Date: Sat, 21 Apr 2007 14:01:00 -0400 From: ron Subject: Heritage of the Ancients - ch 09 T Minus 4 months and 15 days Harry walked out of his bedroom and as he passed the open door to Jack's room he stuck his head inside. Seeing no one in there he continued down the hallway. Curious Harry thought, Jack is usually still asleep this early in the morning. Not bothering to look around as he entered the living area Harry made his way to the kitchen for his morning cup of tea. Sipping his morning pick me up Harry walked back into the living room and noticed for the first time that Jack was sitting in the corner. Legs drawn up under him and the most lost look on his face. Slowly walking over to the young man so as not to startle him, Harry sat down across from him and set his teacup down. "Jack." Harry called out quietly. Getting no response Harry tried again a little louder this time. "Jack, are you all right?" Startled out of his thoughts Jack turned towards Harry. "Sorry didn't hear you come in. What did you say?" Slightly concerned Harry asked. "Jack did you even go to bed last night?" Shaking his head. "No, after we talked I went out to stare at the stars for a while and think. After a while I still could not think so I came in here and not sure what to do to tire myself out, sat down and noticed the book on the table and picked it up to check it out." Jack said tapping the dusty tome in question with his finger. "After reading through that, I lost track of time." Jack said with a shrug. Wondering what was in that dusty old book that seemed to bother Jack so much that he lost so much time, Harry sat back as he picked up the tome and asked. "What's in here that has you so off centered Jack?" "It has nothing but names with dates and addresses in it." Jack replied before adding. "The funny thing is, once I figured out that it was a list of all the magical people with the day they were born listed and where they lived, I decided to look up my name to see what it had listed and even if older me was in the book." Looking over at Harry for the first time since the conversation started. "I thought since the book listed the date of birth next to the name I would finally find out how old I am, not how old I was told I am by the doctors who have examined me. I was a little shocked not to find my name listed in with the other fourteen to nineteen year olds. Going back to when older me was born I did not find my name listed there either, no surprise there. The shocker came when I found my name listed in with those born two years ago." Jack said clearly upset, though doing a good job of trying to hold it back. All the while Jack was explaining what had upset him, Harry had opened his senses and really examined the magical structure of the book in question. Figuring out the matrix surrounding the book Harry grinned at the slightly upset Jack and told him. "Jack, the book does not record births, but the first time the person's soul has become magical enough to register." Turning the book around as he pointed out the title. "Hence why it is called the book of Souls." Stated softly. Vastly relieved Jack slumped down in the couch and after a moment a small smile appeared on his face. "I have been worrying about nothing." He said very softly. Grabbing the book under his arm as he stood up, Harry reached over and pulled Jack up. "Come on, off to bed with you. You can catch up with what went on at the meeting later." After putting the teen to bed Harry let a huge smile cross his face, finally he thought a way to find everyone. XXXX The first to arrive for the morning meeting Harry put the book face down on the table and walked over to the cry-steel window and looked out at the vast resource he was going to let his advisors in on this morning. Turning the window opaque with a thought Harry sat down with his back to the window and waited for everyone to use the TS to join him on station and grinned with the thought of the expressions that would cross their faces when he let the window go back to normal. Harry was interrupted from his marauderish thoughts when Remus, the last to usually arrive was the first to step out of the transport station. Before Remus could ask why the change of spaces the others arrived in two groups, the first with the younger members quickly followed by Molly, Bill and Gran in deep discussion. Giving everyone a chance to find a seat, Harry was amused that even in a different setting they all tended to congregate around their normal seating arrangements. Ron leaning over the table, "Harry why the change?" he asked. With Ron's question all conversation stopped and everyone turned to Harry realizing that they were about to start. "This is the best place to show you one of the two things you need to be aware of for helping to plan the future." Harry told them. Looking around the table and noticing that the recent new face to the weekly meetings was missing. "Where's Jack?" Remus asked. "He had a rough night and I sent him to bed this morning to get some sleep. He can catch up with what he missed from you lot later on." Harry told Remus. Seeing the sly expression start to cross his friend's face Harry decided on a pre-emptive strike. "Not what you are thinking there Ron, Merlin get your mind out of the gutter." Before any one else had a chance to make any side comments Harry turned to Bill. "Lets start shall we." Bill looked down at his data pad before replying. "For the most part nothing has changed since last week. The parks have all been planted and using a time dilation