Warning: Violence and swearing.
"Blake Sun," Harry answered the phone as he moved towards the Great hall for breakfast.
"Blake," Dracka's voice came down the line. "One of the ward stones is flashing."
Harry stopped in the middle of the hallway as students moved around him.
"Do you need help?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Dracka replied. "We could use your help. I'm getting mixed reports about what is going on in the area but I think that it has something to do with Simpson."
"Do I have time?" Harry asked.
"Maybe a hour or two," Dracka said. "Looks like they tried to get into one of our villages but were repelled by the wards. Don't think they were expecting them."
"Okay," Harry replied. "I'll get back to you in about an hour."
Dracka hung up the phone and Harry placed the slightly shrunk brick back into his pocket as he glanced around at the students.
"Blake."
Harry turned to see Charmling heading towards him with a grin on his face, his brown hair pulled to the side.
"How are you?" The man asked as he drew even with Harry.
"I'm well," Harry replied. "But I must be on my way."
"Oh," The man said looking disappointed. "I was hoping we could go to Hogsmead for lunch and I could pick your brain about an advanced charm I've been working on."
"Um," Harry stuttered put out. "I'll have to make it up to you another time. I need to talk to the Headmaster, good day."
"Um yeah," Charmling said. "See you around."
Harry turned away from the man and the strange conversation as he pulled his phone and dialled Kingsley's number as he made his way into the Great Hall.
"Kingsley," The man answered after a couple of rings.
"Kingsley, it's Blake." Harry said quickly. "I need a specialist team ready to go in an hour to back up Dracka, can you make that happen?"
"In an hour?" The man yelped.
"Sorry," Harry apologised as he reached the Great Hall. "Only just got the call."
"Okay," Kingsley said and Harry could hear noise in the background. "Meet at Hogwarts?"
"Yeah," Harry agreed, as he made his way to the Head Table catching Severus's eye. "Just about to talk to the Headmaster now."
Harry stopped next to the Headmaster as Severus stood and moved closer.
"Okay Blake. See you in a hour."
The phone clicked and Harry wandlessly and wordlessly threw up a silencing charm around Severus and the Headmaster.
"We have a problem," Harry said quickly. "Simpson has tried to attack one of the villages that I warded, Dracka just called me."
"How long do we have?" The Headmaster asked.
"About an hour," Harry replied. "Kingsley is getting a team together as we speak."
"Do you need the Order?" Albus asked.
"Remus and Black would help," Harry said quickly looking around the hall his eyes briefly settling on his son. "Remus especially since there might be dark creatures at this village. Anyone else you think might help as well?"
"Bill Weasley might be a good choice," Albus said softly.
Harry nodded and said, "He can back me up if I have to reinforce the wards."
"Okay," Albus said. "I'll get in contact with them now, while you and Severus get ready."
"Okay, I need you to say here Albus just in case this is a ruse to pull you away from the school." Harry said breaking the silencing charm. "Come on Severus."
Severus looked pale and Harry whacked his shoulder.
"Move it Snape!" Harry barked, making Minerva snort into her coffee.
Severus startled and moved without thinking, Albus coughed a laugh. Harry pulled out his phone again feeling eyes on him and he glanced over to see Charmling staring at him. Turning away from the man's stare Harry dialled a number.
"You have reached the Department of Mysteries please leave a message and we will strive to get back to you…"
"Strike team three," Harry muttered into the phone. "Priority one, Hogwarts in one hour. Bring the fire power Robbie."
Harry hung up the phone.
"What?" Severus asked as they moved back to the dungeons.
"Back up team," Harry explained moving as fast as he could.
Severus was wide eyed as he looked at Harry and he felt for the man.
"You have been in battle before right?" Harry asked, thinking back on when they went to the Ministry.
"Um, yes." Severus stumbled over his words and Harry stopped in the hallway pulling up a silencing charm around him. "Mainly just Death Eater strikes."
Harry stilled and looked the man over.
"I want you to say back with Bill and help as back up then." Harry said softly.
Severus shook himself, standing taller and looked down his nose at Harry. He grabbed his hand in his own ignoring the few students still in the hallways.
"Severus," Harry started softly, running a hand over his head. "Be careful and help Bill okay?"
Severus sneered down at him and Harry gave him a grin and another wack on the shoulder.
"Come on," Harry said turning and walking through the silencing charm breaking it.
Once Harry was in his rooms he moved through to the bedroom taking his shirt off as he went, he pulled out the dragon hide vest from the cupboard and threw another one at Severus. He also pulled out dragon hide pants and let his own pants slip to the ground as he changed them over.
His shirt went over the vest as he pulled on some loose pants, he clicked his belt around his slim waist and placed his wands in their holsters as well as a silver knife and his silver sword appeared with the flick of his wrist. He placed it in the special loop on the belt before pulling a coat over the top. He looked over at Severus still standing there with the vest in his hands and sighed.
"Severus?"
The man started and blushed, taking his robes and shirt off before puling the vest on and his shirt over the top. When he reached for his robe Harry grabbed his wrist.
"Leave it," Harry advised. "Take a jacket instead, it gives you better freedom of movement."
