Chapter Thirty-six
Battle!
"Wot'a disappointment!" A young, hatchet-faced Auror loudly huffed while flopping down on one of several overstuffed couches situated in the special train car that was set aside for the Aurors' use for the trip. "Eight hours of travel, and nothing to show for it than a pair of sore feet!"
"Ha!" Loudly snorted an older, heavier Auror from the other side of the car where several platters of sandwiches, cakes, and drinks were set upon a wide side sideboard being attacked by several hungry Aurors.
The young Auror glanced wickedly in his compatriot's direction. "Yew mockin' me, Lew?"
"Right yes I am mockin' you, Trev!" The older Auror retorted, pointing his large Ham sandwich at his younger counterpart. "Wot were you hopin' for, the Dark Lord em's elf leading an attack once we were outta London?"
The other Aurors present, a good Twenty-five in number doing a variety of things in the lounge, from reading, to eating, to napping, reacted with a mixture of laughter and guffaws ranging in volume from slight to loud. Their younger associate's displeasure at the lack of any action was turning into a source of relief from all the constant pressure they were under on this assignment, granting them the chance to relax.
"Listen, Lad," Lew now gently addressed his younger associate, "tis' better that nothing does occur, than for it to happen. And never think of having nothing to do here as time being wasted, because presence alone can be a deterrent."
"Just wot sort of reasoning is that?" Trev asked, looking wonderingly looked at Lew.
"Experience." answered the older Auror simply. "It's why I'm not wailing like you are."
Now the laughter from the others was more solid and louder, if not coming more freely. Several of Lew's fellows roundly patted him on the back in a congratulatory manner, while Trev sat red-faced on the couch. Eventually he shook off the shame by seeing the wisdom in Lew's words, and joined in the revelry reassured by the others that it was alright…
And that's when the Dementors struck in a furious mass, splintering the forward door in the mad rush to feast upon the delightfulness within the room. Aurors, caught utterly unaware by the rapidness of the assault, fell quickly as their fellows at the other end of the car attempted to make a stand and sound the alarm.
But the rush was too large and too fast for them to handle or raise warning. In mere seconds, the entire car was filled with Dementors and their victims. And still the dark mass wanted more, there was just no end to their appetite…
Especially when there were happier thoughts to devour so close at hand.
Just my luck, the best place for a smoke would be sitting on top of one of the Train cars.
Not that I wouldn't be allowed up there. The Auror was nice and friendly with the suggestion, but also warned me about the numerous tunnels we've yet to pass through before reaching Hogsmead. They allowed just scant inches of clearance all around the train, not enough for a sit down—or a lie down.
But he was firm on the fact that I couldn't smoke in the passenger way. It was an old established rule meant to make the trip a pleasant one for the students, not one where they spent the entire time coughing and weeping from the smoke.
"All of the Special Carrages are reserved for that…pleasure, Sir." He very politely explained.
Of course, the one place I least wanted to be.
"Is it alright to chew gum?" I hopefully asked while putting my cigarettes away.
I wasn't trying to be a wiseass. I was still smarting from Bone's thrashing, and slightly more from being denied a simple relaxing pleasure.
The Auror responded with an arched eyebrow, and a very critical frown.
And that's when the car door burst open with Barnabus in a really high state of agitation. He just flat rushed passed and into the next car without a hello or acknowledgement, followed closely by Fredricks in the same state with gun in hand and finally Dennis in no different state—but with his walking stick held very tightly.
"WE GOT BIG TROUBLE!!" Dennis managed to yell as he went past.
Suddenly with new things to occupy me, I joined the parade as it rushed to the front.
The moment the banging occurred on the wall of their compartment, Harry knew something was up.
A moment later he started feeling cold, desperately cold…
As if all he ever cared for was being leeched from his body. And Hagrid began getting agitated sitting across from him.
"No…here?" He gasped with eyes darting towards the window and an increasing grip on his umbrella. "Not…"
That's when the Dementor started pounding on the window, trying to get at them.
Hagrid reared himself up, raising his umbrella towards the glass while bellowing a war-cry that nearly drowned out the sound of automatics chattering in both the outside corridor and compartment next to them.
Then there was an explosion of golden light, and the Dementor outside was gone with a hideous wail. Hagrid stood there wondering what just happened to the Dementor when Dolly burst into the compartment, a pistol in one hand and a lever-action rifle in the other.
