Friday 8th August 1997
The people in Diagon Alley all stopped what they were doing to stare at the young couple who had just left Gringotts and were slowly making their way along the alley, had there been any muggle borns present they wouldn't have needed Ennio Morricone's soundtrack or rolling tumbleweeds to recognise a Clint Eastwood spaghetti western when they saw one. Just like in the movies the public all stood back and waited to see what was going to happen next while at the same time making sure they had something to hide behind when death came a' calling.
It was the fact that they weren't strutting like the pureblood peacocks or trying to be invisible like the rest of them that drew your attention, here was a couple who strolled down the centre of the alley as if they had a perfect right to do so and appeared ready to defend that right in an instant.
A very recognisable voice was being broadcast into the couples right ears, "Ok guys, we got you covered, Hermione you take care of your husband's cute arse for me. Draco and Susan be careful and get the hell out of Dodge if Voldemort makes an appearance."
"Hey cuz, don't I have a cute arse?" Draco asked.
Susan butted in, "Yes you do and don't worry because I'm watching it for you."
"Oh great, does that mean that I'm the only guy that doesn't have a cute butt?" bemoaned Neville.
Hanna's answer was again heard by all seven of them, "Nev you've got a great butt honey but I can't think about that and concentrate where my bullets are supposed to go at the same time."
Nym was smiling at their usual banter before a mission kicked off and even though this was their biggest to date she was pleased that they were still relaxed enough to joke around.
All that changed when Harry's voice came over their earpieces, "Aw shit, SNAFU. Hermione's about to pull a wicked witch on us and somebody's going to feel as if a house just dropped on them."
Nym spied what he was talking about, "Ok the situation is unavoidable but why did the dipstick have to pick today to make an appearance? Draco you and Susan are going to have to use your best judgement as the plan just went AWOL."
Hermione had never been so angry, walking towards them was the unmistakeable figure of Ron Weasley but it was the two partially clothed, collar wearing teenage girls who he was pulling along behind him that had her temper at previously unrecorded levels.
The arrogance in this arsehole's manner as he strolled towards them screamed confidence in a system that informed the world that he was among the elite of British wizarding and everything was his for the taking.
Ron's eyes were wide with surprise at who was walking towards him and just how bloody hot Hermione looked, "Well if it isn't my former friends, long time no see but then a lot has changed since we last met."
The sneer on his face was pure evil and the authority contained in his voiced command brokered no argument, "I'm evoking pureblood law so you mudblood can get down on your knees and attend to my needs now, the half blood can have the pleasure of watching."
Hermione licked her lips and used a breathless tone of voice that was dripping with sarcasm, "Oh Ronald you have such a masterful way with words and are just about to make this girl's dreams come true, I'm so glad you're allowing Harry to watch."
The fact that he might be in extreme danger never entered Ron's tiny mind as he stood proudly with an expectant smile on his face, his revenge would be sweeter than anything he could have imagined. The three soft pops couldn't have been heard more than six feet away but the redhead's horrific screams reverberated the entire length of the alley.
Ron's eyes were now even wider but this time in terror as both hands held tightly to the bleeding mess that was once his groin, "How was it for you Ronald? I'm so glad you chose me to be your last, now if you can manage not to lose too much blood you may just survive though thankfully no woman will ever have to be troubled by you again."
Hermione's microphone had picked up and broadcast every word Ron uttered so it was no surprise when Nym's voice came through loud and clear, "You go girl! Shoot the bastard one more time for me."
A stunned Draco could be heard over their earpieces, "Did Hermione just shoot Ron Weasley's wedding tackle off and I missed it?"
It was a slightly shaken Harry who replied, "Trust me on this one guys, not a sight you ever want to see."
Ron was now whining and crying on the ground when Hermione turned her attention to the two girls, "Get those collars off now! No one should ever have to be subservient to a shithead like this."
