrow, almost today now. While not entirely happy with that, Arthur thought that was as good as he was going to get. He had just broken the connection to Molly when the floo once more turned green.
Expecting this to be Molly breaking the floo protocol they'd established for tonight with some new argument for coming home earlier, Arthur was surprised to see one of his aurors from the Ministry with his head in the flames. He still wasn't used to receiving floo calls from the Ministry at all hours of the day, or night.
"Sir, the alarms are going off at Azkaban. We've lost all communication with the prison, though the alarms were activated from multiple points - including the Wardens office. What should we do?"
Taking a couple of minutes to think about what their response should be, Arthur issued his orders. "If we have no one actually calling for help, I won't send aurors to Azkaban in the middle of the night. If whoever attacked the prison could get into the Warden's office, he and the guards are probably already done for. Call everyone in for five o'clock, we'll hit the prison at first light. Wake the Minister and ask him if we can use Phoenix Officers to guard the Ministry for a short period. We could end up fighting a pitched battle at Azkaban, I won't authorise a mission that has fewer than forty aurors involved. Anything less could see that rescue force overwhelmed, and it's my job to see you all go home at night to your families."
The auror's head disappeared from the flames and Arthur turned to see quite a few people in the room, all had clearly overheard.
"It would seem the Weasleys were not Voldemort's target tonight. I can't think who else would attack Azkaban, can any of you?"
It was a confused Percy who asked his father the obvious question. "Why would he attack Azkaban when the most fanatical of his followers have already been killed?"
Standing leaning on the wall, and drinking his umpteenth cup of tea, it was Dumbledore who provided the answer. "If Voldemort has indeed attacked Azkaban, then that will mean the dementors are now on his side."
There was a sharp intake of breath from everyone who heard Albus. He of course used this to prove his point. "There's your answer right there, Percy. Most witches and wizards fear dementors far more than they do Death Eaters. That they appear to have joined Voldemort, that fact alone could be enough to start a public panic. He will surely also empty the cells, adding the worst magical criminals this country has to his depleted ranks of Death Eaters. We knew Voldemort would need to pull off something big, and that it would probably happen today, we were just looking in the wrong place."
It was a thoughtful Bill who then offered a suggestion. "If we're now thinking the Burrow won't be targeted tonight, and I'm assuming it might take a while for our other source to be able to contact us, I should head to Gringotts and see how that project played out."
Of the people currently in the Burrow, only Albus and Arthur knew what Bill was referring to. While agreeing that was a good idea, Arthur had a proviso.
"I don't want to worry your mother when you suddenly leave here. Give me a minute to floo her and say what's happening at Azkaban, we'll never be able to stop that news from leaking anyway. I'll say you're heading to Gringotts looking for information, I prefer it when I don't have to lie to your mother - she can always tell anyway."
Percy just couldn't help himself. "What is this project in Gringotts?"
As his father's head was currently in the floo, it was left to Bill to provide the answer. "Sorry Percy, that's strictly need to know. If this works out as we hope, you'll certainly hear about it soon enough. The entire country will hear about it. After tonight, it might be the only thing that stops the public panicking. It might even save your precious Minister of Magic from getting kicked out on his arse."
As his father finished speaking in the floo, Bill then used it to travel to Gringotts.
A confused Percy could see how tonight's events could topple the Minister of Magic, public opinion was such a fickle thing. What he couldn't see was how anything that the goblins were working on could be powerful enough to balance out the harm done tonight.
Charlie's hand was on his shoulder, offering some comfort. He also had some words of advice for his younger brother. "I have no idea what they were talking about either, and I don't want to know. Dad and Bill are two of the cleverest people I know, while Dumbledore here is in a league all of his own. If those three are working on something you can bet it will be good. I have a suspicion Harry Potter is involved in this too…"
"Potter?"
"Yip, him taking on that horntail with only a broom is still one of the bravest things I've ever seen. I've heard from the others that you have a low opinion of the lad. Here's a question for you Percy. Is that your own opinion, or one somebody fed you?"
When Percy didn't answer right away, Charlie offered his own opinion on the matter. "There is no doubt Harry Potter saved our Ginny's life when she was eleven, is there?"