"Off your asses! We're under attack!" she yelled.
Harry just moved, even with Ginny latching onto his right arm he slipped past Hagrid and Dolly and through the door. Doc and Fred were in the corridor; the American had a large back-pack on and was facing ahead with two identical assault-weapons aimed at the far door while Fred was slipping the strap of a submachine gun over his head with one hand that was loaded with a silver magazine. His wand being in his other.
"George is handing them out!" He yelled at Harry and his sister. "Hurry up!"
George was taking weapons out of a large guitar case and quickly setting them upright on the bench seat, when Harry and Ginny entered the compartment—skirting past knocked over chairs and slipping on numerous playing cards scattered across the floor.
There were more weapons than either he or Ginny could carry at once between them. Far more than necessary, Harry thought, each loaded with silver magazines ready to be used at once—but kept the thought to himself. Ginny grabbed at two combat-belts with pistols already holstered in them and wore them at her waist in a haphazardous fashion, before taking a compact assault rifle while Harry went with what he liked the best; the Calico M-950.
"Just that one?" George looked at him incrredulity.
Harry paused and frowned back, "I only have two hands!"
George started to say something back that would have started a fight between them when Fred's yell outside made them turn.
"Expecto Patronuns!" Fred yelled, aiming his wand towards the car's rear door.
But try as he may, no Patronuns emerged to do battle with the Dementor charging him. Ginny, raced for the door with her own wand at the ready. Doc, who was just a head of Fred, spun quickly around with his right hand outstretched but dropping the Styer-AUG carbine he was holding while doing so. From that hand, launched something darkly sinister with wings that to Harry as it struck out appeared to be carrying a small sword. And moments later, Harry herd a horrifyingly blood curdling scream that literally shook him to his core…
Including Fred, who was quite impressed by it.
"Thank you." He gasped out to Doc.
"You're welcome." Doc drawled.
The Dementor Swarm quickly took over two additional cars in rapid succession and started appearing along the outside of the Train before any warning, namely that incurred by Agent Barnabus, was finally taken seriously. Even before then, the creeping chill associated with Dementors was simply passed off as a night chill caused by "a window open somewhere', by those in the luxury car.
Two things quickly changed their minds, the first being Barnabus, followed by Fredricks, Archer, Day, and two Aurors with weapons and wands drawn from one end of the luxury car, the second was a Hit Wizard you yelled, " Dementors!" after pushing the tumbling Dursley's into the car through the other door.
Caught between these extremes, many high-ranking wizards were frozen in place by surprise. Even the sudden powerful chill ripping through the car did noting to shake them from their immovable stance…
But when a Dementor raced through the open doorway, followed by three more, the shock gave way to immediate fear for most. They either tried running for the far door, jamming it with their bodies, or cowering where they were—even as their fellows mounted their defense as Barnabus unleashed his spectral Grand Eastern Dragon upon the attackers. The first Dementors falling to the Dragon's claws streaked hideously as it was pulled apart, while the others battling the Patronuns hurtled at them were hacked to death by Archer's glowing sword cane or shot by Day and Fredricks, both of which caused them to scream hideously before exploding in a loud brilliant flash.
But for those quickly dispatched, many more rushed into the car through the door and started through the windows from outside. Until a variety of hammering sounds from outside caused them to explode in an agitated mass…
Dancing Queen had her orders.
The Protective barrier surrounding the train made it exceedingly difficult to maneuver, but the sliverish-green 1971 454 Corvette Stingray sports car that had been resting comfortably in its toy carrier until Dolly hurriedly brought it out with the command; "Defend the Train!", as she pitched it out the window before a Dementor tried grabbing her arm. Dancing Queen grew to its original size before it would have hit the ground, sprouting swept back wings from its sleek body and roared to its mistress' defense—by bisecting the attacking Dementor with a deft slice of her left wing. From there, the enchanted sports car ripped through the gathering swarm of Dementors in the same rapid manner slicing many in half innumerous run through around the Train. But when they came pouring out of the Baggage cars seemingly by the hundreds, the Corvette switched to embedded cannons and shrank itself to half it's original size to maneuver better with in the barrier --slaying many more of the monsters as it quickly bounded from one side of the Train to the other and back again.
But still, the Dementors came in mass…
Those on the Train had managed to get an alert out.
