Chapter Text
Chapter 01: Cracks in the Universe
Percy Weasley shivered as he passed by the boney cloaked figures. The frigid sea air was nothing compared to the chill from the wardens of Azkaban. Voices echoed in his head as he passed by them. Screams and cries of his family. The hole in his chest from the loss of them was even worse than when the Ministry had taken his right arm. A lesson they had told him. A punishment to keep him in line. And a warning that the next time he failed the Dark Lord turned Minister of Magic it would be worse. They would take far worse than his arm this time…
He could not fail his current assignment. He pulled his cloak tighter around him as he ventured into the highest security level of Azkaban. Once upon a time this had been the cells reserved for those driven insane by the dementors, mostly those from The Dark Lord's first rise. Now after his second rise to power it served as a trophy case for his defeated foes. Though the prisoners here were just as insane as ever. Percy looked into one cell, from which came a childish humming. The eyeless face of a small woman in rags stared back at him.
It took him a moment to look past the blonde hair that was so dirty it may as well be black and the long scars that ran across the withered skull like face to see the familiar features of young Luna Lovegood. Despite having had her eyes ripped out nearly a decade ago her head turned with Percy as he shuffled past. All the while her humming echoed off the dull walls. He remembered the song she hummed from when he was younger. The strange Lovegood daughter and Ginny had sung that nonesoness song for hours on end the summer of Percy's first year at Hogwarts. Ginny…
He glanced to the empty cell further down the hall. That had been Ginny's cell. Percy had visited her for months on end. He had begged her to just tell them what she knew. Tell them of the Resistance. But Ginny had stubbornly refused. Right up till she had been dragged before a wizarding firing squad. Like many that had been held here her loyalty to the Resistance had been unbreakable. Almost as unbreakable as the only other prisoner here besides Lovegood. This whole level had been redesigned after The Dark Lord took over for one single purpose. The torture and interrogation of Holly Potter, the Girl-Who-Lived.
Percy caught himself. Steadying his stride and straightening his shoulders he marched forward to the last cell on the level. He pulled out his Ministry approved paperwork and presented it to the two dementors that floated on opposite sides of the cell doors. One of them reached out with a bony hand to take it from him. A shiver went up Percy's spine as the hand of the dementor brushed against his own. It was like a shot of ice through his veins. It studied the papers as the other dementor stared straight through Percy. He could not see the face of the monster under that hood but he could feel its gaze upon him. Like a dog looking at a treat upon its nose waiting for its master to give it permission to feed.
The dementor with the paperwork looked back up at Percy before handing him the sheets of parchment back and shifting aside. The other dementor mirrored this action as they both raised their hands and the cell door creaked open. Gathering what little nerve he could muster around the dementors he stepped into the cell. His eyes glanced around the dirty walls and baron floor. A single three bared window that was little more than a slit in the wall of the mighty island fortress looked over stormy ocean waters. "Holly?" He called his voice echoing. Something moved in the shadows.
Percy flicked out his wand, fumbling it slightly with his left hand, before bringing it up to bear. " Expecto Patronum ." A dull white mist burst from his wand before flickering away. The shadow shifted once more.
"Happy memory…" a raspy voice murmured from the darkness. "Focus on a happy…"
Percy frowned as he discarded the memory of becoming head boy and instead thought of his wedding day. " Expecto Patronum ." Once more the mist formed, stronger and more solid this time. But like before it faded and died as he remembered. His wife was dead…
"Not happier memories," the voice groaned out. "Just memories of something not lost to the darkness. Happy memories that are not lost to you. Ones that still remain. Think of the best thing in your life… the thing that keeps you going… focus on it and cast the spell."
Percy strained under the presence of the dementors to remember what kept him going. Why was he here again? What was the point of anything anyone? What did it even matter? Molly and Lucy. They had Molly and Lucy. His daughters, that's what kept him going. Their smiles, their laughs, their voices calling to him… " Expecto Patronum ."
A small misty white robin burst from his wand. Despite its tiny size, the red robin lit up the room. The feelings of hopelessness and depression faded as what little cheer Percy had in the world returned.
