Bab 28: Chaper 28
The next morning Harry woke up at about eight and had a leisurely bath and then wearing clean clothes, the elves had already unpacked everything and had put them away neatly he noticed and went down to say good morning to his parents and Sirius and to have his breakfast.
He found his parents waiting for some one to come and read out the articles in the Quibbler. All the three faces brightened when they saw Harry.
"Happy birthday Harry! Did you sleep well son?" James asked him bringing a delightful smile to Harry's face. His mother and Sirius shouted birthday greetings to him as well.
Harry nodded and turned to smile his thanks to his mother and Sirius. "Take the Quibbler Harry and be sure to buy The Daily Prophet evening edition. We will know the reactions then." Sirius told him, gesturing wildly at the rolled up newspaper.
Harry laughed and opened the paper when Snape who had come down along with Hermione and Remus, all wished him a happy birthday and Snape snatched the paper neatly from Harry's hands.
"Thanks, Hey!" Harry shouted in protest and pouted when Snape merely smirked at him.
"Okay, at least read it Sev." Harry whined as he held Hermione's hand and dragged her to him.
"Okay little baby wait." Snape held the paper and whistled softly impressed. "I will get a call from my Lord very soon. Hear to this."
"THE MESSAGE FROM THE CHOSEN ONE – HARRY POTTER --- Below paragraph 3
He Who Must Not Be Named Is A SHAM!
New evidence has come in that Voldemort is nothing but a sham, a fraud and a fake. He does not have his own bones, flesh or blood. Then in what way is this creature calling itself the Dark Lord demanding blood purity in the Wizarding World and asking for the lives of all those whom it has the nerve to say is not pure.
This thing that goes by the name of Voldemort is worse than a muggle as it has been resurrected by the contributions of three persons of whom one is dead, one is a traitor and one is a boy who has been saving the worthless hide of the thankless Wizarding World time and again.
The creature owes a blood and a life debt to the boy who has been betrayed by his own and has been treated by a pawn by the Wizarding World, Harry Potter. How will this creature fulfill the debt to this boy? This creature has no magical sense or respect for our traditions because this thing called Voldemort says it will kill the boy who gave it blood even though forcibly taken, to resurrect.
How can this creature take the pure bloods to the pinnacle of glory as it has been claiming when it cannot even recognize a blood and a life debt is what this editor wants to know?"
There was an awed silence as all of them heard the note Snape had read.
Below were the articles Harry had given with a lot of pictures, only the heavens knew from where Luna's dad had got it. The pictures showed gory killings with small captions that said, 'this creature defiling our world' 'mad, mad and mad again' 'insane maniac on the rampage' and many others making all this highly believable.
Harry had smiled a good morning at Hermione and Remus before looking over one shoulder and Hermione reading from the other shoulder of Snape.
Mr. Lovegood had below his incredible introduction printed Harry's article as the message from the Chosen One first, with James's article next, the story of Riddle third, complied from the Diaries of Regulus Black and the research article by Hermione Jane Granger fourth.
"Dad your article has come out good. It is as you said and Mr. Lovegood has already started the speculations." Harry told him with a huge grin. James nodded and grinned back.
"We had so much fun as we wrote it Harry and don't snort Snape, you might choke a windpipe. That is a pretty poor way to kick off my good man." James added as he heard Snape snort at him.
Harry gaped at his father, "What, one can die if you snort? I never knew that."
"You never knew that because that is so silly, stupid and well whatever. Potter! Don't confuse Harry. He has an important meeting with Albus, have you forgotten?" Snape demanded a little irritated.
Potter and Black were already laughing insanely and he had not even had his cup of tea. This was too bad.
Harry rolled his eyes and Hermione rolled her eyes and sniffed very disapprovingly at them and then catching Harry's hand she dragged him into the dining room.
"We have so much to do and those two are giggling this early in the morning. Really!" she huffed to an obedient Harry who did not dare tell her he quite enjoyed it. Snape came striding in and sat down.
"How was yesterday night Sev?" Harry asked him softly.
"Bad." He replied shortly. Harry's heart dipped and his happiness dimmed.
