The Third Time is a Charm
folder
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
91
Views:
47,371
Reviews:
243
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Category:
Harry Potter › Slash - Male/Male › Harry/Snape
Rating:
Adult +
Chapters:
91
Views:
47,371
Reviews:
243
Recommended:
0
Currently Reading:
1
Disclaimer:
I don’t own the HP Universe. I admire. Rowling for entertaining us with her world of make believe. I don’t make any money from writing this story, I just like to have fun and borrow her characters for a while but I promise to put them back
You Are So Screwed
Posted 13 March 2010
Chapter 85 You are so Screwed
Over the next two months, the collection of Death Eaters at Between Manor was mounting and Voldemort was having a hard time recruiting more. Severus (polyjuiced as Lucius) had gone to several meetings to learn what was being done on Voldemort's side. A couple of times he silently thanked Becca for the Basilisk skin cloaks. When Voldemort was on the warpath, no one was safe from a stray curse or two. Severus, of course, made a convincing show when getting hit with the curses, and even fell to the ground at the appropriate times. He refused to whimper or scream though; he absolutely was not going to give that mad man the satisfaction, no matter what kind of part he was playing.
On the first of October, he delivered Second Born to the sociopath's headquarters. This was the promised friend for Nagini who had already been turned into a horcrux. Second Born had insisted that since this was to protect his future master, he should be the one to go. Severus felt bad for Voldemort's familiar, but it had to be done. He was to portkey a poisoned rat to Second Born after 'Lucius' was again out of the country. It wouldn't do to have something go wrong with the plan and make the Malfoy's a target of revenge.
He smiled as he was leaving, not having been cursed this time strangely enough, and whispered, "Tom, you are so screwed." It was a line from a muggle movie he and Harry had been watching two days ago. He thought it fit perfectly in Voldemort's case.
At Between Manor...
Silver and Black were resting from having just worked on six people that got caught in a nasty cross fire during an attack of Death Eaters. Although the utilization of The Daily Prophet was very successful, it wasn't the be all and end all of what was going on. Several times they had been bombarded with injured as areas were attacked that the newspaper didn't know about it. They hoped it was not a sign that Voldemort had found out how the group was getting its information. They were watching as many people in the Order of the Phoenix as possible since they seemed to be the focus of the retribution.
Dorcus Meadows and her family and a few neighbors were the last ones to arrive with barely enough time to save them. The elves that knew the most about wizard healing were just as busy as the two men that led them. They finally started putting phoenix tears in the blood replenishers and that helped in the quick healing of the critically injured.
Silver looked at Black as they both collapsed on the bed and said, "I only wish we could save the Potters. It hurts to not be able to do something for them."
"My love, you know the rules. I too would like to save at least Lily, but we have to think about the others. Dorcus was killed in the first war and now she lives. It was the same with Benjy Fenwick that dropped in on us last week. At least we are doing some good for the magical world. These families were wiped out before."
The smaller man rested his head on his husband's chest as they lay down. "I know, but sometimes life really sucks."
The larger man chuckled at the expression and said, "Not all the time I hope." then started sucking on his neck.
"No, not all the time." Silver said with a smile and they were both too busy to talk for the next hour.
Back to the Potters...
It was on October fifth that the Potters and the Longbottoms were told about a prophecy that may involve their sons, and that they were targets for the Death Eaters. At Dumbledore's insistence, they made plans to put their homes under the protection of the Fidelius Charm. It was an anonymous note that had tipped off Dumbledore, or so he said.
Lily begged James to use someone else and not Dumbledore and she admonished Frank and Alice to do the same. They had to be very careful now and she feared for her son's safety. James wasn't sure why his wife was so adamant about this, but it didn't really matter who was the secret keeper as long as it was someone they trusted.
Sirius came over that evening and they had told him that a prophecy had been heard by Voldemort, that targeted little Harry. They hadn’t been told the actual prophecy, but had been told some of its contents. The baby was sleeping in his mother's arms as they discussed what could be done. They had only been told that the prophecy stated a child would be born as the seventh month dies that could defeat Voldemort. Then James told him they wanted Sirius to be the secret keeper for their home.
After much discussion and throwing different ideas back and forth, Sirius convinced them that they should let Peter be the secret keeper as no one would suspect him. Everyone would think Sirius would be the most likely person to be trusted by the Potters.
The next day, they performed the Fidelius Charm with Peter Pettigrew as their secret keeper.
Back to a manor in an undisclosed location...
The day after the Potters enacted the charm, Peter stood before his master telling him what happened and the location of the Potter family. Finally, the Dark Lord thought, something was going his way. He knew, if he was persistent enough, he would find a way to win this war. All he had to do was kill the Potter brat and move to Lucius' place in France. The Malfoy Lord had said the place would be ready by Christmas; he would just have to revise his schedule and move faster. All Lucius had to do was spend a little more money for more workers.
In France they could regroup and 'convince' more people to become followers as they puzzled out the reason for the missing Death Eaters. Voldemort personally thought they may all be dead, the fools. No one had found information on where they could be kept and the only place he knew big enough and solid enough to hold that many of his best was Azkaban. He already knew they were not there. He had people on the inside watching out for them. His only consolation was that the Order members they had attempted to murder were gone too. Whatever happened, it took place on both sides.
