Hogwarts felt different.
It was not the additional protective spells and wards that did it. The very atmosphere felt off. Gone was the cheery air and feeling of being apart of things. The air felt charged, tense. A single spark could turn the false stillness into a raging inferno.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione descended the main staircase, coming to a stop when they saw the big crowd in the foyer.
"What's going on?" Ron asked someone running by.
"About to be big fight," the boy said eagerly, "a bunch of Slytherins are cornered!"
"What did they do?" Hermione asked.
"They're Slytherins," the boy replied, nonplussed, before running off to join the crowd.
"Well, none of our business," Ron said and made to leave.
Harry did not follow, staring into the crowd.
"You coming?" Ron asked. He frowned, seeing Harry's expression. "Harry, don't get mixed into that."
"It's not right," Harry said shortly.
"They're Slytherins mate," Ron argued. "Some have family that are Death Eaters."
"But have they done anything?" Harry asked.
"Apple doesn't fall far from the tree," Ron said indifferently.
Harry turned to look at him. "So I'm doomed to abuse a child?"
Ron paled. "What?! No! I mean, that's not…how can you say that?"
"Harry, be careful." Hermione called after him as Harry walked towards the crowd.
Harry pushed his way through. Some students turned to argue with him, to push him back but each and everyone of them stopped when they saw the expression on his face. They parted before him. He finally broke through, walking into the open space between the surrounding mob and the small cluster of Slytherins there.
Silence descended. Everyone stared at him. For a moment everyone was unified in shared confusion.
Harry looked at the Slytherins. It was a mixture of years, few he recognized, but most were his year or younger. None of the usual ones that he had problems with in the past were there. He turned to face the ones that were the spokespeople for the mob. "What's going on?" he said as pleasantly as he could.
"Just reminding them of their place," Ernie Macmillan said.
"And what's that? Students at Hogwarts?"
Ernie frowned. "We are reminding them to behave. They act out here and they will get what's coming to them."
"Isn't that what the prefects and teachers are for?" Harry asked.
"Why're you defending them?" Justin Finch-Fletchley asked angrily. "They're Death Eaters!"
Harry turned to the Slytherins. "Any of you have the Mark?"
Blaise Zabini pulled his arm sleeve back and held his arm up, revealing a bare forearm and two raised fingers.
Harry turned back. "That answers that."
"Some don't have the Mark!" Justin argued. "Also some have family that are Death Eaters."
"Just because you have family members that do bad, that doesn't mean you are like them," Harry said quietly. "We shouldn't be fighting the battles our parents started. It's not fair to us."
People looked at each other and murmured softly.
"If they did do something, they themselves, then they should face the consequences. All of us should," Harry continued. "But we can't be blamed for what others do. We can't be held accountable for that. It's not right."
"I cannot believe you are defending them," Ernie snarled.
"Just like you didn't believe me when I said I wasn't the Heir of Slytherin." Harry's eyes flashed. "Just like you didn't believe me when I said I didn't enter into the Tournament."
The room was instantly silent.
"Blame the criminals, not the ones related to them," Harry said. "The punishment should fit the crime, but only by the one who did it."
The mob dissolved. Students left in droves, looking anywhere but at him or the instigators or the Slytherins. Eventually it was just a handful of students clinging to anger and indignation, Harry, and the Slytherins.
"You will regret this," Ernie said.
"Something tells me I won't," Harry replied. He watched them leave.
"Potter."
He turned and saw that the Slytherins looked at him with mixed expressions. Millicent Bulstrode gulped and her voice quavered. "Thank you," she said.
Harry nodded and walked away from them. He continued down the hallway and Ron and Hermione caught up to him.
"I'm sorry Harry," Ron said shamefully.
"Just, just think a bit before you talk," Harry said tiredly.
"That was good of you Harry," Hermione said.
"I'm tired of seeing people being blamed for something they can't control," Harry said. He rubbed his scar. "It's not fair."
"No it isn't. I'm impressed you were willing to step in. You always did the right thing before but never so willingly," she said softly.
"Guess I learned it's good to do the right thing, no matter how hard it is," he said.
-0-
"Oh do not fuss so," Narcissa said airily.
"You are covered in blood," Andromeda said dryly.
"Most of it is not mine," Narcissa replied blandly.
Kreacher had alerted Sirius and Andromeda that Narcissa had appeared at Grimmauld and was not her 'usual immaculate self'. They apparated there with Ted and found her in good spirits, despite being covered in blood.
Ted finished his diagnostic charm. "It's true. Some bruising and lacerations but the majority of the blood isn't hers." He raised an eyebrow. "Dare I ask who it belongs to?"
"Macnair. For someone so bloodthirsty, he became rather pathetic when he lost his own," Narcissa said. She sighed with satisfaction as the blood was cleaned off her by Ted, her minor wounds healing. "He thought to keep me from leaving and to make unwanted advances."
"Bet he'll think twice in the future," Sirius chuckled darkly.
"He will not. The dead do not think even once."
Sirius shrugged. "Sucks to be him I guess. So you're out of there for good?"
"Yes." Narcissa looked sad for a moment. "It was a cooler home but it was my home for a while. A pity for it to become what it has. However, I am free from Lucius and the Dark Lord and whatever idiocy they concoct. I left with what was mine and what was my due."
"Good. I'll annul your marriage and you are a classified protected informant according to Amelia. So you'll be okay."
"Thank you, Siri," Narcissa said with relief. "I have some more information that I have obtained these last few weeks. Thankfully Draco had left already."
"And what does he say?" Andromeda asked kindly.
Narcissa looked grave. "He…he said things and I said things. I can only hope his time at school will give him the freedom to think. I...made my choice as his father did. He has to make his own choice now." She shuddered and pushed her mental anguish aside.
"Cissy, a question for you." Andromeda leaned in. "Did you know about a diary? Something Tom gave to Lucius?"
"Curious you should ask about that. The Dark Lord was very cross when he found out that Lucius misplaced it. I thought he would actually kill Lucius for it. I do not know its importance, but I do know this. The Dark Lord gave something to Bella way back, when he gave Lucius the diary."
Sirius, Ted, and Andromeda looked at each other. "Do you know what?" Sirius asked.
"No, but I do know where it is. She put it in her vault."
"Great, can't get into the Lestrange vaults," Sirius groaned. "Even if Gringotts would let us go into any vaults."
"No, not the Lestrange vaults, her vault," Narcissa repeated. "Her personal one that our parents gave us as children."
"If she did not change the name on the vault-" Andromeda said.
"-then as Head of the Blacks I can get into it. Especially if I tell them why." Sirius smiled. "This might work out great."
"Thank you, Cissy," Andromeda said.
"Of course. Anything to make them suffer," Narcissa smiled coldly.