Hermione got no arguments from either girl and the younger one actually threw it at Ron before regaining some courage and kicked the crying pureblood, this appeared to be a brilliant idea to her fellow slave who couldn't wait to join in the fun.
"Two bad guys inbound from your right," was broadcast as the Potters turned to face what now passed for aurors in Britain, NEWT's were no longer an employee requirement but the dark mark was.
Before the aurors got too close the cry of 'Liberty' and 'Potter' was heard from the crowd as the couple had been recognised, the two death eaters by another name turned and attempted to flee but just about everyone present who carried a wand fired a spell at them as the ordinary witches and wizards of Britain began to fight back.
The crowd fell upon them kicking and punching both to death with Ron Weasley quickly meeting the same fate, four other unfortunate purebloods who were 'walking their pets' in the alley were slaughtered where they stood with the girls being set free.
"Well that was unexpected," voiced Nym with the understatement of the year. "Draco and Susan, things should be getting pretty hectic your end any time soon but it's still your call. You do not have permission to get yourselves injured so don't go upsetting me."
Things were getting hectic in the alley as the potters were being mobbed with well wishers and Nym was beginning to get worried, "Harry we may have to pull out, at the moment we can't protect you because there are a lot of innocent people crowding around you both."
Draco cut in, "Panic button being pressed here, this place is emptying quicker than Nev's pockets on poker night so expect imminent large contingent of incoming bad guys."
Harry answered back, "Nym we can't back out now, this is snowballing and my gut is telling me to go with it."
"Your gut is telling you never to let your wife do the cooking ever again, Sophie can sure pick the times to go into labour. Ok Harry your call but would recommend taking command of the situation down there immediately or we could have a bloodbath on our hands, these bastards will shoot at anything and at the moment your presenting them with a pretty big target."
Harry fired a cannon blast from his wand to get there attention, "Listen carefully because we don't have much time, here's what I want you to do."
-oOoOo-
Draco watched as panic reigned with the news that Diagon Alley was under attack with spell use off the scale, when a terrified pureblood floo'd confirmation that it was Potter then a flock of headless chickens would have been better organised.
"Ok love, now it's our turn." Draco and Susan were putting there goblin stealth training to good use as they ghosted through the ministry towards their target, with the addition of the American aurors communications system combined with the required silencing bubble over their mouths then they were invisible and silent while still being able to talk and listen to the entire group.
They reached their destination just as a worried looking wizard came barging out the room clutching a piece of parchment, Susan was able to jam her foot in the closing door as they started removing equipment from their belts. Neither liked this part as the people in this room were probably not murderers but they relentlessly pointed the people who were towards their targets, this is what had cost Aunt Amelia her eye and was capturing every young muggle born in the country, Susan was determined that after today no one else would get caught in their web.
It was basic, it was brutal, it was devastatingly effective as they pushed open the door, chucked in a couple of bombs before closing and sealing the exit then running like the clappers down the corridor before the 'whump' was felt throughout the entire ministry building.
Draco and Susan made it out the building mere meters in front of the rolling dust cloud that would have highlighted the invisible duo as effectively as New York neon.
The bombs had been especially designed and built by the Americans for this specific task and worked on two levels, the first was obvious in that the contents and occupants would be rendered into paste. The second level though had sent a massive pulse out over the net destroying ever magical sensor in the British Isles, Liberty had just taken away Voldemort's biggest weapon and left him blind to any magic being performed in the country.
-oOoOo-
The Potter's watched as about thirty of Voldemort's aurors made their way slowly down the alley towards the lone couple, they all heard Susan proclaim "Elvis has left the building!" which should have been the signal for them to pull out and celebrate the complete success of their most daring mission to date. Draw people away from the ministry then blow the magical net to smithereens looked a good plan on paper but that had went to hell in a handbasket as soon as the wizarding public had joined in, should they withdraw now then those people would be publicly tortured to death as a warning to others. They heard Nym scream at Draco and Susan to get their arses to Gringotts as they needed back-up but the Potters never took their eyes off the approaching enemy. Nym, Hannah and Neville were on the rooftops, invisible and armed with rifles which they had just stripped the noise suppression from after switching to hollow point ammunition, they were hoping the unaccustomed attack would shock a few of them into running and they were now aiming at head shots for the same reason. They wanted to loosen their resolve as well as their bowels, if they were determined to get to Harry and Hermione they were going to have to earn it.