Snape looked up from the paper and saw his expression and his face softened.
"You must be prepared for a tougher fight than what I faced last night Harry. Don't lose heart child."
"How many more must die before I am able to kill him Snape? What if he creates so much damage that the winning does not matter anymore?" Harry asked him scared.
"That will never be Harry. This stuff in the paper today is one of the strongest attacks against the Dark Lord at any given time. How many are the death eaters Harry? Not very many and we already have the more important and powerful ones with us. Then why has he not been defeated by now you may ask. The answer is no one has come forward until now to do what you have. Fight.
"Everyone until now has been defending themselves when the fight came to them, but how many have gone out of their way to fight? No one Harry. That was why we lost and he gained power. Not anymore. You will see for your self believe me." Snape told him firmly assuaging Harry's fears a little.
Harry and Hermione' chatted throughout the meal and Remus joined them halfway smiling about something. He had become younger by more than ten years in the one day he had spent with James and Sirius. Remus and Snape discussed the paper while Harry and Hermione discussed the other Slytherins.
"I hope they will be able to manage Harry, I feel pretty worried. What do you say?"
Harry nodded. "If they can manage fine Hermione, if they cannot, well I am planning to ask them to come to Grimmauld Place, and give them shelter. That is what I promised them after all. They cannot and need not go gallivanting around every night in a try to kill or get killed scenario."
Hermione nodded her head in agreement and then they moved on to Dumbledore whom they would be meeting at lunch time when Snape's mark began to burn.
Snape hurriedly de-scented himself and also the Quibbler and then apparated to Voldemort's hideout pushing the paper into his robes.
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At the Malfoy Manor
Draco could not sleep. He would receive the Quibbler and he was trembling with anxiety, anticipation and a good amount of terror. He wondered about the discussion and speculation the Quibbler would unleash tomorrow in the Wizarding World at large and he would know whether Voldemort would fall for the articles, especially the one written by James and Sirius.
Draco had been very impressed. The whole article sounded and looked very silly with its exclamation marks and loudness, but he knew that that would be the news item that would get the maximum attention. James had called for the sacking of Dumbledore as Headmaster and by doing so he had made it clear that Harry would fight both Voldemort and Dumbledore.
That was an impressive statement and while James and Sirius had mocked and made fun, they had three statements that described their stance. One was their take on the ministry, the other on Dumbledore and the last was the truly brilliant one that would cause all the confusion as everyone would be wondering about the life debt they insisted Voldemort owed to their son.
Harry had, that night written to all the Slytherins for the first time on the parchment. He had written all their names and told them he would be sending free Quibbler copies only to the sixth years and they should read it and immediately run to their fathers with it. Nott should call Lucius Malfoy and shake with fear as he showed him the paper.
Draco had the parchment with him and he had read it for the umpteenth time now. he read it again one last time before he erased it and waited for the Quibbler.
Hello,
I turn seventeen tomorrow and I am so glad all of you are alive. I have from today, a day before I become an adult in the Wizarding World started taking steps to fight this war and try to do my little bit to end it as quickly as possible.
Tomorrow, I have asked for copies of the Quibbler, yes the magazine run fortnightly by Luna's dad, only he has promised me he would print it twice a week and give me as much space as I need to write against Voldemort.
I will not spoil the surprise that you will receive tomorrow, but I will tell you one thing. It will be a total shock and you will agree with me that I have created so much chaos that you would not have believed it possible.
I am at my home and I have the portraits of my parents and Sirius Black who was my Godfather with me. They too, have written an article for the paper and that is the one that will cause most damage. They are brilliant after all.
I have sent complimentary copies of the paper to Amelia Bones and Brian Wheeler in the Ministry and have made sure they will receive it earlier than you so that they will be in a position to take action and also to all members of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore. They will have the shock of their lives and so will the death eaters who work in the Ministry of Magic.
Please stay alert and remember if any time anything gets a bit too much for you, all you have to do is write on the parchment and apparate to a hidden location the name and the secret of which I will inform you in a few days and I will take care of you until the war is over and allow you to live your life in peace later.
WATCH OUT FOR TOMORROW!!!!!!
