23

Harry walked back to the entrance to the maze. Crouch, Fudge, Maxime, McGonagall, Flitwick, Dumbledore, and Umbridge were there.

"Well violators of goats' virtue, do I still have to find the cup now that I am the only person left in the suicidal excuse for entertainment," Harry demanded.

"No, Mister Potter. The judges have decided you still need to find the cup for this task to end." Crouch stated firmly.

"I am sorry, Mister Potter but your headmaster was adamant that you have to go through the maze to end the task," Maxime said, glaring at Dumbledore.

"Fine!" Harry hissed in parseltongue as Harry sent three flaming basilisks attacking the maze.

"Harry, my boy, you are treading down a dark path. Using such dark and destructive magic without any restraints will make you no different than Voldemort." Albus said with disappointment. "I demand you quit this at once and go through the maze like a normal wizard."

"Oh, bullshit. Just because I do not risk my life needlessly doesn't mean I am going dark. It means I am not stupid as you fucks think I am. There is no fucking way I will risk my life right now." Harry replied as they began to hear the screams of the various creatures in the maze being burned to death. One scream was so horrid that all that heard it were suddenly afraid.

"Interesting, judges; the last scream was that of a banshee. Well, I also heard the cry of a cockatrice. Did any of you approve of these creatures in the maze? After all, a cockatrice was why the tournament was stopped." Harry asked.

"We do not need to discuss what was in the maze. We need to discuss that fact you cheated." Albus almost shouted. "How could you disrespect this tournament like that?"

"Did I cheat, headmaster? Let us see. Lumos." Harry replied. His wand lit up. "Well, the goblet does not seem to think I cheated." The fiendfyre had engulfed the whole maze. Then the serpents came at Harry. Expecting that he said finite three times with parseltongue. It worked. They were gone. It did leave him out of breath.

Harry just stood there panting until he recovered. Harry turned back, "As for respect; why should I respect a tournament that you made me participate in when I did not even enter it."

Harry turned back to the pitch. He was pleased with the results. The whole pitch had been burned down to ash. There was no trace of the maze, the traps, or even the monsters. All that was left was fine black ash and a table with the goblet standing on it. It was easy for him to walk over to the table.

"Wingardium Leviosa." Harry said. He levitated the cup to the judges' table. "Task complete."

As Harry walked up to the table, Crouch banished the cup right into Harry. As soon as it touched him, he felt the hook behind the navel as he disappeared.

"Where is Harry?" Several people shouted.

Crouch also triggered a portkey. All the judges but Dumbledore looked shocked. Dumbledore looked pleased.

Susan had been watching the headmaster the whole time. Seeing his face, she felt betrayed. It destroyed her last moral qualms. From now on; she would do whatever to keep Harry and her sister wives alive without question; even if murder in cold blood was required.

{S}

Harry felt his feet slam into the ground and he immediately fell forward, letting go of the Cup in the process. He quickly raised his head and looked around. 'Yup, the cemetery,' he thought.

Harry continued looking around desperately. His eyes stopped on a disturbed grave with a statue of the angel of Death, scythe and all. On it were the names, Thomas Riddle, Karen Riddle, and Tom Riddle. Voldemort's father. Wonderful.

The black outline of a small church was visible beyond a large yew tree to their right. A hill rose above them to their left. Harry could just make out the outline of a fine old house on the hillside. That was the last he thought before he saw a red flash then everything went dark.

When he came to, he was bound to the Riddle Senior's headstone, and Crouch was in his face.

Once sure that Harry was bound so tightly to the headstone that he couldn't move an inch, Crouch drew a length of some black material from the inside of his cloak and stuffed it roughly into Harry's mouth; then, without a word, he turned from Harry and hurried away. Harry couldn't make a sound, nor could he see where Crouch had gone. The ropes were so tight now, he couldn't turn his head to see beyond the headstone.

He could see only what was right in front of him. Some ten meters away lay the Tri-Wizard Cup. One of Harry's thorn wands was on the ground next to a bundle of robes. It looked almost like a baby and seemed to be stirring fretfully.

He knew exactly what was hidden within the robes or better, yet, who.

He could hear noises at his feet. He looked down and saw a gigantic snake slithering through the grass, circling the headstone where he was tied. Harry hated that he was gagged. It would have been brilliant to talk to the snake.

He then saw the snake with his magical sight. The snake had dark magic about it. It was the last Horcrux. Maybe this would be a good day.

Crouch's labored breathing was growing louder again. It sounded as though he was forcing something heavy across the ground. Then he came back within Harry's range of vision, and Harry saw him pushing a stone cauldron to the foot of the grave.

Crouch lit a fire underneath it and the liquid in the cauldron seemed to heat very fast. The surface began not only to bubble but to send out fiery sparks, as though it were on fire. Harry heard the high, cold voice again.

"Hurry!" Rang out from the bundle.