He wouldn't tell the remaining followers about this news. He had to be careful so none of them disappeared as the others had. He did summon all his remaining people to command them to discontinue the attacks against the Order of the Phoenix. Now that he knew who the brat was, and where the brat was, he didn't want any thing else to happen before the child of that thrice damned prophecy could be eliminated. After that, there was nothing to stop him. He had taken steps to see to his survival and he would live forever.
He also knew the perfect time to attack. All Hallows Eve was the perfect night. When the dark magic was flowing freely and he would be able to use it to help succeed in his mission. He didn’t really need much help, Wormtail could accompany him. He didn't explain any of this to his followers, but he spoke in great detail about it to Nagini, so of course Second Born was right there listening to the whole plan.
Second Born, named Croesus (probably because of the wealth of the estate) by Voldemort, sent a telepathic message to First Born to let him know what was going on. Because he was not anyone's actual familiar, he didn't have a connection yet with a human master of his own. Severus was able to come up with a spell to enhance their natural ability to communicate telepathically within their nest mates. First Born then relayed the message to Harry, who relayed it to everyone else.
Back at Prince Manor...
Salazar and Gorbink with a few of the house elves were in deep discussion on the best way to make a believable and live golem of little Harry. It was imperative that the Dursley's think they have a real baby after Dumbledore dropped him off on the doorstep. There was absolutely no way that they were going to leave little Harry in their hands for one minute, so a golem was needed to make a switch for a few days. It was tricky magic and usually they didn't look quite real. They used Harry's blood for the last 'real life' touches. Even though he was older, if scanned he would register as Harry James Potter, born on July 31, 1980. Charms were needed to make the child real and they were actually using a likeness of Evan as he was more readily available. Last minute changes could be made, but Petunia didn't know what Harry looked like anyway.
The monitors to the house of number four Privet Drive were checked and double checked. They had to know if Dumbledore would come and visit and if he recognized the golem for what it was.
The tension was very high in Prince Manor. For no apparent reason Harry or Becca would start tearing and even Severus could be seen with damp eyes from time to time. Salazar was trying to comfort Becca as best he could, but sometimes she would fly into a rage at not being able to do anything about the attack on the Potters. Harry, too, was not in a good mood. He would pace then sit and pace some more. He was not even pretending to focus on anything and would snap if someone tried to ask him what was wrong.
Moony and Regulus knew something was going on that they were not privy to, but could not imagine what could make the usually happy and cordial people of the Prince family behave so out of character. It was too risky for anyone else to know what was going to happen next. They couldn't interfere. Those were the rules. Remus Sr. was another one that was 'out of sorts' and even Tonks knew to stay out of his way. Although she knew what the problem was, and did feel sorrow, she had not known the Potters and for her it was not as personal. She did, however, know Harry and her heart ached for him.
On Thursday, October 29, 1981 a mysterious note appeared on the kitchen table addressed to Becca. When Becca saw that it was in her own handwriting she immediately read it, and then went to look for Salazar and told him they had to hurry. The note’s request was urgent.
Salazar looked at his fiancé and said, “You couldn’t have given me more warning? We don’t have enough time!” He then went to call his team and they went to work fulfilling the request of a future Becca.
On the morning of Saturday, October 31, 1981, Dorcus Meadows arrived at the former Lady Longbottom’s residence. The mother of Frank Longbottom knew the young woman as being in the Order of the Phoenix with her son and his wife. She also knew the woman had been missing for the last few weeks.
“I have urgent news about your grandson. Please Mrs. Longbottom, can you get them here or tell me where they are? It’s a matter of life or death.”
Mrs. Longbottom gave the woman a hard long look and said, “Stay here.” She floo-called her son, and the family soon were in the receiving room of her house. Fortunately they had brought little Neville with them. They looked at Dorcus and drew their wands at her.
“How did you come to be here?” Frank nearly shouted in his distress of seeing someone he thought to be dead.
“The phoenix rises out of the ashes.” Dorcus said calmly and waited for the appropriate response.
“The ashes of death are eternal.” Alice said.
“Not to those that are reborn,” was the correct response from the young woman that had intruded into their morning.
“Dorcus,” Alice sighed and gave the woman a hug. How did you get here? Where have you been?” Alice had more questions, but she was so happy to see her friend again and to know that there was hope some of the others were alive too.
“You, Frank and the baby need to come with me. Your lives are in danger.” Dorcus told them with some urgency in her voice.
“We already know that, the house is under the Fidelius Charm. We can’t do anything else.” Alice tried to assure her friend.
“There is another place I need to take you to. It’s where I have been and it will keep you safe.”
“We can’t leave, the Order needs us and we are safe at our own home.” Frank insisted. Something wasn’t right. Why would she want to take them some place else?
Dorcus didn’t reply to Frank’s statement. Instead she pulled them together and whispered “Mission Control,” and they were whisked away. Mrs. Longbottom, that was standing a about a meter away stood stunned as she watched her only family being portkeyed through her wards. Before she had time to retaliate, Dorcus threw a scarf around the old woman’s neck and again said, “Mission Control,” and they were both portkeyed to the same place as Frank, Alice and Neville.
Dorcus, after staying at Between Manor for several weeks, knew what was at stake. She didn’t know the Potters were going to die, she had been told someone else was taking care of them. She now understood what the war was actually about and didn’t hesitate to bring her friends into it. They would be happy for the information she had been privy to she was sure, especially when the family realized it was Harry Potter’s future self that was giving that information.
