14

Thirty minutes later, Hermione met up with Daphne, Susan, and Luna. "Why are we meeting here?" Daphne asked.

"We need a place to meet that people avoid. There are no portraits near here and even the other ghosts avoid this place, because of Myrtle. She is gone though. She went when the basilisk died."

"So yeah, given that, this is a great place we can meet up, and even Harry wouldn't come unless specifically ask," Daphne added. "Let me guess, this is so we can discuss Harry; both in general and in specific? Also; anything we need to discuss away from prying eyes."

"Okay, I feel we should meet here once a week. So, we can talk, gossip, whatever." Susan smiled.

"There are no nargels here." Luna added.

Daphne turned to Hermione, "Now we have a place to talk, especially talk about our future husband. What do we need to talk about?"

Hermione looked sad. "Harry of course. We all should re-read the article on Harry's childhood. While Harry has recovered from his relatives; he hasn't recovered enough. Then, while his aunt and mom have helped, they are also a problem."

"Explain sister wife."

Noting the title, but going on anyway. Hermione said, "He has been in the common room before anyone else.

I think he has nightmares. Bad nightmares on occasion. He still has a problem with touch. I don't think his current family is big on touch. We will have to teach him acceptable touch."

"He has had to fight and kill. His mom and aunt seem to just want him to survive. With all this, it is no wonder Harry has issues. I want more, I want him to thrive."

"I am not sure that any one of us can help him, Daphne. I think we need more help and different help." Hermione continued.

"How much help? We can discuss the different help after." Daphne's eyes narrowed at Hermione.

"Well, I think because of the contracts; we will have a good foundation to start healing him. It will just take time." Susan said. Hermione nodded.

"Physically, Luna and I have started already. You need to catch up." Hermione smirked.

"Emotionally, Harry is still an orphan boy. We all need to step it up there. He is starting to accept our support. We just need to continue." Hermione said. "He needs to know instinctually; that we support him. When he needs something; we will provide it for him."

"Now, we have to talk about any other girls. I know we all started with crushes, but that is not enough now. Any new girl needs to be compatible with us first. And no fan girls." Hermione ordered.

"Do they need to be a witch's witch?" Daphne asked.

"I, umm, Luna, Harry, and I sort of. Blast it, I want to do more. However, no, it is not a deal breaker, but it might be helpful." Hermione replied.

"Well, we will have to experiment soon." Daphne teased. Getting more of a blush from Hermione.

"You just want to get your hands on my chest." Susan teased back.

Daphne raised her eyebrow. "What, I am curious also. Hannah snogged me." Susan said.

Luna just smiled. "I am willing to be with Harry, you Hermione, Daphne, Susan, or any combination. It is fun and pleasurable."

"How goes the contracts?" Hermione asked.

"I hate to rain on your parade, Hermione. Dumbledore has control over the Potter line. He has refused everyone so far." Daphne pointed out.

"Hermione, can a person switch the line at a future date since I will assume you did research that?" Susan said with a frown. "Dumbledore was made Harry's magical guardian?"

"Once Harry comes of age, he can renegotiate any wife or consort contract. If a slot is open, he can move the girl from one to another. Actually, as head of the houses; he can use that authority to change one consort line to another without our input; just not a wife. The problem comes back to Dumbledore. Dumbledore can force Harry to marry someone like Mrs. Potter. Since there is no divorce. We would be stuck with that person." Hermione said sadly.

"Do you think Harry murdered Ginevra Weasley because of the contract Dumbledore forced him into with her?" Susan asked.

"I think, Harry used the opportunity to kill her. I don't think Harry would have just murdered her." Daphne said.

"Dumbledore will find another pureblood girl of a light family to marry our Harry. He plans on having that girl get pregnant so that when Harry dies; Dumbledore will control the family wealth and political power." Luna said. "I am sure Dumbledore will kill Harry once the pregnancy is assured. He planned on killing Jenny, Molly, and his child once the child was of age."

The girls all looked at Luna in shock.

"That dirty bastard," Susan said.

"Luna, are you sure? And does that mean that Dumbledore wants Harry dead?" Hermione asked. Luna nods.

"Have you warned, Harry?" Hermione continues. Luna nods again. Well, Harry knew and probably had a plan to deal with it.

"Well, bugger," Susan said.

