Cat's Eye Chap 7

Death would not defeat Voldemort's followers. Their purpose was clear and unchanged. Absolute power was their birthright. They had seen their leader rise from presumed death before, why can't they make it happen again? Voldemort surrounded himself with a disciplined hierarchy. Though many were killed at the Battle for Hogwarts, others waited and were yet unknown to the Ministry. Soon the Wizarding World will see that Voldemort's legacy was past on to unwavering believers. The time to act was now.

"Wait! Wait!" Millie shouted "You can't take him."

"I'm sorry, Ministry of Defense matters." Sentenoff said as he handed Harry a jacket.

"He's injured. He's lost a lot of blood. The doctor said he needs rest." Millie pleaded.

"We'll look after him"

Alfred joined his wife, "Couldn't he just stay till after the Holidays? Could he have just that much time? Tomorrows Christmas Eve."

"Sorry sir." Sentenoff turned to Draco, Luna and Victor, "Thank you for your work so far. Go home and enjoy the Holidays we'll be in touch with you soon."

Luna stepped up, "Can't you tell us where you're going?"

"No"

Harry saw tears filling Luna eyes. Before she could say good-bye Sentenoff took Harry by the arm and brought him out to the backyard. The snow was a pale blue in the early winter morning. Harry saw three brooms waiting for them.

As they got on Sentenoff ordered, "Stay close."

Once again Harry was ill prepared for travel in the cold. The stitches ached. The worst of the cuts were on his left shoulder blade. He tried to keep his arm still as he flew. They traveled north over the countryside just below the clouds laden with snow. They descended toward a farmer's shed standing alone in the fields. Harry's hand was so numb on the broomstick he had to peel it off with the hand he kept protected. The warmth in the shed stung his face as he entered. His glasses fogged over before he could make out anything.

"How's he supposed to fight in this condition? The boys half frozen"

Harry felt a blanket being put across he shoulders. For the moment Harry chose the warmth of the blanket over the pain it caused on his back. Harry shivered uncontrollably. He took his glasses off with a shaking hand and put them on the table in front of him. Harry saw many blurry figures moving about the room. Someone put a cup of tea in front of him, but Harry knew it was useless trying to pick it up.

"I question your judgement, Sentenoff."

Harry recognized the voice as Senior Auror Williamson from the Battle of Hogwarts.

"Sorry. Sir."

They let Harry collect himself for a time. Harry heard low voices all around him. They talked about locations along the coast and numbers of people. He heard the names Greyback and Carrow. Harry drank his tea and felt he had control over his body again. Harry put his glasses back on. On the far wall he saw a map of the coast. He made out the location of Azkanban Prison on it. Harry heard the door of the shack slam open, he saw Lee Jordon from school come in. He looked cold and exhausted. He gave Harry a quick smile and was taken off to a corner of the building where a stove and cots were set up.

"Harry, I'm Col. Williamson and this is Lt. Rookwood, we're in charge of the Operation North Sea.

Williamson walked up to Harry and pulled the Amulet from his neck as if it was attached by nothing more than a thread.

"Are you all right?"

"Yes, sir" Harry said.

"Good to have you on board. Go get something to eat and rest up if you can. We have a long day ahead of us."

Sentenoff escorted Harry to the dinning tables. Sentenoff told Lee to go before Harry had a chance to talk to him. Harry could feel the curious eyes of the workers on him as he ate. When he was finished Sentenoff took him over to the medical area.

"Harry this is Doctor Baker, He's going to look after your injury." Sentenoff said and then sat down to observe.

"Take off your shirt, please Mr. Potter."

Harry did as he was told. He had a large bandage covering most of his left shoulder blade.

"Harry, I can see some of your wounds are still weeping. This may hurt a bit"

With one sure tug the Doctor ripped the bandage off Harry's back. Harry gave a cry of pain so loud that it caused everyone in the building to stop and stare at him.

"He'll be alright." The Doctor assured the others in the room. Then he turned to Harry. "None of your stitches opened up so I'm just going to leave them for now. I'm just going to clean them up a bit and recover them."

The Doctor patted off the discharge from the larger wounds and covered the entire area with a cooling salve. The pain was gone. Harry's body felt relaxed for the first time in days. Harry felt exhausted. After he dressed himself in the same grey and blue fighters suit as the others he went to a cot and laid down.

"Harry, its time."

Harry hadn't realized he fell asleep. He felt sharp and focused. The pain in his back was gone. He was ready to fight. Harry joined the other fighters around a large map covered table. All of them wore the same weatherproof suit as Harry.

