A/N: Hopefully only 3 to 4 chapters left in this story. I know it's been a long time coming and I appreciate all who have stayed with me in the interim. One of the comments I've received remarked on the fairly quick pace of the story. Again, that's because I don't think it reasonable that Riddle would have just bided his time for the better part of a year. I plan to have the close on a date in the story which will bring the story full circle. One thing I'm still up in the air about is bringing a few characters back. I have a couple of ideas I could use the Dursleys for, but I'm iffy about opening that can of worms here. Another is how much do I involve the Non-Magical government/world. I have one scene planned for 2 chapters from now which would definitely gain the attention of Her Majesty and her government, but not sure if I want them to interact with Harry.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the other publicly recognized characters or places. Wish I did.

Chapter 14

Pious Thicknesse, Minister of Magic, flooed into the atrium of the Ministry of Magic, like any other morning. A dense, humid air hit him as soon as he stepped out of the floo, his shoes squelching in a muddy mire where the marble floor should have been. He tried to look around, but dense vegetation obscured his view.

"What is...!?" his protest ended in a strangled gasp as a vine he thought vaguely looked like a Venomous Tentacula shot from the growth and wrapped around his throat. He was jerked off of his feet as the vine rapidly drug him further into the atrium.

-BREAK-

Twenty Aurors led by Kingsley Shacklebolt surrounded the dark, boarded up premises of Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, wands drawn.

Curse breakers had finally managed to clear the Ministry of Magic atrium of the swamp, though it had taken most of the morning, and the Aurors were able to retrieve those who had been entangled. It had been discovered early enough, and floo traffic blocked, that there had been surprisingly few casualties. Even some of those who had been caught were either left alone by the plants or they managed to fight off the attacking shrubbery. In all there were only four Fatalities, all of whom bore the dark mark.

One of the new hires, a recent graduate of Hogwarts, remembered the Weasley twins' prank a year and a half prior which had filled the halls with similar charms and enchantments. Minister Thicknesse, who managed to survive his own encounter with a Venomous Tentacula, ordered an immediate raid on the former joke shop where it was believed the twins lived. DMLE Director Corban Yaxley hand picked a force of Aurors, placed Kingsley in charge, and sent them on their way.

Kingsley looked around at those near him. He knew all of the people assigned to him, and not one bore the dark mark. Obviously Yaxley was expecting there to be casualties and didn't want to risk Voldemort's followers. With a shake of his head, Kingsley returned his attention to the building in front of him. Though he didn't know where the twins were, he knew they weren't there, heck he even knew they weren't at the Burrow.

Giving the signal to advance, Kingsley led his group through the front door of the building while he heard the second group enter the back. The room they entered was bare, no shop products, no shelves, not even an empty box. There was only one thing standing in the middle of the empty sales room, a spotted hyena patronus.

"Hello, and welcome to Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes." came the voice of Fred, or was it George, Weasley. The muzzle of the patronus grinned eerily at them as the disembodied voice was echoed from the back of the store, obviously a similar reception greeted the second team at the rear entrance.

"Unfortunately," the message continued, "due to current circumstances we are closed for the foreseeable future and do not know when business as usual will resume. Until then, watch for our advertisements. Cherrio!"

With that jaunty farewell, the patronus turned to a wisp of blue vapor and disappeared. The next moment, Kingsley and the other Aurors were buffeted by gale force winds. Some of the Aurors tried to stand their ground, but all were soon forced back out through the doors they had entered. Once the last Auror was out, the doors slammed shut. Then the building began to shrink. In the space of a minute, the building had shrunk to the size of a shoe box. Then with a POP it was gone.

"Well," Kingsley turned from staring at where the building had been to look at the other Aurors. With an absolutely straight face, said "I believe we can report that they are not here."

-BREAK-

Harry hit the floor hard, sharp pain searing through his shoulder. Despite the pain, he quickly rolled to the side before another curse hit where his head had just been. Harry turned his roll into a stand and quickly conjured a stone slab, which just as quickly disappeared in a could of dust as another curse crashed into it. Using the slight cover the cloud of stone dust afforded, Harry jabbed his wand forward and muttered "Tenebris" while panning his wand left then right and back to center. A wave of dark liquid spread from his wand as it moved from left to right, like a spray of black water.

Harry's next command was "Figuras Umbra" accompanied by a swirling wand movement. The liquid darkness formed into three vaguely humanoid figures. They surged toward his opponent, only to be dispelled by a trio of blasting curses. Harry started another spell only to have to quickly dodge as an incarcerous flew past his ear. He brought his wand up again intending to cast another shadow figures curse when he was stopped short.

"Time!" Bellatrix called out, halting Nym and Harry where they stood.