Severus grinned at him and a weight lifted from his shoulders as he looked into his lover's eyes. He pulled the man into a hard kiss.
"Ready?" Harry asked.
"I'll just grab some supplies from my office," Severus said softly. "A certain someone always seems to need medical attention."
Harry barked a laugh and let the man go as he added a few more items to his coat. He pulled his phone again and dialled Dracka's number.
"Dracka."
"I have a strike team ready to go, as well as a Auror team and back up from the Order," Harry said into the phone as he moved into the living room. "Where are we meeting?"
He took out his latest muscle potion and drained it. It would numb the muscle for the day and would help him move more freely, which he had a feeling he was going to need. The down side was it only lasted twenty four hours.
"Meet at the mansion, I'll have portkeys waiting for you at the Paris International Portkey Platform." Dracka said quickly with a lot of noise in the background. "A ministry worker will meet you there. I have a team at the village but will need your help here. Simpson has moved quicker than we thought he would. He has tried to break through the wards at three villages so far but we think it's just draw us off from here."
"Is he trying to attack the Council directly?" Harry demanded, feeling faint.
"We think that's his goal," Dracka said. "I have people waiting but we can't do much until the sun sets. Most of my day teams have been moved to the other villages to reinforce them."
"Shit," Harry swore.
Sunset was still a long way off so they wouldn't have the back up of the vampires until then. Severus came back into the room with a long jacket on and he cocked an eyebrow in question.
"Okay we should be there within the hour," Harry said. "Can you hold until then?"
"Can only hope."
The phone clicked as Dracka hung up.
"It's not great news," Harry said. "Come on, lets move to the gates to meet up with the rest of the teams and I can fill you in."
xXx
Severus watched his lover from the side of the room with the Order members on one side of him and the Ministry workers and Aurors on the other as Blake and Dracka had their heads bowed over the maps on the large wooden table in the middle of the room. He had never seen this side of Blake and was in awe of the man.
He had never really thought of Blake as a warrior but seeing him calmly assessing the reports and ordering groups out he was left speechless. He had to remind himself that Blake had lived a long time and had been a battle worn warrior before he was a cripple with a limp.
"He is something," Remus muttered into his ear as Blake ordered another group into position, the men and women taking his orders without question.
"That he is," Severus replied softly, even Black didn't say otherwise.
The way he barked orders it was clear that the man had been in command at some stage of his life and he expected his orders to be carried out without question even when ordering dark creatures he had them moving with just a glare and a growl.
Dracka worked along side him like they had been doing this for years and Severus could see another commander there as well and was surprised by the way the vampire let Blake take control when they had come in.
"Strike team three," Blake called out and the ministry workers moved forward with confidence.
Severus was shocked to see the team, they were only a small group of four members, three men and one woman, but were heavily armed with both wands and firearms. This was a team that even Death Eaters would pause at.
"I want you here," Blake commanded. "You are back up in case of the wards falling."
"Yes, sir." One of the men barked.
"Simpson has people here and here," Blake pointed out a couple of spots on the map before him. "We have heard he has a curse breaker so the chance of the wards falling is there. Move!"
"Yes, sir!"
Blake looked back down at the map as a runner ran up to give a report.
"Remus, Black!" Blake called out.
The two men started then moved forward.
"Remus we have a groups of werewolves in these locations," Blake said showing the spots on the map. "I want you to work with them and keep them focused, Black I want you as a runner between the groups. Your animagus form can move quicker than our runners. Any problems?"
"No," The men said.
"Okay move out," Blake said with a smile. "Stay safe."
The ground shook suddenly and dust rained down on the people still gathered as everyone looked around.
"That would be the wards," Blake said softly then louder. Still holding! Bill, Severus."
Severus started and moved forward with Bill.
"Okay," Blake said and pointed to a spot on the map near the east side of the village. "This is were I tied in the wards, Bill I want you to power up the wards. Severus I need you to watch his back. Understood?"
"Yes," The two men muttered.
"I'll have a team back you up," Dracka said and a few men broke off from a group and moved forward.
"I'll be there to help if the wards start to fail," Blake said and grabbed Severus shoulder. "Stay safe."
Severus gave the man a small smile and moved with Bill towards the exit the group of five men following them but staying back.
"Wow," Bill said once they were outside. "Wasn't expecting that from him."
"I will second that," Severus muttered, still trying to wrap his head around it.
"He is great warrior," One of the men behind him said with a heavy accent. "He help us before."
"Really?" Bill asked.
"Oh, yes." The man said. "People come to kill Coven, Sun stop them. Many die that day. Vampires fed well."
Severus and Bill fell quiet at that as they made their way to the spot on the map. Bill looked around until he felt out the spot that Blake spoke of and pulled his wand.
"The wards are holding well so far," Bill said as he felt out the wards. "Gee, these are very strong wards, I don't think their curse breaker will get through them."
"Dracka said that Blake used pure light magic to complete them," Severus said remembering his conversation with the man a while ago.
"That would have taken it out of him." Bill said with a whistle. "He has worked on these a few times. They are layered one on top of the other every couple of years."
