Re-named this chapter so many damn times.

Firehedgehog: insert dramatic music here

akitty: Cheer up, I fully expect this to dissolve into angry sex at some point. It will probably involve fangs.

Grey-Rain-Cloud: It's a plan. And it sucks balls but it happens to be working.

Umei no Mai: I think Luna will get a bigger role in the next one, and Susan maybe? Amelia and Remus as well. the adults are getting in on the action at last. It didn't help in that situation, but, long term he needs to be pissed.

Of Consequence and Misery

"I didn't expect to find you here." Susan eyed the blond beside her, who didn't give her so much as a glance.

"Fake-Moody had Actual-Moody locked in a trunk."

"For the polyjuice I presume. That would be convenient for him, or her?"

"Him. Mr Crouch's son wasn't as dead as we thought he was."

"I suspected as much."

"Naturally. Your boy will recover."

"This is not how I wanted him to meet my aunt."

He wasn't moving enough. Wasn't blinking enough.

"It could be worse, no-one is bleeding accept Harry and that isn't even vaguely Victor's fault." A single blink. "And now he's stopped."

"Do we get to go in now then." Millicent had been eavesdropping, because of course she had.

"Not yet, Hush, don't get Sirius excited."

"Ah. Fudge?"

"Annoying or delicious?"

"You don't like sweet things. He is an idiot and he will behave like one."

"Maybe Voldemort will kill him for us?" It was a nice thought, but Susan wasn't going to hold her breath. Why kill an incompetent enemy?

Indigo should have said something biting on that subject, but he didn't.

Xxxxxxx

Cornelius Fudge was going home. He had a statement to draw up.

A press release first thing in the morning, before Black could gather his lawyers or Krum his wits. Release the information, but in a controlled manner, a careful manner. Nothing that could be dis-proven, he couldn't tangle with a slander case at this point and Lupin had already displayed his flagrant disrespect for his superiors, just a little bit of spin.

A security breach was Dumbledore's fault, or Crouch's. And some of the blame could surely be aimed at Mad Eye Moody, he had been the best once, how could he let such a thing happen? Then the escaped Death Eaters must be a fault, or that's what he'd say anyway, and Potter had broken under the stress of the tournament when they came. They had gone after Hogwarts before, gone after Potter before. Another attempt, perhaps Lord Potter should stay somewhere more secure in future? Where he wouldn't draw such dangerous attention to a school.

Oh, yes, perfect. It would have to be carefully worded, just hinted at delicately or Lupin would jump on it but gently, gently he could turn the population on their once and never savior. Who didn't want to see the hero fail?

And Hogwarts needed a closer eye kept on it, his own people in place, for security of course. That auror, Dawlish wasn't it, would do for a start and a leader to the operation, someone who could take advantage of Dumbledore's already shaky reputation –attacked the students, work it into the press release somehow- to bring that place to heel.

He had the perfect candidate already.

Xxxxxxx

"Zis es not how I vanted to meet you Lady Bones."

Amelia eyed the boy, considering his slightly dazed expression against the faintly rueful tone.

"Not quite what I had in mind either. What do you remember from before you were, controlled."

"Nothing strange. I do not know zey voice, but perhaps you can identify it if you haf zey memory?"

"That would be appreciated. My people will fetch a pensive. What do you recall from, afterwards?"

"Fog. I vas to disable ze ozzer champions, save Arry who vas not to be 'urt. Cedric was not difficult. Fleur dodged zie first curse, und set me on fire. It vas very sensible."

"She demanded the specialists summoned. Wish I had a dozen like her. Friend of yours?"

"Friend of 'Arry's, sort of? Indigo's cousin. A respected acquaintance and honoured opponent."

"She is a beautiful young woman."

"…Yes? Did ve just change conversations?"

"The healers say you resisted heavily. I would think that you were order to, ah, permanently disable the competition. That neither is really hurt speaks well of your will power."

"Zank you?"

"What are you intensions towards my niece?"

"I think ve could love each ozzer. I vould like to find out."

He was probably too confused to lie at this point, and if he'd made a love declaration she might have had to hurt him. Quite a lot.

"Get some sleep, I'll send the pensive in the morning. Where are your parents?"

"I zink zey are vith ze healers."

"Good."