As for Silver and Black, they knew the Longbottoms could be a hindrance to their plans. Since the Death Eaters were either liberated from the mark or would die in the attack of the Potters with their ‘Lord’, there would be no attack on Frank and Alice. Therefore, either Dumbledore would do something and blame it on Death Eaters, or they would be able to keep little Harry because Alice was his godmother. They all knew Dumbledore was going to have Sirius sent to Azkaban to get him out of the way.
“What the bloody hell…” started Frank Longbottom as he took in his surroundings after a moment to recuperate from the dizzy sensation he always got from portkeys. So began the long explanation of Between Manor and Harry Potter.
Back at Prince Manor…
Harry and Severus were in ignorant bliss about what happened to the Longbottom family. They were having some problems of their own. Not having seen Salazar for the past two days, Becca looked to be even more on edge and in need of her fiancé’s comfort than before. They had been told that Sal was working on a project and they would know what it was when the time came.
Everyone else in the household, including the enormous number of elves at the different Prince Conglomerate facilities, was rather hard to get along with too. Everyone, that knew the adult Potters were to die that evening, was trying hard not to think about it. Even the children were being somewhat clingy and out of sorts, needing their parents constantly for comfort. Poor Lillian was so effected by the stress, that she would not even let Harry put her down for a nap. She would only allow Harry to hold her or if not Harry then Severus. Every time they tried to put her down, even when asleep, she would start whimpering and then crying if she was not picked back up immediately. Finally the two men did the only thing they could think of to do. They brought both children into their bedroom and with just a drop of children’s calming potion each they all took a nap, the two children sleeping on the chests of their fathers.
It was 10:58 PM …
Voldemort decided to apparate to the village of Godric’s Hollow and watch and wait outside the home of James and Lily Potter. He watched through the window as the happy couple was up with their child. It was a tradition in some wizarding families to stay up for the bewitching hour at midnight on All Hollows Eve. That was when the magic was at its most powerful. He would watch and wait until ten minutes before midnight just to be sure that as the clock struck, he would strike at the child having already taken care of the parents.
At 11:00 PM…
First Born was waking his master. He knew that he had to hurry after the message from Second Born; he just hoped they would make it in time.
**”Master, Master.”** The snake hissed. **“You are needed!”** He hissed louder. As he was hissing at the man lying in the bed, he thumped his tail on the chest of the two men. It was Severus that woke first.
**“What’s the matter?”** the man hissed.
**“Nagini is not yet dead. She didn’t eat the rat. You need to go, Second Born is in trouble.”** Just as First Born was explaining things, Fifth Born came into the room.
**“Master, we must hurry!”** Fifth Born had also gotten the message.
“Harry, Harry wake up!” Severus said his voice with some urgency in the tone.
“Sev, what’s the matter? Is it time for little Harry to get here?” They had both gone to bed, after finally getting the children to sleep in their own room, deciding to take a nap as the activities of that night and the next day were going to be quite exhausting.
“Nagini isn’t dead and Second Born is in trouble.” Severus replied after he could see the younger man was waking. “I am going to Voldemort’s lair and kill that snake once and for all.”
“Not without me you are not. You can’t wield the sword of Gryffindor and that will be the quickest way to make sure she is dead.” Harry argued as they were putting on their clothes.
“We have to hurry, if she is still alive when Voldemort attacks, he won’t completely die.” Severus felt compelled to tell the young man. He wasn’t even sure where the sword was at the moment.
“Gryffindor sword!” cried Harry holding his hands as if the sword were in them already. The next second, the sword was in his hands.
“How did you do that?” Severus wanted to know as he was putting on his cloak.
“Godric taught me.”
At 11:07 PM
The soulmated couple and their snake familiars arrived at the manor that Voldemort was currently using. All appeared to be quiet as they entered and made their way to the last known location of Second Born. It was too bad that the killing feature in the eyes of a basilisk didn’t work on another snake. The only creature that was immune to the deadly stare.
They quickly made their way to the throne room only to see that Nagini was hissing and striking at Second Born in a corner of the room. They watched in horror as the snake attacked again and again. Most of the time Second Born was able to move out of the way and Voldemort’s familiar struck at the rock behind him. But a few times she must have hit her mark because they could see that the basilisk had been hurt.
Harry ran over to Nagini and chopped off about five centimeters of her tail. It was the only thing that came immediately to mind to get her attention. He had to get her far enough away from Second Born so there was no risk of missing and hitting him. She had been so focused on her prey; she wasn’t paying attention to the rest of the room.
As soon as she turned to attack Harry he stepped back so he was far enough away from Second Born to strike. He cut off her head with an upward swing, and then ran the blade through the top of the head. They all watched as a black cloud left her dead and mutilated body. Breathing a sigh of relief, Harry then went to see how badly Second Born was hurt.
He was not too bad considering Nagini was twice his size, but still his eye was badly injured and there were gashes in the middle of his body. Severus came over from where he was standing watch and whispered to Harry. “We have to hurry, Death Eaters are coming.”
They both quickly changed into their animagus forms and with the snakes about their necks they flashed out just as three Death Eaters, including Belletrix, came into the room. “You are so screwed,” they trilled as they disappeared from the room.