Another jolt raced across the ground and a loud boom echoed around the village as they attacked the wards again. Severus watched as the wards flared about twenty meters from where they stood.
"Can you tell where they are attacking from?" Severus asked.
"West side," Bill said quickly. "There are two groups. That's the curse breaker trying to get through. He's just throwing power against the barrier at the moment. I don't think he was expecting so much resistance."
Another jolt then shortly followed by another boom came to them. That's when Severus could see people moving in the tree line in front of them.
"We have company," Severus hissed, pointing out the people.
"Wards still stand." Bill said, as he eyed off the people.
BOOM!
The ground shook.
"Still holding!"
BOOM!
"Slight crack but still holding!"
One of the five men nodded and ran off, probably back to report.
BOOM!
This one almost had them loosing their footing.
"Still holding! Bloody hell he made these strong! That curse breaker has some power behind him."
CRACK!
"Still holding!"
Suddenly Blake appeared almost running and Severus just stared at the image. He knew his lover had taken a potion that helped his leg but it was still amazing to see as Blake pulled up next to them and took out his cherry ward.
"Okay everyone," Blake said slightly out of breath. "At the next attack I'm going to drop the wards, then flare them back up."
"You're going to what!" Bill yelped.
"Dracka has people in place to pick off anyone that runs over the wards and gets trapped." Blake explained quickly. "Team get ready!"
BOOM!
The wards flared then fell, there was a cheer from the tree line and some people ran forward then Blake snarled and the wards flared to life again his green eyes blazing. Gunfire started up around them. Cries and yelling filled the air then silence.
A horn suddenly rang out on the air.
"That's the retreat," Blake said, sweat on his brow as he poured magic into the wards building them back up. "Well done."
"Was that it?" Bill asked.
One of the men snorted and Blake clapped a hand on his shoulder with a smirk.
"Oh, no." Blake said. "They will try again. We can only hope that it's not before night fall."
"What happens after night fall?" Severus asked.
"Vampires hunt," One of Dracka's men said with a savage grin.
Severus shivered.
"They will remember why this Coven has not fallen for over a thousand years," Blake said with a grin of his own. "Dracka will not let them forget who holds this land."
Severus felt a shiver go down his back at the words.
"Okay," Blake said looking around. "Bill and Severus you can move back to the nearest house, everyone has been evacuated. Bill keep a eye on the wards and send one of Dracka's men if anything changes. Team five hold this area."
"Yes, sir!" One of the men barked.
Blake nodded at everyone, his eyes lingering on Severus, before he turned and disappeared between the buildings. Severus just watched after him with dark eyes.
xXx
Turning away from Severus and leaving him was one of the hardest acts he'd had to do but Harry knew he was needed elsewhere. He moved back to the mansion, he paused when he heard a snarl and pulled his silver knife before he recognising one of Dracka's hellhounds as it patrolled. The beast swung its powerful head in Harry's direction and with a last snarl and flash of red eyes it dashed away.
"God I hate those things," Harry muttered.
He made it back to the mansion and was assaulted with reports, there was damage on the west side of the village but they were holding. Remus was working with the werewolves well, the hellhounds had ripped through a strike team on the northern side that they hadn't seen coming and the reports kept rolling in.
"Blake," Dracka called when he saw the man. "They have sounded the retreat and all of the men that stepped over the wards have been brought down. Simpson has pulled back for now but he has giants with him."
Harry paled at the words, he had seen first hand what the beasts could do and it wasn't pretty.
"We have four hours before sunset," Blake said moving closer to Dracka. "I will be able to change the wards to let your people passed the wards then, the only down side is if they have vampires with them."
Dracka flashed a toothy grin in Harry's direction in answer. It was chaffing the man that the sun was holding him back and he wasn't alone. The other vampires were chomping at the bit to get into the fighting.
"Severus, Bill and team five are holding," Harry said softly. "Bill will be able to hold the wards if they attack again."
"Okay," Dracka replied. "We will strengthen the west side. We have reports from three other villages under attack but they are holding with my teams supporting them."
"Why has he decided to attack in such force now?" Harry asked. "From the information we have he didn't have this kind of support here."
"Yes," Dracka agreed. "There was no indications in my spies last reports."
"Could he be working with the Dark Lord?"
Dracka paled at Harry's words.
"God, I hope not." The other man muttered.
"I thought he was working through Germany?" Harry questioned. "What is he doing here?"
"Perhaps he has found out that the Council meets here and is attacking directly."
Harry frowned, there were just too many questions and they didn't have enough answers. A runner ran towards them.
"Sir," The young man gasped. "Giants are forming up on the north side!"
"Fuck," Harry cursed. "I'll move that way with my strike team. Dracka have your men ready for when the sun sets. I think they are going to use the giants to smash into the wards with the curse breaker. Runner, get the ministry strike team three and have them move to the north side."
"Yes, Sir!"
The boy ran off a Hellhound on his heels as support. Harry turned away but a strong hand on his shoulder stopped him. Harry looked back to Dracka in question.
"Stay safe, Blake." The man said softly, eyes shining red.
"Always," Harry replied with a grin.
