Harry Potter and the Dragonheart
The Battle of Diagon Alley Pt. 2
Ginny stood inside Madam Malkin's shop, next to the large display window, watching the trio walk down the street. Harry was walking between them, and he turned to address Hermione, allowing her to glimpse his beautiful face for a moment. Her heart fluttered as his lips broke into a smile and laughter danced in his eyes. Ron hit him playfully on the arm and Harry pushed him away, laughing.
She wondered if she would ever be as comfortable around him as Ron and Hermione was. If it ever happened it was a long ways off, but she was trying. Matter of fact, these past few weeks, the two of them were slowly… very slowly, starting to get to know one another. They were making progress… just not as fast as she would like. She was trying her best not to fall back into her shyness around him, and he in turn actually seemed to want to talk to her too. And there was something else. It was weird, and maybe she was being delusional, but she could swear there were times she had caught him just… looking at her. He would turn away quickly, embarrassed, and Ginny didn't know what to make of it.
She rolled her eyes and stifled a snort as Ron ran forward, crossing the street and pressing himself against the display window of Quality Quidditch Supplies. She watched as Hermione tried in vain to pull him away by the arm, and it wasn't until Harry helped that they were able to shift him. They walked out of sight and Ginny sighed. She put on a smile and went in search of her mum and Emma.
Madam Malkin's was busy, with people waiting in line at the checkout counter and people being fitted. Bright sunlight streamed into the room from the window. She didn't see her mum among them and until she moved past a large rack of robes that concealed from view a small waiting area.
"Hey Neville! Fancy seeing you here!" Ginny grinned at the boy, who was sitting in the packed waiting area with his grandmother. Her mum and Emma where seated next to them; with Mrs. Weasley next to Mrs. Longbottom. Ginny quickly took one of the last remaining seats, which was next to her cousin. Her mum and Mrs. Longbottom were deep in conversation.
"Ah, well…" Neville began, running a hand through his hair. "My old school robes don't really fit well anymore. Gran said it's time to get some new ones."
"Have you been waiting long?" Emma asked.
"Not that long, maybe ten minutes?" Neville looked around the bustling shop. "It's pretty busy. We'll probably be here for a while. I guess you guys need new robes too?"
"Only me. I need to get my Hogwarts uniform."
"You're gonna love Hogwarts." Neville said. "Any thought to where you'll be sorted?"
"I'm not really sure." Emma said. She leaned slightly forward toward Neville. "On that note, how do you get sorted in the first place? Is it some kind of test?"
Neville glanced at Ginny and she winked. "Oh. That. It's nothing too hard." Ginny said dismissively. Emma rolled her eyes.
"What do you mean? Come on Ginny, spill."
"Ah-ah. I can't say. We didn't know about it when we had to do it. It's only fair that you should be ignorant as well. I'll only say that it doesn't hurt too much." Ginny said.
"Says you. I couldn't sit proper for a week." Neville said, shaking his head.
"What? You can't be serious!" Emma was appalled. What kind of school was she going to?
"Relax, Emma. No one has been killed in decades. You'll be fine." Ginny said. "Besides, you'll be a fifth year. You'll know loads more magic than the other first year students coming in. I'm sure you'll win."
"A bit lopsided, though, innit?" Neville said. "It's not really fair for the first years. Maybe they'll test you separately?"
"Wouldn't that take the cake?" Ginny said, clapping her hands together. "It's going to be so exciting to watch!"
"Watch what?" Emma said. She sounded a bit hysterical. "What are they gonna make me do? Please tell me Ginny!"
"Fine, but only because you're my cousin, and I'm trying to look out for you. But don't ask me to help you come up with strategies!" Emma nodded, anticipating the worst.
"First things first." Ginny began. "It'll happen in the Great Hall and in front of everyone."
"Oh god." Emma groaned aloud. There was going to be an audience? Was it some kind of spectator sport?
"Second. They'll make you sit on a stool and put on a hat… and then you wait." Ginny whispered the last part, shuddering.
"What for what?" Emma was at the edge of her seat, nervously twiddling her thumbs.
"You wait for the Sorting Hat to tell you which House you belong in!" Ginny said spookily, wiggling her fingers.
"Oh n- wait, what?" Emma glanced at the two of them in confusion. Neville and Ginny burst into laughter. "What's so funny? And did I hear you correctly? Sorting Hat? Is that what you said?" Her confusion added to their mirth and Emma slid back in her seat, arms akimbo, grumbling to herself.