-0-
After a few weeks Sirius was successful. With Amelia's and Andromeda's aid, they had convinced the goblins that they only wanted the Horcrux. Housing such forbidden magic was against an ancient rule by the bank and on the Wizarding side of the law. After Sirius gave a large amount of goblin artifacts that the Black family 'owned' back to them, the goblins had gone into Bellatrix's vault and removed the Horcrux and given it to Sirius.
Sirius had turned the basement of Grimmauld into a safe room of sorts and housed the three Horcruxes they found there with the fangs. He rubbed his face slowly. "I think we should break these sooner rather than later."
"What if He knows they're broken?" Ted asked.
"We might have to risk it," Andromeda said slowly. "However, according to Cissy, Tom was not aware of the diary's destruction so there is a chance he will not be aware of these being destroyed. I agree, breaking them earlier will be better. In case we can get the drop on him."
"Harry should be here for it," Sirius said.
"Can it wait for the winter holiday?" Andromeda asked.
"I rather not ruin that for him if I can," Sirius said. "Selfish I know but-"
"-he had precious few good ones before. No I agree." Andromeda sighed sadly.
"It'll be Halloween in a couple weeks," Ted said, also sad. "We can pull him out, say he should be with us."
"We can take him to James' and Lily's grave," Sirius said, sniffling. "Say it's a time for family. Take him there, pay our respects."
"And continue to pay our respects by hurting the man that killed them," Andromeda said savagely. "I think it would be appropriate. As long as Harry agrees. The day must be complicated for him as it is."
"I'll ask Nymmie to ask him through the mirror," Sirius said.
-0-
Surprisingly, they had no problems taking Harry for the day.
Harry showed that he was doing well in his classes, more than able to miss a day. Dumbledore did not argue with Sirius or Andromeda for once and had allowed them to take Harry away from the school. He had wanted to do what they suggested the moment he heard the plans, both of them. Obviously, they made no mention of the Horcruxes to Dumbledore, only saying it was time for Harry to visit his parents' grave and to be with family.
Halloween day was cold and bright, almost cruel with how pleasant it was. Sirius, Ted, Andromeda, and Dora took off work and early in the morning, left Hogwarts with Harry. They arrived in Godric's Hollow and sooner than Harry had expected it, came up to James' and Lily's grave in the small cemetery.
They cleaned the gravestone and the plot, gently cutting the grass down and making the marble shine. As they cleaned, they told stories of James and Lily, funny ones and sad ones, serious ones and hilarious ones. Sirius was one step between crying from laughing or from pain. Ted was somber, sorry for the friendship lost. Andromeda hovered over deep resentment, over their deaths and how long it took to have care over Harry. Dora remembered fondly of how nice James and Lily were to her, and she silently vowed to them that she would forever watch over Harry.
Harry felt numb for the most part. He was glad to be there, to finally pay respects to his parents, to be where they laid. He was so close to them, yet so incredibly far. Hearing stories of them, of them growing up and of them after having him, helped. Yet he still felt separated from them. It was one thing to know of them from the memories of others. He imagined he would feel better if he had his own memories of them.
No, he did have one vague one. It happened during his brief exposure with the Boggart in the form of the Dementor. He had heard cruel laughter, panicked screaming. A mother's plea gone unheard. Desperation and pain. A part of him wanted to hear more, to understand. Another part of him was grateful that he never did, to leave the pain buried deep and away.
He was glad he was here in the cemetery, with the new family that had found him. There were times he thought he would wake up from this dream and be plunged back into a nightmarish existence of loneliness and neglect. Every time he woke, every time he spoke to them, he thanked anyone listening for the change in his fortune.
He wondered if he would ever feel like they did. Willing to go so far for each other.
He liked to think he would.
-0-0-0-
That night, when the veil between worlds was thinnest, they broke the three Horcruxes they had collected.
Andromeda had been savagely gleeful over it. On the day Voldemort had come and taken Harry's parents away, they took away three pieces of his soul.
Harry agreed with her.
Sirius erected the protections and wards to their fullest, keeping the Horcruxes firmly in the middle of the ritual circle. They had originally intended for Harry to stab them with the basilisk fangs but Harry had offered the chance to the others. He said he already had his fun in stabbing the diary and it would be selfish of him to keep all the fun. They knew what he meant and did not say.
Just like before, when the diary had tried to defend itself, these did the same.
The locket hissed at Sirius. The hissing thickened somehow, growing and undulating until a shape took form. A young man appeared, with thin features and familiar haunted eyes. "Are you going to kill me brother?" it hissed. "Again?"
"I never killed you the first time," Sirius replied in a strangled voice.
"No, you simply abandoned me to our parents' tender mercies, to the Dark Lord," Regulus chuckled hoarsely. "You were the older brother. You were supposed to watch out for me. No, you let your selfishness take over. You left me to them, to join the Dark Lord. You also left Harry as a baby, so hellbent on revenge. You do as you always do, for yourself and no other. You do not care for others, brother."
"The Regulus I knew would not stoop so low," Andromeda said in a high voice. "He was smart, far smarter than you. His tongue was sharp and he was clever. He could make you feel bad without you knowing why. He would never use such base accusations so ham-fistedly."
Sirius' smile was cold. "You're right Andi, Reg was a lot more eloquent. You can fuck right off you piece of shite soul!" He stabbed the locket with the fang. It screeched and oozed and bled as it died. Echoes of magic burst forth from the ruined locket, battering the walls of the wards before dissipating with a faint scream.
Sirius sighed. "Thanks Andi," he said tiredly.
Andromeda nodded, her eyes wet. "Of course."
"Was it like that when you did it?" Dora asked, horrified.
"It was," Harry said. "Well, maybe not as bad. Since I didn't know Tom really." He looked at Sirius. "Sorry. I didn't know it'd do that. I thought it would be another Tom. Maybe I should do the rest."
Sirius shook his head. "You couldn't have known. Don't worry Harry, it's okay. It was…kinda needed. Needed to be done."
Andromeda took the diadem and the fang. As the diadem was set within the circle, it shuddered and quaked. Fell light burst forth and a sickly form emerged from the gem.
"Mother," Andromeda gasped.
The figure looked haunting like Andromeda. She was pale and patrician in feature, with cold cruel eyes. "My darling daughter," Druella said slowly. "Oh look at you. How brave you are. Standing up to the Dark Lord of your own volition. Or is it? Are you only doing what you are doing out of stubbornness? Because you think you must?"
"I must," Andromeda replied in a shaky voice. "Tom Riddle is a blight and he has much to answer for. He has broken enumerable laws and has caused much harm."
"So have you," Druella said silkily. "You are a Pureblooded girl. By law you must answer to your father and head of house. You should have made the family your priority. And yet, you ran away. Ran from responsibility. Ran from propriety. You have done more damage to the ones that you said you loved than the Dark Lord. At least he has purity of purpose. What do you have? Your whims as well as the desire to be a rebel? Pathetic."
Andromeda whimpered and Druella grew in strength and cruelty. "You ran away from true wealth and honor. You took up with the first of any who would have you. Years of tradition, of purity, of pride, gone! Dashed to the ground by a selfish little girl that was too weak to do what was right!"
