CHAPTER Twenty-Four
Harry and the girls finished on the fourth day. Harry did not get a mastery in potions but did get one in everything else. Hermione got one for transfiguration, runes, charms, and arithamancy. Gabby received her Mastery in arithamancy and warding/ enchanting. Fleur did not get one for DADA or Potion but did get them for the rest. Daphne was the surprise because she got one for every subject.
They left the building and headed for the hotel to pack up. Harry sensed danger ahead and stopped. He sent across the bond "Gabby shield us and Hermione assist with maintaining it. We have incoming." Harry smiled and then added "No holding back if they come they die, leave no one alive."
All of them pulled their wands and looked forward. With a building to their back and the shields in their front they readied themselves. Within seconds fifteen people apparated to their front. All wearing death eater masks "Hello Puppets!" Harry said out loud.
The front man stated with disdain and a sneer "Give up Potter you have no chance of defeating us as we outnumber you. Make it easy on yourself and give up now."
Harry smirked back at him and replied "Marcus Flint while I still breath there is always a chance. So do your worse death nibbler."
Marcus sneered at him "You're the one that is going to feel the pain Potter but not for long because you will be dead soon enough."
Daphne jumped up "I get to finish this line!" Her voice deepened "And then Potter we will give your whores our special attention and then show your carcass to those that try to defy us." Daphne snorted "Did you all read the same book with the bad dialogue because Hermione can loan you books to read to get better material? Gabby has some with only pictures if you have problems with reading."
Marcus Flint became angry and then cast "Avadra Kedavra" the spell flew at Potter but hit a shield that dissipated it quickly. Suddenly Flint grabbed his wand looking like he was fighting with it when he fell to his knees and his hair had turned white. His eyes became blank and lifeless as he fell over dead to everyone's amazement.
One of the other death eaters stated loud enough for them to hear "Oh, shit he just shielded against an unforgivable… and killed Flint with that same shield."
Harry smiled and looked at Hermione "Is that one of your new specials?
Hermione smiled coyly "Maybe, you know I have a mastery in charms, right?" She then continued "Wonderful thing that family grimore from Gryffindor, very lovely magical theory on combat magic."
Harry popped out from behind the shield and took an Uzi and sprayed bullets killing seven more before they ducked for cover. Daphne and Fleur came from the other side and killed four more with two spells apiece.
Harry turned to her "Combat magic huh? I don't remember seeing any magic like that.
Hermione batted her eyes at him "Well sir that is because that was one of my new creations." Hermione then whispered "The shield is designed to divert magic and then drains the magic user."
Harry smiled "That is absolutely brilliant." He looked at Flint "Very effective as well."
Two tried to Port key away but Harry cast an anti-apparition spell so they ended up staying. Harry came back out and cut one down with a cutting curse, while Daphne followed up with a bludgeoner to the head.
The last one stood there frozen in fear as Harry swiftly disarmed him before removing their clothes with a flick of his finger. Harry punched him in the gut making him fall to his knees. Harry took his Sword out and cut the person's head off. He levitated the head on top of the body's chest and then said "Activate!" everybody on the street disappeared. The Swiss police arrived seconds later.
Harry and his girls stood there as they were surrounded, Harry sent over the bond "Apparate to the room in 3, 2, and 1, now!" The policemen gasped as they watched the five disappear.
They each went through the room and gathered their things and fifteen minutes later they heard a knock on the door as they port keyed back to Delacour manor.
Daphne snarked out "You would think they would be happy we brought some excitement to their day instead of trying to arrest us."
Harry penned a note and then attached a memory of the two events for the daily prophet so they could write an article for tomorrow's headline.
HARRY POTTER TEST OUT OF NEWTS AND GAINS MASTERY DURING A DEATH EATER ATTACK!
The next day the headline reads:
HARRY POTTER ATTACKED TWICE IN THREE DAYS: SCORE IS POTTER 18 and LORD MOLDYSHORTS – 0.
GREENGRASS ESTATE –
Voldemort read the headlines and threw the paper away in disgust. He was being laughed at and treated as a common criminal. He had to do something. Two days ago fifteen bodies showed up after the attack, fifteen dead bodies and then the Prophet published his failure.
Voldemort suddenly saw a flash and then a Phoenix appeared with a note. The Phoenix dropped it on the table and then flashed away again. Voldemort went to it and tested it for hexes or charms before he picked it up "LOOK UP!"
Voldemort then heard a crash on his right before he apparated away. He was a hundred meters away from the manor and he saw about sixty boulders crashing down on Greengrass manor. Within seconds it was complete destroyed and un-useable.
The note vibrated and he looked at it with anger
"Have a nice day asshole and leave me alone. I can get to you anytime I want so stop the personal attacks. You have Britain the rest of the world is mine."
Lord Potter.
HOGWARTS 1 October –
Harry and the girls appeared in Headmistress McGonagall's office and surprised her "Mr. Potter would you stop scaring me like that."
Harry smirked at her and gave her his lopsided grin "Well you turned down my offer to make your heartbeat faster in my quarters, so I thought you preferred your excitement another way."
Daphne, Hermione, Fleur, and Gabby hid behind Harry to hold their laughter in. Minerva blushed heavily "You cheeky man! If you were still a student I would dock you a thousand points and detention for life." Harry did notice that she did have a small smile on her lips.
Harry sat down on her desk next to her and was smiling as she replied "So other than trying to make me pant like a young girl in heat… what else can I do for you?"
Harry smiled "I need a base of operations to go after the Dark Wanker and if he decides that Hogwarts is ripe for the picking I want to be here to protect the castle."
Minerva stood up and went to the window "If they found out you were attacking from here it could make us a bigger target than we already are."
Harry nodded in agreement "That is true but Tom has always had a thing for Hogwarts and I believe he will try to overrun this place to get to the children. They and their families represent about 15% of the magical population. Control their kids you control them and their votes."
Minerva turned on him "Yes, I know that. Filius and I have been strengthening the wards for the last month."
Hermione cast several spells and then smiled "They are very well done but I can see many ways to improve them and from what I can tell you have no outer defenses around the castle itself. We can help you there. Any delay can get children away from an attack and out of the way of errant spell fire."
Minerva placed her hands on her hips "Mrs. Potter while you are and were a very good student I hardly think you are qualified to pass judgment on a master's work."