Williamson explained the plan. "We will have a three part attach on their camp. We have been successful at keeping them from moving out of their encampment but we haven't been able to penetrate their defenses yet. With the combination of these three groups we hope to bring them down. The alpha group will come at them from the ground, here." Williamson points at the coast just south of their camp. "Beta group will fly in from the sea, here. Zeta group with Mr. Potter will attach from below at the shoreline, here……We believe the group is being lead by Alecto Carrow. Sister of Amycus Carrow, currently held in Azkaban. We assumed Alecto to be dead after the Battle of Hogwarts but a body was never found and know we believe she is the coordinator of this attach. Harry we want you to concentrate your efforts on Carrow. The prison is only 2 kilometers off the coast. We must be sure no one reaches the prison. Azkaban is on high alert but it is vulnerable. Dementors are no longer trusted to guard. And as you all know our resources are thin at the moment. The escape of any Death Eaters from Azkanban would be a blow but the escape of Fenrir Greyback would be catastrophic. You all know what you have to do. Good luck."

Williamson followed Harry to the door and said, "Harry your wand."

Harry felt a surge of power as he placed the wand in his hand. As they assembled to leave Harry was glad to see Lee was in his group. Harry would see he came home safely. Harry got on his broom. Adrenaline rushed threw his veins. He was eager for a fight. The groups took off. Alpha went on foot to the camp. Alpha and Zeta circled the camp from above as one and then separated to their stations. Harry saw the camp was protected by a defensive bubble-like charm. The Death Eaters moved safely under their covering completely unconcerned about attackers outside. It looked like about two dozen people were there. Harry's group went down to the shore after the fly over. The idea was that the group on the ground would push them toward the shore were the Zeta group waited. Harry knew instinctively that any assault directly at the bubble barrier would be useless. Harry wasn't about to let anyone die in a futile battle. That's what they brought Harry here to do.

"Sorry guy's" Harry said under his breath and pulled his broom suddenly up and circled around behind the Zeta group.

Harry yelled, "Petrificus totalus!"

In one dynamic sweep the entire Zeta group was immobilize. Harry put a hover charm on them and moved the entire group out of harms way near the cliff. The waves crashed on the rocky shore below them.

Harry flew back over to the cliff side and yelled, "Reducto!"

The rocks along the cliff began to shake then split apart and fall into the sea. Harry yelled the curse again and again. Large chunks of the shoreline fell into the sea. The Zeta group watched with amazement. Harry carved away at the ground below the encampment. Finally the encampment was only held above the sea by a dangerously thin piece of earth. Harry saw the Beta group fly in from above.

Again Harry yelled, "Pertificus totalus" and the entire group stopped in mid air. Harry gathered them and moved them alongside the Zeta group. Harry went back to the encampment and yelled, "Reducto!" and the entire camp began to break away from the cliff. Harry yelled, "Wingaurdium Levioso!" and the entire camp moved out away from the cliff and floated above the sea. Harry showed himself to the Death Eaters inside but none of them came out to attack him. Harry saw Col. Williamson, who was leading the ground attack yelling wildly at him from the cliff's edge. Harry flew over to him.

"Potter what are you doing?"

"Don't worry sir, I know what I'm doing."

Harry went back over the sea to the suspended encampment. All eyes behind the protective bubble were fixed squarely on him. Then Harry saw the earth start to fall away from the bottom of the bubble. Harry thought they would be soon forced out and he could deal with them as they did. Harry circled and waited for the first to come out. But no one did. Harry saw the dirt fall into the churning sea and the protective charm now sealed them in from below as well. The completely protected encampment moved over the sea toward Azkaban. Harry yelled, "impedimento" to try to stop it but it continued to move. Harry realized to his horror, he had made a terrible mistake. This is what they intended to do all along. They were going to travel over the sea protected and then breech Azkanban together. All Harry had done was make it easier for them to free themselves from the cliffs. Harry flew around the bubble trying to find a way to get at them. They mocked him from inside and moved steadily on.

Finally Harry looked down at the cold sea below.

"Accio"

Harry yelled and the water came up from the sea and coated the floating encampment.

"Accio"

Harry yelled again and the water rose. It fell over the encampment and froze to the protective layers creating an encasement of its own. The people inside looked frightened, as the ice grew thicker around them. They began to huddle together in the orb to keep warm. Still they moved slowly toward Azkaban, dangerously close. Harry continued to command the sea pour over them. The ice was so thick he couldn't see the people inside.

Finally Harry yelled, "Expulso!"

The ice covered orb burst apart into millions of flying shards. Harry saw the Death Eaters in the orb fall helplessly into the sea. Harry flew back to the shore and released the Zeta and Alpha groups. They flew out toward Azkaban. Harry stood on the rocks and watched them go. He heard a loud crack behind him as he turned he saw a boulder from the unstable ground he created tumbling toward him. He had no time to react. He fell between the rocks and the world went black.