"As the 'any who would have her', go fuck yourself," Ted said. His normally soft eyes were hard and his voice immovable. "You don't know what strength is! You made these things as a fallback, as insurance. My wife left all she knew to bravely do what she wished to. She was willing to make concessions but her family denied her! She just wanted to love and be loved, there's nothing wrong with that.
"She's stronger than you could ever hope to be Tom Marvolo Riddle."
Emboldened by his words, Andromeda rose from her cower. Though tears ran down her face, she looked resolute. "Thank you, Teddy. Yes, I was weak. I am weak. But I am strong when need be. To hell with you, and may you suffer long." She stabbed the diadem and it screeched before shattering into many pieces, the gemstone cracked and clouded. She left the fang embedded in the gem and backed off, straight into Teddy's arms.
"I love you," she said as she clutched him desperately.
"I love you," he replied, hugging her hard. "Also, don't get too mad, but your mother was always a bitch."
"I knew that," Andromeda laughed wetly.
"Was grandmother like that really?" Dora asked.
"She was worse," Andromeda said.
"Damn," Dora swore, seeing Sirius nod in agreement. She squared her shoulders. "I'll do the last one. I'm actually a little curious to see who comes out to bitch at me."
"Are you sure?" Ted asked.
"I am. I want to," Dora said firmly.
The cup shuddered at her touch, as if it knew what was coming. When it was placed in the circle it shook in place it burbled and gurgled. A thick substance oozed from the cup and it grew before it took Dora's form.
"It's like looking in an ugly mirror," Dora said though her voice trembled.
"I am a reflection of you," the other Dora said. "If I am ugly, then you are ugly. Of course, looking ugly is easy to fix, isn't it?" The other Dora shifted, changing features, hair, eyes. "It's the stuff inside that doesn't change. That's what makes you ugly."
The form shifted, looking more like a cross between Andromeda and Dora, long hair and wilder eyes. "So pathetic. So weak. You have a legacy of strength. You are from a family that boasts pure magical strength and ability. And yet, you are always so eager to hide, hide who you are, hide what you look like. You are the epitome of a coward. So scared of yourself, of your legacy, that you are willing to become mediocre to escape a few cold words."
The other Dora threw her head back and laughed. "The rest of the Blacks are strength. This sad remainder before me is the weakest of the Blacks, the culls, the dregs. I suppose I shouldn't be too harsh to you, your blood is foul and polluted, weakened. With such examples, how could you have reached your potential? Join me instead. Throw the chaff aside. Be the witch you can truly be. Strong, proud. Pure. You can be someone you believe in."
Dora breathed heavily, closing her eyes tight. She could hear every cruel word thrown at her, every snide remark or unreasonable request ever heard. Every time someone at school or at work made assumptions of her, of her abilities, of her character. Every foul thing she had ever heard was being screamed at her, over and over and over.
A hand gripped her wrist, the one holding the fang, and she flinched. Her eyes opened and she looked at Harry.
"You're already awesome," he said, his voice small against the riot of noise in her head. "You do the right thing. You're a hero. Don't listen to it."
She felt his sincerity, his belief.
She turned back to the cup, at the figure that looked like her but was not her. "People already believe in me," Dora said harshly. "I'll catch up one day. You won't though." She lunged and stabbed the cup with the fang. It hissed and bubbled like a pot boiling over before shattering into pieces. Dora stomped on the pieces again and again, hearing the material crunch and shatter beneath her foot.
"I think it's dead," Sirius joked feebly.
Dora breathed hard. "Can't be dead enough."
They gathered the pieces of the broken Horcruxes and placed them in a secure magical lock box. Put the fangs in a separate box. They returned to the Tonks residence together, ordering an embarrassing large amount of pizza. They ate and the adults drank.
"Do you want to go back to Hogwarts tonight?" Ted asked.
"No, I rather be with family tonight," Harry said softly and firmly.
That night, Dora did not wait. She changed and went to Harry's room and they lay together in his bed. She held him close and he did the same to her. "What…what did the diary say to you?" she asked after a while.
"It said that we were a lot alike," Harry said softly. "Me and Tom. We were both Parselmouths, orphans, raised by Muggles."
Her arms convulsed around him. "You are nothing like him," she said fervently.
He shuddered, glad for her touch. "He then kept going on about how great he was and how he had to prove himself the best. Kinda full of himself really," he said with a smile.
She snickered. "Yeah well, he called himself Lord whatever. He's a loser."
"We're both better than him," Harry said. "We both broke one of his Horcruxes."
"Yeah," she whispered. "Thanks for being there for me Harry."
He chuckled. "You've been doing that for me for ages now." After a moment of silence, he spoke again. "Do you still feel that way? About the hiding?"
"That's kinda what a metamorph does," she said quietly. "I hide what I look like, who I am, what I do. I'm so used to hiding."
"I don't think it hides everything," Harry replied. "I've seen you look a lot of different ways but you always feel like Dora to me."
"Really?"
"Really."
She hugged him a little tighter. "What do I feel like?" she whispered.
"Warm," he whispered back, yawning. "Kind and caring. A hero."
"I don't feel like a hero," she said, fighting the smile that threatened her lips.
"You are to me," he said before drifting to sleep.
She listened to him sleep for a while before feeling herself drift away. "Maybe you're mine," she said before sleep claimed her.
-0-
"Hey, Potter."
Harry turned and his eyebrows rose when he saw Draco standing there. He was alone, which was new, and he lacked the sneer and vitriol he normally had. He looked paler than normal, fatigued. He looked nervous. Harry waited for a moment, raising an eyebrow as Draco shifted on the spot.
"I would like to talk to you," Draco said eventually. "…please."
This was definitely new behavior. If anything else, Harry was very curious. "Alright then," Harry said. "I'm going to have my wand out just in case though."
Draco snorted. "Fair." He kept his hands out of his pockets, his wand out of sight.
"So," Harry said after some uncomfortable silence, "what do you want?"
"Is…is she well?"
"Is who well?"
"I know you think I am an idiot Potter and the feeling is mutual but please do not treat me like one. Not now."
Harry could hear the desperation in his voice and his heart thawed slightly. "I haven't really talked to her, but from what I know, she's okay."
Draco looked visibly relieved. "That is good. Thank you."
"Why did you come to me?"
"One of the last letters she left me, she said I could approach who I considered an enemy but is not an actual enemy."
"You considered me an enemy?"
Draco flushed. "Yes, erroneously apparently."
"Huh."
More uncomfortable silence.
"You owe me nothing but I would appreciate it if you did me a favor," Draco said quietly. "Please tell her that I am reconsidering things."
"I can do that."
Draco looked at him. "I never thought you would be this willing to help me."
"Neither did I but…I can sort of understand what you're going through."
"You can?"
Harry's smile was bitter. "Yeah, except my mother can't come back."
