Chapter 9 – The First Battle
Now let me see where I left off… Oh right… Harry and I had been having our first real date when the castle had been attacked by Death Eaters.
Harry and I sprang out from the alcove at the base of the steps and pointed our wands and stunned the first two Death Eaters nearest to us. Then Harry knocked me down again and he bent backwards to avoid a spell that had been sent our way. Harry twisted in his place and stunned that Death Eater as well.
I got up quickly, "We have to follow and help those people, then find Professor McGonagall!" I shouted at him above the din around us.
He just nodded, looking around at what he considered his home. I knew he was angry. I was too… yes I know shocking I'm sure. With Harry behind me, we quickly headed towards the front of the castle, dodging debris and fire along the way.
We didn't see the group that was being chased by Death Eaters until we made it to the main hallway and then saw that group at the far end with at least a dozen Death Eaters blocking their path to safety. We hesitated a brief moment behind our cover, long enough to see a student hit by a spell and drop to the ground.
I looked at Harry and saw his eyes narrow. He stepped out from our cover, full of fury and pointed his wand at the group of Death Eaters.
"Alarte Ascendare!"
The Death Eaters were suddenly and violently thrown up into the ceiling. When they crashed to the floor, it was in various states of injury and we knew they were no longer a threat. We quickly raced towards our friends, stepping over and around the group Harry had just vanquished.
"Harry and Hermione! Thank Merlin you're here!" Professor Sprout exclaimed as we came near, "It's a good thing you showed up when you did."
I knelt down next to the fallen body of a fourth year. I felt for a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief and finding one.
"Where's Professor McGonagall?" Harry asked looking around the hallway.
"I think she's still stuck in the Great Hall," Professor Sprout said and then pointed to the younger students next to her, "The rest of you listen carefully, take Frederick here and get to the kitchens immediately. The elves will help you get to safety."
"This way is safe," I said pointing in the directing Harry and I had just come from.
The small group of students, minus Dean and Neville, picked up their friend and quickly headed down the corridor I had pointed. The remainder of us turned and ran towards the hall. The sounds of battle were definitely louder here.
"Stop here children," Professor Sprout said when we reached the corner, "Let me see."
She peaked around the corner and looked for several seconds before turning back to us.
"It's not good," she said with a worried expression, "There is at least a dozen of them."
Harry quickly looked around the corner, "They have decent cover," he said then stopped and whispered, "Voldemort."
"What?!" I exclaimed and looked around the corner.
What I saw turned my blood cold. The most evil and vile wizard of all time was coming towards the Great Hall from the steps that lead to the boat ramp. He almost was slithering, yes slithering, as he walked towards the hall and with such confidence that just appalled me. It wasn't until he spoke that I understood why he was so snake like.
He held up his hand and stopped his Death Eaters attacks, "Headmistress!"
The fighting from the hall stopped.
"What do you want Mr. Riddle!" came McGonagall's voice.
From our vantage point we saw Voldemort step into the doorway, "I merely want this fighting to end and for you to surrender this castle to me."
Then came McGonagall's panicked voice, "No Mr. Finneg…!"
Harry and I saw a bright flash of blue light and Voldemort casually wave away the spell sent his way.
"That was not very polite Headmistress," then faster than anyone could follow, "AVADA KEDAVRA!"
The bright green flash blinded me, but I heard the most pathetic cry, then silence. I pulled back against the wall with my hand over my mouth and closed my eyes. Knowing what had just occurred.
"Now, do not cross me again Headmistress," he said dangerously, "I wanted to keep this as non-violent as possible."
"I wonder why?" I heard Harry mutter.
I looked up at him. He was still leaning out looking down the corridor. Then suddenly I got a flash of brilliance. I quickly pulled him back.
"Harry!" I breathed, "We need to get McGonagall to attack him."
"What?" he looked at me like I was crazy, "That'll get someone else killed."
"No," I replied, "If we attack at the same time he'll be forced to back down the steps."
He thought for a moment and looked at Professor Sprout, "Professor?"
She thought for a moment and nodded, "It's all we can do."
"How do we let them know?" Dean asked, "It's not like we can shout to them."
Harry and I thought for a moment and came to the same solution together, "Dobby."
Within a moment a soft pop was heard and the elf was standing, well shaking in fear, in front of us.
"Harry Potter called for his Dobby?"
"Yes, now listen," Harry said, "We need you to get to the Headmistress and tell her to attack Voldemort when his attention is turned away towards us."
"Can you help us?" I asked.
The house elf just nodded, "Dobby wills do it rights away.
With a pop he was gone. We positioned ourselves, gripping our wands and waited for the right moment.
Then we heard Voldemort's voice, "What is your answer Headmistress?"
"Never in the thousand years that this school has been in existence has it ever surrendered or given into someone like you Mr. Riddle. That is my answer."
"There is always a first Headmistress," he replied, "Please do not make me take this castle by force. It would necessitate your death and the death of every student inside it."
"We will not give into your terror," came her defiant reply.
Voldemort gave a little bow, "Very well."
"Voldemort!"
I looked for the shout and it took me a moment to realize that it had come from Harry. He had stepped from where we were hiding and stood in the middle of the corridor facing his enemy. My stomach turned to water.
"Harry!" I whispered, "What are you doing?"
He ignored me and kept his attention on Voldemort, but he extended his finger.
"Harry!" Voldemort exclaimed in a voice that was almost happy, "It's is a pleasure to see you again."
"Can't say the same," Harry replied and the extended a second finger.
I realized then that this was planned. He wanted us to act on three. I quickly looked at the others mouthed a silent "Ready?" and they nodded and gripped their wands in readiness.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk," Voldemort said, "You should be more polite to your elders and here I was hoping we could be civil to each other."