She left, and was pretty certain that he had no idea what had just happened.

Xxxxxxxx

Minerva had sent for a crew of wards keepers the moment Potter landed. Hogwarts had once been the most secure estate in Europe but they were past the point of maintaining that little delusion. The wards had clearly, catastrophically, failed and they had to know why before it could be fixed. There was certainly no-one in the building who could even begin to address the matter.

Goblin wards keepers were fiendishly expensive, but with four major security failures in as many years Hogwarts would simply have to manage. She had taken charge of the schools faults, which were under the dungeons and interestingly near the Slytherin dooms, and the emergency funds had been untouched for centuries and should cover most of it. No doubt Dumbledore would have emptied the fault to fight Voldemort, as he had so many others, but the wards were clever and the gold could only be touched for genuine school related emergencies. The Headmaster had the key, but not the control.

And she would be headmaster now. Albus had tried to reclaim his place, declared himself recovered and needed now. With Voldemort returned he must be here to protect Hogwarts.

Augusta had demanded a vote of no confidence and promptly left to get one from the Board of Governors.

It would be useful in forcing Albus to go away, but there was only two ways to force a Headmaster to relinquish the wards if they would not cede them willingly and the other was killing him. She summoned the teachers and called for a Census of Disregard.

It required 80% against him, but she already had the Head of House and as for the rest, well. Most had been aware of the incidents already, but she filled in the details. Two possessions, Dark Lord baiting, Death Eater invasions, someone impersonating a man who was supposed to be Dumbledore's friend, dementors attacking students not once but twice, the Basilisk and how these things had been resolved by students every time.

A few hesitated until Severus chipped in. He had always been persuasive.

Troll, Cerberus, murder of unicorns, giant spiders in the forest who were currently at war with the centaurs, if anyone cared to ask. Did they?

Only Hagrid voted in Dumbledore's favor, but he had always been terribly loyal. Trelawny abstained.

Minerva was asked to succeed the post. The ritual to cast Albus out was short but exhausting.

The wards twined about her awareness, full of holes and weighed down and she couldwouldmust make it right-

Xxxxxxxxx

Harry knew, vaguely, that he was in shock The symptoms were clear enough, the cold, the shakes, the numbness in his head. It was to be expected really, he'd been kidnapped, bleed, betrayed and nearly forced from his flesh.

Quite normal. And Madame Pomfrey really did make excellent hot chocolate.

"You can have your visitors now."

"Thank you, Madame."

He heard her stern instructions to 'not tire him' before the curtains were swept apart and his guardians and the Hit Squad filled the space.

Sirius whimpered as he wrapped Harry in his arms, and Remus was quite definitely scenting them both, and possibly scent marking as well.

"It really isn't that bad. They weren't really interested in hurting me, and I ran before they tried to kill me." Sirius whimpered again. Wrong thing to say then. "We'll have to do something about Fudge, won't we?"

Remus nodded slightly.

"My aunt wants to talk to you tomorrow." Susan sat carefully at the end of the bed. "She will try, but he is a formidable spin doctor."

"I will rip out his heart and eat it before his dying eyes." the words came as a low, loving rumble from somewhere near Remus's heart. "And probably make myself ill in the process."

"Just so long as your alibi is airtight." George didn't even bother with twin speak. "Hey."

"Hello. Do we have a plan?"

"No. No we don't. We rather lack adult allies."

"Order of the Pheonox is really Dumbledore's." muttered Sirius, which meant nothing to Hermione but did to a few others.

"Then we must make an ally of him." Tracy shrugged. "Temporarily."

"What, now?" Ron frowned.

"Sooner rather than later." Millicent scowled. "We don't know how quickly Voldemort can mobilize his forces."

This time both of his dogfathers whimpered.

"Has to be done. Go on, I am well guarded here."

"That you are." A slow withdrawal. "Come on Sirius."

"But Mooney!"

"I know, but the children are inconveniently right. Again."

A pout and a squeeze and they left.

"Voldemort never freaked you this bad." Neville moved into the space Sirius had left, all big, concerned eyes. "Harry?"

He couldn't talk for a moment, knots in his tongue, eyes prickling.

"Indigo?"

"Harry."

"The apprenticeship will have to be canceled."

"There are other potions masters. Not as good as Severus, certainly, but they do exist."