Neville wiped tears from his eyes. "I'm so sorry! I… I can't believe we did that to you!"
"Oh you should see your face!" Ginny said. Emma glared at her and Ginny held up her hands in peace. "Sorry Emma… but that was fun."
"So all I have to do is put on a hat?"
"Yep!"
"And it'll decide which House I go to?"
"Yep!"
"And that's it?"
"Yep!" Emma shot her a look. "I promise! That's it!"
"She's telling the truth." Neville added.
Emma looked at them suspiciously, but eventually nodded her head. "So Neville, which House were you Sorted in?"
"Gryffindor." Neville said. "I had thought for sure the Sorting Hat had gotten it wrong-"
"Don't be ridiculous Neville!" Ginny admonished. "You belong in Gryffindor!"
Neville blushed. "I guess so."
"And you'll be a Gryffindor too, Emma, I just know it!" Ginny said.
"Oh yeah? And how's that?"
"Simple. You're a Weasley. Everyone in the family has been or is a Gryffindor. Bravery is in our blood." Emma didn't look convinced, but she didn't argue.
Neville suddenly looked around, a bit sheepishly. "I can't believe I haven't asked, but where are the others?"
Ginny rolled her eyes. "Ron couldn't stand coming in here, so he convinced mum to let them go ahead to the twin's new shop, Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes."
"Lucky them. I've been working on Gran, hoping to go there myself. She doesn't really care for their products."
"Childish diversions." Mrs. Longbottom chimed in, sending her grandson a disapproving look. Mrs. Weasleys' lips thinned slightly. Childish? Ginny and Emma exchanged a glance. "You need to focus on your studies, Neville, or you'll never be an Auror."
"I didn't know that's what you wanted to pursue, Neville." Mrs. Weasley said politely to him.
Neville ducked his head. "Ah… well… I suppose so."
"Nonsense." Mrs. Longbottom clicked her tongue disdainfully. "The Longbottoms have a long and proud history. A son in every generation has been an Auror, and I expect you to uphold that tradition."
"Yes Gran." Neville sighed in resignation, but Mrs. Longbottom only nodded curtly.
The front door chimed and two elderly witches walked in, a pompous air about them. They were dressed in expensive looking robes and upon their persons were various assortments of jewelry. "Augusta! Darling!"
Mrs. Longbottom stood, straightening her hat. "Stay here, Neville." She crossed the distance and spoke animatedly with the new arrivals.
"So," Ginny said, a bright smile on her face, trying to diffuse the dour mood that had settled in around them. "Have you gotten all of your shopping done?"
"Almost. After this we need to stop by Magical Menagerie. Trevor's been feeling a bit under the weather, so I'm hoping to find a tonic to help him out."
The front door chimed again, and a lone girl walked into the clothes shop. She had straggly, dirty blonde hair that fell to her waist. Her wand was perched behind her left ear. Her eyes slightly protruded from her face, and combined with the slight smile she perpetually formed with her lips, she looked decidedly like she was constantly lost in her own dream world. She looked around the busy shop, raising her pale eyebrows, tilting her head to the side quizzically.
"Luna!" Ginny ran to her friend and scooped her up into a tight hug, lifting her off her feet. Luna smiled down at her, lightly patting Ginny on the back.
Ginny released her after a moment, and Luna smiled at her. "Well, that was nice of you."
"It's so good to see you, Luna!" Ginny grabbed her hand and led her to the others. "Emma, this is Luna Lovegood, a very good friend of mine!"
Emma stood and extended her hand, "Hi Luna. Emma Weasley. It's nice to meet you."
Luna shook her hand. "Is it? Hmm… that's not what people usually say when they meet me for the first time."
Emma blinked. "Why not?"
"It's the Wrackspurts. They invade your mind and make your brain go fuzzy. A pack has taken to following me around. Because of them people usually look at me disdainfully if they notice me at all. But I'm glad to see you seem to be immune."
Emma opened her mouth to reply, but she could think of nothing to say. She glanced at Ginny, who smiled and nodded her head toward the empty seats behind them.
Emma gestured behind her. "Please sit with us Luna." Emma and Ginny returned to their previous seats, leaving Luna to sit in-between Mrs. Weasley and Neville. She smoothed out her light blue sun dress and her gaze settled on Neville.
"Hello Neville."
"Hi Luna. How's your summer been?" Neville said.