“Did I just see a black and a white phoenix with snakes around their necks?” one of the people in the room asked, even as his wand was still pointed at the empty corner.
“Don’t be so ridiculous!” Belletrix shouted at him. “What would a phoenix be doing here?” She stormed out of the room, seeing as nothing was there, complaining about stupid snakes and their foolish games. She totally missed the mutilated body of her master’s familiar. She didn’t really like that snake anyway.
At 11:12 PM…
Voldemort was standing outside the Potter home when he felt a pang. Something was wrong with Nagini, his beloved familiar. He would see to it as soon as he got back to the manor. He had to stay focused on the task at hand.
Another half hour later, the greatest Dark Lord in history was out of patience. It was close enough to the bewitching hour for him to make his move. He stormed into the room just as Lily was standing to take the child back to his crib.
“Lily,” James cried, “run, get Harry out of here!”
Lily ran up the stairs even as she felt a strange force at the same time as she heard “Aveda Kedavra,” then heard as her husband fell to the floor with a thump. She barricaded Harry and herself in the baby’s room. Quickly opening the baby’s trunk and swirled her wand to pack everything in it. At least if she didn’t survive, the baby would have his things and both his godparents knew the trunk was to go with him.
Just as she finished and the trunk closed with a snap, the door was blasted through and there stood Voldemort, magic swirling around him, with his wand pointed at the mother and child. “Step aside woman; it is the child I want!”
“No, not Harry, take me instead. Please, leave my son alone.”
“You can’t fight me!” Voldemort shouted. “You don’t even have your wand!” He snarled and the evil laughter coming from the mad man was almost hysterical in his excitement to have defeated the prophecy.
At that precise moment, clarification came to the young woman that she was going to die. She didn’t know why it popped into her head, but she was reminded of a movie she had seen a few years ago.
“You are so screwed,” she whispered as the green light flashed to her. She felt the power of the magic around her and the killing curse hit her and then knew nothing more.
Voldemort was standing there as he watched the baby crying for its mother. It was so sickeningly sweet it was disgusting. The mad man knew that there were probably alarms on the house that would alert the aurors or the Order and he was not sticking around for a battle. He pointed his wand and said the fateful words that would void the prophecy once and for all.
“Aveda Kedavra!”
Before the curse finished his lips, the baby in the crib pointed a finger at him and said “No!” as the last of the words were spoken. A bright flare of magic so strong it shocked the great wizard and he blacked out and was transported to the pits of hell.
“Noooooooo!” cried his soul as it descended on its journey. This was not meant to happen; he had taken measures to prevent it.
The Bewitching Hour…
The alarms in Dumbledore’s office went off. He may not have been the Secret Keeper, but before the Fidelius Charm was enacted, he had placed alarms on the house just in case the security was breached. If the prophecy was true, then the Potter child was still alive. If his luck had held out the Potter parents would be dead, giving him the chance to groom young Harry Potter in any way he wished. Albus suddenly realized that he knew exactly where the Potters lived. The Fidelius Charm had been broken.
So as not to be under any suspicion he called Minerva McGonagall to his quarters. When she arrived, she was wearing her night dress and cap and looked as if she had just woken up. Given the late hour, that was probably true.
“Minerva, you need to get dressed, the Potter’s house has been attacked and we need to find out what happened,” said the old man.
The witch took out her wand and waved it changing her clothes to warm street wear and then said, “I’m ready Albus”.
On their way to the apparation point, Albus decided to get Hagrid to come in case they needed help. He may not be much magical help, but he sure could push his way through anything, and spells didn’t affect him in the same manner as humans.
When they arrived at Godric’s Hollow, there was a huge hole in the house and a baby’s cry could be heard. Several of the neighbors were outside looking at the house in tears, knowing something bad must have happened. Just as one neighbor was about to go into the house, Albus Dumbledore told them that he would go and check on the family. Just as he went through the open door, he saw James lying on the floor of the sitting room. He then followed the sound of the baby’s cries to the upstairs and looked into the baby’s room.
He could feel the magic humming in the air. Not any sounds but a pulse going through his body. If that magic was coming from the baby, it was no wonder he was a child of prophecy. He would be very powerful and Dumbledore would be there to reap the benefits.
There was Voldemort lying dead on the floor. The old man stepped over the body to get to the baby in the crib. His mother was also on the floor, still as death. He picked up the child and the blanket with the initials HJP stitched in the corner and carried the baby outside.
“Voldemort is dead!” he announced to everyone on the street. “We will take the child back to the castle with us until his guardians can be found.” Albus Dumbledore said to the people standing around the house. With a flick of his wand, he sealed the house, as he didn’t have time to see to the bodies of the three left there. He wanted to get out of sight before anyone else came to attack the place. Also he was not sure that the aurors would appreciate him taking possession of the little child.
They went back to the castle with the little babe in Hagrid’s arms.
Four strangers portkeyed in at that same moment to collect Harry’s box and to exchange the bodies of Lily and James with two golems that Salazar and his team had just completed. Sal was looking bleary eyed and there were dark circles under his eyes as he carefully placed portkeys on the bodies to send them to Doc. He looked at Becca, who had insisted she come, and wondered what they were doing.
