Chapter 18: Loyalty Beyond The Bond

Dumbledore sat in his office pouring over a letter from the Minister. Minister Bagnold rarely bothered him with trivial matters and this was not one of those times. Another two ministry workers had disappeared in the last week.

Edward Parker was the head of the Internal Affairs Department, a position he had held for nearly twenty years. The wizard was a well liked and highly respected among his peers, and they all considered it extremely unlikely that he would freely leave his wife, daughter who was expecting her first child.

The other disappearance was a new member of The Magical Law Enforcement Squad, a Miss Linda Jackson. If he remembered correctly, Miss Jackson was a talented Hufflepuff who graduated in '69. She joined the Ministry and started training right after Hogwarts and had just passed her final exam two months ago to join the force.

Both disappearances seemed unrelated other than the fact that both worked at the Ministry, but Albus knew better than to assume the two only held that in common. He often berated himself of not stopping Tom before he gained power and support.

When the persona 'Lord Voldemort' surfaced in the late sixties he had quickly gained popular support with the Dark Purebloods. At first Dumbledore only suspected that Lord Voldemort and Tom Riddle was one and the same, but did not push the subject when Voldemort seemed willing to go through the normal channels for his goals.

He began advocating restricting rights of muggleborns and half-bloods, while granting more rights to the purebloods. He also demanded the total separation from the wizard and muggle world, claiming that with each passing generation that wizarding blood was being tainted and diluted by muggle blood. Voldemort fed on and encouraged the ideology and fears of many prominent purebloods and he quickly found all the support he needed…both money and manpower.

However, the Ministry did not consider him a serious threat as none of his proposals had anywhere near the support they needed to pass. This new 'Lord Voldemort' was just another pureblood fanatic who was heading a cause that had existed since the Hogwarts founders' day.

When the government repeatedly refused, Voldemort took his movement underground. This sudden disappearance only seemed to worry Dumbledore; the government was content to believe that Voldemort had just given up. Albus spent the following year researching Voldemort's mysterious past until he was finally convinced that Lord Voldemort was Tom Riddle.

This grim confirmation only increased his worry for he remembered Tom Riddle very well…both from school and afterwards. Albus knew that Riddle had no scruples and was a serious threat to the Wizarding World. He was sure that the only reason Tom seemed to have been going through the official channels was to gain support. Riddle was not dumb enough to think that his proposals would have actually passed.

However, all seemed well for a few years until the disappearances started. Whisperings were heard….much more dark and ominous than before. A new dark lord had risen, more powerful and dangerous than even Lord Grindelwald had been. The Ministry was weary of believing such rumors and put the disappearances off to chance.

Then the attacks started, slowly at first….a muggleborn owned business here, a half-blood's home there. These too they were content to put off to chance, but the unease grew, until they could deny no longer.

The breaking point came when the Death Eaters attacked a prominent shopping district in southern Wales. Business were ransacked, people killed, and all saw the Death Mark flying high over the burning alley. It was then that the Ministry finally acknowledged that there was indeed a terrorist organization behind the attacks and disappearances.

With the Ministry finally acknowledging the threat, Tom stepped up his attacks, coming out of the shadows into plain sight.

Disappearances increased and bodies turned up, the violence only increasing as Death Eaters stepped up their attacks on outspoken critics to the cause. Slowly but surely, the general population began to feel unease at the turning tide, but were confident that the government would handle the situation.

The Ministry, reassured the public that it was not without teeth or a backbone as the newly elected Minister Leach passed a serious of bills to combat the rising threat. Shortly afterwards the well-respected minister was found dead in his office. The official story was that he passed away from a previously undiagnosed heart condition; unofficially he had been assassinated. Soon afterwards Bagnold took over and continued where her predecessor left off, if only a bit more cautious.

The Wizengamot just passed the Death Eater Suspicion Act, in which they could hold and question someone bearing the mark for up to forty-eight hours before charges were to be filed. However, the rules within the Act itself prevented the aurors from doing anything more than posing questions that the suspect may or may not answer. The aurors weren't even allowed to use potions to know whether the suspect was being truthful or not.

Albus sighed and continued to read the letter which outlined some of the Minister's plans.