Hermione pulled a credential from her inside robe pocket and handed it to her "I have a Master's qualification in warding and enchanting as well and I am qualified."
Minerva's jaw dropped "How could you have done that over one summer?"
Hermione smirked "It was actually 3.5 years, to me and we passed NEWTS two weeks ago as well as received the masteries over the next two days. I know my craft."
Minerva looked at her sharply "You trained in a time dilation field?" Hermione smiled and then nodded her head that this was correct.
Harry then added "We just finished our NEWTS and Mastery exams. We need a place to hang our hats and take the war to the purebloods."
Daphne moved to the front of the desk "We admit that having Harry here brings with it certain risks but you can't deny that it brings a certain amount of safety to go along with it. Harry is just like that."
Hermione then added "There were only two people that Voldeshorts was afraid of...Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter."
Minerva added "Then wouldn't it be better to announce it?"
Harry stood up "No, because I am not going to tell people I am back. British magicals need to learn to fight for themselves. I have an idea that they can be shown the way but they have to learn to do for themselves and not rely on one man to save them that is how Albus gained so much power and looked what he did with it."
Sirius came with me and he is helping with the political and economy battles while the five of us will fight the Death Nibblers directly. Right now Voldemort is on his heels because he lost a majority of his funding and political backing. Amelia has almost completely cleaned out the ministry of their taint.
Sirius will get some more or negate their political point of view, while we will whittle away at his fighter base. Every attack he mounts will be met with lethal force just like Geneva.
Minerva "I don't like the killing."
Harry looked irritated "No, the problem is that nobody wants to hear about it. If you are a muggle or muggleborn the killings continue but magicals don't have to hear about it because they would never print it in the paper. The killings continue even if you are ignorant of it."
Minerva looked at him "That does not give anyone the right to play god."
Harry shook his head "If not me, or other magical's Minerva then who?" Harry sighed "At some point in every war someone has to take a stand, it is terrible thing to kill another." Harry leaned across and looked at her in the eye "The worst feeling in the world is to watch someone die that you love and know that had you done something, you could have prevented it."
Minerva watched him and he didn't flinch. She sat down and looked thoughtfully at her desk "Harry I don't like it and I never said I didn't understand it or the need for it. My biggest desire is to keep it out of Hogwarts."
Hermione answered "The best chance of that is us and going after those that would come here. If we keep enough of them out of play, then Lord Ugly won't have enough people to attack with."
Minerva nodded and called Tipsy, the head house elf to show Harry the Lord's wing. As Harry was walking out "May I close off the seventh floor and use the room of Requirement?
Minerva thought for a moment "I see no issue because we have no classes in that wing on the seventh floor."
Harry smiled "Thank you for the help Minerva."
The next day the Potter's went to the room of requirement for their daily work out and dueling practice. When Harry walked in he felt a suppressive wave of Dark magic very close by. He immediately dropped and rolled as Daphne stood next to him "You must have felt that dark taint in here as did I." She stated with worry.
Harry looked around and could see nothing threatening "Yea, it hit me very hard but it doesn't feel like a spell being thrown at me."
Hermione had been listening and thought 'Bring the object that has dark magic on it."
Harry felt the dark magic intensify as a bust with a wig and a tiara on top of it became visible. "That has to be it but I have never felt anything like this before." Gabby went to touch it but Harry grabbed her hand "It is dangerous, vile, and it is heavily warded do not touch it until we figure out what it is." He told her with concern.
Everyone looked around it and Fleur said with concern "I feel a compulsion to place it on my head."
Harry suddenly stood up "I have felt this before." He looked in thought "In second year while I was in the chamber of secrets. Gabby change to Effraine and place some venom on this."
Gabby changed and then hung her head over the Tiara "Someone squeeze the bulges behind my head and make the venom come out." she told them over the bond.
Daphne took one side and Harry the other and soon a stream of deadly venom was sprayed on the tiara. It began to smoke immediately and then a green gaseous substance came out. Within seconds it began to form into the head of someone and screamed for many seconds in obvious pain. After the screaming stopped the mist dissipated quickly.
Harry sat down heavily "Thank god that my scar is no longer effected by those abominations."
Hermione was pacing back and forth in front of the bust. The tiara was still dripping liquid metal from it from the venom's acid. She looked upset but then stopped and looked at Harry "Did your scare hurt as much as when Voldemort was around?"
Harry was still rubbing his scar "Yes, well almost as much and as soon as that gas left I started feeling better."
Hermione "Shite, this is not good."
Fleur held her still "Tells us what you are thinking. Maybe we can deal with it together?"
Hermione looked worried but gave her a small nod and a brief smile "Ok, Sirius had a book in his library that was about Blood magic. A chapter was devoted completely to soul magic. It talked about Horcruxes which is a container for a piece of a person's soul."
Hermione shivered "It is probably the most vile form of dark magic known because a person has to violate or rip a part of their soul to make it. They have to do it by the killing of another human being."
Hermione bit her lip "I think Voldemort made more than one." Hermione let a tear roll from her eye as she turned to Harry "I think you have one in your scar."
Everyone gasped in the room. Harry sat stunned for many minutes "I think somehow I knew this. My scar has always affected me around Voldemort. How do I get rid of it?"
Hermione was really crying now as she stuttered out "The thing that carries it usually has to be destroyed."
Harry snorted "I was afraid that would be the only way."
Daphne stood up and stomped across the room "That cannot be the only way. We can find another way somehow."
Harry looked at Gabby still transformed and then at the Tiara before a small grin formed "What if Gabby were to poison it with her basilisk venom and then cry into the wound with her Phoenix tears. It might be enough to believe that I am dying and then leave on its own."
Hermione was about to go off on him when Fleur moved to her and smiled "I think we are ok. When Harry was in the champions chamber and he removed his block, a mist formed above his head. It looked similar to the black mist we saw come out of tiara. I think it is already gone."
Daphne was smirking "You have no excuse to die on me Potter so I won't have to hate you…for like forever."
Harry almost chuckled "You know I think we should have a discussion about how you express your feeling of love and adoration." Harry rubbed his scar and thought about it. "I think you are right because normally my scar would ache." Harry then smiled "I was kind of looking forward to special attention from Gabby and then Daphne could do her love and adoration thing."