"Not what I meant. Voldemort asked me to work with him. "

"The man has taste."

"He asked after you, and I think the young Mr Crouch." He couldn't quite look at him for a moment, glancing instead at the confusion and vague suspicion that tangled over other faces. "Your aunt was pleased to hear from you."

"Ah."

"And they tell such interesting stories." It was clear that Neville didn't understand. The possibility had never occurred to him, had it? "Did they lie?"

"Would it profit them to do so?"

"Ah. What's the plan Indigo?"

"It's a work in process."

"Bullshit."

"Not this time."

"Would someone care to explain this conversation." Susan's tone was sharp.

Harry looked at last and saw Indigo's perfectly still faced and half closed eyes. He'd seen it before, once or twice. Rial had gone away again, somewhere within his head.

"You saved Bellatrix's life, and you spared Barty Crouch junior."

Yuki didn't seem surprised, nor Flare and Miranda didn't twitch. Hannah blinked like all the pieces had come together. Jackie looked like he might be about to scream. Ron just frowned a little.

"Deny it. Please."

"You can always tell when I'm lying."

There was a long moment of silence as the confession sunk in. Then Susan stood, took two long strides, and slapped him.

"You- you-"

"The first one is free Bones, then we get nasty."

That had been chosen to provoke, but Jackie caught her before the punch connected.

"Stop it. Stop, just… This doesn't make sense. You have a plan, you must because there is no other way that this makes sense Indigo…" He trailed off, seeing something awful in blank purple eyes. "You have never said a mean word to me Draco Malfoy."

"Your definition of mean concerns me."

"This doesn't make sense."

A flicker of life, of emotion, was swiftly squashed. Indigo tugged the taller boys head down, kissed his forehead, and pushed him away. "

Jacsursi son of Mirivell I hold your oath fulfilled, go with honor and in peace."

"No."

"I don't need you. Find something else to do." A dismissal in the cool tone, in the turn of his head. "Good evening, my ladies, my lords, and goodbye."

He tried to go. Neville bolted and caught his wrist as he had so often before.

A full body flinch, too fast to be stopped.

"She, destroyed, my family."

"…Your family is not worth more than mine."

He started walking the second Neville hand dropped, and didn't look at his once-twin.

"He always has to have the last word." Yuki sighed, straightened her robes. "See you around, hm? Let's not set a bad example for the rest of the school, hm? They've come so far these last few years."

"You knew?" even Tracy sounded startled.

"I guessed. What else could it possibly be with that timing?"

"I echo my honored sister."

"I asked." Miranda shrugged. "That works sometimes. Try not to die, m'kay?"

"You treacherous little shits!"

"Language Susan. You're all but in charge now; consider your dignity."

The door closed softly behind them.

Neville didn't move.

Julian silently wrapped him in his arms and let his little housemate sob into his chest.

Xxxxxxx

Severus peered thoughtfully down at the new Headmistress, she had lit up with St Elmo's Fire the moment they had removed Dumbledore, and fell a few minutes later as the lights vanished. Moving her to a chair had been simple enough, and the diagnosis of magical exhaustion had been a simple one.

Arabella had taught him ways to lend another a little of his magic. Her family used it to sustain their elders and ease the use of draining rituals and it was not especially difficult provided that you trusted and respected whoever you were aiding.

He did, oddly enough, trust and respect Minerva.

She did not appear to be in any danger of death or serious harm, so there was nothing to do but keep her warm, wait, and feed her when she woke up.

"The wards had been purposefully lowered, repressed and were being drained of power."

"…Albus?"

"Who else. He has betrayed all that we stand for." She was gritting her teeth. "I will destroy him for this."

"Once Voldemort is dealt with, please. Like it or not Dumbledore made the Order, we will need him to re-call it."

"Must you be so damn calculating Severus?"

"I am a Slytherin, and you won't be destroying anyone for a while regardless. Here, eat."

She tore into the sandwich with a complete lack of her normal manners and washed it down with a pint of pumpkin juice before looking hungrily around for more.

A house elf popped in with a large pan of stew and a loaf of bread, and left Severus blinking because he had borne a startling resemblance to Dobby, but what would the Malfoy elf be doing here?