"Disappointing. Father and I went on Holiday to Sweden in search of a Crumple-Horned Snorkack but it eluded us. Father thinks we missed the herd by a day. They're migratory creatures you see, and left early for Australia."
"You'll find it next time Luna. I know you will." Neville said sincerely.
Luna smiled at him and patted his knee. Neville turned a bright shade of pink. "That's sweet of you, Neville."
"So Luna, are you in Gryffindor as well?" Emma asked.
"Oh no. I'm a Ravenclaw."
"How do you like it?"
"Not terribly much, I'm afraid."
"I'm sorry to hear that."
Luna smiled at the girl. "See, I knew you were immune. Just like Ginny and Neville." Emma smiled at the girl.
"Luna dear," Mrs. Weasley said, "Are you here alone?"
"Yes. My father made an appointment for me today."
"Where is your father?"
"He had to run to the office. The Quibbler is doing an exposé on the Vampire Courts controlling the Ministry, and one of his contacts found out some interesting information."
"I see." Mrs. Weasley frowned. "Will he be along shortly?"
"I don't suspect so."
"Then you'll stay with us dear."
"Okay. I'd like that."
One of Madam Malkin's assistants stuck her head around the corner. "Neville Longbottom?"
Neville stood. "Yes?"
"Come with me. We're ready for you." Neville followed the assistant out of the waiting area, waving to his friends. Mrs. Weasley and the girls wanted for another ten minutes before another assistant came by and carted off Emma.
Mrs. Weasley and Ginny waited with Luna and when she was called up, they went with her to the fitting station. On the way Neville and his Gran passed by them. Mrs. Longbottom shrank their purchases and placed them into her bright red handbag.
"Well, Goodbye, again." Neville said.
"Bye, Neville!" Ginny said.
"Goodbye, Neville. Mrs. Longbottom." Luna said pleasantly. Mrs. Longbottom regarded the blonde girl with a scrutinizing eye for a moment, nodded curtly to her, and then exited the shop with Neville following behind. Luna went to the fitting station and the assistant began to take her measurements.
Emma walked out of the dressing room, wearing the standard black robes of Hogwarts. "What do you think?" The robes fit snugly on her frame, and fell to her ankles. The black color of the robes helped to accentuate her vibrant red hair.
"It looks lovely on you dear!" Mrs. Weasley said. Ginny nodded in agreement. "Although I think the hem should be let out a bit more."
"Okay. Works for me." Emma went back into the dressing room and took off the robes, and Mrs. Weasley spoke to the assistant about the hem. After a few minutes the robes were ready and Mrs. Weasley went to the counter to pay for them and an extra set. Like Mrs. Longbottom, she shrank the purchases and put them in her purse. At that moment Luna took a set of robes given to her to try on and went into the dressing room.
Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Emma waited for her outside the dressing room, standing in a loose circle. Her mum and Emma were looking at a set of dress robes on a rack and didn't notice that the sunlight had dimmed considerably. Ginny frowned, turning toward the front window, and in her peripheral vision, Ginny saw a flash of light and a blur of something big heading straight for them.
"Watch out!" Ginny shouted, throwing herself at her mum and Emma, pushing them to the side. They landed in a heap, with Ginny on top, as something large and brown smashed through the display window of Madam Malkin's Shop at extreme speed, slamming into the back wall, splintering the wooden panels with a deafening crack of sound. Glass shards and other debris exploded into the shop like bullets, showering the room with jagged, razor sharp shrapnel, tearing into the patrons.
Ginny groaned, pushing herself to a sitting position. She leaned her back against the wall and blinding pain lanced threw her backside. She jerked forward with a hiss, and she felt a wetness sliding down her neck. She raised a hand to investigate and felt something slick and viscous. She looked at her hand and saw blood liberally smeared on her fingers. She looked around blearily for whatever it was that slammed through the shop. Across from her she spotted the large splintered mess of wood that was once the back wall of Madam Malkin's. Her eyes followed the blood trail down to the floor and saw the bloody and broken form of an Auror. He was covered dark blotches of blood, his face a mess of lacerations. Ginny stifled a scream.
"Ginny!" Mrs. Weasley gasped, crawling painfully to her daughter. Thanks to Ginny's quick reaction, she and Emma had only sustained minor wounds. She frantically examined her daughter up and down, cataloguing her injuries. She gently turned her daughter around so Ginny's back was facing her, and hot, angry tears splashed down her face as she took in the damage. Her back was covered in bloody wounds and multiple pieces of glass were imbedded in her skin. The t-shirt she was wearing was soaked in blood.