charm have now been aged so the plants are mature. The crèche apartments are about halfway finished and several of the spires are ready for the children and their mentors to move in." Harry interrupted Bill's report to ask. "Molly would you be willing to oversee finding willing adults and families to oversee the crèches and start moving the orphans in?" Face lighting up with a huge smile for the first time since Arthur died. "Of course dear, I will get started on it this morning. Might even move into one of them myself seeing as the children really don't need me as much as they used to." Molly replied Bill smiled as his mother lit up with the same excitement he remembered her having when he was growing up. She is on the way to healing he thought. `The only other thing to report is, seeing that anything anyone ever could want they can have made for free, everyone I have talked with is delighted with putting in twenty hours a week working, most are doing more hours than asked as they say they are bored. They are happy to be doing something they want to and find fulfilling." Bill finished. Harry was relieved, in the back of his mind there was always the worry that the laziness factor that infected the Wizarding worlds population would carry over, but it seemed that it was a needless worry. "Seems everyone is settling in then." Harry said. Tonks bounced in her seat as she said. "Me next then." Putting a serious expression on her face she started. "Internal security is now up to fifty members with roughly two thirds coming from the non magical side of things. Most of them are highly trained, though some of the European Auror corps need a brush up on skills, even coming from war torn countries. Surprisingly there has not been a need for any of us to do anything other than help find the odd lost child." Nodding his head at the report Harry added. "For the most part the type of person that would join us are the type not to cause trouble. So it is about what I expect. Let me know if something pops up where you need more people than what you have and we can steel them from the military end of things." Remus cleared his throat before starting. "Harry do you want me to bring Michalson and Yu and their people to the staging area or to Hogsmeade after we have secured the area?" Thinking for a moment about the best way to get the message out that the Alteran people where not to be trifled with Harry told him. "From what Jack and Ron were talking about last night at dinner, it might be best to bring them to the shuttle bay so they can be properly impressed on what a bad idea it would be if they decided to take us on." Seeing Ron nod his head when he mentioned the shuttle bay as the staging area Harry got an absolutely evil smirk on his face with his next thought. Remus groaned loudly enough for everyone to hear before saying. "I have seen that look on your mothers face when she planned her revenge often enough to know you are about to make my job extremely difficult." Grinning Harry said causing the others to break out in laughter. "Well hopefully all those that you bring up have a strong heart, as I plan to make sure the bay walls are transparent." "Well Harry dear I will make sure that the healers show up early then." Molly said with a smile of her own. Thinking that as show of force was often times the only things politicians would listen too she started on her own report. "With med bay five set aside, the other med bays are now operating at a greatly decreased work load giving everyone a chance to learn new techniques." "The only other news worthy item to mention is that Minerva woke up briefly this morning and the first words she spoke was an urgent request to meet with you." Molly finished. "Tell her I will be there right after lunch." Harry said as he looked over to Ron. "Everything we salvaged from the Shrieking Shack was unloaded yesterday afternoon and moved over to the library on the school level." Ron said thinking back to yesterday's excitement. "I really don't think there is to much more to say. Jack came up with the idea of sending the wounded to the shuttle bay for something called triage and the healers are going to set up there once we leave. There was not a problem getting volunteers for the assault as all that heard what was done to the professors were itching for a chance to put some wizards in their place." Ron told them shrugging as he did so. Looking over to Charlie who was looking a bit confused on why he was asked to come to the meeting. He had not been around except for the first couple of meeting as he had traveled back to Romania to the dragon preserve to pack his belongings and to try to get some of the other dragon handlers to come with him. Seeing the confusion Harry decided to let the man off the hook slightly. "Charlie we will leave you to last as what I need to show you all is one of the reasons I asked you to come this morning." "Neville." Harry prompted. "Professor Sprout and I were able to get everything from the Hogwarts greenhouses including the rare plants and the experimental hybrids without being seen. Everything on our list of plants to get has now been crossed off. The farms are now producing enough to meet our needs and will start to come into full production in around a month's time. Though I need to mention that without the Brounie's we would not be able to handle the livestock end of the farms, as we just do not have enough trained people to handle it all." Neville told him. "Hopefully we will soon be able to find enough people." Harry