Anxious to help heal this breech within the Weasley family, Albus added his two Knut's worth. "There is not one shred of doubt, Charles. Harry recently took members of Hogwarts staff down into the chamber of Secrets and what greeted us there was a wondrous sight. We measured the basilisk at just shy of sixty feet long, and a twelve year old Harry Potter defeated the beast with a sword."
"Basilisk?"
"Sixty feet long?"
Both brothers stared at Albus in disbelief, the old wizard just smiled. As whispered conversations began amongst the others who had also heard Albus, Arthur then confirmed every word.
"The family asked Harry if we could view his memory of what happened in Albus' pensieve, we needed to understand what had taken place down there. Ron's leg got broken when part of the tunnel roof caved in, Harry was forced to go on alone. Not only did Harry defeat the basilisk, he took on and banished Voldemort's spirit that was using Ginny's life force to return himself to a body. Ron, the twins and even Ginny would charge the gates of Hell itself if Harry needed them to."
Charlie was even more adamant now. "You can add another Weasley name to that list. He saved our baby sister, family honour alone demands I be there. I obviously know him the least amongst the family, but I already know more than enough. If Harry needs me, I'm there."
"Life isn't so black and white, Charlie. There are all sorts of shades of grey in there to."
Turning from his younger brother, Charlie addressed his father and Dumbledore. "Would Ginny have died if Harry hadn't saved her."
Arthur could only nod his head in affirmation, that incident still haunted him. Albus though was able to put into words what the father couldn't. "Without Harry's intervention, there is not the slightest doubt Ginevra would have died. As bad as that would be, Voldemort would also have returned - two years earlier and in a body that was much more suitable than the construct he has now. That is all indisputable facts, with no room for any grey areas. I have found Harry to be a young wizard who doesn't believe in grey areas. His actions over the years support that point of view. He really is the quintessential Gryffindor"
It was Arthur who then took over the task of trying to get his son to distinguish the difference between truth and ministerial propaganda. "It wasn't Harry who put our Ginny down there in that chamber. That was done by Lucius Malfoy, in an attempt to discredit me at the Ministry. You remember Lucius, one of the Minister's closest friends? Voldemort was livid that Malfoy gave Ginny his possession, showing his displeasure by cursing Lucius to within an inch of his life. Hermione Granger was going to be the Malfoy's present to Voldemort, like a bouquet of flowers to say they were sorry. I trust you know how that played out, and how Fudge soon freed Harry of any blame in the matter?"
Frantically searching through his memories for any scrap of information that could refute what he'd been hearing, Percy was left with only one card to play. "If Harry Potter is the 'Chosen One', and this family is so important to him, why isn't he here tonight?" Percy thought he'd just made a good point, until he saw his father smile.
"Harry is the reason your four younger siblings, and your mother, are all at Hogwarts. He insisted they not be here in case the Burrow was attacked on his birthday. He has his own battles to fight tonight, Percy, and Bill left to see how that unfolded. You're a smart lad, put the clues together and make your own mind up."
Leaving Percy to digest that information, he decided to do some digesting of his own. Now that the Burrow seemed free from danger, Arthur's grumbling stomach loudly announced that he'd better eat something. He would need to leave for the Ministry of Magic in a few short hours anyway, and then faced a trip to Azkaban. He hoped to hear news of whether Harry's ritual had been successful before he left the Burrow.
-oOoOo-
Harry awoke to a ritual chamber that was much more crowded than he remembered. A goblin healer was checking him over but the wide grins that everyone in the chamber wore were all Harry needed to see. A nod from the healer seemed to be the signal Hermione had been waiting for, she couldn't contain herself any longer.
The kiss was unusual in that she was standing at his head and leaning over, it felt like one of them was upside down. This was something they were definitely going to be trying again. Remembering he was naked, Harry broke the kiss and sat up before his excitement got to the stage that it stood out for everyone to see.