"Do you know why, Luna?" Daphne asked. Luna shakes her head.

"Well, Harry can be ruthless. He can keep himself alive." Daphne smiled.

"Speaking of that, are we okay if it does come down to Harry killing a fellow wife, or wife-to-be?" Susan asked.

"I will help murder the bitch or bitches!" Daphne states. "No one, Dumbledore picks will be good for either Harry's or our longevity."

"Really Daphne? Another wife chosen by Dumbledore would make us more of a target?" Susan asked with alarm.

Daphne nods and then adds. "We eventually do need to figure out all the reasons that Albus has for Harry's death. None of us doubt the dumbledick wants our Harry dead. Well; our deaths would also be needed if part of the answer is Dumblefuck wants to steal all of Harry's fortune. We are walking dead girls if we don't kill first."

Hermione then said, "I will help hide the bodies!" She never liked Ginevra once the girl said she would take Harry from her. Not to mention being called an ugly worthless mudblooded bookworm.

"Damn, I don't like thinking of murder; you know if he killed one wife to be…." Susan said sadly.

"How can you call it murder, Susan? If you have the votes, you could kill a person on the Wizengamot floor and be declared innocent. Considering how corrupt our society is; killing is not murder. It is just a suggested rule." Daphne said while Susan sadly nods; almost crying.

"Sorry, hun, we all know it is true. While Harry, Hermione, and I are probably too cynical but a wife on the primary line that is not one of us means it would be in Dumbledore's interest for all of us to die once she is pregnant. Depending on how the contract Dumbledore signs are written; the child might not even be Harry's. So, it would be self-defense." Daphne looked at the other girl. "We are safe from Harry though."

"Unless his mind is clouded with nargels or potions. Harry is too nice to do that to us. Sometime in the future; he will love all of us. That will be before we have children." Luna smiled dreamily.

"Why do you think that, Luna?" Daphne turned to the younger girl.

"Harry cares for anyone he considers family. All others are walking corpses. He sees any girl he is forced to marry as a threat to his family. Threat to our lives also. He will kill them. I will help. However, if Harry is potioned, he could see us as the threat. They tried recently but somehow, I was so clumsy I knocked his goblet to the floor and let him use mine. Since Harry did not complain; he may have already known." Luna said as she was looking at Hermione. "Being with Harry will make the wrackspurts quit shunning me and other harassments."

"Are you still being bullied?" Hermione asked the girl.

"It is more subtle, but yes."

"That is fucked up, Luna. Daphne, if you are sure any girl that Dumbledick forces Harry to marry is a threat to me and or my aunt or Harry, or to any of you; I can see the self-defense argument. I don't like it but I am in." Susan said after a moment.

"That is a benefit of being with Harry. Less bullying. Though it will go away at some point. Harry could request a private apartment one of these days." Hermione looked at Daphne in shock. "Yes Hermione, a lord can get his apartment. Room for a guest plus staff."

"What if Harry already has an apartment and he gets more ladies?" Susan asked.

"No real change, they would just have to expand the apartment. It has to have Harry's bedroom. One bedroom for each lady or servant. Each has to come with an en-suite bathroom plus a bath. Before marriage, you would just need parental permission to join him." Daphne stated.

Hermione knew none of this. Hermione looked down. "It is okay, Hermione, which is what I am here for. To teach both you and Harry about magical customs that are rarely if ever in books." Daphne said. "There is no shame in being ignorant. Shame comes if you refuse to acknowledge it and cure it.

Bookworm, I don't see any reason for you to have shame."

Hermione brightened. "So how do we get Harry to request one, and how large will Harry's bed be?

Susan was blushing. "He can expand his bed. I am pretty sure I will be in the suite. Sirius dotes on Harry."

"My dad, wants me to be with other people and safe when he goes on long trips to research for the quibbler. He wants me to be safe here at Hogwarts also. Harry is such a good person it would make many girls happy and safe." Luna was suddenly focused on Daphne and Hermione.

The girls started to giggle. "How is Harry about having so many girls?" Daphne finally said.

"The part of him that is a boy, is quite excited by the idea, of course. However, he also wants a large family to replace the loss of his parents." Luna said.

"I wonder if that is part of someone's overall plan. Think of the special defense class. It seems like we are being put together already." Daphne commented. All the girls agreed. "The only question that we need to find out; is this what Harry wants." Again nods.