Daphne almost smiled "I don't do adoration but love we can work on that." The others just giggled.
Gabby began to laugh "Harry you are so warped. Does anything bother you?"
Harry chuckled "Well, I don't like Brussels sprouts, people who try to control me, and Daphne's whole attitude this week."
Daphne stood before him "Oh, you can try Potter but it won't change the way I feel about you."
Hermione was rolling her eyes and laughing "God what is it with her. I think she enjoys it more than Harry." Daphne turned to her and winked.
CHAPTER Twenty-five
Harry was sitting around the study table in their quarters. The Daily Prophet had run and revealed another set of attacks obviously done by the death eaters on a duel muggle- magical village last night. Harry was angered by it. Gabby came by and placed her hands on his shoulders "What is wrong love?"
Harry rubbed his face "We aren't getting information fast enough to do anything about these raids. I am frustrated."
Hermione raised her head from the book she was reading "Go see Amelia and ask for help." Hermione said. She gave him a smirk and then handed him two little boxes "Then while you are in the office place these in strategic locations. I think one above the emergency floo and in Amelia's office should do it."
Hermione went back to her book as Harry looked at her and smiled "Brilliant. I will give you a one hour massage this evening."
Hermione grinned "Then you owe Gabby one to. She recognized the need and told me about the problem and then I figured out how to do it."
Gabby kissed his cheek and skipped away humming to herself. Harry smiled as he walked out the door and apparated to the ministry and more precisely into Amelia's office.
Harry sat down in a chair in front of her as she watched him "Were you able to get there on time?" he asked her.
Amelia seemed irritated "No, We are always five minutes late no matter what we set up."
Harry transfigured the extendable ear into a square and then placed it under the front lip of her desk while she looked out the window. He quickly disillusioned it before she turned around. "Shite, I was hoping to be able to intervene and I was hoping you might have a way to get there faster."
Amelia looked at him "Me too but I can't have Aurors stationed everywhere." Amelia paused "I don't condone vigilantism in any form."
Harry shook his head "I know you have a job to do but people do have a right to defend themselves. The fact is that other than muggle neighborhoods, when Voldemort attacks, he is outnumbered almost three to one by the magicals at any given location. Yet somehow he manages to kill and maim many and gets away cleanly. How is that possible?"
Amelia seemed perplexed "People are scared Harry and most don't know how to fight."
Harry smiled "That is thanks to inadequate defense classes in magical education. Perhaps it is time to empower the people to take back their country. Time to teach people to defend themselves and time to hit back Voldemort's followers by a citizenry that outnumbers him almost 50 to one."
Harry got up from his chair and turned to her "If that were to happen a few Aurors could go a long way."
Amelia "That will cause many more deaths as well. Perhaps on only one side."
Harry frowned "I am sorry did that report say that nobody died because they didn't fight back?" Harry scoffed "They are killed every day and they get away without a scratch – For that to happen now that is criminal to me."
Amelia sat down heavily and felt the weight of her position upon her shoulders. Harry was absolutely right. They died if they didn't fight, they would die if they did but more importantly they might take some with them. What did they have to lose by at least trying it?
Amelia turned and called out "Shack I need you." While she waited for Shack to come in she penned a note to the daily prophet. She smiled as she finished it and then gave the letter to a mail owl for delivery.
Senior Auror Shacklebolt stepped in to her office "You called boss?"
Amelia stood up "Shack we need to change tactics. I want you to find ten Aurors who can train people to fight…." Shack began to smile as he listened. In his mind this should have been what they should have been doing years ago.
Harry was sitting at the study desk reading an advanced transfiguration book when the speaker began to blare. "Help, we need help. We are under attack. Please send Aurors as quickly as possible."
Another voice answered "This is Auror Whitcomb. Who are you and what is your location?" he asked as he heard explosions in the background.
"I am Claude Abernathy and we are located at Granbury circle, please hurry!" the voice said excitedly.
Harry was up and going to call out as the girls entered with Gabby on Fleur's shoulder as Anthera. They had their wands out and ready to go. Harry didn't hesitate as the girls grabbed on to him "Gabby Granbury circle if you please." Hermione began to chant a glamour charm as they flashed away.
When they landed in a small alleyway between two buildings they felt and saw flashes of magic off to their left. Harry cautiously led them to the mouth of the alley to take a look. He became angry almost instantly as death eaters were dragging people out of their houses and businesses on both sides of the street. It looked to be about twenty or so death eaters.
Harry whispered "We will hobble along until we are close enough and then let them have it. Aim to kill because I don't want to have to deal with them more than once."
They were all dressed and looked like much older people. Daphne and Hermione looked like they were carrying a much disabled Gabby between them. Harry and Fleur hung back as Harry was hobbling along with a cane while Fleur assisted him.
When they were thirty feet away a death eater saw them and called "Oi, get over here!"
Hermione said with a withered voice "We are trying sir. We are old and sick and can't move as well as we once did."
The death eater scowled and then started to push them to go faster making them stumble. The other death eaters began to laugh. The death eater then took Harry's cane from him and began to push and shove him along.
Harry let him do it once then when he attempted to do it twice Harry turned and placed his palm on the center of his chest and cast a stunner which threw the death eater back thirty yards. The rest of the death eaters were stunned for seconds as Hermione, Daphne and Gabby threw slicing hexes at the nearest death eaters. Fleur turned and cast a series of bludgeoners, hexes, and a spells designed to weaken a person shields.
Before the death eaters knew what was happening eight within their ranks were down. Hermione and Gabby cast Hermione's new power draining shield. Four death eaters fired curses and then began trying to break the connection. They were dead within seconds as their cores were completely drained.
Harry looked around and found only eight death eaters were left. Harry hollered out "Fight or die that is your option. I see forty magicals against eight Death eaters. Pull your bloody wands and cast something at them!"
Everyone looked confused for a second and then spells started coming from the group of villagers. Soon there were only two death eaters left. They looked at each other in surprise before apparating away.
The villagers cheered when they saw the death eaters leave. Harry and the girls laughed and clapped others on the back before quietly slipping into an alley and apparating back to Hogwarts.
