Author's Note: Once again I'm sorry about the long time to update. I think this chapter should put me back on track with my story outline, so hopefully it won't take as long to update next time. Redfrog
Standard Disclaimer: I own nothing here… JKR does along with others. Don't Sue Me!
Chapter 10: Attack on the Village
Albus Dumbledore was angrier than he had ever been. He was being held in the Ministry holding cells awaiting trial for all his crimes over the years. He couldn't understand how things had gotten so out of control. He was enraged that the people of the wizarding world no longer were treating him as a god. He was supposed to be their hero, their savior, the one they went to with any concerns. He was the only one who could run the wizarding world, they needed him!
Lord Voldemort was plotting. He could not make up his mind on if he wanted to raid the Ministry of Magic during the old fool's trial and kill the former headmaster while he was tied up or if he wanted to duel the man to prove that he was more powerful. The more deviant of his Death Eaters were getting anxious to go out and cause death and destruction. The man formerly known as Tom Riddle was torn. His actions throughout his life had caused most of his soul to blacken and his heart to harden. He was so deep into dark magic that he was dependent on it. He couldn't just stop being a Dark Lord and that left him at an impasse. He had always wanted to change the wizarding world and now that it was changing he was trying to refrain from destroying it but his dark nature was working against him.
To vent his frustrations he took many of his followers on a raid in the muggle world. He and his followers destroyed an entire neighborhood of homes and businesses as well as killed and tortured many. The screams of the dying no longer held the appeal that they once did yet at the same time it felt as if he was in more control of his magic after casting the killing curse.
Many of the less fanatical Death Eaters were less enthusiastic about the raid. One of the newest recruits just watched in horror as two of his comrades forced two muggle brothers to beat each other to death using the Imperious curse. When that death eater did not show up for the next meeting and was not instantly hunted down and killed, many more death eaters began to defect. The Dark Lord knew he was loosing followers but he couldn't bring himself to care. He knew something was wrong with him; in fact his magic had been fluctuating since he stopped cursing wizards.
He began making plans for attacking Dumbledore's trial. He had decided it presented too promising a target to pass up on even if he was in favor of the general changes in the wizarding world. It was just too little too late and his soul was marred forever.
Harry was curious on why he was being called to the Headmistress' office. He began to get a bad feeling when he noticed who was waiting for him there.
"Lord Potter," Amelia Bones said with a solemn tone. "I am afraid that Albus Dumbledore has escaped Ministry custody. He overpowered three guards and collapsed the wards on the holding cells earlier today."
"What is being done to find him?" Harry asked, his mind quickly going over any place he could think the old man would choose to hide. He was worried that the manipulative old man would come after him now that he was free.
"The newspapers will announce his escape tomorrow morning and outline how dangerous he is. I will also be holding a press conference tonight that will be carried live by the WWN." She told him sadly. "I thought I should tell you in person so that you would be on your guard. It seems you now have to look over your shoulder twice as much. The two most powerful wizards in our world are after you Lord Potter and I am afraid that we are little equipped to help you."
"Thank you for letting me know Madame Bones. I will keep two eyes peeled for the Old Goat as I do for Moldy Shorts and his Death Munchers." Harry told her as he was already thinking of more wards he could use to make sure he stayed safe.
"His trial will proceed as scheduled with him in absentia. When he is found guilty, and I promise you he will be, we will be able to move him straight to Azkaban when we catch him. It is much more secure and should be able to hold him. I am currently in negotiations with the Goblins to get them to re-ward the high security wing to contain someone of his power. When we find him he will be punished." She told him.
"Good," Harry said and then headed back to his common room to talk to his friends about the newest development.
Voldemort was livid. He had cursed the death eater that brought him the news that Dumbledore escaped. He called all his death eaters and gave every one of them orders to go out and find the former headmaster. The Dark Lord wanted vengeance and he could not do that without first destroying his enemy. He decided he would need a new target, one sure to draw out the old man.
The wizarding world was shocked that Dumbledore escaped, not because they didn't think him capable of it, but because most still believed he was good at heart and had only committed those crimes for the 'greater good.'
Harry and his friends were excited about the upcoming Hogsmead weekend. They usually had one around Halloween but with the inquiry by the Board of Governors it had been postponed until early November. Neville was the only one nervous about the day as he had worked up the courage to ask Susan Bones to the village. They had danced quite a few times together at the dance and he decided that he had a shot. The two would have the morning to themselves and then meet up with Harry and Hermione for lunch and then wander around town.
Susan and Neville had a great time that morning and were both thinking that they should start to date. Susan was lost in thought as they made their way to the Three Broomsticks to meet Harry and Hermione. She was so into her thoughts that she didn't immediately notice the 20 or so death eaters that appeared in the village around them. Her first indication that anything was wrong was when Neville roughly shoved her out of the way of a green jet of light heading her way.
Neville had been alert the entire time, having taken Harry's and Moody's Constant Vigilance to heart. He saw the nearest death eater to them recognize Susan and send a killing curse at her. As the niece of the Head of the DMLE she was a prime target and he knew he needed to protect her. After pushing her clear of the curse, which he noted with some satisfaction hit another death eater instead, he drew his wand and began fighting back.
Harry and Hermione heard the commotion and quickly ran outside to help. Harry alerted the Order while leaving so they would know to send help. He constantly kept the Order medallion, fashioned after their DA galleons, in his pocket in case of emergency. Hermione quickly saw that Neville was fighting back and hurried over to help him as he was outnumbered. Other members of the DA began fighting back while some focused on making sure everyone was alright. The third and fourth years were barricaded in the Three Broomsticks while the older students attempted to thwart the Death Eaters.
