Chapter 11
29 May 2024
-oOo-
A/N: This chapter earns more of the M rating for violence.
-oOo-
September 11, 1996
Airship over Brazil
Daphne had butterflies in her stomach. Today was forty-five days from when Harry and her had signed the betrothal. The official waiting period per the contract signed at Gringotts was over. A small part of her was wishing that her family was here, but she just wasn't sure she trusted her father not to stop this, even if he had signed the betrothal.
The butterflies didn't lessen as she looked in the mirror. She was in her best dress, which was a pale blue, sleeveless, chiffon dress that flared at her waist with a pleated bottom and a fancy lacy design that covered her chest and elegantly wrapped around her neck. It was something she had picked up when out on a trip with Tracey before leaving. She felt a little guilty as she thought of her best friend, but they hadn't been as close the last two years and she had gone into hiding with her family at the start of the summer. She wished she knew where Tracey was. The best she could do for now was hope she was safe.
She turned sideways to make sure she was presentable for Harry. She knew he didn't care, but she felt she needed to be for him. Looking in the mirror on the back of the door, she liked her curves and the way the dress clung to them. She wasn't the tallest girl, nor the largest in her bust, but she thought herself rather well-proportioned for her five-foot-five frame. Harry didn't seem disappointed in her, she noted with a wry smirk as she thought of her soon to be husband.
That thought sent another round of butterflies through her. What they were about to do, she found herself wishing that Tracey, her mother, Astoria and Susan were here. Some day she would see them again, but it was just too dangerous for now. Dangerous for her and could be life threatening for Harry. She loved him too much to risk him more than they already were.
A knock came at the door.
Moving to the door, her heart hammering in her chest at what she was about to do, she opened it to find Harry standing in the hallway. Neither of them had brought any truly formal wear, but he was still in a nice pair of khaki trousers, a short sleeve burgundy Muggle dress shirt with a tie that was so reminiscent of Gryffindors, she had to smirk at him. "I thought you gave up being a Gryffindor?"
His eyes had been wondering up and down her body, a slight brightening of his cheeks when his eyes met hers. He failed to look nonchalant as he shrugged. "I like the colours and it was you that helped me pick all this out in Salvador."
She smirked. "You look nice."
"And you look beautiful," he said. She could see the adoration in his eyes. She gave him a radiant smile at the compliment.
"Thank you," she said, pushing him back when he tried to kiss her. "You are not messing up my lipstick or makeup before we get married."
That stupid grin had her legs feeling weak. "I think you're beautiful either way."
She gave him a mock glare. "Flattery is not going to change my mind."
"I had to try," he told her before moving to hold his arm out for her. "Shall we, princess?"
"We shall, my prince," she said rather seriously before sliding her arm into his. There were a few dozen passengers on the airship, but like usual, they didn't really see any of them as they made their way towards the captain's quarters. They had been told to meet Captain Emeraldfield at two.
As they walked, her heels clicking on the wood flooring of the hallway, Harry asked. "Are you nervous?"
"Would you be disappointed if I said yes?" she nervously asked back in a faint voice.
"I'm nervous and afraid," he admitted to her.
That had been one thing she had liked. After a rough patch after Christmas when she blew up at him for not telling her everything about his time at Hogwarts, they had both made a promise to be truthful with each other. She felt he was still not telling her everything, but she knew enough to know what ever he was holding back wasn't anything for her to worry about. Some day he would tell her.
She let out a small sigh. "Thank Merlin! I am too."
He put a hand over the one holding his bicep. "Then we'll do this together, just like everything else."
Daphne lightly hit his arm. "If you make me cry and mess up my makeup, I won't be happy."
He chuckled. "As long as you don't make me sleep on the couch."
"We don't have a couch," she told him.
"That's what I'm afraid of," he cheekily replied.
She giggled at him. "I swear, Harry…" she warned him.
He stopped before a door and she realized that all her nerves had disappeared for that brief moment. That was why she loved him so much. When she was with Harry, nothing seemed that dire and they could get through anything together.
"Are you ready, princess?" he asked.
"I'm not leaving your side," she affirmed.
He knocked on the door. A slightly high pitched, "Enter," came from inside the cabin.
Harry opened it and led her in. The captain's office was a modest sized room with two other doors off it. Through one she could see a chart room. The other was closed. A small gnome with blonde hair in thick plaits and in the formal, white uniform of an airship captain was waiting next to her desk. Next to her was a wizard in the same type of white uniform. He had the appearance of many Brazilians of both Portuguese and native decent.
"Good afternoon, Mister Potter and Miss Greengrass," Captain Emeraldfield said with a smile.
"Good afternoon, captain," Harry said. "Thank you for making this appointment."
The gnomish woman smiled. "It is my pleasure. I don't often get to oversee such occasions. I have asked my third officer, Mister Antunes, to witness the event. Did you bring the paperwork?"