The figure in the shadows was revealed to be a woman with wild black hair. Her skin was filthy and her clothes little more than scraps on her boney frame. She was gaunt and weary. Barely able to keep her head up to look at Percy with her emerald green eyes from behind shattered glasses. A smile was on her cracked lips as her eyes followed the little red robin patronus that flew around the cell.
"Ginny," Holly murmured. Somehow she managed to look even shorter and thinner than the 12 year old girl Percy remembered meeting the summer before her second year at Hogwarts. Her gaze shifted back to Percy. "Brilliant work Ron mate. I told you you could do it."
"Holly, Ron's…" Percy said a lump forming in his throat as he thought of his hospital ridden brother. "... not here. It's me. Percy."
Holly looked disappointed for a moment before shaking her head. "Don't worry about it mate. Hermione's going to be so glad to see you Ron. She was just saying how much everyone missed you," Holly said still beaming at him. Percy's eyes widened, Hermione had been dead for… it must have been four or five years. Almost as long as Ron had been comatose. "Not to mention Ginny and Neville and George and Fred.."
"Holly," Percy injected. Fred had been dead since before the Dark Lord's second resurrection. "They're all dead."
"Of course they are," Holly said as if that was obvious. "They all died… all of them… just me left here… me and Luna. I hear her sing. Such a pretty voice. I love that voice. Almost as much as I loved her pretty silver eyes. They were like diamonds. But can't let them know that. Last time I did…" Holly paused as her smile wavered. "They took them from her. Made me watch as they plucked them out. Like tearing grapes off a vine. She said she would not cry and she didn't… not till they were gone and she realised that without her eyes she couldn't see the nargles anymore. She misses them…"
"Holly please…"
"But now that you're here Ron we're not alone anymore," Holly said her smile returning. "Molly and Arthur are coming around tonight after Dumbledore's lessons. Can you stay for tea? I can invite around my parents and Sirius and Remus and Tonks… you have not met my parents yet. I'll have to introduce you to them. They have been wanting to meet you for ages."
"Holly stop!" Percy cried out. Holly sat quietly there, fiddling with a ring on her finger. "Please Holly… I need your help."
"Sure thing Ron," Holly said with a nod. "What do you need help with? Tell me what I can do. I will do anything for you. You know that mate."
"I…" Percy's voice caught in his throat. "I need to know where the wand is Holly. Where did you hide the Elder Wand?"
"Shhhhhhhh," Holly said putting her finger to her lips. "That's a secret. Can't let Voldemort know where it is."
"Please Holly just tell me where it is," Percy said fighting the urge to get down on his knees and beg. "That's all he wants. Just give him the wand."
"Sorry Ron… but you know we can't," Holly said. "He'll kill us. You, Luna and Me. Can't tell him."
"Holly they have my daughters. You have to tell them!" Percy did not realise he had stalked across the cell and was standing above her till he felt her hand grasp his ankle.
"I'm sorry Ron… I am so sorry," Holly cried. "I can't tell him. I hid the wand and he can't be allowed to know where it is. You know why I can't tell him."
"Please…" Percy said but Holly merely shook her head. "You heartless bitch!" He lashed out, kicking Holly in the side. "Are you really going to do this? Sacrifice my daughters for some bloody wand?" He kicked her again feeling ribs break as Holly coughed up blood across the floor. "Who am I kidding? You already sacrificed the rest of my family. What's another pair of Weasleys to the great Holly Potter?" He kicked her in the face, breaking her nose. "Just another blood stain on your hands. Well fuck you Holly."
"I'm sorry… Uncle Vernon," Holly whimpered as she looked up at Percy with a bloodied face. "I promise I won't do any of my freakish nonsense. Please just don't hurt me anymore."
Percy snapped back to reality at those words. What was he thinking? His anger remained along with the terror of what would happen to his daughters. but shame welled up within him. Holly was clearly damaged. If there was an answer to his question it would not be found here with this broken woman. And certainly not through beating her. He turned his back on her and walked away, no, he ran away. Out of the cell and down the hall. As he passed by Luna's cell it was not humming that filled the air but words.
" The world ends tonight, at the dawn of the last hour, the snake will face the lioness one last time, the winner will hold all three Hallows and the world will end with but a whimper, as it breaks apart ," Luna said her body stiff and rigid. " The world ends tonight ."