"Since Harry seems to like it and we are all okay with that, let's not waste time trying to figure it out unless you think it may come back to bite us," Hermione said as she looked at the other girls. All shook their heads.

"That is settled then. Now, Hermione, you said different help." Daphne said giving Hermione a hard look.

Hermione blushes. "This is hard to admit. I have issues with over-respecting authority. Harry doesn't seem to ever have control. I already decided to give Harry complete control over myself." The girls were shocked.

"You feel that giving Harry that much power over us would help both him and us? Daphne was concerned about where this was heading.

"Yes, but you do not have to. I know I do. I also have faults like correcting Harry in public. I worship authority, I also respond to the magical world before I have all the facts. But that is just me. We can work on this so that Harry gains more confidence and self-worth. He would care for me. I overwork and stress. With him taking care of my stress. Make me relax. Helping me, will boost his self-worth and help him. So again, yes, Daphne, I will do it. Not all at once. But work towards that."

Daphne sighed, "You are not the only one with issues, Hermione. Everyone knows I am the ice queen. I need a release from that. I need it from my future husband. So, if I give Harry that much power over me in private, I think he would help me immeasurably."

Susan also looked down. "I have to be the good girl. The sweet innocent Auror's daughter. I want a place where I can be bad."

Luna was jumping up and down. "Being free of the wrackspurts would be worth anything Harry wants."

"So, it is agreed. We will work with Harry so that we are all comfortable and happy while we go down this rabbit hole together." Hermione joined the girls with a group hug.

{S}

"Harry, we need to talk," Luna said

"In private?" He asked. Luna nods "Okay, let's find a broom closet." Harry replied.

Ten minutes later they were snogging in the broom closet. "Is this all you needed, Luna?"

"No, master, Dumblefuck has recruited the Weasley twins to his private army. Those two plus the head boy and girl must die. If they do not die this year; one of your ladies will die. Sorry, I do not know how they relate to death."

"Where would be the best place to kill them?"

"I will get back to you." Luna said going back to licking his neck."

{S}

"Harry, stay back please." Auror White stated. "What is up?"

"You are advancing well. Everyone here is improving by leaps and bounds. By summer you will have a lethal team. I am sorry to say that not all of the students here will fit in though. Neville, Hannah, and Tracy are not really combat types."

"Okay, I am curious, if we find one or more people in the future, will they be able to fit in?"

"If they are dedicated as Hermione, Luna, and Daphne. I would imagine that the new people would work just fine."

"Susan? Okay, enough about what is obvious, what do you want?

"Susan will never be a soldier, she will make a great Auror. Now, do you think you are up to blowing an ambush? By yourself? But it may involve a lot of collateral damage." White said. "Okay, what is the plan? Who is the collateral?" Harry asked, surprised that the teacher cared about collateral victims.

"I want you to go into Hogsmeade on Saturday. Go in with a group of Gryffindors. Dolohov and Bellatrix will be ambushing them. They are waiting on the outskirts of the village to kill as many Gryffs as they can. If you are there; it would be the cherry on top."

"So, I am bait leading a group of bait," Harry said.

"Yes, the death eaters should follow their normal patterns. Bellatrix likes to surprise from the front while Dolohov comes in from the back. So, when you see Bellatrix, drop, and cast your most powerful bombarda straight behind you. Then you will have to combat Bellatrix for a few minutes while the rest of the group comes up to support you. We will also come as the Americans say, the cavalry."

"If you know they are there; why don't you go with the Gryffs? I may be good but compared with the four of you together; I am nothing yet.

Give me a few more years."

"We think they are using polyjuice. They would only take the antidote when they see you and or the Gryffs by themselves. We will be in the area to drop anti-apparition and anti-portkey wards. Then we will run to you."

"So, I am both bait and trap. Cute. Do you think I can successfully dual Bellatrix?"

"For a short time, as long as Dolohov is down. You can at least stay alive for two minutes?"

"Yes, fine, I will go into Hogsmeade. I heard Fred, George, and Dean are meeting at three brooms before heading to Zonko."

"You know they are the biggest bullies of the school. They would have been expelled if Dumbledore didn't protect them. Nice choice of living barriers. And the kid?"