told him, then thinking about it added. "Though if you want to actively seek out people with Alteran blood that want to join us I won't mind." Facing the formidable woman at the end of the table Harry still was not entirely comfortable calling her Gran as she requested. Smiling, "That leaves only Gran left before I get to drop my surprises on you lot." Harry told them. Looking at Harry briefly before she scanned the table Augusta began in the prim and proper way she had been raised. "I have two items to report this morning. The first is we are still receiving a steady stream on new arrivals, but those from the British Isles have been completely absent from any new arrivals for the past five days. And the few who did arrive were badly frightened and wounded." Pulling a small orb out of an inner pouch she had added to the robe like cape she wore, she set it down on the table. "After some thought on how to best contact people once we started to actively send out invitations, those of us who have been spending the most time working with the intakes that comprise those of non magical upbringing, have come up with this orb which houses a hologram projector that will deliver an acceptance letter similar to a students first Hogwarts letter." Gran told them before touching the top, which activated the playback. A slim female figure of about a meter in height appeared above the small silver orb. "Greetings Augusta Longbottom. You were born with the unique ability to directly manipulate matter and energy. What some like to call magic. This ability is a direct result of the DNA of your parents, your bloodline if you will. Normally at the age of eleven you would be contacted with a letter, and to those not brought up from birth in our hidden world a visit from one of the school professors, stating that you are accepted to the closest school that teaches children to harness their gifts. Due to lost information that tells us of how these gifts came to us, we are offering to send some one to meet with you and answer your questions. Proof of the abilities we speak of can be shown to you then if you wish. To contact us all you need to do is tap the top of the orb three times and you will be scheduled for a visit with the time appearing above the orb. Please remember Mr. and Mrs. Longbottom that this gift is something you also have and you never tapped into it for one reason or another. We are offering a whole new life for your family and things that most people only dream of." Before the hologram shut itself off. After the message had played through, Gran picked up and pocketed the orb. "We have designed multiple messages that cover everyone from those raised in the magical community with an offer to a new school and life, to those completely born and raised without the knowledge of the magical community." "Each of the messages has been designed with the input of those raised outside the community to be the most believable and to draw the curiosity of the recipients to the forefront." Gran finished. Thinking back to his own childhood, and remembering how the Dursley's fear of magic led to hatred of himself Harry said slowly. "This sounds like a very good idea. But I would want one thing added if at all possible." "A sensor needs to be added to make sure the child is not in danger because of our contact. If they are we would need to be able to respond before the situation got out of control and someone was hurt." Harry said with conviction. Seeing her grandson nod his head violently in agreement, Gran made a note to herself to get him alone later on to find out what was going on. "That should be more than possible, but who would you like to respond in those situations?" "Internal Security backed up by those from the military should be more than able to handle anything that pops up. It will give my people a chance to put their skills to good use. The only question is, what do you want done Harry?" Tonks spoke up and asked. Looking very fierce Harry answered very clearly so no mistakes could be made. "Any child in danger will be removed and placed in Molly's people loving care." Holding up his hand, "That includes any siblings involved, unless of course they are part of the problem. In which case they should be left with the rest of the family and their memories modified in any way the security officers feel justified. Including setting them up for the non magical police force to arrest them." Harry told them. "Hopefully at least on of the parents would be willing to relocate with their child or children." Harry said with some finality. Relaxing his posture Harry turned over the tome his hand was resting on and slid it towards Gran. "This is the book has been sitting in the table in my living room ever since Minerva and the other professors arrived here. Some time last night Jack was unable to sleep and being curious opened it up and found out it is the very book we have been wanting to get our hands on." As everyone looked at the book now sitting in front of Gran Longbottom, grins formed on their faces as they thought to themselves they would finally be able to start gathering the best the world had to offer. "And what better way to start, than with the children who are the future." Harry said out loud finishing most of their thoughts. Pulling the book close to her reverently Augusta asked. "How soon and how many?" Looking down at the note he had made on his own data pad Harry responded with. "Send out no more in a day than you could meet with each and every family during one