Harry
Naturally that note put all the Slytherins on the edge and most of them after they returned tired from the raids were nervously writing each other wondering just what Harry had done.
Draco, Pansy and Blaise also wondered with all of them but as they spoke to each other through their earrings they were shivering more in anticipation than the anxiety of the unknown.
The next morning all of them received the Quibbler and all of them almost fainted in shock. Draco was gaping at the introduction Mr. Lovegood had written and he and Luna went up sky high in his opinion and his respect for them increased to unbelievable levels.
He read the paper and found all the articles printed very nicely and the bold letters here and there making it more interesting for the reader. He had also attached a lot of pictures and Draco trembled a bit and then went down resolutely to the dining room where his parents were having their breakfast.
"Father." Draco called softly from the door, looking terrified and sweat on his forehead and his feet shuffling and his eyes looking very wide and fear dancing in them.
Lucius was about to snap at Draco but as he took in the terror in his eyes, Lucius Malfoy frowned. Draco was getting to be a very good death eater, someone the Dark Lord would be proud of. He would surely get into the Inner Circle very soon. So this trembling boy was raising all kinds of concern in Lucius mind.
"Come in Draco. What is the matter?" he asked just as softly.
Narcissa was watching all this but had to speak a word yet, though her eyes revealed the high alert he mind was at this moment.
Draco for his part just held out his hand with the Quibbler. Lucius now frowned and took the paper and opened it. At the very top were the words 'with best compliments – Harry Potter'
And then Lucius stopped breathing. He had read the Headlines. His eyes widened unbelievably. He stood up abruptly and moved a step and then he just crashed into his chair but fell down to the floor as he had moved away slightly from his chair in shock.
He was not aware of crashing on the floor or sitting down on the floor where he had fallen as he continued to read. He read the introduction note from Lovegood, the articles from Harry and gasped when Harry had challenged him to walk with the sleeve of his left hand pushed up. He read about Harry Potter's take on the Ministry and Dumbledore and cursed.
Then he read the article by James Potter and Sirius Black and he almost fainted. A life debt, Potter would ask for the Lord's life and he would have to fulfill the debt or die? What was happening?
Lucius Malfoy felt his world come crashing down. He could feel it, see it. This was the end of his influence in the Ministry. Rookwood, Avery and McNair would also not be able to walk freely in the Wizarding World from now on. Lucius Malfoy gritted his teeth. All of them were in a space of one day were reduced to being fugitives from the Ministry of Magic.
Then another thought came to him and Lucius Malfoy fainted as his concerned son and wife looked on. Draco was triumphant inside as he fearfully enervated his father.
"Father?" he asked in concern and fear.
"Who will inform our Lord Draco?" Lucius asked him, his voice trembling with so much fear. Draco was trembling too. That was the point. Whoever did would be killed on the spot. Lucius Malfoy slowly got up and went into the living room and asked Draco to call Bellatrix, Rudolphus and Arran at once.
Draco ran to the fire and called his aunt, uncle and cousin.
"Aunt Bella?" Draco shouted into the fire. "Uncle, Arran, Ria." He bellowed and a minute later all of them came running into the room.
"What is it Draco?" Bellatrix asked him in concern. It was way too early for Draco to be here with such urgency and she was worried. Arran and Ria were looking concerned but their eyes gave them away. Their eyes were bright with anticipation.
"Father is asking all of you come over right now. There is a crisis here that is terrible aunt Bella." Draco told her his eyes wide and terrified.
"Draco!" a voice shouted behind Draco. "Are they coming or not?"
"Move over Draco, we are coming in." Bellatrix answered and the moment Draco withdrew his head, all of them stepped in.
A minute after they stepped in the fire glowed green again and a shaking Nott came in with a newspaper in his hand.
Bellatrix stepped into the room to find a visibly tense Narcissa. She had never seen this Narcissa tense ever. Not even on the day Draco had taken the mark. Her sister kept her feelings remarkably to herself. Today she was reading over Lucius's shoulder and visibly wringing her hands.
Lucius was reading the rag that was not even fit to be used as toilet paper called the Quibbler. Why that should upset him so much she could not imagine. Yet upset he was, upset enough to call in the whole family for support.
