Companions of the White Warlock

Smoke Year VII - Companions of the White Warlock Chapter XXX Sunday, December 28, 1997

"Well, Potter, I must say, despite your personal losses, yesterday was highly successful from an operational point of view."

"I suppose, from that point of view, it could be considered an over-all success," Harry snapped. "Still, that doesn't answer my question."

"No, it doesn't" Scrimgeour agreed. "Very well. The problem is that while Lucius Malfoy has of course already been to be condemned to death, no one in a position to do so can say how to execute him."

Harry looked confused for a moment. "Why not?"

"It should be painless, or at least very quick, yet we can't use the Killing Curse, and no one has managed to suggest anything better, let alone agreed to do actually it."

"Not even Percy?"

The Minister shrugged. "He might be tempted to be too cruel."

"True," Harry agreed, "unless he was well-supervised. So, when do I have him executed?"

"You . . . you're going to do it?"

"I'll organize it at the least, certainly," Harry said. "If I were unwilling to do it, then I couldn't ask someone else to." Harry face hardened. "I can't be the one to condemn him. You've done that. I'll take care of the rest, with your approval. Just don't expect me to do this often."

That piqued Scrimgeour's interest, to say the least. "How do you suggest it should be done?"

Harry told him.

A little after 2:00, Lucius Malfoy received an unexpected visitor. "Potter!"

"Hello, Mister Malfoy," Harry said politely.

"To what do I owe this honor?" Malfoy asked snidely.

"I came for two things. First, to give you this." Harry held out a small roll of parchment.

"And what is that, boy?"

Harry almost smiled. "The order for your execution."

"What!" Malfoy snatched the parchment, unsealed and unrolled it, and then read it. "But . . . but. . . ."

"But what?" Harry growled. "But there has been no trial? You were on the Wizengamot; you know on these charges, since you were already found guilty of similar offenses, the only way you get a trial is if a member requests it. None did. And with no dementors, the death penalty automatically reactivated."

"No one would dare kill me!" Malfoy shouted as he stood. "Certainly not you!"

"I would, if no one else would," Harry answered. "However, I found two volunteers to help." Harry pulled out his wand and Malfoy's arms were quickly and securely tied behind his back. Harry reached over and grabbed the older man's shoulder. "What?" Harry asked as the man flinched. "Don't tell me you're so evil just touching me hurts? That's how I killed Voldemort's host back in 1992, you know. Nothing to say? Then I might as well gag you, too."

Lucius was shocked when Potter disapparated the pair of them, which should have been impossible within the cells of the Ministry of Magic. His eyes went wide when he saw where they had appeared --

-- in front of the Veil in the Department of Mysteries. Even worse, he saw there was already a person there -- Percy Weasley. Oddly, his traitorous house elf was there as well. Potter marched the taller wizard over to the Veil -- Malfoy was surprised at how strong Potter was. Just short of the Veil, Potter let go, but stayed behind him.

"You have three choices, Malfoy. One, you can go through the Veil on your own. Two, Percy and I will throw you through it. Three, Dobby here will sever your head. Which do you choose?"

Malfoy turned around to face Harry, his eyes wide, both with terror and with pleading, begging. "What?" Harry demanded harshly. "That's more consideration than you ever showed your victims."

Lucius swirled around and around, his heart racing. Finally, Harry asked, "Dobby, would you care to?"

Lucius' head fell bloodlessly to the floor -- that was how house elves of the Houses of Black and Malfoy and other such Old Families killed one of their own when ordered to do so (it was so much easier to clean when there was no blood). Harry and Percy grabbed the body and tossed it through the Veil. When they turned around, Dobby and the head were gone. Harry, remembering the upper hallway at Grimmauld Place, decided then and there not to look in at Dobby and Winky's private spaces there or at Godric's Hollow.

Percy turned to Harry. "Tell me, did you think there was any chance of an attack at Hogwarts while you were gone?"

"None," Harry said. "I left Ron in charge so he would feel useful."

"At least he was," Percy said. "It's not enough for me to forgive you, Potter, but at least I'm sure Ron would forgive you." With that, he walked away.

Harry decided he could live with that as well.

A very tired Remus Lupin met with Harry that night in Harry's office. Tonks and most of his other followers were still in Romania. "How goes it?"

"As well as could be expected, which means these are tough jobs," Remus replied. "There have been no counter-attacks, that's something."

"Any guesses on why there haven't been?"

"Not really, although this Theseus has hinted that they are partially responsible." Remus frowned. "I'm not certain, but I think they might be holding back some records or information or something, and are using that to blackmail the Walpurgis people."

"That's possible," Harry agreed, "although I don't think that would work for long."

"Anyway, you can hash that out with Theseus and the rest of his loonies." Remus shook his head. "Imagine, dressing up like that." Harry said nothing. "The peasants are happy the Walpurgis people are gone, and aren't overly thrilled by the vampires. The vampires claim this is because of the anti-vampire Walpurgis propaganda, but I wouldn't bet on that being the whole story by any means."

