Chapter Three: Childhood part 2

Emerald Blade Book One: The New Trainees

Disclaimer: Harry Potter and co. don't belong to me. Assassin's Creed and co. don't belong to me. I'm just taking some credit for the plot and original characters. In no way, shape or form am I making money from this.

Main Story Warnings: A.U.-severe-, characters are OOC, canon is only a minor guideline, crossover, swearing, violence, gore, character death, Grey!Harry, Assassin!Harry, modern technology, OC's abound, Ron!Molly!Ginny!Bashing, Dumbledore!Bashing

Beta: Inuyasha-loves-Hanyou-Kagome

Edited On: 9/29/17

Pairings: James/Lily, Sirius/OFC, Remus/Tonks, Harry/Luna, Neville/Hermione, Dean/Millicent

Author's Note: Alright, so many of you who had read one of my very first stories called Vampire's Kiss will remember that Harry's familiar had been a Fire Lizard. Well, I've decided to bring them back but drastically altered them. They'll still be called Fire Lizards but will hold different abilities than what they had in that story and will play a rather interesting and important role with the assassins. I hope you all enjoy what I've been doing and what I still plan on do. Again, I'm still up in the air about Dumbledore for the most part. Any other suggestions about him are welcome though again, keep in mind that Harry won't be allies with him. Now, this should be the last chapter detailing Harry and Dean's lives before Hogwarts. Next chapter will see the boys off to school and how people react to this version of their hero.

Challenge: DZ2's Way of the Warrior challenge. For more information look to the first chapter or DZ2's forums.

[Parseltongue]

Emphasis on words/Spells

Text

Chapter Three: Childhood part 2

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October 1st, 1987

Stepping outside and onto the porch of their house, Cassie looked around the grounds of the Othello Estate. People of every age and ethnicity wandered around; some dressed in their 'Assassin' garb while others were dressed in casual clothing. Many children, her girls included, were laughing and running around or playing on the nearby playground. Seeing her girls having fun brought a small smile to Cassie's face, though that smile was slightly strained. Looking to the right, she caught sight of Dean, Harry and a few other children who were around their age at a large climbing wall. An older man stood near the climbing wall, his eyes following a young girl as she slowly scaled the wall without any kind of harness. The sight made Cassie tense up, her eyes seeking out her eldest and watching as he called encouragement to the girl as he stood next in line to climb the wall.

The day that the Othello's visited her and told her about her children's talents had changed her life. She suddenly found herself thrown into a completely different world where almost everything she had known growing up was picked up and tossed into the rubbish bin. Was she glad that there was nothing wrong with her children? Of course. Any parent would be overjoyed in learning that the strange happenings that seemed to happen to their children were completely normal and expected in a certain 'circle'. However the idea of Dean being an Assassin had actually been rather hard for her to wrap her mind around. Yes, she had acted like it hadn't been anything to worry about, but that was the actual reason why it had taken her two weeks before she accepted the Othello's offer. She had been visited the by the Tonks', Sirius Black and his friend Remus Lupin, along with two other couples who had children who were Assassins in training.

It had been alarming when she learned that Templars would know what to look out for in an Assassin. Learning that her son could be targeted by the Templars and that they could even try to convince her son to join them was rather terrifying; especially when she learned more about the whole Assassin/Templar battle. Even though she had been reassured that Dean would be safe in his training and by all of them moving onto Othello Estate, a part of her still wondered if she made the right choice. She would be letting her son take lessons that would eventually give him the skills to kill people without being caught. That was something she still struggled to cope with. She had always imagined Dean becoming a doctor, artist, engineer or something equally as normal as any other person. The introduction of magic just added to that list as she did some further research into the various occupations that the Magical world offered its citizens. Now, her son would be expected to take…missions and travel in order to get information for the Brotherhood or even stop the advancement of the Templars and their movements.

"Alright, Thomas-Woods, you're up."

Cassie blinked and watched as Dean stepped up to the climbing wall. Her heart began pounding in her chest as she watched her son dust his hands before beginning his climb. Yes, the trainers had assured her that there were charms in place on all of the training equipment that'll prevent harm, but that didn't seem to settle her nerves. As she watched Dean climb, she flinched when her son's foot slipped and he hurriedly found another foothold. She doubted that she would ever be completely okay with her son's training, even years from now.

-I wish you were here, Evan.- Cassie thought, her eyes closed as she thought of her departed husband.

Evan had been her rock through all the insanity of having three children. He had the most accepting of Dean's accidental magic when it had begun showing. He was the one who showed her that the best way to go through life was to have an open mind and to try and see every possibility through the eyes of others. When Evan had been diagnosed with cancer it had devastated all of them. However Evan had faced his illness bravely and with a smile on his face; even on his lowest days when he didn't feel like getting out of bed in the morning. His loss had struck them hard and Dean had stepped up in an attempt to fill his father's shoes despite his young age. It made her wonder if he had been so willing to begin his training so he could learn more skills to protect her and his siblings.

Shaking herself, Cassie looked over at her son, her eyes widening when she saw Dean near the top of the climbing wall. The other children cheered and chanted Dean's name as he climbed the last few feet before smacking his hand on the top of the wall. She noticed that quite a few adults were watching as well; their eyes locked on Dean as he slowly climbed back down the wall.

"He shows a lot of promise."

"I've only seen Harrison reach the top and that was just recently."

"Perhaps they found another prodigy?"

"It'll be interesting watching him as he grows older. Perhaps Harrison will have some true competition for the title as the leader of the Brotherhood."

