I apologize profusely for the delay in getting this out. It took way too damn long, and I scold myself greatly for it. It seems that I forgot about this thing for a long time, and lost the will to write for another period of time. But that will is back, I believe, as I finished writing this chapter today. It's not as long as I initially wanted it to be, but it'll do for the time being. If you instant messaged me to be my beta reader, which a few of you did, I'm sorry that I've dropped out of contact with you. If you'd like to retake that position, you are more than welcome to. My screen name on aimis ministryisadeity.

Now for the chapter.

The clanking sound of metal on metal was music to Harry's ears, after the literal silence that had encompassed the room since it was first stocked. The Dwarven King had sent an expeditionary team of blacksmiths along with Neville on his return to Lion Castle, a week previous. Apparently, he hadn't needed much convincing to join the cause, and was eager to supply aid as quickly as possible. The full muster of the Dwarven contingent were still preparing for departure in their kingdom under the Ural Mountains, causing much stress to Harry in the meantime, as he wondered where they were going to live. If he had to have everyone in the Order of the Lion, plus their immediate families, move into the castle for their protection, then that wasn't going to leave much room for a company of Dwarves.

A stack of newly crafted axe-heads were resting on a long rack, waiting to be attached to a handle, and charmed. Harry ran a finger over the edge of one, admiring the curving sharpness of it that would have the simplistic power of destruction when wielded. He wasn't sure which charm should be placed on this particular one, he'd leave that up to the Dwarves' Spellmaster when he arrived.

It had been two days since the Dwarves arrived, and in that time, Harry had released his prisoner, after emptying his mind of all useful information. He had erased from his mind the names of Harry's allies, although Voldemort would guess them and target them anyway, and Harry knew that. He sent the near lifeless body to the gates of Malfoy Manner, completely naked, bearing the cauterized marks of Harry's interrogation session. Masses of red lines lanced out all over his body, signifying an excruciatingly painful infection. He had taken the liberty of carving his initials into Callahan's right bicep, just so there would be no mistaking who was responsible for it.

The wizarding world was a powder keg waiting to erupt, especially in Great Britain. Rumors of Harry's health were sprouting up all over the world, started by one panicked Death Eater, who was now dead at Voldemort's hand. Similar panic was spreading, with multitudes of people gathering at the Ministry of Magic to demand Harry's recapture, and subsequent execution.

Far less people were being logical about it, and deciding that, providing the rumor was true, then a Death Eater defecting away from Voldemort in fear of Harry Potter was a good thing, and meant that Harry wasn't in league with the Dark Lord.

Hermione had been approached by several people as the most likely person to be in touch with Harry, and had put them on her list of potential members of the Order of the Lion. She had sent them on without confirmation nor denial of her immediate connection with Harry, but informed them that they would be contacted later.

Harry was now pacing through the caverns beneath the dungeon, where the wealth of the Order was stored. He had sent Hermione and Remus on a diplomatic mission to the Isle of Man's small magical community, to gather their support, and to hopefully use the island as a fortress and staging point for attacks in England and other places.

While that was going on, Harry had also sent Tonks and Sirius on a reconnaissance mission to Ireland, where Ronald Weasley's auror division was stationed. Tonks was going to use her metamorphagus ability, and Sirius his animagus ability, to infiltrate their base and get an idea on how strong they were.

Snape had the lone job of reporting on the Order of the Phoenix, and Dumbledore's knowledge of Harry.

Harry himself remained at the castle, planning and preparing for war. Dobby the house elf had been brought to the castle by Hermione at the request of Tonks, and was immediately given the task of preparing the kitchens for full service. He had done a sterling job so far, and the kitchens were nearly completely up to date. Dobby was well liked by a squib grocer, who dealt with Hogwarts, procuring and delivering much of the castle's food supply. As such, Dobby was able to get the same deal that Hogwarts had, but in far smaller quantities. Fresh supplies of perishables would be delivered to a drop point on the coast of Ireland, where Dobby would pick them up and transport them back to Lion Castle. Two of the Dwarves were cooks as well, and did not hesitate to show Dobby the finer sides of slow roasting meat, and brewing ale. They also did not hesitate to show everyone the table etiquette of the Dwarves, and needless to say, Hermione was quite appalled.

