Chapter 10: The Return
"Harry, are you alright? You seem a little edgy," said Parvati as the Gryffindors walked to the third floor. Harry just nodded his head. He knew he could trust them with this information. They had all mastered Occlumency and Harry knew they were loyal, or they would never have been able to join the group or continue with it in the first place. What they didn't know was that the contract rescans their loyalties every week they come to training.
"We have intelligence that Voldemort will be attacking a town sometime during the beginning of March. As it is the first and I will be part of the defensive, yes, I am a little edgy," he said. They all gasped at the thought that somewhere would be attacked. They stayed silent for the rest of the walk to the training room.
"Alright everyone, as it is Ron's birthday, we are going to work an extra hour as a present for him," he said with a laugh as they all groaned.
"Thanks a lot Weasley," Daphne said with mock anger. Ron stood up pompously.
"You are just jealous," he said, getting a laugh from everyone. February had gone by quickly and Harry was a little jumpy now that he was waiting for the attack. He also wondered what the town looked like. The last time he was there he was just over one year old. He vowed to make sure the town took as little damage as possible. Minister Bones had been notified of the attack and promised to have more Aurors stationed around major areas as well. She protested at first, but finally relented when Albus said that Harry didn't want Aurors stationed at Godric's Hollow. They would only get in the way and try to take command when they shouldn't.
Harry had also called upon his werewolf friends. They had replied a week after he contacted them saying they were willing to fight with him. He asked them to be in Hogsmede for extra security. This way Albus could also send more Order members to other areas.
He watched as they split into two groups and eight of them sat down and started practicing on their transformations. The closest so far was Hermione, as the best in Transfiguration out of the group, and she was able to turn her arms into fox legs. Harry and Professor McGonagall had been giving them tips, but they were to the point where they would have to finish it themselves through practice.
The other twelve were having a six on six duel. Neither side was giving any ground and Harry just smiled at their abilities. Even Voldemort's inner circle would have a hard time keeping up with them. He grinned when he saw Katie spin away from a stunner from Terry and fire one wandlessly to take out Parvati. They had all come a long way.
ooOooOoo
Bill, Hestia, and Moody were at Godric's Hollow keeping watch. The sun had just set on the second of March. Bill had set up wards that would signal him if someone were to apparate or portkey in.
"You think it will be tonight?" asked Hestia. Bill turned to her.
"I don't know. Harry trusts his source. They should be coming any day now." He looked over at the town square. The town wasn't very big. There was a large town square, with shops all around it. Three roads branched off the square, one going each north, east, and west. Houses lined those roads and the few smaller roads that broke off of them. They could see the Church, which took up the entire south side of the square, and the graveyard behind it. The Potter's old home was not in sight, as it was on the very edge of the town, and under many charms by Dumbledore to protect it.
Bill was about to continue when his wand vibrated and he heard a series of pops, meaning that someone just entered the town. He looked over to the other end of the town square to see a group of people in black robes getting prepared with more appearing. He quickly grabbed the charm around his neck, which would heat up the other charms on other people so they know they attack was happening. The Death Eaters started spreading out and shooting spells at the shops and houses, causing people to scream in terror.
Behind the three, they heard a series of swishes, and turned to see about a hundred more people portkey in. "We are going to need more than this," Bill said, seeing that they were outnumbered about two to one.
"No we won't," said a commanding voice. They turned to see Harry materialize in front of them. His eyes were blazing with power as the Axe of Slytherin appeared in his hand. "They will pay for even thinking about coming here," he said as he pointed his hand at the nearest Death Eater. In the dark, the Death Eaters had not noticed the group across the square getting prepared to fight them. A bolt of lightning soared out of his hand and struck the Death Eater, launching him across the square where he landed in a heap dead.
"Attack," Harry roared, as he sprinted into the mass of Death Eaters, cleaving one of them in two in his fury.
ooOooOoo
"Minister, the Atrium is under attack!" cried her secretary. Amelia Bones looked up from her desk and swore. She had Aurors in the building and they were prepared for a fight but she would rather they didn't have to.