Draco looked at the floor. "Ah. Well, thank you."
-0-
Weeks later found Amelia visiting Sirius and Harry and the Tonkses. It was the end of the winter holidays and a lot had happened recently. Christmas came and went and while it was pleasant overall, it had an air of uncertainty given the current state of things.
It had started with Harry seeing a vision of Arthur being attacked by a large snake. It had happened while at school and he had woken, drenched in sweat and feeling nauseous. He had immediately grabbed the two-way mirror that he rarely let out of his touch and called Dora. Dora and Sirius had rushed to the Ministry after Harry described a certain stone hallway that sounded familiar to Dora. With Amelia's help, they found Arthur and got him to St Mungo's with little difficulty, saving his life. Arthur had secretly admitted that he was standing guard for Dumbledore and the Order, and was attacked by the serpent.
Sirius and Andromeda were concerned about how Harry had seen the vision. When he told them he had instances of pain and discomfort near the possessed Quirrell from first year, not to mention the Horcruxes, they guessed it was still some sort of latent connection between him and Voldemort's magic. Therefore, they concluded that the snake was controlled by Voldemort and that he truly wanted something deep in the Ministry, specifically the Department of Mysteries.
The one bright spot in the whole affair was that the Weasleys were much nicer to the Blacks after that.
Dumbledore had not admitted to placing a guard there and the official reason was that Arthur was attacked while doing some late-night work at the Ministry.
Shortly after Halloween and leading into Christmas, there were multiple small skirmishes and engagements between Death Eaters and Aurors. Luckily, the Aurors had managed to emerge victorious in each one, thanks to Amelia's and Rufus' changes, but both sides suffered losses and a general feeling of unrest and uncertainty filled the air. One of the bigger engagements happened the same day Arthur was attacked.
"He's getting really desperate," Amelia said. "It's been quiet now but for a while we were having increased hostilities. Thugs, Death Eaters, werewolves. All causing havoc."
"We know from Cissy that Tom craves what is in the Department of Mysteries," Andromeda said softly. "He is willing to sacrifice much for it."
"What's in there that he wants? There were a couple of people that worked there that are Death Eaters according to her too and from before. What did they tell him that he wants there?" Ted asked.
"What isn't there is the question," Amelia grumbled. "Experimental magic, tons of research, the Hall of Prophecies-"
"That's it," Sirius interrupted. "He must be going after the prophecy."
"Why would he want it?" Ted shook his head. "It wouldn't help him. It barely helps us."
"No idea but that must be it. Arthur was standing guard in the corridor." Amelia frowned. "Also, I think Dumbledore found something he has been looking for too. Shacklebolt and Timms have been super cagey lately. Something tripped a warning ward I left in Little Hangleton. It was tripped recently and when I checked it out, the old Gaunt place was brimming with magic."
"Maybe another Horcrux," Andromeda said softly. "We were never able to pin down where another one was." She patted Harry's hand when he looked chagrined. "Do not feel bad, love. The spell we devised to find them was new and tenuous at best."
"I wish I knew what the last few results meant," Harry said ruefully.
"If we know what he wants," Sirius said, "we can exploit that."
"How? Set a trap?" Amelia laughed hollowly. "You want to trap Tom?"
"Why not? We know what he wants and how much." Andromeda raised her hands. "If we continue to let him dictate things, we will always be reacting. What happens when he becomes desperate enough to do something on a larger scale?"
"I doubt we can take the prophecy out as bait," Amelia said, dubious but warming to the idea. "Not to mention wherever we try to trap him will have to be somewhat secure and to limit collateral damage."
"The Ministry is a contained space," Sirius said. "We can limit entry and exit points. Make certain areas trapped zones. Contain and separate them."
"You want to turn the Ministry into a warzone," Amelia said with disbelief. "Fudge will never agree to that."
"Fudge doesn't have to know," Sirius retorted. "He doesn't own the Ministry. The protection of the Ministry is up to the Head of the DMLE right? And say you get the Head of the Department of Mysteries involved, no one can stop you."
"It would be a bloodbath, before and after," Amelia said slowly. "If I survive, my job won't."
"If you start the next day with Tom's body on display, not many would send you away, if any," Andromeda said.
"How do we convince Croaker?" Amelia mused.
"I'll readily donate rare magic and things the Blacks have secreted away. And gold always helps," Sirius said.
"And appeal to his sense of fighting Tom?" Ted suggested.
"And then offer more gold," Andromeda finished.
"There's one other problem," Dora said slowly. "What's going to make Tom actually show up? In all the engagements, he's delegated and sent others in his stead. So far no one has sighted him. We know he wants the prophecy, but what's going to entice him to actually show up?"
"Me," Harry said.
"No! Absolutely not!" Dora shouted.
"It makes sense. He wants to kill me and he wants the prophecy," Harry said. "I know what I'm saying and I'm not saying we should let him actually kill me, but dangle me as bait with the prophecy. He'll go for it."
"I do not like this," Andromeda said. "You are not wrong but it will be far too dangerous."
"You said it yourself," Harry argued. "He's getting desperate. Fights were ramping up. How many times did you fight?" he asked Dora. "When will it spill into St Mungo's?" He looked at Ted. "Or maybe all of Diagon will go up," he said to Andromeda. "How many more have to die before we stop him?"
Silence filled the room.
"We can't let you be bait," Sirius said.
"If we're setting the trap, making sure everything is in our favor, can't we sort of make sure I'm as safe as possible?" Harry persisted.
"There's no such thing as 'as safe as possible' in a fight," Dora growled.
"I know. I know I'm not invincible. I've known that for a while," Harry said quietly. "But you all are risking so much. If there's a chance, a real chance that we can stop him once and for all, then we have to take it."
"We don't know how many Horcruxes there are," Ted argued.
"But if his returned form is taken down, it'll give us more time to clean up the rest," Amelia said. "Oh don't look at me like that," she said to the angry looks from the others. "If I had to entertain your stupid idea then I can entertain his."
"It's only stupid if it fails," Harry said.
"No, you can succeed through stupidity," Andromeda sighed.
"If we let you do this, we're no better than Dumbledore," Dora hissed.
He patted her hand. "No, the difference is that I know what the decision is before making it. That's a huge difference."
"Another thing," Ted said, "if everything else falls into place, how do we convince him to come out? Not like he's going to believe any of us."
"I left a couple of sympathizers in the ranks of the Ministry," Amelia said. "I kept tabs on them, kept them away from sensitive information. I can leak things to them to trickle back to Tom."
"Draco." Harry looked up. "Draco seems to be caring more for his mum. I bet he'd be willing to send something to his father."
"That would convince him," Sirius mused. "Information from two different sources."
Amelia rubbed her neck. "I'll set up a meeting with Croaker. Let's see what he says."
-0-
"This place is creepy," Sirius remarked as he looked around.