Harry's strange but pleasing relationship with Tonks had not progressed much, largely in part of Sirius doing his best to torture them every time they were alone. The first incident was a massive condor perched over Tonks' head as she was sleeping next to Harry one morning. She woke up and screamed bloody murder, almost causing Harry to internally combust from the shock. Another incident was a well aimed dung bomb landing on Harry right as he got Tonks into a corner. He chased Sirius down and held him suspended in mid air over the water for that one.

Harry was cut short from his musings as a wailing pig scurried across his path, carrying what Harry assumed, was a gleeful Dwarf on its back. Harry followed them with his eyes, mouth gaping slightly. Two more laughing Dwarves ran in front of him, following after the pig and its rider. He looked across the dining hall, and saw Dobby jumping up and down on a table in excitement, as he watched the Dwarves. Harry shook his head and decided to leave it, for now. He assumed that the pig would eventually turn into dinner.

Dinner was a pleasant affair, with Harry's assumptions proven correct by the excellent pork that was served. Tankards of potent ale were passed around, in traditional Dwarven fashion. Harry had more than his share of the intoxicating drink, and was feeling quite drunk by the time Dobby cleared the table off. The Dwarves were telling tales of their hunting and battle expeditions in the Urals; Apparently, the group that was sent to Lion Castle were considered the elite of their kingdom. The best in blacksmithing, hunting, tracking, and fighting. They were all over two-hundred and fifty years old, and were veterans of the long and bloody Giant and Troll Wars. The war with the Giants was actually just a series of raids and counter-raids that lasted over the course of ten years during the mid 1800's. The Troll War lasted fifteen years in the early 1900's, and began as a supposed quick campaign to rid the Urals of the Mountain Trolls. However, they underestimated the intelligence of the Troll chieftains, who put aside their own conflicts and united as one to launch a counter-offensive against the Dwarves. The war ended with thousands of deaths on each side, and each of the Dwarves at Harry's table being awarded the Kingdom's Hammer, the highest award attainable by a warrior. In short, they were a veteran group capable of holding their own in a fight against just about anyone.

Dervin, the Dwarf seated to Harry's immediately left, was currently telling with great pleasure, the story of his first boar hunt. Harry listened with half a mind. His attention, inebriated thought it was, wandered to other topics. Inspiration can come at strange times, as all know. This was one of those times for Harry. For the past week he had been counting solely on physical, combative warfare to defeat his enemies. It was fueled by a thirst for vengeance, he knew. He desperately wanted to spill the blood of his enemies, and dedicate their deaths to Naylajaratim, but somehow he now understood that he was going about his plans like a fool. 'Perhaps it took a drunken, loosened mind to see it,' He reflected to himself, chuckling out loud.

This drew a curious look from the Dwarves, but they took it at face value. Harry must've found some human reason for humor in the tale.

Harry summoned a bit of parchment from the library, the door was open fortunately, and conjured a quill and some ink to write his plans down, to prevent himself from forgetting them once he regained lucidity.

The Dwarves erupted in laughter, but Harry paid them no attention and kept plotting.

It was with a devious but pleased heart that Harry climbed the stairs to his bedroom that night. He had several meetings to pursue in the morning, and he willed himself to sleep as quickly as possible.

Harry awoke early; Daylight was just beginning to creep over the horizon. He silently made his way down the stairs to the library. Dobby intercepted him before he could shut the door behind him, and began nearly begging for orders.

"Actually, you could get something for me, Dobby." Harry began.

"Anything, Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby squealed in delight.

"I need any current photos you can find of Ronald Weasley, as quickly as possible. And be stealth about it." Harry requested.

"Yes sir, Harry Potter, sir!" Dobby departed as fast as he could, to who knows where, in order to complete his objective.

Harry, in the meantime, went through Hermione's magical catalogue for all the books in the library, and selected a title. A small, but very morbid looking book slowly floated to Harry. He took it and curiously felt the hardened cover. Opening it, he discovered the pages were made of a leathery material, that had a strange smell. It wasn't musty, as old paper gets. Wondering about this, and reading the chapter titles on the index page, realization struck Harry, and he dropped the book with a somewhat startled, choking noise. The cover was made of bone, and the pages were human skin. After recovering from the initial surprise, Harry picked the book back up and took it to the nearest table, where he sat down and opened it. The pages were filled with bold, violent looking glyphs, and there were many drawings of various rituals and ceremonies. He flipped through the book until he came across the entry he needed, and made a quick copy of the page on a piece of parchment, then waited for Dobby to return with the requested pictures.