A smiling Remus handed him a robe. Quickly slipping it on, Harry gave them a brief account of what happened. "The plan worked better than we could have hoped. I inflicted as many cuts on Voldemort as possible, we locked wands when he cast the killing curse and then I called my blood to complete the ritual." Focusing his attention on Barchoke, Harry delivered a beaming smile. "I don't know what you did to him but he could hardly stand by the time he arrived. Even after getting his shit together, this was still a pale shadow of the Voldemort I fought in the graveyard."
Hermione then got an entirely different kind of smile, one that was for her alone. "You saved me. When our wands locked Voldemort had come prepared. He pulled out a different wand and cast at me, but I was shielded by my anchors' love. I saw the magic mirror again, Hermione, and our families were there. Your dad and mine seemed to be friends. Our mums were there, Sirius and Remus too. You were the one right at the front though, cheering me on. It was like I couldn't fail, though I did remember our training and didn't mess about. I called my blood out of Voldemort and it put him down. I destroyed both his wands before casting a piercing curse right into his head…for Cedric."
He found himself being kissed again, though this time Hermione was the right way up and he had a robe that fastened.
Giving everyone a moment to wipe their eyes after hearing that, Barchoke then filled the company in on the discussion he'd been having with Remus as they'd nervously waited outside the ritual chamber. "Voldemort's body was manufactured from three main components. The bone of his father, a muggle. The flesh of his servant - who I am reliably informed is not a powerful wizard. Finally, the blood of an enemy forcibly taken. That this same enemy has just rather forcibly taken their blood back could see the end of this version of Riddle."
Nodding in agreement, Remus helped spell it out for them. "Emma was worried about her part in this ritual, purely on the grounds her blood held no magic."
Both Harry and Hermione were now staring at Emma as she offered her explanation. "I just wanted what was best for Harry. I didn't want the fact that I'm a muggle to hurt his chances. It was explained to me that Sirius and Hermione were both powerful and that would allow me to take part."
She was drawn into a hug by both teens as Remus continued. "With Harry reclaiming his blood, Wormtail's flesh is now the only magical component left from that ritual. Should Voldemort survive tonight, his body will be in a drastically weakened state. I actually hope Severus can pull Voldemort through, as this would suit our needs better than him becoming a wraith again - and disappearing."
Bill had entered and caught the last part of that. Seeing Harry standing with his arms around Hermione and Emma told its own story too. "I take it the ritual was a success then?"
Instead of receiving answers, Bill faced a barrage of questions from people who were suddenly worried as to why he was here. "One at a time please. The Burrow wasn't attacked, Azkaban was. That's all the information I have at the moment since dad refuses to send Aurors to the island before first light. I came here to see if Harry knew anything that could help dad and his aurors."
A relieved Harry gave Bill the good news. "I don't know what they'll be facing on Azkaban but Voldemort won't be there. I would guess he won't be doing anything for a while, if at all."
Sirius came up behind and placed his arms around the trio containing his godson. "That means you have eared a holiday, to celebrate a certain someone's birthday. I won't take no for an answer here - we all need a break."
The relief Sirius felt that Harry now had that thing out his head felt like escaping from Azkaban all over again. He'd felt trapped, not being able to help his godson in Harry's hour of need. Then the goblins had mentioned a dangerous ritual, and Sirius had stood helpless again as Harry had to face Voldemort - twice! If Hermione and Emma felt half as bad as he did, they all needed this holiday. Smiles from Harry, Hermione and Emma was all the answer Sirius needed. He felt his spirits lift as those smiles widened.
"Right, my original plans just need a bit of tweaking, and we'll want to wait to find out exactly how Voldemort is, so day after tomorrow we're off on a five day holiday."
When not even increasing the length of holiday received an objection, Sirius finally began to relax. He still had a long way to go though but there was an excellent bottle of brandy waiting for their return to Grimmauld. Between him, Remus and Emma, Sirius was sure it wouldn't be there come morning.
With the healer sealing the scar on Harry's forehead before saying he was now free to leave, and his godson determined to wait until they got home to take a shower, it was time to head for Grimmauld. Every one of them shook Barchoke's hand, thanking him and Gringotts for all their help. He in turn swore to aid them in their fight against Tom Riddle. Horcruxes, and anyone who would stoop to producing them, was instantly regarded as anathema to the Goblin Nation.