That was when Nott had come in with the same paper clutched in his hands and Bellatrix was now slightly fearful. Had they printed some other capture of the Inner Circle?
She looked at Lucius who had not even got up to greet her and Rudolphus and a small ball of fear clutched her heart. She turned to Nott and grabbed the paper from him.
She read the headlines and gasped. Rudolphus had now taken the other paper from Lucius's nerveless hands and was reading it. He went pale as did Bellatrix who was now reading the introduction and her eyes read the articles carefully with Arran standing at her shoulder and Ria reading with her uncle.
Ten minutes later Bellatrix collapsed on the floor spluttering with disbelief and horror. Rudolphus slumped next to Lucius and Arran was still reading and he was amazed at the introduction Mr. Lovegood had written. It was brilliant.
"What is this Lucius? How did you get hold of this, this, this thing?" Bellatrix asked him sharply.
"I received it aunt Bellatrix." Draco told her faintly.
"I received a copy too." Nott trembled.
"Who will tell our Lord? We had better take this to him soon, before he learns of this from elsewhere." Arran told them.
Bellatrix squealed and Lucius changed from pale to ashen.
"He will kill us Arran." She said.
"Mother he will do worse than kill you if he realizes that Draco had received a copy and uncle had not seen it fit to bring it to his notice. The fact you knew as well, you know out Lord would take it as a betrayal. This way he may get angry but he will not doubt us surely."
Bellatrix sighed and then shivered with fear.
"You are right as usual Arran. That is what we will do. But we will go together. Come on. How did the blasted boy get the information to write all this? The traitor Regulus." Bellatrix's voice turned very hateful.
"And is there any truth in what the articles say?" Lucius asked in a very low voice. "Oh Bellatrix, the damage these articles would do. Potter had declared war, Bellatrix. He had in effect told the world that he does not agree with the Ministry, us and Dumbledore and has dumped us all together and has opened a portal to a new side, a new life. I am very scared. I cannot walk the streets as a free man any more and I have become a fugitive Bellatrix." Lucius put his head in his hands.
His world had come crashing down in one day. His life had placed him upside down and created so much chaos all by one paragraph in one news article.
"All the spies in the Ministry will be on the run from today or will be captured by the aurors. We have lost our foothold in the Ministry and maybe in the Wizarding World as well." Rudolphus said and all of them looked at each other in terror as they contemplated what four articles had done to all of them.
"Bloody James Potter. Trouble when he was alive and trouble when dead and his son's worse. Why cannot he die and leave us in peace I have no idea." Bellatrix said very bitterly and they prepared to leave.
Lucius was trembling and in fact so were the others. They had already lingered as much as they could and as Arran said they should tell their Lord before he come to know they knew and had delayed telling him.
Nott had been very quiet and had very intently listened to every thing there standing beside Draco. He could also see Draco listening to everything the same way as he was.
He was very glad he had chosen to change sides. Harry had just by three pages in a rag that no one read had put so much fear and the articles by themselves were so frightening and he was very glad Harry had already arranged alternate plans for them in case things got tough.
They were about to apparate when the fire turned green and almost all the sixth years with their parents came in with the Quibbler clutched in their hands, all of them wearing terrified expressions on their faces and looking relieved when they saw not only the Malfoys but the Lestranges there.
Bellatrix took one look at them and realized Potter had sent the Quibbler to all the sixth year Slytherins and she simply fumed but the damage was done. Many of them were looking scared but also there were the doubts in their eyes and Bellatrix cursed to her self. Boot was not there so he had not got the Quibbler she supposed.
He was not in Slytherin and Potter had sent complimentary copies to the Slytherins and they had rushed here not wanting to go alone. Well this would help them as well Bellatrix thought and she clapped her hands, not that anyone was talking, they had seen the Quibbler in her hands and they had not asked a single question.
"We need to go to the Dark Lord and show him this trash and let him punish those who had the foolishness to write all this rubbish about him." She said with determination and watched all of them but no one was convinced and she realized this was a bigger thing than she had thought initially.