"It is ready, Master." Crouch stuttered.

"Now…," said the cold voice.

Crouch pulled open the robes on the ground, revealing what was inside them, and Harry couldn't help but cringe at the sight of it the ugly, slimy, and blind something that had been inside. Voldemort was hairless and scaly-looking, a dark, raw, reddish-black with a flat and snake-like face with gleaming red eyes baby. It looked like a melted Ken doll in miniature.

Crouch dropped the creature into the cauldron; there was a hiss, and it vanished below the surface; Harry heard its frail body hit the bottom with a soft thud.

Harry might not know what was going on; he would bet his vault he was about to see the ritual to bring back Voldemort's body. Soon the bastard that killed his parents would be killable. All he had to do was kill the snake.

"Bone of the father, unknowingly given, you will renew your son!"

Harry watched the exposed coffin shatter and a rotten bone rose into the air from beneath him and fell softly into the cauldron. Harry finally felt like laughing.

The wrong bones were being used.

Now Crouch was whimpering. He pulled a long, thin, shining silver dagger from inside his cloak. His voice broke into petrified sobs: "Flesh of the servant willingly given; you will revive."

Crouch screamed as he cut off his entire arm and dropped it into the cauldron. Harry watched as Crouch was gasping and moaning with agony and walked over until he was right in front of Harry: "B-blood of the enemy forcibly taken… will resurrect your foe."

Harry could do nothing to prevent it but didn't want to, anyway. He saw the shining silver dagger shaking in Crouch's remaining hand, felt its point penetrate his arm in the crook of his right arm, and watched the blood seeping down the sleeve of his torn robes. Crouch, still panting with pain, walked over to the cauldron and let the blood drip from the dagger into the cauldron.

After a bit, through the mist in front of him, Harry saw the dark outline of a man, tall and skeletally thin, rising slowly from inside the cauldron. Other than the face, it was Ken. The idiot has resurrected himself dickless. How was the idiot going to piss himself?

"Robe me," said the high, cold voice from behind the steam, and Crouch, sobbing and moaning, still cradling his mutilated arm, scrambled to pick up the black robes from the ground, got to his feet, reached up, and pulled them one-handed over his master's head.

The thin man stepped out of the cauldron, staring at Harry and Harry stared right back. Harry was more amused than scared. He had always known this would happen. Once he learned about the Horcrux; he figured that Tom would find a way back to human form. The question was when not if. It was just good that the ritual had been fucked up. The question is, what effect the screwed-up ritual did on the madman?

Voldemort did not seem worried that Harry was not scared of him. Then the so-called dark lord began examining his own body. He slipped one of those unnaturally long-fingered hands into a deep pocket and drew out a wand. He caressed it gently too; and then he raised it, and pointed it at Crouch, who was lifted off the ground and thrown against the headstone where Harry was tied.

He fell to the foot of it and lay there, crumpled up and crying. Voldemort turned his scarlet eyes upon Harry, laughing a high, cold, mirthless laugh. Harry looked in utter disgust at the weak man that lay on the ground.

Crouch's robes were shining with blood now; he had wrapped the stump of his arm in them. "My Lord…" he choked, "my Lord… you promised… "

"Hold out your arm," said Voldemort lazily.

"Oh, Master… thank you, Master…" He extended the bleeding stump, but Voldemort laughed again. Harry had to give him credit; he also despised Crouch.

"The other arm, Crouch."

"Master, please… please… "

Voldemort bent down and pulled out Crouch's left arm; he forced the sleeve of the robes up past his elbow, and Harry saw the very same Dark Mark he had seen on others. When did Crouch Senior throw his lot in with the bastard?

Voldemort examined it carefully, ignoring Crouch's uncontrollable weeping. "It is back," he said softly, "they will all have noticed it. Now we shall know who is loyal." He pressed his long white forefinger to the brand on Crouch's arm.

Crouch let out a fresh howl; Voldemort removed his fingers from the mark, and Harry saw that it had turned jet black.

Harry wondered if he could use this against all of the bastards; or at least; be a method he could track down and kill all of them. That was a thought for later. He would have to ask Hermione and Daphne if they could work out a way to track the bastards. He wordlessly summoned a sharp stone on the ground to his hand. Slowly cutting his bindings. He was going to rain on this parade. Hopefully killing the snake also.

"How many will return when they feel it?" Tom whispered; his gleaming red eyes fixed upon the stars. "And how many will be foolish enough to stay away?"

That was a good question. One Harry wanted to have answered also. Would Harry see Snape and Karkaroff? Harry bet the Durmstrang headmaster would be long gone once the mark went full black. That arse was a coward.

Voldemort whispered to the snake that was still outside his vision. Dam this was getting sick. It sounded like they were lovers. He wanted to stop the lovers' chat and the gag was slowly getting annoying. How could he capture Voldemort's attention? He shuffled a bit; it worked.