"Kid? Well, I do need a call sign. But isn't that a little too on target?"

"We will deal with things like nom de plumes at a later date. I just wanted to say that I feel bad about what we teach you. You should enjoy your life not learn to fight a war."

"Voldy never let me have a normal life. The most normal part of my life is the girls. And even that is buggered."

"Yeah, Sirius said that most of the girls here are part of your harem."

"Yeah, more girls than I can handle. It looks like I have no choice though." Harry said.

"Yeah, plenty of lovely intelligent girls that will be with you for years. The hardship. Now the last thing. The Hogsmeade visit will put you in the media again."

"Isn't that what I have the law firm for? They are paid to handle press relations plus keeping me out of Azkaban. The hardest will be dealing with the goat. He will come unglued if any of the Gryffindors die."

"Well, shouldn't he have expelled some of them by now?"

"Touché, and White, thank you. I feel that the girls and I may survive this war thanks to you."

{S}

Harry led a group of Gryffindors from the Three Broom Sticks to Zonkos. Harry had bribed some of them by saying he would add some chocolate to the Gryffindor common room as a way of showing he supported his parents' house.

Surprisingly Harry was being flanked by the twins, the plan was going great. Then five steps out the door of Three Broom Sticks he heard a pop behind him as Bellatrix came out of Honeydukes in front of them. Harry instantly dropped to the ground as he released a Bombarda Maxima behind him. Harry heard the blast as well as screams. But it had been too late. A beam of green light had struck the twin to the right from behind. Bellatrix had fired a killing curse at him but with him hitting the ground it hit the twin to the left. Bellatrix was fast though. She followed it up with a cutting curse which nearly decapitated Dean Thomas.

At that time, Harry was able to point his wand at her. He fired the cutting curse toward Bellatrix. She tried to dodge, but the curse completely severed her wand hand. He followed it up with a bone breaker to her legs. She dropped to the ground. Harry rolled to the right over the dead twin there. Where he had been suddenly blew up. He was showered with human head bits and gore. Bellatrix had grabbed her wand with her offhand. Bellatrix was so much faster than he was. Harry started firing piercing hexes as he wandlessly brought up the protego shield. The shield shatter by whatever black spells Bellatrix had cast at him. That was the last spell he saw coming at him.

A few minutes of no spells and only people moaning in pain. He stood up. Behind him was what looked like the upper chest of a man with its head in a silver mask! From his stomach down was missing. It was just luck that the death eater's torso was upright. It looked like maybe eight or ten Gryffindors were wounded or dead with Dolohov. He guessed it was Dolohov. Then he walked towards Honeydukes. He found Bellatrix lying face down. He saw she had a hole in her head. Lucky shot he thought. Seconds later Hermione, Daphne, and Luna ran up to him. "Harry!" All three screamed as they ran into him slamming him to the ground in a group hug. Harry felt bad. His school uniform was going to have to be burned. Now, his girls would also have to have their robes, burned. "Where is Susan? She is alright?" Harry asked.

"She went to go get teachers," Daphne said.

Now before the Aurors showed up he had work to do. Harry quickly searched for one of the twins, then he moved to the other. He found the parchment that Sirius had told him about. Score, he thought to himself. He had just put it in his robe when he heard more apparition pops.

"Hands up, wands on the ground. Aurors!!!!" Harry heard as a group of six Aurors ran into the thoroughfare.

Since he could see it was Tonks, Shacklebolt as well as four unknown Aurors. It was going to be a long day. He and his girls dropped their wands.

It was looking like he was going to spend the night in an Auror-holding cell when things then got worse. The whole village suddenly got blanketed with fog and cold. The air turned cold and his breath frosted. The phantom screams started playing in his head. The horde of Dementors surrounding the school had converged on-masse on the village, drawn by the commotion and violence that just had happened. Harry whimpered, the screams in his head growing louder. Then he clamped down on his mind. He was safe from the mental effects. However, the Dementors were barely a hundred feet away.

"Patroni on three" Shacklebolt yelled. Harry and his girls grabbed their wands and also cast their patroni. Fourteen spectral animals started slamming into the dark cloaks. "It is not working; we will not be able to hold for long?"

Shacklebolt said as he pressed a rune on his robe for reinforcements.