The fact this was coming from Potter's mouth made it more believable somehow. Why she did not know as the boy had not even finished his school, but it had an impact; of that there was no doubt. She cursed to herself again and crisply told everyone to apparate to the Lord's Manor and let him deal with this himself.
Choosing Harry was the best thing he did Nott thought as he apparated with Draco, both of them looking at each other and the other sixth years that were there meaningfully.
All of them apparated to Voldemort's Manor and looking at each other went in.
Voldemort was in the library, the elf that came there at Bellatrix's snap of her fingers, told her.
"Please inform the Master that many of us have come to meet him and we have some news with us." Bellatrix told the elf formally.
The elf popped out and Voldemort came striding out and stopped when he saw so many people and frowned. He saw Bellatrix clutching a newspaper with her and he silently held out his hand.
He noticed the way her hand shook when she came forward to hand it to him and he wondered what it could be.
He took the paper and he saw that all of them move a step backwards, including Bellatrix and Lucius was trembling. Voldemort had a very bad feeling about this and he quickly opened the paper and hissed in anger.
He read the articles very quickly and then paused and read them slowly again and then looked up, his red eyes flashing never a good sign. "Bella!" he shouted.
Bellatrix came running and he grabbed her left forearm and pressed the mark. In about five minutes death eaters started trickling in. All those who had no information simply looked alert. After all until now no one really bothered to buy the Quibbler. This day would change all that.
There was no sign of Rookwood, McNair and Avery who worked in the Ministry as well as three other death eaters who worked in lowly positions. Snape had already come and for that Voldemort was a bit relieved.
Voldemort waited for a few minutes more and when it looked they would not come he turned to look around at everyone present.
Surprisingly he did not shout or curse. The articles had shaken him far more than one would have thought. He was not bothered about his life story though his status as a half blood was now being brandished about, but Potter's message calling out to all wizards, an open invitation for everyone to fight him and Dumbledore was impressive and a little frightening, though Voldemort hated to admit that even to himself.
The article that would do the most damage was the one written by the dead James Potter. Voldemort fumed. He could already see the doubts in the minds of all of them standing here and he knew apart from his Inner Circle, it would not take much for the rest of the rats to leave if they thought Voldemort was a sinking ship.
He decided when he read slowly the second time; he had to find the truth of this for himself as well. Why did he not listen to the rat and resurrect himself with someone else's blood? That would have caused no complication. Now the whole of the Wizarding World would discuss and debate this and he would have to research this and tell everyone that there was no life debt.
For if there was Voldemort knew he had already lost the war. He would not be able to fight Potter head on and kill him. The next moment he would die because the debt had already been called for. That was what slowed him and stopped him from indiscriminate cursing and yelling.
He had been pacing the room continuously thinking hard. He had to take a few steps back, before he could move forward again. He fumed at that. He read the articles again and then looked at all of them. He wanted to shout and curse and even kill a few of these stupid people here but he restrained himself.
He went to his chair and forced him self to sit down calmly and look unconcerned. He stared at Snape and spoke to him.
"What is happening here and Severus do you have any news? Did Dumbledore say anything? The boy seems to be against him as well. Why?" Voldemort addressed his first question to Snape.
"Master the fool has called an Order meeting today at lunch. He called for one yesterday but I was not there as I was away attacking. Today he will tell me why the bloody Potter boy has been saying all this? Apparently Master the boy has sent complimentary copies to everyone in the Order and also to a few in the Ministry."
"Why has he not named you Severus?" Voldemort asked him softly the question loaded and very deceptive.
"Master the blasted boy believes I am the spy for the stupid Dumbledore. He apparently accused me of being a death eater last year after the blood traitor fell into the veil at the Department of Mysteries. It was the Headmaster who assured him that I am not one. He told me that even though Dumbledore believed me he would not at the time." Snape spoke smoothly and without hesitation and even slightly triumphant.
Voldemort was silent for some time contemplating and then he nodded.
"Well go there today and find out why the boy spoke against Dumbledore and get me the news about where the boy is right now. Go Severus and all of you. Harry Potter has just signed his death warrant by speaking like this. There is no life debt and there is no unjust killing. There is only the war we are fighting against the Wizarding World to secure it only for the pure bloods."