day. Then do so each day. As for when you can start any time from Wednesday on if you are ready." `Aloria if you would key every one into the wards hiding the rest of the station, I think it is time for surprise number two' Harry told her mentally as the others discussed possible start days and schedules. `Already done Harry' Aloria sent him through their link along with laughter of what was about to happen. Listening to everyone talk excitedly about the best way to handle this new undertaking Harry sent the command to make the wall transparent again and sat back waiting and watching every ones face. Ron wanting to ask Harry's opinion on the point he brought up was the first to notice the new view. Jaw slack in wonder Ron jumped up yelling out. "Bloody hell." Harry thought it was rather comical, as everyone else turned to see what Ron was yelling and jumping up about only to stop mid motion as they took in the sight of the enormous fleet and support structures behind him through the now transparent wall. Having Aloria move the Ark up from its moored position so it would be easily viewed Harry stood and walked over to the wall joining Ron. Ignoring every one else as they walked over to the wall to join them Harry started to speak. "I thought it was time to show you how we are going to protect our new home once we get there. Not only that but we will have the resources to send out ships to rescue any of the ancients still traveling in damaged vessels while in stasis." Pointing out the now lit up approaching mammoth vessel, "Charlie that is the reason I asked you to be here today. When the ancients came here they created all the magical creatures that roam our world today. In that Ark are enough of each of those species in deep stasis that we can repopulate our new world with each and every one. I would like for you to take charge of it, and add as many of the current magical creatures still alive to the empty stasis chambers." Harry said calmly. Turning to face the awe stricken man, "After we leave you will have a bit longer to continue to save as many as you can. But once we send the signal you will have to be under way to our new world in twenty four hours so keep that in mind Commander." "Think you can get some of your friends to help you out?' Harry asked the shell shocked red head. Charlie at this point was not tracking information to well he nodded his head in reply, without really understanding what he was getting into. Seeing Charlie was not all there and that he had agreed with Harry about taking command of the Ark, Bill smirked and decided that later on he would explain to his brother what he had unknowingly agreed to do. Turning back to face the view once again Harry said softly. "The means of keeping our future safe is sitting right in front of us." XXXX Entering the main med bay Harry noticed Madam Pomfrey working alongside healer Christenson on the other side of the room. Not wanting to disturb them Harry walked past them and down on of the hub hallways into the main wards were patients who needed more than a quick fix stayed. Stopping near the Headmistress's bed he waited for Filius to finish speaking before saying hello. "Hello Minerva." Harry said as he smiled at the tired looking woman propped up in bed. Minerva turned towards the voice and smiled as she saw one of her favorite students standing there. "Harry, Filius has been filling me in on what has happened since we arrived here after our escape." Not wanting Minerva to tire herself out, Harry told her. "I finally got around to looking at the book your were clutching when you arrived several days ago." Meeting her eyes Harry said with as much gratitude in his voice as he could. "Thank you, from the bottom of my very being, Thank you for risking everything so that the children can have something greater to look forward to." Sitting down on the edge of the bed Harry pulled Minerva into a heartfelt hug and held her as tears started to run down her cheeks. Releasing her and grabbing the cloth that appeared Harry wiped the tears from her face and handed the cloth to her. "You need to get well. Especially if you want to get one step ahead of your new students once lessons start up again." Harry told her gently. Seeing her nod her head Harry told the two of them he would check in on them in a couple of days when things quieted down again. Standing Harry started for the door before turning and telling them both good bye. XXXX T Minus 4 months and 14 days Harry let the towel drop to disappear before hitting the floor and walked over to the dresser and placed both of his customary armbands on. Activating the Combat suit he stood there as the liquid flowed out of the armband and he felt the familiar thrill as it encased his body. About to shift to the shuttle bay Harry had a thought and asked. "Aloria how many have been cleared to shift freely?" "Not many Harry, most prefer to walk or use the TS stating they would not be like those lazy Wizards down below." Aloria answered. Frowning at what he heard he answered back. "That is a good idea in part, but those that are Security, military and healers need to really make sure they master that skill in case it is needed." "I will add a reminder to the link tutors for everyone in those fields to make sure they master it and make sure they understand the need for them to do so." Aloria added the imperative to the link system as she replied. Nodding his head Harry shifted to the shuttle deck so the assault could get under way. As the rest of those volunteers were milling