The Gulag

Chapter 4 The Gulag


By sunset, most of the members of the Order were milling around Ron and Hermione’s cottage, waiting for Harry. The fact that he was running late didn’t seem to bother them. It was a time to socialize and reacquaint themselves with one another after years apart. The ministry feared the Order. The members were told, in no uncertain terms, not to associate with one another or face imprisonment, but with the reappearance of the Chosen One, their request for a party could not be refused. As a whole, the Order was exhausted after the war with Voldemort and most found that most preferred a solitary life.

With the passing of time, a new generation of wizard and witches were born. Fleur and Bill had three freckled-face little angels to drive them crazy. Neville and Luna, though recently married had-- to the chagrin of most-- a four year old boy. Luna, who had never cared about decorum, could care less what the Wizarding World would say about a child conceived out of wedlock. She was more concern that the child should be conceived out of love and her young son, Marcus, was truly loved.

Ginny had become a medi-witch and had adopted two infants, a boy and a girl, who were orphaned in a devastating earthquake in India. She had many suitors but was in no hurry to marry and settle down. She and her two children were having too much fun exploring the world to worry about her marital status.


Remus and Tonks had no children because they were not allowed to procreate. The couple took great joy, however, in playing with the children scattered in the front yard of Ron and Hermione’s cottage. They had tried for years to change the law forbidding werewolves of reproducing but to no avail. Now, when needed, they would baby sit their friends’ children. The two had become known as Uncle Re and Aunty Tonks to their extended family.

It was after sunset and all of the children were put to bed in Fred and George’s room. Too exhausted after a day of play, there were no complaints when many of the children had to sleep on the floor in makeshift sleeping bags.

Molly was the first to verbalize her concern that Harry had not yet arrived.

“Mum, if Harry said he would be here he will be. Don’t worry,” Ron tried to sooth his mother’s frayed nerves. Though worried himself, he would never let anyone know his feelings.

Dinner was served and the dishes were cleaned before there was a knock on the door. The room grew silent as Ron went to answer it. He dried his sweat drenched palms on his trousers before he reached for the knob. Slowly, he opened the door and was surprised that there was no one standing of the other side.

“Harry, is that you?” Ron asked as he took a step out onto his porch.

A small crowd of Order members gathered on the porch, their wands drawn, prepared for what might come.

From the darkness of the surrounding woods came a floating specter. Shrouded in black, the figure glided towards the gathering. The Order members went into battle mode, spreading out with wands pointing at the ghost like figure, readying for an attack.

“Whoa guys it’s me,” Harry lowered the hood of his cloak. He beamed brightly at all of his friends.

“Harry, what in the hell do you think you’re doing? You scared the shit out of us,” Remus scolded as he slipped his wand back into the sleeve of his robe.

“Sorry. I wanted to make a grand entrance…perhaps it was a bit much,” he said sheepishly.

“A bit? You nearly got yourself blown away,” Ron snapped at his best friend.

“You looked like a cross between a Death Eater and a Dementor,” Arthur said as he released the breath he was holding.

“Then ‘this’ costume was effective?” Harry asked as his feet touched the ground. He walked up the steps to the porch and started to hug his friends.

When he got to Ginny Weasley he smile and said, “Ginny you’re more beautiful now than you were when I left, if that’s possible. Too bad I’m gay.” He raised her into the air, hugging her tightly..

“Don’t be,” she replied, once he put her down, “I wouldn’t be interested in you anyway. I prefer my boyfriends to stick around,” there was bitterness beyond her teasing words.

“I guess I deserve that, but I’m back and I have a plan to correct some of the injustices that have been done to all of you and the Slytherins in particular. Shall we go back inside where I can explain my plan? If I am to succeed I will need everyone’s support,” Harry said as he led the small gathering back into the warmth of the house.


The shrouded cloak that Harry had worn was thrown carelessly across a dining room chair. Harry stood with a drink in his hand by the hearth. His fingers curled around the wooden mantle as he gazed unseeingly into the fire. His friends stood silently by waiting for the Chosen One to speak.

Mad-Eye Moody, a relic from the past, sat impatiently waiting for Harry to speak. Not known for being subtle, Mad-Eye finally broke the silence, “For crying out loud boy, don’t keep us wondering any longer and tell us what’s on your mind.”

Slightly embarrassed Harry turned to his fellow Order members and spoke, “What I am about to propose will be met with horror and disbelief. All I ask is that you hear me out before you make any judgments. I will at that time offer up a vote, if only one person here says nay to my idea it will be forgotten and we will think of another solution. Understand?” Harry said.

There was a general agreement among the group. A soft wave of murmurs went throughout the room followed by complete silence.

His announcement came from one large breath of air, “I want to be the new Dark Lord.”

Many stared at him as if they didn’t hear what he said, while the others waited for the punch line of the joke. Harry looked at all the blank faces staring up at him and wondered if any of his friends understood what he had just said.