"I'd say let the Romanians deal with it, letting Hermione keep a watching brief over it."

"I agree, and Luna said pretty much the same thing."

Harry sighed. "How are Hermione and Ginny dealing with Ron's murder?"

"Not well at all," Remus admitted. "They aren't hysterical or anything, but they are taking things hard. Ginny because Ron was doing her job, even if she was needed in Romania, and Hermione because they still weren't formally back together."

"I should be with them, but I had to deal with Malfoy," Harry almost whined.

"They know," Remus assured him. "Neville has been comforting Ginny, and, well. . . ."

"Luna has been comforting Hermione in a similar way?"

"You knew?" Remus asked, surprised.

"Since last August," Harry said.

"Are you and Hermione involved, too? Is that why she and Ron broke up?"

"Not really to either, and it's none of your concern," Harry said firmly.

"Not really?"

"It's really not any of your business," Harry said harshly.

"Yes, my lord," Remus answered sarcastically.

Harry winced but moved on. "Let me summerize where I'm betting we are. We did everything we needed to at the valley, except that we have no idea where the final Horcrux is, and I failed to capture or destroy Voldemort's current form."

"That would be the short form," Remus agreed. "That overlooks the facts that we are far, far ahead of the game now. Voldemort is still out there and dangerous, but we seem to have stripped him of every ally he had."

"If he was as smart as he likes to think he is, if he was smarter than his ego was large, he would take advantage of still having that last Horcrux," Harry said. "He could go away for two hundred years and start over. I'd be gone, and I'm sure there's still be plenty of greedy and gullible people ready to follow him."

"True," Remus agreed. "Oh, we've just skimmed a bit of the Walpurgis information, but we did learn one thing."

"What's that?"

"What's the greatest medical threat the Muggles are under?" Remus asked.

Harry thought hard about that, and came up with, "AIDS?"

"Exactly. This group developed it and loosed it in the Muggle population of Africa. Anyone magical, including most Squibs, are immune. The other Squibs are carriers of the virus, but don't develop the disease."

"Nasty," Harry said.

"Very," Remus agreed, "and also very typical of this group. Still, these aren't your problems, at least not yet."

"We still have to figure out where Voldemort and the last Horcrux are."

"Starting Tuesday afternoon, if you want," Remus agreed.

"And what am I doing over the next thirty-six hours or so?" Harry demanded.

"Ron's cremation will be tomorrow afternoon," Remus reminded Harry. "We all need some down time, after fighting one battle and losing a friend in another."

"And tomorrow morning?"

"Theseus will be here early, and Hermione, Ginny, Neville, Luna, and George will be here a bit later."

"And you?"

"With all of them coming back, I need to help Tonks and the Ministries," Remus said.

Harry leaned back in the office chair, his hands pressed to his eyes. "At least I don't have to be overly involved with that mess," Harry said.

"No, you don't. No offense, but I don't think you'd be any good as an administrator."

"I'd stink," Harry agreed.

"Go to bed, Harry," Remus urged.

"It's only Nine-thirty!"

"Go to bed!" Harry shrugged, and went back to the hut to sleep.

Monday, December 29, 1997

"Thank you for letting us join in, Harry," Theseus said. "That was more fun than I've had in several hundred years.

"Fun?" Harry demanded.

Theseus shrugged. "Such combat is not totally without risk, even to me and my associates, but the risks were low, and the action exciting. I am sorry about your friend. I did not wish to seem to be making light of his death."

"Thank you," Harry said drily. "What can I do for you?"

"Very little, I am glad to say. I am certain your werewolf has told you we have some sequestered information about the Knights and Companions?"

"Basically, yes. He mentioned that your group might have prevented them from launching any counter attack."

"We will withhold news of the groups' other hidden locations for five years, and they will not attack the Valley for five years."

"They will be able to reenforce their positions," Harry pointed out.

"True, but by then the Valley of Dacul will be totally secure, your Ministries will have a better idea of how to deal with the Muggles and less-than-willing participants in the Companions' programs, and of course, at this point none of those Ministries could launch a decent attack anyway. The Knights will have to decide if they wish to continue in those places, since they will have to defend them at some point. Oh, and they have broken their alliance with Voldemort."

Harry scratched his head in confusion. "I hope you know what you're doing," Harry finally said. "Are you going to help us out finding Voldemort or the final Horcrux?"

"If any of my community hear anything, we will pass it on, but we will not go out of our way to find that information," Theseus said. He held up his hand to forestall any comments. "Some of my brethren created the vampires. We owe it to them to help them reestablish their community's capital. At the same time, while we can not go out looking for information, and Voldemort is unlikely to approach us, we do come across tidbits which we will pass on. I have prepared you to deal with Voldemort's body, should you fight and defeat him before that last Horcrux is found. I am sorry, but there is no way to search for a Horcrux. All you can do is search out Voldemort's hiding places." Theseus tossed a small scrape of parchment on Harry's lap. "That gives the location of two of Voldemort's hiding places."