"We typically do not get visitors," the cowled wizard remarked. He led them down the hallway of stone, past flickering globes of light, deeper into the Department.
"Makes sense. Nothing a bit of décor wouldn't fix," Sirius said.
Andromeda and Amelia sighed. The wizard shook his head. "That would defeat the purpose of not having visitors." They reached a small room that was comfortably furnished. A large table sat in the middle, ringed with chairs. As they sat, the wizard flicked his wand several times and the door sealed shut. Finished, the wizard sat and pulled the hood back, revealing an oddly nondescript face with plain features. "So, how can I help you?"
"You're Saul Croaker?" Sirius asked. "You look very young to be the Head of the Department."
Croaker smiled. "You look very sane to be the Head of the Blacks."
Sirius laughed. "Met a lot of us, have you?"
"Yes. Orion, Denarius, and Vesuvius. All equally insane in their own way. I am sure you are as well but at least you hide it well."
"I like this guy," Sirius smiled. "Alright, we want your help in turning the Ministry and the Department of Mysteries into a trap for Tom Riddle, also known as Voldemort."
Croaker barely reacted save for his eyes widening slightly.
Sirius, Amelia, and Andromeda outlined their plan and Croaker sat there unmoving, listening the entire time. When they finished he closed his eyes. "Allow me to make sure I understand. You want me to open the Department of Mysteries to one of the darkest of wizards. You want me to allow the sanctity of this institution to be polluted by his lust for power by letting him near the prophecies. Then, you want me to help kill him."
"Yup," Sirius said.
"You are as insane as your predecessors," Croaker said, half-admiringly. "Why would I ever agree to this?"
"Besides the obvious? Not only is it the right thing to do, you get to have a bit of revenge." Andromeda leaned back in her chair. "We are the source of the informants and those that worked at the Ministry while hiding their Marks and allegiances. Not even the Department of Mysteries was exempt from that."
Croaker scowled and they all flinched at the expression. "No, we were not. And my revenge will be considerable." He looked at her. "Surely you do not think that will sway me? A false sense of "I owe you one"?"
"Certainly not. That was just showing our good intentions. As is this." She slid a piece of parchment to him.
Croaker read it. "I knew Denarius stole that," he said with a wry smile. "Never did believe him when he said he had no idea what happened to it." He continued to read. "Well, this is a list of rare and valuable magical things. Most Houses would never part with it."
"I honestly don't care about that stuff," Sirius said. "You can have it all."
Croaker sat back. "Strictly speaking, Unspeakables are not typically known for dueling and fighting. That being said, I know of many that are rather…militant and belligerent as well as sharing my displeasure for the ones that infiltrated the Department."
"I imagine you also have Unspeakables that lost family to Voldemort," Amelia said softly.
"Yes, I have, and yes I do." He looked at them with blank eyes. "Anyone who participates must know that there is a very good chance they will not leave alive."
"We know," Amelia said solemnly. "I'm not ordering anyone to join us, it'll purely be voluntary."
Croaker nodded and leaned forward. "Last question, who gets to kill the bastard?"
Sirius and Andromeda and Amelia smiled. "First come, first served," Sirius said.
"Good enough for me," Croaker said. "Let us do this right and make sure he does not return this time."
-0-
Draco took the letter from Harry. "If I do this, I consign my father to death," he said bitterly, "or life in prison if he survives."
Harry nodded. "Probably. To be fair, he did join an insane asshole that kills people indiscriminately."
Draco shuddered. "You are not wrong." He looked haunted. "He has changed. My father. Mother leaving made him appear weak and he was desperate to not appear weak in front of the Dark Lord." Memories of the winter holiday at Malfoy Manor consumed him and he retched slightly.
"You'll be safe here," Harry said eventually. "Things will end that night."
"What if you lose?" Draco asked plainly. "And my role in this comes to light?"
"Your mother explains in the letter. You'll be taken care of, with her."
Draco nodded jerkily. "I will do it," he said.
"Thanks," Harry said softly.
"Do not thank me," Draco said just as softly. "I do not want to be thanked for sending you to your death."
"Aww Draco, I didn't know you cared," Harry replied cheekily.
Draco snorted. "I simply do not want it on my conscience." With a nod that was almost normal, he walked away.
"What was that about?" Hermione asked as Harry rejoined her and Ron.
"Just passing along a message," Harry said.
Ron looked at the departing Draco before looking back at Harry. "So…are you going to tell us what's going on?"
Harry shook his head. "I can't. Not right now."
Hermione looked at his face closely. "You're doing something stupid, aren't you?"
"Can't say if I am or not," Harry said as lightly as he could. "Just know that whatever I'm doing, I'll be with Dora and the others."
Hermione and Ron exchanged a look. "We can help," Ron said.
"Not this time," Harry said softly. "Look, just, I'll tell you later if I can."
"I'll hold you to that," Hermione said, starting to tear up slightly.
He hugged her. "It'll be okay." Hopefully.
-0-
It was the first night of the Easter holiday. The room deep within the DMLE was full of grim people. The air was tense, charged. Aurors and Hit Wizards in battle uniforms stood with Unspeakables and they faced Amelia and Croaker. Amelia had a floating diagram before her and she laid out the avenues of attack and the trap points they had devised. The Ministry was empty of everyone save the people in the room.
The plan was for Croaker and a light escort to take Harry to the Department of Mysteries in open sight. He would take the prophecy and leave with it. The moles that Croaker and Amelia had left had taken the information and reported back with it, something that Croaker had discovered when he recaptured the mole in his department and interrogated thoroughly afterwards. Through him, they discovered Voldemort's numbers and it would be a roughly even fight as far as the amount of people went.
As soon as Voldemort entered the Ministry, Amelia would enact lock down procedures, closing the entire building down. Then they would fight until all the invaders had been eliminated. Or else.
Draco had sent Harry a message saying his father had taken the information and that he and his Lord would act accordingly.
Teams began to leave the room, going to their assigned places. Harry shook a little from nerves as he stood with Sirius, Andromeda, Ted, Dora, Amelia, Croaker, and Moody. They were all dressed in battle gear as well, enchanted padding and protective things to give them the edge.
Amelia looked unhappy. "Shacklebolt and Timms and Proudfoot came late. They must have gone to Dumbledore first."
"Should we have told him?" Ted asked. "Even if we disagree on a lot, he might have helped."
"No, he would have done all he could to ruin the plans," Andromeda said. "He would have informed Fudge or done something else."
"We can handle this," Sirius said. "It's the best plan we got."
"It's a desperate plan," Moody laughed. "But sometimes the best ones are."
"What if he doesn't show?" Harry asked.
"At the very least, he'll send a good amount of his followers," Croaker said. "If we eliminate them from the board, then we will still win."
"Right, it's almost zero hour," Amelia said. "Let's get going."
Sirius hugged Harry tight. "Keep your head down, listen to Dora and Croaker. No heroics."
Harry smiled. "No heroics from you either."