"Good," Percy spat at her mad ramblings as he rushed past her. Maybe if he begged they would spare his daughters.
*
Alone in her cell, Holly clutched the ring close to her chest as Percy's patronus faded away. The pain across her body was dull in comparison to the coldness from the dementors that returned in full force. She slowly turned the ring around her finger, calling on the power of the last Hallow she held. The wand was hidden and her cloak had been taken from her when they first took her in after Voldemort's second resurrection. Years ago she had made the mistake of going after Hallows over Horcruxes. And this was all she had left to show for it. She was a failure. So many dead in her name and not even snake faced Riddle had been polite enough to stay gone.
"Holly my girl. It's not your fault, it never was."
"Albus," Holly groaned as she wiped away the blood from her face to look up at her long dead Headmaster. "You came."
"Like I always have and I always will," Albus said giving her a warm smile. "We're here for you."
She turned her head to look into a pair of bright sparkling green eyes looking down upon her. "Get up Honey," Lily Potter said her words filling Holly with a warmth that even Azkaban could not take from her. "Easy there…"
Holly pulled herself up into a seated position against the wall. She turned to see a man kneeling down beside her mother.
"That's my big girl," James Potter said. Holly wanted to pull herself up into his embrace but that was not how the Resurrection Stone worked. She had tried. "Brave and strong… just like your old man."
"It is a good thing then that she got her wits and her brains from her mother," Sirius said crouching down by Holly to grin at her like the devil himself.
"Fourtunate indeed," Remus spoke, sticking to the back of the assembled spectors, but nonetheless here and present.
"We're here Harry," Tonks said from besides Remus, her arm around his waist as she held the hand of five year old Teddy. "Just tell us what you need."
"I need to decide what to do," Holly said her eyes turning downcast.
"You need Auntie Hermione and Uncle Ron," Teddy chirped with a big toothy smile that was hard to stomach on the face of a dead little boy.
"Uncle Ron can't come here Teddy… not yet," Holly said softly as she forced herself to meet the boy's eyes. "And Auntie Hermione… I don't know if I can bring myself to pull her away again…" They were all in pain here. The ghost suffered to come and comfort Holly. But they were the only thing that had kept her going all these years.
"And yet I came anyway," Hermione said squeezing through the others in the cell to kneel down before Holly. "I am always here for you Holly." She reached out and placed her ghostly hands upon Holly's. They were cold against her skin as they sunk into her palms. But Holly cared little for that.
"Hermione," Holly said, smiling wider than she had in years. "What do I do?"
"Typical Holly," Hermione said with a roll of her eyes but laughter in her voice. "Always wanting me to give you the answers when you already know what you will do anyway." Holly gave Hermione her best sheepish look. "Think about the facts. You have been practicing to escape for a while now, your plan is solid and you are ready. Now you can escape and try to build the Resistance again from nothing, go to ground and live out the rest of your life on the run or stay here and rot. But you won't do any of those. Because you're Holly Potter and there's only one thing you could do."
"I know," Holly said taking a deep breath. "The wand is not safe out there where Riddle can get it. I need to get it back. Then I can think about going to ground or starting a new Resistance."
"You can do it Holly," Hermione said as Holly rose up to her feet. She stumbled over towards the window as Hermione encouraged her along. "Just a little further Holly."
"It's time to leave," Holly said with a firm nod as she took a hold of the bars. "Tonks?"
"I'm here," Tonks said handing off Teddy to Remus as she stepped forward. "Are you ready?"
"Just guide me through," Holly said with a wobbly grin.
"Breathe and remember your exercises," Tonks said resting a hand on Holly's head. "Start with something small like your hair or eyes. Let them shift and change." She smirked as Holly's overgrown hair shortened, the dirt flaking and falling away. "That's it. Now let the tingling course through your body. Shift your muscles and bones. Let it go deep into your tissue. Squeeze it altogether but keep your vital organs working and try not to cut off your respiratory system or blood circulation."