Harry took a long breath. He pulled out his disposable thorn wand. He screamed out, "Scutum" and a black wolf came out of his wand and slammed into the dementors. He dropped the wand and broke it with his foot. Since he was behind all the Aurors no one realized what he had done.

The result was amusing. The dementors gave out unholy screams as the dark wolf attacked them. Suddenly ichor and tattered cloaks dropped to the ground. The despair disappeared and the white patroni grew brighter.

Soon the air warmed and the fog receded.

"What was that?" Shacklebolt demanded.

"Who cast that?" Shacklebolt turned around to only see just a group of students all with one wand glowing white. A thin line of white could be traced from the wands to the spectral and corporeal patroni. All of the students looked surprised as well. There was no other witch or wizard in the street. Shacklebolt was surprised that this group of children could do the patroni.

"Students, those that can return to Hogwarts, please do. We will question you tomorrow. We will" The sounds of multiple apparition pops sounded. "Be taking the wounded to Saint Mungo's." Harry was released to be questioned tomorrow. Maybe the day was looking up.

{N}

THE-BOY-WHO-DEATH-FOLLOWS

We at the Prophet are saddened to report the tragedy and violence yesterday at Hogsmeade. The two escaped convicted death eaters ambushed a group of Hogwarts's students in Hogsmeade.

When the carnage was cleared, fifteen students were dead and another twenty were sent to Saint Mungo's.

What makes this so tragic; it did not have to happen. The escaped death eaters targeted the boy who lived and members of House Gryffindor. If the headmaster had banned Hogsmeade Visits; there would have been no reason for the death eaters to be there.

With this fresh wave of violence connected to Mister Potter, more questions need to be asked and answered this time! – Why did he leave the castle since he knew he was a target? Why did the school let him go to Hogsmeade? Were any of the students hurt or killed because of stray spells or effects of spells the boy who lived cast? Is it safe for his fellow students for Mister Potter to remain at Hogwarts?

As stated, the Prophet is demanding answers to these questions. Albus Dumbledore has refused to comment.

Rita Skeeter - Correspondent

{S}

Dumbledore didn't know what to do.

The dementors were unfortunate. But that was Fudge's problem, not his. His problem is the rest of the attack. What was the black wolf? He knew from Shacklebolt that the group of Hogwarts's students hadn't cast it.

Something to ponder in the future.

No, his problem now was Harry. What happened in Hogsmeade was not how things were supposed to go. From what Shacklebolt had said, Harry seemed to know what was going to happen. Harry denied it of course. If Harry did know, why didn't Harry come to him with the information?

That way the great Albus would be the one to kill those two famous death eaters. That would have renewed the people's trust in him, and he would still be seen as the greatest wizard of all time. He, not the brat would be receiving the bounties on those two death eaters. The fame of killing those two death eaters.

But that had been snatched away as the boy had killed those two by himself.

Harry was also a problem; it was almost like he didn't care who died as long as a death eater died in the process. He needed to talk to the boy and get him back on the path of light. If the talk didn't work; he had to find a way to make the brat follow the right path; his greater good.

Then there was the carnage of all the students that were caught in the crossfire. Many parents would be upset. Even parents of those not affected by the battle would complain.

How was he going to explain the latest's deaths to the remaining Weasleys? Harry had been there where four of their children were killed. Was it possible that Harry was actively killing Albus's supporters? No; there was no waythat Harry would know they were his supporters.

After a while, Albus gave up on the what and the why; and focused on the who.

How to talk to Harry. Amelia had said that he couldn't talk to the boy until the investigation was over. He had sent Minerva to fetch the boy. Harry had refused citing legal concerns, apparently Amelia had got to Harry first.

The Prophet was not making the situation any better. It blamed the incident on Harry and himself. Worse, it suggested that Harry be removed from Hogwarts. Albus could not let that happen.

Then the day got worse for Albus. Fawkes flamed into the office. He had a missive from the law firm that Harry used. It was a restraining order. It told him he couldn't talk to Harry or his coterie about any non-school matters unless they were included. He also had to give them seven-day notice. If he didn't acquiesce to this legal order, Amelia would be sending Aurors to talk with him or worse arrest him. All because Harry was contesting his magical guardianship.

Fuck, the day could not get any worse. Albus let out his anger with one word, "FUCK" he yelled for a full three minutes. Then pulled out a bottle of brandy and poured the contents into a glass; downing the contents, he poured another. Harry's solicitors didn't understand.