When the Aurors arrived ten minutes later with thirty Aurors they found the villagers celebrating their victory. As the Aurors looked over the death eaters bodies they began to question the villagers and found the same story over and over. They fought back and they won that day.
A daily prophet reporter came minutes later and began taking pictures and listening to the questioning to get the story. The Headline the next day infuriated Voldemort.
Little Hamlet of Granbury Circle defeat Death eater attack!
The article had many people talking for the next two days. Amelia smiled at Shack the next morning. "Well that was very quick results even for you."
Shack sat down "I wish I could take credit for it but it wasn't my brilliant leadership. I have barely got the training teams organized. No there were five villagers who stood up on their own and began to fight back. The old man was the one that encourage the others to start firing spells and then when they did the fight was over in minutes. Not one villager was harmed or killed and they killed eighteen death eaters. It is usually the other way around."
Amelia seemed suddenly distracted before she asked "Were the five missing villager's one man and four women."
Shack looked surprised "Well from the descriptions we received that is the best we could place in the report. The other villagers couldn't remember where they lived."
Amelia smiled "Odd that right?" Shack nodded his agreement. "Even still this proves the course we are taking is the right thing to do. The results themselves tell us all we need to know. You should get this plan accelerated as quickly as possible much faster than the normal government pace."
Harry and his four girls arrived at the town center of Granbury Circle at noon the next day. He had the volunteer Elves lay out a feast for all the one hundred and thirty residents. When they had gathered around and began a celebration he stood on a podium and got everyone's attention.
Harry smiled as the Daily Prophet reporter and photographer he had invited began to take pictures. "My name is Harry Potter." He announced as the villagers gasped. "I came here today because of your valiant actions and you give me hope that our fellow countrymen can and will fight evil. I am willing to sacrifice my effort and my time fighting evil for people like you. You deserve it so please give yourselves a round of applause."
Harry then waited for it to quite down "I came to help you celebrate because of what you did and to let you know I was listening. I also came to offer you my protection as Lord Potter because if I know Voldemort he will want to retaliate and will try to come with forces you can't handle."
The people suddenly quieted "I have placed a charm on the town center. If you call I will come to defend you with my last breath, if necessary. I also offer to ward this town against any from entering with evil intent. It will not hold Voldemort at bay forever but it will give you ample time to call me to help you. This is my promise to you."
Harry looked at the reporter and stated loudly "For the rest of this country my message to you is this "Evil wins when good men and women do nothing. I will always support those who stand up against Evil."
They remained in the village for many more hours to celebrate with the villagers. They made many new friends. The next day the headlines read
"Potter vows to protect village of Granbury Circle form Voldemort
and offers the same for those who stand up to evil!"
IS OUR SAVIOR BACK?
Lorne Greengrass looked at the paper and frowned and realized Potter was playing the dark lord like a fiddle. If the Dark lord saw this he would no doubt attempt to wipe the village from the face of the planet. The trouble as he saw it that is exactly what he would try to do. He carefully considered hiding this from his Lord but knew it would eventually find its way to him anyway. Lorne reluctantly got up and went to find him.
Lorne's prediction was very accurate. Lord Voldemort ranted for a few minutes and then turned to him. "I know what you will say and I know this is a brazen trap by Potter. I know all of this but it does not do any good because I have no choice."
Lorne placed his hand behind his back "My Lord there is always a choice."
Voldemort shook his head "Not now and not with the way things stand. I cannot ignore this." Voldemort sat in his chair "How many recruits did we lose last night?"
Lorne frowned "Four my Lord and only one had been marked."
Voldemort rose from his seat "This is exactly why I must do something. I have to wipe this village out, to the last man, woman, and child. It is a symbol and a call for people to rally to fight me and my cause. Potter by giving them protection is showing people they can defy me. This does nothing but undermine my organization."
Lorne turned to the window "My Lord he has already done that. You can't change it by hitting the village. It will only weaken you further." He gave a sigh "There is more bad news "Potter is going after the rest of your funding. He and the nine other richest families threatened the Goblins to quit using their bank if they didn't stop loaning money to your eleven families who support you. In three days the goblins will announce this to the public."
Voldemort threw down the paper in disgust "How is a sixteen year old kid able to do all of this. Even Albus at the height of his power was not able to do something like this."
Lorne looked at him "My Lord Albus always had Charlus Potter who countered his machinations. It is why I always believed that Albus had him and James Potter removed from the situation. The trouble was you were taken out too and that left no one at the helm. Albus was very subtly shifting Britain to his agenda."
"A strong Potter in the political arena has never boded well for those on the opposing side. In recorded history no one has survived opposing a Potter and before them was the Gryffindor family line."
Voldemort said in disgust "My already limited funding is going to dry up even more all because this child is effectively cutting off my supporters from their money and profits."
"The only ray of hope is Lord Black has let it be known that they will loan money at twice the interest rate that the Goblins offered. If your supporters take it, then we will see a decrease in profits because of the rate increase, leaving us barely able to sustain you." Lorne added.
Lorne sat down next to him "My Lord I broach this topic cautiously because I know it will anger you but we must consider it. Perhaps it would be better to leave this country and rebuild our organization and rebuild our funding. As things stand now we are losing the war badly."
Voldemort's eyes flared with anger "Run away? You are telling me to let Potter win and sneak off into the night? This is the exact reason why we must go after this town the golden boy is protecting."
Lord Greengrass brow furrowed "What else can we do at this point? You and your followers have no political standing. All of your followers have been removed from the ministry; your funding will dry up very soon, and we do not have access to the wealth we once did. When Potter took out Malfoy, the Lestranges, Goyle, and Crabbe's he took with him 75% of your funds. With Malfoy gone the Black estate is beyond our reach as well.
The Ministry has done a one eighty and is no longer corruptible and has done more to hurt us than just about anyone else, other than Potter."
Lorne sipped his tea "We are getting to the point that we may not have any other choice but to flee or risk imprisonment or death. If we all die, then so too does the message we carry."
Voldemort stood up and went to the window "Potter is not smarter than us, he is not better than we are. Losing to him will not help us and he will gain more control over Britain and until his death we will not be able to return. I do not think surrendering to him is a good course of action."
Voldemort then stated slowly "There are other things that only I know that make leaving here impossible." Lord Voldemort turned to him "Prepare the senior members in two nights we will attack this slip of a town and from then forward we shall forge a new path that will end Potter. Now go I have many things to consider."