They had created a practice room in the basement of number 12 Grimmauld Place, and Bellatrix was busily drilling the Black family magic into Nym and Harry. In the week since she was asked to instruct them, Bellatrix had shown what made her one of Riddle's most feared soldiers. Her relentless, draconian training methods had Nym and Harry quickly learning to cast an array of the more combat oriented spells from the Black family grimoire.

Harry now realized just how different family magics could be. He had found that both the Black and Potter family magics were heavy on combat spells, reflecting a long history of soldiers, knights, and nobles. However, while they were similar in their histories of prominent warriors, their approaches were vastly different. The Potter spells were very power oriented, affecting large areas of the battlefield, they were the WMD of the wizarding world. Spells from the Black family were more focused on single combat and precision strikes from a distance. One spell Harry had learned could turn something as small as a beetle into an explosive device from any distance, as long as you could see it.

Bellatrix walked over to Nym, who still had her wand in hand. "Passable," she remarked. "Your speed has improved, and recovery time is good. I would say you are better than average for an Auror now, you could probably survive against most of the Dark Lord's followers. Work on conserving your strength, the Black family were known for the finesse of their spells, do more with less."

Then she turned to Harry who was doubled over with his hands on his knees. "And then there is 'Lord Black'." Harry stood and looked at her. "I know Draco always ranted about how over-rated you were, I never actually thought he would be right. Until now. You have no control of your spells, you severely over power the subtle spells, but when power is needed you don't have it."

Bellatrix looked down at the Holly wand in Harry's hand. "Where is you other wand? The one that you claimed after beating Draco?"

Harry pushed himself to a fully standing position, slightly shamefaced from the upbraiding from Bellatrix. "I didn't want to use it during training in case it's allegiance changed because I was disarmed." Bellatrix rolled her eyes at that.

"Was Draco using the wand when you defeated him?" she asked.

"No," Harry grumbled petulantly.

"If you were disarmed during practise would you feel completely demoralized and submit to your opponent?"

"Of course not!" he snapped.

"That is the point!" Bellatrix walked up to him and looked him in the eye. "The reason that the Elder Wand is called the Death Stick is because almost every time it has changed hands, the previous holder has been killed. Rarely is someone so defeated, and accepting of their defeat, that the wand changes hands without the previous holder being killed."

Bellatrix stepped back, gesturing to his holly wand. "Your old wand may not be working properly for you anymore because of the connection to the Elder Wand. Nobody has recorded how the wand affects the magic of the user after it is claimed, but remember that Dumbledore used the wand exclusively after he obtained it."

Nym nodded thoughtfully. "Also, without the Horcrux in your head, leaching away your magic, you are stronger. That and the destruction of your connection to Tom may be enough difference for your original wand to not be a match anymore." Nym walked over to him and wrapped him in a hug. Leaning up slightly she whispered in his ear.

"Remember how hard Neville struggled until he got his own wand."

Harry sighed in resignation. "Alright, I'll start using the other wand. But I'm not going to throw away my old one." he contested indignantly.

"Yes dear." Nym teased with a smile before kissing him softly. She turned to her aunt, and saw her pressing a hand to her abdomen. "Bellatrix, are you ok?"

Bellatrix snatched her hand away and stood straighter. "Of course. Just indigestion."

"With Kreacher cooking for you, I'm not surprised." Harry chuckled. Nym looked at her with suspicion, but didn't say anything else. "If that is all for tonight, I think Nym and I need to get back. The Goblins finished the outer walls and buildings at the castle yesterday, and the students will be moved in by now."

"Yes," Nym straightened up and assumed a disdainful look. "The Director of Hogwarts' off campus tutoring center must be at the evening meal." she teased with a pompous air causing Harry to groan. She couldn't keep her straight face and collapsed in laughter. "I don't know how she got it approved, but Minerva sure got you good with that one. That was a prank worthy of Sirius and your father."

"Yes, that is all." Bellatrix interrupted, sounding irritated. Then she admonished him, "Remember, start using your correct wand!" With a nod, Harry disapparated away, followed closely by Nym. Bellatrix sighed, and slumped against the wall, her hand back at her abdomen.

"You're going to have to tell them eventually you know." Narcissa stepped into the room.

"I know, I just don't know what I'm going to do yet. When I make a decision I will let them know." Bellatrix pushed away from the wall and staggered a little. Narcissa was quick to her sister's side, but got waved away.

"Well you had better decide quickly. Keep using the high level magic you are teaching them, and you won't have a choice to make."

-BREAK-

Nym and Harry arrived in the gatehouse of Potter Castle, between the inner and outer gates. This was the new arrival point for all inbound apparition and portkeys. There was also an alcove for a floo connection, although it was not connected. Above, hanging from the ceiling, the skeleton of Slytherin's great Basilisk hung, gently undulating due to enchantments on the support frame. Even though the skeleton had been installed two days ago, marking the completion of the gatehouse, Nym still had to practically drag Harry out through the gates toward the dining tent.

