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Author: Gridley Story: Harry Potter and the Price of Freedom Rating: Teens Setting: Pre-HBP Status: Completed Reviews: 5 Words: 30,601
Author’s Note: As previously mentioned, there is a gap between the last chapter and this one. Plot-wise, I’ve managed to work in everything I feel is necessary, but inevitably some loose ends exist. I’m sorry for that, but my desire to finish this story comes first. If you’re desperate to know something, ask in a review (please look over existing reviews so I don’t have to answer everything a dozen times), and I’ll be happy to answer. March, 1998 “For homework this weekend, compare and contrast the Shield Charm and the Mirror Charm as defensive spells, with special attention to which one fits your personal combat style the best.” Dorfomt glanced around at the class to see if there were any questions. “Very well, class dismissed. Mr. Potter, a moment, if you please.” Dorfomt shuffled papers on his desk as the rest of the class straggled out and then pinned Harry with a serious gaze. “Private Potter, what you are about to hear is classified at a level you didn’t know existed; do I make myself clear?” “Err. I really, really can’t talk about it?” Dorfomt grinned. “Yes, Private, that is an excellent summation. As you know, Voldemort has been seeking a way to make himself immortal. He has succeeded in that task.” Harry’s insides turned to lead. Lost. We’ve lost. After all we’ve been through… “Snap out of it!” Dorfomt’s whip-crack comment brought Harry back to the present. “I said that he has found a way, not that he has been able to use it. It is, however, only a matter of time. In fact, unless something goes wrong with his plans, we have until Monday at sunrise. That is when the ritual he plans to use must be completed, or he will have to wait almost a year for another opportunity.” Dorfomt paused to see if Harry was taking this in. Harry nodded slowly. “So. Tomorrow morning at 0700 you will report to this room, ready to depart.” He sighed. “And under the circumstances, you may bring Miss Weasley, Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, and Mr. Longbottom. You may not,” He glared at Harry for a moment. “Tell them anything at all except that they should bring their wands. Understood?” “Yes, sir.” “Very well. Dismissed, private.” ~~ “But what are we going to be doing?” Ron asked for the third time. Harry sighed. “I. Can’t. Tell. You.” “How are we supposed to get ready for whatever it is…” Ron began to protest, but Ginny cut him off. “Shut up, Ron. Harry’s obviously told us everything he can. We meet here at half-past six AM, with our wands. Right?” “Right.” Harry stretched. “Look. Its late, and we’ll probably need all the sleep we can get.” “Why will we…” Ron started, but Hermione poked him, and he closed his mouth with a snap. “Harry’s right,” Neville said, standing quickly. “We can’t do anything else, so we might as well rest, right?” He grabbed the book he’d been studying, dropped it, tripped trying to pick it up, and slammed into Harry, knocking him down and nearly into the Common Room fire. “Sorry, Harry!” Neville gasped. “Are you all right?” “I’m fine,” Harry grunted. He rubbed his head where Neville had grabbed it while trying to regain his balance. That’s all I need. To be maimed by my friends the day before the most important fight of my life. “I’m really sorry,” Neville whispered. Harry forced a grin. “No harm done. C’mon, lets to bed.” Neville was the last one up the stairs. As a result, no one saw him slip several of Harry’s hairs into a small vial. ~~ Harry took a deep breath and knocked on the door of the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. “Come.” Harry opened the door, glancing over his shoulder at the odd crew following him. Ron and Hermione, of course, following him like they always had. Ginny, who had linked briefly with him this morning to promise dire vengeance if he made any attempt to leave her behind at any point. And… Neville. Why Neville? Because he, like Harry, had a brother wand to Voldemorts? Because he could have been the subject of the prophecy? Because he was now third in the class in dueling, behind only Harry and Hermione? Well, Dorfomt must have his reasons. Harry turned forward again and froze. He had expected to find Dorfomt here. He had NOT expected a dozen other students. The Creevey brothers. Blaise Zabini and two other Slytherins. Two Hufflepuffs and four Ravenclaws. And Dean Thomas, who was part of some shadow organization that no one knew anything about. Harry didn’t realize he’d drawn his wand until Dorfomt spoke. “You won’t be needing your wand, Private. You’re among friends. In fact,” Dorfomt grinned. “If anything, the companions you brought with you are the odd ones out.” Harry glanced around at his friends, seeing drawn wands and looks of puzzlement that probably closely matched his own. Ginny quietly took his hand, though she didn’t Link them. “Before anything important happens, I believe some introductions are in order.” Dorfomt was grinning very widely now. He made a small bow to the five students clustered in the door. “Lieutenant