Date: Tue, 10 Apr 2007 17:00:19 -0400 From: ron Subject: Heritage of teh Ancients - ch 6 T Minus 5 months 24 days Harry stood fully stealthed and hidden, off to one side in the Wizengamot chambers as he watched the foreign ministries enter and add their comments to the chaos that was Wizarding Britain leadership. Thinking back three days to Friday night and his conversation with Neville and his grandmother, Harry was not surprised with the amount of chaos he was seeing. After Augusta had told Harry that most of the Auror force was killed in the death eater attack, along with the senior leaders of the ministry including the bastard Rufus Scrimgeour, during the ministers attempt to dictate the conclusion to the war on his terms. She had told him that the Wizengamot had declared a state of emergency and had taken control of Wizarding Britain, but soon there after the American ministry had sent a representative along with the French, saying that they were sending over teams to take care of the problem and rescue their British cousins. Harry shook his head in disgust as he watched all the different parties vie for control, for their faction or people. Finally deciding that the Ancients had made the correct decision in deciding on a monarchy, though he wished he was given more of a choice, he accepted deep down inside that he was king. Seeing that the Wizarding Wireless Network and its sister stations from around the world were broadcasting live but being ignored, Harry decided it was past time that someone with some brains acted. Walking to the center of the room, Harry let his magic flow through the room and using his will froze everyone as he became visible. Sternly looking at each and every person had Harry finally had enough. "Sit down and shut up." He told them reinforcing his words with his magic. Every person in the room promptly sat down where they were, even if they were not in a chair, sitting on the floor as they obeyed Harry's order. Everyone watched in awe and some amount of horror as The Boy Who Lived tapped his finger on one of the metal arm bands on his arms and this liquid shimmering metal shifted out to cover his body minus his head. Harry reeled in his magic, releasing those in the room, as he stood there energy swirling around his deployed battle armor, making him look extremely intimidating. "So this is what the Wizarding world has reduced itself too." Harry commented sarcastically. "If you would have just done your job and rid us of the dark lord we would not be in this position, having to listen to outsiders trying to tell us how to run our country." One of the seated Wizengamot members yelled out heatedly. Harry turned on the loudmouth quickly, his anger radiating off of him in waves. Working himself quickly to full rant mode Harry started pacing back and forth in front of the raised dais where the Wizengamot members sat. Minerva McGonagall winced as she heard Abercrombie open his mouth and accuse Harry of not doing his job. Oh Merlin she thought he is going to really go off now. "MY JOB...MY JOB! " Harry stopped pacing and rounded on the coward who had the audacity to say that to him. "One must first be hired or Merlin forbid even accept the job in the first place, before they can be accused of not doing their job." By this point the energy swirling around Harry started to glow. "Where were you the last time the Order or even the Aurors faced death eaters as they decided to go out and play. I know I did not see you there." Harry said as he stared in disgust at the man. "Oh I get it now, you all decided since I had already defeated the mad man once, that since he has returned it must be my job to do it again, especially as all of you are so magically weak that you must have graduated Hogwarts due to bribery, not actually having the magic to do so any other way. "Harry sneered in disgust. Minerva sat there in awe as Harry tore into the politicians, thinking to herself, he was doing a masterful job. Unfortunately fear started to set in, as she noticed the walls behind the Wizengamot members were starting to melt as they responded to Harry's anger. "Oh and since I did not finish the JOB the first time, of course it falls to me and only me to do the JOB you weaklings are all so afraid of doing." Harry finished his rant. "Now see here..." Someone started. but gulped back in fear as Harry rounded on them. "Two weeks, I needed two bloody more weeks and my plans would have been completed, and I could be standing here in front of you with Voldemort's dead body." Harry threw his arms up as he started to pace again. "But NO, the bloody minister decided that he knew best, and I being the so called chosen one should kill Voldemort on his terms like some trained dog." At this point Harry was in the center of this barley visible vortex of energy. At this point several members of the Wizengamot and some of the visiting ministry people grabbed their arms and fell to the ground screaming in agony. Everyone looked in horror towards Harry as he looked at the fallen people with an evil smile on his face, as he watched those convulsing on the floor