Emma stirred, groaning, propping herself up with her right hand. She blinked, looking around, until she focused on Ginny and Mrs. Weasley.
"Holy shit, Ginny!" Emma crawled forward, staring horrified at the bloody mess that was her cousin.
One of the dressing rooms across from them opened up and Luna popped out, crossing the space quickly and kneeling next to her friend.
"Wha- What's happening?" Ginny croaked out.
"You've been injured." Luna said. Screams and loud booms could be heard coming through the shattered window and Luna turned towards the sounds. "We're being attacked." Ginny tried to turn her head in that direction but Mrs. Weasley held her steady.
"Shh. Don't speak. And stay still… this is going to sting." Mrs. Weasley pointed her wand at Ginny's back and one by one, she slowly extracted the glass shards. Ginny whimpered and hissed through her teeth. Emma and Luna took hold of her hands and Ginny grip tightened with every shard that came out.
"Is she going to be ok, Aunt Molly?" Emma gasped, nearly frantic. "I've never- never seen so mu- much bl- blood before! I can't- I can't-"
"Emma!" Mrs. Weasley stared into the frightened girl's eyes. She looked pale as death. "Be calm, child. It's not as bad as it looks, thank Merlin. The glass missed any vital spots, and the wounds are shallow. Ginny will be fine." Emma nodded spasmodically. "I need you to breathe, Emma." She closed her eyes tightly, sucking in huge breathes. "That's a good girl."
Mrs. Weasley returned her attention to the task at hand. Her brow furrowed in concentration, and a warm light burst forth from the tip of her wand, bathing Ginny's wounds. Ginny sagged toward the ground and moaned in relief. Emma and Luna moved closer to her, gently holding her up.
The front door burst open, banging loudly against the wall, almost coming off its hinges. Neville flashed through the opening, blood running down his chin from a split lip. The skin on his right cheek was all but missing, scrapped off; it looked like someone had taken sandpaper to his face. Spots of blood welled up on his cheek, falling like tears when they succumbed to gravity.
Mrs. Longbottom backtracked into the shop quickly behind him, furiously shooting off spells. Once she was fully inside she kicked the door closed and swept her wand in front of her in a wide, horizontal arch. "Statuo Vallum!"
The cobblestones outside the shop shot up from where they rested, stacking atop each other, creating a wall of stone that covered the front of the shop, curving inwards to the roof. The wall blocked out the subdued, ambient light from outside and darkened the interior of the shop considerably.
"Fianto Duri!" She flourished her wand again and a pulse of orange light flashed outward from it. When it reached the stone wall and the walls of the shop, the light seemed to sink into the stone and wood, reinforcing them.
"Lumos!" Neville and his grandmother said, nearly at the same time. Their wand tips blazed and light flooded the room.
Neville quickly went over to his friends and crouched beside them. "Are you guys okay?"
Luna nodded. "I'm not injured. I was in a dressing room when the glass shattered." She looked at Ginny, and concern flashed across her face.
"I'll be okay." Ginny gasped out, clutching at Emma's hand.
"I'm… I'm fine." Emma said. "A few cuts, I guess… but not nearly as bad as Ginny."
Mrs. Longbottom settled into a defensive position, wand raised. She looked around quickly, taking stock of the room. Robes were scattered all over the floor. Glass and debris were everywhere. People were down, moaning and whimpering.
"Molly. How is your daughter?"
Mrs. Weasley grimaced, sweat glistening on her brow. "She'll be fine. I'm almost done healing her injuries. What in the world is happening out there?"
Mrs. Longbottom's expression darkened and hate filled her voice. "Death Eaters." Frantic murmurs filled the air at her words, and a paralyzing fear swept over the shop. "They're attacking the Alley. The Aurors are outnumbered and I fear they will soon be overrun."
"How long can you keep them out?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Not long, I'm afraid." Muffled booms sounded against the stone wall. "Neville, check these people for injuries, if you please. Use healing charms only if the situation is dire."
Neville stood and Luna rose with him. "I'll help you." She murmured. Neville nodded and shot her a quick half-grin.
Mrs. Weasley exhaled a long breath, and the healing light from her wand faded. Ginny stood slowly. "We'll help too." Ginny murmured. A wave of exhaustion hit her suddenly, and she almost fell, but Emma caught her and steadied her.