"Master." Lucius Malfoy spoke softly.
"Speak Lucius."
"Master Rookwood and the others have not come. That would mean that they have been captured and imprisoned. Potter has also taken my name. I will not be able to go to the Ministry and do my Lord's work anymore, for if I step into the Ministry, I will be arrested."
"Stay in hiding for the moment Lucius and spread the word you are ill. We will take care of this later. I need to think for a while on all this."
Snape stepped forward and bowed down.
"Speak Severus."
"Master if I may say so. Now that Lucius has this problem, I am afraid I too will be checked the moment I step into Hogwarts. But our hopes lie only there. Potter seems to have taken on everyone really. If he is fighting against Dumbledore, then who are his allies? He cannot fight with one werewolf and three portraits and a mudblood. The others are not as they are in the Order and there is no name of Ronald Weasley here."
Voldemort nodded impressed with Snape's reasoning. He was so shocked by the articles that held far too much information and he did not know how to deal with it. And now to top it all, he had lost all his spies in the Ministry of Magic as well. He looked at Snape who was speaking again.
"Master I am going to suggest something that you may even kill me for but in the light of what had been written about us I feel this is for the best. May I continue Master?"
"Yes." The one word came as a whiplash.
"I feel we should continue our attacks on the muggles for now, though we should leave all the magical people alone. When School reopens, that is the moment I leave for School I will be checked and so will all our children.
"If you could change the place of the mark from our left forearm to a place that no one will think of looking and also hide it in such a manner that it will escape detection, we will still get our summons but will be able to walk freely unlike Lucius who will also be tested under veritaserum, none of the children will be. I will say that Master removed the mark because he wanted me to spy for him and say I am of course not loyal to the Dark Lord but to Dumbledore.
"Once in School, all of us will try our best to bring at any cost the boy by this year end. If we fail he will walk away from the School and then it will be impossible to catch him, especially if he is against Dumbledore as well. He would hide by himself and would be impossible to reach. Until then we have time and I am sure we can do this."
Voldemort thought very hard. What Snape said made a lot of sense. If Snape had wanted to remove the marks then he would have been suspicious but this was brilliant.
Snape bowed low once again. "Speak." Voldemort ordered him.
"Before we get Potter here my Lord, we should," Snape stopped and bowed low once again, "We should research on the life debt that the boy's father is calling for. We should be perfectly clear on that my Lord." He finished in a low tone.
The others gasped and Voldemort scowled, "Explain Severus." He hissed in warning.
"Master for us to be on top and also win we will have to answer any questions that may arise. Unfortunately the first questions are tough ones. But it is a good thing because, once we get this out of the way, there is nothing to stop us. We could research this and also the link that our Lord shares with him and we should solve it this summer before us; that is, the other children and I go back to Hogwarts.
"The moment we have the answers, we somehow by hook or crook bring Potter to you because after that there will be no need for any pretense whatsoever. Once with Potter gone and Dumbledore's image tarnished we will win. We have to, there cannot be another way. We could get the mudblood and even have a spot of torture before we kill her and then the boy.
"Master, we must allow Potter to attack Dumbledore. He is doing a great job and I think we should allow the infighting to take place on a grand scale. Once Dumbledore's dirty linen has been washed in public, and the people's faith in the Ministry totally gone, thanks to Potter again, then we move."
There was a deathly silence when Snape finished. No one spoke for almost ten minutes and Snape was bending down and after what seemed an eternity Voldemort spoke softly.
"You are indeed my man Severus. Your reasoning and analysis is brilliant." He smiled and looked at the others. "What do you all have to say?" he asked.
"I think Master we should do as Snape says but we should stop the attacks and start giving our story to the people and tell them Harry Potter is so very wrong and all we have is the good of the Wizarding World at large. Those who have been killed on our side and theirs are the causalities of war and they should be treated only in that light." Arran spoke up.
Voldemort turned to look at Arran. He smiled and nodded. "It is a good plan Arran. Bellatrix, all of you in the Inner and the Outer circle start preparing the articles right away.