in agony their life force slipping away. "STOP THIS, Stop this right now." The American special envoy yelled out. Turning around Harry told him calmly. "I am doing nothing to any of them. This is all Voldemort's doing." "Don't lie to me boy, we all have seen your magic totally out of control." Pointing to the energy swirling around Harry the special envoy went on. "The evidence is right before our very eyes." The French envoy not to be outdone added. "Yes...Yes only a powerful dark wizard would be able to do what has been done today. We must stop him before he destroys us all." Seeing red Harry stalked over to where the fallen French man was clutching his arm, and ripped the sleeve and pulled it up so all could see the angry dark mark burning on the mans flesh. Amidst the quieting screams, due to the persons succumbing to death or their vocal cords ripping apart, Harry's quiet voice reverberated through the room. "It is a good thing I am leaving this world, or I would be to tempted to destroy it otherwise. First you worship the ground I stand on, until the moment I can not stand up to your impossible expectations, especially for someone you purposely kept in the dark about his heritage and the world he was expected to live in. Then when he defends himself from Dementors sent by the ministry to silence him, those in power further break their own laws and try to poor lad in front of the full Wizengamot. Oh but the kicker, at the last minute the minister changes the time and sends out the notice to the lad and his defenders a mere fifteen minutes before the trial would now start Lets not forget about the minister sending his own personal torturer to the lads school to use severely restricted dark objects on the boy, and only the quick thinking of one of the lads friends was he spared being placed under the Cruciatus curse till he broke." At this point Harry had them all sitting there fidgeting in their seats as their crimes were laid out before the whole world to see. "One wonders why the lad in question does not say the hell with you and leave you to your own fate." As the last marked death eater died Silence reigned supreme in the Wizengamot chambers. "Lucky for you I am not Dark like you call me. Lucky for you I studied hard and learned what was needed to defeat Voldemort and had the means to do so." Harry said as he looked over the scarred faces before him and sighed, as he was not getting through to them. Turning to leave, disappointed in a way and in another knowing it would come down to this. "I am leaving and I am going to take the best and brightest the Wizarding world has to offer, and we are going to start over." Pulling his wand out and pointing it in Harry's direction the American envoy said. "I am sorry son, but even with this as proof of the Dark Lords downfall, you still have a lot to answer for and we can not allow you to leave." Amused that someone would overcome their fear and try to stop him. "You have no jurisdiction over me." Harry told him as he made a motion with his hand and summoned a long forgotten relic of the past. By this point most of the foreign delegations had also drawn their wands and pointed them at Harry waiting for the word to take the young man down. Slowly the floor near Harry rippled like the waves from a stone dropped in still water. As every ones attention shifted to see what was going on they looked on in wonder as a gleaming white pedestal rose from the floor, and atop it was a glowing orb that had some strange energy swirling inside it. "NO you must not do this." A voice from the shadows, coming from one of the Unspeakables. "All I am doing is returning Merlin's Orb to its rightful place. It was your kind that broke the sacred trust, at the ministers urgings no doubt so long ago. It was the Unspeakables that violated every law and kept the orb from serving its true purpose." Harry told the frightened head of the Unspeakables. As Harry placed his hand on the orb, he was engulfed in a column of white as a visage of Merlin appeared in front of him, and the words spoken by the orb were carried on magic and heard around the world. "The man who stands before you will usher in a new age. Harry James Potter son of the Ancients take up your heritage as Lord Commander, Ruler of the Ancient Alteran People. Rule with Justice my son and may your enemies tremble in fear." Harry stood there and grimaced as he felt the glamour fall away from the circlet on his head and the circlet morph growing larger into a proper crown. Bowing his head Harry let his voice carry on the waves of magic the orb was sending out. "Those you wish for a better life, and to be part of something greater, you will be welcomed in the new home we will build together. You will be taught all the old ways, and will be able to hold your head high and proud knowing you are part of something special, part of a dream of a brighter future for you and your children. If the dream of something better is one you truly wish, make your way to any of the many Wizarding schools or shopping centers and place your hand on the glowing pedestal you will find there, and