"You stand, Harry Potter, upon the remains of my late father," Tom said softly. "A Muggle; very like your dear mother. They had their uses, did they not? Your mother died to defend you as a child. I killed my father, and see how useful he has proved himself, in death." Voldemort laughed again.

"But he abandoned my mother when she told him she was a witch. Tom Senior left my mother and returned to his Muggle parents before I was even born, Potter. She died giving birth to me, leaving me to be raised in a Muggle orphanage. The same place where I learned to hate muggles. I heard that you also hate muggles, Harry."

Failing to notice that Harry was still gagged; he continued with his monologue. "I vowed to find him and kill him. I revenged myself upon him, that fool who gave me his name, Tom Riddle. But look, Harry! My true family returns."

Harry felt it, too. The air around them was heavy with magic. Then, between graves, behind the yew tree, hooded and masked wizards were apparating. Voldemort seemed upset that there were so few. There was less than a score. The Death Eaters approached and fell to their knees to greet him. After they formed a half circle around the graveyard, Voldemort spoke up again.

"Welcome, Death Eaters. It has been thirteen years since last we met. Yet you answer my call as though it were yesterday!

Harry paid close attention to Voldemort's speech. The bastard was viably disappointed in his people. Was there any way to get Tom to kill his men?"

"Thirteen long years and none of you tried to find me. You will have to do a lot as repayment before I forgive you." Voldemort hissed. "Avada Kedavra, Avada Kedavra, Crucio, Crucio."

"At least one of you deserves forgiveness." Voldemort rewarded Crouch with a burning curse that cauterized the wound.

The Dark Lord circled his ring of followers, occasionally commenting on their actions over the last thirteen years. Then after the comment, a crucio or Avada Kedavra was cast. Harry vowed to remember every single name. He was amused that the death eaters had such a mortality rate.

Voldemort briefly commented on all the missing death eaters. It seemed that Tom was pissed that there were even larger gaps. He couldn't wait to see what the tosser would do when he found out about the slaughter at Azkaban.

With Voldy distracted, Harry summoned his wand and silently cut the rest of his bindings. Once he spit out the fabric, he barely whispered, "Reducto," he fired an underpowered reductor curse at Riddle's back, impacting him between the shoulder blades and sending the man flying forward across the ground. He immediately used the wand in his left hand to summon the cup.

He then fired a stunner down at Crouch.

However, he wasn't as fast as he needed to be. Riddle, though he ended up sprawled across the ground, was quick to spin about and fire a killing curse back at Harry. Harry was able to evade it by stepping out of the way. The curse hit a death eater that was behind him. Oops, Harry thought.

Harry fired a string of reductor curses back at Riddle, but only with the intent to get the man to avoid them while he dropped the cup onto the stunned Crouch; and hit it with a sticking charm. Then he triggered the cup's portkey. Score!

Harry quickly cast a last few casts as Riddle tried to climb to his feet. His first was a blasting curse to fire stones and rocks into Riddle from the ground between them followed by a Banishing charm chased with a more direct blasting curse.

When he saw the first masked Death Eater step closer, raising his wand as he came, Harry nailed him with a Reductor curse to the head.

Whoever it was wasn't expecting it, and shot backward, the headless body lay unmoving on the ground. However, the slight 'pause' of Harry's attack on Riddle to attack the Death Eater, allowed Riddle to begin to attack back, even as he was backing away.

Riddle cast yet another killing curse at Harry, and practically grunted from the effort. A quick summon of a tombstone from close nearby intercepted the curse, making a loud explosion as the curse struck. Harry then immediately banished the remaining stone straight at Riddle before following it up with a string of piercing spells at the masked figures and Riddle. He didn't know how many he killed.

Riddle was able to banish the stone away but was not fast enough to bat away a piercing curse. He went down hard. With Riddle out of the way for a moment again, Harry had a target. He saw that the snake was near and heading to attack him. Once the snake committed itself to the strike; Harry cast the piercing hex. It went through the snake's mouth and out the top of its head. He heard Tom howl like the damned. Surprising Harry, the rest of the snake turned to ash. Realizing his time was up, he immediately activated his portkey before he'd have to defend again. "Flee!" he commanded, and was gone in the swirl of the portkey.

{S}

Harry appeared in Saint Mungo's. Fortunately, he was unharmed. It was time to go back to Hogwarts. He walked from the hospital's floos. "Three Broom Sticks" He barked.

Once he got off the floor at the three broomsticks; he sent his patronus to Hermione and Narcissa. The reply Narcissa sent back was amusing. Fudge already had Crouch Senior kissed.

By the time he walked back; Harry was tired. There was still chaos at the quidditch pitch. Harry decided to ignore it until the next day. He sent another patronus to Luna, asking for his buloke wand, holster, and cloak. A few minutes after, he felt an invisible hug. He smiled as Luna came into view.

