Harry Potter sat in the dimly lit Slytherin common room, his mind wandering as the fire crackled before him. His girlfriends, Daphne, Tracey, and Hermione, had already turned in for the night, leaving him alone with his thoughts. The familiar green and silver décor of the Slytherin dungeon didn't soothe his restlessness; if anything, it made him more aware of what he was planning.
It was time to neutralize the threat of Voldemort—once and for all. But Harry knew it couldn't be as simple as dueling him and finishing it there. Voldemort was more than a dark wizard; he was an idea, a figurehead for countless families who had aligned themselves with his pureblood rhetoric and dark promises. Harry had no delusions of loyalty among Voldemort's followers. They didn't serve him because they loved him—they served him because they feared him.
And fear, Harry knew, could be overwritten.
He considered the Dark Mark. It was the visible manifestation of Voldemort's control over his Death Eaters, a magical bond that connected them to the Dark Lord's will. If he could find a way to break that bond, or better yet, hijack it, he could turn Voldemort's most dangerous supporters into his own.
But Harry didn't intend to rule with cruelty like Voldemort had. No, Harry had a different philosophy. If he could break the chains of fear and instead bind them with power, respect, and better treatment, the families would flock to his side. The dark world that Voldemort promised his followers could be a better world under Harry's control.
Harry began with research. He spent countless hours in the Restricted Section of the Hogwarts Library, poring over ancient texts on blood magic, loyalty bonds, and curse marks. The intricacies of the Dark Mark were complex, but not impenetrable. It was, after all, just a form of binding magic—a contract of sorts between Voldemort and his followers. Contracts, Harry knew, could be broken.
He began experimenting, using magical theory to explore how he could nullify the magical connection between the Dark Lord and his servants. Through his research, he discovered a spell that could sever Voldemort's influence, freeing the Death Eaters from their connection without harming them. But Harry wasn't satisfied with just breaking the bond; he wanted to replace it with his own.
He delved into ritual magic, creating a new mark—one that would offer protection and power in exchange for loyalty. His mark wouldn't be a symbol of fear, but a symbol of respect. The magic he imbued in it would bind the bearer to him, but unlike Voldemort, Harry's connection would be a partnership, not a domination.
Once he was satisfied with his creation, Harry reached out to a few select Death Eater families—those who had wavered in their support of Voldemort but had remained loyal out of fear. His approach was subtle at first, offering them a way out of the Dark Lord's control without immediate danger.
To his surprise, many of them were eager to break free. Voldemort's reign had always been one of terror, and now that his presence was weakened, fear was no longer enough to keep everyone in line.
One by one, the families came to Harry, pledging their loyalty in exchange for protection. He removed the Dark Marks, replacing them with his own, and promised that under his influence, they would have security, power, and more than Voldemort ever gave them. Soon, whispers of defections from the Dark Lord's camp began to spread, further weakening his position in the wizarding world.
With the first part of his plan in motion, Harry knew it was time to bring Dumbledore into the fold. While the Headmaster remained a guiding figure, his idealism about fighting Voldemort didn't quite align with Harry's practical approach. Harry had no problem with being ruthless if it meant protecting the wizarding world—and Dumbledore needed to accept that.
He met with the headmaster in his office, where the old wizard had been quietly contemplating the state of the world. After Harry explained his progress with the Death Eaters, Dumbledore was surprised but intrigued. Though he was wary of Harry's methods, he couldn't deny the effectiveness of Harry's plan to weaken Voldemort.
"I'll need the Order," Harry said simply.
Dumbledore regarded him for a long moment, his blue eyes twinkling with thought. "You're leading quite the charge, Harry. But I wonder—how far will you go?"
"As far as necessary."
The headmaster smiled slightly, though it didn't reach his eyes. "Then the Order will stand by your side."
Together, they began the process of reassembling the Order of the Phoenix. Harry went on several missions with them, taking down Death Eaters who still held fast to Voldemort's ideals. For Harry, these missions were less about duty and more about entertainment. The thrill of combat and testing his skills against the most dangerous wizards was a rush he relished.
Voldemort's forces were dwindling, and the world was starting to notice. But Harry wasn't ready to make his final move. Not yet.
One night, after another successful mission with the Order, Harry felt a pull towards the Forbidden Forest. Something about the ancient magic that pulsed within the forest intrigued him, and he knew it held secrets yet to be uncovered. He ventured deep into the woods, far beyond where most dared to go. His senses were sharp, attuned to the magic around him.
It was then he stumbled upon a creature unlike anything he had ever seen.
A hybrid of a Thestral and a Phoenix stood before him, its skeletal frame illuminated by fiery feathers that glowed in the night. Its presence radiated both life and death, an ethereal creature of immense power. It was rare, even in magical terms, and Harry was captivated by it.
"Magnificent," he whispered, stepping closer to the beast.
The hybrid regarded him with ancient eyes, a flicker of recognition in its gaze. Harry could feel the magic between them resonate, and an idea sparked in his mind. If he could harness some of the creature's abilities, he could take his power to a new level. He captured the creature, though it didn't resist, and brought it to a secure location where he could begin experimenting.
He spent days studying the hybrid, exploring its unique combination of life and death magic. With time and effort, Harry began to extract some of its magical essence, incorporating it into his own body. His already impressive abilities became sharper, his endurance greater. His connection to death—enhanced by his experiences with Dementors—made him even more resistant to their influence.
This discovery led him to explore the possibility of becoming an Animagus. If he could tap into this hybrid form, he could gain incredible advantages in combat and beyond.
Harry was building an army, slowly but surely.
Later that night, after the competition, Harry took his three queens—Daphne, Tracey, and Hermione—on another adventure into the Forbidden Forest. The cold winter air bit at their skin, but it didn't bother them. Harry led the way, his enhanced senses guiding them deeper into the heart of the forest.