you shall be transported to a wondrous place. A place our ancestors once walked in pride and freedom. A place you and your children will learn things that will amaze you." Harry then turned to meet the eyes of those who dared to draw their wand on him. "Do not interfere with peoples right to choose to take up their heritage. If your dreams are dark and you revel in the subjugation of others do not attempt to gain access to the city. You would not like to see what would happen if you do." Then Harry once again drove fear home in the heart of the politicians sitting there as he slowly faded from sight as he shifted through the so called impenetrable wards of the ministry, to the hidden Longbottom estates to meet up with Neville and help shift the contents of the greenhouses up to the city. Minerva met the eyes of her brother and fellow professors that had attended the session, and motioned with her head for them to leave. As she made here way quietly out of the room she thought to herself they had a lot of planning to do. XXXX T minus 4 months and 18 days Harry sat in his chair on the new half platform at the arrival area waving at the occasional person who arrived when they recognized him. "Blimey Harry you went and redecorated again." Ron called out as he walked up the few steps to the new meeting area. "Yes well we needed a place to put the support infrastructure for the new med bay, as some of the arrivals are coming in pretty badly off." Harry told his friend. Hearing the chuckling, and "sure you did Harry." From a couple of people and the twins he added. "And maybe I finally relented and agreed to set this up, so I spend part of my day working here. Everyone keeps telling me the people arriving feel better being able to see me when they get here for some reason." Harry mumbled. Deciding to get on with things, Harry said as the others sat down in two semi circles across from him leaving his view of the arrival area open. "Lets get started shall we." "Molly would you like to go first?" Asked Harry. Looking around and seeing no one else there from the medical department she sighed.. "Seeing as no one else is here yet." Molly told him, not falling for his innocent look. "Don't give me that look, it didn't work with the other seven so why in Merlin's name do you think it will work for you." Un-phased and not looking guilty in the least Harry told her. "We have grown enough that we will need to have department heads to keep me informed with what is going on, but that does not mean we will not still be meeting, as I trust your opinions the most." Mollified for the moment Molly started. "So far about twenty five percent of the intakes have needed healer intervention. Though we are starting to notice a marked increase of those arriving from magical Britain needing serious healing." "We also are just keeping up with genetic re-sequencing of those with Alteran blood who can not access their magic." She told him making an obvious effort over unfamiliar terms and avoiding the reference to muggles or squibs. Looking down at the data pad and skimming through the notes that uploaded from Molly's pad when she started to speak, Harry listened closely when Remus asked. "Is the problem not enough healers or there are not enough facilities able to do the re-sequencing?" Half listening to the answer as the conversation he was having internally with Aloria lead him to a solution Harry broke in. "What if we set aside med bay five over on Alpha Pylon for the re-sequencing procedure and staffed it minimally, with the help of Aloria that should clear up a lot of the congestion in the rest of the med bays, and still keep every one on schedule for their treatments." Hearing agreements from the rest Harry sent a thought to the remotes over on Alpha pylon to start the modifications. "Start Sending people over to med bay Alpha 5 on Sunday." Looking over towards, call me 'Gran' Neville's formidable grandmother. "Speaking of intakes how is that going?" Harry asked, tapping his data pad to download her report. "Overall it is flowing smoothly. As I have repeatedly stated in the past those who see you when arriving seem to hold it as a personal boon when they see you are in the area, and even if you only make eye contact with them, they feel as if you are welcoming them personally." Gran told them. "Those coming up to the city seem to arrive with their most valuable possession shrunk down and about sixty percent of those we have sent a team out to shift their house into shifted storage for the trip." Gran said as she noticed Harry start to glance through her report. "If we could gain access to the Tome of Souls that Hogwarts uses we would be able to move very quickly with the plans to contact those not yet school age or may have missed the announcements about leaving to start a new world." Then frowning Gran continued. "Over the last week though there has been a marked decrease in those arriving originating in the magical part of the British Isles. And until now I really had not put the two together, which leads a very disquieting picture when you do." She finished. "I want that