"Thank you, Luna. Come let's get to the apartment before all the chaos dies down." Harry said while putting on the cloak.

Harry threw on the cloak and snuck through the wards. He tossed the cloak back to Luna so she could follow him. Just in case, he disillusioned himself. They went to the apartment. When there, they summoned the others. Once they had returned, Harry sat them down.

"Well; Voldy is back. It looked like maybe fifteen or so death eaters came back to him. He killed a few. I killed at least one; I do not how many others I hurt or killed. That was the bad news. There is good news. Unsurprisingly your tricks worked perfectly. He is weakened. Now, all we have to come up with an explanation of what happened." Harry said. "Thanks to Luna, no one but us know I am back; and unharmed. So, what should we do next?"

"The best idea is to fuck over your headmaster," Daphne said.

"What did you have in mind?" Hermione asked.

"Harry can cast continuous apparition until he passes out from magical exhaustion. We slip him into the infirmary. Since it is empty at this moment. Poppy wouldn't enter the infirmary floor until tomorrow morning. After all, I am sure each of you ladies can find and temporarily dismantle the wards on the hospital wing. Harry would get checked and he would be found to be exhausted. When he wakes, he remembers nothing. We also know nothing." Daphne said.

"What about Crouch Senior? Any clue why he flipped?" Harry asked while thinking about the prank. He would do it.

"That is simple. He missed his wife. The shade of Voldy told him, that just like himself; he could bring her back." Cissa said.

"Someone, paid off Fudge to let Crouch take the Ministerial position in the tournament. Also, another bribe let him off for his freeing of his son until the tournament was over." Cissa said.

"Well, that is a bugger. So, I bet it was my life for his wife's with another death eater cleaning up the mess."

"Yes, Harry. His mind was just that he failed and she would not come back." Daphne said.

"So, we have to be a pain in the morning asking for updating about where the missing heir is," Susan said.

"We also go along with there is no Voldy, just death eaters attacking Harry on their own," Luna said.

"Dumbledore said that Voldy has come back. The reason is that the death eaters would not do something this daring without him being back. Which is true. But the fuck head Fudge has his head in the sand. He is vehement in his denial. This will cause issues between Dumbledore and Fudge, I am sure." Daphne added.

"So, anything before my enforced slumber?" Harry asked.

"We can temporarily remove your memory in a pensive vial. So even letting the wanker in, he would find nothing." Cissa said.

"The headmaster has devices in his office for tracking your health. They use your blood, Harry." Luna said.

"Luna, can you get us a rat? Daphne, can you switch my blood for the rat's blood? Then in the morning, someone kills the rat." Harry said with a feral grin.

"One other thing my love, your scar," Hermione said with a very evil grin.

"What is your brilliant plan, Mione?" Harry asked.

"You just said your scar was something of evil magic. Can you explain it?" Hermione responded.

"The short of it. Voldy split his soul and put it into items and creatures to make himself unkillable. Whatever happened in the Godric's Hollow house, part of his soul was a hitchhiker. It latched on to me inside the famous scar."

"Whatever happened?" Susan asked.

"Voldy's body was destroyed. Looks like a bombarda maximum went off in the nursery. The head unspeakable says that somehow the place was bleached with magic." Harry said. "There is more. When Hagrid found me, he was surprised. He sent Albus an owl and waited for a response. Then Sirius showed up. Several owls were exchanged. Dumbledick ordered Hagrid to take me to Privet Drive while sending Sirius after Pettigrew."

"That means that Albus already knew that Peter was the traitor. To get owls back and forth that quickly means Dumbledore must have been nearby. He must have been somewhere in the hollow." Daphne stated.

"Yes, and from what Hagrid said, He met both McGonagall and Dumbledore at privet drive. Dumbles had a note already. They left me there just in the blanket with a note. Nothing else in the cold night air. I have since found out that Minerva had spent the day there, watching my relatives. Said they were the worst sort."

"That is horrible. That leaves so many questions about Dumbledore. No wonder we cannot trust him. He may have been involved with your parent's death." Hermione said.

"Yes, now back to your evil idea," Harry said.

"Sorry. Wouldn't that mean that while the soul part was in your scar; voldy could not die?" Hermione said.

"Yes, and unless you have the resources of the whole Department of Mysteries; you would think that I would have to die so that the soul shard would die," Harry said. "Don't worry though; it turns out a dark ritual was able to deal with it; leaving me alive. The Dursleys were quite helpful. "

"Well, that changes my plan a bit. Can any of us find a spell, potion, or what not; that would split the scar open and have black dark evil magical ichor ooze out of it?" Hermione asked.

"Yes, Croaker has a potion that could do that. Send a house elf to him requesting it. Then all I need is once in bed, have one of you cut my scar and pour the potion in it." Harry said. "That should shock Dumblefuck to his core."