"Not with you," Harry answered coldly and then shouted, "Now!"
He dove out of the way as the three of us sprang around the corner and attacked. At almost the same moment McGonagall's group attack. Voldemort and his followers were surprised and quickly retreated to the steps. The surprise was only momentary. Using the slope of the steps for cover the Death Eaters fought back.
The sidewall, where Harry had dived, exploded from a spell and covered us in dust and debris. Things were turning against us quickly. Then the cavalry arrived in the forms of Lupin, Tonks and several members of The Order.
Voldemort, I think quickly realized he was going to be at the losing end with our reinforcements now just arrived, screamed in frustration and with a flick of his cape he was gone. The Death Eaters soon followed and Lupin and the others quickly raced after them.
Back in the corridor I looked over and saw Harry on the ground covered in dust and debris from the walls. He wasn't moving.
"Harry!" I rushed over and knelt down, "Harry!"
He stirred a little and groaned. I can't even begin to describe the relief I felt right then.
"Are you alright?" I asked and helped him sit up.
He groaned a little and nodded, "Never better."
McGonagall came over to us, "Excellent timing Mr. Potter."
He looked up at her, "Is Seamus…?"
Her face dropped in sadness, "Yes, I'm afraid."
I nearly threw-up right then. I do remember crying and Harry's hand on mine. I remember squeezing it tightly and he didn't complain.
"We must assess the damage and our casualties," McGonagall said to all of us, "Professor Lupin and The Order will follow the others."
It wasn't until later I found out that they didn't find them. The Death Eaters had escaped into the Forbidden Forest and Voldemort and just simply vanished.
The damage to the castle as a whole was light, considering what had happened. The explosions came when the Death Eaters had blown a couple of holes into the castle walls. Our injuries were light except for Seamus. He was killed by Voldemort trying to protect… excuse me… I'm sorry. Please give me a moment...
Thank you.
Um, well… the rest of the students had various scratches and bruises. Our friends were fine and McGonagall had said that we had been very fortunate and to this day I still do believe it.
As for the Death Eaters that Harry had crushed into the ceiling, two were killed outright and the rest were injured. I remember Harry's face when he'd been told about the two that had died. He was very disturbed by the news and I don't blame him either. These were the first people he'd killed.
The rest of that night was a blur. Officials from The Ministry arrived soon after The Order had left to chase the Death Eaters. Mr. Weasley was among them and was a nervous wreck. He immediately sought out Ron and Ginny and was very happy that they were alive.
The fires were extinguished. The children treated by healers and Madam Pomfrey in the infirmary. By the time the castle was under control The Minister of Magic, Rufus Scrimgeour, arrived. This man was a pompous dolt in every sense of the words. He truly thought he was better than his predecessor, Cornelius Fudge. Well, he wasn't. The current Minister of Magic is the best we have and will have for a good long time.
He was completely ignorant of the students when he arrived. He seemed more concerned about the castle and the fact the attack even happened. On several occasions McGonagall tried to get him to acknowledge the students and their bravery for stepping in, but the Minister seemed not to care. He did start to care when Rita Skeeter from The Daily Prophet showed up, but only superficially. At that point a big meeting was called in McGonagall's office and since we were not apart of the "big meeting" we returned to our common rooms. Well to be more precise, everyone returned to the Gryffindor Common Room.
We tried to talk, but all we ended up doing was being silent and some of us, me included, were crying over Seamus' death. It was our second direct result of being in contact with Voldemort. The first being Cedric Diggory's death during the final task of the Tri-Wizard's Tournament several years ago. Now with Seamus' death the memory of Cedric returned and the realization of what had happened was twice as bad.
Harry, Ron, Neville and Dean after a while went up to their dorm room. Seamus was their friend and roommate, so I assumed that they were going to pack his things for his parents. The rest of us just waited. While we did, Ginny and Luna did try to lighten the mood.
"So how was your date?" Ginny asked with a grim smile.
"We had a great time," I answered, trying to sound upbeat, "Thank you both for your help."
They smiled, "Glad to help," Luna said.
I was exhausted and sad. I excused myself and went to my room. I walked over to the mirror and looked at the soot smudges on my face that had tear streaks running through them. The dress, once was so beautiful, now had burns, soot streaks and rips. I felt so bad for what happened to it. I took it off, carefully hung it on the armoire and put a robe on. Then came a soft knocking at my door.
"Come in."
The door opened and to my surprise Harry came in.
"Hi."
I smiled sadly at him, "Hi."
"Are you ok?" he asked as he approached me.
I smiled slightly and nodded, "I'll be fine," I said, "I just can't believe Seamus…," I stopped and started crying.
Harry held me to him, "Me too," he whispered and rubbed my back soothingly.
"Uh sorry," I said as I quickly remembered how I looked. I pulled back and tried wiping my face, "I must look frightening."
"Never," he said, "Even with the soot you're still beautiful."
I laughed, "Thanks," I gave him a kiss, "I'm sorry about the dress."
He looked over to what remained of it and shrugged, "I'll get you another."
"You don't have too," I said quickly.
"Yes I do," he replied, "I should go so you can get some rest."
He placed a kiss on my forehead and left quietly.
"Harry?" I called out, stopping him in the doorway, "I… I lo…," I stopped and smiled, "I had a great time before the attack."
He smiled and nodded, "Same here," and left.
I came close. I really did. At seventeen I almost told someone that I loved them. I know too young right? Not in my mind's eye. I know he knew what I was going to say, but I just wish I said it then.
Anyways, I need to leave you here. I need some sleep and I'm sure you all are exhausted too.