"I did. Here is the betrothal contract, the marriage license form you gave us, my emancipation papers and our passports," Harry said, holding the paperwork out for her. He also handed over a small leather pouch. "I wasn't sure if you wanted galleons or doubloons, so there is fifteen of each."
"That is more than generous, Mister Potter." She took everything, looked over the paperwork, then handed it to her third officer. He did the same before nodding. Taking his wand out, the wizard tapped the parchments. They all glowed an eerie green before he handed everything back to Captain Emeraldfield.
"I can validate that all the paperwork is authentic and legal to wizarding law of their home country and the gnomish nations," Officer Antunes said.
"Thank you. Are you both resolute in this commitment?"
"I am," he said confidently. Far more confidently than he might have a year ago. Daphne liked this side of him.
"I am resolute," Daphne replied, the butterflies growing more. Seeing how Harry stood tall, she pushed them down and was determined to be as stoic and brave about this as him.
The woman smiled at them. "If you would, please kneel before me while facing each other. Mister Potter, hold your right hand out and palm up. Miss Greengrass, place your left hand onto his, your palm touching his."
They did this, then repeated with their other hands, but this time with Daphne's hand on the bottom. Officer Antunes placed a long white cloth over their hands. The cloth was covered in a series of rune sentences going down the length of the cloth. They were in a rune language she didn't recognize.
Captain Emeraldfield stepped forward to put a hand over the cloth. Daphne now understood why they had to kneel given the woman's two-and-a-half-foot stature. "As recognized by international accord between the Gnomish nation of Zeldhedge, the International Confederation of Wizards and the British Ministry of Magic, I call upon magic to witness this binding," Captain Emeraldfield said in her high pitched, clear voice. The runes pulsed with power and Daphne could feel it collect around their hands.
Harry took in a long breath, obviously feeling it as well.
"As Master of the Orchard Bloom, and all the souls under my command and remission, I ask for magic to recognize the request for bond, marriage, fidelity and fertility of the couple that stand before me. Harry James Potter, of the Houses of Potter and Black, wishes for this woman, Daphne Ophelia Greengrass, of the House of Greengrass, to become his wife and bond mate through this life and those beyond."
The magic from the runes intensified. She could feel her magic… her soul… flowing out of her left hand, while Harry's flowed into her right. This was such an intimate thing, she wanted to snog him before it was done. Harry looked to have the same emotions as his emerald eyes were now molten with desire and love.
"Please, speak your request," Captain Emeraldfield said.
"I, Harry James Potter, wish to take this woman as my wife and bond mate. Never will I abandon her. Never will I ask her to be more than she is. I would ask magic to see my heart and my love and grant me this boon," Harry said.
Her heart fluttered. That was not what they had practiced. As though guided by her own magic, she replied, "I, Daphne Ophelia Greengrass, wish to take this man as my husband and bond mate. Forever will I stand at his side. Forever I will be all he needs and only ask he give me all he can. I would ask magic to see my heart and my love and grant me this boon."
The runes started to glow silver around the edges of the silver thread.
"As witnesses to this request, I, Captain Emeraldfield Oakshield, confirm the sincerity of the request," she said.
Officer Antunes stepped over them and touched his wand to the cloth. He spoke in Portuguese and their medallions translated, "As witness to this request, I, Third Officer Joao Antunes, confirm the sincerity of the request."
Once his wand touched the cloth, Daphne gasped, while Harry took in a sharp breath. The magic passing between them suddenly seemed to solidify. It was a hard bond, but flexible at the same time. She couldn't think how else to describe it but that she suddenly understood how much Harry cared for her, his protectiveness, his desire for family, his desire for her.
She also felt the bad: the depths of his betrayal, the way his relatives treated him, the despair of losing those close to you, the betrayal of friends and loved ones against him or those killed for just being a 'spare'.
Daphne poured out her love for him. Her fear and betrayal of being used by her father to save their family felt so insignificant compared to Harry's pain. If she only knew that Harry felt just the opposite, or that he could feel her feelings for him, she might not think that.
After a moment, Captain Emeraldfield took her hand off the cloth and it stopped glowing. She had a broad smile on her face. "Magic has granted the boon you asked for. Congratulations Mister and Misses Potter. You can kiss if you want."
Harry met her lips as she laughed. The snog had the little gnome chuckling as her officer rolled his eyes. "Might I recommend you going back to your stateroom? I can have dinner brought to you later, if you like?"
Harry pulled back. She didn't like the separation. "Yes, please. Thank you, Captain," Harry said.
They stood and before she could protest, he picked her up bridal style.
"If you just wait just a moment," Captain Emeraldfield said. She walked over to her desk, signed the marriage license, endorsed the betrothal to say the term of waiting was fulfilled, ask her third officer to certify Daphne's new name and then nodded in satisfaction to see her passport had change. She held out the paperwork and Daphne took it.
"Is that all?" Harry asked a little gruffly.
"It is. Enjoy your honeymoon," Captain Emeraldfield told them.
Daphne wrapped her arms around Harry's neck. "I plan too," she whispered into his ear, eliciting a growl that had her feeling more excited than she ever had. By the time Harry shut the door to their small stateroom, her mouth was all over his neck and trying to undo the buttons on his shirt…
-oOo-
September 12, 1996
Airship over the Amazon
Harry lay in bed, a stupid grin on his face. Daphne was spread out on his side, her very nude form warm against his skin. He was enjoying running his hand up and down her back as she slept.
As he thought about yesterday afternoon and last night, his stupid grin just wouldn't go away.
Daphne Potter was his wife.
Had he ever imagined being married at sixteen?
Of course not!
Did he regret it?
Of course not!
Would he do anything for the young woman in his arms?
That wasn't even a question.
He was mostly running because of her. He wanted a life. He wanted to live. Daphne offered him a life he had desperately wanted. After Sirius died and his friends hadn't sent him any letters, he knew he didn't have anything back in England or Scotland that was worth fighting for, except Daphne.
As long as she was with him, he didn't care were they ended up. It only mattered she was with him, and she was safe.
His hand wandered a little lower and she mumbled in her dream, shifting to rub her body against his. Feeling her curlies on his leg had him getting excited.
Not wanting to wake her since she seemed so contented, his hand wandered to safer areas on her back. After kissing her head, he stared up at the ceiling.
A soft chime interrupted his thoughts about repeating their wedding night. Twisting his head, the chime came again. The small satchel that the gnomes had given them was letting them know they had received mail. How they got it to work over such a distance was something Harry wanted to understand but was still having a challenging time to understand the gnomish runes that had been embossed into the leather and then filled with an exceptionally fine silver metal that he couldn't identify.
Daphne shifted again, mumbling something in her sleep. Harry grinned. He wondered if she knew she mumbled or talked in her sleep at times. He hadn't told her that yet, finding it cute and not wanting her to stop.
A few minutes later, the chime went off again. It would keep doing that until they opened the satchel. Not wanting to lose the contact with his nude wife, he was forced to disentangle himself. Sitting up, he didn't mind the slightly cooler air on his skin as he moved out from under the sheet.
Swinging his legs over the side of the bed, he picked up the satchel and opened it before it could chime again. He also took his wand from under the pillow and tapped his wrist. It was well past nine in the morning. Much later than he would usually sleep or stay in bed.
Opening the satchel, he was surprised to find five letters and a small package. Taking them out, three of the letters were address to him. The package was for both of them. He recognized the script of Appoline. Another looked like a letter from Fleur from the bank and the last was in a strong , bold stroke that he hadn't seen yet. The ones for Daphne were obviously from her mother and Fleur.
Opening Fleur's first, it was the official notice that Daphne had been added to his accounts and a statement of how things had gone in the last month. The goblins had sent him more than a hundred thousand galleons for whatever business they had completed, and the gnomes were going to send him a portfolio they wanted him to invest in soon. By the looks of it, Fleur had been busy.
The one from Appoline was just her sending them information and some newspaper clippings of what was going on in England and that they had been relegated to inside news. It was the first time he saw what the European press was saying about Tom. He knew he hadn't let that information leak, except Daphne had said she had mentioned it to Astoria…
His brow rose as he leafed through the dozens of articles and magazine clippings. There was even one from yesterday about the ICW opening an investigation into it.
"Holy Merlin," he muttered. He wasn't sure what all this meant.
His brow disappeared into his forehead when he finally made it to the Daily Prophet clippings and the news of the Death Eater arrests on the Hogwarts Express, the news Draco was going to be charged and that the Ministry was now checking everyone for a Dark Mark.
Afte the way everyone had talked about the fear and the way the ministry was falling apart last time, he thought this different.
Even more surprising was that the last clipping about them was from August twenty-six, and it had been on the ninth page of the main French paper. He felt a little better that they were not at the forefront but was still overly cautious that they hadn't had a run in with anyone in two weeks. At first it was a relief, now he was starting to feel like he was looking over his shoulder again.
Though, given these headlines, a pair of runaway teens, even the Boy-Who-Lived, paled in comparison to some of the other news.
The last letter was the most intriguing. Flipping it over to see the flap on the envelop, the dollop of wax was larger than usual and a larger Greengrass crest was pressed into it. He had no doubt that was the lord's seal. The front was addressed to 'Scion Potter-Black'.
Opening the parchment, he was surprised to find almost a dozen sheets of parchments. Quickly leafing through them, his eyes widened to see that Daphne and him had been given a small estate in Wales, another in France and partial ownership in the Greengrass businesses. Reading it through, he was now a twenty percent owner in his wife's name. There were two contracts that needed his signature and the last was a bank transfer of a hundred-thousand galleons to a bank of his choosing.
By the time he was done leafing through, his mouth was slightly open in surprise.
It took him a long moment to process what he saw before taking the top two sheets to read.
-o-
Dear Scion Potter-Black,
August 11, 1996
I would first like to introduce myself. I am Lord Grover Oliver Greengrass, father to Daphne Olivia Potter-Black nee Greengrass, lord of the honourable House of Greengrass. The House of Greengrass is still a young house in the Wizengamot Peerage that has worked hard to obtain a status that is complimentary to your own and I do hope you take this letter and the gift I have bestowed upon you and my daughter for your wedding as a sign of friendship, kinship and alliance.
As I was informed today, congratulations are in order for you and my daughter. I wish you all the luck and happiness and welcome you to the family.
I would have preferred to have told you this in person, and hope to some day in the near future. Scion Potter, when first I was informed of the betrothal you offered my family, I was not pleased. The Greengrasses have a long history of neutrality after the war that nearly destroyed my family three hundred years ago and which forced us to flee to England.
As my wife and advisors had me come to realize, the cost of our neutrality may have been too much in the current environment. In the end, I have come to accept your union with my daughter, even embrace it. Please let Daphne know that I am sorry for what I was going to do. My wish was never to hurt her, only protect her, my wife and her sister.
I was informed shortly after agreeing to the betrothal that you had offered support to my family should we choose to stay in England by bestowing on me the mantle of the Wizengamot seats that once belonged to your family. And should we choose to move, you have offered two large estates that belong to the Black's in France.
I would like to inform you, if my wife's and daughter's correspondence have not already, that I have chosen to accept your aid and alliance in moving my family, our business, vassals and workers to the estate in the mountains outside of Cannes. If you would review and sign the contracts included, I would offer rent for the use of the lands in establishing greenhouses and the industry needed to maintain the Greengrass business on these lands.
The second contract is to rent the second estate in the north of the country not far from Lille. The lands there are conducive to large farms and livestock. I would like to rehabilitate the lands to replace and expand the farmlands that were maintained on the Greengrass estates in England and Wales.
Along with the lands, I have been made aware that house elves still live in and maintain the manors. If you are willing, I would like to contract to continue their work and to support operations of our now joint venture.
I do hope you will accept the contracts and the offer to meet in the near future.
My family does not have the long history of the renowned house of Potter or the ancient house of Black, but we do have a proud history that I am eager to see grow and hope both our families prosper from this joining.
My dearest wish, though, is that you love, cherish and honour my daughter. Daphne and her sister, Astoria, are the most precious things that my wife and I have. I lost sight of that and only hope Daphne may forgive me one of these days.
Your faithful father-in-law
Lord Grover Oliver Greengrass
The Honourable House of Greengrass
-o-
Harry read the letter. He was surprised by this. Daphne was sure her father would hate her, even though her mother's letters said otherwise.
He felt the bed shift behind him, Daphne came up, putting her chest to his back, her arms over his shoulders and her cheek onto hers. "You got up," she said, still sounding rather sleepy.
He indicated the parchments in his hands. "Your parents know we got married yesterday."
She leaned into him, her bare breasts pressing into his back. "The contract would have been bound and the gnomes would have notified them as soon as possible. What did my mother say?"
He held up the parchments. "It's from your father."
She stiffened. After a moment she enquired, "What did father have to say?"
"He gave us a hefty wedding present, offers to become a partner in your family business and he wants to use the Black estates in France," Harry told her, to see her reaction.
She took the parchments and sat on the bed. He turned to see her. His body reacted to hers, even if he wasn't quite thinking of sleeping with his wife again. "He also wants you to forgive him."
Her head shot up. Her brow rose to see he was serious. After a moment, she looked back at the letter and the other parchments. She took the letter and read, then looked at the other parchments. Incredulously she enquired, "We didn't stipulate a bride price, right?"
He shook his head.
"Merlin," she said. "This is the gift a lord would give to his son, his daughter, even if I still was the primary heir. Most of the family wealth and holdings would have been held for my first son. At best I should have rated a thirty thousand galleon dowery and maybe a small estate if you weren't already wealthy."
Harry gave her a wry grin. "Most of it's in your name," Harry told her.
She leafed through the papers again as though she hadn't seen it. "It's in both our names," she stated.
Her eyes were watery when she looked up at him. Daphne had explained to him that most women in the wizarding world, once married, where at the mercies of their husbands whim for money and even freedoms at times. Her father had essentially claimed she was just as important as Harry. A tear formed in her eyes. He held out his arms and she moved to hug him. For once his sixteen-year-old hormones didn't react to the girl that was in her all.
"I love you, Daph," he whispered in her ear.
She kissed his neck, even though it was slightly damp from her tears. "I love you."
-oOo-
September 13, 1996
Hogwarts, Scotland
Around the office, the soft cooing of a phoenix could be heard. It was the sound of a creature that was in mourning. If anyone had ever heard the mournful sounds of a phoenix, it was a moving, emotionally stirring sound that could tear at the heart of all but the most jaded or evil.
Surveying the small kingdom he had lorded over for nearly fifty years, Albus was pondering deep thoughts as he saw the last ashes of his plans to save the world fall away. Four more students were walking down the long drive to Hogsmeade with their parents.
His desires had always been to save the wizarding world. It was a wonderous, marvellous world that deserved to be saved. It had to be safe guarded. That was a lesson he had learned over a hundred years ago when he was young, reckless and naïve.
At eighteen he had thought himself invincible. The future and the world were just vagaries to the grand schemes he had made. Grand schemes that had included a man that was his best friend and so much more. Schemes that would save the wizarding world and keep the Muggles from doing what they had to Arianna.
Looking back, he was coming to realize that the same hubris and naivety that had gotten his sister killed were the same character flaws that had him becoming not much better than the evil he was fighting, both magical and muggle.
He let out a long, suffering sigh. Now was not the time for the Light to be so fractured.
Five days ago, he had seen the splintering of the Order of the Pheonix. Since then, it had only gone downhill.
Arthur and many others were not talking to him.
Of course, it had all started with Harry's walk-about. It was compounded by the surprise of him running with the Greengrass girl. The Greengrasses had always maintained their neutrality, but it had been rumoured they had financially supported the Dark Lord in the last war.
With Harry's flee from Britain, he could not have predicted the next moves.
His use of the Potter proxy had been withdrawn. The House of Black was now vacated.
Harry's run had also started an unprecedented exodus starting with the Greengrasses. With then went the house of Bones. Since the first day of school, the McMillans, Abbots and Patils had followed. These were all houses that had been neutral or supported him on the Wizengamot.
The Weasleys hadn't said if they were leaving the country or not, but for the first time in thirteen years, there were no Weasleys at Hogwarts. He didn't think it would mean so much to him, but to see such a strident supporter of his to reject him so soundly was shaking him.
On the other side, all these moves had seriously eroded support of the dark houses. Most notably were the Malfoys and Selwyns, but since Rufus had instituted the check for the Dark Mark, another eight houses had not been to a Wizengamot meet while others had been arrested and were now in cells next to the Malfoy heir. They were all waiting for their trials, and he wasn't sure if they would be sentenced to death or given leniency. Rufus was not talking in a way that made Albus feel easy.
Time in Azkaban was not part of Rufus's plans.
Surely, they could still be saved?
He frowned.
Saved?
Was he truly saving anyone at the moment?
The more he thought of it, the more he was concluding that he wasn't saving anyone. He had always thought everything was for the greater good if he could save any magical blood he could, but since the fall out at the last Order meeting, he was thinking he was focusing too much on saving those that can't be while condemning those that should be saved.
"How could I have been so blind?" he asked Fawkes.
The phoenix song changed to be a little less mournful and now only sad.
Albus was seeing why Harry had run and left them. The boy had been stripped of anything he might fight for, except his new wife, and Albus had been responsible for it all. The notification from the ministry had come in yesterday. He was still officially listed as Harry's guardian, even though the boy had been emancipated before the goblins and magic. The hubris of wizards had decided not to recognize that fact, thus the ministry still recognized Albus as his guardian, which was a hollow title now.
"Severus Snape. Alastor Moody. Minerva McGonagall. Arthur Weasley." The gargoyle over his door fell silent.
He was surprised the man had answered his call.
Not wanting to play his usual games, he walked over to stand behind his chair. There would be no power games today. He had lain out six chairs, hoping that everyone he had invited would attend, but his hopes were dashed for now.
They came in.
Severus looked worn. He had been out of the school for the last five days. Albus had cancelled all potions classes for the last week. Without any greeting, he said, "I have at best an hour to get back."
"Then we shall not waste time," Albus assured him. "Alastor, Minerva and Arthur, thank you for coming."
Minerva and Arthur just nodded. Neither of them looked pleased to be there. Albus had miscalculated and neglected far too much in the last few years in his obsession to see the prophesy fulfilled. Alastor gave a grunt of greeting.
"What news do you have, Severus?"
"The Dark Lord will most likely move within the next two weeks," he told them.
"That is what I have surmised. Can you share any details?"
Severus's face was impassive. "I can only say that I overheard the giants will not be here in time and the vampires are still refusing to take sides. We have all been sworn to secrecy on anything we are directly told or see."
Albus nodded, understanding that whatever oath they were under did not stop eavesdropping.
"Thank you. This is the situation we find ourselves in. Voldemort is planning a major offensive. Given the lack of attacks in the last few weeks, I can only assume he is keeping all his forces close to not let the secret out," Albus told them. "I have been in talks with Kingsley and believe that the ministry is in better hands than we could hope for. Part of why Voldemort is being so secretive is that more than thirty of his followers have been found and arrested it the ministry in the last month."
This caused a little stir.
"When the attack occurs, I do not want the Order to respond," Dumbledore told them.
"You can't just leave the ministry to the tosser," Alastor said angrily. There was more anger in the man than normal. Albus wasn't sure why.
"I do not plan too. I would ask that you, and anyone else that is available, split between here and Saint Mungo's. If the Ministry falls, Hogwarts will be the best bastion to protect those that need it, and we cannot allow those already injured to suffer more. I will go to the ministry to assist," Albus told them.
This rose a few brows. Minerva was the one to ask, "Albus, you never look for direct confrontation. Why now?"
He sighed. "Let us say I have been thinking after getting a very different perspective after our last Order meeting. I have come to several conclusions that I have been too blind to see for a long time."
They all looked at him a little oddly.
"Arthur, I know I have done harm to your family, but would you ask William if he would talk with me. I have a task that I need his help in. It is a critical task that must be done quickly, and he is the only Curse Breaker I know that is not in the employ of Gringotts or the ministry," Albus told him.
Arthur eyed him. "Haven't you done enough to my son?"
"Arthur, I swear this is of critical importance," Albus pressed.
"Then tell me what this is about," Arthur demanded.
He closed his eyes. "Severus, you are too close to Voldemort right now. Do you have any more information you can give me?"
The man's dark eyes regarded him for a long moment. Albus was sure he was trying to think of a way around his oath and pledges to Tom. "Only that should someone overlook the fields from the bell tower in Wiltshire, you may see something interesting."
"Thank you. I must ask you to leave."
Severus got up, gave him a curt nod, then walked out. Albus waited for the door to close before turning to Arthur. "Are you sure that William cannot join us?"
Arthur looked at him for a long few minutes. "What is this about?" the man asked wearily.
Albus had a rather long face. "The only way that we can defeat Voldemort."
Alastor made a choking chuckle. "Are you trying to tell us that you will finally come clean about Potter and all this cloak and dagger we've been playing at?"
He looked the man directly in his eyes. "I am saying exactly that."
This seemed to catch them all by surprise. Minerva and Arthur shared a look before Minerva made a very subtle nod. Arthur stood up. "May I use your fireplace?"
"You may. The password is Pheonix Tears if he wishes to come through," Albus offered.
The room was quiet as Arthur placed his call. It only took a few minutes before William joined them. He had hoped that Lord Greengrass would have joined him as well, but one always did the best with what they had.
William's face was impassive but eyes burning at him. Albus could understand the young man's anger. To be fired by the goblins was a black stain on him that would not be easy to remove. "Thank you for coming," he told William, then cast some rather severe privacy spells that would surely injure someone should they try to break them.
"Albus, what is this about?" Minerva asked.
"This is about the most important things that any of us can do to defeat Voldemort and his minions," Albus said rather gravely. He finally took his seat and tapped the long, knotted elder wand on a draw. When it clicked, he opened it. It was time he be more honest than he had been in a long time. Two items were placed onto the table.
William stiffened, then took out his wand. "What the bloody hell are you doing with those things!"
He held up his hands. The other three looked a little uneasy but didn't understand William's reaction. Albus softly said, "You know what these are?"
William was looking at them, his wand steady but his eyes full of rage and fear. "Of course I do! I can feel it from here. Tell me they are not yours!" The man's dark wood wand came to point at him.
Albus made no move to instigate any negative action. "I can swear on my magic that none of these are mine. They all belong to one man, and I do not believe that these are all of them."
William took in a sharp breath. "You are not serious?"
"Gravely, I fear."
"Bloody fuck!" William shot out of his seat and walked towards the far side of the room.
"Bill, what are they?" Arthur questioned.
William looked very disturbed. "Foul magic that doesn't work as sold."
Albus rose an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
"Tell us what they are first," Alastor pressed. His electric blue eye was regarding the items as his good eye was on Albus
William looked Albus directly in the face. "My oaths to Gringotts still prevent me from talking about this. This is dark, hidden magic that no one should know."
Albus nodded. "I understand. Alastor, these are horcruxes. Soul jars that will keep one's soul anchored to this plane should the worst happen to their bodies. While they exist, the person that made them cannot pass to the other side. They can be used to resurrect someone," Albus said. Arthur paled. Minerva's lips disappeared as she pursed them as her hands grasped her robes until her knuckles were white. Alastor looked at the things with disgust.
"They feel foul," Alastor said.
"They are," William stated. "I can tell you that they don't work past a wizards normal life span."
"What do you mean?" Albus asked, curious as he had never found that detail.
William snarled, as though in pain. "I can't say anything else."
"Do you know how to destroy them?" Albus enquired.
William looked at him for a long moment before approaching the table again. He looked down at the objects. The ruined book was easy to tell that it was no longer a horcrux, but the taste of the black magic still remained. The destroyed necklace had a large emerald in it.
"Where did you get them?" William asked as he started to run his wand over them.
"The where is not important. What I need to know is can you destroy them, and can you locate others?" Albus asked.
"Are you asking my son to put his life on the line?" Arthur queried.
"Not without cause. I fear we may all have to put out lives on the line should we wish to see the end of this nightmare," he told the man.
"Albus, I can't do this. The children. Who will protect them should you fall?" Minerva asked, the fear clear in her voice.
He looked up to her. She had been through two major wars already and was looking just as aged as he was. "The Board of Governors have informed me that they will be taking a vote to expel me. I was rather hoping that you will take up the position if that occurs. I need you to know if the rest of us fall you will be here and can carry on my work. It is too important for just me to know this now. With Harry gone, this may be our only chance."
"Are you saying that Harry is really destined to destroy You-Know-Who?" Arthur asked.
"It's Riddle," Alastor said.
Albus was starting to pay more attention to William. The young man really was skilled. "I am afraid that is what the prophesy says." He sighed again. "But not all prophesy needs to be fulfilled. I never put much stock in prophecy when I was young, but there was so little hope when this one was made, I am afraid I fully believed it."
"I always said divination is woolly," Minerva stated.
"No, not all divination, but yes, much of it," Albus conceded.
There was a moment of silence. William let out a long breath. "Unless you have something like basilisk venom or want to use feindfyre, the protections on these will take me weeks to figure out and dismantle."
Albus nodded. "I have a way to destroy them. I am more concerned with finding the others."
"How many," Alastor asked, not being a man that would beat around the bush.
"I admit, I do not know. I had hoped to convince Horace Slughorn to return this year. I think he knows, but has refused to tell me to this day," Albus admitted.
"Given the difference in magical strength…" William muttered. He took a blank parchment and a quill and started to write out arithmantic calculation and rune chains.
"Bill, are you saying you can figure it out?" his father said.
"Maybe," William commented.
They all looked at him. Bill filled the first sheet, took a second and then filled that as well. When he was done, the redhead had lost a considerable amount of colour in his face. "Now, I don't know what a full soul would be, but given the magic levels in these, I would estimate that we are looking at least a set of five, most likely six if you count the primary soul shard."
Albus closed his eyes for a moment.
"Merlin…" Arthur mumbled.
"You know where they are?" Moody questioned.
"I have my suspicions." When they all looked at him, he went on, "I am fairly confident I have tracked down five, then you have the primary shard. This book, the necklace from Slytherin," he said pointing to the two he had destroyed. "I have tangible evidence that he also possesses the Gaunt family ring and a cup from Helga Hufflepuff. As for the last three, I have strong evidence that his familiar, Nagini, and Harry Potter are ones, and he may have found Rowena's diadem."
He looked to Alastor. "This is why it is so important that you find Harry and bring him back."
"Morgana's hairy…" Alastor was drowned out as Fawkes let out a pained squawk. They all looked to the phoenix before he burst into flames.
Albus sighed again. "He had been getting close to a burning day."
Alastor frowned. "What if Potter is one, what then?"
Albus closed his eyes. "I know of no other way to purge the horcrux besides destroying the vessel."
"Over my dead body," Arthur exclaimed, jumping out of his seat.
Alastor gave Albus a shrewd look.
"Bill, he can't be serious? We can't kill Harry," Arthur pressed.
William put both his hands on the table, his head bowed.
"Bill?" Arthur questioned.
"That is the surest way," William said.
"NO!" Minerva joined Arthur.
"There is no other way?" Alastor questioned.
"The only other way I know of is the prophecy. It says Harry has the power to defeat Voldemort," Albus answered.
"You kena a do this!" Minerva cried out.
Arthur was looking at his son. "Bill, you can't be serious?"
William stood tall. His glare at Dumbledore was hard. "If he is a true horcrux, the vessel must be destroyed. If it is just a partial possession or leach, then there are options."
Albus blinked in surprise. He had not thought such things possible. "What do you mean a partial possession or leach?"
"I was required to study certain soul magics because of what the Egyptians did to trap their tombs and try to reach immortality. A ghost is the soul of a wizard that has not passed on. This can happen if they refuse to go on and sacrifice their core to remain. It is possible that a spirit can latch onto a strong magical core should its own be destroyed. It leaches power from another to survive," William told them.
"What would the signs be?" Albus asked.
William looked to be thinking hard. "One of my colleagues was attacked by a leach once. It made a link between them and the ghost of the witch that died. He said he could see glimpses of her life and what she was doing at times. Only an exorcism was able to break the link, but that takes a true believer in the old gods or the church. It is not easy to find such a person that also practices magic."
"Is it possible for magical talents to be transferred with a leach?" Albus questioned.
"The magic of both is sort of shared," William replied.
"And if it was a possession or horcrux?"
"Then the soul of the person that the subject is cursed with would be in charge," William said.
Albus felt a hope swell in his chest that he hadn't known before. He looked to Alastor.
The man nodded. "You'll want him alive?"
"You better not harm a hair on him," Minerva threatened.
Alastor grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it. Do you have such a priest?"
Albus felt his spirit drop some. "I do not."
"I do," William said.
They all looked to him. "Bill, who?"
"There is a shaman in Arizona, but that would require us getting Harry to the MACUSA," William said.
"There is no one closer?" Arthur asked.
"No one I trust," William replied. "I worked with this man a few times."
"Can you give Alastor the contact information?" Albus requested.
William shook his head. "I will have to contact him. How long do we have?"
"Maybe two weeks," Albus said, echoing what Severus said earlier.
"And this will get rid of Riddle? My family owes him and his," Alastor said.
"If all his anchors are destroyed, he can be killed," Albus said.
"It is more than that. With his fractured soul and already being killed once, he will pass as soon as the last anchor is destroyed," William said.
There was a silence for a long few minutes. Alastor finally nodded. "I'll find the boy. Oh, and Albus, you better talk with my brother-in-law. I know he is looking for something that is related to Riddle."
Alastor turned and stalked out of the office. Albus blinked a few times. Had someone besides Regulus figured out this secret?
"Headmaster, do you want me to contact the shaman or look for these abominations?" William asked.
"I don't want you to endanger yourself, Bill," Arthur said.
Albus looked at the three people left in his office. "I need to talk with Croaker. William, contact this shaman. Arthur, please tell the others to stay out of any conflict and help those at Saint Mungo's should the ministry fall. Minerva, you will be needed here."
When they left, he didn't waste any time in going to his fireplace. "Longmarche," he called into the flames, needing to talk with Augusta. It would be the only way he could promptly contact Croaker.
-oOo-
Later that night…
Wiltshire, England
He stepped into the steamy and vapor filled potions room in the dungeon of Malfoy manor. Benches full of cauldrons, boxes of potions and supplies crowded the room. Several of his most proficient followers were brewing, all over looked by one of the most talented potion masters that he had known.
Severus looked tired and haggard. For the last five days he had been brewing around the clock and doing as he was supposed to. He was one of his few followers to not let him down… that is until now.
He watched the carefully choreographed dance of the five Potioneers. It was several minutes before Severus looked up to acknowledge him. If he hadn't know the man was brewing something that could help his forces win, he would have demanded the man's attention right away.
"My lord?" Severus said. "Is there something else you need?"
He walked down the tables, satisfied at the vials of filled potions. "You have been a most loyal servant, Severus. I see that your loyalty shows in the quality of your brew."
"Thank you, my lord," the man said. He was particularly good at hiding his emotions, but in the man's current state of fatigue, there was a small amount of apprehension leaking through his occlumency shields.
"It is high praise I bestow on you. Something I don't give out lightly."
"No, my lord," Severus replied. There was a small twinge of fear that didn't show on his passive expression. Voldemort could feel it though. It was just a shadow, something that might have been mistaken as nothing, but he knew.
He walked over to the cauldron the man was working over. He admitted to not recognizing the potion. "What is this?"
"It's a special wolfsbane. It will allow the werewolf to maintain his mind, but still have the bloodlust of the beast," Severus told him.
He rose an eyebrow. "When did you create this?"
"A few moons back. I would figure you would want this for the night you attack," Severus replied.
Voldemort looked up, feeling a little amused. "That will be useful, but I think you are mistaken on when we shall move. How long before there is enough of the berserker potion?"
Severus felt a little surprised. "My lord?"
"I am not a patient person. When?" he demanded in a soft voice. The command was unmistakable though.
Severus looked up. "In two days you will have the three hundred doses you want."
"What time?"
"By dinner time," Severus replied.
"That is too late. What if you brew through the next two nights?"
"My lord, we are running on pepper-ups now. I would be afraid of not getting the potion correct," Severus told him. There was a hint of terror now.
"How long if you work through the night?" he commanded to know.
Severus façade never broke. "Early morning of the fifteenth."
Voldemort looked at the potion the man was working on. "Make it happen."
Severus met his eye for just a moment. He knew where the man had gone earlier, and it hadn't been for a run of potion ingredients. After a brief pause, Severus nodded. "As you wish, my lord."
Voldemort gave a mirthless grin.
"You will start to distribute the potions as soon as you are done," he ordered.
"The other potions only last for up to forty-eight hours," Severus reminded him.
"I am aware. That is why you will have the berserker potions ready when you will. We move on the fifteenth. If you warn anyone, then I swear you will suffer greater than Lucius," he said. There as a shiver of fear from everyone in the room.
He found his punishment of Lucius inspired. The man was still hanging in his own atrium, alive, constantly bleeding and trusted up like the traitor he was.
"Yes, my lord. We will get it done," Severus told him.
Voldemort nodded.
The ministry needed to fall, and then those in Knockturn Alley would pay for what they had done to Rodolphus and Rabastan. Bella was still on the warpath about that, but he needed her here to ensure the recruits were ready. We would just have to keep her from killing too many. He needed the wizards if the ministry forces were as large as he thought.
-oOo-
Next time on Dear Order: A baby and another death defying escape...