Chapter 21: Chapter 21
The being felt the partial soul, recognizing the 'feel' of that soul, and shared it will the others. He was back, and had promised many souls to feed on.
Maybe he would keep his promise this time.
**OO**
Monsignor Brown had a very, very bad feeling about this mission. It was late enough that most students were abed, but they were making slow progress to the ward room.
They were in a place that appeared to be the ward room, but was not. There was a lovely mosaic of a sleeping dragon, wafts of smoke curling up as it exhaled that was in the exact center of the round room, but there were many alcoves, holding many doors.
Only one was the right one. As Harry started to open that door, he was confronted by someone that hadn't shown up on the map.
Regulus recognized the hair, and the drawl if not the person who came out of the shadows.
"Harry Potter. We meet again. I told you that we would. Do you see me? Sharing a body with this boy? You will give me my stone, and I will gain a body of my own."
Madame Delacour had two knights step in front of her on instinct, seeing her as a non-combatant. But she was far more dangerous to Dracomort than the other knights.
She took a step to the side. The Necromancer started swinging a brazier of incense, and chanting. Harry knew his roll. Distraction.
"I'm telling you the truth. I don't know what stone you are talking about."
"The Sorcerer's Stone! Flammel was here complaining to Dumbledore that the Great Light Wizard had borrowed it and not returned it!
"I was here for two months. I made some great friends, played with Fluffy. I did not trip over a rock. Though Gertie Wagner did on the way out. Was that why Lucius Malfoy killed her? She tripped and somehow broke your rock?"
"I can tell when people are lying! You are telling the truth, but it has to be you!"
"I don't know what to say. I just wasn't here that long."
Draco suddenly sunk to his knees, and grabbed his head. "No! NOOO!"
Dementors were behind them! The knights all had medallions that protected them from demons, but the Necromancer wouldn't.
Harry turned, and placed himself between Madame Delacour and the soul-suckers. Just as he was about to cast his patronus, a man stepped out of the shadows.
"So, you're Harry Potter. I've heard so much about you." The voice said. A very familiar voice, in a body that Harry would recognize anywhere. But the eyes. The eyes were red.
For just a second, they flashed grey. "Get out of here Pup! You're in danger! Flee!"
But then red eyes turned to him. "Say hello to your godfather Harry Potter, for you are about to die and join him."
Draco recovered a bit and while staying well away from the dementors, glared at the body of Sirius Black.
"Who do you think you are! I'm killing Harry Potter after I get a new body! You're dead! I am Lord Voldemort!" Dracomort shouted.
"You lie! I am the Dark Lord Voldemort! This is my new body! Dementors! Attack!"
The short blond facing off against the tall black-haired man, both with red-eyes, both claiming to be the Dark Lord rather threw the knights for a moment. They were clearly confusing the dementors.
"No! No! I am your master! I command you! I tell you! Suck the life from Potter and Black! Do it now!
"My Lord! Summon your followers! Quickly!" Dolores cried.
The pair of dementors communed silently for a moment, and then attacked.
**OO**
The Dark Mark flared. Severus tried to resist the pull, but couldn't. But he couldn't apparate, nor could he get the door open! He was still in that blasted tent. His struggles awoke the duty guard, who stunned him, and then cast a sleeping spell at the man. The strong one guaranteed to last twelve hours. The guard was only awakened at need, so went back to sleep.
**OO**
Igor Karkaroff had joined the Death Eaters for power and prestige, for gold, to kill muggles at will, and to capture and torture women. His Dark Mark flared. He knew that if he were caught again, it would be Azkaban if he were lucky, the Kiss if he was not.
He had been drinking in the village, and was trying to run to the ship in the dark.
He tripped on his way to the gangplank and hit his head, landing face down in shallow water. The giant squid tried to save him, but couldn't raise anyone on the ship, and the water was too shallow for the giant cephalopod. The man drowned just meters away from safety in less than a third of a meter of water.
**OO**
Peter Pettigrew knew that the Dark Lord was in the castle. He had been serving him minimally since he was released from Azkaban, afraid not to, but trying to avoid him as well.
He felt the Dark Mark burn, and was able to apparate to his side since they were both inside the wards.