"I will keep him in line." Andromeda hugged him tightly. "Be safe." She hugged Dora. "The both of you. I want both of my children back and whole."
"Watch over each other," Ted said gruffly when it was his turn to hug them.
As they took their places, Dora and Harry had a moment alone. "I still hate this plan," Dora said.
"I know. I'm sorry. But if it works, it'll be big," Harry said.
Dora nodded. "I'll keep an eye on you, don't worry."
"I know." He hugged her hard and for the first time, he kissed her first. His lips caught the corner of her mouth and he blushed furiously. "I trust you," he said. "I'm glad I did since we met."
Dora's eyes sparkled. "Me too," she said and kissed him back, also at the corner of his mouth.
-0-
"I hate waiting," Sirius growled.
The main force was waiting in the atrium of the Ministry, where all the Floos were. They shut down the apparition and Portkey points in the building, layering wards against them. Aurors, Hit Wizards, and Unspeakables were concealed all around. Amelia waited in a small office with an open window into the atrium with Moody, Sirius, and Andromeda as well as the Aurors and Hit Wizards she trusted most. Ted waited in a secure location with Healers and Medics.
Andromeda leaned on Mathilda. "You never did have much patience." Her foot tapped the ground.
"Retrieval party is on the move," Hestia murmured. She looked into a scrying bowl tied to several mirrors they left in key points within the Ministry.
"Merlin and God keep them safe," Andromeda said softly.
They waited in silence.
"Contact," Hestia said and their heads snapped up. "Intrusion point…by the DOM. Small party…that's Rookwood!"
"Traitor!" an Unspeakable hissed. "He must have used a backdoor there."
"Some took the bait then," Amelia said. "Numbers?"
"Less than the forces we have there. They aren't moving to intercept yet as far as I can tell."
"Contact," another Auror said suddenly. "Active Floo, far corner."
They looked out the window and watched as forms stepped out of the fire.
"That's Greyback," Moody said hungrily. "And Rosier."
"Those are the Carrows," Andromeda said, frowning.
"What a pack of sodding bastards," Sirius said softly. "Speaking of, there's Lucius. He's not looking nearly as neat as he used to."
They watched as the Death Eaters fanned out, inspecting their surroundings. Amelia prayed they missed the special protections they placed and the hiding Ministry forces. "Come on, you know you want to come too. Do it. Show your dumb face."
"There's Bella," Andromeda said quietly, seeing her sister. She blanched. "She looks…horrid," she whispered.
"If Bella's here, then…." Sirius' voice faded as Voldemort appeared. He walked into the Ministry as if he owned it. A large snake trailed after him, oozing venomous intent. The pale Dark Lord looked around with red slitted eyes, haughty and imperious. He made a motion with his hand and groups of Death Eaters began to move. Some moved deeper into the Ministry.
Everyone looked at Amelia.
She nodded. "Lock Down!" As she spoke, large grates blocked the Floos. Magic shifted and undulated and the lights began to glow all around the Ministry. "All teams, engage at will!" She ignored the confirmations and pointed her wand at her throat. "You have one chance!" she shouted and her voice reverberated through the Ministry. "Throw down or be put down!"
The Death Eaters cried out in alarm and Voldemort looked enraged. "I will not kneel!" Voldemort roared back.
"Have it your way," Amelia snarled. She destroyed the window with a flick of her wand and banished shards of glass at the unsuspecting Death Eaters. Blasts of magic started flying in all directions.
The Battle at the Ministry had begun.
-0-
All around the Ministry, skirmishes and fights broke out. Teams of hidden combatants ambushed Death Eaters at choke points. More often than not, they had the advantage and ended the fight swiftly, disabling enemy combatants. Groups of more violent Death Eaters fought back savagely, banding together. Incantations and cries of pain reverberated off the walls.
Rookwood's team had been caught by Croaker's within the DOM itself. A fierce fight broke out and ordered by Croaker, Dora and Harry escaped before the Department completely shut off. She ran out, her wand flicking constantly with him right behind. They fell into a rhythm they developed through all the practice they did together in the last year and from his training for the tournament. Harry focused on defensive spells, shields and counters while Dora took down enemies with focused spells.
They saw a group of Ministry wizards pinned by Death Eaters in cover. Harry made stone pillars burst from the walls, pushing the Death Eaters into the open corridor. They fell, cut down by fire from Dora and the pinned wizards.
"Thanks Tonks!" Emmaline gasped. "They had us good."
"You got it. What's the situation out here?"
"Most of the teams are fighting well. Most of the Death Eaters are going down hard. He's here though and he's fighting in the atrium. All teams are to rush over for support as soon as possible."
"Harry, go to Daddy," Dora said urgently.
"I'm going with you! Sirius and Auntie Andi are there too!"
"Harry, it's going to be bad. Please," she pleaded.
"Potter, I need you to take Clemmens to the Medics," Emmaline said. "She can't go alone. She needs medical attention. Take her, please."
Indecision warred on Harry's face but he nodded reluctantly. "I'll take her." He hugged Dora briefly. "Be safe," he said before he helped a shaking Clemmens down the corridor.
"Thanks," Dora said with relief.
"Of course. This is no place for a kid, even for Harry Potter." Emmaline sent two of her team to secure the Death Eaters they put down and to join another team that needed help. She sent another to trail Harry and Clemmens. She looked at the rest and Dora. "Right, let's go!"
-0-
Andromeda and Amelia fought back-to-back.
Moody, Sirius, and Kingsley had gone straight for Voldemort and between the three of them, kept the dark wizard at bay, but only just. Amelia at the start did more battle coordination but when Death Eaters came running back to the atrium, jumped into the fray.
Andromeda had been a force to reckon with, fighting with her axe and wand. She had to throw Mathilda hard with an over-hand throw, sending it into the back of a wizard who had tried to curse Sirius from behind. Now she fought with Amelia, keeping each other alive while taking down targets of opportunity.
At first the Ministry forces had the upper hand, taking out a good chunk of the Death Eaters but Voldemort continued to be a rallying presence and his followers fought savagely, knowing they were fighting to survive. As Death Eaters that went deeper in returned, the balance began to tip. The witches blasted a part of the ceiling down to try and crush the giant snake Voldemort brought with him as it ate a screaming Timms. They hoped the pile of rubble was the snake's tomb.
An explosion knocked Amelia and Andromeda apart. Andromeda tried to sit up, shaking her head drunkenly. Rosier aimed his wand at her but fell back, hand clutching his throat, trying to stop the blood.
"Mum!" Dora ran up with Ministry reinforcements. She shot another severing charm at Rosier, making his efforts futile as he toppled over.
"Dora!" Andromeda gasped. "Are you okay?!"
"I'm okay! I sent Harry to Daddy. Are you okay?!"
Andromeda sighed with relief. "Disoriented but okay."