They made their way through the room, splitting into two groups, checking on the patrons of Madam Malkin's.
Emma gasped in horror as she and Ginny crouched next to a middle-aged witch who lay still near the broken window. Her eyes were closed. A shard of glass had struck her in the neck, severing one of the carotid arteries. Her hand had clutched at the wound, but to no avail. She lay in a pool of blood. Emma stared at the fallen woman, unable to look away.
"Come on, Emma." Ginny said. "There's nothing we can do for her."
Luckily, there were no more fatalities, and the wounds the other patrons incurred were not life-threatening. Neville and the girls applied rudimentary first aid to the injured: carefully removing shards of glass from injuries, tearing apart robes into strips of cloth to staunch bleeding, and making people feel as comfortable as they could.
A loud crash thundered against the fortified wall, leaving a spider web of cracks through some of the stones. Mrs. Longbottom's eyes flashed. "Madam Malkin!"
From behind the small counter in a corner of the room, a stout witch poked her head out. "Ye- Yes, Mrs. Longbottom?"
"Where is your fireplace?"
"In the back- backroom, madam."
"Please escort the wounded and Floo them out of here."
Hope filled the once desperate faces of the people huddled in the room, but the blood drained from Madam Malkin's face. "Oh, sweet Merlin! I ran out! I was going to buy more today but I couldn't find the time to- what with the rush of customers-"
"Enough!" Mrs. Longbottom pursed her lips. She scanned the crowd of terrified faces. Grim resignation filled her voice. "Who will stand with us? Who will fight?" At her words they scurried toward the safety of the backroom without a backward glance.
Mrs. Longbottom narrowed her eyes in disgust. "Cowards, the lot of them."
Mrs. Weasley moved swiftly toward her daughter. "Ginny! Take your friends and get to the backroom! Go Now!" Ginny shook her head.
"I'm staying here, mum." Ginny slid her wand out of its long pocket.
"Ginny! Listen to me! You're only a child, you can't-"
"No! I'm not going to leave you to fight them alone!" Ginny glared fiercely at her mother, and Mrs. Weasley enveloped her in a bone-crushing embrace.
"Please, Ginny! You must go!"
Ginny wrapped her arms around her mother and squeezed her tightly in return. "I'm sorry mum… I can't." Mrs. Weasley released her, wiping at her eyes. She looked imploringly at the other three teenagers.
"Emma? Luna? Neville? "
Neville straightened his back and a sense of calm seemed to come over him. He walked forward and stood with his grandmother, flashing a grin at the severe woman. "I'll not abandon you."
Augusta Longbottom looked down at her grandson, her face a mask. She stared into his eyes, and what she saw in them filled her with an intense pride. She suddenly cupped his uninjured cheek with a thin, bony hand. A single tear fell down her face. "Your parents would be proud of you." She whispered to him fiercely. "I am proud of you, my dear Neville."
Another thunder crack of noise slammed against the stone wall, shaking the whole shop. The cracks multiplied twice over. Mrs. Longbottom grimaced, and another pulse of orange light bloomed from her wand.
Neville sniffed, tears rolling down his cheeks. He ignored the stinging pain he felt as the salty liquid burned the injury on his face. "I'll protect you, Gran. I promise."
She wiped a tear from his face with her thumb, and smiled at him. "You are your father's son, filled with more courage than sense."
Luna plucked her wand out from behind her ear and twirled it between her fingers. She looked at it for a moment, and then her gaze fell upon Mrs. Weasley. Instead of the usual dreamy expression, she looked focused and determined. "I don't want to hide. They hurt my friends… I won't stand by and let it happen again."
Mrs. Wesley swept her into a hug too, and Luna's eyes widened. A small, sad smile graced her lips, and she tentatively hugged her back. "I had forgotten how much I enjoyed hugs." She said softly. They parted and Luna quickly pecked her on the cheek. "Thank you for reminding me, Mrs. Weasley."
Mrs. Weasleys' heart ached for the poor girl, and she hugged her again. A large smile formed on Ginny's lips despite their predicament. Mrs. Weasley, Ginny, and Luna turned to Emma, who visibly shrank back. "I- I don't… I can't…" she was sobbing. "I've never- never done something like this! I-"
Ginny gripped her shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay, Emma. It's okay. Get to the backroom."
"But-" Emma sobbed, and Mrs. Weasley pulled her into a hug.