"Help me Wormtail! Kill Potter!" Dracomort commanded, and Peter refused to obey
"No! Harry's innocent! A child! I should never have listened to Lucius' promises. Serving you gained me what? Power? Ha! You never shared that! Prestige? No! Gold? No!
"I lost everything that I had that mattered. I lost my true family when you killed my friends."
For just a moment, the body of Sirius Blacks eye went grey. "Peter! Save Harry! Get him out of here."
Peter raised his wand against Dracomort, but great pain burst forth from the Dark Mark for taking up a weapon against the soul of Tom Riddle, for the Dark Mark was thereto bound.
Wormtail dropped his wand, and cradled his seared arm, crying in pain.
**OO**
Harry saw what was happening. With tears streaming down his face, he attempted to conjure the patronus, and suddenly Sir Hector's voice was in his ear. "Hermione in ten years in a bikini on a private beach."
Harry's huge Grim appeared, and burst forth, driving on the dementors towards the body of Sirius Black. The necromancer's chanting was louder, and the dementor removed the half-soul of Tom Marvolo Riddle.
Harry allowed his patronus to dissipate, for he needed a new spell next. There was a huge flash of gold. From the ceiling, a ghostly Grim appeared. It ran in the air, and leapt into the body of Sirius Black.
At first, nothing happened, and then the man stood, taking up his wand, and used a Grim Patronus of his own to shepherd a dementor towards the pink-clad witch.
"Pucker up, Dolores, and enjoy your first kiss. It's going to be a doozy." The marauder yelled.
Even the dementor seemed to pause a bit, but soon was feasting on the toadstool with mushroom gravy soul that was Dolores Umbridge.
**OO**
Dracomort sank to his knees. "No! No! Mercy! Please have Mercy!"
Harry turned to the Necromancer, but Monseigneur Brown and Sir Hector had taken advantage of the dementors distraction to place a ritual circle on the center.
It was an easy enough spell; it simulated the innocent souls of preschoolers. It was bait for dark lords. And demons.
The dementors went to it eager for dessert, and that's when the trap closed. They too were sent back to the pit from whence they came.
With everyone focused on the ritual, no one noticed Peeves sneaking in and diving into the still living but freshly kissed body of Dolores Umbridge.
"Raise your wand and take a magical oath that you will submit to justice, and Mercy will be given. Raise it again, and no quarter, for you have killed innocents." Harry stated firmly, following the Code.
"I swear on my magic!" Draco said, and then repeated the proper oath.
Sir Jerome tended to Peter's injuries, and Sirius helped him to his feet. They shared a brief but heartfelt embrace.
"Good work there, Wormtail!"
"Not a bad prank, Padfoot. At least Prong's son is safe."
Sir Hector placed magic suppressing cuffs on the Malfoy boy and Madame Delacour eyed him.
"Draco Malfoy is still possessed and dangerous, good Sir Knight." Madame Delacour stated.
Sir Jerome started, and the others helped him weave a golden cage all around him, floating him in the air.
"Hey! I surrendered!"
"Yes, you did. And you will get a fair trial. We need to split up. Madam Delacour, you're with me. Sirius Black, we are aware that you were never given a trial and were declared dead. If you come with us, we can see your name cleared, but for your safety, we will have to take you into custody." Monseigneur Brown stated.
Harry pulled out his Order issued invisibility cloak, not his good one.
"Best put this on, and stay close, or you could get lost. Again."
The young knight took the opportunity of putting the cloak on the man to share a brief but warm embrace.
"You were brilliant, you know." Paddy breathed in Harry's ear.
"So were you."
Their warm hug was intense, but necessarily brief. "You'll be united soon. But this man is going to Rome after Paris, not back here." Monseigneur Brown stated gently.
Harry understood what the headmaster was saying. He put away trying to grapple with having Brother Paddy back to focus on the job here.
"Pettigrew, you come with us. I have a feeling that you need tattoo removal, and soon. We can do that." Headmaster Brown added.
Harry stayed behind, letting the group of knights take out the captives out of the castle before improving the security of the castle. He turned to his original task, as the only wizard able and willing to repair the wards.
Oh, and how they changed. How they changed.
**OO**
Harry wasn't surprised to see his mentor, his protector, his older brother, his friend Sir Charles Hector at the front main doors.
Charles wasn't surprised to see the boy half-carried out by a pair of jokers known as the Chaos twins.