"Let's not add anything more. We need to keep this simple. Like nargels." Luna said.

"Okay, Luna. We will stop adding chaos here. Now, I will start casting. See you all tomorrow." Harry smiled. This prank would be worthy of his Marauder legacy.

{S}

"Headmaster, on behalf of the Black; I demand to know what you are doing to find the heir Black?" Narcissa demanded while standing in front of the head table during breakfast the next morning.

"There is nothing that can be done. I expect we will find his body in a few days." Albus said almost with a gleam. This morning the blood ward-based health tracking device for Harry showed he was dead. He was so glad he stole some of the blood from Poppy during her first-year student exams.

"How are you sure about that?" Narcissa asked in a low tone.

"Voldemort used the tournament to kidnap Harry. It is too bad for the boy, but his sacrifice was for the greater good." Albus responded.

At that moment a raven flew in to deliver mail. Albus was surprised when it came directly to Narcissa.

{M}

Narcissa Black

I have been notified by the Wizengamot that Albus has requested a sealing of Harry's will. He also feels that they should grant him all of Harry's assets. Please let Harry know what is going on when he wakes.

Lord Greengrass

{S}

Narcissa read the letter and laughed. "So Albus, you have confirmed with Gringotts that Harry is dead?"

"No, why do you ask?" Albus replied with a gleam.

"You have requested that Harry's will be sealed and that you get all of his galleons."

"Well, yes, it is for the greater good after all." Albus said with a grandfatherly smile. Why shouldn't he get all the wealth of that dead brat?

"How can you do that while he is living?" Narcissa asked.

Annoyed now. "I know that young mister Potter is dead. It is not for you to know how I know. I am after all the greatest wizard of the century." Albus said with arrogance.

"Do not worry, seneschal Black; I have faith that my Aurors will find the missing heir. Despite how deluded the headmaster is, he-who-shall-not-be-named is dead; has been dead for years. And did not kill the boy." Cornelius said as he scowled at the headmaster.

"HEADMASTER! MADAM POMFREY!" An infirmary volunteer came running into the hall stopping beside Narcissa.

"What my boy? What is wrong?" Albus asked with his eyes twinkling.

"Harry Potter is in the infirmary. The only wounds on him is his scar which is oozing and a laceration on his arm. I tried to wake him but I cannot." The student said out of breath.

"Madam Pomfrey!" Narcissa yelled as she rushed out of the hall. After a few seconds; all of the staff, as well as Amelia Bones, Cornelius Fudge, and the remaining judges, started after her led by a stunned Dumbledore.

{S}

"Well, Pomfrey?" Cornelius asked.

"Mister Potter is magically exhausted. The ooze that was leaking from his scar was tainted by dark magic. Once I removed it; his forehead no longer shows any darkness. Considering what I have found, Albus, why did you demand I never investigate his scar before? I don't know what harm it may have done to the boy since he came to Hogwarts."

"That is a conversation for another time. Madam Pomfrey. When will Harry awake?" Albus asked still wondering about the boy. Had he died and come back? Horcrux-less? How was this possible? If Tom did cast the killing curse on the boy; and the Horcrux, not the boy died. Would that invalidate the Prophecy? His greater good was being buggered right before his eyes and he did not know how to stop it.

"Since Harry has exhausted himself, he will wake when his core is back to normal." She replied.

"We have to know what happened!" Albus demanded. "Do a full medical workup, Poppy."

"I agree that we need answers. I have summoned Croaker. He is a master legilimen." Amelia said.

"You didn't need to do that Amelia; I can do it," Albus said.

"No, Albus; I don't trust you," Fudge said.

"Madam Pomfrey; if you raise your wand to cast on my lord, I will put you down. I agree with Minister Fudge, Dumbledore, and his entire staff cannot be trusted. When Lord Potter has recovered; I will take him to Hôpital Civil, Strasbourg magical wing for a full checkup. That is not negotiable. So don't even start; headmaster. You made him go after that trophy when he was already the last man standing."

"Madam Pomfrey, what is the status of Miss Delacour?" Amelia asked to kill time.

"Both sisters will recover, fully. I quickly healed their physical wounds; then sent them to Saint Vincent de Paul for mind healing. Sorry, you did not specify; I gave you the status of both." Pomfrey stated.

Ten minutes later, Croaker came into the room. "Minister, Director, Madam Pomfrey." He said; ignoring everyone else.

"Algernon, Mister Potter is unconscious due to magical exhaustion. We need to know what happened between when Crouch Senior banished a portkey at him and when he was found here this morning." Amelia said.

"Albus already sent in a request to the Wizengamot to have the heir Black's will sealed and all assets be transferred to him. He claimed the boy was dead." Narcissa said looking pointedly at Dumbledore.

This caused several dirty looks at Albus.

"Well, why would you do that Albus?" Croaker demanded.