"Come forward Severus and I will change the mark for you right now and also for the others so that they may not get caught. I will change it for every one, including Lucius. Come and we will also think about retaliation."
"We could use The Daily Prophet and give them our version of everything. We can try and prepare articles to that effect and send it with a compulsion charm and make them print it." Arran said and Voldemort who was changing the mark nodded.
"The Inner and Outer Circle please attend to it. I will check those articles tomorrow. You need not stay Severus. I want you to be with Dumbledore and get me as much information as you can."
Arran, Ria, Draco and everyone had their marks moved to high on their thigh. Lucius was the most relieved and Snape looked in wonder at his hand and the others too looked at their unblemished hand in strange fascination.
Nott was thrilled. Snape had done them a world of good, though unknowingly he thought with glee.
Voldemort dismissed all of them except the Inner Circle and sat down with them to talk about this. The rest scuttled away happily. Before they left Voldemort gave them their warning.
"All of you, no more attacks. Live life as normally as you can. Until I call you I want no one to be caught in any activity that will make the Ministry check up on you."
All of them bowed and went away very relieved and in Nott's and the other Slytherins case very happy and astounded. In one day Potter had done the impossible. He had stopped the attacks and the killing and had removed their marks from their left forearm. Voldemort had also added a Parsel spell to hide it from normal detection spells.
Lucius was most relieved by that. He had not realized how much it would hurt him to stay as a fugitive until this morning and he was the most relieved he would be able to walk about a free man, though he was going to remain in hiding until the furor over the articles died down and they got in their own articles.
Harry had in a space of one day stopped all attacks until future notice. Voldemort had been so shocked and taken aback, he had behaved almost humanly.
The reason for that was he had been astounded by the articles and had been unable to counter it off the top of his hairless head. He had looked around and was able to see their thoughts which were confusing and fearful. That had prompted him to stop, think, evaluate and act instead of simply shouting at all of them to get out and continue what they were doing.
Potter had raised points of value and had the audacity to lump him, the Ministry and Dumbledore together, declaring war on all of them. The most important point was who was aiding him. As Snape rightly said, you cannot fight with one werewolf, one mudblood and three portraits. And the Lovegoods. He must not forget them. They too, were with Potter. But the Weasleys weren't. There was something to be explored there.
Potter had also made a damaging statement about agreeing with him on keeping their world secret. He was baffled about that because he knew Granger was with him in this and she has apparently supported him in this stance of his. He had to do something to nullify that before all the purebloods would leave him and move over to Potter because he was against Dumbledore as well.
That was why he had given them a break against the killing. He needed time to think up a good strategy that would make him get the upper hand. He turned to go to the library where all his Inner Circle and Outer Circle members except Snape followed him and they started working on the counter articles.
Arran, Ria and the other three apparated straight to Godric's Hollow with Snape and they had a loud laughing, dancing and singing session there. They told the portraits, Harry, Hermione, Remus were there at Godric's Hollow and the others who were at Grimmauld Place who were listening though could not talk back about what had happened at Voldemort's lair and showed off their clean forearms with joy.
All of them were amazed at the restraint Voldemort showed and James hit the nail on the head when he whopped along with Sirius and said, "That is so contrary to Voldemort's natural behavior and nature, it shows he is scared. What the hell Snape! He has changed all your marks. That apart from anything else shows his desperation I think."
Snape nodded. "I wanted him to do that and he has sealed the marks by his magic so that no one would be able to detect it Potter. This will help me with Albus if he gently threatens me with Azkaban and orders me to do his bidding."
"Hell Severus that is brilliant! We never thought of that." Arran exclaimed.
"Yes and that is why we must make sure we never reveal the new place of our marks to anyone else." Snape told them seriously.
That was when Hermione was already working on the next article saw the words appear on Harry's parchment.
"Thank you Potter." Was all it said and the names of the Slytherins were signed at the bottom. Harry grinned and wrote down saying he would soon contact them for a meeting and there they would decide the next course of action.
On that note Harry and the others sat down to have an early lunch and then Snape, Hermione and Harry left for Grimmauld Place taking a small empty shrunken down pensieve with him.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone