Peverell Manor - July 7, 2007
When the first full week of summer came to an end Hadrian was once again wishing that he could just be done with school so he could get on with his life. He had started working at the beginning of the week, and loved it. It was a lot like what he had been doing when he had been an Unspeakable in his last life.
So far, all he had really been doing was reading and going over the information Master Hobb had given him. Despite Master Hobb agreeing to take him on as an intern, he still wanted to ensure that Hadrian was skilled enough in the subject before he was going to let him cast anything. So, even though he had once again gotten the dispensation to use magic, until his birthday at least, he still hadn't been able to cast anything. But not even that bothered him.
Master Hobb had given him a copy of his own personal notes to go over and Hadrian found it incredible. Even with everything he had studied in his past life, enchanting hadn't been his main focus so he still felt like he had a lot to learn.
Just thinking that he would have to go back to school, where Dumbledore was, in less than two months could make him depressed. Well he understood that once he was finished school he wouldn't be able to spend all of his time working on whatever enchanting project had caught his interest since he had so many other things that would need his attention, he would still have more free time to do as he pleased.
Hadrian was just so over being a kid.
Prewett Estate
As Hadrian was wishing that summer would never end, Ginny was wishing that it was time to go back to school.
She had been right when she thought this was going to be the summer from hell. Her Aunt was always going on about how to behave properly.
While Ginny did want to learn more about etiquette, she didn't want to learn it like this. Just the day before Muriel had had her sitting at the dining room table for 6 hours just going over proper table manners.
Ginny felt that she needed to learn more about how to behave in proper society since she was going to find a way to ensure that she married into a noble family. She had already seen how some of the titled students reacted to certain things and she wanted to understand why. It was the only way she was going to be able to properly insinuate herself into the proper social sphere since she hadn't been born into it like the others.
But Muriel was a nightmare when she was teaching her. The woman just didn't listen. Whenever Ginny argued that something sounded stupid, Muriel would just keep going. The day before Ginny had tried to explain that there really wasn't a need to separate meals into different courses, just let people pick and choose what they wanted, but Muriel had just kept going on about something, Ginny really hadn't been listening by that point.
Even though it had only been a week, there had been multiple things Ginny had been told that she just didn't agree with. She really didn't understand why those in the upper class went out of their way to make things needlessly complicated. Really, who needed so many forks, one fork was just as good as another.
Ginny knew she needed to learn it, she just didn't like the learning it part. She wished her mum had taught her all this when she had been younger, then she wouldn't have to be struggling with it now.
And her summer had just begun. Muriel had given her over a dozen books to read about the different major families in the country. She had also set down a rather strict schedule about what she was to be learning. In total Ginny was going to be forced to spend a minimum of 4 hours a day studying, either for school or the etiquette lessons.
She wanted to be rich and titled, but she really didn't want to have to deal with the social niceties that came with it.
The Burrow - July 13, 2007
Ron was exhausted as he flopped down in his bed after another long day. Much like his sister, he wanted the summer to be over.
This week had been his first week of work. Ron hadn't known what type of job he wanted, really he didn't want any job, but… So his dad had given him a list of places that he knew were looking for summer employees. Ron had chosen The Bubble since he figured that would be where Hadrian would be working again.
But he had been wrong. When he had first got to work on Monday he had looked around for the other boy, only to be told that he wasn't working there that summer.
Not only was Hadrian not there, but they also expected him to do so much. He had been given his choice of assignment, he could help care for a pack of nifflers or a zouwu. He had chosen the zouwu since he felt the nifflers were just too boring to spend the summer with.
A zouwu was a cat like creature that was the size of an elephant. The one he was looking after was elderly so at least he didn't have to spend all his time chasing after it. What he did have to do was brush its fur every other day, although he at least didn't have to brush its mane since the mane hair could be used in potions so the professionals gathered it, they also dealt with the claws. He also had to help brush its teeth, feed it, and clean what had to be the worlds largest litter box.
In truth, most of the work was done by the handlers, but this was the first time Ron had ever had to do any work so he felt overwhelmed. To him, it was like they were trying to work him to death. While he could use magic for doing things like moving the food around, he still had to walk all the way to the warehouse to get it, and then walk all the way back.
He was only working 5 hour shifts, or 25 hours a week, but it was more than he had ever done. And when Ron had been told that he was going to have to wait for his pay check every other week he had been confused, he figured they could just pay him at the end of each day so that he could buy his sweets and stuff on the way home.
Then his dad had sat him down and broke down just how much he would be making. Ron had really not appreciated that. He only made a galleon an hour, that meant he only got 25 galleons a week. That wasn't near enough to get everything he wanted.
In past years he had gotten used to having large amounts of money, and what he was going to be getting was no where near what he had been expecting. Even though he had had to curb his spending habits after running out of money during the last summer, he had been excited to have money again and had thought he would have as much money as he did before.
Ron really didn't understand how money worked. He had no real ability to put a value on the things he had and didn't understand what a decent wage was.
But his dad was making him do more than just work over the summer. He kept making him, once again, spend an hour going over Percy's old notes to start prep work for his NEWTs.
Arthur knew that Ron was frustrated, but he really didn't see any other way to handle the situation. Ron needed to learn how to survive in the real world. He only had one year left of school before he was finished.
He wished Ron could have learned everything he needed to become an adult as he grew up, but Molly had put a stop to it, so he was going to have to learn now. The only other choice he had was to spend the rest of his life living with Molly, because he had no intention of allowing Ron to stay with him. It wasn't that he didn't love his son, the exact opposite really. He wanted Ron to be able to rely on himself. And staying with Molly really wasn't a good idea, after everything she had done, Arthur knew that Molly would just make his life worse. Molly would most likely just continue to let him behave the way he had in the past. He would never grow up. And Molly would more than likely lead him right to Azkaban.
Arthur had already noticed that Nicole and Leo had started trying to copy everything their older siblings did, and he was hoping that Ron would want to set a good example for the two year olds. He remembered just how the older boys had always looked after Ron when they were little, even if they did prank him a fair bit, they all always tried to make sure he was safe and sound at the end of the day.
Hopefully he could help Ron grow up enough in the next few weeks that he would be able to see the truth when Molly was released.
The Burrow - August 1, 2007
The wedding of Bill and Fleur was much better this time around. There were no attacks, and the ministry did not fall to a Death Eater attack. It was a perfectly beautiful day.
Even Ron and Ginny were on their best behaviour. Ron, because he knew his dad, and older brothers, would make him suffer if he did anything. And Ginny because Muriel was using this as a learning experience so she stayed at her side the entire time.
Hermione, who was once again Rons date was much happier with this wedding. At least Bill knew better than to marry a member of his own gender or date his own brother in her opinion. She just hoped that Bill might be able to set a better example for his younger brothers that were clearly confused.
But none of that mattered to the bride and groom who only had eyes for each other.
Nurmengard Castle - August 14, 2007
"Gellert." Albus said as he made his way into the sitting room of Nurmengard Castle.
Most thought that Gellert spent his days in a tiny bare cell, but they were wrong. He only returned to that cell when he was alerted to someone unknown entering the castle wards. The rest of the time he had the run of the castle.
It was one thing that always confused and annoyed Albus. Gellert had once had so many plans and so much ambition, now he was content playing prisoner. Most of the time he was there alone, guards only came to check every other week. And the guards that did check on him were all followers.
Surely he could use his followers and all the time unobserved to escape, but he never tried. So much potential wasted. Albus would be more than happy to help Gellert escape, it would make everyone turn to him since he had defeated him once before.
"I wondered when I'd be seeing you again Albus. What has it been, 4 years since you last visited?" Gellert lowered the ancient Chinese books one of his followers had brought him last time they had visited. "What is it that is on your mind?"
They may no longer be allies, but Gellert was one of the only people that had ever managed to understand him and the way his mind worked. Albus also felt comfortable using him as a sounding board for his future plans since he was so isolated and couldn't betray him, and even if he managed to tell anyone, no one would believe him.
"Just stopping by for a visit Gellert." Albus took a seat opposite his old lover.
Gellert chuckled softly as he sipped his tea. "Don't lie to me Albus. We both know that isn't what this's about. You've lost control of your little 'Boy-Who-Lived'.
I warned you years ago, placing all that power in the hands of a child was foolish. And now, I have been proven right. You made everyone believe that the boy would be their saviour, so that is what they now believe. No one will look to you so long as he is there, and you have no one but yourself to blame."
Albus growled looking much fiercer than usual, his glamour of the kind twinkly eyed grandfather had been removed. "You know nothing."
Gellert waved to the stack of papers from Britain. "I have been reading all about your downfall, it has been highly entertaining. You see, you did the one thing you never should have, you started to believe in your own reputation.
The moment you did that, you were doomed to fail. You may act like you're some great hero, but we both know you have caused just as many deaths as I have, or, I guess, more, since you started two wars while I only started one. You act like you're all powerful, and while you are strong, you are getting old, and your power is fading.
You believed in the legend of Albus Dumbledore, and because of that thought you knew what was best and could do no wrong, now you are learning otherwise."
"Everything I have ever done was for the greater good." Albus said imperiously.
"Tell that to your sister." Gellert snarked. He knew he was safe since the wards of the castle would block most spells. Only a killing curse could get past them, and if that spell was cast it would alert the ICW.
"Don't pretend you understand anything. You are just a failed Lord." Albus wanted to make him suffer for that comment, but knowing that he would get to walk out a free man while Gellert was a prisoner would have to be enough.
"And soon enough you will be one as well." Gellert smiled a true smile. "You have almost lost it all. It has been great fun for me to sit back and watch as your little fiefdom is torn down, brick by brick."
Albus narrowed his eyes. "You helped me build that fiefdom. If I lose it then it just means you failed, again."
"I helped you build it for us, but you couldn't share so had me locked up here. Sharing, it's a lesson that even most muggle children can figure out, but you apparently can't measure up. I have been waiting to watch you fall from the moment you betrayed me and our plan.
I just think it's poetic to see you falling to a mess of your own creation." Gellert was grinning. "I remember warning you to be careful years ago when you came and told me about your plans for that Tom Riddle boy. I warned you he would be something that even you couldn't control. I warned you when you told me about what you were going to do with that prophecy and the Potter boy. I warned you when you came here again, bragging about the boys survival and how you had abandoned him with muggles that you knew hated magic.
I warned you so many times, but you were Albus Dumbledore, you knew better than me. I guess you were wrong.
So tell me, what is the real reason you are here? Because we both know this isn't just a social visit. Those visits stopped when I started pointing out all the flaws in your plans."
Albus felt it could be really easy to both hate and love the man in front of him. At one time Albus had thought Gellert was the love of his life, then he realized he preferred to rule without anyone trying to tell him what to do.
"I need a few of your books."
"Ah yes, I heard you lost your little library. My condolences on that, and the loss of your brother also, but we both know which one you actually miss." Albus knew the look in the other mans eyes, Gellert thought he knew something Albus didn't. "And just which of my books do you think you need?"
"I'm not completely sure." Albus hated having to admit that fact. "I just remember that one was on Ancient Babylonian or possibly Sumerian mind magics and rituals. The other is that Atlantian ritual book."
Gellert sat back in his seat and thought, trying to figure out what Albus was planning. When he figured it out he shook his head. "You really don't want those."
Albus hated being denied, but being denied by Gellert was always the worst. "Yes, I do. It really is for the best, it will help us get closer to the world we were trying to build."
"Albus, you never could lie to me, so do stop trying." Gellert would have rolled his eyes if he didn't have as much dignity as he did.
"And just what do you think I'm going to do that you don't think will work?"
"It's the Sumerian book you want. And, my guess is that you are planning on using the personalitatem voluntatem ritual. You want to strip the Potter boy of his own identity and remake him as you desire.
But, since he has a loving family, despite your best efforts, they would notice any major changes. To that end you plan to use the arcane temporal commutatio ritual to rewrite history. It's similar to what you did for that former Prewett woman when she wanted to be married and have kids, not quite the same, but similar, just far more powerful."
There had been a time where he had greatly enjoyed Gellert's ability to predict his plan and actions. It had made their fake fights seem that much more real. But now it was annoying.
"Do you have the books or not?" Albus demanded.
Gellert quickly let his mind run things through. Most would think that Albus was the smarter of the two of them, but in truth, Gellert had always been better at adapting any situation to his needs.
"I do, but it will come at a price." Gellert smiled.
"What do you want?" Albus knew not to just agree, Gellert would use that to make him suffer.
"You will use the commutatio ritual to free me and ensure that no one goes looking for me."
Albus felt that, for once, giving Gellert what he wanted would work into his plans. Once he had control of the brat and used him to destroy Tom, he was going to need another Dark Lord. And who better then Gellert.
"Fine." Albus agreed. "So, where are the books?"
"That is going to take some time. Those ICW idiot former friends of yours recently did their bi-decade visit to make sure I'm being a good little Dark Lord. I had to send my more… valuable materials away. As you can no doubt see." Gellert waved his arms around the mostly bare room. "My people have been bringing things back in, but it takes time since they can only visit every now and then.
They aren't you, they can't just waltz in here as they please. People would take notice. So it's going to take a few months before I can arrange for the books to be here. You will just have to come visit me again later."
Albus didn't want to wait. "Just tell me who has them and I will get them."
Gellert laughed hysterically. "Albus… When did you develop that sense of humour? What makes you think any of my people would ever allow you access to my books. After your betrayal, they would be more likely to kill you then help you. I may have come to terms with the fact you were only following your nature when you betrayed us, but many still hold a grudge against you for it. Especially this younger generation that never knew you personally.
No, you will just have to wait."
Albus didn't like the answer, but he didn't have any other choice. He couldn't get the books himself. If there was any type of fight, and there would be a fight, it would risk people learning about it, and he couldn't have anyone questioning why he was trying to gain access to the library of a Dark Lord. He would have to wait.
"Then I will see you later than Gellert." Albus got up to leave. "Do enjoy your castle."
Gellert set down his book once Albus was gone.
"My Lord?" The voice came from behind him.
Gellert turned to see one of his eldest followers. The man had stood by him since the beginning. And his family had gone on to do the same. His grandson had even gotten himself placed as one of the guards so he could bring him to visit.
"Please, take a seat." Gellert indicated the chair Albus had just left. "I am going to need your assistance."
"Anything my Lord."
Gellert went on to lay out his plans. It was time Albus learned the cost of betraying Gellert Grindelwald. He had waited half a century to see if the man would apologize. It never happened, so now that the man had a false sense of security, it was time to strike.
Molly's Flat - August 20, 2007
Molly groaned as she walked into her flat and went directly to the bathroom and drew a hot bath. She hadn't had a proper wash in months. In Azkaban they had only allowed her 10 minutes in the shower every three days. And it had always been cold in the prison so whenever she got wet she would freeze for hours until her hair dried.
While the bath filled she slipped into the restaurant kitchen and grabbed a large amount of hot food. Making sure to be cautious that no one saw her in the state she was in. She hadn't had a proper meal since her arrest.
Back upstairs she went directly to the bath. She ate as she soaked. Once she was full to bursting, she got to work scrubbing months of grime and cold from her body.
With all that done she went to her bed and fell asleep.
It was mid-evening when Molly woke once again. She was starting to feel a bit more human as she made her way into the flats kitchen to make herself a cup of strong tea.
After her cup was half empty she really looked around and noticed a few things. The flat was empty. There was a layer of dust over everything. It didn't look like anyone had been there since she was taken. There was even a broken cup that she remembered shattering when one of the aurors who arrested her bumped into the table.
Where were her babies?
She had figured since her Ronnie was now of age he would be able to have custody of her Ginny. The two of them should have been here waiting for her.
Maybe they were out visiting friends or something. She would just see them in the morning. At that point, her exhaustion took hold again and she went to bed.
The Burrow - August 21, 2007
Fabian was sitting on the front lawn watching as his two youngest played. Arthur and Gideon had had to make a run into the alleys to gather a few things. The twins would be celebrating their third birthday in less than a week and they still needed to get everything set for their birthdays.
Hearing the crack of apparition, he looked up to see the recognizable form of his younger former sister making her way up the drive. They had all assumed this visit was coming since they knew Molly was being released, but he had hoped he wouldn't have to deal with it on his own.
"Winky." Fabian called.
"Master Fabian called for Winky." The happy little elf looked adoringly up at him.
"Can you take the twins in and get them a snack? I don't want them around for this." Fabian asked.
Winky followed her masters line of sight and saw the mean lady that had taken her masters away from each other. She wasn't going to let that lady hurt her masters again, she also wasn't going to let her scare the little ones. "Winky can."
Winky took the twins inside and set them up in their room with some snacks and their favourite toys. She took up a position sitting in the kitchen windowsill. From her position she could see through the open door into the twins room, but she could also see into the front yard. She wanted to keep all of her charges in sight to make sure she could protect them.
"Molly." Fabian stayed where he was and waited until Molly reached him.
"Gideon." Molly snarled.
"I'm Fabian." He automatically corrected.
"Who cares." Molly hated having her brothers correct her. "Where are my babies, they didn't come home last night? It doesn't look like they've been home in ages."
"Molly, you've been in prison. You didn't think they would be living there waiting for you to return, did you?" Fabian was surprised.
"Ron's of age. He could take custody of Ginny and where else would they live?" Molly snapped.
"Ron might be of age, but he is in no way mature enough to take custody of his sister. He would never have been approved since he doesn't have the finances to properly care for her. Plus, he still needs a guardian since he is still in school."
"Well… Then where are they?"
"Currently. Ron's at work, and I figure Ginny's with Aunt Muriel."
"WHAT?" Molly was horrified at the idea. "What is going on? Ron doesn't need some stupid job, he's just a child. And why in Merlins name would Ginny be with Muriel?"
"Ron isn't a child, like you just said, Ron is of age now. Like most his age, Ron has a summer job so he can earn his own spending money while also learning what his life is going to be like next year. He is set to graduate in less than a year, and then he's going to need to get a job to earn a living.
As for Ginny, she lives with Muriel."
Molly didn't like it, but she couldn't really argue the point about Ron's graduating even if she didn't like it. Instead, she chose to focus on the other part of the answer. "And just why is Ginny living with Muriel?"
"Because she disowned herself. Arthur can't have custody of her. Since Gideon and I live with Arthur, she can't live with us, not that we would let her after what she did, hurting Arthur like that. That means, the only other person that could take custody was Muriel, unless you would have preferred her to go to the orphanage since she is still under age."
Molly froze at that statement. There was no way her baby could have been sent to an orphanage. Arthur should have stepped up to protect Ginny even if he wasn't her father anymore, he still owed her that much.
Turning Molly left immediately. She needed to get Ginny away from that woman.
Prewett Estate
Muriel was proud of herself as she watched Ginny practice on the piano. The girl was only working on basic tunes, but getting her there had taken a great deal of work.
It had been a long hard summer so far, but Muriel felt she was making progress. Ginny had the basics of table manners, understood how to do a proper introduction and how to hold a basic conversation without coming across as rude. She had also taught the girl the basics of the important families like who was allied to who, and who was feuding. It had taken a bit of work, but the girl even now understood the basic structure of their government.
Overall, Ginny had learned a great deal. The only thing that worried Muriel was what would happen with Molly. Muriel knew that Molly had been released the day before, and was just hoping the woman would focus on herself rather than messing up all the progress Ginny had made.
But that was not to be.
At that moment the elf she knew served her nephews and Arthur popped in and handed her a note before disappearing. The note was from Fabian warning her that Molly had just left him and was more than likely on her way there.
Getting up, Muriel went to the front of the house and could see a clearly angry Molly stomping up the front drive. This was not going to be fun
"What is it you wanted Molly?" Muriel asked as soon as she opened the door.
"Give me back my daughter." Molly glared.
"Ginny is perfectly fine here. If anything, she is much better here with me."
"HOW DARE YOU?" Molly shrieked.
"Do not take that tone with me young lady." Muriel used her most severe tone as she stared down the other woman who had once been family. "You just got out of prison for Merlin knows what. How can you think that you are the best choice for the girls care?"
"Where is she?" Molly snarled.
"Practicing piano." Muriel smiled.
"Ginny doesn't play piano."
"She's learning. I have been teaching her many things that you neglected."
Molly growled in the back of her throat. "Ginny didn't need any of that nonsense you forced on me."
"Yes, because learning manners is such a bad thing." Muriel said in an imperious tone. "If the girl ever wants to make a good match she needs to learn proper behaviour. No one in the upper echelons of our society would have a relationship with an uncouth little girl who doesn't have proper manners, you might remember that."
"GINNY!" Molly screamed.
"Really!" Muriel shook her head trying to get the ringing from her ears. "I can see what little manners your parents and I had managed to instil in you were lost in prison."
That was when Molly finally registered that Muriel had been talking about her being in prison, and so had Fabian. She had told everyone she was visiting a distant family member or on a mission for The Order, so how had Muriel known.
"Something wrong dear?" Muriel had seen the shocked look.
"You said prison. That wasn't where I was. I was on a mission to help stop You-Know-Who." Molly knew she couldn't go the family route with Muriel since she would know it was a lie.
"Lying is unbecoming of a woman your age Margret Lucretia Diggle." Muriel stared down her former niece. "Just so you are aware, the ministry was required to inform Arthur of your arrest and incarceration due to the children. So it might have been kept from everyone else, but we are well aware that you've spent the past few months in Azkaban."
"MUM!" Ginny shouted as she ran to her mum.
"Come on Ginny, get your things, we're leaving." Molly wanted to get the girl out of the house quickly.
Ginny was conflicted. She wanted to be with her mum, it would allow her to just have fun and relax for the rest of the summer. But, she also didn't really want to leave the estate. At the estate she had a huge room with a private bathroom, and there was an elf that made really good food. Both places had their benefits and their drawbacks.
"Ginny still has lessons this afternoon." Muriel informed Molly.
"Lessons? It's summer, Ginny doesn't need to do more work." Molly didn't like the idea of Muriel teaching Ginny anything.
"Ginny is getting lessons on etiquette, deportment, government, and music." Muriel said proudly. "She needs a better awareness of the world she was born into."
Molly glared as she pulled her daughter close, like she could protect her from lessons. "Ginny is my daughter, not yours."
"It's fine mum, the lessons aren't that bad." Ginny shrugged. She didn't like the work, but she did know she needed to learn it. "Some of it's interesting."
"Get your things." Molly kept her voice stern. "We are leaving, now."
Muriel saw the indecision and was pleased, she knew she couldn't legally stop Molly from taking the girl, but she could still be involved. "It's fine Ginny. Your mum may not care about your education, but you can always floo here each day to finish your lessons."
Ginny nodded and went to get her things.
"How dare you?" Molly glared.
"How dare I what? Ensure your child can survive in this world. Teach her proper behaviour. Teach her to respect herself. I really don't understand what your issue is woman. Ginny isn't a little child anymore, treating her like she's just a baby does her no good.
That girl has only 2 years left of school. If she doesn't learn now, then she might never. You can not force her to remain a little girl forever, you need to accept that she is becoming a young woman. Yes, I do understand that, to you, she will always be your child, but you need to let her grow up. She deserves that much from you."
Ginny watched as her mum and great aunt argued from the shadows. It surprised her that she found herself agreeing more with Muriel than her mum. At the beginning of the summer she had thought her mum was far better, but now she was questioning that.
She did love how her mum always made sure she was happy, but she couldn't deny that she didn't like it when her mum treated her like she was a baby. If she had her way she would be married in the next few years, and she wasn't going to let her mum stand in her way.
Voldemort's Headquarters - August 29, 2007
It had taken a long time, but Voldemort had finally found a secure location that he felt was safe enough to use as a permanent headquarters. He had chosen one of the lesser known Slytherin properties.
It was too bad for him that his mind was too scattered for him to remember that Hadrian had claimed the Slytherin Lordship. Hadrian had had the goblins ward the property so he would know if any of them were in use. As soon as the Death Eaters had arrived they had informed Hadrian, who turned the information over to Cedric. The military had been watching the Death Eaters set everything up.
It was also too bad that his Death Eaters were too afraid to speak up and mention it to him. There were a few who saw the flaw in the plan, but they kept their heads down, not wanting to draw their masters attention.
The surveillance team was watching as things started to go wrong. They were supposed to wait until Voldemort made his appearance, but they saw as one of the Death Eaters brought Nagini outside, most likely so she could hunt.
As they watched the snake made her way towards the forest, where they just so happened to be stationed. Suddenly, she stopped. Lifting her head she looked directly where they were and flicked her tongue.
They were hidden under all kinds of spells, but there was just no telling with that snake. She had undergone so many rituals that she might just be able to tell they were there. One of the soldiers alerted the general to what was going on as Nagini looked from their hiding spot, to the building, and then back to them.
When Nagini started moving towards them quickly the general made his decision and gave them their new orders. If Nagini passed by, they were to leave her, but if it looked like she was going to attack they were to kill her even if it exposed their position. They could always track Voldemort down again, but they needed that snake dead.
As they had feared, Nagini went directly towards them and attacked as soon as she was within striking distance. There were only 6 assigned to this surveillance point and Nagini was quick and vicious. Luckily, they had the antidote to her venom.
The struggle only lasted a few minutes, but to the soldiers it felt like hours as they tried to subdue the giant snake that was all teeth and muscle. But, eventually they got the upper hand.
One of the soldiers managed to get a hold of his boot knife and slammed it down through the snakes head and into the ground. Even with that the snake kept fighting. As soon as her head was stuck to the ground they had all moved back, casting fiendfyre.
They all watched as the writhing snake was consumed. A burst of black smoke came out of her with a high pitched scream.
Looking around they could see that all the noise had gotten the attention of the Death Eaters so they left as fast as they could, going directly to the medical wing of their base.
Undisclosed Location
More than a few Death Eaters were tortured and killed when they returned to their former hideout to report the death of Nagini.
Voldemort had just been preparing to move to their new location. That had been why Nagini had been released. She was supposed to do one final check of the grounds to ensure complete security. It also served to get her food so she would stop eating random Death Eaters when she got hungry but was confined and couldn't go hunting for other pray.
He was absolutely furious that Nagini was gone. Not just because she was his familiar and was a convenient way to get rid of bodies, but because she was his horcrux. Those fools had lost him a piece of his soul.
There was no doubt in his mind now, there was a spy. And he was going to find that person and make them suffer for years before he would allow them the mercy of death, if he ever allowed them mercy.
Platform 9 ¾ - September 1, 2007
Hermione let out a sigh of relief as she arrived at the platform. Summer with her parents had been terrible. They just couldn't let go of the past. She had barely had any time to do her summer homework between everything else she had been doing.
Her parents had even refused to pay for the extra OWLs she had wanted to take so she had had to get a job. Much of the money she got from the Headmaster had been spent on getting the books on the extra subjects she was studying, so she had needed more. She had gone to work at one of the bookstores, but it hadn't been nearly as nice as she had hoped it would be. Hermione had hoped that she would be able to read a lot of books, but the man who owned the shop never gave her any time.
Whenever there weren't any customers he gave her other jobs like tidying, doing inventory, and even building new shelves. The only good thing was that she could use magic and didn't have to do it all by hand. The only benefit had been the discount she got on the books, but it had only been 10% which was barely anything.
She really didn't feel ready for her final year. They had their NEWTs at the end of the year and she had barely managed any review time over the summer, that meant she was going to have to do it during the year. And, if she was busy focusing on her studying then she really wouldn't have time to try and get control of Hadrian. Maybe she could offer to help him study, but she really didn't want to have to spend all her time dealing with trying to get him to understand.
They needed him, but she really didn't like the other boy. He never gave her the respect she deserved. And he acted like one of those arrogant pure bloods. Didn't he understand that the muggle world was better. Hermione still planned to be the one that brought the barriers down between the two worlds, and that meant they needed the wizarding world to adapt to the muggle world.
Ron was happy as he got on the train. He could finally relax. Summer had been so hard this year.
After his mum had come home Ron had been happy to move back in with her, but he still had to finish out his work contract. At least he had a little spending money, and he did mean little.
Ron wasn't sure how he felt about graduating at the end of the year. He didn't want to have to keep doing school work, but he also really didn't want to have to work. Hopefully the Department of Magical Games and Sports would be more fun than looking after a giant cat had been.
His dream of playing professional quidditch was almost completely dead. He had talked with Oliver Wood at Bill's wedding. Oliver, who played keeper for Puddlemere United, had told him about all the practice and workouts he, and all professional quidditch players, had to do. Ron didn't want to have to spend hours working out and practicing every day, he just wanted to play quidditch.
Seeing Hermione already trying to sort through her books Ron knew it was going to be a long year, and there was going to be a lot of work he was sure.
Ginny, like her brother, was excited to return to school. She finally felt like she understood what she had been doing wrong. For years she hadn't understood just why so many students reacted the way they did to her, now she knew.
The lessons Muriel taught her had showed her her missteps. Now, she was going to fix them.
It might be slightly difficult, but she was sure she could do it. After all, most of the people in the school were raised to be followers of either He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named or Headmaster Dumbledore. They were too simple minded to hold on to what had happened in the past.
Starting this year she was going to start behaving like her aunt had taught her. She needed to get people to see her as someone to look up to. And to do that she was going to need to do a lot of studying so she could get better grades so they would know she was smart. After that she was going to work on making sure people started to come to her with their troubles, she wasn't really sure how to do that yet, but she was sure she would figure something out.
Ginny needed to find some way to place herself in a position of authority. It was just too bad she had been denied a prefects badge, that would have been useful. But hopefully she would become head girl and quidditch captain. She was going to have to speak with the headmaster to ensure he got her those positions, and talking to Professor McGonagall about it might help as well.
This year was going to be the year of Ginny Prewett.
Hadrian found himself oddly excited as he rode the train towards his final year of school. He had never done this before. During his last seventh year he had been too busy hunting horcruxes.
He was even slightly nervous. Last time he had never had to take his NEWTs and he was slightly worried about taking his tests, but he guessed that was how all students felt. This was the first time he had ever felt that he was like the other students.
Although, he did have to admit that he still had an advantage because of all the time he had had to study and research in his past life. He still occasionally felt guilty about that fact, but he wasn't going to hold back. Everyone used every advantage they had to do well on exams, he would be a fool not to use what he had. After all, he did put in the work to know what he knew.
This year was also the year they were going to, hopefully, finally remove Dumbledore from the school, or at least, the headmastership. Due to the stupid by-laws since he had been headmaster for 50 years he could remain living on school grounds, but he at least wouldn't have any authority. The students would begin to see him as just some doddering old fool that lived on the grounds.
They had spent the last decade getting him out of his other positions of authority, while stripping him of the titles had gone quickly, they needed to make sure he couldn't use his reputation to serve as an 'advisor'. They just needed Dumbledore to do something that could allow the board to force his retirement. But, Hadrian had no doubt they would have it by the end of the semester given how unhinged Dumbledore was becoming.
He wished they could have done it sooner, but the man still had the support of the public, for some reason. At the end of the last year Dumbledore had once again managed to gain some positive press. The Prophet had spent weeks writing about how the old man had ensured the protection of the helpless little children and made it out like Dumbledore had single handedly stopped the invasion. The only ones that really knew the truth were those that were involved, and they had more important things to do then worry about making themselves look good.
They still had to do more damage to the mans reputation before they could move against him too hard. Despite who held the positions of power, it was the public that held the real power in their world.
But the very best part was that this was the last year. All he had to do was finish this year and he was free to do as he pleased.
Draco made his way down the train with even more pride than usual in his movements. Despite Dumbledore's best efforts, Draco had been given the Head Boy position. And according to his godfather, Dumbledore had all but fell to the floor and cried in an effort to stop it.
But, between all the others, he got the badge. The only ones that had really stood against him were Dumbledore and McGonagall. All the other heads of house, along with the deputy headmaster, liked him. Even knowing that he could get into mischief, they still thought well of him.
Great Hall
Albus Dumbledore kept his kindly grandfather look on his face as he surveyed the students as they made their way into the hall. The look was good, as he well knew, he had practiced it for years after all.
His main focus was, as usual, the Potter brat. The boy was happily sitting with his friends like usual, and Albus hated it. He hated having to look at the boy, it was a constant reminder of the mistakes that had been made. It was even worse this year since the brat was supposed to be hunting horcruxes with his pawns.
Albus had spent every free moment this summer trying to locate one of the horcruxes so that he could show the brat that they really did exist, but he hadn't found anything. The one place he had been sure of was the shack where the Gaunts had lived, but he hadn't found anything.
He had hoped that he would find the Gaunt ring there. After decades of research, as well as multiple examinations of the pensive memories of the ring Tom's grandfather had worn, Albus was sure that the stone in the ring was the resurrection stone.
Albus still remembered the stories that Gellert had told him when he was younger. He had even managed to confirm them since he now held the Elder Wand. He knew that the brat held the cloak and would be able to get it when need be. All he needed was that stone and he would become the master of death. Then, he would live forever and have the power to force the world to become what he wanted it to be.
Gryffindor Common Room
Both Ron and Hermione were thrilled as they made their way into their house. Finally, they were going to get their own rooms. They finally wouldn't have to share their space with anyone else.
There was also the benefit that Hermione would be able to go into Ron's room for… personal time. And they wouldn't have to worry about anyone walking in on them.
Ravenclaw Common Room
Hadrian actually had the opposite reaction to Ron and Hermione. While having his own space might be nice, it also made him feel isolated.
He had enjoyed sharing his room with Theo. He and the other boy had formed a strong friendship. It wasn't the same as his friendship with Draco and Neville, but they both enjoyed hanging out each night as they went over their Wizengamot paperwork. It also gave him someone to debate different bills with. The debates were always interesting and got both boys to pay more attention.
Having someone around that understood the responsibility and pressure that came with being a member of the Wizengamot at such a young age had been nice. He knew they could still meet up to discuss things, but it really wasn't the same.
Headmasters Office - September 16, 2007
Albus was smugly sitting in his office as he looked over the Sunday Prophet. He had spent the first two weeks of school trying to get the boy to listen to him, but the brat was still refusing to go horcrux hunting. He had called the boy up to his office almost every other day to try and convince the boy to do what he wanted, but was continuously refused.
Merlin he couldn't wait until Gellert managed to get the books he needed.
Albus had had to fall back on his old standby, using the press to pressure people into doing what he wanted. He had anonymously released the prophecy to the press. Now the entire wizarding populace of Britain was going to know that the boy was the only one that could defeat Tom. He had also made sure to get the reporter to write about how the boy was going to need to be trained to be able to handle such a large responsibility and suggest him to do the training. After all, the great Albus Dumbledore had defeated the last Dark Lord, so who better to train the boy to get him prepared.
This would force the boy to fall in line.
Hadrian was practically snarling as he entered the Headmaster's office. He knew it had been the old fool that had released that stupid prophecy. He also knew why he did it, he hoped that Hadrian would bow to public pressure and go into training with the old man.
That was not going to happen.
"You wished to see me, again, Headmaster." Hadrian said as he took his seat. "What is it this time?"
"Yes my boy, lemon drop?" Like always, he was refused, he needed to get this boy on potions. "What I wished to discuss with you is your training schedule. We will need to work out the timing of things. Since you have refused to take the year off school we will need to work around your class schedule. I will set up a training schedule for you, we will just say it is advanced training for you for when you become an auror. We will also have to make time to try and determine the locations of the different horcruxes. Then we…"
Hadrian held up his hand. "Headmaster, I have not agreed to anything. My opinion on the subject hasn't changed. I will not be involving myself in this war until I am finished school. I also have no intention of becoming an auror."
"But you must my boy." Albus was horrified that the boy was so selfish that he wouldn't be willing to stand against Tom, even knowing that he was the only one who could, much to his annoyance. "It is your destiny. You are the only one that can save Britain from the dark. And being an auror would be the best career for you my boy. It will help to ensure the safety of our world."
"How many times must I say it, YOU are NOT in charge of MY life." Hadrian spoke slowly to try and get the man to understand. "The military and the ministry are doing a great job in protecting us, I will not be interfering in THEIR job.
I do not like divination. I will not be basing my life of some mumbo jumbo gibberish spoken by some supposed seer. Anyone that has ever studied prophecy's knows that the only real prophecies that are fulfilled are those that someone starts on and just never stop. And they never make sense until after everything is done. So, it's more than likely people are making the wrong assumptions.
But, even more, I already defeated him, so therefore, the prophecy has already been fulfilled."
Albus ground his teeth, he was starting to worry that he was not going to have any teeth left by the time this was done. "I assure you, the prophecy is valid, and has yet to be fulfilled. Our world is relying on you, surely you won't turn your back on them.
It is your time to shine my boy. You just need to step up."
Hadrian looked at the old mans joyous face. "NO! I have said it before, I'm saying it now, and I suspect, I will have to say it again. This constant harassment is really getting too much Headmaster.
This is not my war, and I will not endanger my life while I am still a student. If the war is still going on when I graduate then I will consider it, but not before. If you continue to call me up here every other day I feel I will have no choice but to report it to the school governors."
With that said, Hadrian got up and marched out of the office without being given leave.
Albus just glared at the door as it closed. How dare that boy threaten him.
When that woman had given that damnable prophecy Albus had been furious. He had so many plans, but it had all been stopped that day. Albus knew that he could not defeat Tom, only the prophesied child could.
All his plans had been placed on hold until he discovered who the child was, then, James had arrived at one of the meetings with a son. When Albus had heard the boys birthdate he had known he was the child so he had arranged to place Lily in the family. He had then encouraged them to use Pettigrew as secret keeper since he knew he was a Death Eater, and then made sure Lily and James were out of the house.
He had wanted the boy to be raised with no love, taught to be submissive and malleable. Then, once the boy came to Hogwarts Albus would be able to portray himself as the kindly grandfather, making himself a hero to the abused boy. The boy would have done anything for him. Then, when the time was right, he would send the boy after Tom.
Win or lose, Albus would win. If the boy survived, then Albus would be known as the one who trained him. The boy would marry Ginny and they would have a child and then the boy would tragically die. Albus would take up regency for the child, giving him access to all the boys vaults, as well as the seats on the Wizengamot. Ginny would play the role of grieving widow, making the public adore them even more.
If the boy lost, then Albus would step in and defeat Tom while he was weak. He would once again be the hero. And, along with heaping praise on him for once again saving them, they would see him as avenging their precious Boy-Who-Lived. As the boys magical guardian he would also gain control of everything the boy had had. And if that didn't work, then he still had James to use to gain access to the money. But all that had changed, but Albus was sure he could fix it.
All he needed was to get the boy to follow the plan.
Stirling Lines, British Army Garrison - September 27, 2007
Unspeakable Augustus Rookwood was sitting in a meeting with the military giving his report on what he had learned in the latest Death Eater meeting.
"You were correct General. The Dark Lord is planning an attack for Samhain. It isn't going to be good." Augustus sighed out, making sure not to say Voldemort since it caused his mark to hurt. "He is trying to decide between a major attack on a muggle fair or targeting Diagon Alley itself. Either way there will be plenty of deaths. Both targets are just too open, there is no way to control access without being noticeable.
He is getting more paranoid. He is worried about a spy even more since the death of Nagini. Many of his people have suffered under the cruciatus as he works his way through those he suspects might have betrayed him."
"Has he noticed you?" General Whitcomb didn't want to risk their spy.
"Not yet." Augustus said. "So far he is focused on the outer circle. I was placed over 5 years before the attack on Potter-Black. Since I was there so long he believes me to be loyal. Right now he's more focused on those that just recently joined, or who joined within the year before the last war ended."
"What is your opinion on this attack?" The General questioned.
"We need to stop it." Augustus really didn't want to risk this attack. "His plans are for complete anarchy. He will be letting everyone do as they please. That includes the trolls and giants that he has managed to recruit.
So far, he has only managed to gain a few vampires and werewolves. Thankfully, it won't be a full moon, but the vampires have been told to turn as many as possible. He wants to use this attack to get the Wizengamot to roll back the protections for magical creatures. He seems to think that will make it easier for him to sway them to his side.
He's even more unstable since the prophecy was released. He's trying to find a way to lure the boy out. The sources he has in the school have all been reporting that the boy is still avoiding Dumbledore, so he feels he will be an easy target."
"This is not good." The General sighed as he wiped his hand down his face in frustration. "The boy might be 17 and a legal adult now, but he hasn't even graduated, we can't send him off like a sacrificial lamb.
At the same time, we can't risk that attack. We need to find a way to stop him."
"I had a thought." Augustus said, and carried on when he got a nod. "We might be over thinking this. We are so focused on defeating him in battle, but maybe we should be focusing on when he is more relaxed."
"In what manner?" Amelia, who was also in the meeting, questioned.
"The Dark Lord ordered us to allow him the use of our house elves. One of my elves, Ritz, volunteered to work for the thing to protect the others." Augustus had been collecting house elves from abusive homes for years and had 23 elves in his home. "Ritz got himself assigned to working in the kitchen. It's not exactly noble, but he is more than willing to poison the food. As it stands right now, he has no horcruxes, if he dies now, it's over."
"So we just poison him." The General liked how simple that sounded.
"But what about the prophecy?" One of the others asked. "I'm not one who really believes in that sort of stuff, but what if…?"
"We talk to Hadrian." Cedric said from his seat. "If we talked to him I'm sure he would help brew the poison, he was always good in potions.
If he brews the poison, then, technically he killed him, even if he wasn't the one to actually do it in person."
"It would be a way to fulfill the prophecy in the case it is valid, but it won't include endangering a school student. It could work." The General liked the idea. When it came to dealing with an enemy like this, you couldn't always rely on conventional tactics.
It was decided that they would work on poisoning Voldemort as a way to not only get rid of him, but to also stop the planned Samhain attack. From there, they would need to try and limit the fall out as much as possible. The Death Eaters were not very likely to take the death of their Lord well. Thankfully, Augustus had been compiling lists of those who had the mark so that they could be monitored.
DOM - October 6, 2007
It was the first Saturday in October when Hadrian signed himself out of the school and met with Regulus and the others in a private room in the DOM. They explained the plan that they had worked out.
This seemed like the perfect compromise to him. It would allow him to stop Voldemort without having to needlessly risk lives. If he tried to go to battle against the man then many others might die since there was no way he could go up against Voldemort and all his Death Eaters alone. The last thing he wanted was another final battle like the last one.
It would shut up all those that felt it was his responsibility to deal with the problem because they were too afraid to deal with it themselves. And, he didn't have to risk his life, it was the first time someone outside his family had ever managed to come up with a plan that did that.
So, Hadrian got to work under the supervision of Regulus, Cedric, and his papa. The recipe he was given was for an ancient poison that most didn't know existed. Only a potions master that studied ancient potions would know of its existence.
There was a cure, but it would take a potions master to identify the poison and then brew the cure. And Voldemort currently didn't have one of those. Once taken, the potion would kill him within 20 minutes. And as an added benefit, modern detection charms didn't register it.
It took most of the day, but hours after he arrived in the DOM, Hadrian handed a small vial over to Augustus. He had no regret with what that potion was going to be used for.
ROR
"So, what were you up to today?" Neville asked Hadrian. He had noticed his friend had been particularly pensive since returning to the school.
Hadrian was, as usual, snuggled between Fred and George. "Brewing poison."
Everyone sputtered at that.
"Did we…"
"Do something wrong?" The twins asked in a joking tone.
Hadrian laughed. "No. The spy the Unspeakables have in the Death Eaters has managed to find a way to spike Voldy's food. The elf he got assigned to making Voldy's food is more than willing to poison him for us.
But, since Dumbles released that ridiculous prophecy people seem to think it's my job to save them. So, they had me brew the potion so it is technically me that is 'defeating' him."
"So it's almost over. That's good." Draco said. He was glad it was almost done.
Many in the Slytherin house were having problems. Many had parents that wanted them to join, even if they didn't. After what had happened to Pansy the year before it had really driven the danger of siding with Voldy home for them.
Pansy had been convicted for treason and conspiracy to commit murder. But, since she was underage she couldn't be sent to Azkaban. Instead she was sentenced to two years in a muggle juvenile correctional facility. Her magic had been bound and she had been spelled so she couldn't speak of magic.
At the end of two years she would meet with a parole board. If she was deemed as being rehabilitated she would be released on probation. She would be monitored for 10 years. But, if she was still a blood supremacist and deemed a risk, she would be sent to Azkaban to serve another 10 years.
"It's still going to be a week or so. They needed to get everything in place." Hadrian warned. "They figure once he's dead his supporters are going to flip, so they are getting people in position to monitor them so if they do anything they can pick them up quickly."
The others agreed that it made sense and went back to chatting about how their week had been.
Undisclosed Location - October 11, 2007
Only 5 days after Hadrian brewed the poison the elderly house elf, Ritz, tipped the vial into the stew he was making for the Dark Lords lunch. Ritz had been serving his Master Augustus since before the beginning of the first war. He had seen what the Dark Lord had done to his master, and an angry house elf never forgave.
It was why he had volunteered to go into the things service. He had hoped that he would be able to help protect his master, like his master had always protected him and the other elves he had saved over the years.
Under normal circumstances no elf would willingly do anything like he was doing, but this was not normal circumstances. That thing was no longer human due to all the rituals it had done. The thing had also done nothing but cause suffering for decades, it needed to be put down like the rabid animal it was. Because of that Ritz had no regrets for what he was doing.
Voldemort sat at his private table. Due to the rituals he only needed to eat once every few days. He had felt having to take time to sit and eat multiple times a day took too much time away from taking over the world so he had used Nagini in a ritual to give himself the metabolism of a snake.
Just thinking of his familiar he once again felt the rage building. Those fools had lost him a piece of his soul. He was going to have to make another, seven was a magical number, so having seven horcruxes had to be a good thing.
An elf popped in and served him his weekly lunch. Seeing a way to get rid of some of his rage Voldemort sent a blasting curse at the little creature, slamming it against the wall where it slid to the floor and lay still.
Not really feeling any better Voldemort sent a detection spell at the food just to check, he would never trust a creature. When the spell came back clear he quickly ate the food.
Only a few moments later he started to sweat and his stomach rolled, but Voldemort ignored it. He was immortal, the creature most likely just didn't know how to cook food suitable for wizards.
Getting up he started to head towards the creature to punish it for its failure when the agony forced him to double over. It felt like his blood was on fire as it spread through his body. Trying to force back the pain Voldemort tried to get to the door, his followers needed to fix this, or he was going to punish them more severely than ever before.
But he never made it to the door. He didn't even manage two steps before he crumpled to the floor twitching in agony.
Less than 2 minutes later, the most feared Dark Lord died, a silent scream on his thin lips.
Ten minutes after Ritz popped away with the Dark Lords food Augustus Rookwood made his way through the manor. He sent the Death Eaters he saw away, saying that their lord had ordered it so he could give a private report. Opening the door, he stepped in the room.
The first thing he saw was the creature dead on the floor, but then he noticed Ritz. Moving quickly he went to the elf.
Ritz was alive, but injured. The impact with the wall had broken a few bones and the blasting curse itself had made a jagged circular cut over his sternum. After casting a few quick healing spells Augustus turned back to the Dark Lord.
He cast an invisibility spell on the body before levitating it up. Then, he reached down and gently gathered Ritz in his arms. Moving as fast as he could Augustus made his way out of the room, the invisible body floating behind him.
Luckily, he didn't run into anyone as he made his way out of the building. Stepping over the ward line he grabbed the body with one hand and activated the portkey he carried.
Stirling Lines, British Army Garrison, Medical Ward
Augustus arrived in the medical ward. The portkey had been set to take him directly there in the event he had been injured.
Leaving the body where it fell, Augustus called to the healers and gently lay Ritz down. The healers immediately started to treat the little elf.
Turning back, Augustus removed the invisibility spell, allowing everyone to see the body on the floor.
"Is that…?" One of the healers questioned in horror.
"Yes." Augustus nodded as he levitated the body up onto one of the beds.
Once again turning his back on the body, something he had never done when the thing had been alive, Augustus started sending off patronus messages. He alerted General Whitcomb, although he knew the man was most likely on his way since he would have been alerted to the portkey activity, Minister Shacklebolt, and Amelia Bones.
Minister's Office
Minister Kensington Shacklebolt was in the middle of an interview with a few reporters attempting to get them to stop trying to put the responsibility of the war on Hadrian Potter-Black when a patronus zipped into his office. It still made him smile to know that Augustus Rookwoods patronus was an adorable little hummingbird.
The message was simple and to the point. "It's done."
Making his excuses Kensington got up and quickly left the office. He let the reporters know that he would have more to tell them when he returned.
He quickly went to the apperation point in the ministry and left.
DMLE
Amelia was just going over some paperwork when a hummingbird patronus arrived in her office giving her the same message as Kensington. She couldn't believe it. She had known it was coming, but was still surprised that it was done.
Like Kensington she immediately left.
Stirling Lines, British Army Garrison, Medical Ward
When everyone arrived they all just took a moment to stare at the creature that had done so much damage to their world. It was over. While a few people had died, it was no where near the casualties from the last war.
Thousands had died last time this thing had been alive. This time, there were less than a dozen deaths in both the muggle and magical worlds.
"Is this Ritz?" Amelia questioned as she saw the little elf that was now awake and sitting in the bed having bandages wrapped around his chest.
"Yes, I's bes Ritz." The elf said with pride.
"What happened?" Kensington hadn't thought the elf would be in any danger.
"Voldemort threw a blasting curse at him. It was before he had eaten anything, so more than likely it was just his traditional pre-lunch entertainment." Augustus told them.
"We need to tell the public, and decide what to do with the body." Amelia spoke up.
"It will be easy to inform the press. I was actually in the middle of an interview with a few reporters when I got the message. They will most likely be waiting for me when I return to the ministry." Kensington said.
"I think the public will want to see the body. It will give everyone closure." Amelia said, feeling her own closure now that she knew the rest of her family was safe. Her brother and his wife may have survived, but she still lost over a dozen members of her family to that man, including her own father.
"How could we arrange that?" Kensington asked.
"I think we should arrange a public viewing in Diagon alley for the weekend." The General said thoughtfully. "My, and Amelia's, people could provide security. Allow everyone to see the body, and then use fiendfyre to destroy him so no one worries about any necromancy."
"I would make a request." Augustus spoke up. "I would like it announced that I was a spy. I have spent the past 20 years dealing with the suspicions of those around me, it would be nice if people would stop randomly screaming Death Eater at me.
And I think Regulus would like the same thing. He hasn't even been able to really go out in public since he doesn't want to draw any attention to his family."
"We can do that. If everyone's ready, we can do it right now." Kensington was excited to tell everyone that they were safe. "We can go to my office and call Regulus up and get his opinion and give a press conference in an hour or so in the main atrium."
The others all agreed. Both Amelia and General Whitcomb were going to bring a few people with them to provide security since there may be a few followers that might not take the news well. They were also going to have to make arrangements to call in extra support since there was most likely going to be public celebrations for the next few weeks and there was still a risk from those that had chosen to align with Voldemort.
Ministry Atrium
Everyone was milling about as they waited for the minster to explain what was going on. People started shifting uncomfortably when the minister took the stage with two Death Eaters. It just added to their confusion when General Whitcomb, Amelia Bones, and a heavily bandaged house elf joined them.
"Can I have everyone's attention." Kensington called over the crowd, he waited until everyone was quiet and paying attention to him before he spoke again. "I can see the concern you have about my guests, so allow me to explain.
We shall start with Regulus Black. Given you reactions, I can only guess that you have heard the stories of him being a Death Eater. And, I can confirm those stories. Regulus Black became a Death Eater, as a spy for the ministry. You may have heard that he was killed for being a traitor, clearly that was not the case. The reason he was believed dead was because he was severely injured completing his mission and was in a coma for years.
This, is his house elf, Kreacher. When his master was injured, Kreacher carried on with the mission and destroyed the artifact that Regulus had been after. With their mission complete Kreacher returned to his master to care for him while he recovered."
The whispers had begun as soon as Kensington had said Regulus was a spy. As the explanation finished the people that had previously been hostile cheered.
"Next, we have Augustus Rookwood. Like Regulus, Augustus took up the role of spy. You may have noticed that the military has been ready and waiting whenever the Death Eaters attacked. That was because they had already known the location of each attack days in advanced thanks to him.
And this, is Augustus's house elf, Ritz. Ritz was given a very dangerous job. Ritz has spent the last months working his way into Voldemort's staff of elves that he had demanded from his Death Eaters. He finally managed to get himself assigned to be his personal chef.
Less than three hours ago, on the instruction of myself, Head of the DMLE, Amelia Bones, General Whitcomb, and his master, Augustus Rookwood, Ritz slipped a fast acting poison into Voldemort's lunch. He took a blasting curse to the chest for his efforts, but they payed off.
It is with great joy that I announce to you, thanks to the combined efforts of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement under the guidance of Madame Amelia Bones, the Magical Military under the command of General Whitcomb, spies and informants such as Regulus Black and Augustus Rookwood, and all the loyal house elves like Kreacher and Ritz, Tom Marvolo Riddle, more commonly known as the Dark Lord Voldemort, has been pronounced dead."
The atrium exploded in cheers as Kensington finished his little speech. Thankfully, since the thing was now dead Augustus would never again feel pain whenever the things moniker was spoken.
Amelia noticed as Kingsley grabbed a man that they had long suspected of being a supporter and dragged him away after Cedric had stepped up and disarmed him before he could attack. Looking around she saw as a few others were silently taken away whenever they made a move to attack any on the stage.
Holding up his hand, Kensington asked for quiet. Realizing that he really wasn't going to get it, he just spoke over the cheering. "The body is currently being held at an undisclosed location.
It has been decided that we will hold a public viewing so those in our community can see he is truly gone for themselves this weekend. At the end of the viewing period the body will be destroyed with fiendfyre so that he can never return again. We shall announce the time and place tomorrow."
With that, Kensington opened the floor for questions.
The first reporters question had been expected. "How can we be sure that he is truly gone? The prophecy that was made public stated that Hadrian Potter-Black was the only one that could defeat him."
"That isn't actually what it said, it just said that he had the power to vanquish him." Regulus stated. "That is something that he did as a toddler. We have no evidence that that prophecy was still valid."
"But, just to be sure," Amelia stood next to Regulus. "We requested that Hadrian come to the ministry last week. We explained the situation to him and he agreed with our plan. Under our guidance and observation, Hadrian brewed the poison that was used from a recipe that was supplied by the DOM."
That seemed to be enough to satisfy those that believed in the prophecy and they turned their attention to other aspects of what happened.
Hogwarts, Great Hall
Everyone was sitting down to dinner when the special editions of both The Prophet and The Seer were delivered. Both carried the blaring headlines announcing the death of Voldemort. Although The Prophet still referred to him as You-Know-Who.
The hall became a cacophony of noise as the students read the news. Most of the students were thrilled to know that the war, that really wasn't a war, was over. The danger was gone.
The children of the Death Eaters were conflicted. Those that hadn't wanted to join but had been being threatened and pressured by others were secretly thrilled, but didn't want to risk showing it. Those that were true believers were furious, but couldn't risk showing it.
Hadrian was keeping his head down and focusing on his food. He didn't want to have to deal with the other students on this subject. Many had, like Dumbledore, wanted him to start training and go off to fight Voldemort.
He had gotten into a few debates about who's job it was to deal with the security of their country. In all, Hadrian just didn't want to deal with it anymore. He had lost respect for plenty of the other students, and even a few of the teachers.
Albus just stared at the words on the paper. This couldn't be possible. No one had run this headline past him.
He needed Voldemort out killing people. How had they managed to do this without him knowing?
They hadn't even given him any credit. Blast them all. They had ruined everything.
He was going to have to get the boy back into his office. Thankfully, the ministry didn't know about the horcruxes so he still had that angle to use.
If all else failed, he could use one of the horcruxes that the boy collected to bring Voldemort back again. That would make the ministry and military look incompetent since they had stated that he was gone for good.
Once he got the ritual books he could fix all this, and even better, Gellert would be free once again. They could just go back to their original rolls if needs be. It might take a bit of work to get Gellert to trust him again, but Albus was sure he could do it.
Hogsmeade - October 13, 2007
There were people everywhere on the day that the public viewing of Voldemort was scheduled. The original plan of displaying the body in Diagon Alley had been scrapped since there just wouldn't be enough room. Based off the response the ministry had gotten to the announcement of the viewing, the predictions were that thousands of witches and wizards would come. The alley could only hold a maximum of a few hundred in any one area, and with that there would be almost no ability to move.
The decision had been made to move it to Hogsmeade. The town was larger so could accommodate more people. It also had the benefit that any of the students that wanted to attend could.
The entire town was decorated that day. A vast majority had been celebrating for the past two days and this was just a continuation of that. The townsfolk had covered their houses in elaborate decorations. All the shops and restaurants were open and offering some extremely good deals, and doing a brisk business because of it.
There was a podium set up in the middle of the town square where the body would be placed. It would allow for everyone to view it from all sides.
No one failed to notice what looked like every single auror and at least half the military were also making their way through the town. A few people had already been removed for causing problems. Although everyone was happy and celebrating, there was still an air of caution since there were still Death Eaters around. But, after so many months, they had come to trust in the aurors and soldiers to protect them.
By mid afternoon, the preserved body of Voldemort was portkeyed directly onto the podium. The entire podium was warded so that no one could get on it. They didn't want to risk anything, especially since the entire podium was going to be burned within a few hours.
There were plenty of screams and yells of terror when people got the first look at the monster that had stalked their nightmares for years. It truly was a disturbing sight.
The local green grocer had been selling fruit and vegetables that they had used magic to make spoil. So, after the initial fear had passed, people started pelting the podium with rotten fruit and vegetables. The shield around the podium kept any of it from touching the body, but it made the people feel better to have an outlet.
It was a Hogsmeade weekend, so many of the students were making a game of it. Thanks to a petition that had been signed by over 500 parents or guardians in less than two days even the younger years got to attend. Although, the first and second years were put in groups and assigned a staff member to watch over them just incase there were any issues.
In all, the town had a circus like atmosphere.
It was just as the sun started to go down that two hooded and robed Unspeakable stepped forward. Each taking an end of the podium, they cast fiendfyre.
Despite all the laughing and partying the people had done throughout the afternoon, it was almost completely silent as everyone watched the cursed flames consume the podium, body and all as it reached towards the sky.
As the Unspeakables forced the flames out, an all mighty cheer rose up as the party atmosphere returned.
Hogwarts - October 31, 2007
Hadrian was thrilled after he finished the Samhain ritual and returned to his dorm for the night.
Not a single thing had gone wrong for him all day. It seemed the curse that had always seemed to exist on this day for him was finally broken.
Headmaster's Office - November 3, 2007
Hadrian should have known that the good times couldn't last forever. Only a few days after the burning of Voldemort he was once again called up to the headmaster's office.
"You wished to see me, again, Headmaster." Hadrian said as he walked into the office before he froze and had to force back a snarl.
Sitting at the desk was Granger, Weasley, and, now, Prewett. The only free chair sat between Granger and Prewett, and there was no way he was going to sit there, so he took his papa's place leaning against the wall.
"Please have a seat my boy. Lemon drop?" Albus smiled. He was going to get what he wanted if it was the last thing he did.
"No, thank you. I'm fine where I am." Hadrian didn't move at all, he wanted to smirk at the glare he got from Granger, but held back.
Albus's smile became slightly brittle. "As you wish. Now my boy, I called you up here to discuss the horcruxes. As you know, Voldemort created many of them, and, although he has once again lost his body, he will still return. The only way to stop it is to find and destroy them.
Since you have kept refusing to deal with the problem while you're still a student, we still have some time. You will be graduating soon and then you can finish the job that was started with the temporary destruction of Voldemort.
I have spoken with Hermione, Ron, and Ginny, and they have all offered to assist you in determining where the horcruxes are hidden."
With a flick of his wand, Hadrian cast the patronus spell and gave it a quick message before sending it off. This time, his patronus wasn't Prongs, instead it was a perfect copy of his animigus form that Fred and George had named Chaos. He sent Chaos to his dad, requesting to have Regulus floo to the headmasters office so he could explain about the destruction of the horcruxes.
"Well, are you going to say anything?" Hermione demanded.
She really didn't like how rude Hadrian was being. When the Headmaster had explained to them about what a horcrux was, and how He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had created many of them she had been horrified. Her horror had turned to anger when he told them that he had told Hadrian about it the year before, but Hadrian was refusing to help destroy them.
"What was that?" Ron questioned, looking to where the silver animal had been.
"What a cute fox." Ginny giggled.
"Honestly Ron, it's a patronus. We covered them in DADA just last month." Hermione glared at the boy, he really needed to pay more attention.
"But it's a shield. Why summon one now?" Ron tried to distract Hermione.
"A little known fact about patroni is that they can also be used to deliver messages." Albus explained to the three of them when Hermione also was at a loss. "It is a very advanced spell, well done Hadrian, but I must ask, who are you sending a message to? We can't have everyone knowing about this. It really is for the greater good to keep those with knowledge of horcruxes to a minimum."
"The person I sent a message to already knows about them, not to worry Headmaster." Hadrian said just as the floo flared green and a robed figure stepped out.
"Percy?" Ron and Ginny questioned.
The figure waved his wand casting multiple privacy charms before lowering his hood. "Not quite. Hello Hadrian, headmaster."
"Your Regulus Black." Hermione stated, remembering him from his picture in the paper.
"Yes, I am." Regulus confirmed before turning to Hadrian. "What is it that you needed Hadrian?"
"The Headmaster is concerned about Voldy's horcruxes. And wanting me to spend the rest of the year trying to figure out where they are before going in search of them once I finish school. I figured you could set him right."
"Happily." Regulus smiled at Hadrian, sending a quick wink to the portrait of Phineas Black before turning back to the others. "There is no need to worry Headmaster Dumbledore, the horcruxes have been destroyed."
"I…I beg your pardon?" Albus was lost. This couldn't be happening.
"That was my assignment Headmaster. I was assigned to find and destroy any and all horcruxes." Regulus smiled. "There are no more horcruxes belonging to Tom Riddle."
"I feel I must disagree with you my boy. I know of one that still exists." Albus countered. He knew that the boy in front of him was one.
"No Headmaster, there aren't." Regulus's eyes went hard. He knew the old man wanted Hadrian to die for his so called greater good. "You see, most don't know the real history of horcruxes. Most think Harpo the Fowl created them, but he really didn't. Hocruxes have been around for thousands of years. But, under the reign of Hatshpsute in 1465 BC, anything involved in the creation of a horcrux was ordered destroyed. She felt that the practice was vial and would not have it in her kingdom. All scrolls or documents that even mentioned them were destroyed.
Harpo the Fowl actually discovered them through reading the scrolls that Hatshepsut's nephew Thutmose III had saved and hidden. Because of this, curse breakers often find them buried in tombs in Egypt.
Since people often used objects of great value to store a horcrux, since they think it wouldn't be destroyed, the goblins developed a technique that would allow them to transfer the horcrux from its original vessel to a new one. That is why, after the item was purged, the diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw was placed in the Ravenclaw vaults. All the artifacts of value were returned to their rightful owners of course.
So there is no need to worry Headmaster, we purged the horcruxes and then destroyed them."
Albus blinked. They knew the boy had been a horcrux, and they had had it removed. It couldn't be. They couldn't just do that. Everything he had planned on for decades had been destroyed with that simple act. How dare they destroy everything once again?
All the things he had been working out were once again for not, and it was all because of that brat having a family.
"If that is all, I'm leaving." Hadrian said and then walked out the door without waiting.
"I know you have been told this many times headmaster, but I feel I must add my voice to the others." Regulus turned on the man. "You are a headmaster. Your job is to run a school, that is it. Leave the rest to others, because it is their jobs. And, stop pestering my nephew."
Turning away, Regulus flooed away. Phineas just laughed in his frame, earning himself a glare from Dumbledore.
"Who does he think he is?" Hermione muttered under her breath in annoyance.
"What are we supposed to do now?" Ron questioned. "If the horcruxes are destroyed then it's done. How are we supposed to get control of Potter now?"
"You three should go and finish your homework and leave things to me." Dumbledore suggested in a flat voice.
As soon as the door closed behind the three students Albus let his magic lash out, almost completely obliterating his office in his pure rage.
50 years. He had been working on the plan for over 50 years. And they had just destroyed everything.
No more Dark Lord. No more horcruxes. And he was getting no credit. This was Albus's worst nightmare.
It took a few hours, but Albus managed to collect himself. And fix his office once again.
The horcruxes may have been destroyed, somehow allowing the brat to livve, but the public didn't know that. There was a chance he might be able to force them to show him all the objects that were used to house the horcruxes.
With a bit of skill he would be able to switch out the Gaunt ring with a fake. That would allow him to get his hands on the resurrection stone. And, since the ring would be a fake, then there could be no way it was the real horcrux. He could claim that the ring was a decoy and the real one was still out there.
He wouldn't have an actual Dark lord to fight against, but the threat of one would be useful. At least, until Gellert was free and went back to his old ways.
DMLE, Amelia Bones's Office - November 12, 2007
Amelia Bones was ready to murder senile old coots. Albus had publicly announced the fact that Voldemort had created horcruxes. Going so far as to explain what they were and what they did.
Oh, she fully understood why he did it. The man was trying to put himself in the middle of things like usual. He didn't want to have to admit that Voldemort was gone ad he hadn't been involved.
But it did cause fear to re-emerge. People had just started to calm down as they started to feel safe once again. Now their fear levels were rising once again as they worried the threat would return.
The ministry had put out a press release saying that they had known about the existence of the horcruxes and had already tracked them down and destroyed them. But people were still on edge.
The good thing was that people had started bringing in all kinds of things that they felt might have been a horcrux. Most were just everyday things, and the occasional family heirloom that had been forgotten about, but there were a few extremely dangerous dark artifacts that had been brought in that they promptly confiscated and sent to be destroyed. They made sure to explain what it was and why they were confiscating it. They didn't want to risk people thinking that there really were more horcruxes out there.