Cassie blinked at hearing that, her eyes wide as she looked at the Assassin who had spoken. She was still learning more about Assassins and the Brotherhood but some things she had already learned. Andromeda had been a fountain of information and she had found a good friend in the woman. Andromeda had explained that the leader of the Brotherhood was chosen by way of a competition. The competition was actually a mission where each possible candidate went on a mission with two other Assassins. While the mission was overseen by Master Assassins anything could happen on that mission. She had heard stories of Assassins who had been killed on those missions and on everyday missions that were supposed to be simple information gathering. She feared that she'd one day learn that Dean had been gravely injured or even killed on a mission should he become an Assassin. The only thing that allowed her to relax is the fact that every trainee Assassin was given the option of furthering their training and becoming an actual Assassin or having a kind of special charm placed on them so it was impossible for them to speak of their training and the memories of that training would disappear if someone attempted to enter their minds without permission.

A small part of her doubted that Dean would back down from becoming an Assassin, but there was always a possibility. Lucas and Delilah had told her that some trainee and novice Assassins had decided to cease their training and lived their lives free of missions and most danger. However, those people were still carefully guarded by other Assassins because there was always a chance that a Templar might attempt to kidnap them and try to learn some of the things that they knew from their time as an Assassin. She could see the dangers of both sides of the coin and she honestly didn't know which she preferred. It was already bad enough that her daughters had protections placed in their minds already because they lived on the Estate.

Looking back at her son and the other trainees, she watched as Harry quickly scaled the climbing wall. That's not to say he was reckless; just that he was actually reaching up above and beyond the foot and handholds that he should've been able to reach. She cringed when Harry actually jumped towards a handhold; her eyes widening as he caught it and pulled himself up. Oh, she knew that the trainees would be learning how to scale anything that could potentially be climbed. She'd seen other Assassins actually climbing up the church that was stationed at the very back of the property. She had been alarmed when she had seen them climbing it, but Father Hendrik had smiled and calmly explained that it was normal for them to practice their climbing on the 'public' buildings or their own houses. She was just glad that none have climbed her own house though she had heard the telltale soft thudding of people running across the roof at random times throughout the day and evening.

Cassie sighed and shook her head before moving over to the porch swing and sitting down. Yes, the pros of having moved and accepted what her children and, more specifically, what her son was, heavily outweighed the cons; but those cons were still there. Her new job at the clinic run by a few magical supporters of the Brotherhood was wonderful. She had been worried that she wouldn't fit in since due to being a Squib, but she discovered rather quickly that she could still brew potions and could help the Healers with their work. They had trained her rather quickly on how to work the new medical equipment and which potions and salves were used for what ailments. Seeing how quickly the spells, potions and salves worked had amazed her and it drove home how much good the clinic did for people.

Not only that but her hours were solid and constant instead of having her guessing when she'd have to go in next. Yes, she did work on the weekends at times, but she'd always home a few hours after noon. She was able to spend more and more time with her children and she also had more time to dedicate to herself and her own hobbies. Also, she knew nearly all of the people who lived on the estate and she was comfortable in leaving her children in their care. Andromeda, Robin and David were just three of the people who were always willing to take care of Sam. Her daughters loved their new friends, though she had begun seeing some jealousy whenever Dean headed off to his training. Her daughters were still young enough where they didn't fully understand Dean's training but at the same time they saw it as him getting special treatment. Thankfully she was able to tell them that they'd be going through their own special training when they got a little bit older.

"Morning, Cassie." Andromeda said, smiling as the dark skinned woman looked up at her.

"Oh! Morning, Andie. How are you?" Cassie asked, smiling gently as Andromeda walked over and sat down next to her.

"I'm good. Ted's at work and I have the day off. I just got a letter from Nymphadora." Andromeda said, smiling as she thought of her daughter while Cassie smiled warmly.

"Oh? How is she doing?"

"She's doing well. She's happy with her classes and her training. She's taking Ancient Runes, Arithmancy and Healing. It's her second year with the extra classes and she loves them." Andromeda said, chuckling as Cassie smiled.

"Is she still set on becoming an Auror?" Cassie asked, watching as Andromeda nodded.

"Yes, she is. Not just because of the Brotherhood either. She's always had a strong sense of justice and it's only increased since she's begun her training."

"I have no doubt that she'll do well as an Auror." Cassie said.

"Her balance and grace has improved greatly since we've come here. Nymphadora used to be very clumsy unless she was really focused on something. It's thanks to the few Metamorphmagi that are here. They've helped her so much in teaching her how to control her abilities and improving her grace. I never would've imagined that her lack of grace was because of the constant transformations that were happening in her body." Andromeda said, shaking her head as Cassie listened with great interest.

"Ted is talking about perhaps letting her be a clerk for the Ministry when she turns fifteen. It would be a good idea, really. Nymphadora is getting combat training that'll be vital for her time as an Auror. There are two Assassins in the Auror department so they're always looking out for more who want to join that department or even the Department of Mysteries." She added.

Cassie looked over at her son thoughtfully, watching as the other trainee Assassins scaled the wall. A few stumbled and fell, though they were caught well before they hit the ground. Everyone was given encouragement and were cheered on by their fellow trainees. She watched as the group was dismissed by their trainer once they all had two turns climbing the wall and many of the children split off to go do whatever they wanted to do. Harry and Dean, however, laughed and joked around as they headed towards the stables. She had been pleased when her son began learning different skills and lessons besides ones that were solely about parkour, stealth and evading. He was learning how to speak French and there was also the intent to offer him the chance to learn a second language. She was happy that they were letting her son choose some of his lessons, though they made things like horseback riding and history mandatory.

Dean had always enjoyed learning and seeing her son soak up his lessons like a sponge made her happy. He was in an environment that encouraged him to learn and expand his understanding of the world around him. All of the children were encouraged to wander around and explore the forest on their own. However, that didn't mean that they were in danger. Older Assassins were constantly patrolling the grounds and every child knew where the ward lines were. Shaking her head, Cassie sighed softly as Andromeda looked at her.

"Let me guess, you're still having second thoughts?" She asked, understanding in her voice as the other woman winced lightly and nodded sheepishly.