He didn't have long to wait, as Dobby returned quite quickly, bearing an armload of magical pictures featuring the one and only Ronald Weasley. Harry took them with a malicious grin, and thanked Dobby, who looked about ready to burst into tears. Harry took the pictures and parchment and went outside to the castle grounds, where he scratched a shape into the ground with a knife, then stood next to it. He studied the pictures carefully stifling an amused feeling as Ron moved around uneasily in them, with an expression that was borderline fear, borderline hatred. Harry marveled at the advances in wizarding photography, as he concluded that a way was found for magically photographed people to have some of their personalities captured as well as their image. After several minutes of watching them carefully, Harry dropped them all to the ground, and took the knife he cut the shape with, and sliced into his left hand. Blood dripped from his hand, into the ground. The outline briefly glowed red, and Harry spat out a guttural series of words. A mound of earth rose quickly from the ground, forming into the shape of a human as it grew taller. Harry concentrated, and it began to take on the appearance of Ron Weasely. After a few seconds, the transformation was complete, and Harry willed the creature out of the shape. He raised one more of them, which he didn't give features, just a dark cloak with a hood that covered it's face.

Harry spent the next several minutes summoning objects and transfiguring them, until he stood in the middle of what looked like a movie set. Brick walls rose on three sides, giving the appearance of being in an alley, as well as a cobblestone street underfoot. Several objects were placed around, making it look more realistic. Windows were added, as well as a faded sign for the Leaky Cauldron. Harry looked at the still rising sun, and decided that the sky and surroundings looked enough like dusk to keep going. Harry placed his creatures in somewhat of a secretive location, and hid himself near them behind a series of discarded boxes. He laid down to act as though he was a sleeping drunkard, and began willing his creatures to act. Using his memory, he added voice to the Ron-creature, while keeping its movements accurate with the words.

"After you're in, head straight to the first target. Take it, and then hit the second. Since he escaped, we know he'll try and retake it." The Ron-creature whispered urgently to the dark cloaked-creature.

The dark cloaked-creature responded with a gravelly voice that Harry thought up on the spot. "Why can't you just get the president to release it all to you?"

"There's no way they'll willingly let go of that much."

Harry closed his eyes from the scene, and willed everything to disappear. He rose to his feet, and strode quickly back into the castle, and to the first dungeon level, where Snape had set up a small room to use as a potions laboratory. Once there, he took an empty vial from a shelf, and pointed his finger at his head. He concentrated and whispered quietly, drawing a thin, silvery strand from his head, and gently depositing it into the vial. He put a stopper in the vial, and rushed back upstairs to the library. Once there, he sat at a table and scribbled a quick note.

Harry rolled the parchment around the vial, which he attached with a sticking charm, and called Dobby.

Dobby arrived without delay, "How can Dobby help, Harry Potter, sir?"

Take this to the nearest owlery, and send it straight to the Gringotts President. Do not let yourself be identified, and return right away.

Dobby nodded enthusiastically and took the parchment, then disappeared with a small pop.

Harry left the library and went to the kitchens, where he began preparing a large breakfast.

Hermione and Remus returned to the castle at ten o' clock that morning, with Tonks and Sirius arriving shortly after. Dobby had returned twenty minutes after Harry sent him on his mission, and reported success. So it was with expectation that Harry waited for Tonks and Sirius in the meeting hall. He was not disappointed; Tonks reported that Ron had received an owl at around nine o' clock, and stormed from his office looking very agitated.

Harry smiled at this news, confirmed that there was nothing else to take immediate note of, and nodded his thanks to Tonks and Sirius. They would give their full report after a quick breakfast.

Hermione and Remus spoke up next. "The magical community of the Isle of Man voted to accept your request to establish a base there, as long as you paid out a fee and helped to establish wards around their settlements for their own protection."