Normally the great iron bound inner and outer gates would be closed, but both were currently wide open to permit the students to come and go freely as they moved their belongings into the buildings now lining the inside of the castle's outer walls. Potter Castle did not have any house elves which was quite an adjustment for many of the students, long used to Hogwarts' elves doing the cleaning, packing, and unpacking without being asked. They had also had to do without the lavish Hogwarts baths, those available in the dorm tents were very spartan. Many who had cursed the talking mirrors now found that they actually missed the things.

However, as tough as they thought things were, the almost constant crackling voice of the wizarding wireless sets throughout camp reminded everyone of the outside world.

Nym and Harry entered the dining tent and found that they were almost the last to arrive. As they walked down the aisle between the tables, Harry briefly saw Ginny at the edge of his vision. He purposely avoided looking directly at her, something Nym noticed, and continued to the head table. Another thing he greatly disliked about his new prominence was that he had to sit at the head table with the teachers instead of with the rest of the students, although he could choose a few additional people to sit with him. And he had flat refused to place the table on a raised platform.

At least attendance was, mostly, just the students and teachers. The other refugees, even those who were cooking for the students, preferring to eat in their own tents.

As Harry neared his table he noted Andromeda Tonks, seated next to her husband Ted, steadfastly refusing to acknowledge his presence. Harry could only sigh. When he and Nym had gone to the Tonks' home to ask the two for help with the students, Andromeda had quickly noticed the closeness of the two. At first elated about Nym finding a Beau closer to her own age, her demeanor quickly changed when they showed their Lord and Lady rings. Only the promise to have a full wedding as soon as it was safe to do so and the offer of a safe place for her and Ted had saved him a hexing.

Then they arrived at Potter castle, and Andromeda had learned of his second marriage to Fleur. She hadn't spoken to him since. Following this experience, Harry was becoming more apprehensive about when he would meet Fleur's parents, one of whom could conjure balls of fire to throw at him.

Fleur rose and greeted Harry with a hug and deep kiss, much to the chagrin of many of the watching male population. Separating from Harry, she then turned and bussed a smirking Nym on the cheek. Harry held out the seat first for Nym then Fleur before seating himself between them. Unlike Dumbledore, Harry made a point of not giving any long speeches before the meal.

As Harry began to dig into his meal he looked around the room. The students were interspersed fairly evenly throughout the room, there being no "House" tables. That was due mainly to there not being any two, let alone four tables the same size. With a pang of regret, his eyes stopped when he saw Ginny. He noted she was sitting with Neville and Luna as well as a few of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. Harry made a mental note to bring up starting Quidditch at the morning meeting with the teachers.

"You can't keep avoiding her." Nym leaned close to Harry and spoke in his ear.

Harry jumped slightly as Nym's breath tickled his ear. He turned to look at his wife and she gave him a small, encouraging smile.

"I know it's awkward, but we can't afford to alienate each other." Nym continued. "We will all need to stand together to get through this."

Harry nodded before he turned back to look at the table with Luna, Neville, and Ginny. For the first time he paid attention to how Neville and Ginny were interacting. He noticed Ron pause in his eating, amazingly, to glance between Harry and the table where Ginny sat. So far he had avoided that particular hornets nest. Surprising considering Ron's warning last year about hurting Ginny's feelings. Now Harry wondered if Neville would get the same warning.

"Any news from Charlie or Victor?" Harry asked the redhead, hoping to distract him from the visible closeness of Ginny and Neville.

Ron stopped to look at Harry briefly and shake his head before turning back to scrutinize Ginny's table. Harry groaned, so much for distraction.

"Non," Fleur supplied in Ron's stead. "not since last night when zey met in Albania"

Harry growled in frustration. "I hate sitting here waiting, I should have gone myself."

"And if you had managed to get there with the Ministry monitoring not only magical but muggle international transport, what would you have done?" Nym asked. "How long would it take you to get there and back? Do you know your way around? Can you speak any of the regional languages?"

"Charlie und Victor 'ave been zere before." Fleur added. "Zey know where to find ze people and 'ow to talk to zem."

"I know, but it's my responsibility. I have to defeat him."

"And if nothing is there, then you would have wasted a trip." Nym pointed out. "If the Diadem is there, then it will only take half the time for Charlie or Victor to bring it back."

"Or just destroy ze thing zere." Fleur murmured.