"I had a health charm on Mister Potter. It sent back that Harry had been killed." Albus replied.

"Didn't work right obviously. So, by what right do you have to request the theft of his property or sealing his will?" Amelia asked.

Albus did not answer. "Well, Albus, as headmaster shouldn't the school's runes show that he returned? Also, Madam Pomfrey, your infirmary has runes to notify you when anyone enters when they are not in perfect health, correct?" Croaker asked pointedly.

Both looked stunned. Croaker waved his wand over Harry. "Figures, you have forgotten that part. I am not as surprised considering your wards fucked up again. So, care to explain why you had a health monitoring spell on a student?"

"I am his magical guardian!" Albus said back tensely.

"Mister Potter has been emancipated. You are no longer his magical guardian; you haven't been for a long while. You should have removed it when the Wizengamot ruled Mister Potter was emancipated. Since I know his adopted aunt. She would have cleared any such charm when she first met that boy. So, the only ones she couldn't have gotten rid of would-be one's link to blood wards. Ones set after the boy came to Hogwarts, care to explain?"

"I did what I had to; it was necessary for the greater good," Albus said arrogantly. He was Albus Dumbledore; leader of the light; and should never be questioned.

"You still haven't explained how Mister Potter is here in the infirmary, nor why Madam Pomfrey seems to be surprised to see him here!" Amelia noted. She pointed to her Auror escort. "Make sure at least two of you stay with Mister Potter at all times. Make sure he is safe."

"Amelia, there is no need for that." Albus protested. "I can keep him safe."

"So, Mister Potter was not kidnapped, right out in front of you? His protection stays." Amelia retorted.

"Whatever; your greater good is bullshit. Now I will enter his mind." Algernon said. "Legilimen." After a few minutes started laughing.

"Well, who were the death eaters that kidnapped him?" Fudge demanded.

"Well, that will be a problem," Croaker responded with a smirk.

"It was Voldemort, right?" Albus asked hopefully.

"I do not know. The last memories are of Harry levitating the cup to the judges' table.

There are no memories since. Completely wiped." Algernon said.

"Impossible!" Amelia and Albus said in unison.

"Legilimen," Albus said pointing his wand at Harry. Croaker and Narcissa let it happen. Albus face became one of shock and horror.

"See Albus, there is nothing there. I wonder if it relates to the residue of dark magic in his scar." Holding up a vial of black goop. "This is quite dark. There is no way you or Madam Pomfrey would not have sensed it and should have sent for an unspeakable to clear it the first year Mister Potter was at Hogwarts.

Pray to tell, why was that not done?" Croaker asked.

"I felt Harry was safe. He needed to have a regular childhood. There was no reason to disturb that by going to your office and exposing him to any tests." Albus said with annoyance.

"Unless you knew what it was; how can you say it would not harm the child, Albus?" Minerva interjected with some heat.

"Minerva, I felt it was best for Harry. Albus said.

"Best for Harry, BEST FOR HARRY! You see the scars on him! Most of them came from the family you put him with. Is having a child put with abusive relatives best for him?" Hermione all but screamed.

"Ten points from Ravenclaw. Mind your tongue." Albus said pissed off to be challenged. He wished she had died in the second task.

"Miss Granger, who caused these scars on Mister Potter?" Amelia demanded.

"Harry said they came from his uncle, Vernon Dursley, and his cousin, Dudley Dursley," Daphne said before Hermione could settle down enough to respond.

Amelia gave Albus a cold stare but decided to let it go for the moment. "You were talking about the scar, Algernon."

"Yes, dark magic, very dark magic seemed to have been inhabiting it. Good news, now whatever was in there is gone too." Croaker said with a smirk.

"That can't be. His scar must…" Albus started.

"Must be what, Albus? Is the greatest wizard wrong?" Croaker said staring at Albus. "Whatever you thought you knew about the scar was probably wrong."

"So, this will get us too nowhere. Minister; I will send Aurors…" Amelia started.

"There is no need, Amelia. Mister Potter is back safe. Albus, see there is no way he-who-shall-not-be-named is back. In apology, you can present Harry with his cup when he wakes up. I will arrange with Gringotts for the thousand galleon reward to be deposited into his trust account. Madam Black. I will be blocking Albus's mistaken attempt to affect Mister Potter's legacy." With that, he left the room.

"We are not done talking, Albus," Amelia said as she and Croaker left.

Poppy said, "Mister Potter needs to sleep until his core is replenished. So, you all need to leave and let the poor boy sleep in peace." all left the room except for Minerva, Albus, and Poppy.

"Albus, you botched so many things in the last two days. When he wakes, you should expect that Mister Potter will not be happy with you." Minerva said as she left. Albus thought for a few minutes then followed her out.

"Do not expect him to follow you or your greater good, ever, at this point," Poppy said as he was leaving.