The Death Eaters began to fall back from the fresh Ministry fighters. Voldemort screamed with fury and summoned a ring of fire, throwing it out to keep the Ministry at bay. He jabbed with his wand and blades of fire flicked out through the flames. Kingsley screamed as he was riddled with burning blades and Sirius flew through the air as a blast caught him on the leg.
An explosion rang through the atrium and one of the grates fell over. Dumbledore appeared holding his wand in one hand and a sword in the other. Remus came through the Floo behind him along with other forms.
"That idiot!" Amelia cursed. "He broke through the lock down! We won't keep them contained. We need to take them out before they make their escape!"
"At least he can keep Tom busy," Andromeda gasped as she ran to Sirius.
"On me! Rally!" Amelia shouted, her voice cutting through the sound of battle. "Let's go! Take them down!"
-0-
"You'll be okay," Ted said to Clemmens. He hastily healed the large gashes in her legs. "Good thing you got here on time."
"Thank Potter," Clemmens gasped. "He helped me get here."
"Harry?! He's here? Where is he?" Ted looked around wildly.
"He was just here!" Valentine said, the Auror tasked to follow Harry and Clemmens. "I just had eyes on him! He disappeared."
"Oh no," Ted groaned. He wanted to find him but he could not leave the Hospital room. "Harry, please be safe."
-0-
Hestia screamed and fell over, clutching her head. Greyback snarled, lips peeled back showing sharp teeth. He leapt at her prone form, ready to sink his claws and teeth deep. He fell back, howling with pain at the piece of iron grating that Dora banished straight into him. He struggled up, hands gripped around the iron. "This won't stop me bitch!"
"This will!" She transfigured the iron to silver and Greyback howled in agony as his skin and blood and flesh burned from the silver. He stopped howling when Andromeda finished her swing, his head fell off his neck, cleaved by Mathilda.
Voldemort and Dumbledore dueled furiously. The magic thrown off by their fight kept the rest of the forces at bay. The giant snake had appeared from the rubble and it tried to attack Moody, his prosthetic leg shattered by Voldemort's spells. The wizened Auror stabbed the shards of his leg into the snake's maw, keeping it away until he could summon the sword that Dumbledore brought and dropped at one point during the duel. He twisted and stabbed the sword deep into the snake's skull and it shrieked as it died, its screams oddly human.
Voldemort screamed with outrage as he saw his snake die. A blast sent Dumbledore reeling and Voldemort summoned a storm of fire and black shadows around him. He turned and threw an immense boulder at Moody, intent on crushing him.
Dora hit it with a rock she banished. The impact barely forced the trajectory aside, clipping Moody and knocking him over and out. Robbed of his chance to kill Moody, Voldemort turned his attention to Dora. He unleashed a blast of lightning that shattered the ground around and underneath Dora's feet, sending her falling. She managed to avoid the lightning directly, but she felt the air knocked out of her when she fell.
"Avada Kedavra!"
A flash of motion, a flicker of something appearing was all she saw before something fell over her. She pulled fabric away from her head and she looked down at Harry lying in front of her, his chest smoldering.
"Harry?" she said in a small voice. "Oh…oh no…Harry?"
He lay there. Still and silent. Unmoving.
"Harry? No, please. Wake up," she pleaded, shaking him.
"He's done it!" Bellatrix screamed. "Harry Potter is dead!"
The atrium went silent. Not even moans of pain broke the quiet. Crackling fires made no sound.
Voldemort fell to his knees. The Death Eaters closest to him looked at him with surprise. "What do we do?" one of them asked, confused.
"Is he okay?" asked another.
"He is fine! He just killed his foe! We have to get out of here, take him!" Bellatrix urged.
Everyone flinched as a terrible scream filled the atrium. It echoed off the walls, growing in volume and pain.
Nymphadora Vulpecula Tonks threw her head back and screamed again. She gave her magic a voice and it was the voice of loss and rage. It was the voice of vengeance. Her hair became long and midnight black. Her eyes filled, turning into pools of crimson ink. "I WILL KILL YOU ALL!" she screeched.
Dolohov screamed as his head burst into flames. He fell over, trying to put it out. Another Death Eater tumbled back, his chest a smoking ruin. A werewolf fell into pieces. Nymphadora's wand flicked again and again, sending bodies back.
"Get Him out!" Bellatrix screamed before she turned to face Nymphadora. She flourished her wand and pulled a long silver knife out. "Come to auntie, Nymphie!" she taunted.
Nymphadora went.
She charged directly at Bellatrix, throwing spell after spell. Bellatrix was not prepared for a charge and it showed. She stumbled and dodged, throwing spells back. She threw an overpowered cutting curse at Nymphadora.
Nymphadora threw her right arm up and the bastion bracelet robbed the curse of most of its magic, but a long-jagged cut appeared on her forearm. Undeterred, she tackled Bellatrix. Their wands went flying, as did the knife, and the two witches rolled and punched each other. Bellatrix was no stranger to fighting with her hands. She punched and clawed. However, she had spent years in Azkaban and had not fully regained her strength after so many years spent there.
Nymphadora was younger and in her peak strength.
Bellatrix, growing more desperate, managed to rake her nails across Nymphadora's face. When the younger witch reeled back, Bellatrix turned and clawed her way to the knife within arm's reach. She gasped when Nymphadora kicked her in the side hard, screaming when her hand was crushed under Nymphadora's stomp. She rolled onto her back and found herself straddled by her opponent; her own knife held in Nymphadora's hand.
"Wait! Wait!" Bellatrix pleaded. "I'm your aunt! Your blood!"
Nymphadora stopped. "Oh, you're right."
Bellatrix relaxed for just a second before she tried to scream again. The blade went into her throat and Nymphadora grunted with exertion as she tore it across, cutting her neck wide. "Now you're my dead aunt!" Nymphadora spat.
"No!" Voldemort had regained his senses to see his most beloved follower killed. Filled with rage he threw those clustered around him back. A blast of pure magic threw Nymphadora back. She groaned as she hit the ground, her bracelet burning her arm.
His revival and the end of the fight between Bellatrix and Nymphadora galvanized the watchers. They fought in earnest, some to flee, others to stop. Andromeda tried to fight her way to her daughter, summoning the fire whip once more and scattering any Death Eaters in her way.
Voldemort was shocked that she was alive. He stalked towards her. "I am going to kill you," he hissed at her.
Nymphadora threw the knife at him, crowing when it cut his face. "Do it you nose-less fuck!" she spat.
Send me to Harry.
Voldemort conjured a globe of fire and threw it at her, desiring to watch her burn.
"VENTUS MAXIMA!"
A blast of wind knocked the fireball back at Voldemort who hastily dispelled it. His eyes widened as he saw someone running towards them. "Impossible," he gasped.
Nymphadora heard the voice, the incantation. She recognized it. "Harry?" Dora asked, her voice small and hopeful. She turned and nearly wept to see Harry running to them.
"Accio!" Harry shouted, aiming his wand at Dora's bracelet. He then flicked his wand to the side at something and threw it forward. "Depulso!"