-BREAK-

Two dark shapes streaked through the night above a stretch of Albanian primeval forest. Heavily cloaked in concealment charms, their passage not noticed by man or beast. Each guiding their brooms with a deft hand. Nearing their destination, both riders silently descended into a nearby clearing. Upon touch-down, both crouched low with wands drawn, scanning the area for any movement. Not seeing anything, the two men rose, shrunk their brooms, and cautiously preceded toward a slight gap visible in the nearby tree line. When they reached the tree-line, they found a faint trail, long overgrown, running in the general direction they wished to go. They walked in wary silence down the trail until well in the trees.

"You fly vell for an Englishman." Victor Krum's quiet, heavily accented voice broke the silence.

"I flew for the Gryffindor quidditch team." Charlie Weasley replied without taking his eyes from the surrounding trees. "Played seeker for six years, only Harry has been made seeker younger than me. Plus I get alot of practice as a dragon handler."

They walked in silence for awhile before Victor again spoke up. "Zo Harry iz good on a broom as vell?"

Charlie paused and looked to Victor. "You didn't see him fly against that Horntail during the Triwizard Tournament?"

"No, I vas in ze medical tent. I 'eard stories later, but I just thought eet was un exaggeration." Victor shrugged. "My classmates 'ave 'arrassed me about 'ow ozzerz people fly before."

"I couldn't have flown like that if my life depended on it," Charlie shook his head. "But Harry seemed calm and collected. He flew close enough to bait a nesting mother dragon away from her nest, then he dove under her to steal his egg. He had to dodge her limbs and tail, only just being caught by a tail spike."

"I vill 'ave to get him to fly wiz me when zis ees all over." Victor said thoughtfully.

Silence descended again as they continued for a few more minutes before they came to an overgrown stone wall with a ruined arch above it. Both could feel the darkness radiating out from behind the wall. Cautiously they ducked through the arch, wands ready. Inside they found the remnants of a small square room, probably the base of a small tower keep. It didn't take long for the two wizards to zero in on the source of the darkness they were feeling. In the middle of the room they found four spikes driven into the stone floor. Tattered clothes and a few scattered bones remaining on the floor bore mute testimony to the gruesome fate some poor, nameless soul.

"Do you think this was Tom's sacrifice to create his horcrux?" Charley asked Victor who nodded.

"Probably." Victor agreed, examining the remains on the floor. "Ze stones reek of dark magic."

Suddenly they became aware of a drop in the temperature of the room. Charley turned toward the archway just as a silvery spectre entered. A tall, cultured man in fine clothes, covered in a silvery substance which could only be the remnants of blood. He was a figure Victor thought he should know, but one Charley was very familiar with.

"Bloody Baron?!" Charley burst out, astonished.

"Ze 'Ogwarts ghost? But 'ow ees 'e 'ere?" Victor looked to Charley, confusion evident on his face.

Upon their recognition of him, the Bloody Baron had stopped and turned to stand slightly to the side of the ruined doorway. Then he gestured with one hand at the opening and beckon them with the other hand.

"He seems to want us to follow him." Charlie observed. "Maybe he wants to show us something."

"Do you zink it ees a good idea to follow a spectre?" Krum voiced his doubts while keeping his wand trained on the ghost in question.

"Well," Charlie gave Victor a slight shrug. "Normally I would say no, but he IS one of the Hogwarts ghosts so it is probably ok.

As the two started moving toward the entrance, the Baron turned again and preceded them through the ruined archway. He led them around to the side of the tower, his insubstantial boots making no sound as he passed through the centuries of accumulated bracken and rotting leaves. Victor and Charlie made quite a bit more noise as their boots crashed through the underbrush. Once they rounded the side of the building, they saw him standing over a small mound of stones.

"Why have you brought us here?" Charlie asked the ghost. "How are you even here?"

He beckoned them forward.

Cautiously they approached the stones. As they drew near the Baron gestured at the base of the mound. Working together, they began to dig through a thousand years of debris. After a few minutes they came upon bones. Another few minutes exposed the flat, curved bones of a human rib cage, with a rusted flat piece of steel thrust through it.

Charlie looked up at the Baron, "You?" The ghost nodded before he gestured at the top of the mound of stones again.

Charlie rose from where he had been digging. He reached forward and brushed the debris from atop the stones to reveal a flat, engraves stone. Charlie hissed as he drew in a surprised breath then read "Helena Ravenclaw."

"Zo we are in ze right place." Victor nodded. Rising, he reached for a stone intending to remove it.

Just before his hand touched the stones an insubstantial blue hued head rose from within the mound. Victor and Charlie jumped back from the stones in surprise, nearly landing on each other. Wearing an elegant medieval gown, hair wrapped in a long flowing hood, a stately young woman rose from the mound. Neither Victor nor Charlie noticed the Bloody Baron discretely drift away as the woman directed a glare at him.

"No wizard," she said after surveying them for a moment. "My mother's diadem is no longer here."