“We don’t want anyone to get their blood and possibly break the wards, now do we?” she said with a shrug. She wasn’t sure herself what they were doing. Actually, it felt kind of wrong to disturb the dead, but her note had said to switch the bodies so that was what she was going to do.
They portkeyed back to Prince Manor to see if Severus and Harry had made it back yet.
Chapter 85 You are so Screwed
Over the next two months, the collection of Death Eaters at Between Manor was mounting and Voldemort was having a hard time recruiting more. Severus (polyjuiced as Lucius) had gone to several meetings to learn what was being done on Voldemort's side. A couple of times he silently thanked Becca for the Basilisk skin cloaks. When Voldemort was on the warpath, no one was safe from a stray curse or two. Severus, of course, made a convincing show when getting hit with the curses, and even fell to the ground at the appropriate times. He refused to whimper or scream though; he absolutely was not going to give that mad man the satisfaction, no matter what kind of part he was playing.
On the first of October, he delivered Second Born to the sociopath's headquarters. This was the promised friend for Nagini who had already been turned into a horcrux. Second Born had insisted that since this was to protect his future master, he should be the one to go. Severus felt bad for Voldemort's familiar, but it had to be done. He was to portkey a poisoned rat to Second Born after 'Lucius' was again out of the country. It wouldn't do to have something go wrong with the plan and make the Malfoy's a target of revenge.
He smiled as he was leaving, not having been cursed this time strangely enough, and whispered, "Tom, you are so screwed." It was a line from a muggle movie he and Harry had been watching two days ago. He thought it fit perfectly in Voldemort's case.
At Between Manor...
Silver and Black were resting from having just worked on six people that got caught in a nasty cross fire during an attack of Death Eaters. Although the utilization of The Daily Prophet was very successful, it wasn't the be all and end all of what was going on. Several times they had been bombarded with injured as areas were attacked that the newspaper didn't know about it. They hoped it was not a sign that Voldemort had found out how the group was getting its information. They were watching as many people in the Order of the Phoenix as possible since they seemed to be the focus of the retribution.
Dorcus Meadows and her family and a few neighbors were the last ones to arrive with barely enough time to save them. The elves that knew the most about wizard healing were just as busy as the two men that led them. They finally started putting phoenix tears in the blood replenishers and that helped in the quick healing of the critically injured.
Silver looked at Black as they both collapsed on the bed and said, "I only wish we could save the Potters. It hurts to not be able to do something for them."
"My love, you know the rules. I too would like to save at least Lily, but we have to think about the others. Dorcus was killed in the first war and now she lives. It was the same with Benjy Fenwick that dropped in on us last week. At least we are doing some good for the magical world. These families were wiped out before."
The smaller man rested his head on his husband's chest as they lay down. "I know, but sometimes life really sucks."
The larger man chuckled at the expression and said, "Not all the time I hope." then started sucking on his neck.
"No, not all the time." Silver said with a smile and they were both too busy to talk for the next hour.
Back to the Potters...
It was on October fifth that the Potters and the Longbottoms were told about a prophecy that may involve their sons, and that they were targets for the Death Eaters. At Dumbledore's insistence, they made plans to put their homes under the protection of the Fidelius Charm. It was an anonymous note that had tipped off Dumbledore, or so he said.
Lily begged James to use someone else and not Dumbledore and she admonished Frank and Alice to do the same. They had to be very careful now and she feared for her son's safety. James wasn't sure why his wife was so adamant about this, but it didn't really matter who was the secret keeper as long as it was someone they trusted.
Sirius came over that evening and they had told him that a prophecy had been heard by Voldemort, that targeted little Harry. They hadn’t been told the actual prophecy, but had been told some of its contents. The baby was sleeping in his mother's arms as they discussed what could be done. They had only been told that the prophecy stated a child would be born as the seventh month dies that could defeat Voldemort. Then James told him they wanted Sirius to be the secret keeper for their home.
After much discussion and throwing different ideas back and forth, Sirius convinced them that they should let Peter be the secret keeper as no one would suspect him. Everyone would think Sirius would be the most likely person to be trusted by the Potters.
The next day, they performed the Fidelius Charm with Peter Pettigrew as their secret keeper.
Back to a manor in an undisclosed location...
The day after the Potters enacted the charm, Peter stood before his master telling him what happened and the location of the Potter family. Finally, the Dark Lord thought, something was going his way. He knew, if he was persistent enough, he would find a way to win this war. All he had to do was kill the Potter brat and move to Lucius' place in France. The Malfoy Lord had said the place would be ready by Christmas; he would just have to revise his schedule and move faster. All Lucius had to do was spend a little more money for more workers.
In France they could regroup and 'convince' more people to become followers as they puzzled out the reason for the missing Death Eaters. Voldemort personally thought they may all be dead, the fools. No one had found information on where they could be kept and the only place he knew big enough and solid enough to hold that many of his best was Azkaban. He already knew they were not there. He had people on the inside watching out for them. His only consolation was that the Order members they had attempted to murder were gone too. Whatever happened, it took place on both sides.
He wouldn't tell the remaining followers about this news. He had to be careful so none of them disappeared as the others had. He did summon all his remaining people to command them to discontinue the attacks against the Order of the Phoenix. Now that he knew who the brat was, and where the brat was, he didn't want any thing else to happen before the child of that thrice damned prophecy could be eliminated. After that, there was nothing to stop him. He had taken steps to see to his survival and he would live forever.