Voldemort was waiting on the outskirts of town for Dumbledore to show himself. He knew the old man well enough to know that he would be watching Potter in Hogsmead. Sure enough just a moment or two after his minions began the attack he spotted the old man drop his disillusionment spell on the other side of the town. The Dark Lord quickly apparated to him and they began to duel.
"I knew you couldn't resist showing up to spy on the children," Voldemort taunted. "Now you will realize your mistakes and I will make you pay."
"You cannot win Tom," The manipulative old man said. "I am the most powerful wizard that has ever lived. I am the leader of the light and I will defeat you once and for all and the people will love me once again!" Dumbledore shouted; signs of dementia obvious on his face. Gone were the twinkling, grandfatherly eyes and in their place the calculating eyes of one too absorbed in themselves.
It didn't take long for the Order and the Ministry Aurors to show up to help the students. Many were surprised to see the two most powerful wizards fighting and were too busy watching to help. The death eaters quickly realized they were outnumbered and tried to head towards their master. Many just disapparated to avoid getting caught, even with risking the wrath of the Dark Lord.
Soon the tides had turned as the Aurors attempted to capture both wizards still dueling. As both Dark Lord and self proclaimed Light Lord realized they were outnumbered they fled, Voldemort taking his remaining servants with him.
Harry had taken down at least a half dozen death eaters before the ministry arrived as he attempted to get closer to where he could see Dumbledore and Voldemort dueling. He was hoping to use their destruction to take out one or both of them. The Order and the Aurors arrived before he was able to do more than throw a few cutting curses at the two.
The uninjured students were all escorted back to the castle while the Ministry began the cleanup from the battle. Hermione was attempting to calm an irate Harry down while Neville was comforting a still shaken Susan. Hermione finally lost her temper. "Harry shut up!" She yelled at him, causing him to stop mid rant. "Look around you, there are others who are hurt and scared. Stop thinking about yourself and help your fellow students who are not used to having people try to kill them!"
Harry paused and thought about what she said and realized she was right, as usual. It didn't matter really if he wasn't able to take out either of the idiots who were after him. The important thing was that the students were protected and he knew that he was needed to help regain the calm of the school. He saw that Susan was still shaking and looked around to see many other students in a state of semi-shock as well as many others looking terrified and many in tears.
"Will you be alright Susan?" Harry asked her kindly once he realized that she was basicly ignoring Neville. "Are you hurt anywhere? Should we take you to the hospital wing or call your aunt?"
That snapped the red-head out of it and she came back to herself. She immediately began to cry and threw herself into Neville's arms. "Thank you, thank you, thank you," she said through her tears, each one accompanied by a kiss to his cheek. "You saved my life." She said before proceeding to thoroughly snog him. He was startled for a moment but decided that he would be silly to pass up such an opportunity.
"I think she's ok now," Hermione said, amusement creeping into her voice. She was still rattled herself at how they were attacked and how lucky they were to be ok.
The final tally of the battle was that 14 students were injured, two seriously who would have a long road to recovery, 2 villagers were killed along with another 6 injured, 3 Aurors were injured and 2 Order members but none seriously. They were able to capture 12 death eaters alive and 2 were seriously injured enough that they died before receiving medical treatment.
The Headmistress awarded points to all those who either fought back or protected younger students. The prefects had a meeting where it was announced that all further Hogsmead visits for the year were suspended. The risk to the students was too high to allow them to leave the security of the wards.
Voldemort was irritated that his duel with Dumbledore had been interrupted and so many of his followers had been captured. He did get perverse satisfaction out of the fact that the Aurors were after his former transfiguration professors as much as they were after him. He did notice the Potter boy send a few curses at both of them while they dueled but was too busy fighting to return fire.
Dumbledore was just as mad at the duel being interrupted and absolutely enraged that the Aurors attempted to arrest him. He was fighting the Dark Lord and they still thought of him as a criminal! He would have to work much harder to convince everyone that he was the Light Lord and should never be questioned. He did everything for the greater good! He couldn't believe that Harry had fired a cutting curse at him. It had sliced through his robe and gave him a shallow cut on his thigh. The boy would have to be dealt with before he got any further out of control.
Harry and his DA group received praise from not only the other students but the parents and press as well. Attendance at DA meeting drastically rose after that and he had to have an extra session for the younger students who were not as advanced as the rest. School unity was at an all time high as the once pro-dark students realized that the death eaters didn't care who they were attacking. One of the seriously injured students was a Slytherin whose parents were dark supporters, not death eaters but political backers.
The students were still quite shaken up a few days later and Harry suggested to the Headmistress that they should call in a psychologist for the students to talk to. After having to explain what he meant and how it would help she immediately began searching for anyone with those skills who already was familiar with the wizarding world. She was able to find a middle aged squib that had left the wizarding world and became a muggle doctor. Through him she was able to get the name to two other squibs that could potentially help her. Once was an actual psychologist and the other worked for child services.
Within a week of the attack both women were at the school talking to students about the attack and helping them move past it. The ministry, seeing a need they had ignored in the past, began a program to encourage more people to become psychologists. They were able to offer scholarships to a muggle university to three squibs who were excited about learning a new profession as well as being able to help people and be able to stay in the wizarding world. Harry was just stunned that he was able to open up a new career path for those with less magic so easily. He wondered just how many other things muggles took for granted that he could introduce into the magical world.