Dracka barked a laugh. "Not from what I've heard, go!"
Harry gave him a wink and moved out a hellhound falling into step with him with a snarl. Harry looked at the beast with a shiver as the animal gave him a look like. 'Do you think I signed up for this?' which just made Harry's grin widen.
Strike team three was waiting for him at the north side.
"Blake!" Sergeant Miller said jumping to attention when he saw him.
He turned to the three giants standing eight to ten feet tall before the wards. The beasts held clubs the size of Harry himself as they waited for orders. They were dim beasts however once a person had their loyalty they would do anything for them even if that meant their deaths.
"This is going to be a challenge, Blake." Sergeant Miller said softly to Harry, his brown eyes wide.
"Yes, yes it is." Harry agreed, and then flashed a grin. "Makes you feel alive!"
Dark chuckles ran through the team.
"Did you bring the firepower?" Harry asked.
"Oh, boy. Did we." A short but heavy-set man called Robbie said with a grin. "Picked it up special from America!"
"Um," Harry turned to the man. "Do I want to know?"
Robbie chuckled darkly. "Let's just say that one of those giants will not be walking away from this!"
"Ah," Harry said paling slightly at the words. "Okay."
"It's okay Blake," The only woman on the team said kindly. "We will tell you when to look away."
Harry barked a laugh and clapped the woman on the shoulder, her name was Sarah Felling and the last man on the team was David Shelton and he couldn't think of a better team at his back. He had worked with these men and woman many times over the years. Five people against three giants would sound like bad odds, but Harry almost felt sorry for the beasts…well almost.
"Okay," Harry said looking over the group. "I'm going to key you into the wards so you can slip in and out of them. Robbie I need that device of yours."
Harry grabbed the wards at his feet with his cherry wand before tapping each person on the head before turning to Robbie and the rocket launcher in his hands.
"Really?" Harry asked eyes wide.
The man just grinned at him as Harry tapped the device.
Across the village Bill jolted as Harry worked on the wards.
"Blake's doing something over on the north side," Bill said to Severus.
"What?" The dark haired man asked fear in his voice.
"He has just keyed four people into the wards," Bill explained. "I think he has something planned."
Suddenly a roar of a giant echoed over the village making the two wizards pale.
"You don't think?" Bill gasped.
Severus shivered his eyes wide.
"I hope not," Severus whispered.
Harry turned at the roar from the beast in front of him.
"Okay Robbie," Harry said calmly as the last of the roar rolled into the distance. "I want you set up and ready. I want the middle beast taken down before we strike. Sarah and David take the beast on the left and I'll take the right. Miller I want you to stay behind the wards and keep an eye on us, if anyone tries to intervene take them out!"
"Yes, Sir!"
Harry turned to the hellhound sitting calmly near them. "Tell Dracka we are moving on the giants now!"
The hellhound nodded its head and ran off.
"We need to take these giants down before they know we are moving!" Harry told the group.
Simpson wouldn't be expecting a team to strike against the giants, since no sane wizard would attack giants first. That's where Harry's plan was so simple by taking out the biggest threat as quickly as he could, before the other side could move them into place.
"Okay move out!"
Harry and the team moved forward as Robbie moved into position. He keyed up the rocket launcher in his hands and a soft whine started up. Harry pulled his silver sword and held the elder wand in his left hand as they moved up to the wards.
"Now!"
The rocket launcher and leapt across the field and the middle giant just exploded. Harry stumbled slightly in shock but kept moving as he passed over the wards to the roar of the other two giants ringing in his ears as he swung his sword at the stumbling beast's leg before it could work out he was there. He sliced deep into the thing's leg and a roar bellowed out as Harry ducked back and turned to the side as a club whizzed passed his head.
He could hear gunfire to his left side but couldn't look as the giant snarled at him and swung the club the other way. He could hear Miller yelling orders but they weren't for him so just kept an ear out. He flicked his elder wand and a dark snake burst forth with a hiss, the thing standing six feet tall, as it barred its fangs at the giant.
The beast roared and swung its club smashing into the snake as Harry ducked between its legs and stabbed his sword deep into its side. The thing bellowed and pulled itself to the side, ripping Harry's sword from the man's hands. Harry cursed as the sword came loose in an arch of blood.
"Blake duck!"
Harry hit the ground without a thought at the call and a club passed over his head as the second beast turned on him. Sarah had a gun out and was landing bullet after bullet into the beast's flanks but it wasn't slowing it down as it pulled the club up and Harry rolled. The thud the club made as it hit the ground next to Harry had his teeth rattling as dirt and dust splattered around him.
David flashed by near him and shouting a spell and red light lit up Harry's sight as the giant reeled back with a roar. David flashed a grin at Harry, his face covered in blood as he pushed the beast back with the spell. Harry rolled to his feet, not as nimble as he once was but was grateful for the potion as his leg held him.
His giant was still trying to hold back the giant snake from attacking and Harry could see his sword sticking out of the beast's side as the snake attacked it. Harry glared up at the beast and shouted a dark spell, the dark magic smashing into the giant's chest spraying blood as it cut deep and Harry turned as it landed on him.
"Blake left!"