As his office window opened he continued reading, knowing that the owl would patiently wait for him to finish. When he finished the minister's letter he glanced up with a tired sigh, looking for the waiting owl. When he did not immediately see one he frowned slightly until he noticed an airplane note laying innocently on the edge of his desk.

He quickly pulled out his wand but did nothing more than stare at it, looking for any indication of spells that would destroy it was read. Finding nothing he cast spell after spell but had no luck determining its sender.

With another defeated sigh he summoned the letter in front of him and quickly opened it.

Once again the letters were formed too perfectly to have been penned by hand. He carefully read the note, his expression becoming slightly grim, and his eyes cold.

Standing he made his way over to the fire place and threw a hand of floo powder in the fire.

"Alastor, a word if you could spare the time."

Harry was awakened from his slumber as the book burned warmly underneath his hands. With a quick lumos he sat up and peered down at the forming words. Before he went to bed he had spelled his curtains quiet and placed a silencing spell in anticipation of reading the meeting that night.

Grabbing his glasses, he quickly placed them on his nose, pushing them up in slight annoyance.

"Welcome all. We have much to discuss tonight. I have received information from the previous informant of another attack that will be happening tomorrow night."

"Do we know numbers this time, Headmaster?"

"Unfortunately not. However, the attack is to happen on the Adulescentia Center for Young Wizards and Witches in Hanover."

"Really? Why would they attack a youth center, Albus? There's nothing of value there!"

"Would you be quiet and let the man explain Dodgus!"

Harry grumbled in annoyance wishing that he had thought beforehand to find a way to tell who was speaking. Now he would have to wait until Spring break until he could rectify the issue.

"Well I never!"

"Of course you never, if you-

"That'll be enough Alastor. Dodgus did bring up a poignant point. While normally an attack on a youth center would be only a nuisance, the ACYWW is holding its' annul festival and sleepover for the youths."

"How big is this event?"

"Quite large from what I've heard. I've already informed the Minister of a possible attack and she's agreed to station several aurors at the event. I will also spend the better part of tomorrow discretely increasing the wards on the center."

"Why don't we just tell the director and call the whole thing off?"

"And call attention that we have insider information about the Dark Lord's plans? Not likely! We'd also be passing up an opportunity to catch more Death Eaters".

"Alastor, there's children there! Surely the safety of the children takes precedent over the captor of Death Eaters!"

"Gentlemen, please! Hector, I can assure that the safety of the children does take precedent. They will be protected as long as they remain inside the building, which the ministry aurors will make sure of. Harold, Alastor, and Javis will be stationed at the center tomorrow night if that alleviates your unease. However, Alastor is also right. We must protect our informant. If Voldemort realized that we received knowledge of his plans before the attack he would know he had a betrayer in his midst, putting our informant in extreme danger."

Harry snorted lightly.

"So you know who sent the letters then?"

"I have a fair idea."

The black hair boy raised an eyebrow in curiosity. Wondering who Dumbledore could possibly think the informant could be. Clearly, the Headmaster had no idea that it was him considering he was not a Death Eater, and therefore Voldemort would never expect him if he suspected a traitor.

"Are you going to approach them, Albus?"

"Right now they are content to remain anonymous, and I am content to let them believe so for the moment. I may approach them later on, but as of this moment I will leave them be."

He frowned slightly. As amusing it would be to know that the Headmaster made a complete idiot of himself by trying to convince an actual Death Eater who was loyal to Voldemort that he knew that they were a spy….he just couldn't let it happen. It would be funny and childish on Harry's part, but overall the amusement was not worth the danger. Besides….he wouldn't be able to see the event play out or even read about it unless he found a way to bug the office.

"The minister knows about us Albus?"

"Millicent suspects that I am the leader of the Order of the Phoenix, but like everything else with the Ministry she is willing to ignore it as long as it's non-threatening. Now, I believe that your birthday is next week Hector?"

"Why yes Headmaster?"

"Excellent. It would be dangerous for us to appear before the attack but some order members need to be in the general area. I believe there is an excellent restaurant right down the street from the center."

"An early party headmaster?"

