The light subdued and revealed Sirius, he stood there proudly in his dark robes adorned with silver stars. Two bows were on his back, a long bow and a reflex bow; both were pure white and gave a soft glow. A quiver was there also, it appears to be made of some sort of horn and it was inlaid with pearls and lined with silver, runes were woven into the design and also, etched onto the shafts of the arrows. His mighty sword hung from his belt of gold and two daggers with deadly poison was carefully hidden within the folds of his robes. A gnarled staff of wood rests in his hands, ready to cast a lethal spell.
Seeing the darkness approach, he planted his staff down on the ground and reached back to grab his long bow. He nocked an arrow and as the demon had reached the fountain, he sent the arrow flying at tremendous speed at its target. The cold steel of the arrow head glinted and pinned itself into the heart of Gorthaur. He howled in pain and grabbed the shaft, attempting to pull out the excruciating object but it emanated a fiery glow and burned his hand.
With his free hand, Sirius snatched his staff and sent a shockwave towards the incoming army, blasting them back out the gate. He watched with satisfaction as a barrier sprang up and sealed the place off with a soft pop. "There! That ought to keep them out for a while!" he then conjured a cup and scooped up a cup of water to relieve himself of his thirst. "Remus! I know you are in there, you better come out now and help me reinforce the barriers, since Dumbledore will be here in a few more hours."
"I sure am glad; I must thank you for saving me, seeing as I was unable to before. How long are you able to stay?" He breathed a sigh of relief and went out to greet his friend.
"No need to get so formal, this time is permanent. At least until death claims me."
"Let's just hope that won't happen for a long time." Bill answered.
"Why Bill dear, I haven't seen you for years, I do hope you're okay." Sirius smiled and offered him a glass of water, "oh and by the way, I brought some gifts."
"You're starting to sound like my mother." Bill grinned, "We would appreciate your gifts very much, but first of all, what is it?"
"Nothing special, just amulets that are especially effective against forces of darkness, not creatures of darkness, just beings with foul intents." He rummaged through a small bag that he carried on his belt and took out a handful of clear gems strung on a chain of silver and gold.
"Why thank you, do you know how the rest of the people back at you-know-where are doing?" Remus asked as he took one of the amulets and clasped it around his neck.
"Death's Hall is being invaded; I don't think they can hold it for long. The enemy is sending a much more powerful reinforcement. But at least the main focus is here." The barrier crackled as a battering-ram slammed against it.
"Don't tell me they are here already!" exclaimed Amos.
"No, their chief is not here yet. But soon, I fear that my little blockade will not survive their onslaught." The marauder shook his head, "let's now rest while we can, be prepared is all we can do."
"What about sending for help?" Suggested Flitwick.
"It won't work; they have their own battle to fight. Harry and Ragnok are the strongest people they have so they will need all the force that can be spared. On the other hand, here is one of the safest locations we can be at (if we ignore the army). And, we have almost all of the most powerful beings at the time. I will not give you too many hints, but this is where one of the greatest battles and duels will take place." Sirius said as he threw a glance at the gates that shook once more.
They decided to settle down for a moment in the courtyard to get some sleep while Sirius stood watch. The battle had been progressing for three days already, of course, the defenders had already lost track. Sirius looked down on the serene figures sleeping on the neatly trimmed grass, but something was odd. There hasn't been any noise in a long time. The enemy is quiet. Too quiet.
Sirius took out a clear stone from his pocket, it instantly filled mist and when that cleared, he saw the great machines they had prepared, rows of enormous ballista, trebuchets and catapults stood on the opposite peaks ready to launch, siege towers that dwarfed the mountains, and armies armed with siege hooks. He gasped in shock as the long ranged weapons fired in unison.
Rocks rained down upon them from the back, they have breeched back where the defense was weak, acid melted the stone easily and those that were not melted cracked under the intense heat of the flames. Now, they were surrounded my several demons summoned by fiendfyre. Missiles and rockets assaulted their feeble shield, hazardous gases slipped through their weakened defenses. At last, all enchantments collapsed.
Once again, the castle was back to its original state, a manor, built for comfort, not protection; it stood on the plains, with no physical barriers, vulnerable to the slightest blow. Panic, fear, and anxiety. But it only made their will stronger, a flame burned within all of them; a voice that demanded them to fight to the bitter end.