He had to guide the boy; no matter what; or that Harry would be dead at the end.

What if he couldn't get Harry to do what he wanted him to do? What did he need to do in that case? Since the prophecy could have been Harry or Neville, could he send Harry on to his next adventure and use Neville as his martyr for the greater good?

{M}

Director, Department of Mysteries

I need to make a detour before my vacation. It seems that except for the children and the isle paradise life is good.

By the end of next year, my club will be ready.

Harry

{M}

Mister Potter

I am glad you are going to have a wonderful vacation. I left you a gift to make it more enjoyable. You should see the woodworker again. He has some extra art behind his shop. Once you get back, you should stop by.

Director DoM

{S}

"Mister Potter, what are you doing?" Minerva said.

"I am going home for the holidays. We have talked about this before. You have no right to stop me." Harry said.

"The headmaster wishes to talk with you before you go."

"What is this about?"

"That is for the headmaster to tell you."

"Well, according to my law firm, I am not to talk with him about non-school items without a representative of the firm is there."

"You are lying. The headmaster would have told me if that was the case."

Harry smiled. He had two copies of the order on his person.

"Well in that case, here is a copy."

McGonagall was shocked. This was not good. She knew Harry's solicitors were very competent at their job. This caused major headaches.

"Have a good vacation professor," Harry said as he walked to the carriages.

{S}

Harry had snuck out of his home. He took the train to London and then the tube to his destination. He saw no magicals as he made his way to the

Leaky Cauldron. He then was able to slip into Diagon Alley. Then he walked into Knockturn Alley. There was the wand, umm, wood shop. He went into the alley beside the shop. He threw a handful of flour. A box shape void appeared. He went to the box; touched it and spoke. "Enjoyable."

The box appeared and opened. Harry was happy. He liked the contents. It had a small bulky rifle with a huge canister around the barrel. The box also contained a pair of gloves, a map, a pouch, a compass, a score of magazines, and a grenade. Harry quickly shrunk them and put them into the pouch. He was not looking toward tonight's work.

Then Harry went to get wands. This time he bought a dozen thorn wands. He would have bought more but the dozen were the only ones that responded to him.

{S}

When it was good and dark. Harry got up to start his pre-vacation jaunt. He grabbed the pouch. Everything else was inside it. He put his father's cloak on. Time to start.

Once outside the wards, he pulled out the map Croaker provided. He realized his path. He would have to fly west-southwest once he passed Farnborough Airport, and had to be careful not to fly too close. Once he hit the coast, fly north for a couple of hours till he passed Scotland. Then northeast to the island.

All of it would be easy if he used the compass. Well so far so good Harry thought.

He arrived alive but was soaked. He had to drop down to sea skimming the last few kilometers. "Here goes nothing," he mumbled as he pointed his wand to himself.

He levitated himself above the sea below and shrunk his broom before pocketing it. Taking a deep breath, his body faded into a thick, black fog and he squeezed himself through the small fissure in the wall. Now he was inside the wards. He loved his dad's cloak.

He switched to his snake animagus form. He quickly flew over to the high-security block. Good, his animagus form did not summon any dementors. Turning back human, he drew another disposable wand. "Time for part b," Harry said to himself.

He then summoned his black wolf. He told the wolf to just flare its aura. The dementors would flee the block and stay away. It would take a few hours before the few Aurors that stayed in the low-security block realized that the dementors were not doing their job. He would need every moment of their ignorance. He just hoped it would be long enough.

He walked up to the first death eater's cell; surprisingly it had a woman in it. Harry read the name. "Ruth Ellis?"

"Yes, who are you?" she demanded to know as she scooted away from him, her knees brought up tightly to her chest. Her arms were bare. Harry could see her mark.

"Death. Your death, bitch." Harry stated as he fired two rounds into her head. The gun had little recoil and just sounded like soft pops. With that, he went to the next cell. Then the next. Then the next. After an hour, over one hundred death eaters were dead. He was a bit sick at the end but glad he had completed the task. He used the remaining ammunition to kill anyone with a pink tab on their cells knowing they were in for a sexual crime.