"That's the general idea. I believe a small party would work nicely, perhaps eight to ten members? But members you are associated with. When the Death Eaters appear try to keep them distracted as best you can. I have full confidence that you can handle them. I'll place anit-appariation anti-portkey barriers up. The back up Ministry aurors will be arriving by floo into the center. After that I will join the fight. Questions?"

"So he's not going to be there?"

"Thankfully not. It seems that Voldemort is content to send his followers to do his dirty work on this one."

Harry read for a few more pages before closing the journal. Now the waiting begins. He thought with a dry laugh.

"Harry, are you even paying attention to me?" Regulus demanded, annoyance written clearly across his features.

The other boy jumped slightly, "Hmm, sorry what was that Regulus?"

"You could at least pretend you are listening." Black grumbled.

Harry frowned faintly, "I really am sorry Reg, I just have a lot on my mind."

The boy's annoyance faded and he gained a thoughtful look, "Anything you want to share?"

"No. It's nothing to worry about. Now, you were saying?"

"It wasn't really that important. Just curious what we are going to do tomorrow. The castle should nearly be empty with it being a Hogsmeade weekend and all."

Harry shrugged noncommittally, "It doesn't really matter to me. I think I'll just see if James will pick up a few things for me, other than that I have nothing planned. What do you want to do then?"

"Why don't we go back to that room?" Regulus asked excitedly.

"Any particular reason why?"

Regulus looked at the other boy in disbelief, "Harry it's a room that'll give you anything you want!"

"And what do you want?"

"I don't know yet. But that's the point, if I want it the room will provide! It's a brilliant piece of magic."

Harry looked at his friend in amusement.

"Tomorrow is just for fun. No work or study, and none of that 'light' reading Harry! Just you, me and Arct. We can even play one of those muggle games you told us about."

"We'll see."

"Oh, yes we will!" Regulus muttered with a glare.

"If you are quite done glaring we have to five minutes to get to transfiguration." Harry said while putting his books back in his bag.

"Oh joy, my favorite class!"

"And here I thought you like Defense Against the Dark Arts."

Harry hurried through the common room, claiming that he was turning early when his friend protested.

"But Harry tomorrow is Saturday; you have the whole morning to sleep in." Arctus argued in annoyance.

"We're doing something tomorrow, and who ever said if I go to bed now that I can't still sleep in? Besides Regulus is still down here. Why don't you go over there and stay with him?"

Arctus glared in annoyance, "I think I'd rather not he's with his dear cousin."

"Well I have a new book if you are interested." Harry offered timidly.

At the glare he received he shrugged his shoulders giving an overly polite smile before running nimbly up the stairs. The annoyed 'wanker' barely reached his ears as he turned from view.

When he reached the first year dorm he pushed the door open and glanced around as he headed towards his bed. Two dark blue eyes stared at him as stepped through the door.

Harry nodded his head to the staring boy, "Lestrange."

"Potter." The boy nodded nervously back.

"I'm just curious but why are you up here by yourself?" Harry asked in a neutral tone. Every since the break he had tried to at least be polite to the first year.

Rabastan tucked a lone piece of hair behind his right ear, "Rodolphus is busy and both Moon and Rosier managed to get detention together."

"How'd they manage that?"

The nervous boy rolled his eyes, "Got caught setting off a dung bomb by Filch's office."

Harry let out a low chuckle and moved to his bed, "Night."

He heard a soft, "Goodnight Potter" before he shut his curtains.

He quickly spelled and silenced them with a wave of his left hand before he pulled out his journal and read through the new pages. Noticing nothing of consequence he laid the book aside, lowered his shields and attempted to drift asleep.

With little effort he quickly slipped into the welcomed darkness.

Hours passed before he was quickly sucked into a vision.

"The Aurors will be there?" He snarled slightly, his wand pressed lightly between his fingertips.

"Yes, my lord."

"How did they find out?"

"The Minister ordered them there because of the high concentration of children, in case something were to occur they would be protected."

Harry lifted his lip in distaste, "How convenient."

He was slightly amused as he watched his Death Eater bite his tongue, unsure if he was meant to agree or not.

"How many Aurors will be there?"

"Five milord."

Harry nodded as if he already knew the number, "Who are they?"