{S}

Albus had to drink, and after his third glass of brandy; he finally started to think.

What to do now? The first of the issues was Tom. Severus confirmed that Tom was back. He also confirmed that Harry had hurt him and then fled. That is all the information his spy had. What good was Severus as a spy when he couldn't get all the information Albus needed to destroy Tom?

The tournament had been an absolute disaster. Harry had not been killed. One of his bitches also did not die. He was no longer the supreme Mugwump or chief warlock. Albus was not sure if he would be able to restore the damage to Hogwarts's reputation. Worse, not even his own.

Someone had found his alterations to the wards during the second task and used them on the two hostages that Albus wanted to save.

Albus had figured that the changes in the wards would have killed Gabrielle and Astoria by drowning before the merfolk would kill and eat them. Therefore, the Treaty of Nice would not have been an issue. At least the extra grindylows almost did their job and kill the half-breed.

Now he had to use all of his political capital to stay alive. The French wanted to extradite him. Delacour wanted him tried and sent to the Guillotine. How could the French still use that barbaric device? If that wasn't bad enough. Due to the ICW; he was stuck on this island. They also wanted to try him. He had to avoid that. They would use veritaserum. He could not let that happen.

The Greengrass lord was another issue. He would not forgive Albus. He wanted Albus tried for kidnapping. If that succeeded; he would only have sanctuary in the castle.

For now; he was safe here. And things would not change here. Not after all the money he stole from Hogwarts and other sources so he could bribe the Wizengamot and School Board so they would not change for the Greater Good. But his future was uncertain; would he have the funds to stay here? He had to, he could not be turned over to the Aurors. Or worse, turned over to the French or the Greengrass.

The frustration, all the people he had sacrificed. All the manipulations, blackmail, and threats. All the murders. All stuff that the masses would not understand. New ideas are more powerful than dark magic. We would not let our enemies have dark magic, why should we let them have ideas; he thought. After all, the stupid masses could not understand the Greater Good. Gellert was correct about the wizarding society, just wrong in how to get it done. But it was not working now. He had to fix that.

Then Albus thought about the elephant in the room. Harry. His use of fiendfyre proved that he was a budding dark lord. Death is the only solution for him. After all; no wizard - no problem. Therefore, so did his ladies. How to do that without alerting the masses that the great Dumbledore was behind TBWL's death?

He had to use the order.

{S}

It was the last night at Hogwarts, the leaving feast had been interesting. It was led by Minerva; the headmaster had been missing.

When they got back to their apartment, there was an uncomfortable silence.

"Will your parents and guardians allow you to come visit me this summer?" Harry asked.

The girls all looked down except for Narcissa and Hermione.

"What?" Harry asked.

"It would not be proper for us to see you except under chaperoned dates," Daphne said. "Proper etiquette for the noble born. As I once heard; no happy times before the wedding ring; my lord. Sorry; it's stupid I know since we lived the year here in the apartment."

"That is fine with me if it is fine with you. I want you to feel special." Harry said. Then he turned to Hermione.

"Dumbledore talked with my folks. We are fleeing to New Zealand." Hermione said sadly. "My parents want me away from you."

"Did Dumbledick cast any spells on them?" Harry asked. "Or could I stop it with the contract or vassal agreement?"

"My parents are demanding that I cancel them." Hermione started crying. "So, I will."

"That sounds like they have been altered. I will send…" Harry started.

"Hermione, where is the parchment that your parents sent you?" Narcissa suddenly demanded.

Watching Hermione go to the desk and bring back a parchment. Narcissa cast a spell on it. It glowed a lime green. "Potioned. Stupidfy." Narcissa cast a stunner at the girl.

"Does anyone want to bet that some group of people will attack and kill the Grangers when they are in New Zealand? That her parents take her wand so they are all defenseless?" Narcissa inquired. She used magic to display the parchment.

"That bastard," Susan said affronted.

"Luckily Hermione cannot break the vassal agreement. She is to break the contract and return your ring tomorrow while boarding the train. She will sit in a compartment that we are not in. That is the order on this parchment from her parents. The parchment is dosed in an obedience potion to make sure she obeys it."

"So how do we want to play this?"

"We are going to be attacked on the platform," Luna said dreamily. This is a concerted attack on us. Dumbledore wants all of us dead. You especially. I think he is worried you will replace Tom and surpass Gellert."

"Details?" Harry asked.

"Three red nargels. An official wrackspurt. Five other unknown heliopaths." She said in a soft unearthly tone. "They will try to kill us."

"Nargels? The remaining Weasleys. Want to bet?" Daphne said.

"Official wrackspurt, could she mean an Auror?" Susan said affronted.

"Probably. So, we need you to fight and stun at least one of them." Narcissa said.

"Should we have Luna do the Jack the Ripper schitch?" Harry asked.

"Is that alright with everyone?" Harry asked.