The attackers were now approaching wand range when three who were in the lead had the back of their heads violently explode outwards showering those behind with bits of their brains, the sound of the gunshots was like a clap of thunder in the shocked silence before three more repeated the feat and then pandemonium ensued as the ordinary wizarding folk opened fire from under cover of their hastily found hiding places at either side of the bad guys. Draco and Susan raced to join their friends but the four were reduced to spectators watching the carnage as years of repression was vented on their oppressors while the rifles of Liberty quashed any pockets of resistance and picked off escape attempts.
Cheering from the crowd indicated the slaughter was over as the other three Liberty members made their way down from their perch's and joined in a group hug of relief, Nym was the one to break the mood, "What the bloody hell do we do now?"
Harry reached into his breast pocket.
-oOoOo-
Amelia and Jim were pacing up and down her office at Torch camp enduring the hardest job in the world, waiting on the phone to ring. Torch camp had been set up over a year ago for witches and wizards who had fled or been rescued from Britain and now wanted to fight back, they had fifty-seven people currently training under Amelia and Remus with assistance from their American cousins.
She made a dive for the phone and had it on speaker before the second ring, "Hi Amelia, mission accomplished and everyone safe."
Harry could feel her relief on the other side of the Atlantic, "How soon can you get your people suited, booted and in Britain?"
Amelia looked towards Jim who just shrugged, it wasn't something they'd gone over yet. "We could probably get there in a couple of days."
"We march on the ministry in thirty minutes so that's how long you've got to get to Gringotts, be here with who ever you can lay your hands on or we leave without you."
Amelia hit a button on her desk starting a klaxon going as she picked up the microphone "This is not a drill, we're going to London to take our ministry back NOW!"
-oOoOo-
The Albus Dumbledore who sat in the crofter's cottage deep in the great glen of Scotland was not the same man who'd been sacked from Hogwarts, his long hair and beard went the same road as his vanity never to return. His chin now sported a small goatee while his hair didn't reach his shoulders that were adorned with a brown work robe but this was not what would draw your attention to the old wizard, it was his stillness as he focused on the package placed on the table in front of him.
He'd spent the last two hours going over the information he had before him and kept arriving at the same conclusion, this was not a trap but a genuine offer.
The note had the old wizard almost dancing for joy but he'd stayed alive this long by being cautious and that's exactly the way he intended to continue.
The carrier of this note is very precious to me as she was a birthday gift from my first friend who had a heart bigger than anyone I've ever meet. The package she delivered has a purpose that will become apparent shortly and require you to speak my name at the appropriate time.
One glance at the snowy owl that was now sharing a perch with Fawkes and Albus needed no further confirmation that this was Hedwig, beloved familiar of one Harry Potter and a birthday gift from their large friend Hagrid.
Harry must be in the country because he would never risk Hedwig any other way, the package began to vibrate so Albus removed it from the envelope and after saying 'Harry Potter' watched as a young mans face appeared in the mirror. He was older and no glasses but still undoubtedly Harry.
"Hello sir, nice to see you again."
"Harry my boy you're looking well, how have you been?"
"Sorry sir but this isn't a social call, more of a request. Me and a bunch of others plan on taking a stroll down to the ministry and inviting them to recognise Amelia Bones as the new minister for magic, we wondered if you'd care to join us having fought the good fight for the last five years."
Dumbledore's head was spinning; did he have one too many lemon drops? "What if they don't like the idea and just where are you?" "We intend to make them an offer they can't refuse sir and I'm currently standing in the middle of Diagon Alley."