-oOoOo-
Knowing they wouldn't have to face Voldemort was a great relief to Arthur as he portkeyed with his aurors to Azkaban Island. They soon found the large pool of blood at the dock, his aurors being slightly dismayed at their boss' smile.
"Don't worry, people, that all leaked out of Voldemort last night. I suspect we're going to discover horrors inside the prison but this here is good news, it means Voldemort won't be one of those horrors waiting on us. Keep an eye out for any of his Death Eater minions who might still be lingering but it's the dementors who are the real danger here. Only they could take out all the guards and the warden at the same time, stopping any of them from actually contacting us. Let's head up to the prison, and be sure to stay together. We don't think there is anyone on Azkaban left to rescue so it's all about not adding to those casualty numbers."
They were actually wrong. There were a lot of people in the prison, but all of them were still locked in cells. Every wand was then aimed at a swarm of dementors slowly approaching along the main prison corridor. The swarm stopped far enough away so their presence wouldn't affect the aurors, with a single lone dementor then moving slightly forward of its brethren.
Arthur had never communicated with dementors before. He knew they could understand him, and that they were able to project messages to those they contacted. With every aurors' wand that he'd brought to Azkaban guarding his back, it was still a hesitant Arthur who stepped forward.
"What happened here?"
It was hard for Arthur to discern what this creature meant from the images that flooded into his head. There was certainly a disagreement amongst the dementors, and also no doubt that they had murdered all the staff at Azkaban. Where the doubt crept in was just when this disagreement occurred within the timetable of last night's events.
This representative of the horde was trying to put the best spin on the event it could, best for them that was. Rogue dementors killing the guards before the swarm swooped down and chased the Death Eaters off the island was not a story Arthur was buying. These supposed rogues were also apparently chased off the island too, leaving those still on the island innocent of any crimes.
Apparently numbers were an alien concept to these creatures. They couldn't tell Arthur how many had left, or even the number who were still on the island. Reckoning that was surely information someone in the Ministry must hold, and needing that information urgently, Arthur dismissed the dementors to return to duty.
He needed numbers, and that need was urgent. Half a dozen rogue dementors hitting the mainland would be a serious problem, fifty would be an absolute nightmare. One thing Arthur was able to discern from the images the dementor had shown him might just rescue this entire fiasco from bringing down the Ministry. Voldemort was barely alive when his Death Eaters portkeyed him off the island, that at least matched the information Bill had brought back from Gringotts last night.
If Arthur was a betting man he would lay odds the disagreement amongst the dementors happened after they'd murdered all the guards, and then discovering Voldemort had been defeated. The dementors would have been faced with a situation where the person they were about to switch their allegiance to had just been carried off the island unconscious. Arthur intended to dump this mess on the Minister's desk. As head of the D.M.L.E., his only concern was keeping the mainland safe from any dementors that may have landed there.
Leaving a dozen aurors there, With strict instructions not to leave the barracks quarters until they were relieved, Arthur took the rest of his squad back to London. He had nowhere near enough men to take on the additional duties of guard Azkaban around the clock, far less take care of the prisoners' needs. Cornelius would need to move quickly and take some action to solve this problem.
-oOoOo-
Arriving in Grimmauld Place at breakfast time, Albus walked into what could only be described as a party atmosphere. After shouting a greeting, Sirius clued Albus into what was happening.
"Harry here refused to celebrate his birthday yesterday, so we're doing it today - and for a good few days more. We're heading off on holiday tomorrow, with some holiday shopping needing done today. Harry also wants to swing by the Burrow at some point, and the belated birthday boy is getting what he wants today."
The usual occupants of the house had been joined by the Bones ladies, Mad-eye, Shacklebolt and Tonks. Even Alastor appeared to be enjoying the party atmosphere, and Albus had news that was only going to help with that.
