Chapter 80: The Knights of Walpurgis
Disclaimer:
Harry Potter and all of its characters belong to J.K. Rowling.
I own nothing but the original characters I make.
"Dialogue"
'Thoughts'
-Author notes-
Chapter 80: The Knights of Walpurgis
A few days had passed since Harry's arrival at Potter Castle.
He was still getting used to living in such a fancy place, but he was loving every second of it.
Now, he stood in the grand entrance hall, adjusting the collar of his new robes. They were dark green, simple but well-made, and they fit him perfectly.
He had grown used to the feeling of the Potter Ring on his finger. The warmth produced by its magic was a constant reminder of his legacy.
His wand was tucked securely into his robes, and a small bag containing a few essentials hung over his shoulder.
Dibble watched him with a proud smile. "Master Harry looks like a true Potter now."
Harry glanced at his reflection in a nearby mirror. He looked different from the boy who had arrived at Hogwarts two years ago...he now was more confident, and much less afraid. The constant fear of being caught, of being watched, of being manipulated, was finally starting to fade away.
"Thank you, Dibble," Harry said. "I think I'm ready to go."
Dibble nodded, extending his small hand.
Harry took the house-elf's hand, and the world twisted around them.
They reappeared in a dimly lit living room.
Harry blinked a few times as his eyes adjusted to the lower light.
The room was cosy but modest, with worn furniture, a crackling fireplace, and shelves filled with books and odd trinkets. It looked like an ordinary cottage...nothing like what he had imagined of the secret hideout of a resistance movement.
"Are we...in the right place?" Harry asked while his eyes shifted around.
A familiar voice spoke from the doorway. "Welcome to the Headquarters of the Knights of Walpurgis."
Harry turned around and found Bellatrix Lestrange standing there with a warm smile on her face. Her dark hair was pulled back, and she wore simple, practical robes. She looked like a kind aunt, not a revolutionary leader.
"Miss Bellatrix," Harry said, relief flooding through him. "Thank you for inviting me."
"Of course, Harry." She stepped forward and embraced him gently. "You are always welcome here. This is also your home now, as much as it is ours."
Harry looked around. "Where are we, exactly?"
Bellatrix gestured for him to sit. "We are on a private island belonging to my husband's family, the Lestranges. The facility we are in is actually underground, protected by countless wards. From the outside, it looks like an abandoned fisherman's cabin. But beneath the surface, there is a vast complex."
Harry's eyes widened. "Dumbledore has been searching for this place for over a decade. He's never found it."
Bellatrix nodded, a hint of pride in her voice. "He never will. The wards are ancient and powerful, much like those of your castle. They were created by some of the most skilled enchanters in history. The only way in and out, other than by Muggle means, like a boat, is by house-elf apparition. Their magic is the only thing that works here."
Harry was about to ask another question when a massive figure appeared in the doorway.
Harry froze.
The man was enormous...tall, broad-shouldered, with a thick beard and powerful arms. He looked like he could crush a boulder with his bare hands. His face was weathered and scarred, and his eyes were dark and intense.
Harry instinctively reached for his wand, ignoring Bellatrix's words about magic not working here.
But then the man's expression softened and was replaced by a warm, friendly smile that spread across his face.
"Ah, you must be Harry Potter!" The man spoke with a soft, gentle tone. He strode forward, his hand extended. "I am Rodolphus Lestrange. It is an honour to finally meet you. "
He extended his massive arms and smiled. "And welcome to Headquarters of th-"
"I already said that," Bellatrix interrupted him.
"Oh..." The giant looked somewhat disappointed.
Harry blinked, feeling momentarily stunned. This was Rodolphus Lestrange...the man who, in the original story, had been a sadistic Death Eater and one of the most evil dark wizards who ever existed. But here, he was kind, gentle, and welcoming, much like his wife.
"Ehm...hello," Harry managed to say, shaking his hand. "It's nice to meet you too."
Rodolphus beamed. "Bella has told me so much about you. You are very brave, Harry. What you did at Hogwarts...standing up to Dumbledore, it took tremendous courage."
Harry felt a wave of pride swelling in his chest. "Thank you."
"Now, come," Rodolphus said, gesturing for him to follow. "Your friends are waiting for you."
"Right!" Harry said with excitement. This was the main reason for wanting to visit the headquarters.
After they escaped from Hogwarts, this is where Draco and Crabbe were taken for their own protection.
Rodolphus led Harry through a series of corridors, each one more impressive than the last. The underground facility was vast...far larger than Harry had imagined.
There were meeting rooms, dormitories, kitchens, and even some training chambers. The walls were lined with portraits of people Harry didn't recognise, but he could feel the history and purpose in everything.
Finally, Rodolphus stopped before a door and pushed it open.
Inside, a cosy living room was filled with familiar faces.
Draco and Crabbe were sitting on a sofa, cups of tea in their hands.
They looked up as Harry entered, and their faces split into wide grins.
"Harry!" Draco exclaimed, setting down his tea and rushing over. "You made it!"
Crabbe followed close behind, his usually stoic face breaking into a rare smile. "Good to see you, Harry."
Harry felt a wave of emotion wash over him. "It's good to see you both too. I was so worried about you."
"We're fine," Draco assured him. "The people here have taken good care of us."
A tall, thin man with a kind face approached, holding a plate of chocolate chip cookies. "Oh my! You must be Harry Potter!" He hurried to Harry's side, offering the plate. "Here, try some. I baked them myself. No magic, I promise. Magic doesn't work here, you see...the wards prevent th-"
"I already told him that." Bellatrix interrupted him.
"Oh..." Rabastan looked somewhat disappointed. "So anyways...I had to learn some Muggle cooking, and I think I'm getting good at it. I'm Rabastan, by the way." He spoke very fast and with an energetic tone.
"I dont know about that..." Rodolphus muttered. "But his cookies are edible at least."
Harry stared at the man, then at the cookies, then back at the man. "You're... Rabastan Lestrange?"
Rabastan beamed. "Yes! Rodolphus is my older brother. I'm so glad to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you. Please, take a cookie!"
Harry took a cookie, still trying to process the scene. In the original story, the Lestranges were among the most feared Death Eaters. Here, they were kind, friendly, and offering him homemade treats.
Bellatrix appeared beside him, a knowing smile on her face. "Rodolphus and Rabastan are good men, Harry. They only want what's best for their family and their people."
Harry nodded, accepting the cookie. "Thank you," he said to Rabastan. "I appreciate it."
Rabastan beamed, clearly delighted.
The reunion with Draco and Crabbe was joyful and emotional. They talked for a long time, talking about their escape, their time with the Knights, and what they hoped to do in the future.
"You should have seen Crabbe," Draco said, grinning. "He took down two Junior Inquisitors by himself. They never saw him coming."
Crabbe shrugged, but there was a hint of pride in his eyes. "They were in my way."
Harry laughed. "I wish I could have seen it."
They were interrupted by a knock on the door. Lucius Malfoy entered, his expression serious.
"Harry, you are finally here," he said, his voice grave. "There is an important meeting about to begin. We need you to attend."
Bellatrix frowned. "Lucius, Harry is still a child. He shouldn't have to worry about-"
"He is Lord Potter now," Lucius interrupted gently. "And the decisions we make tonight affect his future as much as ours. He deserves to have a voice. He likes it or not, he is involved in all of this, as much as we are."
Bellatrix sighed, but she nodded. "Very well. Harry, come with me."
The meeting room was larger than Harry had expected. A long wooden table dominated the centre of the space, surrounded by chairs. Around the table sat a dozen men and women, their faces serious, their eyes fixed on Harry as he entered.
Harry didn't recognise them by their faces alone. But as soon as they started mentioning their names, he realized who all of these people were.
Names like August Rookwood, Evan Rosier, Travers, and Selwyn were mentioned.
They had all been originally the villains of the story, but now...they were going to be his allies.
A dangerous-looking man was sitting in a corner, but as soon as Harry looked his way, he smiled and waved at him.
"That's Fenrir Greyback," Bella whispered to him. "He is a werewolf, but dont worry, he is very nice and won't transform by accident."
Harry nodded and waved back.
More introductions followed after that.
Mulciber, Gibbon, Avery, Corban Yaxley, the Carrow Twins...all members from ancient wizard families. All working together to defeat the tyrant ruling their country.
But then, Harry saw someone who needed no introduction, as he recognized the man immediately.
Peter Pettigrew.
He was small and rat-faced, with watery eyes and a nervous demeanour. He sat at the far end of the table, fidgeting with his hands.
"Harry," Lucius said, gesturing to an empty chair near the head of the table. "Please, sit."
Harry sat, his heart pounding. This was the resistance. These were the last people who were still fighting against Dumbledore. They were this country's last hope.
Lucius stood at the head of the table and spoke in a commanding tone.
"We have just received intelligence from our informants. The Ministry has finally set a date for the executions."
A murmur of shock rippled through the room. Harry's blood ran cold.
"Executions?" he asked. "Who?"
Lucius's expression was grim. "Several of our captured allies. Former members of the Knights who have been rotting in Azkaban for the past decade. The Ministry has decided to make an example of them."
Bellatrix placed a hand on Harry's shoulder, her voice soft but heavy with sorrow. "Among them are Crabbe Sr., who is Vincent's father. And Sebastian Greengrass, who is Daphne's father."
Harry's jaw tightened. He thought of Crabbe and Daphne, of the families torn apart by Dumbledore's regime. He had seen the pain in their eyes when they spoke of their fathers, and knew how much they had suffered because of this. Especially Daphne, whose family lost everything after her father was taken away.
"We can't let that happen," Harry said, his voice firm. "We need to save them."
Lucius nodded slowly. "Of course, and we will. We have been working on this for years, Harry. We have tried everything...infiltrations, bribes, even a direct assault on Azkaban itself. The last time we attempted a rescue, we lost two of our best members."
Harry's stomach tightened. "What happened?"
"The prison is completely secure," Lucius explained. "The Dementors are loyal to Dumbledore, and the guards are some of the most ruthless dark wizards in the country. Even with our best efforts, we couldn't get past the outer defences."
"But now we have a chance," Bellatrix interjected, her eyes bright with determination. "The executions are always carried out at the Ministry. The prisoners will have to be moved."
Harry's mind raced. "So we intercept them during the transport?"
"Exactly." Lucius nodded. "The prisoners are never teleported. The anti-magic cuffs placed on them would interfere with any form of magical transport. Removing the anti-magic cuffs is out of the question, because of the risk that this would carry. So the Ministry transports them physically, using secure carriages."
"Do we know the day and the hour of the transport?" Harry asked.
Lucius smiled coldly. "We do. Our informants have been invaluable. We know exactly when they will be moved, and we know the route they will take."
A murmur of approval rippled through the room.
"We have been waiting for this opportunity for years," Lucius continued. "The executions are scheduled for the end of the month. That gives us three weeks to prepare."
Harry felt a surge of determination. "What do you need me to do?"
Lucius's eyes met his. "For now, you should train and rest. When the time comes, we will let you know."
Harry nodded. "I'll be ready."
Bellatrix squeezed his shoulder gently. "We know you will, Harry. We know you will."
"I want to help...I want to do everything I can." Harry said with determined eyes.
" I knew you would say that." A voice came from outside the room, but everyone heard it perfectly.
The door suddenly opened.
Everyone turned.
Tom Riddle walked into the room, his presence commanding immediate attention. His dark hair was neatly combed, and his eyes held a fierce determination.
"It is time to fight back for real," Tom said, his voice carrying across the room.
He looked directly at Harry, and a small, knowing smile crossed his face.
"Welcome, Harry. I have been expecting you."
A.N: - Remember to comment, vote, and/or leave a review if you have the time. Those things help me a lot and I would really appreciate it.
You can support me on P@treon if you like and get 10 advanced chapters. You can also find character images to view for free in Collections/Harry Potter: Mirror Images
-.com/Kriogenix
For donations and commissions, go to .com/kriogenix