Albus had forgotten that when dealing with Harry the norms do not apply, first time on a broom and he becomes the youngest ever Hogwarts seeker. "Harry I have a request of my own, I want Snape! I now realise the man should have died sixteen years ago so I intend to rectify my mistake with extreme prejudice and reduce that abomination he calls a school to rubble."
Harry couldn't hide the grin, "You have my permission, support and anything else you might need, just remember to bring Hedwig with you to the alley as that is one lady you don't want to upset."
Albus had no sooner put the mirror in his pocket than the snowy owl was landing on his shoulder, there was no way she was being left behind.
-oOoOo-
Tom/Voldemort was reading the parchment that had just been delivered by a very nervous follower, the news that Diagon Alley was under attack by none other than Harry Potter didn't make any sense. His thoughts were cut short as a shudder running through the ministry building and an enormous pulse of energy provided his answer, the fools had probably sent everyone they could after Potter's ghost while he attacked his real target.
Voldemort ranted and raved while Tom quietly congratulated Potter on being a worthwhile adversary and wished for the millionth time he'd never attempted to rejoin his soul.
His reasoning at the time was sound, according to his only source of information, the Weasley girl, Harry was this great hero who had defeated him as a baby and then again at the end of his first year in Hogwarts. It was only the boy marrying another that allowed him to take control of the young witch and his first act had been to destroy that precious jumper, had she actually met and spoken to Potter then he was unsure if he would have managed to absorb her life force such was her devotion to her hero. He badly needed that information but got more than he bargained for, he now knew he couldn't physically touch the boy and later heard the complete prophesy in the department of mysteries stating that Potter could actually kill him. With no news for the last five years he had no idea what power his nemesis might actually possess.
The soul joining had proceeded perfectly except for the fact that Voldemort was unfortunately quite insane, being destroyed for the second time by Potter had pushed him over the edge of what was normal even for a megalomaniac. They were currently in control of magical Britain with their every whim being catered for and most of the population totally unaware who pulled the strings, Voldemort wanted to have the fountain in the foyer replaced with a grand throne constructed from skulls where he would sit every day and be worshiped. Tom had no qualms about killing, he'd murdered his father and grandparents to make the diary but pointless killing just robbed you of a resource you could no longer exploit. Voldemort was so filled with hate he wanted to torture and kill the entire world's population, leaving him to rule over the desolation he'd wrought.
Their continual battles over the same body was taking its toll though as, instead of twenty-two they now looked nearer forty than thirty. Yes he received valuable information from the joining but paid a very high price, Tom had to keep all his emotions clamped down tight or that gave Voldemort the toehold he needed to begin their next battle for dominance.
The next piece of parchment delivered started a battle that Tom knew he had to win, Voldemort would stand and fight but this would only add impetus to their enemy's endeavours and they would be destroyed.
Harry Potter and Albus Dumbledore were marching towards the ministry at the head of an army after slaughtering the people they sent to the Alley, he had assumed that attack was a feint to allow him access to his actual target but now they faced real danger. The smart thing to do would be to withdraw and regroup but he could already feel Voldemort's response, he would stand at the top of the ministry steps and demand they all kneel before the greatest wizard who ever lived. As red began to creep into his eyes Tom knew he was in a fight for his life before Potter even got here.
-oOoOo-
Amelia and Remus led their people out of Gringotts and straight into a scene from Dante's Inferno, bodies were hanging from every structure tall enough to support one.
She saw the Liberty group standing to the side and headed straight for them, "Harry what the hell is going on here? We must put a stop to this at once."
"Amelia, they came here to commit murder and instead discovered that choosing the wrong side can cost your life. Those bodies are already dead and the people putting them up there might not see supper tonight as we're marching on the ministry so leave them alone."
Amelia was astonished by this, "These people have no training and could get themselves killed, this is not their fight."