Holly focused on her limited metamorphmagus training that Tonks had given her over these years in Azkaban. It was hard to learn anything in a prison that sucked away your hope. But slowly and steadily her body began to change. She grew even thinner than before. Her bones merged with her flesh as muscles pulled in tight. Her organs rearranged and reshaped as her very bone structure changed. She continued this process till she was the perfect size to start squeezing through the bars. It was thirty minutes till she was fully through the widow and hanging onto them hundreds of meters above a perilous drop.
"Hang on Potter," growled Alastor Moody as he hovered before Holly. "If you dare let go of that before it's time I will make you climb back up the wall and do it again. You didn't do all those push ups for nothing girl."
Holly strained as she felt her grasp on the bars tighten. This was the hardest part. To sneak through the bars she needed to weaken herself significantly due to condensing her muscle and bone. Now as she hung here, regaining it all, she was at her most vulnerable. One slip and she would fall to her death. She needed to wait till she had enough muscle mass to move onto the next phase. Luckily with Moody drilling her in physical training over the years and getting extra food from playing the wasting away prisoner she had built up a healthy reserve.
"I'm ready for the next phase," Holly gasped out as the sea winds battered her about on the exterior of Azkaban. "Dad? Sirius?"
"We're here," Sirius said as he stepped forward alongside James. "You can do this Holly. Remember your meditation."
"Focus on the inner beast," James said his hand reaching through a solid bar to rest on her shoulder. "Release it Honey. Let it become one with you."
"Picture the change in your mind Miss Potter," Professor Mcgonagall instructed as she appeared there alongside Moody. "Just like a mouse into a snuff box. Picture the change and make it happen."
"Let the inner beast help you along Holly," Remus said in his teacher's voice. "But do not let it consume you. Remember you are in charge. Not the other way around."
Holly felt a similar tingle to the metamorphmagus change. Only this one was guided by the beast within her. She felt her legs shift up into her body as her feet transformed into large talons. Her face narrowed and a beak morphed from her lips and nose. Her eyes turned sharper as her body started to lengthen. Dark feathers burst from her skin as her arms started to pull inwards. This was it, the final step. Holly took a deep breath in and released her grasp from the bars.
Air rushed past her. Holly's sharp bird eyes could see the waves crashing against bone shattering rocks below her as she hurtled down towards them. She needed to finish her transformation before she slammed into them. She let out a thunderous screech as she called for the beast within her. Holly felt her arms form into not just one set of wings but three as her body finished growing in size. Spreading her half a dozen wings wide Holly pulled up at the last minute. Her monsterous talons scraped across the rocks as cold sea water sprayed across her feathered body.
Holly had fallen from the highest point of Azkaban but it was a thunderbird that rose from the depths. Flying higher and higher she crested over the prison and up towards the clouds. Dementors swarmed behind her but she beat her wings and left them far below her. Entering into the clouds she felt them gather around her. Lightning arced from her feathers and into the clouds as thunder rumbled. There was a deafening boom as she broke the sound barrier. Breaking through the clouds, the night sky embracing her, a single question came to mind. What now?
Holly knew where she needed to go but not how to get there. It was like second year all over again with the flying car. Only there was no train to follow. And then she saw them. Six broomstick mounted wizards and witches dressed in red and gold. The names on the back of their jerseys were illuminated by the moonlight. Wood, Johnson, Spinnet, Bell and a pair of Weasleys flew into escort positions around Holly. The magic of the Resurrection Stone not only transcended her animagus form but allowed the rest of the quidditch team to keep up with her supersonic speed.
"Fall in Potter," Oliver said, flashing her his wild grin as he trailed behind her tail feathers.
"We have a game to win," Angelina said coming up below Holly.
"And you know us…" one of the Weasley twins began.
"... we hate to lose," the other one finished. The pair of red headed twins fell into position either side of Holly, flanking her.
"Stick with us Holly," Alicia said as she came up alongside Angelina.
"We'll guide you in," Katie said joining with her fellow chasers.
Another red headed figure dressed in a Gryffindor quidditch uniform rose from the clouds before Holly. "Catch me if you can Holly," Ginny said giving the thunderbird animagus a wink before jetting off on her broom. Holly let out a booming cry before barreling after the red headed chaser. The storm that formed in her wake moved across Britain towards the scotish highlands.