"Christine, turn on the emergency siren. Get all workers either out of the building or to go and fight. Seal off all stairways and make sure that the elevators can go to the Atrium." The girl ran to do her job. "Weasley!" Percy ran up to her.
He was still the Minister's personal assistant. He had felt horrible when he found out that Harry and Professor Dumbledore were being truthful. He had gone back to Dumbledore who actually forgave him. Dumbledore had asked Amelia to keep him here, as help and protection. Dumbledore had even taught him some fighting during the summer so that he would make a good bodyguard. He was too afraid to speak to his family before, but was going to during the spring holidays.
"Yes Minister?" he asked. He had his wand out and his magical aura was flaring. He was prepared to fight.
"Let's get down to the Atrium. I will not leave my Aurors alone in this fight," she said, walking toward the door of her office. Percy grinned. He knew there was no way he would be able to convince the Minister otherwise. They both ran to the elevators that brought them up to the Atrium. It was in chaos.
There were spells of every color flying back and forth from the one hundred and fifty or so Aurors and Ministry employees and the Death Eaters inside the massive hall. Amelia, remembering her Auror days, jumped into the fray, taking on two Death Eaters at once. Percy stayed close as with a wave of his wand, shot a banishing charm, catching a Death Eater and sending him flying into another.
He turned to another figure appear behind the line of Aurors. The woman was wearing deep blue and bronze battle robes. He couldn't see her face but saw sleek dirty blonde hair falling out of the hood. She quickly lifted a beautiful bow and shot three arrows at once, hitting three separate Death Eaters. Percy was astounded by the skill at which she shot. After a few more rounds of arrows, the bow disappeared, and she jumped into the battle, sending two Death Eaters flipping through the air with only a wave of her hand. He saw her quiver for a second and read "Rowena Ravenclaw." His eyes widened. Professor Dumbledore told him of the heirs of the founders after he came back. How did Luna get here?
ooOooOoo
St. Mungos wasn't very busy at the moment, something they were very happy about. Ever since You-Know-Who had returned, patients have been on a steady rise and Healers have been in high demand. Sandy Cuthert was the receptionist at the main desk. The reception area was not very big at all, so she could see the whole place. She was currently flicking through a Witch Weekly magazine when she heard footsteps.
"May I help you?" she asked. She looked up to see a woman in what appeared to be battle robes. They were yellow and black in color. She had her hood up, but silky auburn hair fell out of it.
"I suggest you call the Aurors stationed here at the hospital. Death Eaters will be here very soon," the woman said and turned around and walked to the middle of the reception area. Sandy didn't know what to say. She quickly called them, and twenty of them came to the room with their wands out. Sandy just pointed to the young woman, who seemed to be waiting for something.
"Excuse me, but who are you and why did you call security?" Tonks asked. The woman didn't even turn to her but spoke.
"Get every Auror in the place down here, a large force of Death Eaters will be arriving in a few minutes." The woman then removed two short swords from the two scabbards that formed an X on her back. "Go. They can't all come at once, maybe a max of fifty at a time due to the small area here. How many Aurors are here?" Tonks recognized the blades.
"Ginny?" she whispered, not daring to hope she was right. She threw a quick look at Tonks. Tonks looked relieved when the woman didn't deny it. "There are one hundred more," she answered.
"Get them down here. We will have only forty at a time in the reception area. Have more join the fight when we need reinforcements. Go tell them now," Ginny commanded. Tonks did exactly as she was told. Two minutes later found forty Aurors and Ginny in front of the entrance. They all had wands drawn and were ready for a fight. The Aurors were behind desks or chairs and were spread out while Ginny was standing directly in the middle of the room. When the first series of pops came, Ginny didn't give the Death Eaters time to even react as she lunged at the closest one and drove one of her swords right into the person's stomach and wandlessly banished him into four others. The Aurors, except Tonks, then started firing spells, wondering who that woman was. Tonks waited a few extra seconds, staring at the power Ginny just showed.
ooOooOoo
Albus Dumbledore suddenly appeared in Hogsmede hanging onto a tail feather of his beloved phoenix, Fawkes. He was behind the lines of Aurors that were doing battle with the Death Eaters. He turned to an Auror who seemed to be directing the battle.