"What is the fee?" Harry asked.

"They want four thousand galleons a month." Remus replied.

"Done. Let them know as soon as possible, then I want you and Sirius to head out there with a host of Dwarves to begin construction of a base."

"Is their arrival still planned for tomorrow?" Hermione questioned.

Harry nodded, "Yes. King Elius sent word today that the first troupe of thirty will be arriving midday tomorrow, followed by thirty more each day for a week."

Hermione looked thoughtful and worried, "Harry…where are three hundred and forty Dwarves going to sleep? Especially if the Order has to move in."

"They'll fit in the castle until the base on the Isle is habitable. I suspect that it won't take long. Dobby!" Harry called.

Dobby arrived immediately, looking pleased with being wanted. "Yes, Harry Potter, sir?"

"I want you to get me the names and contact information of the four largest muggle construction supply centers in Great Britain." Harry told him.

"Yes sir, Dobby will do as asked!" Dobby ran off and disappeared to where ever it is that he went, to get information.

"Harry, are you paying Dobby for his work?" Hermione asked.

"He gets whatever he wants and needs." Harry responded, looking at Hermione.

"But you're not paying him." She stated.

Harry sighed deeply and left the hall, leaving behind an irate Hermione, and an amused Remus.

Tonks and Sirius were in the middle of eating when Harry entered the dining hall, and he took a seat next to the currently blonde haired woman.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her shoulder. "I hope that no harm came to you while you were out there?" He asked.

"None at all." She replied, leaning into him.

Sirius snickered.

"Hush, Sirius. Just because you can't keep a steady girlfriend doesn't mean you should take it out on us." Tonks said, while winking to take the sting out of what she said.

Sirius laughed, "It's too hard to keep a steady girlfriend when there's so many of them at once."

Harry laughed at this one, while Tonks merely looked appalled. "And I take it they don't all know about each other?" She asked.

"Course not, otherwise they would last a lot longer." Sirius replied with a smirk.

"And that's where you go wrong, my dear cousin. You underestimate the…adventurous side that some women have, particularly if you're gathering yours from where I think you are." Tonks shook her head, almost sadly.

Sirius looked very intrigued by this, and visibly displayed it by sitting up a lot straighter. "What do you mean?"

Tonks smiled secretively. "I just mean that if you're picking up the women from the Controverse Alley club scene, as I'm sure you are since they're about the only ones that would go for you," She winked again, "Then they might be a bit more open to things than you may think."

Sirius stared, seeming to digest this new information.

Harry, meanwhile, snickered loudly, getting revenge for all the recent times that Sirius had been snickering at him. "You could've had a happy relationship with several women at once. But…you blew it!" He laughed heartily.

Sirius, in order to regain some dignity, quipped back at Tonks, "Don't you hit the Controverse Alley club scene as well, my dear Nymphadora?"

Harry perked up at this one, having still fresh information regarding some of the denizens of that area's relationship interests.

Tonks kicked Sirius under the table, and whispered for him to shut up.

"Ahem," Remus cleared his throat upon entering the dining hall, and seeing that Tonks was looking quite angry, Harry quite giddy, and Sirius quite amused.

"Yes, Remus?" Harry asked, looking to his former teacher.

"Severus is about to return to the castle with important information."

"How do you know?" Harry questioned.

Remus gestured to the large entrance doors, "Saw him out the window as he portkeyed in, looks frenzied."

Just then, the doors burst open and Snape hurried through, heading directly for where Harry was sitting. Hermione entered the room and sat next to Harry, to hear what Snape had to say.

"There was an emergency Order of the Phoenix meeting called this morning; There apparently was a tip received by Gringotts today that fingers Ronald Weasley as one of the masterminds of the break-in. They are demanding that he be extradited to their territory to be placed under their legal jurisdiction." Snape spoke rapidly, yet somehow managed to keep his cool and collected demeanor, without losing the touch of scorn that came along with Ron's name.

"Will the Ministry abide?" Harry asked, while Tonks, Remus, Sirius and Hermione displayed various forms of surprise.

A smile slowly dawned on Snape's face, and a low chuckle escaped from his throat. "However you did it, well played. The Ministry is caught between a rock and a hard place, on this. Albus, with the obvious support of the Weasley's, believes it would be prudent to get Ronald into hiding."