"Thanks Fred, George. Nearly turned into a pumpkin you know." Harry joked, as the clock chimed midnight.
Charles had a carriage waiting, and the twins helped him in.
"Thanks guys." Harry waved, clearly exhausted.
"No problem, cousin. Wait until you see the next prank that we have for her toadiness." George stated.
"Um, that's going to be difficult. I think she's moving out of the castle. But another time." Harry tiredly stated.
Charles saw that the boy was done in, and waved the boys back to their dorm, watching them don camouflage cloaks.
"Is that where yours and Neville's 'lost' cloaks went? I knew you paid to replace them, but…"
"You shouldn't ask questions you know the answer to." Harry teased in a low voice.
Charles shuddered. "I need to retire before you DO become Knight Commander. You sound just like him."
Monseigneur Brown called just then, and they shared the mirror.
"How Harry? How did you save my brother, um, Brother Paddy? Luna told you not to hesitate. That you had to 'kill the dead'. You didn't listen, and because of that, we have him back."
"Remember the rock that I emulsified, and how long it took to make a spell that sort-of does the same thing? It's the same. I suddenly knew how to get his spirit back, that it wasn't his time yet. I can't explain it. And please don't punish me with math, sir. Please don't!"
The arithmancy to almost get the rock spell right had taken weeks, and still wasn't perfect.
"At ease, squire, I mean good sir knight. Well done, tonight. Well done. I've got a sleepless night ahead of me. I switched things up, so Rock is now in charge of the Malfoy boy, and Charles you are in charge of Harry here. He'll be wiped out tomorrow. Sorry for stealing your healer to send with Dumbledore. I can't send a sister to you now. Lean on the Delacour's to bring one from Notre Dame. They're nearly as good."
"Tomorrow sir. Tonight, we rest."
**OO**
The Head of International Security was really a coordinator when various auror units worked together from different countries. A retired auror, she was a no-nonsense witch who had left Britain due to the political nature of arrests. Or non-arrests as the case may be.
She didn't normally stay in the office this late at night, but had been told it was an emergency.
"Madam Bones! We had wondered where you were working!" Monseigneur Brown bowed to her.
"I quit after your former secretary was murdered in cold blood, and I wasn't allowed to investigate. 'Foreign witch died on foreign soil!' Mad-eye's right eye-ball!" She turned to the man walking in behind Regulus. "You look familiar. Have I arrested you before?"
"I think that you might remember me a bit better than that. Especially since it was me, and not Rufus, that put the Acromantula in your closet. At least it was a baby one."
"Sirius Black! But you're dead!"
"I got better! Thanks to a Necromancer, that is. I want to be able to walk around again, so would like to arrange for a trial I never got from Barty Crouch and Albus Dumbledore."
"I heard that Harry Potter accused them of that, but I had quit by then, and couldn't investigate." Bones confided
"I swear on my magic, Amelia. I never got a trial."
"Well. You and Potter. Talented aurors. Let me know if you want a job after you recuperate. We can always use talent. The way our headmaster of Ecole Merlin is looking, I'd say he has a fair few ideas for you as well."
Then she swore, and looked at him again. "Draco Malfoy stole the house ring. I know that you were never officially disowned from your family. You could get your House back. Fight in the Wizengamot."
"That is certainly an option for later. Right now, I just want to work on my freedom, and rid myself of any lingering dark magic. It's been a difficult time."
"I imagine. There's no precedent for this, so I will have to consult with others. Goodness! Sirius Black, only you could turn your death into a prank!"
"I'm a marauder, and proud of it!"
**OO**
Rock was sent to deal with a different marauder just a few doors down in the same ICW Headquarters building in Paris.
"Mr. Pettigrew? I'm Sir Rodney Chatham. Neville Longbottom is my squire. I hear that you were friends with his parents."
"Pleasure, sir knight. Please, call me Peter. I was so sorry to hear about Alice and Frank. We were not close in school, but Alice and Lily were friends. Unlike some of the girls, they never teased me for my looks. Even set me up on a few dates."
"With the Dark Mark, you won't be allowed to return to the castle, and you certainly couldn't ever enter the grounds of Ecole Merlin to visit.
"Oh no! What am I going to do? I deserve to go back to prison for betraying Prongs and Lily. I do. But those horrible demons! I don't want to go back to Azkaban."