"I know it's…horrible for me to think badly about these people. They're some of the kindest, most loyal and thoughtful people I've ever known. However-"

"However you also know that they're trained killers. You're having trouble associating the people you know with what you've always thought Assassins would be. Ted and I still struggle, Cassie. It's…difficult knowing that our daughter will one day learn how to kill people. It goes against what we've been taught all our lives. However, the threat of the Templars is too great to ignore and we needed the protection provided by the Brotherhood. It has taken time but we're getting used to it. We're getting used to Nymphadora's training and the fact she's an Assassin." Andromeda explained, Cassie listening closely as she nodded softly.

"I guess…everything's been building up. I've never thought that magic could possibly be real. I mean…it's something in fairytales and something that's joked about and turned into fantasy. Suddenly, I learn that magic is real! It's an actual thing and my family is connected to this…completely different world. Not only that, but all four of my children have the ability to use magic." Cassie said, her voice strained as Andromeda listened.

"Then, in the same day, I learn that my eldest son has the abilities to become an Assassin. It's…it's so hard to wrap my mind around everything, even now. My children love it here and all of them are flourishing thanks to their lessons and new friends. However…I almost feel like an…an intruder." Cassie lamented, looking over at her friend as Andromeda wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Cassie…have you ever seen a counselor? Especially after your husband's death?" Andromeda asked gently, making Cassie frown lightly as she shook her head.

"N-No. I used to go to counseling sessions with my husband when he was going through chemotherapy. The kids went through grief counseling but…I had a hard enough time paying for that and the bills after Evan's death." Cassie muttered, her voice strained as Andromeda held her close.

"Cassie, I know it's hard. You're a single mother of four wonderful children. I…I can't imagine what it's like being in your position and I'm in awe over how you've held yourself together for so long. Though I do think it would be a good thing if you spoke to a counselor about all of this. Just having someone to talk to and unburden yourself to. There are three counselors here, one of which is a Muggleborn so they have a pretty good understanding of what you're going through. There's also a counselor who's a Muggle so she knows exactly what you're going through." Andromeda said, watching as her friend shifted.

"You really think it'll do me good?"

"I do, Cassie. You need someone who understands what you're going through. It'll help you cope with this and gradually accept it." Andromeda explained, making Cassie exhale slowly and nod.

"Alright…I-I think it'll help."

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November 28th, 1987

Harry and Dean looked around Fudge Manor with little interest. Lucas and Delilah had been invited and thus had brought Harry which meant Dean came along as well. Dean took his role as Harry's bodyguard seriously and the boy even had a few inches on Harry and was beginning to fill out nicely despite the fact he was so young; much to Harry's annoyance since he hadn't had a growth spurt in some time. While his parents aren't very supportive of Minister Fudge, Harry knew that his parents had accepted the invitation to his charity ball because they honestly needed money for the charities they had started. The invitation had also included Harry's name, meaning that he had practically been forced to attend. Of course Fudge wanted to officially meet the Boy-Who-Lived even though Harry had been in the paper a few times. Shopkeepers and owners hadn't been very happy when Harry's lawyer, Nickolas Wilde, had informed them that they weren't allowed to use Harry's name or image to promote their goods unless Harry signed a contract with them stating that they could. Of course this stopped many in their tracks and they were forced to change their sale pitch less they find themselves in deep legal trouble.

"Harrison?" Delilah called, watching as Harry turned and looked at her with a raised eyebrow.

"Yeah, Mum?"

"Susan's over there with her friend Hannah." Delilah said, nodding over towards a small circular table as Harry's eyes lit up.

Harry looked over at the table and smiled when he saw a rather shy, auburn haired girl. He knew Susan pretty well thanks to the times when his parents had let him go to Bones Manor. Of course he and Susan hadn't been alone whenever he visited; it wasn't proper for a young lady to be alone with a young man. Thankfully, here they wouldn't be watched too closely given on how populated the ballroom was. Harry headed off towards Susan and her friend with Dean hurrying along behind him. Susan caught sight of them a few feet away, in which her hazel eyes brightened up and she eagerly stood from her seat. Beside her was a rather pretty brown haired girl with dark blue eyes. Harry could only assume that the other girl was Susan's best friend Hannah Abbott.

"Harry! Dean! It's good to see you." Susan gushed, smiling as Harry took her hand and kissed the back of it.

"It's good to see you again, too, Sue." Harry said, smiling as she hugged him and then Dean.

"Harry, Dean, this is my best friend Hannah Abbott: heiress of the Ancient and Noble House of Abbott. Hannah, these are my friends: Harrison Potter-Othello of the Most Ancient and Noble Houses of both Potter and Othello and Dean Thomas-Woods of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Woods." Susan said, smiling brightly as Hannah stood and curtsied towards the two boys.

"It's an honor to meet you both." She said, blushing prettily as Harry and Dean kissed the back of her hand.

"And you as well Heiress Abbott." Dean said, a charming smile on his face as Hannah blushed deeply and looked down at the floor.

"How's your aunt, Sue?" Harry asked.

"Auntie's good. She's happy with the number of recruits in the Auror corps. They're showing more and more promise." Susan said, smiling proudly as Harry grinned.

"What do your parents do, Heiress Abbott?" Dean asked, making Hannah blink and look up at him.

"Oh, please, call me Hannah or Han. My father's the head of the Department of Education and my mother is a potions mistress. My dad has been trying to get Lord Dumbledore to fire the History Professor at Hogwarts. The course is currently being taught by a ghost. Not only that, but he's been trying to convince others that those raised in the Magical world should have to take Muggle Studies while those raised in the Muggle world should have to take a new course called Wizarding Customs. They would take the courses for the first three years and then they wouldn't have to take them anymore unless they want to take a refresher course." Hannah answered, some awe in her voice when she noticed the genuine interest in the boys' eyes.

"I've always wondered why Muggleborns and those raised in the Muggle world weren't taught our customs. So many people have complained about Muggleborns not knowing our traditions and laws." Harry said, frowning as Susan nodded.

"Auntie explained it to me when I asked her. She said that Hogwarts used to offer a Wizarding Customs course before the Board of Governors got rid of it. Apparently they couldn't see the benefit of the course even though it was doing a world of good for those new to the Wizarding world." Susan answered, watching as Harry shook his head while Dean frowned.

"I think we should tell my dad. There's no doubt he'll support that legislation. He's also allies with Madame Longbottom and she's head of the board." Harry said, Dean nodding in his head as Hannah beamed.

"Oh boy, Lady Weasley's here." Dean muttered, making everyone look towards the entrance to the ballroom.

"I'm surprised she and Lord Weasley are here. It's mostly heads of departments and those of the Wizengamot here tonight. Lord Weasley is the assistant head of his department." Hannah said, frowning lightly as Lord and Lady Weasley headed over to the Minister to speak with him.

"Ah, but Lord Thorten isn't here tonight. I think Lord Weasley might be here in his boss' stead." Harry said, watching as Dean and the girls looked around and saw that he was correct.

They continued to talk quietly about some of the people they saw, in which they softly made fun of some of the outfits of the guests. Of course they fell onto safer topics when Madame Amelia Bones walked over to their table. She was a stern looking woman with silver streaked blonde hair and light blue eyes. Dressed in her formal robes and her ever present monocle which was actually enchanted to see through any disguise; she cut a rather intimidating figure. Harry and Dean stood and bowed to her, which made the woman bow her head towards them. It was common knowledge that Amelia was taking care of the affairs of the House of Bones until Susan could take her rightful place as Lady Bones when she turned seventeen. While the Bones family had once been rather wealthy, the former Lord Bones hadn't made wise decisions in way of stocks and, unfortunately, the family had lost much of its fortune. However, Amelia has been taking advice from her friends and allies and was making some good investments to increase the Bones fortune once more.

Amelia spoke with her niece and Hannah for a minute a little ways away from the table. Harry and Dean watched as Susan and Hannah looked at each other before both girls nodded and Susan hugged her aunt tightly. When the girls returned, they saw the slight disappointment in Susan's eyes and became worried.

"What's wrong?" Dean asked, concern in her voice as Susan sighed.

"Auntie was called away due to an emergency. I'm to head to Hannah's when they're finished here." Susan said, her voice soft as Harry and Dean looked at her with sympathy.

Hannah pointed out her parents to Harry and Dean and actually pulled the two boys over to them for introductions. Lord Abbott smiled warmly at the boys and gladly shook their hands while Lady Abbott smiled softly and curtsied. Harry and Dean told Lord Abbott that Hannah had told them of his ideas for the curriculum of Hogwarts and agreed that they were excellent ideas. Lord Abbott was surprised that Harry and Dean liked his ideas and he eagerly told the boys about a few more he had in mind. This, of course, drew the attention of a few other people standing nearby and they soon had a small group around them. Madame Longbottom, a silver streaked brown haired woman with sharp blue eyes, listened with great interest to the ideas and was all too happy to agree with many of them.

Hannah was smiling brightly at Harry as her dad and Madame Longbottom stepped away from the crowd to speak about the ideas and how things could be changed for the betterment of Hogwarts. However, her smile slipped and she suddenly reverted back to her shy, withdrawn self as soon as she spotted the familiar head of platinum blonde hair that belonged to Lord Malfoy. Harry and Dean turned to face the man, their features becoming calm and emotionless as the blonde haired, silver eyed Lord looked down at them.

"Mister Potter." Lucius Malfoy drawled, his voice silky as Harry looked up at the blonde and met his gaze unflinchingly.

"Lord Malfoy. You should know it's Heir Potter-Othello. This is my friend, Heir Dean Thomas-Woods." Harry said, nodding to Dean who bowed his head towards the older man.

"I see. Forgive me for my slight, Heir Potter-Othello. This is the first time I've seen you in the public eye besides in glimpses in the alley." Lucius said, arching a fine eyebrow as Harry nodded slightly.

"No harm done."

"I'm also rather surprised that you and Heir Thomas-Woods are here; along with Heiress Bones and Abbott. I would think that a ball like this would be boring to children." Lucius added, making the children shift as they glanced at each other.

"Well my name was on my family's invitation so I was, naturally, required to come. Dean is here as my guest." Harry explained, watching as Lucius nodded slightly.

"Same with the invitation my Aunt received." Susan added, nearly cowering as Lucius' silver eyes turned towards her.

"My parents brought me along as they knew Susan would be here." Hannah said, glancing down so she didn't have to meet Lucius' eyes.

"I see. Well, I do hope you have a good evening." He said, his voice smooth as he turned and walked away.

"Merlin he gives me the creeps." Dean hissed, shuddering as Lord Malfoy disappeared into the crowds.

"I would be careful around him, Dean. He's one of Minister Fudge's 'yes men'." Susan said, frowning as the others looked at her.

"My dad told me that Lord Malfoy made a…generous donation to Minister Fudge's campaign when he was running for Minister." Harry said, barely keeping the disgust out of his voice as Susan nodded.

"Let's talk about something else. There's no telling who might be listening." Hannah suggested.

Harry and Dean happily told Susan and Hannah about their time in primary school. Hannah, being a Halfblood herself, explained that she's been getting private tutors to keep up with her Muggle schooling. Susan was simply being taught by her aunt and by a few tutors about what she needed to know before attending Hogwarts. Their parents dropped by the table to check on them and a few other Lords and Ladies stopped by to meet Harry and exchange polite pleasantries with the other three. When the band that had been hired began playing, Harry asked Susan to dance while Dean did the same with Hannah. The girls blushed and giggled but happily agreed and allowed the boys to lead them out to the dancefloor. Many people watched the foursome dance, in which some were impressed with their dancing skills while others were far more interested in the 'pairings'. Of course there were some who were already gossiping about the idea of Harry being betrothed to Susan, though Delilah and Lucas were quick to put that rumor to rest as soon as they heard it.

Susan and Hannah switched partners after the first dance, in which they were impressed that both boys were such good dancers. Of course Delilah made her son dance with her, which made him blush rather heavily as he waltzed with his mum while the others laughed and grinned at him. Hannah and Susan were soon collected by Hannah's parents after they all partook in the buffet and they had danced a little longer. Lucas and Delilah eventually collected the money and checks they had gotten for their charities and said their goodbyes. Harry and Dean were extremely grateful that they got to leave. Four hours at a ball filled with stuffy adults had been horrible to them. However, they both knew that they would have to get used to it since they would be attending such balls once they become adults and heads of their families.

Arriving back at the estate, Dean headed off to his house while Harry was pounced on by Eliza. She demanded to know about the party and he happily indulged his little sister as she rapid-fired questions at him. Lucas and Delilah were rather interested in hearing about what Lord Malfoy had to say and both were proud of how their son had corrected the blonde ponce. Eliza was soon sent up to bed, which allowed Harry to learn what his parents had been up to during the ball.

"We were scouting out possible runners to go against Fudge in the upcoming elections." Lucas explained, his son raising an eyebrow at him.

"Really?! I thought he has his 'yes men' in every corner of the Ministry." Harry said, frowning lightly as his dad sighed.

"It's mostly the Dark families that are supporting Fudge. The Grey families such as the Greengrasses, Davises and Abbotts are on the fence about him. Yes, many good laws have been passed but he's also passed a few that benefit only a select number of people. I've been suggesting to Amelia that she should go up against him in the elections but she likes her position as head of the D.M.L.E." Lucas said, sighing as he sat down on a chair.

"Then there's Guy Matthews. He's a Halfblood raised in the Muggle world but, from what we learned through a few spies, he educated himself on the workings of the Magical world. He's a highly respected lawyer in our world and has made a name for himself of being completely fair and unbiased. However, we know that without getting something on Fudge, he'll win the elections. He has too many supporters who are willing to throw gold at him since his 'reputation' is clean so far." Delilah explained, watching as Harry frowned.

"I think Kay, Roberts, Summers and Williams would be good for a mission like this." He said, making his parents blink before they leaned forward in interest.

"Oh?" Lucas asked.

"Yes. All four of them have low positions in the Ministry but they're in key departments. Kay is in the Department of Mysteries, Roberts is in the department of Finance, Summers is in the department of Records and Williams is in the D.M.L.E. Working together, they could uncover all of Fudge's dirty little secrets and all of the bribes he's taken. Of course it's against the law for any department head, let alone the Minister of Magic, to accept bribes from anyone. If you give that information to Madame Bones she'll have him pulled out of his position because of corruption and he'll be sent to prison. His under-sectary is known to bribe and push people with blackmail which is more than enough to get her sent to prison as well so she won't be acting Minister until the elections are over." Harry explained, his parents looking at him with shock and growing pride.

"It's…it's a sound plan. Of course they won't be able to gather enough evidence to have Fudge kicked out this year. But, by next year's elections there'll be enough to have him arrested." Delilah said, her husband nodding as Harry grinned.

"I'll call them in tomorrow. Harry, since this was your idea, you can present it to them." Lucas said, watching as Harry's eyes widened in shock.

"W-What?!"

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The next morning.

Harry nervously shifted in his seat. He had woken up earlier than he normally did in order to prepare himself for the mission he was about to give. Now, he'd been getting training on how to become a leader from his father for a year now but learning and doing were two completely different things. When he had suggested the mission to his parents he had never imagined that they would make him give it out! However, last night his father had explained that he would need to get used to being in charge of others and being a leader. His mother had agreed completely, which hadn't really help his nerves. He had stayed up late last night typing out what the mission was about in full detail and what each person should look out for and how long they would have to complete the mission. Yes, the Assassins did respect him because he's the son of their leader, but he still didn't want to seem like he was already trying to order them around.

Now, here he was, in the meeting room and waiting for the four Assassins to arrive. His father was seated to his right while his mother was to his left, both of them offering their silent support. Lucas had already assured his son that the others wouldn't think he was attempting to order them around without reason. His son's plan is a very good one and would give them time to ensure that the evidence that they will collect wouldn't simply disappear. It would also allow them to make sure any evidence was sound and would hold up to any scrutiny. All of them looked up when the door opened and three women and one man walked into the meeting room. All four Assassins were dressed in their uniforms, though there was no hiding they surprise on their faces when they saw Harry sitting at the head. However, instead of asking questions, they sat down and waited for someone to speak.

Harry swallowed heavily before standing and lightly clearing his throat; feeling the weight of everyone's gazes land on him.

"Last night after returning from the Minister's charity ball, my parents informed me that they were looking for potential people to go against Cornelius Oswald Fudge in the upcoming elections. However, there's the problem of Cornelius having his yes men in nearly every corner of the Ministry." Harry began, handing out files to the four Assassins using a simple spell.

"While Madame Amelia Bones is one of our main choices as potential Minister, she's content in her current position in the Ministry and there's no doubt she does a world of good as the head of the D.M.L.E. The next person of interest who shows a high potential as a good and just Minister is Guy Alexander Matthews. He's a well-respected lawyer even though he is a Muggle raised Halfblood. We know he is mostly 'Grey' though leans heavily towards the 'Light' in most of his ideals and actions.

"However, because of Cornelius' support, it will be near impossible to get him out of his position as Minister. Old, 'Dark' Pureblood families are tossing their gold at him to ensure their laws get passed and it's harming our society. However, should someone uncover the dealings Cornelius has been involved in and hand such evidence to Madame Bones, she would have no choice but to take action. Once Cornelius' supporters find out that Madame Bones knows of the bribes he's taken they'll drop him hotter than Dragon dung in order to cover their own tracks and ensure they'll only get a slap on the wrist." Harry explained.

"What about his under-sectary, Delores Umbridge? She's a cruel and vindictive bitch." Lucille Kay asked, peering at the young boy with shrewd eyes.

"We need to take her down too. Madame Bones isn't known for giving up. She's also known for not backing down no matter her opponent. Umbridge is used to people panicking because she's managed to find dirt on them. She blackmails them to do her bidding and is one of the many who kissed Cornelius' arse in order to get what she wants and into her position. Should we take Cornelius down she'll quickly replace him and will be even worse. Cornelius is a weak minded man who is only interested in being in the public eye and revered. Umbridge, on the other hand, has an agenda of her own and will do untold damage to our world should she be elected." Harry answered, the others nodding gravely in understanding.

"This mission will take the course of a year. Cornelius is set to be re-elected as Minister this year but the year after is an unknown. Your mission is to carefully and slowly collect evidence of Cornelius and Umbridge's dealings. We want this evidence to stick and not suddenly 'disappear'. The evidence needs to be airtight and fool proof. Likely, we'll be poking other people in the eye with the evidence such as Lords Malfoy, Parkinson and many others. Former Minister Bagnold had taken bribes from the Death Eaters and Bartemius Crouch couldn't handle the fact that his only son had fallen into darkness thus, he turned a blind eye to many trials.

"We all know that Thomas Riddle isn't dead. He's wandering the world as a shade with his familiar Nagini. He is waiting for one of his followers to find him and help him regain a body and thus return to power. However, none of his followers who are outside of Azkaban are…ambitious enough to do so. Lord Malfoy and the others are simply sitting on their gold and using it to ensure they get their way. However, they're making sure they're free and have the money to support Riddle once he returns. He'll need a fortune in order to fund his war again and they will gladly give their money to him. This cannot be allowed to happen. With a new Minister who takes action and refuses to let those who supported Riddle to have power, our society will only get better and better and will actually stand a chance when Riddle returns to power." Harry explained, relaxing slightly as the others nodded in agreement.

"So, you wish us to use our positions in the Ministry to find what we can on Cornelius and Delores. We're to move slowly and tread carefully so we'll remain under the radar. By the time the next elections come, we should have enough evidence to give to Madame Bones to arrest Cornelius and Delores while making others aware of those who have bribed them." Diana Williams said, her voice soft as Harry nodded.

"Yes. Each of you are in departments that should hold some of the information you'll be looking for. I have no doubt that you'll be able to complete the mission within a year." Harry said, watching as the group nodded.

"It's a good, sound plan. We'll be able to feed off each other and help each other. The timeframe is rather nice and allows us to take our time and not make mistakes." Dylan Summers said, glancing through the file with interest.

"We'll get started on our mission as soon as we leave the room." Michelle Roberts said, smiling as the other three agreed.

"Thank you. Hand your reports to my father and mother. If, at any time you feel that things have become compromised, then stop and step back for a little while. The last thing we need is for others to become aware of what you're doing and our intentions." Harry said, the foursome nodding before they headed out.

As soon as the door closed, Harry sighed and flopped down into his seat. Lucas and Delilah smiled as the tension slowly bled out of Harry's body and he was soon nearly boneless in the chair.

"You did very well, Harrison." Delilah praised, Lucas nodding his head.

"While they were surprised that you were giving them information on the mission, they still listened to you. You were firm and well informed about what needed to be done and the reasoning behind the mission. Many have just thrown a mission at others without explaining the reasoning behind it or answering questions. You listened to them and explained things while answering any concerns that they had. You have the makings for a strong and true leader." Lucas said, smiling as his son blushed and rubbed the back of his head.

"I was simply going off of what I've seen you do during meetings." He muttered, making his parents chuckle and smile.

"And that is exactly why you'll become a great leader when your time comes." Lucas said, Delilah nodding in agreement.

"Now, go and get ready for your lessons." Delilah said, watching as Harry nodding and jumped to his feet before hurrying out of the room.

Harry headed to his room and changed into a dark green tunic, dark brown, form fitting pants and brown knee high boots. He pulled his hair back into a low ponytail, though made a note to talk to his mum about getting it cut. Before leaving his room, he pulled on black, fingerless gloves before he rushed down the halls and downstairs out the back door. Running across the property, he headed towards the forest where Dean and two other children his age were already gathered. All of them wore a similar outfit and Dean and a girl their age with light blonde hair and hazel eyes smiled at him as he approached. However, the other boy scowled when he saw Harry. Elliot Masters was an Assassin in training like Harry and Dean. However, his family had always been at odds with the Othello family ever since Lucas had become the new leader.

You see, Elliot's father: Brandon, had been in line to inherit the role as the leader of the Brotherhood. However, he failed the test and had actually caused the death of several other Assassins due to his mistake in the last mission he had been given. His great-grandfather, who had been leader at the time, chose Lucas to become leader instead because Lucas had not only passed the test and the mission, but he had rescued Brandon at great risk to himself. Brandon was still an Assassin, though he mostly worked solo missions because the others were slightly wary of him and his ability to watch their backs. When Lucas had been chosen, it had caused a rift between the two families that had continued with their sons. Elliot had thought that he would become the leader because Harry, to him and his father, was an outsider and the son of a traitor since Lily had left the Brotherhood. Elliot had constantly tried to outperform Harry, but hadn't managed to do so yet. It frustrated him beyond belief and he had already been warned several times by their tutors to stop attempting to sabotage Harry's tests and training. He had only stopped, slightly, after his father punished him and threatened to pull him out of training.

"The prince has finally decided to grace us with his presence." Elliot drawled, making Dean and the girl, Ashely Morgan, frown as Harry rolled his eyes.

"I was busy." Harry said.

"Doing what? Fixing your makeup?" Elliot asked, smirking as Dean narrowed his eyes at the smaller boy.

"What Young Hawk was doing isn't any of your business, Masters. However, if you must know, he was training for his role as the potential future leader of the Brotherhood." Christian Rossi said, walking up to the group as they spun and looked at him.

Elliot scowled and fought down the urge to snap say something back. However, his father's threat to remove him from training ran in his head. He had no doubt that his father would keep his promise and if that happened then all of his memories of his training would be erased. He hadn't even begun any kind of training to potentially become the future leader of the Brotherhood and he knew that there was a very real chance he would even start because of his dad's mistakes. Yes, he knew that everyone who reached the ranking of Master Assassin had a chance to perform the test and mission to see if they could become the leader of the Brotherhood, but no one had managed to pass the test besides Lucas Othello. Hearing that Harry was beginning his 'special' training really irked him but there was nothing he can do about it.

"Now, you've been advancing well in your free-running. Today, I want all of you to enter the forest. You are to be off of the ground by the time you pass the yellow markers. Your goal is to not touch the ground as you make your way towards the lake. Cross the lake to the small island in the center of it and you'll have finished the course. However, every time you touch the ground or the water, you'll need to restart from the beginning of the course." Christian instructed, watching as the four children listened intently.

"Head northeast to make it to the lake. Be careful and move swiftly. Use your sense if you lose your way." He finished, nodding towards the forest.

The four children lined up and waited for the small popping sound of the starting blast. Sprinting to the forest, Harry and Ashley agilely leapt up and onto the nearest thick branch they saw. Dean jumped and ran along a toppled tree, being more conscious of his weight as he stepped onto the branches of another tree. Elliot, however, continued running as he looked up at the trees in an attempt to find one suitable. He found one, just a few inches past the yellow markers. Taking a running leap, he nearly missed the lowest branch but managed to grab it at the last second and pull him himself onto the branch. He grunted as he hurriedly scaled the tree and jumped to the next one. Up ahead, Harry and Ashley moved quickly as they swung and jumped from tree to tree. Dean was only a few feet behind them though he was lower to the ground where all of the thicker and sturdier branches were.

It was about two hundred feet away from their starting point when Harry heard a sharp cracking sound to his right and a little back. Stopping in his tracks, he looked back and gasped. Ashley was gripping onto her tree by a broken branch which was just about ready to fully break off of the trunk of the tree. They were both about fifty feet up from the ground and Ashley had the unfortunate luck of being on a tree which didn't have any branches below it. Harry didn't hesitate and turned, sprinting towards Ashely until he was crouched on a sturdy branch level with her. Hooking his legs around the branch, he hung upside down facing her.

"Swing over!" He called, making Ashley look at him with surprise.

"W-What? What about the-"

"It's training, not a race. I won't let anyone get hurt just because of something as simple as training." Harry said, watching as Ashley blinked before nodding.

As she began swinging, the branch she held onto cracked and popped. When she let go of the branch, it fell off completely and hit the ground where it splintered. Harry grunted as he pulled Ashley up so she could climb onto the branch he was on. She moved to the next branch and waited until he had pulled himself up. They both noticed Dean watching them a few trees over and he smiled and nodded at them. All three of them knew that Elliot had likely gone on ahead and would be gloating about making it to the island first if he somehow managed to remain in the lead. They headed forward, picking up speed as they made their way through the forest. On their way, Harry glanced down and watched as two Assassins escorted Elliot back towards the beginning. There were a few leaves and twigs in his hair and his cheek had a minor scratch. With a shake of his head, Harry continued on.

They soon reached the lake and stopped as they looked for potential paths to get across. There were poles sticking out of the water which created a couple paths though the distance between the poles and the tree branches of the trees on the island were pretty far. It was Ashley who decided to take the chance and leapt from her tree branch and onto one of the poles. Harry followed while Dean circled around and found fallen logs that crossed the lake. Harry nearly didn't make it to one of the poles, but Ashley reached out and managed to snag the front of his tunic to pull him over so he was able to grab onto the rungs that stuck out of the poles. All three of them managed to make it to the island, though Dean nearly slipped and fell into the lake as he crossed the logs. As soon as they made it to the island, Christian appeared and called them down to the ground.

"Good job in getting here. You worked together when in trouble and ensured that you were all safe. This shows a willingness to work in teams and the ability to trust each other." Christian said, a faint note of pride in his voice.

"Not only that, but you paced yourselves and moved swiftly and silently through the trees. The scouts on the ground had a hard time finding you a few times which proves that you've all made major improvements. Now, three laps around the island in the trees, after that head back to the main grounds either through the trees or on the ground. Should you choose the ground weights will be added to your ankles and wrists." He finished, the trio nodding before they took to the trees once more.

Christian watched as the trio disappeared before turning his attention towards the lake once more. He sighed when he saw Elliot nearly fall into the water as the boy attempted to leap from a branch to one of the poles. He was honestly worried about the boy. Brandon Masters had filled his son's head with thoughts of running the Brotherhood and how they had been the elite of all of them. However, the young boy was proving to have none of the cunning and wit that an Assassin needed. He rushed ahead and had already made an enemy of Harrison and Dean. When he had been escorted back to the beginning line he had been loudly complaining about how Harry and Ashley were 'cheating' because they were helping each other. The boy had shut up when the scouts explained that there wasn't a rule against helping each other out. Christian shook his head and stood straighter as Elliot finally reached the island and made his way over.

-Time to up his training…his father's not going to like this.- He thought, watching as the boy looked at him with frustration and some respect.

-xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx-

April 20th, 1988

Harry grinned as he leaned low over Spirit's back, the black Clydesdale stallion practically flying over the ground as he ran through the forest. Harry had just gotten home from school not thirty minutes ago before nearly sprinting to the stables after having tossed his backpack into the living room and shucking out of his blazer. Today had been horrible, honestly. He and Dean had been sent to Headmaster's office after they had gotten into trouble for 'antagonizing' two older students. Those students had been bullying the younger girls and boys, taking their money for lunch and destroying their assignments so they failed their classes. Harry and Dean had caught them teasing two girls until they were crying and had teamed up on the boys. Of course the other two had thrown the first punches but Harry and Dean had struck back and those two older boys had ended up on their backs with the wind knocked out of them.

Of course the two bullies had claimed that Harry and Dean had been the ones bullying the girls and they had tried to help them. Harry and Dean told the Headmaster everything, of course, and the Headmaster had called in the two girls. The two girls had backed Harry and Dean up, but they had still been sent home early for fighting. The two other boys had been sent home as well and had been put on probation. The pair had thought they were untouchable because their fathers were apparently important men in the community, thus they could get away with anything. Thankfully, that wasn't the case and Headmaster Newton didn't put up with rubbish like that and allow parents to push him around and threaten him. The two boys were to have detention after school for an hour every day and were banned from the school football team. Not only that, but they had to pay back every pound they stolen from other students.

Harry was glad that the two prats had been punished, but he didn't really want to deal with his mum and dad sitting him down and talking about his temper. He already knew that he had a bad temper and most of the time he had a tight control over it. However, seeing younger students and females at that, being bullied always made him loose his temper quicker than anything else besides seeing his family and friends in danger. While he treated everyone with respect, his parents had made sure to raise him to treat the opposite gender kindly. His mum had often called him a gentlemen and he had overheard many tell his parents that he was rather polite for a boy his age.

Harry blinked when Spirit suddenly slowed down, making him frown as he looked around. Instantly, he realized that Spirit had brought him to one of the newer parts of the forest. His dad had bought more of the forest and surrounding land around the estate as more and more people were recruited to the Brotherhood and they and their families moved to the estate for protection. He hadn't yet found time to explore the new parts of the forest, so he wasn't too sure where Spirit has brought him. However, the first thing he heard was the subtle yet enraged hissing of a reptile.

[That beast! How dare it attack us!]

Harry pulled gently on Spirit's reins, making the large horse slow to a stop. Looking around, the young boy slipped off of his mount's back and carefully studied the ground for any sign of a snake. The first time he had ever heard a reptile speak, he had thought it was normal English. His parents had been shocked and they had quickly told him that he was speaking another language. Thankfully his parents and everyone else in the Brotherhood didn't believe that Parseltongue was the mark of a Dark Wizard/Witch. Many countries actually revered people who could speak to snakes and other reptiles such as India, Egypt and Ireland. They had also done extensive research into Harry's family history and discovered that there were several Potter's who had the ability to speak Parseltongue.

[My mate…how will I hunt and protect my eggs?] The voice wailed, making Harry wince at the pain in the voice.

[Oh great mother, where are you? What ails you so?] He called, glancing back at Spirit as the stallion nickered and shifted nervously.

[Speaker?!]

Harry's eyes widened when a strikingly beautiful creature flew in front of him. The creature looked like a miniature version of a Dagon; reaching a height of two feet and a length of three and a half feet from snout to tail. The female's scales were a beautiful golden color with the odd mixture of silver and light blue scattered in as well. Bright, ruby red eyes peered at Harry in surprise, wonder and respect as the creature looked at the boy.

[W-What are you, beautiful one?] Harry breathed, awe in his voice as the creature hovered in the air in front of him.

[I am a Fire Lizard, though my name is Rashia.] She answered, watching as Harry nodded.

[As for what ails me: my mate has been killed by a pack of wolves that lives deeper into the forest. I cannot hunt and keep my nest safe.] Rashia lamented, crystalline tears gathering in her eyes as Harry winced in sympathy.

[I could help you, beautiful one. No one should go through this tragedy alone. I live with many other humans and all of us respect the creatures of this forest. We can help you by giving you food and ensure that your nest is safe.] Harry offered.

[You would really do this, Speaker? I warn you though, I will not hold back if any threaten my eggs.] Rashia said, a growl in her voice as Harry nodded.

[I swear that no harm shall befall you or your young, Rashia. Are you in any need right now?] He asked, watching as the Fire Lizard landed on the ground and began leading him to a small cluster of trees.

[I must eat soon. Hare or other small animals are my prey.] She answered, looking back at Harry as she moved over to her nest.

Harry was, again, in awe when he saw the nest. The actual nest was made of rocks, sand and charred twigs. Six multicolored eggs rested in the center and he watched as Rashia breathed dark red and green flames over the eggs before coiling her body around them. Harry turned and whistled shrilly, knowing that there was bound to be a member of the Brotherhood nearby. After that, he took to the trees and began hunting. Thanks to his Eagle sight, he managed to locate a rabbit's trail and quickly pounced on the unsuspecting creature. He swiftly broke its neck before hurrying back to Rashia. He arrived just as three Assassins hurried over. Rashia hissed and drew herself more tightly around her eggs, though the Assassins stopped and looked at her in awe.

"A-A Fire Lizard!"

"A nesting mother at that!"

"You've seen Fire Lizards before?" Harry asked, turning to Rashia and laying the dead rabbit near her nest so she could eat.

"They are rather common in my country. However, they are rare here in England." Aya Essa said, her dark eyes watching as Rashia seared the hair off of the rabbit and proceeded to eat it when Harry moved to stand in front of her.

"Her mate was killed by a pack of wolves that live further in the forest. She can't defend her nest and hunt at the same time. I heard her mourning her mate and cursing the wolves." Harry explained.

"Fire Lizard eggs need to be kept at a high temperature for the young to fully develop. Normally they are buried in sand so the parents can hunt freely. However, they've been adapting as they've migrated." Aya explained, the others listening with rapt attention.

"We could build a fire pit near Richard's forge, keep an everlasting fire and make sure there's plenty of sand for the eggs. Myself and two others are trained to handle them." She added, watching as relief spread across the others faces.

"I'll go inform Richard and the others so they can prepare everything." Sean Hawthorn said, hurrying away towards the main estate.