"No one will think any less of you, my dear." Mrs. Weasley whispered. Emma shuttered, guilt and fear and panic swallowing her. "Go now. Find somewhere to hide." Mrs. Weasley released her, and she turned around, slowly walking towards the backroom. Madam Malkin held the door open for her, reaching out her hand.
She could hear her mother's voice inside her head. Run! Stay safe! You're too weak to help!
Another voice answered, "But I can't leave them! They took me in when I had no one else!"
You'll only get in the way, you foolish child! Hide! Survive! You can't die here! Listen to me!
"No!" Emma said aloud, stopping in her tracks. She closed her eyes and took deep calming breaths, and something sparked to life within her. A feeling she had never known before. "I'm sorry mom," she whispered, barely audible. She took out her wand and held it loosely at her side, and turned back around. "I- I'm with you guys."
"Emma, you don't have to do this." Mrs. Weasley protested. Emma walked back to them.
"Yes! Yes I do!" Emma wiped angrily at her eyes. "You're my family now and I won't… I can't let my family down again."
Madam Malkin hesitated in the doorway for a long moment, watching the scene in front of her, and then closed the door to the backroom.
"Colloportus." She whispered, locking the door. She then went to stand with the girls, wand gripped firmly in a shaking hand. She nodded quickly at Mrs. Longbottom, who inclined her head slightly in acknowledgement.
Mrs. Weasley stood next to the matriarch of the Longbottom family, staring wordlessly at the crumbling fortification.
"How are your magical reserves?" The elderly witch asked curtly, glancing down at her.
Mrs. Weasley exhaled. "I've got a few more spells in me."
Mrs. Longbottom glanced at her weary expression. "You look like you're on your last legs, my dear."
Mrs. Weasley fiercely stared her straight in the eyes. "I will protect these children! You can count on that!"
A feral grin spread across the old woman's face. "Good."
"And yours? How much fight do you have left in you?"
Mrs. Longbottom grinned. "I've barely scratched the surface."
"What's the plan, Gran?"
Mrs. Longbottom muttered under her breath, pointing her wand at the fallen robes on the ground. They clumped together into nine mounds and moved to staggered locations around the room. The elderly witch then transfigured them into thick granite walls. The defensive positions stood four feet high and were five feet wide. Mrs. Longbottom crouched behind the wall closest to the street.
She gestured to the defense with a hand. "Get behind them. When everyone is in position, I'm going to smash that wall into those bastards. As soon as you get a clear shot, lay into them with everything you've got. I will handle our defenses from here."
They took their positions behind the granite slabs. Mrs. Weasley was to Mrs. Longbottoms right, three feet behind her. Neville took the position adjacent to her on the left. Luna, Ginny, Emma, and Madam Malkin took the positions at the rear.
Mrs. Longbottom took a deep breath, and then levitated six robes from a clothes rack. They encircled her and she transfigured them into gleaming discs of crystal, a foot in diameter and an inch thick. With a twirl of her wand the crystal discs began to spin in place, and another swish sent them into a lazy orbit around her.
Neville looked on in awe. Growing up he had heard stories about his Gran's dueling capabilities, but he had always thought they must have been exaggerated. But now he wasn't so sure.
He was shaken out of his thoughts as a succession of explosions hammered the battered stone wall. Most of the cobblestones where now splintered and cracked and the wall was barely holding up.
"Be ready!" Mrs. Longbottom called out. "On my mark! Three! Two! One! Oppugno!" Mrs. Longbottom jabbed her wand forward and the crumbling cobblestone wall exploded outward, sending shards and splinters of stone into the group of surprised Death Eaters trying to gain entrance.
The nearest Death Eater had been only a few yards away from the shop, and was literally shredded by the projectiles. The next three were luckier, in the sense that they were still alive. The stone missiles punctured skin, snapped bone, splintered masks and ricocheted off their skulls. They fell and did not get back up.
The four Death Eaters in the back ranks had a split second to raise defensive charms or dive out of the way, and they returned fire the instant the attack passed them by. A beam of purple light shot straight at Neville's head. He tried to duck under his granite wall, but his eyes widened as he realized he had reacted too slow.
The spell impacted with a shower of sparks and flecks of crystal that radiated out and away from Neville, who blinked rapidly in confusion, falling back on his bottom. Two feet in front of the space his head had occupied seconds ago was one of his Gran's crystal discs, spinning slowly in the air. It was cracked and chipped, and a small portion was missing. Neville looked quickly at his Gran and believed all the stories he had ever heard about her.
