A RUMOR OF PEACE

          A frown appeared on all of their faces as they looked from him to each other, then back.  "We don't know, but we certainly intend to find out," Harry said with a closed expression and an uncompromising look.  "You know, there is one thing you really should understand about our grandfather.  About the Durin's."

          "And what is that?"

          "Choices,"  Roark said.  "While they may not necessarily be happy about them, they respect the choices individuals make.  Harry and I made a choice to enter the Academy when we did, and we did so with the full knowledge of what doing so at our ages would mean.  Everyone spoke with us in GREAT detail about our decision.  Grandfather, Grandmother, Uncle's Apollo, and Zac, Aunt Athena.  Every DAMN Durin--" Chuckles sounded around the table, and Severus gave them a small smile.  "Even Uncle Sirius and Uncle Remus called from wherever they were at that time to put in their two credits worth."

          He looked over at Severus then, a brow arching.  "Can't tell you that, and you know it.  Just know they're working a case."

          "Here?" came Harry's question.

          He shook his head.  "No, Harry, they aren't here.  Riddle knew who they were, so using them as undercover operatives here would never have worked."

          "Damn,"  Roark swore.  "I was really hoping to get to see them.  Anyway," he looked back at Ardyn then," they all made damn sure Harry and I knew EXACTLY what we were getting ourselves into by entering the Academy at sixteen and fourteen.  What the consequences would be.  But once they all got a look at our scores on the entrance exams--"

          Which were what?"

          "I got two questions wrong...well, not exactly wrong, just not answered the way they expected,"  Harry answered for himself.  "I scored ninety-eight percent."

          "One hundred," Roark murmured, his laptop having beeped just then, making him turn to it.  A smile appeared and he began to type quickly, hitting send.  "After sitting down with our instructors, we made the decision to go for full military training, including Viper Pilot courses, with the full knowledge of what being a Colonial Warrior, and what that would mean for the both of us."

          "We also accepted Admiral Roark and Commander Thorin's offer to join Counter-Intelligence on the same premise that we used to enter the Academy.  It was explained to us in great detail what being a Colonial Counter-Intelligence Officer would mean.  Being what we are...doing what we do every day...Well, it's very important to us, and everyone close to us, who loves us, knows that.  NONE of them would EVER think to try to take that away from us."

          "Harry, Roark, I--"

          "They were our decisions, Ardyn, therefore the consequences of our actions are ours and no one else's."

          "Just what, Roark Christopher Peverell Potter, are you trying to prove?  That you are as good as, or better than your father ever hoped to be?  Better than your grandfather?  Your Uncles?  That you are as good as, or BETTER than any of the Durin's--"

          "GODS DAMN IT, ARDYN!!" he exploded suddenly in absolute fury, exploding out of his chair to slam his hands onto the table, his brother, Severus, and the four Durin's tensing at his so sudden burst of fury.  The room was beginning to heat dramatically as his fire magic flared with him.  "Open your gods damned stubborn mind!!  This is not about James Potter!  This is not about Jacob Adama!!  This is not about my Uncles, or any of the Durin's, and it most CERTAINLY is NOT about being better than any of them.  Or anyone else for that matter!!"

          : Roark. : came the quiet, calming murmur into his mind.

          "I'm not trying to prove a GODS DAMNED thing to anyone!" the lights began to flicker alarmingly, the table beginning to scorch beneath his hands.  "It's everyone ELSE that is demanding I prove myself to them!!"

          : Rory, please, : A voice he thought he recognized, but he wasn't sure as this mind was slightly different from the ones that normally touched his.  : Come on.  You have GOT to calm down.  We're beginning to roast alive in here. :

          That drew a startled chuckle from him, but he immediately set to work to forcibly calm himself, pulling his magic back as he glared at Ardyn, his silver eyes blazing.  A sigh in his mind.  : There, that's much better, isn't it? :

          It was actually.  He was able to think more clearly again.

          "This is, and has always been about me, Ardyn.  About Harry.  About what we want...what we feel we need for ourselves.  We are not just Commander James Peverell Potter's sons,  Not just Commander Jacob Adama's grandsons,  We are ourselves.  Hadrian James and Roark Christopher Peverell Potter.  This is about being ourselves, not what everyone else expects us to be.  We--"

          "Well, well, well," came his suddenly self-satisfied tone, interrupting his rant, snapping five heads around, five pairs of eyes narrowing while one pair of emerald green glared at him with anger as he went on.  "What do you know?  There IS some passion in you, after all.  You're not quite all ice as I had begun to think you were,"

          Roark froze. 

          That SON of a BITCH!  He had set out to infuriate him intentionally.  Making a sound, all his fury vanishing as fast as it had flared.  Sighing deeply, his head dropped, his eyes slipping closed.  

          "Well, FUCK!" he breathed, his eyes opening as he turned to the window behind him, not seeing the Durins look at each other questioningly, then over at Severus, who shook his head.

          "Harry?" he asked softly, turning to look at him.