HOGWARTS CASTLE – Next Day
Fleur walked in and sat down beside Harry with a smile and a very odd looking device she sat down. Harry looked at her then to what she had sat there "Ok, I will bite what is that."
Fleur bit her lip "Something that will help us to end Voldemort." Fleur watched him "Aren't you going to ask me what it is?"
Harry smirked "Did Daphne have anything to do with it?"
They both heard Daphne from her potions lab yell out "I heard that Potter." Harry suddenly slapped the air and a resounding slap was heard then a squeal from Daphne.
"Master, I meant to say master." she yelled out.
Fleur chuckled "She did help with this little ditty. Hermione came up with some charms but mostly it was me." Harry hugged her "Ok what is it?"
"It is a horcrux detector set up to find more of his horcruxes, if he has any." She stated with a smile and then added "I set it with the residual magic I found on the diary and the tiara."
Harry set up and focused her attention "Have you tested it?"
Fleur grinned "I hoped you could help me since everyone else is busy. We can take it for our first run now if you like."
Harry stood up and motioned for the door. Fleur brought it with her and then held it in front of her. She hit a button and turned her body until two small antenna came out from the side. "I have a weak indication in that direction." She turned more and the antenna did it again "I have a stronger indication in that direction."
Harry asked "I take it that one is closer than the other and you have found two?"
Fleur replied "Right, at least I think that is what it means. If it does we can take them out as we find them."
Harry nodded "Ok then. Let's go to the farther one and work our way back towards Hogwarts. I will be a lot happier knowing we have most of them gone"
Fleur held up two vials "Me too and I have Basilisk venom from Gabby in case we find them."
CHAPTER Twenty-Six
They landed in a small clearing many miles away and the indicator of the horcrux increased showing the horcrux was much nearer to them than before. Fleur turned a couple of times and then pointed in a direction and they began to walk. It was fifteen more minutes before Harry stopped their progress. "This bushy hedgerow is heavily warded and it doesn't feel right. It looks like there is some kind of building located behind it."
Fleur looked through the shrubs and noticed a structure of some kind "There is a shack over there, see it?" Harry nodded.
Harry studied the wards for a few minutes "There are spell chains associated with these wards and triggers to activate other nasty things. Funny thing about triggers, get rid of them that stops the magic from acting. Harry swished his wand and heard the tinkling of glass as the triggers went away.
Harry stated "Follow me directly in my footsteps and do not deviate." They had crossed two more triggers but they were made to look like ward lines so that stepping across them would trigger the ward and what he assumed were very nasty defensive wards. Harry was fooled for some minutes but finally found a way to eliminate them. The second he crossed over the ward lines, Harry took a stick and pushed the front door open and two magically constructed snakes started automatically trying to bite anything on the front step. Harry flung them outside of the wards and they fizzled away.
He looked carefully inside the door and cast a few different revealing spells and found several triggers attached to the floor boards. Harry removed the boards with the triggers. Harry was about ready to step in when he suddenly backed out. He began to levitate everything out to include the floor boards and walls. When he finished with half the floor by the fireplace, Fleur noticed a box that had been hidden. Harry brought the box to the porch and then set it down.
He opened it slowly with a stick facing away from him and it had a nasty shot of acid or venom that was sprayed away from him "Somebody went to a lot of trouble to guard this ring." He said to Fleur. She opened the vial and let a few drops of venom hit the ring. It began to bubble as the acid in the venom began breaking down the metal of the ring.
Soon, just like the other horcruxes, a green mist developed, began screaming and then dissipated. All the darkness around the ring went away with its destruction. Harry and Fleur were about ready to leave when Harry felt a pulse of magic come from the ring. When he looked down the ring glinted. He looked at it for a moment and then suddenly levitated it into a small leather pouch.
"That is the second ring we found as a Horcrux but this has some other powerful magic that is not part of the horcrux." Harry stated.
Fleur thought for a second "You found the first at the graveyard, right?" Harry nodded.
They made their way back out of the yard when Harry felt magic building up all around him. He grabbed Fleur quickly and then apparated away. The watched from a hill 200 yards away as Death eaters suddenly started to appear. Harry watched Voldemort go to the box and then suddenly kicked it in anger.
Voldemort was looking around when Harry stood up so he could be seen. Harry placed Hermione's shield around both of them and Voldemort apparated to within twenty yards. Twenty Death eaters came with him. Harry just smiled "Hello Tommy."
Voldemort snarled as Fleur put the detector away within her robes "Potter, I might have known." Voldemort then smiled "What an opportune time for me to find you all the way out here, without any protection."
Harry just laughed "I was just about ready to say the same thing about you and your little death muncher party here. It is a perfect opportunity for me to release them to hell as they have no one here to protect them from me."
Voldemort scoffed as five Death eaters cast killing curses at him from behind. Harry didn't even flinch as the curses hit the shield and he maintained eye contact with Voldemort. Voldemort watched all five of them suddenly fight with their wands before their hair turned white and they fell down dead. Harry smirked at him "Five down and fifteen more to go." He then yawned as if bored by all of this. It pissed Voldemort because he was showing his Death Eaters how unafraid he was of them or the Dark Lord himself.
Harry suddenly came out from a small portal that opened on the back of the shield and sprayed five more with bullets. Before anyone could think to do anything he was back within his protective shield. Two death eaters cast nasty hexes that hit after the shield door closed and they fell dead soon after and added "Twelve down and eight more to go."
Voldemort looked very angry "Nobody else cast a spell!" he roared. "Impressive, a shield that drains the user of his magic. I have heard it was possible but have never seen one before. They are also illegal!"
Harry snorted "It is only illegal if you get caught. As of yet no one has been too talkative after they have been around it."
Voldemort asked "What are you doing out here?"
Harry acted surprised "Is that all you wanted to know. Well I was discovering the countryside of course. When I came upon a very heavily warded shanty it peaked my curiosity and I decided to investigate."
Voldemort looked at him to judge what he knew. He lightly probed his mind but Harry suddenly raised his hand and acted like he was knocking on a door. Voldemort felt two physical raps on his head "Hey, Tommy that is not nice. Decent people usually knock before trying to enter someone else's privacy or home."