He also knew the perfect time to attack. All Hallows Eve was the perfect night. When the dark magic was flowing freely and he would be able to use it to help succeed in his mission. He didn’t really need much help, Wormtail could accompany him. He didn't explain any of this to his followers, but he spoke in great detail about it to Nagini, so of course Second Born was right there listening to the whole plan.
Second Born, named Croesus (probably because of the wealth of the estate) by Voldemort, sent a telepathic message to First Born to let him know what was going on. Because he was not anyone's actual familiar, he didn't have a connection yet with a human master of his own. Severus was able to come up with a spell to enhance their natural ability to communicate telepathically within their nest mates. First Born then relayed the message to Harry, who relayed it to everyone else.
Back at Prince Manor...
Salazar and Gorbink with a few of the house elves were in deep discussion on the best way to make a believable and live golem of little Harry. It was imperative that the Dursley's think they have a real baby after Dumbledore dropped him off on the doorstep. There was absolutely no way that they were going to leave little Harry in their hands for one minute, so a golem was needed to make a switch for a few days. It was tricky magic and usually they didn't look quite real. They used Harry's blood for the last 'real life' touches. Even though he was older, if scanned he would register as Harry James Potter, born on July 31, 1980. Charms were needed to make the child real and they were actually using a likeness of Evan as he was more readily available. Last minute changes could be made, but Petunia didn't know what Harry looked like anyway.
The monitors to the house of number four Privet Drive were checked and double checked. They had to know if Dumbledore would come and visit and if he recognized the golem for what it was.
The tension was very high in Prince Manor. For no apparent reason Harry or Becca would start tearing and even Severus could be seen with damp eyes from time to time. Salazar was trying to comfort Becca as best he could, but sometimes she would fly into a rage at not being able to do anything about the attack on the Potters. Harry, too, was not in a good mood. He would pace then sit and pace some more. He was not even pretending to focus on anything and would snap if someone tried to ask him what was wrong.
Moony and Regulus knew something was going on that they were not privy to, but could not imagine what could make the usually happy and cordial people of the Prince family behave so out of character. It was too risky for anyone else to know what was going to happen next. They couldn't interfere. Those were the rules. Remus Sr. was another one that was 'out of sorts' and even Tonks knew to stay out of his way. Although she knew what the problem was, and did feel sorrow, she had not known the Potters and for her it was not as personal. She did, however, know Harry and her heart ached for him.
On Thursday, October 29, 1981 a mysterious note appeared on the kitchen table addressed to Becca. When Becca saw that it was in her own handwriting she immediately read it, and then went to look for Salazar and told him they had to hurry. The note’s request was urgent.
Salazar looked at his fiancé and said, “You couldn’t have given me more warning? We don’t have enough time!” He then went to call his team and they went to work fulfilling the request of a future Becca.
On the morning of Saturday, October 31, 1981, Dorcus Meadows arrived at the former Lady Longbottom’s residence. The mother of Frank Longbottom knew the young woman as being in the Order of the Phoenix with her son and his wife. She also knew the woman had been missing for the last few weeks.
“I have urgent news about your grandson. Please Mrs. Longbottom, can you get them here or tell me where they are? It’s a matter of life or death.”
Mrs. Longbottom gave the woman a hard long look and said, “Stay here.” She floo-called her son, and the family soon were in the receiving room of her house. Fortunately they had brought little Neville with them. They looked at Dorcus and drew their wands at her.
“How did you come to be here?” Frank nearly shouted in his distress of seeing someone he thought to be dead.
“The phoenix rises out of the ashes.” Dorcus said calmly and waited for the appropriate response.
“The ashes of death are eternal.” Alice said.
“Not to those that are reborn,” was the correct response from the young woman that had intruded into their morning.
“Dorcus,” Alice sighed and gave the woman a hug. How did you get here? Where have you been?” Alice had more questions, but she was so happy to see her friend again and to know that there was hope some of the others were alive too.
“You, Frank and the baby need to come with me. Your lives are in danger.” Dorcus told them with some urgency in her voice.
“We already know that, the house is under the Fidelius Charm. We can’t do anything else.” Alice tried to assure her friend.
“There is another place I need to take you to. It’s where I have been and it will keep you safe.”
“We can’t leave, the Order needs us and we are safe at our own home.” Frank insisted. Something wasn’t right. Why would she want to take them some place else?
Dorcus didn’t reply to Frank’s statement. Instead she pulled them together and whispered “Mission Control,” and they were whisked away. Mrs. Longbottom, that was standing a about a meter away stood stunned as she watched her only family being portkeyed through her wards. Before she had time to retaliate, Dorcus threw a scarf around the old woman’s neck and again said, “Mission Control,” and they were both portkeyed to the same place as Frank, Alice and Neville.
Dorcus, after staying at Between Manor for several weeks, knew what was at stake. She didn’t know the Potters were going to die, she had been told someone else was taking care of them. She now understood what the war was actually about and didn’t hesitate to bring her friends into it. They would be happy for the information she had been privy to she was sure, especially when the family realized it was Harry Potter’s future self that was giving that information.