"What is the situation," he asked while pulling out his wand. The man instantly started filling him in.
"Professor Dumbledore sir, we have engaged the Death Eaters all over the town. They have well over a hundred. I have about a hundred and twenty Aurors out here now, with some volunteers from the town. We need all the help we can get," he said.
"Very well. A few of my staff will be down here soon. I also know that some friends from the forest will show up soon," he said as he heard a loud crash. He turned to see Voldemort himself walk onto the battlefield and shoot down an Auror with the killing curse. Dumbledore quickly left the bewildered leader and ran up to help the Aurors.
"Hello Tom, we meet again," he said as he made a Death Eater fly away from them with a wave of his wand. Voldemort just sneered.
"Don't call me that name old man. I am sick of your meddling and defiance. You have escaped me far too many times. Prepare to die," he said and threw a killing curse at Albus, who nimbly side-stepped and began a fast-paced duel with the Dark Lord.
Dumbledore spun on his foot and shot a charm at the ground, causing it to shake. As Voldemort started to stumble he transfigured several pieces of debris into wolves and made them attack. Voldemort banished the wolves at Dumbledore, who vanished them and with a swipe of his wand, caused a fire whip to sprout out the end. He swung it and Voldemort who ducked the first attack and raised a shield for the second before sending a spell at a dead Auror that was nearby Albus. It exploded and bone and body parts shot at Albus at high speed. As a shield was raised to block the debris, Voldemort used the same spell Albus used earlier that made the ground shake. Albus fell over and Voldemort, seeing his chance, let loose two killing curses, aimed directly at Albus' chest. Fawkes of course swooped in and took one, but there was still another, and Albus could do nothing but watch it fly at him.
He waited for death to come. He was not afraid of it. Like he had said before, it was but the next great adventure. Just before the curse could hit him, a man jumped in front of it and swung a sword at the light, chopping the energy in half and deflecting both halves on a diagonal, missing their target. Voldemort looked completely stunned his attack was stopped in such a fashion.
"Professor Dumbledore, I suggest you go help the Aurors. I will hold of Voldemort," the young man said. "Harry's friends should be here any second now." Dumbledore took a quick look at him. He was wearing crimson and gold battle robes. In his hand he held a ruby-encrusted silver sword. Dumbledore's eyes widened.
"Be careful my boy. I trust you will not underestimate him," Albus said. Neville just nodded. Albus ran off to help some of the Aurors that were having trouble. Sure enough, as he took out a Death Eater, forty werewolves ran out of the Forbidden Forest and started to attack the Death Eaters.
"Whoever you are boy, I will be sure to make your death quick," Voldemort hissed as he dropped into a dueling stance. Neville did the same.
"That's where you are wrong," Neville said, and quickly threw an exploding hex at the Dark Lord.
ooOooOoo
Godric's Hollow had become a war zone. Harry was in the middle of it, doing the most damage out of everyone there. He had taken down forty Death Eaters already but many Order members had fallen as well.
"Potter," came a familiar drawl. Harry spun on the spot to come face to face with Lucius Malfoy. A feral grin spread across his face.
"How nice to see you, Lucius. I am glad you were able to make it," Harry said, as another dark spell from him sent another Death Eater to an early grave. Malfoy didn't back down.
"My master will reward me greatly for disposing of you Potter. Any last words before you join your filthy mudblood mother?" he asked, raising his wand and getting ready to duel. Harry's face changed from a smirk to cold fury in an instant.