Charging through the vast army, each and every one of them hacked down everything that was in their path. This method actually proved to have great results, because it created much chaos. On the other hand, it scattered them, cutting them off from one another.
As Theodore fought with his broadsword, he met up with Daphne who was using her dirk, "Do you think it is wise for us to be all scattered like this?" he asked her as he struck down another inferi.
"As long as it's working!" she shouts back.
"Yes, but this is leaving us very susceptible to their attacks. Divide and conquer, remember?"
"But if we are together, we have less mobility and they would just surround us and thus it will make us an easier prey." She said as she threw away her notched dagger and drew her flame-bladed sword (note: flame-bladed sword is a sword with wave-shaped edges).
Nott shrugged and proceeded to hew off an arm that grabbed him. He ignored his aching muscles and throbbing wounds, though they are becoming increasingly hard to ignore. An arrow imbedded itself into his arm, he pulled it out, but within a few minutes, a curious tingling sensation was in his mouth. He passed it off as thirst, but changed his mind after it turned to burning and numbness, accompanied by abdominal pain.
"Aconite!" He hissed in pain, there was no time to treat the wounds, but after a few hours it could prove to be fatal.
0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0
The numbers were overwhelming, too much to be held by only 500 people (or roughly), "Congelo! Fluctus! Congelo!" Harry screamed in attempt to stop the incoming flames.
"It's no use," exclaimed Severus, "nothing will stop those annoying flames.
Drawing in closer and closer, the intense heat making Harry lightheaded; it seems like there is no way out.
Then a voice chanted, it was powerful, and somewhat melodious, when it got louder, there was no doubt that it was in Gobbledegook. The flames dissolved and revealed Ragnok standing there, grinning.
"Thank you." Minerva breathed.
"This is not we need to be at. The ancient house of Merlin is under attack by an army at least a hundred times greater in force and number." He answered gravely.
"Then why don't we go there, you know how few went there!" Snape scoffed.
The goblin laughed mirthlessly, "It is unreachable."
"Impossible!"
"The location cannot be found by any method other than being told by those who know it; kind of like the Fidelius charm. Merlin, his former apprentice and his house elf are the only ones who know. Merlin resides in Vault 1 in Gringrotts but that is only accessible by his descendants; Starry is the only house elf of his that we know; and I don't suppose we can just go knocking on the gates of Hogwarts demanding Dumbledore to tell us the address." He motioned them to leave, "There is nothing we can do but hope for the best."
"What about the Stonehenge?" Said Harry.
"What?" Ragnok stopped and turned to face the emerald-eyed wizard.
"The Stonehenge." he repeated, more firmly this time, "Wasn't that built by Merlin as a monument? Perhaps it is also a gate way. We could try it, seeing as there is no other option other than to wait."
"Gather all the forces you can, we meet at the Stonehenge an hour from now." He took out a two-way mirror and spoke into it.
0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0.0
As Theodore suspected, they were taken down one by one, he was one of the first, being weakened by the aconite. The prisoners were kept alive, but bound by magical chains and kept as far away from the survivors as possible. Occasionally, they were brought to the heart of the battle as threats or part of a bargain which were always turned down. He winced as the jagged edge of the shackles cut into his wrists and ankles once more. Everything was fading away to darkness, "must be the poison" he thought, before slipping away to oblivion.
The remnants end up grouping together, there was no surprise as to who they were; Sirius, Remus, Bill, Filius, Fleur and Oliver. Most of the cases, the rest were captured and a few killed (even with strict orders that clearly stated that they were only allowed to wound and killing the enemy is forbidden).
In his desperation, Remus closed his eyes and focused, thus, transforming into his dragon form. The arrows bounced off harmlessly and with one breath, he incinerated a large portion of inferi. It also provided a light source, an advantage, no doubt. He kept repeating to himself that Ragnok will come, but even if that was true, they have forgotten about one thing. Warren Everett.
All light extinguished, and flames perished, the greatest of all evil comes. A great battle approaches, but it won't be the last battle. The very last one will take place at the root of all evil, and at the place that it truly began.