Voldemort looked surprised before he asked "You know, don't you?'
Harry asked in reply "I know what?"
"You know my secret."Voldemort asked him as he narrowed his eyes to look at him.
While everyone was busy watching the two have their words, Fleur conjured some fairly large boulders above five of the remaining eight death eaters. The magical effort made her sweat but without warning four of them were crushed and the fifth suddenly moved but still got his leg caught and was screaming as his leg bone was crushed under the heavy boulder.
Harry smirked "Seventeen down and three to go."
Voldemort turned and stalked off "This is not over Harry Potter at another time you will not be so lucky."
Harry waved as Voldy mort and the three left "bye-bye now." He then smiled "You will see me again very soon, just before your death, most likely."
Jessup Hedgeworth had only been in the death eater ranks for a month fresh from his training. He was having second thoughts about fighting. His second thoughts suddenly found clarity as he realized that going against Potter was not a good choice. He had just stood as the Dark Lord confronted him and with very little effort Harry Potter and his girl had killed seventeen in their ranks. He apparated away and did not go with the Dark Lord. He went straight to his apartment and packed his bags before apparating across the channel to France.
Harry and Fleur left quickly before heading in the direction of London. They followed the detector all the way to Gringotts bank. When they entered the goblins looked at them strangely as four guards surrounded them.
Harry looked at the guards "I am not here to try and steal anything."
Another Goblin came from behind the row of counters "You have some sort of device. What is it and what does it do?"
Harry looked around the lobby "I cannot tell you out in the open. May we speak in private?"
The Goblin nodded and then led them to a small conference room. Four more guards had joined the procession. When they entered Harry turned to the Goblin "This is a detector for an item of Dark Magic. I am hunting it down to destroy it. I have been led here to Gringotts"
The Goblin nodded "What kind of Dark Magic?"
Fleur responded carefully "The very darkest kind involving soul magic."
The Goblin was surprised and then was angry "If somebody has brought a foul item into this bank then I am sure the manager will be very displeased. We will bring charges against them as it is against the treaty to store dark magical artifacts here."
Harry then asked "I want to ask permission to find its' location and either I or the Goblins get rid of it. I will pay for its disposal."
Goblin nodded "I will of course have to speak to the manager and I will be back momentarily."
Harry and Fleur sat in the chair to wait and five minutes later the Goblin Teller came back with a older and taller Goblin. "This is Ragnarok our bank manager." Harry and Fleur stood quickly and bowed as Harry added "It is a pleasure to see you again Manager Ragnarok. I am Lord Potter and this is one of my wives Fleur Potter."
Ragnarok stopped and looked at him before stepping into the room "Lord Potter I was told you are different from the average wizard we have met. I am glad to see that at least some of your kind have manners." He turned to the teller "Gringhand please leave us and seal this room I have private matters to discuss with Lord Potter."
Harry arched his brow but said nothing and did not seat himself until Ragnarok indicated to do so. "Lord Potter this device you brought and what it detects are why I am here. I need to know more than what I was told. If someone has violated the treaty I need to know."
Harry sighed "If this gets out it will cause many problems. I need to know that what I tell you stays between us until I tell you it is ok to tell others."
Ragnarok grinned "I will tell no one of what I learn today, you have my word."
Harry looked down and then took a breath "Lord Voldemort has made Horcruxes. I have already destroyed four of them. The fifth is somewhere in this bank and I have another that is indicated as somewhere in London. I want to get rid of them so that Lord Voldemort can be defeated."
Ragnarok looked angered "Do you know who brought this in to the bank?"
Harry replied quickly "No, Sir I do not but if it is in someone's vault that should be a sign. I am willing, regardless of where it's found, to have it destroyed or I do have a means to destroy it myself. I think the best bet would be to look at known families that had been death eaters and go from there." Harry nodded to Fleur "This detector has already found two and I believe we could find the one here, if you will allow us to do so."
Ragnarok looked thoughtful "I am allowed by treaty to remove or destroy all dark objects from our bank. If a dark item is found in a vault I am allowed to seize it and the vaults contents. So I will allow you, under heavy guard, to search for its location."
Once four guards had entered and surrounded Harry and Fleur, they were escorted across the lobby, in front of many patrons who watched with great interest. Once they entered the tunnels, Ragnarok met him "Lord Potter we already know where the item you seek is at. We found it when we transferred the contents of the Lestrange vault to yours. We were waiting for the guilty party to come here and try to claim it."
Harry stopped "You moved it to my vaults?"
Ragnarok smirked and then said "Yes, of course it was the spoils for ended line of Lestranges." Harry followed him quickly as he continued "This detector of yours will it work on other dark items or only horcruxes?"
Fleur spoke up "Actually it was modified to only work on Voldemort's horcruxes. It may be possible to modify it to work on other things but it helps to have a sample of a similar item."
Ragnarok "It sounds as if you have specific skills to do this?"
Fleur grinned "Actually the expertise lies with Harry's other wives and as a team we figured this out."
Ragnarok replied "That is a very valuable skill to have for breaking wards. Perhaps Lord Potter we could come to an arrangement to hire your wives services and it is my understanding you also know how to destroy this object?"
Harry smiled "Yes, we could help each other as always and we don't need the money. You have done so much for us already that I will help you anyway I can free of charge."
Harry then said "I will need to get Gabby here so we can destroy this one, so could you have somebody bring her to us that would be helpful." One of the guards went back up the tunnel when Ragnarok nodded to him to do so.
They went for a ride on the carts and arrived at Harry's vault five minutes later. Harry opened it and the detector went off as soon as the vault doors opened. They found it in the pile marked from the Lestrange vault and Harry opened a chest to find Hufflepuff's cup. He levitated it to the center of the room.
Twenty minutes later Gabby walked into the room and immediately turned into her basilisk form which shocked the Goblins. Harry and Fleur stood on each side of her neck and squeezed the sacks behind her head to cause the venom to spray on the cup. It took two minutes for the cup to deform and begin to melt. Next the green mist appeared above it before it began to scream and then disappeared quickly.
Ragnarok watched as Gabby turned back "That is a most interesting Animagus form to have. Did you know that you could make a small fortune from the Venom milking that you could do?"