*
From within the very cell Holly had left, an invisible figure watched them disappear into the clouds. A smirk came over their lips. A flick of the wand and they could feel the tracking charm still working. Turning on the spot they apperated away with a crack that echoed through the halls of Azkaban. If Potter thought she was going to run off and retrieve the wand before their master than she had another thing coming.
*
Hogwarts stood silently upon the horizon. The castle had been conquered half a dozen times over the last ten years. It had been held by both the Resistance and the Dark Lord at different times. Battle had damaged the castle and efforts to restore it had stopped and started more times than it had been held. It was in no way a ruin but years of proper care and unrepaired damage left the once great school looking sad and desolate.
The thunderbird animagus glided in atop the storm clouds, coming to land at the familiar quidditch pitch. Shifting back to her human form, Holly walked across the torn up pitch. It was depressing to see her first home worn down and broken like this. It was lifeless without students and teachers. Holly dared not look back as she hurried towards the castle. She did not need the Marauder's Map to know where she was going, her feet carried her through the familiar halls and up to the grand staircase.
The few portraits that remained were fast asleep as she climbed towards the third floor. Coming to the same door from first year she pushed it open to reveal a chillingly familiar room. It was like she had been here yesterday. Fluffy, the enchanted harp and most importantly the trapdoor filled her head. Fluffy was gone and Holly had no idea what had become of the harp but the trap door was still there. Kicking it open, she leapt into the darkness, landing with a thunk against the dead devil's snare. Although the plant had long perished due to lack of care it was enough to cushion her fall.
The chambers beyond here were similarly abandoned or run down. Holly walked through them all without a problem before coming to the last room. A chill went down her spine as she stepped up towards the Mirror of Erised. Staring into the mirror she watched as her breath fogged up the glass. Holly knew what she needed. She needed the Elder Wand. She needed it so that Voldemort could not lay his hands upon it. That was all it took for the wand to appear in her pocket.
"Don't even think about it Potter," a chilingly familiar voice said behind her as she felt a wand poke into her back.
"Malfoy," Holly growled as she looked into the mirror to see his face appear in the air behind her. Her eyes narrowed as she saw the cloak around his shoulders, her cloak . "You don't want to do this."
"Shut it Potter," Draco sneered jabbing the wand into her. "Hands up and away from that wand." Holly did as was asked of her, keeping her hands held high. Malfoy reached around with his wandless hand to pluck his prize from her pocket. "The Elder Wand…" He turned it around in his hands as he stepped back from Holly but kept his other wand trained on her. "To think I was once the master of the most powerful wand in the world and I did not even know it."
She laughed as she watched him in the mirror. "Malfoy you were only its master because of a mistake that Albus made," Holly said turning to face her former yearmate. "But then again is that not the perfect way to sum up your life? One big mistake after another."
"I am going to enjoy killing you Potter," Draco said lowering his own wand as he rose the Elder Wand at her.
"I wouldn't do that Malfoy. You're making another mistake," she taunted him with a grin.
"The only mistake ever made was letting you live Potter," he said preparing to bring the wand to bear down on Holly.
"It's the same mistake your master made," Holly said watching as Draco paused, doubting himself. "I'm right ain't I?" Her gaze turned from Draco to his side.
"Who are you talking to?" Draco said flicking his wand in the direction Holly was looking while keeping the Elder Wand trained on her. " Homenum Revelio ." He shook his head as no one else was revealed. "No more stalling Potter. I am going to finish what my master started." He pointed the Elder Wand at Holly. "Avada Ked…"
Holly threw out her hand towards Draco and watched as the wand was ripped from his grasp. She held the familiar wand and waved it at Draco before he could bring his own to bear on her. " Expelliarmus. " The blast of magic from the Elder Wand not only disarmed Draco but sent him flying through the air back towards the chamber doors. He slammed into the wall before falling on his face. "I was right… wasn't I Albus?"
Dumbledore nodded as Holly stepped forward and collected Draco's wand and her invisibility cloak that had been discarded on the floor. "Yes," the ghost of Albus Dumbledore said. "The wand still recognises you as its master, not Mister Malfoy." Holly smiled as she wrapped the familiar cloak around herself. For the first time since she gave up the Elder Wand, the Master of Death held all three Deathly Hallows.