Harry sighed.

"What is primarily bothering you?"

Harry looked at the ancient warlock, and gave in. "At times, I worry I cannot defeat him. At others, I'm pretty certain I have a good shot, but I worry about how many people are going to have to die before I can face him in that final battle. Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore, Hagrid, Fred, Ron, the Prof. . . ." He shrugged.

"I understand, Harry," Theseus said. "One penalty living as I do is that I have outlived nearly everyone I have ever cared about."

"Is that why vampires were created?" Harry asked. "Some of your sort trying to preserve lovers?"

"Muggle or Squib lovers as opposed to magical? Yes." He smiled. "The Children of the Night have long ears. They may hear of Voldemort." And with that, he took his leave.

Harry had never been to an official wizarding funeral before Fred's. Dumbledore's had been close, but it had been both in an unusual location and a major publuc event. Now, after Hagrid's and then Fred's, and the Prof's memorial service, Harry was feeling something of an expert.

Wizarding funerals were held outside, as the body had to be destroyed (to prevent its use in Dark magic). Ron's was in the pasture the Weasley used for flying. His body was on a pyre, and chairs with warming charms were set around in a semi-circle in front of it.

Harry and his remaining living Paladins (Russell was staying at Hogwarts) stood at attention on one side of Ron's coffin, all in their 'formal' denim uniforms. The rest of the Weasley family sat in the front row. Part of the Hogwarts staff and the fliers and some of the students were also in attendance. There were Ministry officials, most of them friends of Arthur Weasley while the rest of them were suck-ups who were there because Scrimgeour was there.

Harry saw that all of the non-Slytherin students from their year were present, and even Daphne Greengrass had joined them.

Harry took a deep breath and stepped forward. "Today we honor the life of Ronald Bilius Weasley, my best mate. I consider it my great good fortune to have met and become friends with Ron on my first trip to Hogwarts. He helped me truly join the wizarding world. I cannot say here how much Ron meant to me." Harry knew that if he tried, he would break down crying, and he was not going to do that and give Voldemort and others the satisfaction. "I know Ron would have preferred dying of overeating in very old age, but his second preference would have been to go down fighting for what was right while flying. He generaled the successful defense of Hogwarts, commanding students he and his sister had trained. I am pleased to announce a new Hogwarts prize, going to the best flyer in each year's flying class. The winner of the Ron Weasley Flying Prize will receive a new racing broom. In this way, Ron's memory will go on at Hogwarts. Also in his memory, there will be no trophy. I know how much he hated polishing trophies in detention, and I'm sure he wouldn't want to add to the punishment."

That drew a few smiles, especially from George and Ginny.

"Ron's loss brings home the fact that while we are winning the fight against Voldemort, the fight is not over. I thank you all for joining in the commemoration of his life." Harry stepped back.

Hermione took a step forward, but broke down crying, which set Ginny off. Neville took hold of Ginny, while Luna comforted Hermione. George then spoke a few words, as did McGonagall, and then Dean Thomas. Seamus stopped Lavender from saying anything, for which Hermione was later grateful.

Then Percy stepped up to speak. "I have lost two brothers now. I do wish that neither had gotten involved with this fight, but that is a selfish wish. I have lost my wife and two brothers to this war, and I wish it was over. But it isn't. To honor the life of my baby brother Ronald, we can only keep this fight going. We must destroy this Dark Wizard, and take whatever steps we can to insure that another Dark Wizard does not come along in our lifetime." He looked around. "I see many fellow members of the Ministry here today. Many of us have shared a common viewpoint over the last two years or so. We supported Minister Fudge. We opposed Dumbledore and deplored the creation and acknowledgment of a White Warlock, feeling that the honor set the cause of good government back hundreds of years."

"In one sense, we were right. In another, however, we have to acknowledge that powerful, organized evil in our world is on a different level than in the Muggle. Therefore, the other way I honor my brothers is to do this." He walked to in front of Harry and knelt. "I, Percy Ignatius Weasley, freely offer my fealty to Lord Harry Potter, the White Warlock. I am his man to command. I offer my self in the place of my brothers, freely and totally, to use as he sees fit."

Harry stood and placed his wand atop Percy's head. "I had intended never to take the Oath of anyone other my Council, but I shall make one exception. I accept your oath." A spark flashed between Harry's wand and Percy. "Arise, Percy Weasley," Harry said. "I find myself in need of an ambassador between myself and the European Ministries. You will coordinate with your father and Remus Lupin."

Percy stood and then sat back with his family. Harry and Bill Weasley walked over to the pyre and lit it with their wands.

Most of the group drifted away as the pyre returned Ron to the elements. Harry, Hermione, Ginny, and Percy stayed until the last ember died away, several hours later.

The fourth member of the Council of the White Warlock was dead, and now he was gone.