As for Silver and Black, they knew the Longbottoms could be a hindrance to their plans. Since the Death Eaters were either liberated from the mark or would die in the attack of the Potters with their ‘Lord’, there would be no attack on Frank and Alice. Therefore, either Dumbledore would do something and blame it on Death Eaters, or they would be able to keep little Harry because Alice was his godmother. They all knew Dumbledore was going to have Sirius sent to Azkaban to get him out of the way.
“What the bloody hell…” started Frank Longbottom as he took in his surroundings after a moment to recuperate from the dizzy sensation he always got from portkeys. So began the long explanation of Between Manor and Harry Potter.
Back at Prince Manor…
Harry and Severus were in ignorant bliss about what happened to the Longbottom family. They were having some problems of their own. Not having seen Salazar for the past two days, Becca looked to be even more on edge and in need of her fiancé’s comfort than before. They had been told that Sal was working on a project and they would know what it was when the time came.
Everyone else in the household, including the enormous number of elves at the different Prince Conglomerate facilities, was rather hard to get along with too. Everyone, that knew the adult Potters were to die that evening, was trying hard not to think about it. Even the children were being somewhat clingy and out of sorts, needing their parents constantly for comfort. Poor Lillian was so effected by the stress, that she would not even let Harry put her down for a nap. She would only allow Harry to hold her or if not Harry then Severus. Every time they tried to put her down, even when asleep, she would start whimpering and then crying if she was not picked back up immediately. Finally the two men did the only thing they could think of to do. They brought both children into their bedroom and with just a drop of children’s calming potion each they all took a nap, the two children sleeping on the chests of their fathers.
It was 10:58 PM …
Voldemort decided to apparate to the village of Godric’s Hollow and watch and wait outside the home of James and Lily Potter. He watched through the window as the happy couple was up with their child. It was a tradition in some wizarding families to stay up for the bewitching hour at midnight on All Hollows Eve. That was when the magic was at its most powerful. He would watch and wait until ten minutes before midnight just to be sure that as the clock struck, he would strike at the child having already taken care of the parents.
At 11:00 PM…
First Born was waking his master. He knew that he had to hurry after the message from Second Born; he just hoped they would make it in time.
**”Master, Master.”** The snake hissed. **“You are needed!”** He hissed louder. As he was hissing at the man lying in the bed, he thumped his tail on the chest of the two men. It was Severus that woke first.
**“What’s the matter?”** the man hissed.
**“Nagini is not yet dead. She didn’t eat the rat. You need to go, Second Born is in trouble.”** Just as First Born was explaining things, Fifth Born came into the room.
**“Master, we must hurry!”** Fifth Born had also gotten the message.
“Harry, Harry wake up!” Severus said his voice with some urgency in the tone.
“Sev, what’s the matter? Is it time for little Harry to get here?” They had both gone to bed, after finally getting the children to sleep in their own room, deciding to take a nap as the activities of that night and the next day were going to be quite exhausting.
“Nagini isn’t dead and Second Born is in trouble.” Severus replied after he could see the younger man was waking. “I am going to Voldemort’s lair and kill that snake once and for all.”
“Not without me you are not. You can’t wield the sword of Gryffindor and that will be the quickest way to make sure she is dead.” Harry argued as they were putting on their clothes.
“We have to hurry, if she is still alive when Voldemort attacks, he won’t completely die.” Severus felt compelled to tell the young man. He wasn’t even sure where the sword was at the moment.
“Gryffindor sword!” cried Harry holding his hands as if the sword were in them already. The next second, the sword was in his hands.
“How did you do that?” Severus wanted to know as he was putting on his cloak.
“Godric taught me.”
At 11:07 PM
The soulmated couple and their snake familiars arrived at the manor that Voldemort was currently using. All appeared to be quiet as they entered and made their way to the last known location of Second Born. It was too bad that the killing feature in the eyes of a basilisk didn’t work on another snake. The only creature that was immune to the deadly stare.
They quickly made their way to the throne room only to see that Nagini was hissing and striking at Second Born in a corner of the room. They watched in horror as the snake attacked again and again. Most of the time Second Born was able to move out of the way and Voldemort’s familiar struck at the rock behind him. But a few times she must have hit her mark because they could see that the basilisk had been hurt.
Harry ran over to Nagini and chopped off about five centimeters of her tail. It was the only thing that came immediately to mind to get her attention. He had to get her far enough away from Second Born so there was no risk of missing and hitting him. She had been so focused on her prey; she wasn’t paying attention to the rest of the room.
As soon as she turned to attack Harry he stepped back so he was far enough away from Second Born to strike. He cut off her head with an upward swing, and then ran the blade through the top of the head. They all watched as a black cloud left her dead and mutilated body. Breathing a sigh of relief, Harry then went to see how badly Second Born was hurt.
He was not too bad considering Nagini was twice his size, but still his eye was badly injured and there were gashes in the middle of his body. Severus came over from where he was standing watch and whispered to Harry. “We have to hurry, Death Eaters are coming.”
They both quickly changed into their animagus forms and with the snakes about their necks they flashed out just as three Death Eaters, including Belletrix, came into the room. “You are so screwed,” they trilled as they disappeared from the room.
“Did I just see a black and a white phoenix with snakes around their necks?” one of the people in the room asked, even as his wand was still pointed at the empty corner.