Draco groaned as he pulled himself up to his knees. He had a nasty cut across the back of his head, blood already staining his blonde hair. "Potter…" he said looking up to Holly who held the Elder Wand towards him. "Please…"
"Sorry Draco," Holly said, shaking her head. "No one can know I have the wand and I am not confident enough in my memory charms to leave you alive."
"No please…"
" Avada Kedavra ."
The flash of green hit Draco and he fell down once more. This time he would not be getting back up. Stumbling back, Holly felt the air around her become thick. It was hard to breathe. She was shaking. Draco was not the first person she had killed. Many had died during her service within the Resistance. She had become surprisingly brutal to ensure no one bested her in a dual less the mastery of the Elder Wand pass onto another. But Draco had been different. He had been unarmed and helpless. He had also been someone she had known since she was 11 years old.
"You did what you had to… Holly," Albus said as he stepped in beside his former student. "Catch your breath and get ready to move. If Mister Malfoy was here…"
"Others can't be far behind him," Holly said as she managed to get her breath back. "I need to leave." She turned in the room, surveying it once more as she prepared to leave. A glint in the mirror caught her eye. Stepping towards it she gasped as she saw a crack running across the glass. "What the… Albus the mirror is broken. Albus?" She glanced over to the ghost only to see him frozen still. "Albus!"
Her voice echoed around the room. Something was wrong. Something was very wrong. Glancing back to the mirror she saw the crack had widen and started to spread. Beyond it she could see… empty space. It was nothing but not in the way that there was nothing there rather that there had never been anything there. It was a portal to nothingness. Holly gasped her chest as she realised what was wrong. Her heart had stopped beating. And her breathing… she did not need to breathe anymore. Movement around her caught her eye and she turned to see more cracks in the world. They formed not in the walls or floor but rather within space itself. The cracks were forming in reality. Tears in the fabric of the universe.
Holly turned back to the mirror and gasped as the crack tore open. A flash of white blinded her and images filled her head. A familiar white room, platform Nine and Three Quarters, Hermione's face, an assembly of cloaked figures, a templar knight, a large lightning bolt symbol upon the floor… the Mirror of Erised.
She blinked and the mirror sat before her, perfectly whole once more. No cracks across the smooth surface. Only instead of the 28 year old, Azkaban hardened metamorphmagus woman it showed a scrawny little 11 year old girl. She still had the cloak around her shoulders but there was no Elder Wand in hand or Resurrection Stone upon her finger. Around her reflected in the mirror was the family she had grown to know within the walls of Azkaban. Her mother and father smiling down upon her and relatives going back generations. All of them faded out of existence.
Instead they were replaced with the family she had made. Ron and Hermione wrapped their arms around her shoulders. Sirius smiled as he ruffled her hair. Remus and Tonks dotted over a little baby Teddy. Red hair took up most of the mirror as the rest of the Weasley clan stood to one side. Dumbeldore, Professor Mcgonagall, Snape and many of her other teachers stood proudly to the other side. Dobby was smiling up at "The Great Holly Potter". Luna and Ginny were close by near Ron, along with Neville who beamed at Holly. Hagrid stepped forward from among her teachers and released a familiar snowy white owl who flew over to Holly's shoulder. Hedwig nuzzled Holly's head as more and more of the people she loved came into frame.
James and Lily Potter would always be her parents and she would love them till the day she died. But this was the family she could have. The one she had a chance of having. The one she desired above all else. It was the one she had held onto all those dark nights within Azkaban. Her parents were dead, they had been since almost before she could remember. They were gone. Many of these people had been too. But now she had a chance to save them. Because Holly James Potter was…
"So, back again, Holly?"
It was that voice that made Holly finally lose it. Tears flowed from her eyes as she sniffled loudly. Turning around she came face to face with Albus Dumbledore. He was as young as she remembered him. Her years at Hogwarts had seemed to age the already elderly Headmaster considerably. To see him in the flesh, with that twinkle in his eyes, instead of his ghostly form. It broke the floodgates wide open. Holly Potter was back. She was home. She did not know why or how it had happened but the implications were clear. She had a second chance.