Dementors were the very worse things for truly penitent people to be around. They didn't torture the ones happy with their evil deeds as much as those who sought forgiveness.
"I can help you with that. I know it's late. How would you like to participate in a ritual that will permanently remove that mark?"
"But it's soul magic. I'd have to die."
"No, Peter, you wouldn't. Just show the Lord that you mean it when you say that you regret taking it. Pray for it to be removed. You won't be alone, and I can and will help you."
"Why are you doing this?"
"Some people who choose evil never do repent. You show Godly sorrow. I'd help you even if I weren't a knight for that alone. I'm proud to be here."
"If this works, do me a favor?" Peter asked. "Ask Neville if I could write to him. James Potter was his godfather. We all knew the war would take people, and James once asked me to look in on Neville if the worse came."
"Of course, I will. Now, the first thing you need to do is…"
**OO**
Breakfast starting without the Headmaster wasn't that uncommon, but for Snape to miss out on the opportunity to scowl and take points from any house not his was unheard of.
The twins saw him on the map, practically at the edge of the forest.
What was he doing? Harvesting mushrooms or herbs at this time of day?
The twins saw Percy talking to his lap, likely a mirror, and leave. Where was he off to?
It was still early, but Professor Pettigrew was also missing, as was Headmaster Karkaroff.
Then one of the boys from Durmstrang came in, shouting in Romanian, and Flitwick paled.
He responded rapidly in the boy's mother tongue, and turned to the other staff and quietly informed them. "Their headmaster has been found dead just outside the ship. While I summon the aurors, Professor Babbling, will you please go try and maintain the scene? You know age wards?"
"Yes, I will, and yes I do."
"Don't let Harry or anyone else from his school near there. He's likely to be questioned about it no matter what happened." Flitwick added.
The runes professor nodded, and left to go cordon off the area, and try and protect both evidence and students.
**OO**
Albus Dumbledore woke feeling so much better than he had since he put that blasted ring on. Well, since even before that if truth were told.
"So, you decided to wake up?" The sister asked him in English. "I'll call the doctor."
Two healers walked in. One in white, one in a lovely teal color of fashionable and comfortable looking design.
"Hello. I'm Dr. Betrand, and this is Healer Smith. We just wanted to go over your prognosis, and what you need to do over the next few weeks."
"Yes, yes. I know. I've made my will. After all of my mistakes, I feel leaving everything to Harry Potter will help a little. I did fail the boy. Such terrible, terrible choices. He's going to destroy the British Magical society!"
The healers looked at one another and shrugged. "Mr. Dumbledore, you are fine. The curse has been removed from you completely. You have been started on potions that have healed the hand, and started healing the affected organs. You must have suffered greatly. I would like to know the name of your previous healer, for he came very close to losing his magic, withholding such essential treatment."
"He said nothing could be done!"
"Lik-ke noth-th-thing don-n-ne for me-me-me." Alice Longbottom stuttered.
"Alice! My dear girl! I never thought to talk to you again!" Albus had tears of joy in his eyes, and he patted the bed next to him. "This is extraordinary!"
The man opened his arms to his friend and she embraced him.
"Malfoy poisoned. Me. Frank."
Now the man looked down. "I'm so sorry. I didn't know. The healer's oaths. I thought that they were helping."
She stared at him and nodded. Plenty of blame to go around. It had been a terrible time.
"Mrs. Longbottom, you got to visit. You mustn't overdo. Harry will be here to read to you soon."
"Harry good. Good boy. Helps." Alice said carefully.
Actually, he read to her over the mirror, but they weren't going to tell that to anyone now, were they?
"That's nice to hear. I will visit you before leaving here." Albus turned to the men. "How long will I be here?"
" You are in good shape for someone your age. All those stairs, good aerobics. Why don't we see how you are feeling day after tomorrow? I would plan to be here for at least two weeks, but I want to check the scans first. There is good news. There are several injured knights who would love just a short visit. It would make their day. How's your Italian? I can get you a potion."
**OO**
Dolores Umbridge was in fine voice, and demanding all of the muggleborn, um, mudblood records. Children, students, adults. Everything.
"We are going to start a commission. A Muggleborn commission to deal with the vermin once and for all. HEHEHEHEHEH." The high-pitched laugh sent minions scurrying to do her bidding and then get far, far away.