about waiting for the orders to go, Jack and Ron were discussing different scenarios and how to best use the armed shuttles and scouts to provide air cover for the troops. Michalson and Yu who along with their people were standing nearby to the two engrossed in conversation listening avidly, to the two youngsters in their minds plan out the attack in such detail. Jack and Ron stopped their planning when a small platform started to rise from the floor and Harry shifted atop the meter and a half high stage. Pleased that the platform formed in time for him to land on it Harry looked at all the determined faces now standing before him. "By now your squad leaders have informed you of your targets and the plan of attack. I have nothing more to add to that other than saying make sure you come back in one piece or I will sic Molly Weasley on you." Harry smiled at the laughter over his comments. "We are going to use this shuttle bay as a field hospital for those seriously injured or children found without a parent, so make sure you have enough of the locator beacons, take extra and if you run out add a note with the last one and Aloria can send down more." Harry told them. Looking to the left at Jacks people, "Clear St. Mungos as quickly as you can, and once its cleared contact Aloria who will give the word for healers from America and Japan to port key in. You have fifteen minutes before the rest of us hit Diagon Ally, Hogsmead and Hogwarts." Harry said "Ron get your people moving, the rest of us will leave in thirty minutes, which should give you enough time to get into position." Harry told him as the platform he was standing on started to sink back into the deck lowering him to the ground. Harry walked over to the group of visitors as Ron yelled for his people to "get their arse's moving." Harry stood behind the visiting ministers and their entourage as they gawked at the shuttles and scout ships lifting off and flying out into space. As the Earth came into view, "And that gentlemen is the reason why no one has never found our city, and never will." Harry told them before walking away. Jack just stood there taking it all in as the visiting officials were properly awed. Checking the time through his link Jack yelled out. "FIVE MINUTE WARNING." Making one final walkthrough to make sure everyone was as prepared as they could be; Harry turned and nodded his head at Jack. "FIRST TEAM DEPLOY." Jack yelled as he watched Aloria mass transported the first team to the top floor of St. Mungos. Harry met Jacks eyes and mouthed `be safe' before walking over to join the group he was going to lead in taking Hogwarts itself. "Let's see if we can catch the bunch of them as they rush through the gates to reinforce those at St. Mungos." Harry told his group. Jumping the gun by a good seven minutes Harry yelled out. "GROUP FOUR DEPLOY." Escorting the visiting ministers over to the third group Remus muttered under his breath some very uncomplimentary things about Harry going off early. "Shit." Jack summed it up in one word "EVERY ONE ELSE LETS GO." Jack yelled in frustration knowing that air support was still a few minutes away. Crouching down as soon as he appeared near the Hogwarts gates, Harry saw in the distance seven figures dressed all in silver, followed by at least thirty others running towards his position. This is going to be easier than I thought, then turning to the man next to him Harry said. "Pass the word at least thirty with about seven of the so called ruling council; take them out before they get past the wards." Grinning Harry started to pull up some of the free energy floating around, and forcing it into the wards making sure no one would be able to apparate out through a weak spot. Noticing that the silver dressed person in the lead slow down and look up and around, Harry decided to target that one for capture. The combat suit flowed over and covered Harry's head as a thin layer covered his actual face at his urging and he also activated the cloaking field. Turning his head left and then right he noticed the rest of his team follow his lead and mentally opened up the communication link and gave the command to advance. Close enough to tell that the one he targeted was male Harry opened up his senses and felt around for the man's magical core. Finding it Harry pushed some raw magic he had collected from the surrounding area into it causing it to overload and his target to fall down unconscious. Ducking out of habit as the enemy opened fire with lethal spells; Harry quickly made his way over to the downed man and secured him for later interrogation. Protecting his prisoner from stray curses, Harry watched as the rest of his team quickly rendered those attacking helpless. Willing the cloak to shut off Harry stood and made sure they were in the clear before willing the combat suit to retract the head covering exposing his face and head once again. Harry watched Dennis Creevey collect all the wands from the prisoners before trotting over to where he was standing. "Here you go Harry." Dennis handed over the bag holding the wands. "Thanks Dennis." Harry automatically replied as he was talking to Aloria through their bond. `Harry St. Mungos was found abandoned and is now ready to receive wounded' Aloria told him as she sorted through the incoming reports. `Let every one know that they can start sending any wounded on then.' Harry thought before asking `Anything from the Hogwarts remotes?' `They report no movement or heat signatures, and it looked like you accounted for every