"Potter, Moody, Jaxson, Tucker, and Raston."

He glared at the cowed follower, "Moody….yes, I think I'll be attending after all. That auror needs to be dealt with, already has be became a thorn in my side." Harry let a homicidal smile come over his face as he lowly hissed, "Yes, he needs to be dealt with indeed."

Harry jerked awake and quickly slammed his shied back up, his scar throbbing painfully. This wasn't right! Tom had never went to the original attack. Dumbledore wouldn't be prepared; he'd be setting up the wards and unable to help. Only Albus stood a chance against Tom, the Order members, however good would stand little chance. And Harold was going to be there…he wouldn't stand by while Voldemort attempted to kill Moody.

Harry quickly grabbed a piece of parchment and penned a quick note before casting his usual spells. Just as he was about to cast the final spell to send it to Dumbledore, he paused realizing that the Headmaster wasn't in the castle.

"Damn." He muttered thinking furiously.

How was he going to send the letter? An owl would never make it, and he couldn't just leave the castle and appairate there.

"Fawkes!" Harry whispered quietly.

With a sudden burst of flame, the majestic bird was sitting on Harry's knees.

"Fawkes, I need you to take this to Dumbledore. Please!" he looked pleadingly into the bird's intelligent eyes.

The phoenix leaned forward and plucked the letter out of his hands letting out a soft thrill.

"And um, can you please not tell him who sent it? That's kind of important too."

Fawkes let out another reassuring thrill before flashing away.

Lying back down, he once again lowered his shields in anticipation.

Albus Dumbledore hummed to himself as he placed another lemon drop in his mouth. He had spent the majority of the day at the youth center setting up the wards that would prevent people with the ill intent from entering. With the wards taken care of, he flooed back to Hogwarts for a quick dinner before he appariated back to begin the wait. While the letter had mentioned a rough time line of the attack he'd rather be too early than too late when the Death Eaters arrived. The wait would also give him some time to ponder.

He leaned into the shadows of the nearby building, enjoying his candy while his mind raced furiously. While he had assured the Order that he knew the identity of the mysterious informant, the truth was that he was only vaguely sure. Lucius Malfoy had been acting slightly odd as of late…but was he the real informant?

Before the beginning of the year Albus would have been in quiet disbelief that the Headboy would do anything to help the headmaster. That boy seemed to dislike Albus almost as much as the boy's father did. Added onto the fact that Lucius appeared to be just as big of a blood purest as the rest of his family and it seemed very unlikely, but stranger things had happened.

Maybe he'd set up a meeting with the seventh year…it should answer his questions, but he'd have to be discrete. If the boy really was a spy then he didn't need others to know, word spreads quickly at Hogwarts.

Albus was pulled out of his thoughts when a sudden burst of flames lit up the ally. He's grip on his wand lessened as he saw his faithful phoenix. Glancing around to see if anyone noticed he turned back to the bird with one eyebrow rose in question.

Fawkes let out a warbling thrill of amusement and stuck out his right leg as he beat his wings lazily to stay afloat.

Albus quickly took the letter and broke the wax seal before opening it.

His eyes narrowed and the usual sparkling blue turned to sheets of ice.

"So Tom decided to come after all. This is troubling, it will change everything."

Looking up he looked at Fawkes in question and slight annoyance, "Once I get back to Hogwarts we will be having a long conversation."

The red bird let out a sound that could only be a laugh as he flamed away.

Albus placed the letter in his pocket, "A long chat indeed."

Harry felt a sharp jolt of pain as Voldemort's anger coursed through the link and with a blurred images and a swirl of color Harry was pulled into the vision from his dream.

He immediately noted that the battle seemed to have been raging for some time now.

Harry glared at the old wizard, "I will kill you Dumbledore! It is not I who should not have come here tonight, but rather you. Very foolish, old man."

The other wizard's eyes were like sheets of ice, "Why are you really doing this Tom? Why attack children?"

With a cold laugh Harry threw a viscous looking spell at the headmaster, which the older man quickly blocked with a piece of debris from a nearby wall.

"Why? Why? Dumbledore you must be a fool." Harry hissed in annoyance, absolute hate flooding his veins as he looked at the headmaster, "The question is 'why not'?"