After a few minutes, the women all agreed with Susan was the last one. He noticed her hesitation and nodded for her to speak.

"Only on our attackers? Right?" Susan finally spoke. "I'm sorry, I know we have to do this. That this is war and all that. However, I feel we need to keep the number of deaths down when and where we can."

"I don't mind that sentiment. So, yes, there is no one else on the platform we need dead. After the first task; I think, we will not have to deal with junior death eaters." Harry said. "That is, you want to do it, Luna?

"Oh yes. Plus, there is the punishment afterward, which I love. I love that as much as the killing." Luna said with a giggle. Harry blushed.

"Can you take out the five unknown nargels without killing any innocents?" Harry asked.

Luna nodded vigorously. "Leave a message in one, payback time." Luna nodded even more vigorously.

"Cissa, Daphne, be disillusioned. Kill the redheads after they fire at me." Harry ordered. "Susan, stun the Auror. We need whoever they are alive and unharmed."

"As soon as I see any spell coming at me, I will shield until you drop a lot of the bad guys. The Weasleys must die. I am just glad that since they are trained by the dick, so not trained to kill or use the unforgivable." Harry said. "That is unless you ladies don't agree with me?"

"I still don't like the idea of premeditated murder. I understand that we have no choice though. So, thank you for giving me the stunning task." Susan said morosely. Harry went over and hugged her.

"What should we do with Hermione?" Susan said then looked at the unconscious girl.

"Send her home with two fake contracts, a disposable wand, and a tracking charm," Daphne said.

"Once she gets to New Zealand; we portkey over and track her down. Once whoever comes to kill them; we ambush and kill them ourselves. I assume that will be just Harry, his aunt, Luna, and I. You, ladies, will probably be enjoying your families. We will summon you for chaperone events after we are back." Narcissa continued. "I will get the portkey"

Harry went to his trunk and brought out a thorn wand. He put it in Hermione's wand holster. "Ladies, can you g-rate her trunk? Also, remove all combat items. Plus, anything she would miss. Put it in a spare bag and have one of our house elves take it to my room in Gringotts. Cissa, can you get a new trunk and witch robes for her? Just in case her parents have worse orders than just take her to New Zealand."

"Paranoid much? Very Slytherin." Daphne said with a smile "Obliviate." Using her wand on Hermione. "Now she will not know we switched wands." This caused Harry to come up to her and gave her a very passionate kiss.

{S}

Harry noticed that the headmaster was constantly looking at Harry and Hermione the next day at breakfast. Hermione did not sit with him. He acted like it hurt. Inside he was laughing. Soon, he thought. Soon the tosser would either slip up enough that Harry could kill him openly or Harry would just assassinate him. Either option was fine.

He was a little bummed that Hermione was not in the carriage with his new family. His rage though was at the headmaster. "Any idea who our DA-DA teacher will be next year?" He said to break the silence.

"Tom Riddle," Susan said.

"A vampire," Daphne added.

"A dementor." Cissa said.

"A crumple-horned snorkack," Luna added.

"Amusing. Unfortunately, I think we will have worse." All the girls laughed.

The train ride was boring. Even with the chatterbox of Astoria going off about her new BFF of Gabrielle Delacour. Harry was just glad that neither of the girls was harmed by their submersion in the lake. Gabrielle was going to have mind healing once summer started. So was Astoria.

After five hours, Narcissa started opening her trunk. "Okay, cete. Time to go to work. I am sorry I put all the fun stuff in my trunk. I heard from the castle house elves. Dumbledore had all the items in our trunk inventories and charms applied. I removed the charms. And here is the combat gear." Narcissa commanded.

"You transformed it to muggle clothes?" Harry asked.

"No, I got Croaker to send a set of muggle style for you and Hermione. A full set of common magical robes for all of us." Narcissa said with a smile.

Harry grabbed Narcissa and pulled her in for a long hard kiss. Then he broke the kiss and glared at the other girls when he noticed they were all giggling. "Get dressed. I will be outside. After this is over, get all of us a muggle set. We will have to fight in both areas; I bet."

"Torie, leave the train by another carriage after a couple of minutes," Daphne ordered her sister. Astoria looked at her sister quizzically. Then she finally nodded.

"Ready?" Harry asked after everyone was changed.

"Lima ready." Luna chipped in bouncing on her feet. She was holding his cloak in her hands. Her other hand was stroking the dagger.

"Delta ready, Sir!" Daphne said laughing.

"Sierra ready, as ordered sir," Susan said with a giggle.

"November ready, master," Narcissa added in.

"I will do what my sister told me to," Astoria said as she stuck her tongue out at Harry. "So, I get, apple is ready, your Excellency, leader for life, vanquisher of mermen and blusher of his brides, Harry."

Harry just laughed. "Well then; it is time for us to make the idiots regret bothering us. A preview of things to come."