Harry was moving before he could think and a spell passed in the spot he had been standing. They were starting to gather attention. He quickly sent a spell back towards the man that had moved closer and he ducked back behind the tree line.
"Blake, left side flank!"
Harry ducked as spells sailed over his head and into the wards at his back. He turned on the ground and pulled the earth up between him and the wizards gathering to his left stopping the spells as a giant fell shaking the earth. With a loud hiss the snake Harry has conjured bit down on the giant's shoulder and neck and the beast roared as it threw a fist into the snake's side but it wasn't enough and with a last gurgle the giant fell to the side and the snake puffed away into smoke.
Everything went silent.
Harry jumped forward, quickly pulling his sword as wizards started to line up.
"Retreat!" Harry yelled, casting spells towards the men to cover his team.
"Retreat!" Was echoed by Miller as he added his spells to Harry's.
Harry lowered his head and ran for the wards, just happy that the men from the tree line didn't have guns. Suddenly he was air born as a spell hit the ground at his feet and he turned in the air so he landed in a roll on the other side of the wards.
"All out! Hold!" Miller yelled and Harry sighed as he rolled onto his back.
"Right there, Blake?" David asked looking down at him.
Harry grinned up at him and took the hand offered. He let David pull him to his feet and looked at the damage they had made. If he weren't so battle worn it would have made him sick to the stomach. What was once three giants were just lumps of flesh, he could see a few other bodies around the site but didn't look at them too closely as he turned to his team.
Sarah was holding a broken arm with David standing next to her giving him a dark grin through the blood on his face as Robbie moved up to the group looking pleased. Miller gave a dark chuckle as he rounded out the group.
"I had forgotten how well you fight, Blake!" Miller clapped a hand to Harry's shoulder with a grin.
The wizards on the other side of the wards had retreated once Harry's team had passed back over the wards and were watching from the tree line again. Harry could see how pale their faces were from where he stood.
"That should give them pause," Harry said looking over the mess they had made.
"Damn right!" Robbie cried.
"David," Harry said turning to the man. "Move back with Sarah to the medical tent and help out there. Robbie and Miller with me."
"Yes, Sir!"
Harry moved back through the village using a cloth from his pocket to try and get the blood and dirt from his face but he had a feeling he was just moving it around, as Robbie and Miller whispered between them.
"Where are we headed?" Miller asked.
"East side," Harry replied as a hellhound appeared next to him.
Robbie yelped as the beast turned to him and growled making Harry grin.
"Tell Dracka that the giants are down," Harry told the hellhound. "I've sent two of my team to the medical tent and the others are with me. We are heading back to the wards on the east side. I don't think Simpson will make another move for a while."
The dog nodded its head and ran off into the village.
"Shame those things can't relay messages to everyone," Miller said looking after the beast.
"Oh yes," Harry agreed, limping more than before. "Would make it easier."
A black dog appeared at his side and Harry thought it was a hellhound before Black appeared next to him, startling his team, as he stared at Harry in shock.
"Holy shit," Black cursed staring.
"What?" Harry asked puzzled, stopping.
Miller barked a laugh.
"You look a sight Blake," Miller told him. "All covered in dirt and blood."
Harry looked over at the man before grinning, sending a shiver down Black's spine.
"It's not mine, if that helps." Harry said, his green eyes standing out against the blood. "Not that I know of anyway. What do you want Black?"
Sirius jolted, the bloody image of the man etched on his memory. He knew in that moment that he would never second-guess this man.
"We heard battle and the giants," Black said quickly. "Remus wants to know if he should hold position?"
"The giants have been taken care of," Harry said grinning. "Hold position. I'm moving over to the east side. Bypass Dracka and say I need him to change the wards."
Black nodded, changed form and dashed off.
"Do I look that bad?" Harry asked the other two men.
Miller just laughed and Robbie clapped a hand on his shoulder.
"Worse," Robbie laughed and they started walking again as another hellhound fell into step with them.
Harry tracked Severus by the link in his ring. They were in a house near where he had left them before. Dracka waited for him in the shade of the house with a heavy cloak over his head and shoulders.
"Fuck," The man swore when he saw him and went to step forward but the sunlight held him back.
"It's not mine," Harry said with a grin.
"Thank fuck for that!" Dracka cursed, red eyes shinning.
"Come on," Harry said pushing the door open and making his way into the living area. Severus jumped to his feet looking pale and rushed over to him.
"It's not mine!" Harry repeated. "Give me a minute to clean up."
Harry moved to the bathroom and got his first good look at himself in the mirror and could understand the reactions of the other people. He did look a sight, with blood and dirt covering his face and clothes. Large patches of his shirt were stained through with blood that was already starting to dry and stiffen it. Harry took the shirt off, leaving himself in just the dragon hide vest.
"Are you okay?" Severus asked softly, closing the bathroom door behind him.
"Yeah all good," Harry said as he washed down his arms in the shower and stuck his head under the water. He pulled back water dripping onto his shoulders as he grabbed a towel.
"Something got you," Severus remarked as he spotted a small gash above his lover's right eye but was relieved when he could see no other damage.