She was standing tall and still as a statue; her wand pointed at the four Death Eaters. Her face was set in a grimace of concentration, and her crystal discs were blocking every spell sent into the shop. Two of the discs spun around each other in a vertical circle directly in front of her, and the other four were darting in every direction, deflecting or absorbing the effects of spells, protecting his friends.
"Neville! Stop gawking at me and attack, you silly child!" Mrs. Longbottom shouted. Neville righted himself and quickly joined his friends on the offensive.
"Expelliarmus!" A thin, waspy jet of reddish light shot out of Emma's wand and struck a Death Eater on his shoulder. His wand jumped out of his hand and the reached for it in vain. Mrs. Weasley followed this up with a stunner and the Death Eater fell to the ground unconscious.
Ginny brandished her wand and swung it forward. "Vespertilio Mucussus!" A dark purple orb of light smacked into the face of a tall, muscular Death Eater who lurched back, grabbing at his face. From his nose large globs of viscous bogeys the size of baseballs descended and sprouted wings. The bat bogeys flew into the air and dive bombed the hapless Death Eater, bludgeoning him mercilessly into unconsciousness.
Madam Malkin shot a stinging hex at one of the remaining Death Eaters but her aim was off and the Death Eater easily evaded the attack. The other Death Eater conjured a stream of green acid and sprayed it forward in a wide cone encompassing the exterior of Madam Malkins.
"Protego!" screamed Neville and Luna in unison. White mist erupted from both their wands, melding together at the empty space of the display window. The mists condensed sharply into a transparent white barrier. The stream of acid hit the shield and was repelled, but the acid that hit wood, brick and mortar quickly dissolved them into a steaming mass of goo that fell languidly to the ground.
The entire storefront of Madam Malkin's was quickly disintegrating and Mrs. Weasley tried valiantly to banish the acid but it was too late. The storefront was all but gone, exposing the defenders.
"Stupefy!" Ginny screamed. The jet of red light hit a Death Eater and she was knocked backwards.
Neville shot another stunning spell from his wand straight for the last remaining Death Eater, but suddenly a large, broken piece of masonry zoomed in from the left, intercepting the spell and exploding on impact. The lone Death Eater scrambled backwards to the other side of the street, stumbling on the sidewalk and falling.
A squad of Death Eaters marched into view, stopping next to the Death Eater. As one they turned to face Madam Malkin's Robes for all Occasions. The lead Death Eater raised her hand and took off her mask with a flourish, and her lips twisted into a wicked, deranged smile.
"Oh! Oh ho ho ho! Hello Augusta! You're wrinkles are in fine form today! And… is that Neville! My, my… you're the splitting image of your father!" A fell light danced in her eyes, and she cackled shrilly into the smoke filled air. "Well… almost. You've yet to lose your sanity, my dear! May I?"
Neville clenched his teeth and hot angry tears fell from his eyes. He started forward but his grandmother shot out her hand in warning.
"Bellatrix Lestrange." Mrs. Longbottom said venomously. Her body trembled with rage and hate. The spinning crystal discs returned to her, orbiting around her once again. The four that were blocking spells were chipped and cracked, some more so than the others. Two were still pristine. "I will kill you for what you've done to my family!"
"Oh I think not, old hag." Bellatrix's raised her hand in the blink of an eye. "Avada Kedavra!" A jagged beam of green light burst forth straight for her, but one of the pristine crystal discs shot out. They collided in the air and the crystal disc exploded in shower of green sparks.
"You think you're petty defenses will save you?" Bellatrix spat, stomping the ground. "Nothing will stop me from tearing out your heart! Nothing!"
Mrs. Longbottom spoke loud enough so that only the defenders could hear her and spoke quickly. "Bellatrix will require my undivided attention, so I leave it to you to protect each other!" As one, they fell into defensive stances.
Augusta Longbottom smiled grimly and narrowed her eyes. "Today I send you to hell, you bitch!"
Bellatrix screamed, spittle spewing from her mouth. "Kill them! Kill them all!"
The Death Eaters broke ranks, fanning out swiftly into the street. Spells spewed forth from their wands and the defenders returned fire. A kaleidoscope of colored lights filled the street as the battle was rejoined.
A/N: Hello folks! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter! Til' next time, have a great day!