After accepting the offered cup of tea, he didn't keep them waiting any longer. "Severus was able to return to the castle, on the pretence of having to brew more healing potions. Voldemort is alive, though barely. We were of the opinion that this was better than having him become a wraith again…"
That opinion found unanimous backing, though not everything else that was mentioned at the breakfast table did. As far as Sirius was concerned, Harry going on holiday for five days was non-negotiable. Not one objection was raised to that. Everyone also agreed that finding any remaining horcruxes should be their priority, they wanted Voldemort gone for good. The sticking point was always going to be the continued targeting of known Death Eaters.
To be fair, the only voice raised in objection was Dumbledore's. Everyone else thought that, with Voldemort basically in a coma, this was the perfect time to press ahead with this programme. The Death Eaters were now the ones being hunted, and their oh so powerful Dark Lord just had his arse well and truly kicked - again. If a couple of them were to 'accidentally' die, quite a few more would see the writing on the wall and flee the country. With Voldemort's repeated failed attempts to kill Harry, and then being incapacitated right in front of their eyes, no bets were being offered against those fleeing Death Eaters ever returning - even if called by their Master.
Being forced to accept defeat once more on this matter, Albus then asked if Harry wanted details about the ritual made available to anyone else. All there news like this reaching the Ministry would soon find its way onto the pages of the Daily Prophet.
Taking a few minutes to have a word with Hermione and Sirius, Harry finally gave an answer that the entire room could accept. "I don't want to be publicly talking or reading about this before we go on holiday. Releasing the news then will be fine. That will give this five days to blow over…"
Remus was the first to burst into uncontrollable laughter at that, he was by no means the last. Shaking her head at the antics of the males in the room, it was Amelia who finally told Harry why they were all laughing. "Harry, you defeating Voldemort - again - is not going to blow over in five days. Hell, it will take them longer than that to come up with a replacement honorific to the boy-who-lived."
"Boy-who-kicks-Voldemort's-arse." This was a laughing Sirius' offer.
Getting in on the act, Remus offered up "Dark-Lord-Destroyer."
Groaning at the thought of even more stupid made up titles being added to his name, Harry soon found himself being kissed by Hermione. She too though then jokingly added another title to Harry's name. "Listen, Potter, the only new title you need is my betrothed."
A now smiling Harry didn't even blink when Dumbledore asked if that news should be released too. "Absolutely. This has been one hell of a summer but that is the best thing that's ever happened to me. It can be shouted from the rooftops for all I care, just not before we get to the Burrow to let Ron know."
After everything that he'd been through, and yet Harry still thought that was the best thing that had ever happened to him, put a wide smile on Emma's face. There was the justification, if any was needed, for signing that betrothal document. Hermione wasn't smiling, she was too busy kissing her betrothed.
-oOoOo-
Charlie was now getting to see Harry up close and personal. The young wizard slotted into the Burrow's rather anarchic form of normality as if he belonged there. Harry's story though of how he'd spent his birthday was something else. Charlie found his respect for one Harry Potter rising almost in direct proportion to the amount of tears his mother cried. By the end of Harry's harrowing tale, Molly had cried buckets.
It was no coincidence that Harry sat at the other end of the table from Molly. He'd managed to escape from his adventures last night virtually unscathed, the last thing he needed now was Molly bruising his ribs with one of her bear hugs. He could actually see her batting on how to respond to this. On the one hand she wanted to rip Sirius' head off for allowing Harry to participate in such a dangerous ritual. On the other hand, she was mightily relieved that piece of filth was finally out of the boy who she considered family.
Wiping her eyes, Molly finally spoke. "Does that mean we can hold your party today? After that news, we could all do with celebrating."
Holding his hand up, Harry stopped Sirius from answering. Figuring Molly might take this better from him, he jumped right in with both feet. "I'm sorry Mrs Weasley, that won't be possible. There's a lot to do today, as we head off on holiday tomorrow." Taking Hermione's hand so both their rings were clearly visible, Harry pushed on.
"We only dropped by to give you our good news." A peck on the cheek from Hermione had a smiling Harry asking the question he knew would cause the most trouble. "And to ask if Ron, Ginny and the twins could come on holiday with us?"
This led to loads of questions from Weasleys heading in their direction, though Harry and Hermione couldn't help but grin at Ron's. "Will Susan be going too?"