"Not too bad then," Harry muttered, wiping the blood off with the towel and allowed Severus to pour a potion onto another towel and hold it to the cut to stop the bleeding.
"What happened?" Severus asked. "We heard giants."
"Yep," Harry said under the towel. "Three of the bastard, now not so much."
Severus paled.
"Come on," Harry said, moving back to the other room. Leaving the shirt behind.
Harry came back into the room the scars on his arms clear to see as he stood in just his dragon hide vest and loose pants. Dracka's eyes turned red at the sight but Harry ignored him.
"How long do we have until sun down?" Harry asked moving to a chair. "Severus is there coffee?"
Severus jolted and moved to the small kitchen.
"About two hours," Dracka replied.
"Great," Harry said. "Have you got your men in place?"
"Yes," Dracka grinned savagely, red eyes flashing.
"Okay," Harry said tapping the table with his silver knife that had appeared in his hand.
Severus smirked remembering all the times he had seen the man do the same with a pen or his wand when he was thinking.
"Is it just your Coven here?" Harry asked.
"No," Dracka replied. "There are four different Covens here."
"Ah," Harry said tapping away. "That is a problem. I can key the wards to you which opens them up to your Coven but no other vampires or I can open them up to all vampires."
Tap, tap, tap.
"If we open it up to all vampires," Harry said softly. "If Simpson has any on his side they can also bypass the wards. It's too late to call in the other Coven vampires before sun down."
Tap, tap, tap.
"Open them," Dracka said. "We have enough people on this side of the wards to hold them back if Simpson has any vampires with him. I need the numbers."
Tap, tap, tap.
"Okay," Harry said standing and the silver knife disappeared.
Harry turned to Dracka looking up at the taller man.
"I'm going to tag your Coven with a light mark," Harry said to the man. "It will fade in about a day. I'll then seek out the other vampires within the wards to tag them. That way we will know who is on which side."
"Do it," Dracka said.
Harry grinned and grabbed the man's hand and felt out the people connected through him. He spread his mind out, he couldn't pick out individuals but could feel the connection the other vampires had with their leader. With a thought Harry tagged them with a light mark. Dracka hissed but didn't pull back his hand. Harry grinned at him and let his hand go. Dracka looked down at the pale mark of a phoenix on the back of his hand.
"The werewolves should be able to pick up that mark," Harry said stepping back from the taller man. "Tagging the other vampires will take time, I have to find them through the wards. Send a runner to tell Remus what is going on as well as the other Covens that I'm going to tag them."
Dracka nodded and moved towards the door of the small house. Harry turned to the other men in the room.
"Simpson will probably try another attack on the wards before night fall," Harry said. "I will have to tie into the wards to pick out the vampires and change the wards. I need you as protection. I won't know what is happening once I open my mind to the wards. Okay?"
"Yes, sir!" The soldiers barked as Bill and Severus nodded.
Dracka entered the room. "Runner sent. Are you ready?"
Harry looked at each man before nodding.
"Let's go."
xXx
Harry lowered himself to the ground against the side of the house as close to the wards they could get while still having cover. Severus stood on one side of him while Dracka stood on the other. Bill had moved out to where the wards were tied to the earth a few meters away and had Miller and Robbie as back up.
"Okay," Harry said softly. "Good luck."
Severus knelt down and grabbed Harry's shoulder, the shorter man gave him a grin before turning his attention to the wards. He opened his mind to the wards and his sight disappeared as they over took his mind. He quickly filtered out all the information flooding into his mind as he slowly picked up the unlife forms of the vampires within the wards. He was very careful to pick up each one which took more time than Harry could afford but once he knew that he had them all he quickly tagged them with his light mark and pulled back from them.
He reached out beside him and Dracka's hand grabbed his. He created a link with the vampire and the wards, taking an imprint of the dark creature and adding it to the wards. Sweat started to form on his brow as he focused all his attention on the feeling of the vampire next to him. He started to pant slightly and quickly tied the imprint into the wards and pulled back letting go of the man's hand.
BOOM!
Harry jolted and his mind slipped slightly as the curse breaker smashed his magic into the wards. The man had some power behind him.
Harry swore and poured magic into the wards. Filling in the slight gaps and spreading it out along the lines, he had already placed, as he smoothed them out. He quickly looked them over for any breaks or any lines getting frayed but they were all holding together nicely.
"Dracka the vampires are tied into the wards." Harry said without opening his eyes. "Give me the signal when you are ready to move and I'll activate it. Take out that bloody curse breaker! Good luck."
"I'll have a hellhound tell you when we are in place," Dracka said beside him then the presence of the man was gone.
BOOM!
Harry let everything else go and dived into the wards, trusting Severus with his life as he followed the magic into the wards.
xXx
Severus looked around wide eyed as Bill and the two ministry workers moved back to where he was standing next to Blake. The man had gone still his breathing panting slightly and his eyes glazed as he worked the wards with his hands twitching every now and again as if he was holding something that Severus couldn't see.
"He has tied himself into the wards," Bill said as he drew even with Severus.
BOOM
Another attack ran across the wards flaring them up before they disappeared from sight again and Severus could see people moving in the tree line.