Every record fetched went into a strange box. Well, if that's how she wanted to file it. Dolores seemed very happy with the sheer number of records available.
"More, yes! Wonderful! HAHAHAHAHA!"
Cornelius Fudge came in to see what the fuss was, and she kissed him in front of everyone! Right on the mouth!
"Oh Corny! Our plans for the future are set! We're going to have such a wonderful honeymoon soon. I love you so much!"
She went to grab him for another kiss, but he scrambled out of the way, and out of the office.
"I knew that the pressure was too much for her. Vacation, yes. She needs a vacation after the last task. And one far, far away from here!"
She went back to cackling and compiling, the box never getting full.
Why would it? The other end was in a nearly empty classroom in Ecole Merlin that had a squad of eager third and fourth forms ready, willing, and able to file the paperwork in the alphabetized and waiting boxes.
The Harvest Dance would have nothing on what these young apprentices and squires performed. Not once stepping on toes, tripping, or missing a beat.
**OO**
Severus Snape awoke after a very long sleep in a private tent not quite in the Forbidden Forest, but nearly so.
A Daily Prophet was ripped in half, and a new Quibbler was carefully laid out next to a still warm breakfast.
A tired looking man walked in. It reminded him of someone long ago. Dark hair, grey eyes. Aristocratic nose and statue.
The baritone voice had no sneer now. "You remind me of a school friend. Some friend I was to him! I got him killed! I was rewarded with money to help fund my potions mastery while the boy went to an early grave. If you are a relative of Regulus Black, I want you to know that I am very sorry."
"Poor Regulus. Yes, he made some unwise choices, but I know from experience that the judges on the higher plane have mercy towards the young and foolish. And especially the repentant. You know that you will never teach in the castle again. If the Headmaster insists on you staying, this is as close as we can get you to the front door without pain"
"What?"
"Let's just call them new wards. They are actually old wards that have been renewed.
"I can't teach?" The man looked radiant. "This may break my contact early. I have to teach until Harry Potter passes his NEWTs. I still have three years."
"You are behind the times. He passed one of them a couple of years ago. He passed several this summer, in advance of his knighting. I don't know what the minimum number is, but he has left school and is a full knight. You are free."
"Free! Free! I need to get an elf to get my personal belongings out of the castle. Let's see. Who do I know and hate enough to get to replace me?"
"I'm happy to send someone from my school to take over your classes."
"You'll try and steal all of my best students."
"Of course! That is the entire reason! It couldn't be because I wanted to help! Or that there was still possible danger out in the world. And we need good potioneers." Monseigneur Brown narrowed his eyes. "Of course, you likely made an oath to Lily Evans. To fulfill it, you could come to the our school and do research. Do you know what we grow and harvest onsite? We have a cloister of nuns living there too. Unicorns come to the reserve to give birth. Blood, horns, hairs, all freely given! And that's just one of the types of animals in our reserve!"
It wasn't fair to the man to throw the sales pitch at him when he was still potioned and overcoming stun. And whatever prank Harry put in the man's coffee he was now drinking. But recruiting Snape to come to Ecole Merlin would likely be the prank of the century on the Boy-Who-Lived-to-Kill-His-Headmaster. Well, if this worked.
"Did you know him? Regulus?"
"There are things that I cannot say. A long time ago, I visited Hogwarts, and I did know your friend. I would not blame yourself for getting him to take the Dark Mark. Orion and Walburga were both followers. His cousin Bellatrix, his brother Sirius Black."
"Black was not marked. Oh, he was a murderer! Tried to murder me! But I never saw him in the Dark Lord's service, not once, no one crowed over his joining. No. Lucius wanted him in prison for his gold. Betrayed family for money."
"Peter Pettigrew turned on the Dark Lord last night. Helped save the world from two Dark Lord Voldemorts. Sirius Black somehow was involved in all this.
"But Black needs to face trial! He betrayed Lily."
"Yes, he needs a trial, but no, he didn't betray your friend. Sirius Black is many things, but was not the Potter secret keeper. He was questioned under veritaserum last night. There will be a trial at ICW in Paris if you would like to come. I think that you will be up on charges after one of the trials, but I can give you sanctuary if things go badly, or you can take an oath of being spy. I know that you protected Harry more than once when he was here before."