one' Aloria told him "Dennis, Colin the remotes are not reporting any movement or any body heat, but tell your teams to be careful as they search the castle. I left the Marauders map in a hidden alcove just off the chamber where the first years are brought by boat. Place your hand on the brick next to the third step from the bottom; password is I solemnly swear I am up to revenge. You know the password to activate the map, make sure it shows no one in the castle before ordering the pullout and we will meet at the train station." Harry told them before letting them go. One of the former special forces officers that had overheard Harry's orders asked. "Why hide the map inside the castle, wouldn't it have made more sense to hide it outside?" Harry shrugged. "That passage is used once a year on the first day of school, most of the time no one ever thinks about it. If I ever needed to retake the castle I figured on coming up from under the water to the hidden boat docks, and using the landing as a staging platform. The wards really do not cover that area all to well and with no portraits or other spying devices around it made perfect sense to cache items there." "Knowing that it makes perfect sense." The former officer replied. `Harry, sick and injured just started to show up at St. Mungos. Not a single one of them was sent there from one of our teams.' Aloria reported. `Looks like word is getting out that we are retaking magical Britain' Harry told her. Ron who had landed with one of the larger armed shuttles walked up to Harry. "Reports from the team sent to Diagon Ally say it is all clear, no injuries and several prisoners." Looking at the bound prisoners Ron added the previous prisoner with the seven stunned men at their feet and if the information was correct there was only one left. "Harry, does it seem like this was a little to easy too you?" Ron asked as he motioned for his people to collect the prisoners. Staring at Hogwarts, a place that in another life he could have called home Harry answered. "We attacked them with a means that they had no way of identifying nor able to counter. When you add the complete surprise we achieved, it does seem a little anti-climatic doesn't it?" Seeing the sense of what Harry had told him, Ron asked. "What do you want done with them?" Turning to face Ron leaving the image of Hogwarts before him as his past Harry replied. "Drain them dry of any information we can use, and those who put this whole thing together or who of their own free will acted on the orders given, burn out their magical cores before handing them over to the new government." Shaking his head Ron mentioned. "The yanks are not going to like that or let you do it either." Smiling, "Well seeing as how I have yet to hand over control to them and the fact that if the prisoners are no longer here when I do, there is not a whole lot they can bitch about is there." Harry told him. "Well then I best make sure they are all gone then." Ron said as he took off running towards the shuttle with the prisoners and talking rapidly into his communicator giving orders for the prisoners to be picked up and taken off planet as quick as possible. Walking towards Hogsmeade Harry's thoughts were interrupted by his communicator going off with Colin's voice telling him the map showed the castle was empty. Telling him job well done and to bring the map with him Harry continued into Hogsmeade proper and over to the group standing near Remus. Harry spoke up when he got to the ministers and their hangers on. "Remus is the diplomat for a reason, so let me be brutally blunt here." Pointing to the American president Harry said. "The yanks will set up and run a government that puts the people they serve first, gradually turning it over to the Brits as they find and train un-corrupt people." Pointing at Minister Yu now Harry told him. "The Japanese ministry will determine when it is time to hand over total control of the government to the Brits." "There is only one of the ring leaders left that we did not capture, so I am leaving some teams in place for the next few days as we track him down. The rest we will turn over to you after we have gotten every last bit of information we can from them." Harry told them as he stared at them, trying to make up his mind one way or the other on if he could really trust them. Minister Yu then asked. "Please let us know in advance when they are going to be returned so we may have in place enough guards to transfer them to a secure prison." Harry shrugged as he watched Jack walk over towards them unharmed to his relief. "We can do that, though it really does not matter as we will be collapsing their magical cores before we turn them over to you, they will be harmless, magically speaking." Horrified President Michalson said. "Mr. Potter that is clearly against the international confederation treaty dealing with prisoners of war." Staring harshly at the man till he stepped back, "Then it is a good thing the prisoners are no longer on this planet isn't it." Harry told him coldly. Ignoring the men further Harry walked over to Jack and looked him over making sure he was in fact unharmed. "One last thing. Make sure to let all the other governments know I am washing my hands completely of you lot. Don't make me come back here again." Turning towards them and facing each of them down, "You will not like what happens if I have to come back and clean up another mess you lot make." Harry said as he shifted back to the city with a whispered hurry up and hand over command to Jack.