Malfoy's wand snapped in half in his hand and he went flying toward Harry, who caught the man by the throat.
"Just two. Avada Kedavra," he whispered into Malfoy's ear. The hand holding Malfoy's neck glowed a dangerous green, and the Death Eater fell to the ground dead. It was the first killing curse used by the light. Harry was sick of the fighting. It needed to end. He turned and killing curses erupted out of his hands, killing Death Eaters left, right, and center. After ten, he felt the ground start to shake. He turned to see three giants walk into the fight.
He disappeared with the wind and reappeared in the air in front of one and fired a killing curse into the eye of it, felling it quickly. He disappeared again as a tree trunk flew through the air where he had been a second ago. He appeared on the ground in front of the other two. With two quick Reductos, he destroyed the two trees they were using as clubs. He dodged their feet as they tried to step on him. He shot some dark curses at another, bringing it down to its knees. Bill, Hestia, and Moody were taking down the other. He sent a piercing curse into the eye of this one, which tore apart the brain, effectively killing it. Harry turned to help with the third only to see Bill immobilizing it with a powerful curse he no doubt learned in Egypt. Moody and Hestia left to go fight more Death Eaters when, to Harry's dismay, he saw green light envelope Hestia.
He looked around the battlefield. The Order was getting really low on fighters, about only twenty. They were currently taking refuge behind certain buildings and shop stands. The Death Eaters still had around eighty fighters. Harry had to end it quickly. He called upon the elements and felt the wind start to pick up. Hopefully none of the Order members were in the middle of the square, because it was hard to control this particular power.
ooOooOoo
The Atrium was totally torn apart. What Dumbledore and Voldemort did to it last June seemed like a little redecorating compared to what it looked like now. All the walls were littered with holes, and the fountain had been obliterated a long time ago. Aurors, Ministry personnel, and Death Eaters alike lied all over the floor, while the ones still standing sent spell after spell at each other.
Percy was still doing battle with Minister Bones. They had teamed up and while one shielded, the other threw a curse. When he had the chance however, he snuck a glance at Luna who was decimating the Death Eaters without saying a single word. Sometimes she wasn't even moving her hands! Her power was incredible. He just finished off a Death Eater and turned to find the Luna again. She was standing face to face with none other than Antonin Dolohov.
"Hello girl. I am surprised by your power. Why are you fighting for the Aurors? My master would like to have you as one of his servants," he said, eyeing the woman carefully.
"I will never join him," he heard in his head. His eyes widened when he figured out that she talked through his mind.
"How did you do that?" he asked. He didn't get an answer. Instead, his wand soared away from his hand and stopped right in front of the girl. It promptly snapped in half. Her head lifted a little and he saw large blue eyes looking back at him. He went flipping through the air and hit his head on the ground hard, breaking his neck.
Percy looked on astounded. She didn't even move and took out one of You-Know-Who's best! He hoped he would get to her after the fight. He returned his full attention to the battle. Minister Bones was battling a Death Eater but didn't see the one coming to attack her from behind. His eyes widened with horror when he saw a vibrant green curse launch out of the Death Eaters wand right at his boss. Doing the only thing he could think of, he fired a stunner at the man and jumped in front of the Minister.
ooOooOoo
St. Mungos had seen better days. The reception area looked like a bunch of muggle dynamite had gone off inside. The desks, chairs, and walls were broken apart and debris was thrown haphazardly around the floor. Bodies littered the ground, as the people still standing attacked one another. Only about eighty or ninety people were fighting at a time. The Death Eaters had taken heavy casualties as they were not able to use their advantage of numbers. The Aurors were running out of reinforcements as well, but were putting up a slightly better fight.
The one putting up the best fight was Ginny. She only had one sword out now, and in between swings, would fire curses and hexes with her open hand. Tonks was battling her hardest as well, but was always trying to make sure the Ginny was still battling. Tonks couldn't believe that the young and curious little witch that left in November had become this beautiful and battle-hardened warrior. Her moves were graceful and deadly. It looked as if she was in a graceful ballet. She heard a cackle that was all too familiar. She turned to see none other than her Aunt Bellatrix walking up to Ginny.