"What happened last night?"
"I need a vow that you are against the Dark Lord and will do all to aid us in bringing him down. We want to keep what happened quiet for a time.
"I will, but I also need to warn you that I will do everything to protect Lily's son." Severus intoned.
The headmaster gave a brief summary of the two dark lords, Peter's true side, and one more thing.
"You need to know that Draco Malfoy was arrested last night, and he wasn't alone. The Dark Lord was with him."
"Possession? But Dumbledore said he checked…no, he said he was going to. Somehow, I think he knew, blast him. We knew three years ago that it was possible! How did I not see it?"
"Arithmancy. The soul fragment is too small, and can go unnoticed if desired." Brown informed.
"Lucius will not be able to go to his son. He's wanted in France by the aurors. He'd be arrested." Snape surmised.
"No, he won't be able to go. But aren't you friends? Might he send you?" The headmaster guessed.
"Yes, yes we are. And I am the most logical choice. And being the boy's Head of House here at Hogwarts."
"I think that we need to make a few contingency plans in case he does ask you." Regulus stated.
"Keeping him in the dark for now will give us time." Snape advised. "And as I can't get into the castle, how would I know?"
The headmaster nodded sagely, and two very smart men, Slytherin to the core, began to plan the downfall of the Dark Lord.
**OO**
With the stronger wards on the safe house, Harry had been taken there after the happenings of the night before.
Knowing his godfather was safe in Paris was a huge relief, though he was still processing that his beloved Brother Paddy was alive. And somehow his godfather Sirius Black. Wow.
Harry had slept well, but he wasn't alone in the house. Charles checked in to see what was going to happen with the ICW trial.
It was not uncommon that the rare times a dark lord was captured, that they would be taken for trial by a neutral judiciary. Of course, this case was truly extraordinary.
Madam Delacour hadn't wanted to leave Hogwarts, and promised to be back as soon as she gave her testimony and saw if they needed her help. Seemed rather concerned over a missing ghost. Odd.
"Percy! Percy Weasley!" Sir Charles called quietly on the mirror.
"Good morning, Sir Hector. How can I help you?"
"Can you please floo to Hogsmeade? ASAP?"
"Of course. I'll be there shortly. The house, pub? I have to be back at Hogwarts no later than nine though."
"Let's get break our fast together. Three Broomsticks."
Charles told Harry not to leave unless Harry joined them, and went straight to the Three Broomsticks. The handsome dark-skinned knight left to meet Percy.
The knight wanted to know what if any of the reactions were up at the castle as the Dark Lord had been mostly banished, was mortal, and was in custody. But that really hadn't been witnessed by anyone there. There was one arrest. Well, technically two with Sirius taken in as well. Pettigrew shouldn't be tried again, as he had a trial. And it was under veritaserum.
Not that this was a normal incident. Capturing dark lords? Dark ladies? Standard. Possessed students, not so much.
It was the protective wards that would be the big news when it was discovered. Visiting professors, current staff. Who would be on the missing list?
Sir Romano, back in Rome, had a copy made of a picture from Harry was doing detention in the stables. He posted that picture on the wall near his desk. The Knight Commander had taken to conjuring darts at random and flinging them at said picture. The problem was that picture-Harry dodged nearly as fast as the real one, and the frustrated commander could never hit him!
The only odd thing was that the body of Dolores Umbridge had disappeared. The group responsible for Draco thought the other group had it and vice versa. But no one had been assigned it, so it fell through the cracks in all of the chaos. No one remember seeing it.
Concern had been expressed over what the twins would do with it if they found it, and that led back to what Harry would do with it as an apprentice.
It was a big castle, and would show up. Eventually. It wasn't like it could use the floo or anything. Right?
As it turned out, the news had not broken in the school, but no one knew how long that would last. None of the knights would say anything, and the twins were nearly apprentices themselves.
Charles turned the conversation to Percy's classes, and the young man took advantage of the opportunity to ask the knight for some advice.
Both clearly loved being educators, and had bonded a bit more.
Percy ate his meal neatly. All of the boys had nice manners. Sister Gisele would have approved.
The large public floo flared green, and two aurors stepped out. One saw red-hair and came over.
"Professor Weasley? With all of the trouble up at the school, I think you should head back." The large auror said, and sneered at Sir Hector.