Dora felt herself go flying towards Harry, pulled by the summoning charm centered on her bracelet. She then saw her wand being banished towards her. She leapt into the air, catching her wand and rolling on the ground. She came to her feet, turning to face Voldemort with Harry at her side. She threw several cutting curses at him.
Voldemort hissed in pain as the cutting curses landed, thin blood spilling from his wounds. He summoned a shield to block the rest before banishing rocks and debris back at the pair.
Dora summoned a stone pillar from the ground, pulling Harry behind her. The pillar blocked the storm of missiles. Harry summoned more pillars around Voldemort. Dora banished the pillar in front of them and cast blasting curses at the pillars Harry summoned.
Voldemort cried out as he was struck by flying debris from the exploding pillars, stopping the flying pillar and sending it back at the pair. He manifested a flaming serpent and it coiled around Voldemort protectively before striking out.
Dora dove, dragging Harry with her. The pillar went flying over their heads. She rose to one knee. "Torrens!" A torrent of water erupted from her wand and it struck the flaming snake, drowning it. The water poured out, soaking Voldemort and splashing around his legs and feet.
"Glacius!" Harry cried and the water froze. Voldemort flailed as his feet were suddenly trapped, his robes stiff. He moved his wand to free himself.
"TEREBRARE!" Dora screamed.
A fist sized hole appeared in Voldemort's chest, where his heart was, hit directly by the piercing curse. The spell went through him, blowing a hole out of his back in a shower of bone and flesh and blood. The ruined remains of his heart appeared in the hole, along with jagged ribs. Voldemort coughed, looking down dumbly at the hole in his chest. He slowly sank to his knees, trying to aim his wand at his chest. His lips moved soundlessly but no magic appeared. He slumped forward, coming to a stop on his knees, his feet still trapped in the ice.
A moan of despair came from the surviving Death Eaters while the Ministry and the Order cheered.
"Huh." Dora said, staring at Voldemort's body. "Looks like he had a heart."
Harry chuckled and winced, clutching his chest.
"Harry! Are you okay?!" Dora asked, turning to him. She grabbed him as he tottered on his feet.
"I'm okay. I hurt all over but I'm okay." He looked at her carefully. "Are you okay?!"
She nodded. "I think so." She pressed her forehead against his. She took a moment to hug him, making sure he felt right in her arms. She looked around and sighed with relief when she saw Andromeda standing, looking okay. Sirius was propped up against the wall but he waved languidly.
She looked at Harry. "Don't move. We're having a talk right after I fulfill a promise."
Harry smiled weakly. "I'm not going anywhere, promise."
Dora nodded and stalked over to Moody who was being checked by a medic.
"Good shot," he praised.
"Thanks. Can I borrow that?" she asked, pointing at the sword.
He handed it over, eyebrow raised.
She took it and stomped over to Voldemort's body. His eyes were still frozen open, his mouth hanging. "I swore I would do this to whoever tried to hurt Harry a long time ago," Dora said, loud enough for others to hear. "So I'm going to enjoy this." She raised the sword high and brought it down.
Some people moaned when they watched Voldemort's head go tumbling to the icy floor. Others snarled with grim appreciation. Then people began to retch and gasp as Dora continued to hack at Voldemort's body. She swung and sawed with the blade, cursing and swearing as she did.
Andromeda had brought Harry over to the rest of the injured and they all stared in horrid fascination at the sight. She shook her head. "That daughter of mine," she muttered. "Nymphadora Tonks!" she shouted. "I taught you better than this! Cut away from the body! Use the limbs as leverage and twist the joints!" She ignored the horrified glances thrown her way.
"This is a bloody sword, mum!" Dora shouted back. "It's not a cleaver! It's got a wonky balance to it!"
"That is no excuse! Do not be so sloppy and cut yourself!"
"Do you want to do this?! Do you want to come over and show me how to do it?!"
Andromeda threw up her hands. "Oh no! You are not trapping me that way! If I do, I will never hear the end of it. Go on then! Enjoy yourself."
"I will! I am! Thank you!"
Andromeda shook her head and looked down at Hestia having her head bandaged. "Some daughters never listen to their mothers. Well, I cannot claim I always listened to my own."
Hestia and the medic gave Andromeda unnerved looks and made non-committal sounds.
Dora finally finished her grizzly task, making a pile of Voldemort's body parts. She conjured a wooden stake and impaled Voldemort's head on it. "INCENDIO!" The fire spell burst over the body and soon it blazed, immolating the remains of Tom Riddle. She watched the pyre with deep satisfaction before she pointed the sword around at people watching.
"I swore to do this when Harry got hurt. If anybody tries to come after my Harry, I will do this to you while you're still alive!" She looked around the atrium and none would meet her gaze. Satisfied that her point was made, she walked over to a horrified Dumbledore. She thrust the blade into his hand. "Here," she said shortly. When he looked at the gore daubed blade with fear and disgust, she sighed. "Scourgify." She cleaned the blade and shrugged. "There. Thanks."
She walked over to where the injured people were and stopped in front of Harry who was being checked over. "Is he okay?" she asked.
The medic trembled in her presence. "As far as we know. He survived another killing curse so we…uh…we kind of don't know for sure."
Dora nodded. "Okay, then we're going to have a talk." She knelt beside him and the medic fled. She grabbed his hand and squeezed it. "Don't ever do that to me again. Do you hear me?!"
"Like you wouldn't have done the same for me," he retorted. Others watched with naked admiration that he would talk back to her like that. At Dora's look they all scooted away, giving them the illusion of privacy.
"That's beside the point," she hissed. "Why did you do that?! Don't tell me you thought you were tough enough to take another killing curse and survive!"
"I…didn't know that," he confessed.
Her hair shifted, turning red and spikey. "Harry," she growled. "Why did you do that?!"
"Because I love you."
Her eyes opened wide and her hair fell limp, soft and black. "W-What?"
"I…I love you," he said again, face red. "I…for the longest time I didn't understand why my parents died for me. Like I know they loved me, that was something everyone told me. But it didn't make sense to me. If you love someone, why would you do that for them? But when I saw him cast the killing curse at you, I knew if you died…I didn't want to be somewhere that you weren't."
She looked at him. "You love me?"
He nodded.
Tears fell. She pressed her head against his. "Oh. Oh Harry." She crushed him in her arms. "I love you too," she whispered.
His heart beat wildly. "Brilliant," he whispered back.
She broke the hug eventually. "But please, don't do that to me again. I don't want to be anywhere without you there either."
"Guess we can keep looking out for each other then?" he suggested.
"Deal." She suddenly felt incredibly tired. She sat down against the wall and pulled him to her. She was going to say something else but she fell asleep, holding him protectively in her arms.
He heard her snore lightly and he snuggled back against her. "Good job Dora," he said softly. "You're a real hero." He smiled when he felt her arms tighten around him.