"He should be able to hold them since the giants won't be hammering on them as well," Bill said as the two ministry workers moved to defensible positions near them.
A hellhound appeared and sat next to Blake, its red eyes looking around making Severus shiver as the stare passed over him. Bill and Severus shared a look before stepping to either side of Blake as the sun started to sink on the horizon.
Severus tensed and stepped in front of Blake as the hellhound suddenly howled loudly beside them. The ward flared up then turned ice blue in colour.
"He has opened it up to the vampires," Bill whispered, staring at the ward in amazement. "Every time he works he shocks me. What he does with magic is amazing. It's like he takes all the rules of magic and just throws them out the window. It's as if he doesn't even think there are any rules!"
"I agree." Severus said breathless as vampires moved towards the wards as the last of the sun dipped below the horizon.
BOOM! CRACK!
Blake swore and Severus moved back to the man and knelt next to him as Bill covered them.
Severus rested a hand on the man's shoulder offering what strength he could as the sounds of battle rang out around them. He had never experience anything like it before. Gunshots rang out from close by and he shivered.
"Put up a shield Mr Weasley," Severus said softly.
Bill nodded and a protection barrier sprang up around them. The hours dragged on with the glowing blue of the wards the only light. Every now and again the curse breaker would throw power at the barrier but Blake held the wards strong. Severus was amazed by the strength the man held as he and Bill took turns keeping a protection shield around them.
It was after midnight when Blake groaned suddenly startling Severus. Bill turned in his direction.
"The curse breaker is picking through the wards," Bill explained. "He has stopped just throwing power at it. They should hold since Blake used different strands to make up the wards instead of just one charm. The curse breaker is trying to find a weak spot."
Suddenly the blue wall dropped and another ward flared up a couple of meters closer as Blake swore his eyes flicking around seeing something that the other two wizards couldn't.
"Can you help him?" Severus asked.
"I would just distract him!" Bill said. "That curse breaker needs to be taken out!"
Severus felt helpless as he looked over at his lover sweating with his fists curled and eyes distant. The new ward shone with a green light almost the colour of the killing curse as vampires moved back and forth through the wall.
Suddenly Blake grinned and a horn sounded into the night.
"The retreat horn?" Severus asked.
"Yes," Blake said softly.
Severus looked down at the man to see his green eyes looking up at him.
"Dracka's men have killed the curse breaker," Blake said softly. "Give me hand up?"
Severus smirked and helped the man to his feet. Suddenly a vampire appeared near them and Bill flared his protection shield.
"It's okay," Blake waved and Bill dropped the shield.
The vampire moved forward, gracefully, his red eyes shinning, with blood around his mouth and soaking into his shirt.
"Message from Dracka," The vampire hissed. "Simpson is retreating."
"Breaking camp?" Blake asked, as the two ministry workers moved back towards them.
The vampire grinned, his fangs exposed. "Yes."
"Thank you," Blake said calmly, staring the other man in the eye. "Well done."
The vampire nodded, flashed his fangs and ran back into the night.
"Well," Blake said with a grin as he wiped his brow. "We won this day. Miller and Robbie move back to the medical tent and see what you can do."
"Yes, sir." The two men answered then ran off back towards the middle of the village.
Blake placed a hand on Severus and Bill's shoulders.
"Well boys," Blake said, green eyes flashing. "That's our job done. Dracka and the vampires will take care of everything now."
Blake stepped passed them, limp more pronounced as he moved to the house they had been using. Severus and Bill just watched the man for a second before turning to each other.
"That's it?" Bill asked.
Severus looked back to the green wall of light behind him then around the village as the sounds of fighting started to fade away into the night.
"Oh," Blake said turning. "If either of you know any medical magic, you would be welcomed at the medical tent."
Blake waved and disappeared into the house.
"Um," Bill said looking after the man. "I know a bit."
Severus nodded. "I have potions that could help."
Bill grinned and the two moved towards the house. Blake had already placed a protection ward around the building as the two men arrived. Blake wasn't in the living room so Severus glanced into the bedroom to find the man sprawled out across the bed still in his clothes asleep. He left the man there and picked up his potions pouch and they made their way to the medical tent.
xXx
Dracka grinned darkly and sliced into the vampire before him, his sword cutting into his neck and slicing it from its body with a shower of blood. Dracka lowered his steel sword and looked around at the bloody mess around him. The curse breaker lay broken and bloody to his left side with vampires and wizards scattered around him. Blake's wards casting an eerie green glow across the grounds around him as he moved back to his second in command and wiping the blood from his face as he went, his red eyes glowing softly.
"I'm going to check on Blake," Dracka said to his second. "You are on clean up."
"Yes, sir." Bradon said as Dracka moved off.
The vampire wouldn't admit it but he was concerned for Blake. The curse breaker had been strong and by the fact that the first ward failed made him move faster towards where he had left the man. The phoenix on his hand flared as he passed over the wards and a shiver ran down his spine as he moved. Blake wasn't where he left him and Dracka lifted his nose in the air and followed the scent of the man, his demon churning in his stomach.