An angry Hermione was on her in a flash, "You are so wrong, this is their fight and they're ready to die for what they believe in. Freedom isn't a right that's just handed out like a chocolate frog card its got to be earned and for the first time ever the magical population of Britain is saying they've had enough. The ordinary wizarding folk are sick of changing one greedy bigoted bastard for another one while the only option left to those not considered worthy is to sneak out the country or become a slave to the ever-worsening system. Today a pureblood demanded that I, Lady Potter-Black get down on my knees and service him in the middle of the alley, I would rather die than submit to a system where the law declares I must comply with his wishes. I may die today but I will die free, fighting hard so my friends and family can have a better life. These bastards cut out your eye Amelia and have committed atrocities too numerous to mention. If you don't have the stomach for this then perhaps we need another leader as I have no wish for my children's generation to go through this oppression again because we didn't deal with the problem when we had the chance."
Amelia, wand in hand placed her clenched fist over the Liberty emblem on her uniform, "I Amelia Bones promise to hunt these people down and ensure their punishment matches their crimes, if they have stolen they will pay dearly, if they have murdered, raped or tortured they will be publicly executed."
There was a massive cheer as neither witch had realised their raised voices had drawn an audience, the audience stretched far further than the confines of the alley with the WWN, sensing a change in government and the story of the century started broadcasting these events live and picked up all of their arguments which entered every wizarding home and had listeners heading for the alley. This brought
Liberty reinforcements with the added bonus of emptying the ministry of anyone who didn't want to fight and the guilty could be tracked down later.
It was into this melee that Fawkes flamed Albus with Hedwig on his shoulder, the snowy owl flew immediately to Harry and took her rightful position on his right shoulder.
"Good to see you again Harry, quite the party you're throwing here."
'Thank you sir, the decorations are not to everyone's taste but a necessary reminder of what happens when, by our inactions we let a few oppress the many."
The sudden hush alerted them both that something was happening and as they turned the sight of Griphook and Ragnok in full goblin battle dress leading a hundred of their elite troops towards them left a lot of people unsure of what exactly was going on here.
Ragnok tried to bow to Harry but he was having none of it and griped his arm in the grasp of goblin brother/warrior, the goblin leader held his head high and made his proclamation.
"The goblin nation stands firmly behind Lord Potter-Black on this venture."
"Lord Potter-Black graciously refuses and instead offers the spot by my left side, Lady Potter-Black always fights at my right or you would be there my most trusted friends."
"On behalf of my nation I humbly accept."
Harry had the man in a bear hug before moving onto Griphook while the rest of Liberty greeted both goblins just as warmly, the crowd was stunned to silence watching this and some of the team shouting over greetings to goblins they recognised in the troops.
Harry saw this reaction and decided it was time for a few home truths, knowing full well the whole thing was being broadcast on WWN. "The goblins have looked after me and my family since I was eleven, they got me out the country and into a location where we were safe from Voldemort and able to train for this day. They provided the help that got most of the vulnerable off to other schools and even their families away from Britain. They arranged our training thus allowing us to form Liberty and provided us with the information to save as many as we could. I publicly apologise to anyone listening if you needed us and we weren't there but we're here now and here to stay, there is no one Liberty trusts more than our goblin brothers and I am delighted to have these noble warriors fight by my side as we take back our country from those not fit to rule. For the last five years the goblins have frustrated our enemies while helping us every way they could and all they have ever asked for in return is the hand of friendship, they have mine and that of every member of Liberty unconditionally."
A fierce roar came from the massed troop of goblins as they clattered their swords and axes off their shields in a display of gratitude that terrified those present in the alley and they were the good guys, the bad guys would be shitting themselves.
Harry could see he had the momentum so reached for the brass ring, "A centaur saved me from Voldemort in the forbidden forest, my first magical friend was a half giant and the nearest thing I have to an uncle is a werewolf yet every one of these is classed as a dangerous creature by the very people who led others around like animals. We have a chance today to make history and create a country where we all live free from persecution regardless of race, creed, colour or heritage. When our grandchildren ask us what we did on this day you can hold your head up high and say we fought side by side to achieve the most important thing in the world, FREEDOM!"