Gabby frowned "I am not a farm animal to be harvested from!" Harry couldn't help but to laugh as Daphne often teased her about being milked which did irritate Gabby. Gabby reached over and punched Harry "It is not funny Mr. Potter."
Fleur was laughing too and quipped back "Well it is a little."
Gabby rolled her eyes and then talked to Ragnarok who sent two more guards to come back with two jars. Gabby gave them about a half galleon of her venom which made the Manager very happy. Gabby was absently looking down at many items when she came to a necklace that almost glinted at her. She held it and then asked Harry "I feel a strong pull to this necklace, may I have it Harry?"
Harry grinned "Of course you can." As an afterthought "I guess I should really bring all of you down here so that you each pick out some things you want from our vault."
The three left the bank rather quickly after that and made their way out into the muggle side of London. Fleur was steadily tracking another horcrux which led them to the seedier part of the town. When a couple of seedy looking guys began to pay too much attention to Gabby and Fleur, Harry decided that a notice-me-not charm was a very good idea. This caused the three men following them to suddenly turn in confusion.
Harry began to recognize the street they were on and then stood between number 11 and number 13 Grimmauld place. Harry could see number twelve but Fleur and Gabby couldn't as they had never been here after Sirius recast the fidelus charm from the end of summer. Harry grabbed their hands and led them up the steps to knock on the door.
Remus opened the door "Harry…what are you doing here?"
Harry frowned back at him "Looking for something I have been looking for, for a month!"
Remus eyes widened "Here, you think one of them is here?"
Fleur showed the detector "That is what this says." Remus opened the door and followed them to the various rooms until they opened the pantry door. The detector revealed a strong indication that it was somewhere in the pantry. They found a blanket and a floorboard that was able to be pulled up. It was filled with various items from family members that Kreacher had tucked there over the years. It took very little time to find Slytherin's necklace among the items.
Gabby transformed and after placing the necklace in the sink, they helped Gabby spray it with her venom. Five minutes later it was destroyed and the soul piece died within it.
Remus set it down heavily "I can't believe you found one here?" Remus sat in thought "I wonder if Regulas was holding it for Lord Voldemort?"
Kreacher popped in and was smiling "Youse have done what Master asked me to accomplish years ago. Kreacher is very happy, even if you are a wolfie, Veela, and a half blood. You have helped Kreacher and for this Kreacher is indebted to you." Kreacher bowed and then got them tea.
Remus sat with his mouth open in shock "Kreacher, did master Regulas ask you to destroy this for him?"
Kreacher looked saddened "Yes, just before he was killed by the bad death wizards. He said that Voldemort was a bad person and that I should not help him. He asked me if anything happened to get rid of the necklace as it was full of bad magic." Kreacher didn't look very happy "Kreacher tried many times but the magic of the necklace protected it and he could not do as he was told. Kreacher couldn't be a good elf."
Harry grinned "So Sirius's brother, in the end was not a bad wizard and he was against Voldemort."
Kreacher nodded "Kreacher was ready to attack but heard you wanted to destroy it and help make Kreacher a good elf for house Black." Kreacher seemed hesitant "Can Master Harry talk to master Sirius and let the Master know I will be a good elf from now on?"
Harry smiled "Yes, I will and I will tell him not to treat you so badly." Harry waved his fingers and handed Kreacher a newly conjured Slytherin Locket "Here take this and remember Regulas fondly and as good wizard." Kreacher smiled and then put it over his neck and then walked out of the kitchen.
Remus turned to Harry "You know as long as I have been around Sirius and this house I have never seen Kreacher act nicely to anyone. Sirius won't believe it when he comes here tonight. He will probable think Kreacher has poisoned his food or something." This caused Harry to laugh.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The three entered the room of requirement and found Daphne and Hermione reading tomes. Harry threw down a burlap sack with the melted lumps that were the horcruxes. "We have them all. We have six horcruxes and the only one missing, if you two are right, is the one remaining in Lord Voldemort.
Hermione looked into the bag. "So you got three today?"
Fleur smiled "Yep! One at a place called little Haggleton, one at Gringotts, and one at Sirius's home."
Daphne sat up and listened to what had happen as the three of them told the day's events.
The next morning they were awakened by a house elf from Headmistress McGonagall asking for a meeting as soon as possible. They gathered together and landed directly in the Headmistress's office. Minerva wasn't even surprised by their appearance but Amelia was and stood up quickly before realizing who it was and then sat down.
Minerva looked over at her "I am not even surprised when they just show up here. Harry seems to be able to go anywhere he wishes, regardless of the wards."
Harry smiled "It does come in handy. Imagine what havoc I could have caused as a firstie if I had known then what I know now?"
Minerva shuddered and quipped "Like that stopped you from doing things anyway."
Amelia was chuckling "All right Harry enough of the distractions. What news do you have for me?"
Harry turned over the bag to her "These were Horcruxes and evidently Tom made seven of them. In there are five and there was one in me and now all that is left is the one in Voldemort himself."
Amelia looked very surprised and then horrified "That is how he came back?" Harry nodded silently to her. "Oh good heavens that man is an abomination even as Dark Lords go."
Amelia listened as Harry continued "Tom during the ritual last year didn't get his enemies blood. He got one of his follower's blood because Wormtail had to finish the ritual in a certain time or fail. He took Rockwood's blood and used it. Had he used my blood, someone he considered as an enemy, the ritual would have made him much more powerful. As it is today he is greatly weakened. It is my understanding he does not cast spells even in battle, he just directs his people."
Amelia added "It is my understanding that rituals not done correctly or done with shortcuts fail miserable over time."
Hermione looked at her "Our research revealed the same thing. Had he used Harry's blood they would almost equal each other in power but they are far from it as it stands and we think there is a possibility that he is weakening."
Fleur then added "We met him in little Haggleton two days ago and he tried to confront us but lost seventeen men before he left. He didn't cast one spell."
Daphne then finished "Since we now have the horcruxes taken care of we need to directly attack him and see if he can be hurt."
Harry grinned "We believe that if he is directly attacked his true abilities will fail him, so that is what we are going to work on for the next few weeks."
Amelia stood up "Just remember the more cornered he feels, the more desperate he becomes. Keep me in the loop Mr. Potter." Amelia went through the floo to her office.