"You did this, Harry?" Hermione asked.

Harry nodded. "Tell me the Ministry's exact situation, to the best of your knowledge, Severus."

Snape took a seat at a table across from everyone else, and looked Harry in the eye. "In the wizarding world, Ron Weasley is regarded as one of its most noble heroes, as you used to be. Giving into the Goblins' demands would incite an uprising that could not be controlled. However, Gringotts has an iron fist over ninety-percent of Britain's wealth, and has other branches throughout the world that, combined, have nine out of every ten galleons, sickles, knuts, and countless other valuables, in their vaults. If they wished it, none of that wealth would ever be seen again. Total economic collapse throughout the wizarding world."

"He's right," Remus added. "It's a lose lose situation for the Ministry."

"Things are going to get dangerous soon," Harry said. "I want the Order of the Lion brought into the castle as soon as the Dwarves are settled. Combat training will begin immediately after, lead by myself, Remus, Sirius, and Tonks. Hermione, I want you to take three or four like minded individuals from the Order to assist you with procuring, categorizing and inventorying supplies for the war effort. In short," He raised a hand to cut off her impending protest, "You and your team will be the lifeblood of this organization, because without supplies, we can't operate. I don't trust anyone else outside of this group enough to give them a position that would potentially bring disaster to us all."

"What of Severus?" Remus asked.

Harry smiled, "Spreading the fires of dissent and mutiny in the Order of the Phoenix."

Snape grinned. "I will start in the lower ranks and use them to work the way up."

Harry nodded. "Exactly what I had in mind. If we can break them up through fear and distrust as a cohesive fighting force and disorganize them, then that will make the fight against them that much easier. With Severus' occlumency skills, he'll be able to hide his involvement in it, and will be above suspicion. The Greeks' called it phobos. They experienced it largely as a whole when the great Persian army stood ready to advance into Greece, over two thousand years ago. Rest assured, there will be no Sparta or Athens on the side of our enemies."

Hermione, Sirius, Remus, Snape, and Tonks' faces were blank, and it was obvious they'd never heard of any of what Harry spoke, with the exception of the country Greece.

"Marathon? Thermopylae? Leonidas? The Three Hundred?" Harry asked in near desperation.

They shook their heads.

"Hermione, how can you not know it?"

"I'm sorry, Harry. My muggle history doesn't go back that far. I know them all by passing references, but not the stories."

"Aye, we know the Spartans." A voice from the doorway called.

They all turned to face the voice, and saw Dervin and his troupe of Dwarves entering the kitchens from the lower levels.

"Masters of war, unrivalled in their peak. The Dwarves have a great respect for the ancient armies, and still tell their tales to the young ones. They were such warriors that they would've even given us a fight if we came to battle. There are very few that we bestow that honor upon."

Sirius looked genuinely interested in muggle history now, and opened his mouth to ask a question.

"Hold on, we can discuss history at greater lengths over dinner. For now, I need your best architects and engineers," Harry pointed to Dervin, "And you two," He pointed to Sirius, Remus, "To begin working on a design for a fortified base on the Isle of Man. It must be easily defendable, and able to house several hundred in garrison, as well as civilians from the Isle should it come under attack."

Dervin immediately called forward three of his companions and strode forward himself. "Pirloki, Bwill, Largi, and myself have all lead the construction of numerous outposts for our kingdom. The company arriving tomorrow includes many engineers as well."

"Which of you is the most accomplished?" Harry asked.

"I am." Dervin replied.

"You're in charge of this initial design operation until Remili son of Thranta arrives in six days." Harry spoke of the famed Dwarven stonemaster that was now bordering four-hundred years of age, and had designed and built the fortress towns of Rambali and Pereline which safeguarded the Kingdom's eastern colonies. They were impenetrable even by the mighty Yeti and Ice Giant armies.

Dervin nodded. "Show us where to put it, and it will be done."

"Remus, show them the general area, and decide on the best place for it to be."

Remus nodded and motioned for the group to follow him. They left the dining hall and before the main doors closed Harry saw them portkey away.

For the next chapter, I promise to take less than nine months to write it. :P