Minerva dug in with a gusto which was only to be expected. She might well consume her own weight over the next twenty four hours. It was no small thing for one of her power to so nearly deplete their core, and no small thing to begin restoring it.

"Have you restored the wards?"

She snorted loudly.

"Hardly. The blocks are gone but to regain their full power would kill me a thousand times over. Did you know Hogwarts was sentient Severus?"

The sheer power implied was more than a little terrifying.

"No, but it would explain a great deal. Can the other teachers donate magic?"

"Teachers and students yes."

"But not the house elves?" A shame, they were considerably stronger than any human magic user could hope to be.

"The house elves are the only things keeping the wards going as it is."

"Ah. Give me the details of the ritual. My seventh years and I will need tomorrow off."

"Well, the exams are done with. All of them, Severus?"

"Slytherin stands together, and my children are, themselves."

"Ha! So they are. Your common room will do. Podma's after, and mine last. We mustn't make the wards top heavy. Then the sixth years and the fifth. Teachers again once the students leave."

"And repeat."

"Twice a year for the next five years."

"Six, few have your strength." He deposited pencil and paper on the table beside her. "We had best get started."

Xxxxxxx

Indigo hadn't gotten that far. They found him curled over in one of Hogwarts many abandoned classrooms, this one looked like it had once been used to teach healing, curled up against a wall and crying into his own knees.

Yuki took one side, Flare the other, and Miranda bullied her way into his lap until he had no choice but to cry into her shoulder instead.

Slowly the tears stopped coming, for now at least. He had never been able to abide their seeing him weak for long.

"Indigo, your plan sucks."

The snicker was dry and painful, but still an improvement.

"Thanks Flare."

"Feedback is a good thing. How did you get to this point? A double agent, yes, certainly, you would be the obvious choice. But this?"

"That was the original plan. Play the game for information and the horacrux's. First part went beautifully."

"Save the Weaslette and introduce yourself?"

"Positive attention and I didn't have to pretend to be subservient."

"That was a much better plan. What happened?"

"Bellatrix."

"More detail brother mine."

"Bellatrix Lestrange is barren." It was Miranda who spoke, softly sad. "But only because she took a spell aimed at Mama which would, most likely, have killed her unborn child and destroyed her ability to conceive another."

"She didn't know that she was pregnant when she did that, but it dies and I lived. Normally her marriage would have been annulled at that point, but it seems Rodolfus did actually care for her."

"I keep forgetting that they were people before they were psychotic mass murders." Flare sighed. "I should know better."

"You really ought. Three life debts then."

"Three now. We owe her for her baby as well."

"Ah, yes." Yuki frowned at the vaulted ceiling. "If you had told them at the time all would be forgiven."

"And when she demanded say, Susan's head on a platter I would be well placed to acquire it for her."

"We could have lied. She may still demand that."

"Voldemort is a renowned legimancer and I can only guard a few minds at once. She could but I doubt she will. She thinks of me as a Black now, the child of her beloved sister rather than that twat she married. And Bellatrix might be as mad as a sack of psychiatrists but she still loves her family. We are good at devotion."

"Very true. And Crouch?"

"He really likes Harry, and between the dementor damage and his father keeping him imperio'd for over a decade it wasn't hard to plant, suggestions. He was the contingency plan."

Black devotion indeed. Indigo loathed anything that smacked of mind control, but for Harry…

"So your absolutely terrible plan seems to be working."

"Seems to happen that way a lot."

"And you didn't tell us."

"If you were ignorant you could stay with them, it gave you choices." Miranda shrugged. "I didn't have one to start with, even if I wanted one."

"We could have worked out a way Mira."

"I'm good at devotion Indy."

"Which should have been obvious. You are very stupid, brother of mine, but I forgive you. You are a boy after all, it can't be helped."

"Is this sexist bullshit I smell?"

Xxxxxxxxx

The Nutters sheltered in their shared bed, curtains drawn and Jackie caught in the middle. He was calmer now, the shock over, the tears past.

"Jackie?"

"Mm?"

"What oaths?"

A soft sigh.

"I was, a gift. As a show of good faith when we took up residence on the estate I was presented to Indigo as, a slave really. As for as the elders were concerned I was his property and he could do whatever he liked with me. Ma had less influence then you see. Indigo was not impressed."

