![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sua_layAuthor: Rimau Sua Lay
Rating: overall NC-17, Angst, Drama, Action/Adventure, First Time
Fandom: Harry Potter
Pairings: Harry/Snape, Ron/Draco, (Sirius/Remus)
Date: December 2002 - May 2007
Disclaimers: Not mine, borrowed without permission, am not making any money. Please don't sue. Sherbet Lemon?
Summary for Book Five: - It's time to try to save the world. Fools and idiots may be the wizards' only hope. Revenge does indeed taste strange. Kinda furry.
Warning: This part contains deaths, gore, total stupidity, explicit sex between men, disturbing themes and angst.
The earlier parts of the fic can be found here.
The continuing raids were a good indication of the overall situation. The open war everyone had been expecting would probably never come. This was what Voldemort's people would do; terrorize their world and kill all they could.
Dozens of Clabberts were sold almost overnight as people fortified their houses. Some even installed Muggle type alarm systems, especially those who lived close to Muggles. All around the wizarding world, the air seemed to shimmer from the force of the wards.
Fear had become their constant companion; one could sense it in the very air they were breathing. No one could turn their back on the news and the rumors anymore.
Voldemort was back.
The Order was getting bigger with people arriving almost every day to join them and training became more important than ever. No one could sit back and watch; Hermione was already used to tutoring the others and teaching healing charms and Ron was perfectly capable of assisting in the dueling. Draco's skills came in most handy, and after a few very pointed glares from Harry, no one dared to make any comments about the seemingly unending stock of hexes and curses he knew.
In the middle of all the classes, there were meetings, but now they weren't simple speculation and planning on actions they might never need.
"Before we start the meeting," Arthur Weasley grinned at Harry, looking nothing like a self important Acting Minister for Magic should. "Happy birthday, Harry!"
Harry grinned back, flustering a little as everyone in the room cheered. It was a small crowd; the inner circle of the Order -- these days consisting an extra set of young Gryffindors as well as two young Slytherins -- joined by the Heads of the Houses and Arthur Weasley who was accompanied by a few Aurors, and he felt almost like home in their company.
Most of the meetings didn't start with toasts -- butterbeer -- and cake and it was almost unreal to sit here and watch everyone smile and eat cake and know that as soon as the impromptu celebrations were over, they would talk about the war.
Licking the whipped cream from his spoon, Harry had to admit he liked this. There had already been a few songs and more congratulations than he could count, and the almost mania -like cheer on everyone was disconcerting to say the least. But sitting here with his family and friends wasn't bad.
Not bad at all.
It was easy to get down to business after everyone had finished with their cake -- except for Ron, who was discretely munching on his third slice -- and concentrate on today's topic. For once it wasn't about the Order and their plans for the future.
Harry looked at Arthur. "What exactly has the Ministry done with all the complaints and accusations towards known Death Eaters?" He knew for a fact that there had been lots of them these past few months.
People needed to trust the authorities, even in the Wizarding World, and no matter how the Ministry had wanted to stand clear from anything concerning Voldemort, they would have received dozens of owls carrying testimonies.
Looking uncomfortable, Arthur sighed. "Nothing."
Only Flitwick bothered to try to look surprised, everyone else just nodded. They hadn't really had any illusions about this.
Still, Harry could almost hear an echo of McGonagall's voice in the room, the words 'the ministry will do nothing' as clear as if she'd actually repeated them again. He glanced at her, knowing all too well how it felt to tell people the truth and be told he was being ridiculous.
He was not going to let something like that happen to any of those who had suffered. Not again. "Then it's time you do something." It felt weird to speak like this to Mr. Weasley, but Harry couldn't hold his tongue simply because he liked and respected the man.
Arthur Weasley nodded, looking determined. "Yes, it is."
"We need to make absolutely sure people know what we're up against. If you'd hold a press conference..." Harry was glad to see the nod. "Good. Then there's the matter of crimes that have been committed against people. There are people who are responsible for torture and murder."
Shocked coughs and mutters filled the room, most likely due to the calm way Harry stated that to their new Minister, the man who had already witnessed such horrors.
"Yes."
Harry was quiet for a moment, but since no one else wanted to add to the tension so palpable already, he said quietly, "I want you to issue warrants for the arrest of the following people. Peter Pettigrew, for betraying the fidelius charm, contributing to the death of..." He choked for just a moment. "James and Lily Potter, framing Sirius Black and killing Cedric Diggory."
On the other side of the table, Remus grabbed Sirius' hand in a tight grip.
Arthur nodded. "I'll see to it." He cast a surprisingly stern look at his Aurors who were staring with their mouths open.
One of the Aurors grabbed his quill and started to scribble it down on the parchment in front of him.
"Also for the arrest of Lucius Malfoy, for kidnapping and assaulting professor McGonagall and for the attack on the Burrow resulting in two deaths." No matter how he tried, Harry couldn't bring himself to say names here.
There was frantic sound of scribbling.
No one said a word for a moment, then McGonagall stated coolly, "I do believe the Ministry has already taken my testimony on the matter."
"Yes, as they have taken mine as well." Sharing a look of perfect understanding, Arthur Weasley nodded at her.
Harry was glad no one had succumbed into the endless apologies and explanations.
There were other names, other horrors, and Harry listed all he'd heard. Some were old memories -- McNair, Crabbe sr. -- some more recent ones -- the younger Crabbe and Goyle and Parkinson -- and they were all familiar to most of the people in the room.
Next to the Acting Minister, the Auror was already on his fourth parchment, scribbling down names and descriptions as quickly as he could, trying not to miss any that Harry mentioned and groaning as the others started to call out names as well.