Part c, he thought. He pulled the wand he used to summon the wolf and broke it in two. Then he dropped it to the ground. Then he put the gun on the ground next to the broken wand. He then piled the empty magazines on top of the gun. He put the grenade on the pile and pulled the pin. He ran to the door to leave the block. The grenade flared to life covering the pile with a white slag. The thermite was too bright to look at.

The guards would be coming soon. He turned back to the snake, so he could fly back to the crack in the outside wall. Minutes later he was on his way home. The mission was a success.

Most of Tom's forces were now dead. Now all he had left was to either dissuade or kill the children at Hogwarts that thought Tom's ideas were a good thing.

{N}

SLAUGHTER AT AZKABAN

This has just been released for the Ministry.

In the early hours this morning, something breached the impenetrable prison of Azkaban.

Guards that stayed overnight in the low-security ward noticed that a brilliant white light was coming from the high-security ward. That was the first thing they noticed; according to a report.

When they got over to that block, they found a pool of molten steel.

A further search of the block produced many cells of dead prisoners with horrific wounds.

The office of unspeakables confirmed that no trace of magic or magical signature was found. The minister claims there will be an immediate investigation of the DMLE will take place.

We, at the Daily Prophet, would like to publish the results of that investigation.

An unlisted source in the ministry confirmed that the list of people that died included every person who was a convicted death eater.

Several other prisoners were killed. They all were in prison for sexual crimes.

Another fact the Prophet learned, all Aurors assigned to Azkaban were picked by the Office of the Minister instead of the head of the DMLE.

Rita Skeeter-Correspondent.

{S}

Narcissa put down the Prophet in horror. Her last safety line just broke. With the deaths of so many of her friends, things would get worse for her. She knew that the DMLE would use the deaths as a cause to raid their houses; and seize their vaults. Who knows what dark or illegal things the DMLE would find? The spouses of the imprisoned had supported her. Now that the well had dried up. She had no child, no lord, and no husband. She was truly alone.

Since she was the trophy wife of a rich lord, she had let her skills decay. No longer with skill, she had to accept support. Without that help; she would soon be out of the room she was renting at the cauldron. Then to feed and shelter her, with no real skills or friends, she would end up in Knockturn as a two-knut whore.

She needed galleons and protection. Then, as she lamented her circumstances; she knew it might be worse. Once Bones started interrogating the families of the dead; the bitch might find out enough to come for her. She might be facing Azkaban herself. Her hands had not been clean of muggle killing. She killed any of that her husband raped so they would not bear him another child.

Her house of cards was collapsing; but where to go? Who would help her now? She had burned so many bridges; all for her husband and son. Now; she was paying the piper for that. She had been sure that had been the right thing to do at the time; now it appeared all of it was her folly. Worse, the loss would destroy her last hope and dream.

She would do whatever was needed to stay alive; because once dead; she would not have her revenge. But, she wondered, if she had to debase herself on her back; would that allow her to get her revenge? She had to kill Potter before she died.

Then it struck her. The Black; she could plead for mercy from him. If he granted it; more could be had. Potter was young, he would need a steward or seneschal. Everyone knew she was the power behind Lucius. She would be great at either position for him. Both were close to their lords. This indeed would get her close to the boy. Close enough to kill him.

Sirius wasn't stupid though. He would make her swear at least one oath; maybe more. Even though she knew she would find a loophole or more in the oaths; she had to realize this was a one-way trip. Once she started the actual action to kill Harry, she would either lose her magic and die horribly or just fall dead. There would be no going back.

Then, she decided. She would get the Malfoy crypt ready for her to be buried next to her husband and her son. But she would also ready the Potter crypt. Where he would lay next to his mother for all eternity.

{S}

Harry was exhausted physically and emotionally. It was a long stressful night. He was glad it was over. He had a few errands that he needed to do today before he started his vacation. He went to a pet store and bought some rats. He grabbed two of the disposable wands and cast the killing curse a few times with each. He also used the curse to blast a few rocks. Now he had to find a few more death-eater children on the express. He wanted Flint and Nott. The good thing, Christmas was the next day.

{S}

"May your gold ever flow, representative Hooksnarl," Harry said.

"The same to you Mister Potter. How may the Goblins help your gold increase today?"