"Well, well, the wittle baby can pway," Bellatrix said in a baby voice. Ginny slowly turned to face her.
"Yes I can, and if you want to survive, I suggest you don't test me," Ginny said.
"You will never win," Bellatrix snarled, her mood swinging from playful baby talk to pure malice in an instant. "The Dark Lord will triumph, and I will be by his side when he kills Potter. You are nothing but a nuisance." With that she started hurtling curses at Ginny. Ginny calmly spun away from a killing curse and deflected a few others. As she did this, the sword in her hand shrunk into a dagger. She spun from another killing curse and in a swift flick of her hand, the dagger crossed the distance between them in a blink of an eye and imbedded in the Death Eater's chest.
ooOooOoo
The Aurors and Death Eaters alike that were around Voldemort stopped fighting and watched as a young man calmly fought off the one of the most powerful Dark Lords to ever exist. The boy was having trouble holding the evil being off, but never did he show anger or emotion. He just attacked and defended.
Voldemort on the other hand was incensed. How was this boy able to keep up with him? He was fast, and incredibly powerful. The boy had hit him as many times as he had hit the boy, and that wasn't many.
Neville ducked a dark curse and sent multiple curses of his own, which Voldemort swatted away. Voldemort then waved his wand and a wave of fire flew at Neville. Neville calmly threw out his hands and the fire coiled itself around him. It danced along his skin and robes but didn't burn either. Voldemort was so surprised he barely was able to raise a shield as Neville sent three fireballs back at him. Neville then drew his sword again and charged as Voldemort defended himself against the flames. Voldemort was fast, but he wasn't expecting a physical attack. He tried to spin away but Neville was still able to drive the sword through the man's right shoulder. He pulled it out quickly and was about to stun him when, with a scream of agony, Voldemort disappeared.
ooOooOoo
The battle was over. The Death Eaters that were left disappeared. There were only about thirty after Harry dropped the tornado into the square. The Death Eaters were pressing their advantage and were crossing the square when Harry unleashed the fury of a storm upon them. The Order members were astounded to see Harry off to the side, literally glowing with power, trying to control it. Of the one hundred Order members that were there in the beginning, only fifteen were left. Bill and Moody were about to go talk to Harry when they saw the boy slowly walk into the graveyard, which had somehow sustained little damage. Knowing which graves were in there, they decided to give him some time alone.
Harry walked up to the graves of his parents. He fell to his knees and stared at them. He didn't know how long he did. He felt numb. He didn't even notice when someone else stepped into the graveyard an hour after he did. He didn't hear them sit down next to him, but jumped a little when he felt smaller arms circle around his waist and a head rest on his shoulder. He knew the aura of this person.
"Welcome back Ginny," he said quietly.
"Are you alright Harry?" she asked. She had just come from St. Mungos. She had helped with the many wounded for the last hour. She was tired, but when she heard that Harry had not left the graveyard of his parents yet, she knew something was up.
"Do you think they would be proud of what I have done lately?" he asked after a few minutes. She wasn't surprised at the question. "I killed so many people today, Ginny. Does that make me one of them? Am I any better than Voldemort?" he asked in a whisper. Ginny just gave him a stronger squeeze.
"The fact that you feel horrible for killing the Death Eaters makes you so much better than him. He enjoys killing and ruining lives. You only do it out of necessity and to protect others. You feel remorse Harry, and that makes you a good person. I know your parents are proud of you, wherever they are," she said, giving a smile. He smiled weakly in return.
"Thanks Gin." He stood up and pulled her up also. "Come on, they are probably wondering where we are, and I don't feel like having all of your brothers assuming the worst," he said, getting a giggle out of her. They disappeared in a rush of a portkey.