“Don’t be so ridiculous!” Belletrix shouted at him. “What would a phoenix be doing here?” She stormed out of the room, seeing as nothing was there, complaining about stupid snakes and their foolish games. She totally missed the mutilated body of her master’s familiar. She didn’t really like that snake anyway.
At 11:12 PM…
Voldemort was standing outside the Potter home when he felt a pang. Something was wrong with Nagini, his beloved familiar. He would see to it as soon as he got back to the manor. He had to stay focused on the task at hand.
Another half hour later, the greatest Dark Lord in history was out of patience. It was close enough to the bewitching hour for him to make his move. He stormed into the room just as Lily was standing to take the child back to his crib.
“Lily,” James cried, “run, get Harry out of here!”
Lily ran up the stairs even as she felt a strange force at the same time as she heard “Aveda Kedavra,” then heard as her husband fell to the floor with a thump. She barricaded Harry and herself in the baby’s room. Quickly opening the baby’s trunk and swirled her wand to pack everything in it. At least if she didn’t survive, the baby would have his things and both his godparents knew the trunk was to go with him.
Just as she finished and the trunk closed with a snap, the door was blasted through and there stood Voldemort, magic swirling around him, with his wand pointed at the mother and child. “Step aside woman; it is the child I want!”
“No, not Harry, take me instead. Please, leave my son alone.”
“You can’t fight me!” Voldemort shouted. “You don’t even have your wand!” He snarled and the evil laughter coming from the mad man was almost hysterical in his excitement to have defeated the prophecy.
At that precise moment, clarification came to the young woman that she was going to die. She didn’t know why it popped into her head, but she was reminded of a movie she had seen a few years ago.
“You are so screwed,” she whispered as the green light flashed to her. She felt the power of the magic around her and the killing curse hit her and then knew nothing more.
Voldemort was standing there as he watched the baby crying for its mother. It was so sickeningly sweet it was disgusting. The mad man knew that there were probably alarms on the house that would alert the aurors or the Order and he was not sticking around for a battle. He pointed his wand and said the fateful words that would void the prophecy once and for all.
“Aveda Kedavra!”
Before the curse finished his lips, the baby in the crib pointed a finger at him and said “No!” as the last of the words were spoken. A bright flare of magic so strong it shocked the great wizard and he blacked out and was transported to the pits of hell.
“Noooooooo!” cried his soul as it descended on its journey. This was not meant to happen; he had taken measures to prevent it.
The Bewitching Hour…
The alarms in Dumbledore’s office went off. He may not have been the Secret Keeper, but before the Fidelius Charm was enacted, he had placed alarms on the house just in case the security was breached. If the prophecy was true, then the Potter child was still alive. If his luck had held out the Potter parents would be dead, giving him the chance to groom young Harry Potter in any way he wished. Albus suddenly realized that he knew exactly where the Potters lived. The Fidelius Charm had been broken.
So as not to be under any suspicion he called Minerva McGonagall to his quarters. When she arrived, she was wearing her night dress and cap and looked as if she had just woken up. Given the late hour, that was probably true.
“Minerva, you need to get dressed, the Potter’s house has been attacked and we need to find out what happened,” said the old man.
The witch took out her wand and waved it changing her clothes to warm street wear and then said, “I’m ready Albus”.
On their way to the apparation point, Albus decided to get Hagrid to come in case they needed help. He may not be much magical help, but he sure could push his way through anything, and spells didn’t affect him in the same manner as humans.
When they arrived at Godric’s Hollow, there was a huge hole in the house and a baby’s cry could be heard. Several of the neighbors were outside looking at the house in tears, knowing something bad must have happened. Just as one neighbor was about to go into the house, Albus Dumbledore told them that he would go and check on the family. Just as he went through the open door, he saw James lying on the floor of the sitting room. He then followed the sound of the baby’s cries to the upstairs and looked into the baby’s room.
He could feel the magic humming in the air. Not any sounds but a pulse going through his body. If that magic was coming from the baby, it was no wonder he was a child of prophecy. He would be very powerful and Dumbledore would be there to reap the benefits.
There was Voldemort lying dead on the floor. The old man stepped over the body to get to the baby in the crib. His mother was also on the floor, still as death. He picked up the child and the blanket with the initials HJP stitched in the corner and carried the baby outside.
“Voldemort is dead!” he announced to everyone on the street. “We will take the child back to the castle with us until his guardians can be found.” Albus Dumbledore said to the people standing around the house. With a flick of his wand, he sealed the house, as he didn’t have time to see to the bodies of the three left there. He wanted to get out of sight before anyone else came to attack the place. Also he was not sure that the aurors would appreciate him taking possession of the little child.
They went back to the castle with the little babe in Hagrid’s arms.
Four strangers portkeyed in at that same moment to collect Harry’s box and to exchange the bodies of Lily and James with two golems that Salazar and his team had just completed. Sal was looking bleary eyed and there were dark circles under his eyes as he carefully placed portkeys on the bodies to send them to Doc. He looked at Becca, who had insisted she come, and wondered what they were doing.
“We don’t want anyone to get their blood and possibly break the wards, now do we?” she said with a shrug. She wasn’t sure herself what they were doing. Actually, it felt kind of wrong to disturb the dead, but her note had said to switch the bodies so that was what she was going to do.
They portkeyed back to Prince Manor to see if Severus and Harry had made it back yet.