He came to the house that Blake's lover had used and found a protection ward around it. He placed his hand on the door and felt Blake's magic touch him lightly before letting him through. He found Blake in the bedroom, alone in the house. The man was sprawled out across the bed still in his bloody clothes. He was slightly on his side but looked like he had just collapsed on the bed.
Dracka stalked towards the defenceless man and wondered were his lover and back up were. The vampire knelt down at the side of the bed and peered at Blake's sleeping face. The man was out of it, snoring slightly in his sleep and the demon within Dracka yelled at him loudly. The slight smell of the man's magic in the air and the demon whispered in his mind to take him. Dracka reached forward and grabbed the man's shoulder and shook it. Green eyes slowly blinked up at him.
"Wha'?" Blake slurred.
Dracka's demon flared at the sound of the man's voice but he pushed it back down. Blake jolted back from him when his mind caught up with him before calming when he recognized Dracka. The man rolled onto his back and placed an arm over his eyes.
"Jesus!" Blake muttered. "You know how to wake a man Dracka."
Dracka smirked and took a seat on the bed next to Blake.
"Where are Severus and the others?" Dracka asked.
"Sent them up to the medical tent," Blake said looking up at Dracka. "You stink."
Dracka barked a laugh and leaned back on the headboard of the bed and laid out next to Blake. Blake just raised an eyebrow in question.
"Can I help you with something?" Blake asked with a smirk.
Dracka just smirked back looking down at the man and let his hand rest on the man's shoulder, feeling the rough skin of the scars under his hand.
"I can't help you with that," Blake deadpanned, making Dracka bark a laugh.
"I'm too tired to deal with you in this mood," Blake muttered and rolled away from the man putting his back to the vampire.
Dracka just watched him as the man's breathing evened out as he fell back into sleep. He ran a hand over the scars he could see, with a soft smile on his face, feeling the man's power under his skin.
xXx
Severus was not in a good mood when he walked into the bedroom of the house after working in the medical tent the rest of the night to find Dracka asleep next to his lover. He stood in the doorway for a second in shock unsure about what he should do. Blake had his back to him snoring softly as Dracka faced towards Severus also asleep.
Severus stepped forward and Dracka started awake spotting him before glancing over at Blake before carefully getting up making sure not to wake the other man but he was out.
"Was softer than the lounge," Dracka whispered to him, as he got close.
"Did he know you were there?" Severus hissed his eyes flashing.
"Ah." Dracka replied, as he led Severus out of the room and into the living room, closing the door softly behind him. "Yes, I woke him up but he was a bit out of it."
"Yes," Severus agreed. "He gets that way when he uses too much magic."
Dracka and Severus stood toe to toe, Severus an inch or so taller than the vampire before the man tilted his head to the side exposing his throat briefly. Severus wasn't sure what that meant but he made a metal note to ask Blake next time, as Dracka stepped back.
"Do you want a coffee or tea?" Dracka asked moving towards the kitchen the soft light of dawn already lighting the room.
"Coffee," Severus replied softly, taking a seat. "Two sugars, no milk."
Severus looked up as the bedroom door opened and Blake peeked his head out.
"Don't tell me you heard the word coffee?" Severus asked with a smirk.
Blake rubbed a hand over his short hair as his green eyes squinting at him and Severus could see how tired the man was.
"Just good timing," Blake muttered moving to the table and collapsing in the chair.
Dracka glanced out of the kitchen spied Blake and ducked back into the other room.
"Feel better?" Severus asked.
"All good," Blake said softly as he rested his head on his hand. "Have you slept?"
"No," Severus said shortly.
The night was starting to catch up with him as it moved slowly into day. Dracka moved back into the room with three mugs in his hands and Blake smiled up at him. Severus felt a stab in his heart at the sight but pushed it down. He loved Blake and he knew that the man felt the same.
"You got the curse breaker," Blake stated and Dracka grinned showing fangs.
"Cut him down where he stood," Dracka said darkly.
A shiver ran down Severus's spine at the tone and even Blake paused in taking a sip of coffee.
"How did we fair?" Blake asked softly.
"Very well," Dracka said softly. "About a dozen or so of my Coven and a few more from the other Covens, still waiting on full numbers. The werewolves faired the best, no loses just injuries. Your werewolf fought well."
"He is a good man," Blake said softly.
"Black took a bad cutting curse to the side," Severus said softly. "But is recovering well."
Blake nodded. "Simpson?"
"Got away," Dracka snarled. "But I don't think he will be trying something like this again. He only had a couple of vampires with him and they were mainly young ones. We were able to rip through his ranks."
Severus shivered at the thought of the vampires let lose, Blake caught his eye and grinned.
"Do you need me for clean up?" Blake asked.
"Nah," Dracka waved him off. "We can handle it. You and Severus can head back to the school when you are ready."
"Do you want the Order and Aurors to stay?" Blake asked. "The ministry strike team would probably have left by now."
"We will welcome their help," Dracka replied. "Any time they can spare."
"Okay," Blake said standing. "We will be leaving then, I need a shower first. I smell like giant."
Dracka barked a laugh as Severus just looked between them as he sipped his coffee, wondering again what he life had become.