Any windows in the alley that survived the battle succumbed to the tumultuous roar of approval that followed Harry's speech, it probably reached as far as the ministry.
There plan was simplicity itself, it had to be with so many untrained people there. Griphook and the goblins would take the left flank, Remus and the trainees from torch the right. Harry, Hermione, Ragnok, Amelia and Albus were in the centre with all the witches and wizards following on behind the three groups. There ranks were swelling by the minute so Harry was keen to get moving as they were beginning to get crushed by sheer numbers, their army was over two thousand strong as they set off towards their goal.
Susan and Draco had point along with six of their goblin tutors to make sure the route held no nasty surprises for them while Nym, Nev and Hannah had all disillusioned themselves and flown ahead to find placements to provide covering fire.
When a muggle born began playing the bagpipes he'd brought and the goblins used their shields like drums, beating them with their weapons in time to the music Harry couldn't help but feel his blood stir, his thoughts turned to their family and a certain Celt who would have loved this only now remembering that they hadn't phoned home. Shit, even when they won today they were going to get a rollicking from their worried family.
-oOoOo-
Over ten thousand miles away in Sydney, Australia a group of people sat huddled around the wizarding radio, WWN London knew the interest in these developments would be worldwide and had immediately offered the live feed to their wizarding network associates who almost bit their hand off in their haste to accept. The result was the events in London being broadcast live throughout the entire wizarding world.
When they didn't get a phone call to tell them that everything was all right their nerves got more frayed the longer the blasted thing didn't ring, Ted had put the wizarding wireless on because an attack on the British ministry was sure to be mentioned on the news at some point. Everybody started talking at once when the news started coming through from London before quickly realising that they couldn't hear the radio and promptly shut-up.
When Dan heard what that pureblood had tried to do to his daughter his blood pressure hit the roof as he wanted to tear the bastard limb from limb, knowing what Liberty was capable of and the fact Hermione was talking about it probably meant the prick wasn't breathing anymore and he had no problems with that.
As Hermione mentioned fighting for her family and wanting her children to grow up free of this oppression every woman in the room as well as Dobby were crying their eyes out, Amelia's promise of justice was expected and well received.
Minerva had a smile on her face as Albus joined them for the battle, her old friend had finally come to his senses and was ready to fight side-by-side with Harry against the real enemy. When the news that a hundred goblin warriors had joined their side for the battle was announced everyone breathed a huge sigh of relief, all had witnessed the goblins training the group and Dan had even taken part in some of it so they knew the odds had just swung heavily in their favour.
They were aware the groups original intention was for their usual in-and-out strike but the commentators description of what happened had trapped them into either abandoning the people who fought back or taking the fight to the ministry, they all were aware that was a decision that was only going to go one way with Harry involved.
Dan had reached for the brandy with everyone having at least one tonight, when Harry gave his 'freedom' speech they were on their feet toasting the wizard they all loved. After five years living together it was more like a communal family with everybody bringing something to the table, losing even one of those young people would be a devastating blow heartfelt by all.
None of the boys or Susan had a father so Dan and Ted had become the unofficial fathers of the group, Emma, Cissi and Andi the mothers, Amelia and Minerva as the great aunts while Augusta was everyone's grandmother. It was Nym's role that was pivotal though, as big sis she kept the younger ones in line while was their strongest protector from the adults if they thought they were overstepping some mark. She was scarily protective of the group and with her and Harry there the pureblood who'd accosted Hermione was sure to have met a quick but painful end.
Sitting listening live while your family went into battle was a horrendous thing to bear and not even the brandy could take the edge off that. Listening to the commentator's description of how Hermione and Harry with Hedwig on his shoulder were leading the revolution filled them to bursting point with pride but when the bagpipes started playing Minerva broke down and expressed the deepest wishes of everyone in that room, "I should be there!"