Albus threw a golden beam spell at him, along with several pieces of debris, transfiguring them midair as they went.

"They are innocents Tom! What purpose could it serve?"

Harry narrowed his eyes in annoyance, glancing around taking in the battle around them. "You are pathetic old man. There are no innocents; they are either with me or against me. I will not tolerate weakness and if they die then they were too weak. Their deaths will serve my purpose well. All will come to fear and respect me!"

Dumbledore's face hardened and he stepped up his attack, "I'm sorry for I failed you Tom, but I will not allow you to harm them."

In his bed Harry groaned in pain as his scar seemed to split in two.

"You can not beat me fool! You can not hope to match my power!"

"Yet you do not contest that I failed you?" Albus asked softly, while they circled each other.

Another flare of pain shot through Harry's head.

"You think too highly of yourself, you have done nothing except hinder my way to greatness! Even as a first year you could tell how great I'd become, and you feared me for it. Afraid I'd take what was rightfully mine! But you will soon be dealt with."

"I am sorry Tom." Dumbledore murmured quietly, staring intently into Harry's eyes.

An unholy fury ripped through him and he began to wildly throw whatever curse came to his mind at the old man.

Harry was ripped from the vision and laid sweating profusely, and shaking slightly in his bed. His head felt as if it was about to burst as it throbbed painfully. Sitting up slowly Harry raised his shields and then downed a headache relief potion quickly followed by a pepper-up.

Rubbing his scar in annoyance he thought darkly, 'Albus always knew what to say to get Riddle in a snit.'

Waving his hand the time appeared before him and he quietly got out of bed and headed to the bathroom. There was no way he'd be getting back to sleep after what he just saw.

It was nearly five thirty before he arrived back at Hogwarts. When Voldemort and his Death Eaters arrived he had only had time to put up the anti-portkey wards before he joined in the fight.

Tom had seemed intent on entering the building, and it was only when he had confronted him that Tome ceased his attempt at entry and engaged him in the fight.

He had attempted to distract and hold off the dangerous man until he realized how fruitless it was to continue on with the fight. The Aurors had arrives, and along with the Order members quickly out numbered the Death Eaters. The fight had been furious on both sides; once they realized they were outnumbered the Death Eaters had fought all that more frantically, until Tom ordered their retreat. With one last parting remark, the Dark Lord left, his Death Eaters apparating after him. The unconscious Death Eaters were left behind when their wards stopped their portkeys, and quickly taken into custody.

Albus had then spent the following hour speaking with the Minister before flooing back to his office.

"Now my dear friend we are going to have a talk."

The bird stared blankly back at him.

Albus' face narrowed in annoyance.

"You do realize how important it is to know who is sending those notes, for our sake as well as their protection."

Fawkes narrowed his eyes, raising his head feathers in disbelief.

"Fawkes, do not give me that look! I am not in the mood to play your mind games today. It is imperative that I know who they are…please, old friend trust my judgment. " The headmaster pleaded standing in front of the bird. "I will not do them any harm!"

I do trust your judgment Albus.

"Finally, I was beginning to think you were going to be silent forever." Relief was evident in the aged voice. "Now who is this informant?"

They have placed their trust in me as well. I will not betray them.

"But Fawkes-

No buts Albus. You should really learn to trust me more, if you needed to know I would inform you.

"And what makes you so sure that I don't need to know?"

Fawkes let out a very indignant snort.

Honestly if you were a cat you would have been dead long ago.

"Undoubtedly."

I didn't mean from old age either. Fawkes let out a chuckling thrill. I will not inform you who they are. If and when they wish to approach you I will let them do it on their own, and no prodding and begging from you will make me change my mind.

Albus glared at his familiar for a few moments before his face lightened considerable.

"Would you agree to take them a note?"

Only if I see you write it in front of me.

Some of the twinkle left the headmaster's eyes but he heartily agreed anyway.

Sitting behind his desk he thought for a few minutes before penning out a quick note. Standing he made his way over to Fawkes before holding the letter out to him.

With one last annoyed thrill the phoenix grabbed the letter before disappearing in a flash.