"Trouble? What trouble is that good auror?" Sir Hector asked politely.
"I'd love to arrest you, but if you did it, you'd claim it publicly. Karkaroff is dead. Did the knights have a party last night and not invite anyone?"
Harry stalked in, and heard that last bit.
"Well, we wanted to invite you, but knew you wouldn't like the dress code. No Dark Marks allowed. You might want to let your partner go up to the school. You won't be allowed in, Dawlish."
"Potter! You are under arrest for the suspicion of murder!" The auror shouted, gaining the attention of everyone there.
"You know the rules, auror. You have to submit that warrant to the ICW. Since we're heading there later this morning, I would be glad to take you. I'll answer any questions you like under truth serum. How about it? One for one trade? Or how about this? I'll show you my mark if you show me yours.
Harry pulled his tunic, gasps of people around him who had heard of the Order's mark but had never seen one in person. No one had heard of gold wings before.
"I don't have time for your illusions and pranks, Potter. We know that you're behind this, and it won't stand."
"You're right. It won't stand. And I was behind it. I will see you in Paris, Dawlish. Sorry to disturb your meal, friends, but we have new orders. Please stay and finish while I run a quick errand. Percy, I hope that you relay my greetings to your younger siblings. I hope Charlie isn't mad at me about the Japanese demon-dragon. I do need to meet your mother someday. Allow me to pay for your meal at least."
Harry's request for an advance on his allowance had been denied, but the headmaster had given him a small bag of galleons for the unexpected expenses involved with the Tournament.
Harry dropped a few coins, ignoring the thanks of the lad behind the counter and made his way to Honeydukes. He bought a couple of variety baskets, and had one sent to Dumbledore that included his favorite lemon drops and ice mice.
He then double backed to pick up the now finished Sir Hector.
"Trouble in the City of Light?" Charles asked.
"I'm up on charges ranging from kidnapping to murder, why he didn't include littering and being a public menace, I don't know."
"Didn't you clean up after Buckbeak?" Sir Hector teased.
"Absolutely not! That's what apprentices and squires are for." Harry stated.
"I have taught you well."
"Thank you. I assumed that Percy flooed back?"
"The perks of being a professor." Charles smirked, as they schlepped back yet again. "Yes, did you know that Bill, the man that saved Fleur from the compromised door, also removed the DADA curse for Percy? He really likes teaching, and Sir Jerome helped him a lot. Dumbledore keeps telling him he doesn't need to do so much."
"That sounds about right." Harry opined. "Dumbledore isn't evil. He really wants to protect people."
"Yep. Protect the guilty, and let the innocent die." Sir Hector muttered, but they agreed that he had good intentions.
**OO**
"Neville? Are you okay? I mean, I know you were going to donate the manor and all to the Order. It won't matter about your own path. You don't need to donate a certain amount, you know."
His mentor was back from Paris and looked tired. Neville had been working in the greenhouses so much with Daphne that he had barely seen anyone else.
His lips betrayed that he might have been doing more than talking with his betrothed.
"I know, Rock. That's not it. Harry's mirror call was a mess. Brother Paddy is alive and getting a trial and somehow morphed into a dead, but alive again Sirius Black? I thought it was cats that had nine lives, not dogs."
Chatham chucked at the joke. Neville had tried and failed at being an animagus. Well, not true. Rock was one of the few who knew about it and he was sworn to secrecy. Neville's form was a slug. A leopard slug, black and orange, kinda cute in a slimy way. Its mucus was good in a variety of potions, and was low risk to agriculture, well, according to the journeyman Herbologist.
Neville just didn't feel it was a useful form. Not like being a niffler or a hippogriff.
"You had planned on keeping the greenhouses at Rose Hill. Moving them to Ecole Merlin though. What now?"
The boy looked at his mentor with a wicked grin. Rock had seen that look one too many times, usually before a dunking or someone turning orange or pink, or some chaos of some kind.
"Neville Longbottom! Tell me that you did not pull a prank here! We aren't welcome in Britain."
The boy lost his smile for a minute, and became serious. "I was never welcome here. Not ever, except when I was a baby. I can't tell you; I can't tell anyone because I don't know what exactly is going on. But I think that my godbrother is going to pull a massive prank. On the wizarding world.
"Can you give me a hint?" Rock begged.
"Maybe."
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