His hand stilled as Harry Potter stated out the last name.
"Tom Marvolo Riddle. Also known as Lord Voldemort or You-Know-Who."
There was an utter silence in the room.
Harry smiled a crooked little smile. "I doubt I have to list all the things he has done to people."
Surprisingly enough, the older people in the room smiled back at him, their feral expressions just as full of memories of pain and hatered as his was.
From his place between Snape and Blaize Zabini, Draco said, "We all know what he's done, but there are things he probably wants to keep a secret. Like his ancestry. Minister Weasley, you might want to mention the fact that Tom Riddle is a half-blood in that press conference of yours."
The importance of his words already showed on Blaise's face. "Voldemort isn't a pureblood? I'll be damned!" He grinned brightly. "Oh that's just too perfect!"
Arthur looked from the now laughing Slytherin to Draco Malfoy, knowing exactly what he was implying. "I will. Thank you, Mr. Malfoy."
It was clear that it wasn't the response Draco had expected. Harry smiled at the confusion and slight embarrassment that showed on Draco's face for a few seconds before the well practiced nonchalance returned.
He wished he could end the official part of the meeting with this and maybe have another bite of the cake, but there was still something he needed to say. "Once you have the warrants, you might want to show them to the press as well, but I don't think you should send Aurors to actually arrest anyone. Especially if that means going to the mansions to fight the battle on their terms. Just let it be known that all these people are wanted, and leave it to that."
Even as Arthur Weasley nodded, there were a few baffled looks cast at Harry.
"I don't want to start the big battles." Harry didn't say the word 'yet'. "But this will hinder their movements and it'll also make sure our world sees these people as they are; criminals."
That caused even more baffled looks, as if people hadn't even thought about Voldemort and his Death Eaters as something as simple as that.
Harry wasn't really surprised.
The meeting broke up after that, the Aurors rushing back to the Ministry so that they could write down proper warrants with the necessary paperwork. The others stayed behind, finishing with what was left of the butterbeer and attacking the rest of the cake.
Such a quiet show of caring was better than any pompous speech or expensive gift.
Arabella Figg pulled Harry into a tight hug. "Happy birthday, Harry. And many more to come!" she whispered fiercely.
Harry smiled at her. "Thank you."
Fletcher offered him his hand and more well wishes as did professor Flitwick before he was unceremoniously pushed to the side as professor Sprout enfolded Harry in a tight heather scented hug.
Soon everyone flocked around Harry, either shaking hands with him or hugging him. It was easy to allow the touches with these people and not feel crowded or weirded. He hugged Hermione, laughed at the very evil look in Draco's eyes as he shook his hand again and muttered 'Harry'. He flustered and then smiled with wonder as McGonagall touched his arm briefly after congratulating him.
Dumledore's benign smile and cryptic words about the importance of this day made Harry shiver a little, but the feeling of unease was forgotten soon as Ron wrapped his arm around his shoulders.
Pulling his robes back in order after the Weasley group hug, Harry came to stand before Snape.
"Happy birthday, Potter," Snape stated with a brief nod.
"What, no hug?" Harry asked, an evil glint in his eyes. "I'm hurt, Snape."
Leaning closer, Snape muttered, "I do not wish to make a spectacle of myself in front of a group of Weasleys who are staring at us right now, looking like they're expecting something."
That made Harry glance at Ron and his brothers who were indeed staring at them, Ron looking like he was tasting a slug in his mouth and George giving him a not so subtle thumbs up and a wink.
He groaned. "I should have guessed..."
"I assume you felt necessary to inform the Weasleys of our..." Snape hated the fact that he still couldn't think of a word to describe what was between him and Harry. The closest he could come up with was 'courting', and the mere idea made him scoff. "Thing."
Harry nodded. "Yeah." He wondered if he should apologize, but he didn't feel like he should apologize for being happy about what they had. "Sorry I didn't tell you earlier." That would have to be enough for Snape.
"I see." Shaking his head a little, Snape offered Harry his hand. "If you want a hug, you will have to wait until we're in private. Say, in my rooms tomorrow after lunch?"
"Yeah. I'll be there." Harry held Snape's hand, brushing his thumb against one of the familiar ink stains. He let his touch linger longer than was really necessary, knowing Snape didn't really mind since he didn't yank his hand away. Tomorrow would be a quiet day anyway, and it had been ages since he'd just spent time with Snape.
Snape squeezed his hand softly before letting go. "Just be careful when you come to Hogwarts tomorrow. You know what day it is."
"Yeah." Harry knew he would be on his guard tonight as well, remembering all too well that Voldemort had plans for him. "I will be."
Being reminded of how Snape didn't even try pretend he wasn't concerned for his safety anymore made him feel warm inside, and even though his message had brought back memories of insanity, Harry was smiling softly as he finally stepped away from Snape.
As he turned to leave the room, he got another wink from George.
There would be more well wishers milling around the Headquarters, most used to the forbidding look he threw at anyone who came too close and simply waving at him and calling out their congratulations. He had told Ron firmly that he did not wish to spend his birthday in a crowd, pretending everything was all right, but would like to have dinner with his family and maybe all the Weasleys who might be able to join them.
Ron had looked a little disappointed, but even he couldn't really find the idea of a party appealing anymore. The joy of organizing one had died with Terry Boot.
Sighing, Harry walked across the hallway, his head already focusing on the work waiting for him today, patient enough to deal with their world today as he knew he could have time for himself tomorrow with Snape.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-07-09 06:20 pm (UTC)The story is great ... can't even stop reading to comment on how much I like it. I'm so glad that it's all posted already!
no subject
Date: 2007-07-09 07:18 pm (UTC)