situation watched real closely, and maybe a few people need to be sent out to check on it." Harry told them all but pointedly looked at both the twins. Seeing Harry look her way to see if she was finished she added, "I want to mention that so far we have been able to place all those with Alteran blood found in orphanages with a family, but soon I think we will have to set up our own orphanages as we start to expand our searches to the continent and over the pond." Gran finished her report. Seeing Molly in full mother mode Harry cut her off. "Call them Crèches and you and Molly and who ever you feel will be helpful set something up. Just remember Voldemort was born when young Tommie Riddle grew up unloved and abused in an orphanage." "Children are precious and should be loved. Make sure we can show them that." Harry told them remembering his own childhood. "Remus how goes the meetings with the Werewolf communities?" Harry asked his parents last living friend. "Both good and bad Harry. Finding out why non-magical folks die instead of turning after getting bitten is because they have no Alteran blood in them has made it easier on the one hand. I would say ninety percent of those on the non-magic user side are flocking to be treated with seventy percent wanting to stay with us afterwards." Remus started his report by saying. "I hate to say it but for the other ten percent I think we consider forcing the treatment on them and doing like those that do not wish to stay, and Obliviate them. Those ten percent are the hard core sadists and reek of darkness." Remus said softly but with conviction. "I do not like the idea, not at all but can see your point. Work up a plan and a background check of those that refuse our help, so I can make an informed decision if you would please Remus." Harry said then asked. "What of those afflicted in the magical users category?" "Slowly, there has not been a lot of trust there due to the ministry and all, but I am working on it. It helps when they see some of the pack members coming back that are non-magic users cured and picking up their normal lives once again." Remus replied. "Good work let me know what you need to do to get the others to agree, even if it is to set up a temporary facility down planet." Harry said turning and gesturing for Ron to start next. Before Ron had a chance to start, Harry saw professor Vector arrive and bend down and then look at him. Swaying slightly when she arrived Beatrice Vector took a look around her and noticed most of her fellow professors where down on the ground injured, and some were missing altogether having gotten separated from the rest in the flight from the shrieking shack. Looking up she noticed a group of people on the raised platform having what looked like a meeting when her eyes stopped on Harry Potters face. "Harry, please we need help." Beatrice yelled out as loud as she could. Hearing the voice of one of Hogwarts professors, Molly and Augusta hurriedly stood up from their seats, and along with Neville hurried down the steps to the arrival area. Griphook and Stone Crusher along with Remus and the rest of the Weasley's jumped the railing and hurried over to the injured, starting first aid while moving the more seriously wounded by magic to the med bay set off to one side. Shifting from his seated position directly in front of professor Vector Harry caught her as she swayed once again and started to fall. Seeing Harry holding her Beatrice gasped out before falling unconscious. "Minerva and Filius got separated as we made a run for the pedestal in Hogsmeade. Please find th..." Handing professor vector over to one of the healer trainees, Harry called Ron and the twins over to set up search and rescue operations when Aloria told him through their link 'Harry behind you.' Turning quickly Harry noticed a broken and bleeding professor Flitwick attempting to get up and the still form of his old head of house. Running over to her side, Harry quickly froze her body with his will and shifted them both to the main med bay. Quickly glancing around Harry walked swiftly to the one open exam beds and gently lowered Minerva onto it. With the diagnostic readouts activating automatically when she hit the bed, Harry noticed he was running out of time. Removing the large dusty old book she was clutching to her chest fiercely, Harry handed it over to Remus who just ran into the room. Seeing he did not have a lot of time Harry started the stasis sequence and firmly said. "Eiloloari" and let out a breath of relief when he heard the computerized voice say "Stasis cycle initiated....Stasis cycle complete" Rubbing his face with his hands, Harry set out activating control after control, which started the holographic displays letting him get a good look at the damage done. Remus seeing the other healers busy moved to be opposite of Harry. "What do I do?" Typing commands in rapidly to set up an energy neutralization field to remove any still working spells Harry never once looking over towards Remus. "Go over to the wall unit behind me, the one with the wire bin under it and bring all those potion vials over here." Telling Aloria to dispense ten energy replacer's, a Gamma re-growth, a pain and two regeneration potions to the dispenser Remus was at, Harry finished his scan and was slightly worried about the darker gray area around Minerva's frontal lobe indicative of slight hypoxia. Remus now back with the lot asked. "What now?" Pulling an injection collar from the drawer of the table Harry once again explained how it worked and where it would be placed. "The white and purple vials go to me the rest you can put on the tray next to you, and I will tell you in what order to administer them in." After handing Harry the three vials he asked for, Remus was about to ask what tray, when it slid out of the table next to him. Raising his eyebrows in surprise Remus did not say anything, but did set the vials down and waited for the next order. Somewhat prepared Harry Looked up at Remus and pointed to one of the monitor screens. "See the column marked ELR Remus?" Nodding his head Remus told Harry. "Yes I do" "You can do this Remus juts relax." Harry told the older man seeing he was wound tight and stiff in fright. "As you can see the number is thirty two. What you need to do is slot in a blue vial as soon as the stasis field goes down and every time the number falls back to forty slot another vial in. If it goes over seventy five hold off." Harry explained what he needed Remus to do. "Ok I can do that. What about the red one?" Remus asked as he grabbed up on of the blue vials. "Hopefully we will not need the pain potion by placing her in a deep coma with the soma unit, but just in case we need it." Harry left off as he set up the parameters of the treatment field that would come after the energy neutralization field. "Ready Remus?' Harry asked, as he looked the marauder in the eyes. Holding up the vial he was holding Remus replied. "As I ever will be." Harry started to glow slightly as he linked himself to the med bay systems. "Stasis field deactivating. " The computerized voice told them. A yellow field snapped into existence as the voice told them. "Neutralization field active." Harry quickly ripped Minerva's robe collar away from her neck and placed the injection collar against her neck and fastened it down. "Now Remus." Harry ordered as his hands flew across the holographic keyboard. "Foreign energy neutralized." The voice told them. Giving another mental command to initiate the treatment field, Harry picked up the Gamma re-growth and seated the vial home. "Merlin that's the third vial and the her level is not going over forty five before dropping fast." Remus exclaimed as he inserted the fourth vial. Glancing at the monitor on Remus's side, Harry shifted the treatment field until it was a bright blue matching the color of the energy vials. Bollocks Harry thought, he needed to get her energy levels above fifty before he could use the regeneration serum. If it was not for the fact her brain was slightly hypoxic he would have held off on the gamma re-growth, but he needed to get the lungs working fast. Adjusting the filed so only Minerva's mouth and the injection collar was still exposed, Harry displayed the holographic projection of her internal systems and noted that the red areas were starting to mute somewhat as the re-growth started to kick in. Changing the display mentally, Harry examined the holographic display of Minerva's core. Seeing no damage there Harry watched it fill slightly as Remus injected another vial. Deciding that this was not working like it needed to, Harry kicked the side of the table which opened a deep drawer, and levitated an elaborate contraption out of the drawer. "Harry I am down to four vials." Remus frantically told him never able to get the level above fifty. Out of the corner of his eye Harry noticed he was gathering a crowd. Griphook walked past Harry towards the potion dispenser. "Aloria another five vials of what Remus is running out of please." Able to concentrate fully now that Griphook could run errands for them, Harry attached one end of the energy feed to the injection port closest to him and then summoned a cart with a portable energy generator to the head of the table. Seeing a cart rapidly approach from behind Harry, Griphook yelled out. "Incoming, clear the way on Harry's side." Causing those encroaching for a better look to move quickly to the other side of the bed. Attaching the other end of the tubes and wires to the portable generator; Harry attached a couple of leads to the table from the generator. Activating the machine Harry sighed in relief when he watched Minerva's core start to fill up fast and maintain a little past the half way point. "Whoa it just jumped to sixty." Remus said in excitement as he removed vial eleven. Taking a deep breath in relief Harry picked up one of the vials of regeneration serum and handed it over to Remus. "This one next Remus." Griphook seeing that Harry was sweaty from the fast movements and adjustments he was making to the holographic instruments walked back over to the dispenser "Aloria I think Harry could use a pepper up if you would." Picking up the black and white stripped vial Griphook inserted it into an injector he picked up from the shelf and walked over towards Harry. 'Have I missed anything Aloria?' Harry asked through their link, hearing a negative Harry continued to work on Griphook by this time had dragged over a tall stool and climbed up the side and was standing on the seat. He reached over and gently jabbed the injector against Harry's neck and held it there while the hiss told him it was delivering its contents. Jumping slightly as Harry heard the hiss and felt something touch his neck never the less started to feel revived. "Thanks Griphook." Harry said after turning his head and seeing who had jabbed him. Seeing the slight twitching her muscles had started doing, indicating pain even though she was deep in a coma. "Remus the red one now." Harry said as he adjusted a control to give him a view of both her core and internal systems. By now the rest of the Hogwarts professors had shown up and were quietly watching from the center of the room. Agatha Christenson finished with her patients walked over to where Remus was stationed and tapped him on the shoulder. "I have it now, thanks." Remus seeing someone in white with the red stripe of a healer across the breast quickly gave up his place. "Thank Merlin you're here." Activating the holographic control panel on her side, Agatha started to study the display and zoomed in on the internal organs checking on the rate of cellular regeneration. Checking out the ELS and seeing it was hovering around sixty one she tapped in a command to check the half life of the regeneration potion she read was administered half an hour before. Seeing that the concentration was down to thirty percent and that regeneration had slowed Agatha asked. "Lord Commander do you have a second dose of the regeneration serum ready." Reaching over and grabbing the vial without looking, Harry handed it over while tracing a listing of the various curses that had been recorded as they were removed. "They meant her to die painfully." Harry whispered out loud in anger. Seeing the healer white across from him Harry started to disengage himself from the link, but stopped short of totally letting it go when he saw only the red stripe on her breast, instead of the double red and purple strip of a fully trained Alteran healer. Stepping back Harry let most of the monitoring and treatment duties fall to the healer who had replaced Remus and spent his time monitoring Minerva's core. Injecting the regeneration serum Agatha noticed the ELS levels start to fluctuate severely between fifty eight and sixty one. "ELS levels jumping erratically." Agatha said out loud. Looking down at the monitor Harry motioned. "Go ahead and inject another energy potion." Vanishing and replacing Minerva's clothing now that she was out of danger, Harry sent a few cleaning charms her way as Poppy Pomfrey finally joined the group and walked over to stand near Harry. "Harry?"" Poppy asked confused with all the equipment and the glowing display around her long time friend. "She's out of danger, not one hundred percent, but at least she is no longer dying. She was hit by a lot of curses designed to kill her in the most painful manner possible. So far we have managed to heal most of her internal organs, and cellular regeneration is well under way." Harry told her pointing out the light pink organs that were starting to turn gray in the display. "We have her in an induced coma to help us heal her quicker, and there does not seem to be any brain damage, and once we get her core stabilized we can relax and let her heal the rest of the way on her own." Harry said as he made another adjustment to the controls for the scanner, increasing the magnification of her core. Satisfied that there were no micro tears and that she was really that drained, Harry let the scanner go back to normal magnification. Itching to get her wand out and start checking for herself, but knowing it was not a good idea to interfere in another healers work, Poppy stood by and fretted helplessly as her friend lay there so still. Seeing the woman Harry was talking to jumping slightly in fright as she shut down most of the screens and monitors Agatha told her. "This is a good thing, we don't need these emergency monitors up any more as your friend is doing a lot better." "Thank you, Healer?" Poppy asked. Agatha introduced herself. "Christenson, Agatha Christenson. Pleased to meet you Poppy." Lowering the setting on the energy generator Harry watched closely the ELS level, ready to kick the machine in higher gear if it started to fall drastically. Seeing the ELS only drop to sixty five Harry stepped back the energy generator so that output was only ten percent. Waiting a few minutes Harry relaxed when the level only dropped to sixty. Turning off the generator entirely. "Agatha would you administer another energy potion." Harry asked as he started to remove all the wires and connections from the generator. Stepping back and stretching to get the kinks out of his neck, Harry was satisfied to see the ELS levels back up to sixty nine. While far below what he would like them to be, never the less he was pleased knowing his favorite Headmistress was now out of danger barring complications. Tapping a few commands in the keyboard Harry severed the link with the med bay saying. "The patient is your healer Christenson." "I have the patient now Lord Commander, thank you for your help today." Agatha said as she motioned Poppy to come help her finish cleaning up the woman. Moving away from the exam table, Harry walked over to the waiting Hogwarts Professors along with his advisory staff minus the twin terrors and picked up the large dusty book titled SOULS from cart where Remus had left it. "Lets give the healers some room to clean Minerva up and get her situated." Harry moved to the door. "If you all would follow me we can go to my office where someone can explain what the BLOODY HELL is going on." Not looking to see if they were following him Harry walked out of the med bay and down the hall towards the Embarkation level, and the stairs leading up to his office. 'Harry I don't think some of these people can make the climb up three sets of stairs. Most of them are ready to fall over even after the healers released them' Aloria said through their link. Looking over his shoulder to see what she was talking about Harry noticed how exhausted most of the professors looked added to it several of them were limping. Sighing, Harry told her. 'Your right we will use the platform for this meeting, can you send up a few extra chairs.' Entering the command area through the embarkation level, Harry bypassed the stairs and continued on down towards the arrival area and the platform they all had met at few short hours ago. Seeing this Remus looked up to see extra chairs set on Harry's side of the table and smiled knowing how much the tired teachers would appreciate not having to climb all those stairs. Sitting down Harry was amused to see that The Hogwarts staff ended up on the other side of the table, while those he considered advisors sat on his side. "I know you all are tired and want nothing more to do than go clean up and sleep, but I really do need to know what happened." Harry told them softly. Looking amongst themselves for a moment all eyes ended up on professor Flitwick since the headmistress was not there. Sighing Filius leaned forward and asked. "Harry what do you know about what is happening in the Wizarding world right now?" Leaning back Harry thought for a moment. "Nothing really." Waving his hand to encompass those to either side of him. "We have been rather busy the past month and it's just now that things have become under control enough that we can start looking past the here and now." Harry told him. "Minerva and I were afraid of something like that." Filius said. "While some of the others have taken your words to mean you have left for good and will not set foot back on British soil, thousands are fleeing to hidden camps hoping that when you return you will be leading the rescue missions to save them." Madam Hooch said tearfully. Harry not sure how to respond to that little tidbit, shook his head as Aloria told him. 'Hear them out maybe this time there is a real good reason why they hope for rescue.' Motioning for the diminutive professor to continue, Harry decided to with hold judgment for now. "I suppose it all started about two weeks ago, that is when the Wizengamot, what was left of it any way formed a new ministry. The people rejoiced thinking that finally they were going to get a government that would put them first. And maybe they would have the time to stop and find out more about your offer. Then over the weekend the Wizengamot members who had not taken positions in the new ministry disappeared. And their chamber was sealed, its like they were never there to begin with. Minerva did not like the way things seemed to be going, so she and a few of the rest of us prepared to abandon Hogwarts. We packed up the Library, and the offices and moved it all to the shrieking shack and placed in under a modified Fidelius that has two secret keepers, each having half the secret. During that time we also constructed a secret tunnel that led out to Hogsmeade and trapped it so that after our escape it would collapse." Filius told the captivated audience. Sighing he looked down "It would seem that Minerva's paranoia and urge to get done with her plans as quick as possible was an omen." Looking up now, tears trailing down his face Filius finished. "Three days ago we heard that the ministry building in London disappeared, and as we gathered in the headmistress's office we notice that a ministry force was marching on the gates of Hogwarts, and fled just in time." Harry turned to the almost hysterical snort coming from Professor Sprout. "Like we could have missed them in their all silver robes." Harry knew he was only getting a partial picture of what had happened, but what he heard he knew he did not like one bit. Before he had a chance to say anything Fred and George appeared in the arrival area carrying a cloth wrapped bundle with a pulsing crystal poking out one end. Rapidly running up around and up the steps Fred placed the wrapped parcel down in front of Harry. As soon as Fred placed it down George was unwrapping the parcel to reveal a pulsing crystal the size of a number three cauldron. As a sign of how serious the matter was, the twins did not proceed with their normal twin speak routine. "After seeing all the profs show up beat to bloody hell and back, we decided a quick look see was in order." Fred said. "After ducking the fifth patrol in an hour we made or way to Honeydukes, and after picking our way through the debris we made our way to where the basement steps used to be and took turns levitating ourselves down, so we could take the secret passage into Hogwarts." George told them. "When we got to the end instead of steps leading up to the hump backed witch, we found stairs leading down several levels to another tunnel, which opened to a circular room that had this on a pedestal." Fred said as he pointed to the crystal laying in front of Harry. "Feeling a pull to take the crystal and run, we figured something wanted us to take this out of there, and wrapped it up and turned to leave." George told them looking very down as his brother finished. "The thing is when we turned we saw this mirror that showed off the inside of the castle and most of it looked dead, felt that way too." Fred finished. "The question is what is it?" Molly asked as she flicked her finger at the pulsing crystal. "In all my years at Hogwarts I have never seen or heard of such a thing." Filius replied as he stared at eh pulsing crystal. Intrigued at the strange curiosity the crystal represented, Harry reached out and laid his hand on it. Feeling a flash of joy come from the crystal, Harry received a blend of rapid fire emotions interweaved with images ending in such a strong feeling of hope and yearning. "This is Hogwarts soul." Harry whispered in awe. "Merlin's beard." Exclaimed Filius Flitwick. "How is such a thing possible?" Asked Professor Sprout. "I knew Hogwarts was alive, but for this..." Madam Hooch whispered. "She has been so alone for so long." Harry whispered. Looking up he met Flitwick's gaze. "Ever since she cut the connection with Dumbledore in my first year, when he refused to answer her warnings of students in danger." Harry said in shock. Standing up Harry carefully wrapped Hogwarts soul back up. "Excuse me for a moment." As he shifted out of the room, carrying the precious cargo. All the surprised questions being fired off stopped when Harry shifted back in the room. Sitting back down in his chair he looked back at every one looking at him. "What?" Harry questioned. "Harry dear where did you take Hogwarts?" Molly was the only one brave enough to ask. Smirking at eh others expression, Harry replied safely diverting further questioning. "The safest place in the city, and Aloria is going to build her a new housing and interface so she will have a voice also. That way she and Aloria can plan out how she wishes the new school to be built, seeing it is going to be her new body, I think she should have some say in the matter Don't you?" Getting serious once more Harry looked over the tired and exhausted professors. "Now what to do with you lot." Pulling her data pad over in front of her, Gran Longbottom scrolled through a few of the pages listing open quarters before saying. "What if we place them temporarily near the classrooms in the staff quarters?" Smiling Harry told her. "Sounds good to me." "I am sure you would all like a chance for a hot shower, and maybe a chance to lie down and relax, so I am going to leave you in Gran's capable hands. She will show you how to get to the dining hall and anything else that you will need. Harry told them standing up as they left. Sitting back down with his thoughts Harry did not notice the brief flash accompanied by the arrival of someone new down in the arrival area. Jack whistled in appreciation as he reappeared in the multi level arrival room. Being told he would appear in some high tech city in some hidden place he expected a dingy dark place. Seeing a good looking young man sitting up on some type of half height platform, with his eyes closed in thought, rubbing his temples, Jack picked up his duffel from where he dropped it and walked along the wall to the edge and seeing the five steps leading up climbed them. Stopping in front of the eye candy Jack took a moment to scope the other out before. "Hey there, can you give me some directions. I need to deliver something to the guy in charge around here." Having already sensed the presence on the other side of the table Harry assumed it was someone he knew, giving him a moment to himself before bringing some new catastrophe to his attention. Harry's eyes flew open when the unrecognized voice asked to take him to his leader. Seeing the young teenager standing in front of him clothed in a sports jacket and baseball cap Harry asked. "Who are you and what do you mean you deliver something?" Jack extended his hand across the table in friendship. "O'Neill, Jack O'Neill." Harry just stared at the youth across from him thinking what the bloody hell. Scott has provided most excellent editing skills