That night another attack came with a plea for help from a town in Northern Scotland. It was only thirty or forty miles away from the school. They prepared to head to it as quickly as possible.
Harry usually landed on the outside of the town and made their way towards it but for some reason decided to land disillusioned in the town center with a pub and a store as the local focal point. When they looked around they found no fighting, screaming, or explosions occurring. If anything the town center was dead, not even the pub was open.
Harry thought "I think this is wrong as the Pub isn't even making noise at ten pm."
Daphne thought "Hold one." Suddenly on the side of town five distinct pops could be heard that sounded very much like apparition."
The five heard someone whisper very loudly "Jaston start with the noises."
Then they heard three thumps on the Pub's roof and it suddenly came to life as sounds of merriment and then screams of panic came from within. Harry thought out "Definitely a trap and well thought out on their part."
Fleur asked "Leave or fight?"
Hermione chuckled in thought "This is an opportunity to shock them very well. Maybe if we are quiet enough they won't even know we are here until no one is able to return to Voldemort alive."
Harry turned to Daphne "Can you stay here and cause distractions?"
Daphne smiled as she answered "Yes, all day long."
Harry turned to the rest "We are going to hit the guys on the roof of the pub and then stay together as we hit anyone else we find."
Harry apparated them silently to the back corner of the roof top. Unfortunately it was practically on top of two look outs posted there. Harry and Hermione both stunned them but it caused too much noise. Harry looked around and counted over ten death eaters in the vicinity and began a systematic approach to taking them out. Hermione immediately sent up her special shield which caused three to lock up until they were drained.
The other five were distracted by the attack and trying to get the others with them to assist. Daphne's distractions were causing real problems with the other death eaters and causing confusion. They did not hear the other fight occurring but Daphne had them chasing around ghosts as she led them through the streets right behind an unseen attacking force.
Within seconds the leader was knocked out and the others were taken out permanently. Unknown to Daphne or Harry there were fifteen death eaters chasing her phantom forces. Once Harry had the roof cleared he managed to apparate into the pub to find five death eaters holding the townspeople hostage.
Harry apparated up to the roof and explained it too them. "We will go to the men's room and then come out into a little hallway. I want everyone to pick a man and then take them out. I will take two." They all nodded at him and then apparated into the rest room.
They were met at the vestibule by one death eater who probable heard them enter. Harry stunned him very quickly before the death eaters could really get their bearings. Harry thought "1, 2, 3 – Go!"
They each appeared behind a death eater and stunned. Gabby didn't almost see the wand come from the crowd at her until it was too late. She ducked and hit the person with a cutting curse that sliced their shoulder and head off. "Watch out death eaters dressed as natives." She thought to the others.
Harry turned to find two coming towards him and sent a mass stunner spell that got five of them. When he turned he saw Hermione about ready to be attacked with a dagger and cast a shield before another mass stunner hit four others. Hermione turned when she heard the shield being challenged. She began casting stunners quickly until all twenty of the people in the pub were stunned.
Harry killed the ones with wands out and that left ten people as unknowns. Hermione stated out loud. "I wonder if any of them were from the village at all? This was a very sophisticated plan and had we not been as vigilant they would have gotten us."
Harry frowned "I only had ten that didn't have weapons or wands out."
Fleur stated quickly "Let's see if they have wands or anything on them. If not then I would venture to say that they are villagers forced to participate."
Harry nodded his head in agreement "We are not going to risk waking them or allowing them to fight with us. Leave them here stunned while we take out the other death eaters."
They went out the front door to hear Daphne laughing as she ran the other stupid death eaters on a merry chase. She felt them near "This is actually fun. I actually got them to stun two of their own as they ran around a house and caught up to their tail."
Hermione and Fleur were laughing as Harry just shook his head "Wonderful bring them to that alley and we will set a trap for them." Daphne smiled and then nodded.
Soon the thirteen death eaters came running down the road and as they came by Hermione, Gabby, and Fleur began picking them off by the rear. There were five left that entered the alley. Hermione and Fleur stood by the entrance to the alley and managed to get two more as they made their way to where Harry was.
Harry became visible and this stopped their advance and they held their wands on him. The leader looked back and only saw two guys behind him "Shite. Where are the others?"
A female voice sounded out from the walls "Defeated of course. You are surrounded now surrender." The lead guy looked very dejected and then dropped his wand.
Harry frowned "Every death eater carries at least two wands and other weapons. You have five seconds to throw whatever you got on the ground or I can start throwing cutting curses like there is no tomorrow." The leader then threw another wand and a dagger out.
Harry looked them over "Who cooked up the scheme for tonight's festivities?"
The Leader said slowly "The Dark Lord. He was sure that your saving people thing would cause you to let your guard down and the death eaters disguised as villagers could easily kill you."
Hermione from behind asked him "What did you learn from tonight?"
He turned around "The Dark lord's agenda doesn't stand a chance."
Harry then asked "How many more men does he have now?"
The leader turned around and scowled "I may be defeated tonight but that doesn't mean I am willing to give up. Purebloods have to protect ourselves against those that want to change the life we have worked to build in Britain."
Harry cast a cutting curse "I do not have the time to bicker with an idiot."
Harry turned to the man on his right "How many men does Voldemort have left?"
The man began to shake as he watched the other guy twitching on the ground. "Really I don't know the precise numbers. I have only seen thirty-five or forty at any one time."
Fleur asked "How many new faces have you seen?"
The guy gulped "A few, it use to be more every month but it has dwindle the last six months." Harry stunned the remaining men and left them bound and naked in the town square. The Aurors arrived ten minutes after they left to find the villagers stunned and five more stunned death eaters bound and naked out in front of the pub.
Once the aurors got the story, they took the bound death eaters to the ministry cells and a trip to the Wizgenmont for trial.
When Voldemort found that this raiding party had not returned after an hour he went to the town to see what had happened. He found none of his men and plenty of Aurors investigating the scene. He quickly surmised from his roof top vantage that his entire force of thirty-six men had been eliminated. The death eaters posing as villagers had all been captured and not one of Potter's people had been hurt. Voldemort returned to his hideout very dejected.
The girls returned to the room of requirement and wound down from tonight's stressful activities. When Harry returned a few minutes later they adjourned to an oversized prefect's bath and when they began to wash each other's back, one thing led to another.