“Guys, you do understand I said I want to be the next Dark Lord,” Harry repeated.

“We’re waiting to hear the ending of the joke,” Remus explained.

“No joke. I …want…to…be…the…next…Dark…Lord,” Harry said slowly and distinctly.

“Ah, why?” Arthur asked from his position on the couch next to Molly.

“Let me explain. I could go to the Ministry and try to have things changed through legal channels…”

“That’ll be the day,” Tonks huffed, having dealt with the bureaucrats for the last seven years.

“Exactly, nothing would get done. Most of the population is too downtrodden to give the administration much trouble. I, on the other hand, have a reputation, deserved or not, that I can get the job done. The general public will willingly follow anyone who resists the ministry,” Harry enlightened.

“Why not come out for the light and fight the government?” Neville asked.

“Do you think they would listen to me if I politely knock on their doors and ask them to please change the laws? I really doubt it. They need to fear me. They need to know that I am capable of doing horrible things to right a wrong,” Harry continued.

“Are you?” Luna asked from the confines of Neville’s arms.

“Hell no but ‘they’ have to think I am capable of it. I want you all to realize that I plan on breaking many laws. So many that we might warrant the death penalty. I will request the lot of you to be willing to go against the world we defended,” Harry stated.

“The Ministry was corrupt even then,” Arthur mumbled.

“But now they have a stronghold on the Aurors,” Kingsley added from the corner of the room listening. “I may not like the idea of a new Dark Lord, but I also believe that it will be decades before the Ministry changes on its own. How many here would have followed Voldemort if he had tempered his judgment?”

“Not all of his ideas were outrageous,” Mad-Eye said as he poured another glass of firewhiskey.

“The man didn’t know when to quit though.” Moody added, as he threw back another drink.

Kingsley stepped up to Harry until they were eye to eye, “Our world is in shambles. I am ready to fight for what is right once again, even in the guise of evil, but Harry, if for one moment you take yourself too seriously about being the new Dark Lord I will strike you down personally.”

“Fair enough,” Harry replied with a smile. “I would expect nothing less from all of you.”

After Kingsley gave Harry a warrior’s handshake he turned to the small crowd and spoke to his fellow Order members. “I give my solemn oath to my new Dark Lord, Harry James Potter,” he grinned. “How say you all?”

Each person in the tiny living room stood and gave an oath of allegiance to their friend. Remus was the last to stand.

“With some trepidation I give you my oath. Remember Harry that darkness has a way to consume ones soul,” Remus murmured.

“I understand that better than most, which is why I am counting on all of you to be sure I keep my head out of my arse,” Harry grinned.

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Severus woke to the sounds of children playing. Hearing their laughter brought tears to his eyes. In seven years, he was unable to bring his Slytherins any joy but Potter shows up and in one morning brought joy to his children. As always he found himself lacking.

“I have some soup with bits of meat in it for you Uncle Severus ,” Draco nudged his godfather’s foot to wake him up, “and a piece of bread.”

Severus sat up and leaned against the wall. “Have all the children eaten?”

“With what Potter brought and our regular rations it was almost a feast. Now eat,” Draco handed the hot bowl of soup to his godfather. “After you’re done I have a nutrition potion that Potter wanted you to take on a full stomach.”

“What is it?” Severus eyed the younger wizard suspiciously.

“How the hell would I know, you’re the Potions Master around here, not me,” Draco said as he sat next to Severus on the floor.

The two remained silent as Severus devoured his meager meal. With every mouthful there was a hum of appreciation from the ex-Death Eater.

“Do you think he can do it?” questioned Draco.

“You must be more specific,” Severus said as he popped the last bite of bread into his mouth.

Draco rolled his eyes, “You know perfectly well what I am referring to. Do you think that Potty can save us?”

“If he is so inclined, I have no doubt that he could singularly save the world,” Severus said as he closed his eyes and laid his head against the wall.

“Don’t be an arse, Severus. You will do anything he wants to get the rest of us out of here,” Draco frowned.

“Are you inferring that I should become his catamite?” Severus growled.

Draco chuckled, “I really don’t think he’s going to want your bony arse but if wants to fuck you three times a day you will let him, understand?”

Severus sighed, “Then I am to be a prostitute.”

“Uncle Severus, why must everything be so melodramatic with you,” Draco was slightly pissed off. “All I am asking is that you play nice and not to antagonize him.”

“And to be willing to submit to his whims,” added Severus.

“It’s been seven years; he’s probably moved on and has a horde of children,” Draco was adjusting himself to go to sleep for the night.

A pang of jealousy shot through him at the thought of Potter with someone else. He knew it would have been his fault if the younger man had found a new life sans him but he did not have to like it. He turned to argue with his godson only to find his lightly snoring. With a growl he stood and decided to check on his fellow Slytherins and be sure they were all right. He would try not to think of the handsome young man with the green eyes. His evening was weighed with thoughts of Harry and how good it was to see him again.