Tony Dorfomt, Intelligence Officer, Company of Tebo.” He gestured at Blaise. “PFC Blaise Zabini, Agent Snake Nine, Company of Tebo.” Harry’s jaw fell like a stone. “Private Stacy Hollis, Agent Eagle Ten. Private Colin Creevey, Lion Eleven. PFC Dean Thomas, Lion Ten…” “But you said he wasn’t in the Company!” Harry burst out. “I could respond that I did not lie, merely misdirected, which would actually be true, but is in any case irrelevant. Agent Thomas was recruited in July of 1996. I have had to modify his memory and suspend his activities with the Company several times to protect his identity…” “And to cover up the fact that he murdered Malfoy,” Hermione cut in angrily. “Actually, that was me,” Blaise commented mildly. “Yeah, I just stole the Marauder’s Map from you,” Dean added. “I can’t believe this!” Ginny burst out. “All this time you’ve let us think there was another hostile group at Hogwarts…” “As a result of which, you were constantly on guard and alert for signs of hostile activity?” Dorfomt suggested. “Your suspicions led to the uncovering of Voldemort’s spy ring here and the revelation of Snape’s true loyalties. Your ‘constant vigilance’ would have made the assembly of another spy ring difficult indeed. I make no apologies.” Dorfomt’s eyes swept the room. “Enough. All of you have your reasons for coming here. You each have two options. You may accompany me, in which case you will participate actively in what will probably be the most important battle of this war. Or you may stay here, Stunned, until that battle is over. Choose now.” Harry didn’t hesitate. That memory would make him proud. “I’m in.” In less than five seconds, it was unanimous. ~~ Cho was waiting for them at the arrival circle once again, this time wearing corporal’s chevrons. She saluted Dorfomt, who returned it briskly. “Agents will accompany Corporal Chang to draw gear; the rest of you come with me.” Dorfomt led the five Gryffindors down a series of tunnels, finally stopping at a door labeled “Briefing 2.” He knocked once and opened the door without waiting for an answer. Inside were Aislant, Dumbledore, and two wizards and a witch wearing Auror’s robes. Aislant glanced at the students, nodded once and turned to the other four adults in the room. “Very well then, gentlemen, we are agreed. I suggest a briefing and planning session for officers and senior NCOs in three hours. Lt. Weims will provide you with Portkeys.” The three Aurors stood, bowed politely, and left. Dorfomt shut the door behind them and gestured the students to seats at the table. Aislant looked them over for a moment, glanced at Dumbledore, and spoke abruptly. “I had intended, Mr. Potter, to place you with Second Platoon for this coming battle. Professor Dumbledore, however, had other plans. Professor?” He nodded to Dumbledore, inviting him to speak. Dumbledore peered at Harry over the tops of his glasses for a moment. “Voldemort has found a way to make himself immortal. Suspecting that we know this, he has gathered all of his allies in a fortified position until he can complete the ritual. We are committing the Company of Tebo, three companies of Aurors, the Order of the Pheonix… and the five of you. The six of us will have a special job. “We’re going after Voldemort himself.” ~~ “In the future, historians will write that today was the day when the war ended.” Aislant paused and swept his eyes over the people in front of him. People he would be leading into battle before the sun set, some of whom would never see that sun rise again. “They will be wrong, of course. There will be holdouts, last stands, the running down of fugitives. But they will also be right; after today one side will have won, and the other will have lost.” He paused again. Old men and young women. Powerful witches and untried wizards. Veterans and novices. English and American. Famous and unknown. “We have surprise. They have numbers. We have technology; they have Dark Arts. In the end, what the historians write about today will come down to you. We know that they will write that our enemies fought with their power, their anger… and their fear. Our enemies made their last free choice when they chose to serve Voldemort.” Only a few winced at the name, he saw. Good. “You are free men and women. You have the choice of how your fight today will be remembered. Though I am your commander, in this I can only offer a suggestion.” He pressed a button on the tape recorder next to him and stepped back. At first, there was just the beating of drums and puzzlement on the faces below him. As the bagpipes joined in, he saw recognition dawn on a few faces, followed quickly by grins. Heather Alexander’s voice began to sing, low and determined, and by the end of the first verse more than one voice in the ranks below had joined her. He’d chosen well. They were ready, and they shouted their defiance to the Dark Lord, taking the song as their battle cry. “How many of them can we make DIE!” End Chapter 11 Author’s Note: “The March of Cambreadth” by Heather Alexander is quite real. It is also quite a fine piece of music, and I recommend it highly.
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