"I need to sign the papers finally taking possession of the Malfoy lordship. The French branch has dropped its claim. For all their properties, I want the wards changed, everything of value sold off then the properties sold. Except for the manor. I want it razed to the ground, then sell the dirt. I want you to search them; thoroughly. If you find anything illegal or cursed. Destroy and or give to the Aurors. I want these properties ready for innocent families to move in."

"We can start today; I expect the wards will be done today."

"Anything else, heir Malfoy?" The goblin asked.

"I want the paperwork so that when I die, the line ends. I want the Crabbe and Goyle lines to end now."

"We can do all that, since it will be a big job, we will discount our fees to help." Hooksnarl almost gloated.

"Take any dark artifacts from their vaults and destroy them. Please have the rest of the wealth transferred to my trust vault."

"Of course, Mister Potter."

Harry then looked sharply at the goblin. It was a risk, but it was one he had to take. "Hooksnarl, do you know what a Horcrux is?"

It took the goblin twenty minutes to calm down from his goblygook rant. Harry assumed that most of what was said were curse words. "Yes, Hooksnarl, I know they are a vile item. I am sure you would not be happy to know one may reside in your fine establishment. Lucius was given one. It was the problem last year. So, I am sure that voldyshorts would have given at least one of his other lieutenants the foul items to hide. Since this is a safe place to store them." Hooksnarl looked stunned then hit a rune on his desk. Two armored goblins with halberds came running into the room. They pointed the halberds at Harry.

"I did not place one in the bank. As I said, I recently killed one along with the basilisk. Since I am sure Lucius Malfoy sent it to Hogwarts that is what leads me to ask you to check all death eater vaults."

"Mister Potter, if there is one or more of those vile objects in one of the vaults; we will find it and destroy it. We will heavily punish the person that put it there. The punishment will include seizing all vaults and banning from using Gringotts. However, if we search and find nothing, you will be paying a large fee. I hope you are sure of what you are asking of us."

"I do, that payment is acceptable, please notify the head of the Department of Mysteries if you do find one or more, please. With that, our business is done. May the blood of your enemies wet your blades, Hooksnarl."

"It will Mister Potter. It will. I will notify you and Mister Croaker if we find any Horcruxes here. I will not notify you if we seize from your vault if you are wrong." Harry smiled as he left the bank.

{S}

Standing on the sidewalk outside Number 12 Grimmauld Place; Narcissa took a deep breath and let it out slowly. This was the moment of truth. This was her last chance to change her mind. Setting her shoulders and shaking off the doubt, Narcissa stepped onto the walkway and upon reaching the front door rapped the regal knocker. Barely ten seconds passed before the door swung open and revealed the man who would either be her executioner or her savior and a fool.

"Cousin. Long time no see," Sirius Black said raising his eyebrows.

{S}

"Sirius, I am so glad to see you. I hope you had a good Christmas. So, any plans for boxing day?" Harry chimed out as he flooed into Grimmauld Place.

He turned and saw his godfather talking to another adult. He did not know the older woman with dark hair and blonde highlights. From what he could tell through her robes she had an impressive bust for her age. She had a beautiful face with high cheekbones and an almost gothic look. The only thing odd about the woman was her hair had a large patch of blonde hair. It stood out against the rest of her raven-black hair. It gave her an odd look that reminded Harry of a skunk which she certainly didn't smell anything like.

"What are you doing here?" Narcissa Malfoy started but then shut up in shock as she saw the rings on Harry's hands. He had several scion rings on. He had one for each of house Black, Potter, and an unknown house, but the real shocker was the scion's ring for House Malfoy. So the rumors were true. Harry Potter killed her son and her husband.

"Please be play nice Harry. This is my cousin and your ward, Narcissa Malfoy. I have granted my cousin sanctuary since she can no longer go home. Madam Bones has verified she has not taken the mark."

"Okay, Sirius. I think I need to talk to her in private though." Harry replied with a frown.

"Okay, pup. Please use any bedroom on the 3rd floor. Just cast silencing charms on the door. The black family magic will alert me if there is a spell of fire. So don't unless necessary, Pup."

Harry turned and headed to the stairs. It took a few minutes before Narcissa got up to head upstairs as well.

"Cissa, you curse or in any way harm Harry, I will make you regret it." She nodded.

"I need his good will cousin. My life depends on it. So, he is as safe with me as with you." She lied. He would be safe until she could find a way to kill him without dying first from the oaths.