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beren_writesTitle: Defence, Pretence, Offence - Chapter 65 - Pretence
Author: Beren (aka Tasha)
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings: This story is canon compliant until the end of Order of the Phoenix and then goes AU. None of the HBP or Deathly Hallows plot will be used, or the Horcruxes for that matter since this story was planned before we knew the details about those things, and hence has it's own fanon. This includes birthdays and other information that have since been revealed on Pottermore and in further productions.
Summary: The threat of open war in on the horizon. The Order and the Ministry are of one accord and both know that where Harry Potter is, Voldemort will eventually be. Preparations are being made and this time the side of the light will not be caught unawares.
Summer classes, sabotage, revelations about Draco's father, teaching and the final showdown with Voldemort all await Harry and Draco in this exciting sequel to Gold Tinted Spectacles (LJ | AO3 | Wattpad).
Author's Notes: This is the second story in the Hecatemae universe. It starts up just after the end of the first instalment and I advice reading that one first so you understand the premise. Thanks go to my sister Sophie for the beta reading.
It has taken me 12 years to finally get around to finishing this, I very much hope everyone enjoys it.
Link to other parts: LJ | DW | AO3 | Wattpad
"Harry, Draco, my dear boys," Dumbledore said as soon as they entered his office, "to what do I owe the pleasure."
Harry glanced at Draco and did his very best to ignore the trepidation making butterflies dance in his stomach.
"Albus," he said, walking towards the headmaster's desk, "we would like you to call a meeting of the key members of the Order of the Phoenix."
Dumbledore's smile became much smaller and the twinkle disappeared from his eyes.
"That is a most serious request," the headmaster said, "may I enquire as to why."
Taking a deep breath Harry centred himself.
"We have a plan," he said, "what we think is a good one. We'll need the Order's help to make sure we can carry it out. People have started dying in this war, too many, and we think we can force Voldemort's hand, bring him to us when we want him to be here before he kills more."
"Please," Dumbledore said, "sit down. If you would not mind, I would like to hear this plan."
"Of course, Albus," Draco said, folding into the nearest chair while Harry took the other, "and we would appreciate your ideas as well. We have an overall strategy, but not quite all the details."
"I do believe this requires something far stronger than tea," Dumbledore said, "would you gentlemen like a hot chocolate?"
That was so very much Albus Dumbledore that Harry even managed to raise a smile at that.
"Thank you, Albus," he said, "that would be lovely."
He was pretty sure it was going to be a long evening. If nothing else he was pretty sure Dumbledore was going to like the idea of him facing Voldemort about as much as Draco did.
* * *
Dumbledore stood slowly, glancing around the table and bringing the room to silence without ever having to say a word. If there was one thing that the headmaster of Hogwarts had in droves it was presence and every person in the room reacted to it.
"Good evening, My Friends," Dumbledore greeted as he swung his gaze around the room, "thank you all for coming."
When wizened blue eyes passed over him and paused momentarily, Harry felt his nervousness jump in the pit of his stomach. Albus had not tried to talk him out of the idea, but they both knew there would be those who were very unhappy about the new proposals.
"I have called you here tonight because it is time for us to stand together and let ourselves be known," Dumbledore said calmly, the twinkle in his eye belying the seriousness of his words. "Voldemort has chosen to submit our world to the force of his terror and considerable power; he has attacked our children, we cannot allow this to continue."
Harry could not help the cold feeling that spread through his bones as he heard the headmaster paraphrase his words. That they were true was no comfort.
[You have always been destined to lead the light,] Draco told him silently, [this is how it begins. Just remember I will always be here.]
There were no words that could convey how much his soulmate's support meant to Harry so he did not try, he simply opened his emotions to Draco and let them speak for him.
"I did not choose to call this congregation," Albus continued, as calm as ever, "and had I my wish, I would never have instigated it, however, we do not always receive what we wish."
The blue eyes that looked to him this time, felt to Harry as if they were placing a huge weight on his shoulders. He could see the regret in Dumbledore's gaze.
"The Order of the Phoenix recognises Harry Potter," Albus concluded firmly and sat down.
Taking a deep breath and bolstering his courage with the silent support from Draco, Harry slowly stood up.
"We have been preparing Hogwarts for the final battle since the beginning of the summer," he began as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Many of you are probably wondering how we can seem be so sure that it will be here and when it comes it will be final."
He glanced at Dumbledore who gave the barest of nods in support.
"We have no guarantees," he continued in a much calmer tone than he was really feeling, "but two things are known for sure. There will be a confrontation between me and Voldemort, and one of us will not survive it."
Several faces around the room did not look happy about the situation: Sirius was frowning and his dark eyes were full of thunder, only Remus' hand was holding him in his seat; Molly looked as if she was about to stand up and bustle around the table to protect Harry at any moment; Snape appeared to believe this was another example of Harry's arrogance, the man was a good actor; and Minerva seemed concerned, but accepting of the statement.
"I don't know if everyone already knows, but there is a prophecy," Harry said slowly, "and without going into the details it states that one of us will die by the other's hand. It is going to happen eventually no matter what I do, and quite frankly I'd rather as few people died in the meantime as possible."
That shut up all the muttering.
"Taking over our world is Voldemort's ultimate goal, but he has to deal with me first," Harry said. "We have a plan to bring him here and to finish this."
"What about the children?" that was Molly and, since that had been Harry's first reaction when hearing Hogwarts would be a target, he couldn't blame her.
"They will be somewhere safe," Harry assured her, "that is also part of the plan. It will take us all to prepare for this."
"Planning on duelling He Who Must Not Be Named, are you boy?" Of course it was Moody who asked that.
Harry smiled at the man.
"Yes, actually," he said and the room erupted with sound.
He just stood there waiting for all the objections to die down.
"And I want him to know that," he continued, getting everyone's attention again. "Then we're going to make him believe none of you are going to let me, that we've discovered the idea I was relying on to beat him won't work and Albus has decided to send me away. That is how we can guarantee when he will attack. We're going to make it look as if we are fortifying Hogwarts for a confrontation, just like they expect, and then that everything's changed and I am running away. That will get his attention immediately. He's obsessed with me to the point of madness and he won't want to miss his chance, but this time when we meet, it will be on my terms, not his."
"And his lackeys?" Moody asked, tone no less dismissive.
"Will be busy elsewhere," Harry said.
"How can you be sure, Harry?" Remus asked.
"Because I'm going to make sure they are," he replied. "Voldemort likes to observe from the back until he's sure of a battle, he'll be somewhere he thinks is safe. That's when I'll use the Dark Marks to call those except his inner circle into an ambush."
"They won't come to just a symbol, boy, they'll go with whatever bloody plan their lord and master gave them," Moody said.
"I wasn't talking about a symbol," Harry said, already fed up of the paranoid Auror, "I was talking about the way he summons them. I can make their arms burn just like he does, and I can make them come to me."
Most faces in the room were frozen with shock at that.
"I can attest to this," Dumbledore backed him up. "It would appear that, thanks to his new abilities, Harry can indeed cause a reaction in the Dark Mark."
Harry stared at Moody and dared the old man to say anything about going dark. For once Moody kept his mouth shut.
"We will need everyone," Harry said, "which is why I asked for Albus to call this meeting. I hope we can count on your support."
With that Harry passed the chair back to Dumbledore; he had no doubt they were in for something of a debate. There were some things that still needed to be worked out, final details that would fill in the gaps in the plan, but they had a solid foundation. Somethings Harry was all too aware he and Draco would have to refine themselves, but others the Order could be very useful in sorting out. He hoped no one would openly reuse.
Author: Beren (aka Tasha)
Pairing: Harry/Draco
Rating: NC-17
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.
Warnings: This story is canon compliant until the end of Order of the Phoenix and then goes AU. None of the HBP or Deathly Hallows plot will be used, or the Horcruxes for that matter since this story was planned before we knew the details about those things, and hence has it's own fanon. This includes birthdays and other information that have since been revealed on Pottermore and in further productions.
Summary: The threat of open war in on the horizon. The Order and the Ministry are of one accord and both know that where Harry Potter is, Voldemort will eventually be. Preparations are being made and this time the side of the light will not be caught unawares.
Summer classes, sabotage, revelations about Draco's father, teaching and the final showdown with Voldemort all await Harry and Draco in this exciting sequel to Gold Tinted Spectacles (LJ | AO3 | Wattpad).
Author's Notes: This is the second story in the Hecatemae universe. It starts up just after the end of the first instalment and I advice reading that one first so you understand the premise. Thanks go to my sister Sophie for the beta reading.
It has taken me 12 years to finally get around to finishing this, I very much hope everyone enjoys it.
Link to other parts: LJ | DW | AO3 | Wattpad
"Harry, Draco, my dear boys," Dumbledore said as soon as they entered his office, "to what do I owe the pleasure."
Harry glanced at Draco and did his very best to ignore the trepidation making butterflies dance in his stomach.
"Albus," he said, walking towards the headmaster's desk, "we would like you to call a meeting of the key members of the Order of the Phoenix."
Dumbledore's smile became much smaller and the twinkle disappeared from his eyes.
"That is a most serious request," the headmaster said, "may I enquire as to why."
Taking a deep breath Harry centred himself.
"We have a plan," he said, "what we think is a good one. We'll need the Order's help to make sure we can carry it out. People have started dying in this war, too many, and we think we can force Voldemort's hand, bring him to us when we want him to be here before he kills more."
"Please," Dumbledore said, "sit down. If you would not mind, I would like to hear this plan."
"Of course, Albus," Draco said, folding into the nearest chair while Harry took the other, "and we would appreciate your ideas as well. We have an overall strategy, but not quite all the details."
"I do believe this requires something far stronger than tea," Dumbledore said, "would you gentlemen like a hot chocolate?"
That was so very much Albus Dumbledore that Harry even managed to raise a smile at that.
"Thank you, Albus," he said, "that would be lovely."
He was pretty sure it was going to be a long evening. If nothing else he was pretty sure Dumbledore was going to like the idea of him facing Voldemort about as much as Draco did.
* * *
Dumbledore stood slowly, glancing around the table and bringing the room to silence without ever having to say a word. If there was one thing that the headmaster of Hogwarts had in droves it was presence and every person in the room reacted to it.
"Good evening, My Friends," Dumbledore greeted as he swung his gaze around the room, "thank you all for coming."
When wizened blue eyes passed over him and paused momentarily, Harry felt his nervousness jump in the pit of his stomach. Albus had not tried to talk him out of the idea, but they both knew there would be those who were very unhappy about the new proposals.
"I have called you here tonight because it is time for us to stand together and let ourselves be known," Dumbledore said calmly, the twinkle in his eye belying the seriousness of his words. "Voldemort has chosen to submit our world to the force of his terror and considerable power; he has attacked our children, we cannot allow this to continue."
Harry could not help the cold feeling that spread through his bones as he heard the headmaster paraphrase his words. That they were true was no comfort.
[You have always been destined to lead the light,] Draco told him silently, [this is how it begins. Just remember I will always be here.]
There were no words that could convey how much his soulmate's support meant to Harry so he did not try, he simply opened his emotions to Draco and let them speak for him.
"I did not choose to call this congregation," Albus continued, as calm as ever, "and had I my wish, I would never have instigated it, however, we do not always receive what we wish."
The blue eyes that looked to him this time, felt to Harry as if they were placing a huge weight on his shoulders. He could see the regret in Dumbledore's gaze.
"The Order of the Phoenix recognises Harry Potter," Albus concluded firmly and sat down.
Taking a deep breath and bolstering his courage with the silent support from Draco, Harry slowly stood up.
"We have been preparing Hogwarts for the final battle since the beginning of the summer," he began as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Many of you are probably wondering how we can seem be so sure that it will be here and when it comes it will be final."
He glanced at Dumbledore who gave the barest of nods in support.
"We have no guarantees," he continued in a much calmer tone than he was really feeling, "but two things are known for sure. There will be a confrontation between me and Voldemort, and one of us will not survive it."
Several faces around the room did not look happy about the situation: Sirius was frowning and his dark eyes were full of thunder, only Remus' hand was holding him in his seat; Molly looked as if she was about to stand up and bustle around the table to protect Harry at any moment; Snape appeared to believe this was another example of Harry's arrogance, the man was a good actor; and Minerva seemed concerned, but accepting of the statement.
"I don't know if everyone already knows, but there is a prophecy," Harry said slowly, "and without going into the details it states that one of us will die by the other's hand. It is going to happen eventually no matter what I do, and quite frankly I'd rather as few people died in the meantime as possible."
That shut up all the muttering.
"Taking over our world is Voldemort's ultimate goal, but he has to deal with me first," Harry said. "We have a plan to bring him here and to finish this."
"What about the children?" that was Molly and, since that had been Harry's first reaction when hearing Hogwarts would be a target, he couldn't blame her.
"They will be somewhere safe," Harry assured her, "that is also part of the plan. It will take us all to prepare for this."
"Planning on duelling He Who Must Not Be Named, are you boy?" Of course it was Moody who asked that.
Harry smiled at the man.
"Yes, actually," he said and the room erupted with sound.
He just stood there waiting for all the objections to die down.
"And I want him to know that," he continued, getting everyone's attention again. "Then we're going to make him believe none of you are going to let me, that we've discovered the idea I was relying on to beat him won't work and Albus has decided to send me away. That is how we can guarantee when he will attack. We're going to make it look as if we are fortifying Hogwarts for a confrontation, just like they expect, and then that everything's changed and I am running away. That will get his attention immediately. He's obsessed with me to the point of madness and he won't want to miss his chance, but this time when we meet, it will be on my terms, not his."
"And his lackeys?" Moody asked, tone no less dismissive.
"Will be busy elsewhere," Harry said.
"How can you be sure, Harry?" Remus asked.
"Because I'm going to make sure they are," he replied. "Voldemort likes to observe from the back until he's sure of a battle, he'll be somewhere he thinks is safe. That's when I'll use the Dark Marks to call those except his inner circle into an ambush."
"They won't come to just a symbol, boy, they'll go with whatever bloody plan their lord and master gave them," Moody said.
"I wasn't talking about a symbol," Harry said, already fed up of the paranoid Auror, "I was talking about the way he summons them. I can make their arms burn just like he does, and I can make them come to me."
Most faces in the room were frozen with shock at that.
"I can attest to this," Dumbledore backed him up. "It would appear that, thanks to his new abilities, Harry can indeed cause a reaction in the Dark Mark."
Harry stared at Moody and dared the old man to say anything about going dark. For once Moody kept his mouth shut.
"We will need everyone," Harry said, "which is why I asked for Albus to call this meeting. I hope we can count on your support."
With that Harry passed the chair back to Dumbledore; he had no doubt they were in for something of a debate. There were some things that still needed to be worked out, final details that would fill in the gaps in the plan, but they had a solid foundation. Somethings Harry was all too aware he and Draco would have to refine themselves, but others the Order could be very useful in sorting out. He hoped no one would openly reuse.