"The fey practice slavery?"

"They regard it more as, sacrifice. Encouragement for this benevolent witch-child to remain benevolent. Only he had made the deal in good faith, maintenance of his woodlands for the right to live in it, no need for sweeteners."

"But he took you anyway."

"Looked me in the eye and stopped arguing, don't know why. He said I would be a Vassal of House Malfoy and I could leave anytime I wanted. That involved oaths, to seal it, and he wanted honesty and protection for his sister. In exchange I was housed, fed, clothed and educated. I couldn't read then, you know. And as a Vassal of a Ancient and Noble house I was eligible for Hogwarts and he argued me into attending on the ground that I'd be a better bodyguard in I had a fully rounded education father than just the curriculum of Measter's Defensive, which had been my first choice."

The Twin's frowned at the mention of the other school, which heavily emphasized dueling, battle magic, poison recognition and basic healing. It wasn't a bad school, it produced around two-thirds of those who went into the auror training program, but it wasn't, prestigious.

It was for the lower class, half bloods and the less promising muggleborns and only truly, totally impoverished purebloods. The Weasleys were borderline, yes, but they had still put all seven children into Hogwarts rather than consider any of the cheaper schools.

"We'd never have met. "

"I was so lonely here before you two."

"Well, you stay with us now. And we'll get the Owl orders set up over the summer, start our joke shop when we leave. We will be awesome."

"Or we could just, you know, ask if anyone wants to invest."

"Boring!"

A ghost of a smile and silence settled again.

"It just doesn't make sense. He's not like that."

They curled closer, no answer for the plaintive words.

Xxxxxxxxxx

Dumbledore left in the morning, bags floating behind him and the key to an isolated cottage that Remus had once called home in his pocket.

Amelia left a little later, having declared herself satisfied as to Victor's intention suitability and failed to get an answer to her niece's strange silence.

The Slytherin seventh years woke at noon, ate a truly monumental amount of food, explained to their friends in other houses and promptly went back to bed.

McGonagall appeared briefly to make a speech which referred to Dumbledore, the state of the wards and Voldemort and somehow managed not to cause any panic at all.

The Hit Squad drifted, dazed and miserable until an unwise Ravenclaw, who had noticed new patterns in them, made a comment at Millicent and was descended upon on mass for disproportionate retribution.

The ex-Hit Squadies maintained a polite distance from their former allies.

Maleficent and Madame Pomfrey stayed quiet and paid a very great deal of very close attention.

And this precarious balance somehow survived until the Hogwarts express came to take them away. Jackie went home with Neville.

Xxxxxxx

Liz stood out on the platform, her blend of muggle and magical clothing, stillness and the few inches of smooth hair before it became a horrible mess were bizarre. She also had half a dozen homeless children lurking at her side.

"You look terrible. Worked then?"

"Seamlessly. I have actually offended myself. And good afternoon Liz, how are you?"

She snorted, kissed his check and gave Miranda a hug.

"Bite me boss. Hello poppet."

"The fuck are these weirdos?"

It was whispered. That didn't mean much around psychics.

"I am Indigo, Lord of House Malfoy, aka the man you are asking to take responsibility for you for the next X years. She is Lady Miranda, heiress to the House of Prince and the only person who might take you in if I cop it. So remember your manners."

"And on that note, Leonard teleports. Mike does illusions, Alina and Irum are general purpose. Toby heals and Mary-"

"Untrained telepaths shouldn't tangle with crowds little one. I won't hurt her."

He slipped past her scowling brother and touched the shaking six year-old's face. She sighed in relief.

"It's quiet."

"I'll teach you to block them. Liz?"

"The rock works it you put it on a string. Mostly. And only when you manage not to hit yourself with it and avoid anything with wards. Did you know the House of Parliament was warded?"

"No, but any royal residence is as well.. Right. House rules. What I say goes, don't argue with my Vassals or parents, listen to your tutors, Liz outranks all of you, regular bathing is required. Any questions before we go home?"

"Are you perhaps a little mad?"

"You followed a strange woman though a wall."

The two girls shrugged at this well reasoned point and took a firm hold of the portkey when instructed to do so.

Harry saw them vanish.

The goddamn end! For now at least.

Killing Umbridge, let me count the ways...