Hogsmead, the final destination of the Hogwarts Express, was packed with many additional Aurors and Hit Wizards standing ready for the train's arrival as well as in the event of anything seriously occurring while the Train was in transit. When the call for help came, the Ministry Official placed in charge of the area attempted to send more than half of those there to the Train by Apparition.
When he was told that wasn't possible, due to the made defenses around the Train, the Official, well known for being polite to the point of meekness, flew into a wild fury of rage and profanity few had ever witnessed.
"JUST HOW ARE WE TO HELP THEM WHEN WE CANNOT EVEN APPROACH THEM!!" raged the Official to his subordinates.
That very thought, though not as loud, went through Mr. Weasley's mind as he, Moody, and Sky raced towards the Express in Sky's somewhat agreeable LTD Station Wagon. The display of the Train's Magical shield defense was up on the inside of the windshield, constantly turning to show every aspect of the shield that would thwart any attempt at quickly reaching the Train. It even showed Dancing Queen as a small figure moving across the top of the train, from one side to the other.
That made Sky smile, Good Girl…
Then he addressed Mooney and Mr. Weasley on the diagram, "They made an overlay enchantment upon every part." Sky reasoned while keeping Antichrist steady. "And upon that, they added the special defenses."
"Seizure and Binding Defensive Wards." Moody nodded in agreement, as his magic eye swiveled towards the battle. "I can just barely make out the signature of who placed it."
"And then what?" Mr. Weasley wondered aloud from the back seat.
"Then, Arthur, we can actually do something helpful, instead of standing out here watching!" Moody frustratedly remarked back over his shoulder. "Those fools at the Ministry have turned that Train into a deathtrap for all onboard! And I wouldn't be surprised if those who could unlock it were among the first to fall!"
"Unless we can figure out how to crack it." Sky put in.
"Yes, true." Mooney growled. "But from the looks of it, if that were to happen, it wouldn't be surprising that once the defensive charms were forced away a disastrous back-lash would occur!"
Actually, Moody wasn't too wrong with portions of his belief. Scrimgeour knew how to unlock the field, and created it in such a way that if it were forced aside those attacking would be immobilized in the resulting unleashing of power. But he, like those suddenly finding themselves in the unrelenting storm of Dementors, were too busy fighting them off to even think of deactivating the Magical Shield. But then, by his reasoning, it would be foolish to even think about doing such. The Dementors could very well be the Dark Lord's first line of attack, and dropping the Shield would easily allow a second, easily devastating wave to hit them. Let them try forcing the Shield when they believed triumph was at hand, the surprise would be tremendous…
Besides, Scrimgeour figured, with the other representatives now aiding in the fight, the battle would be ending in their favor.
Crouched down amid broken glass and smoldering wood in the compartment, Scrimgeour dared a peek down the corridor…
Smoke was billowing out from the car ahead, a thin grayish mass twisting over fallen defenders, broken glass, and dropped wands, that carried the smell of burning wood and leather up and down the corridor. Along with it came clear sounds of battle down forward; shouts, loud crashes, the crackle of spells fired mingling with the rapid pop-pop-pop discharge of firearms. But when Scrimgeour paused to consider things, the sounds of battle were coming from all around him—from both ends of the Train.
That was bad.
However, if there was one thing he'd never do, was go out as a coward would. If the Dark Lord wanted a fight, Scrimgeour swore he'd give him one. So he pulled himself up, and rushed forward with wand ready.
The going was slow, very slow.
They did everything as learned from the Danger Room simulations they practiced for weeks on end, especially when it came to moving from Car to Car. The open space between left them all vulnerable to attack, as the bodies of several Aurors gave testament to. No Dementors came for them though, either they moved too quickly or the creations never bothered coming round for a second look—especially with plentiful victims all around, Harry figured.
This had already been born out in the first two cars they entered, compartment after compartment of students and Aurors who's sprawled forms and vacant stares gave horrible testimony to the power of the dreaded Dementor's Kiss—that drained the victims of all memory and ability, leaving behind still living mindless husks that for all appearances might as well be considered dead. And it was easy to see how it happened, each of the windows of those compartments were unlatched and thrown open. Unlocked probibly by the passengers wanting a little air to enter the compartments…
Harry entertained the grisly scene for a barest of moments, figuring out what occurred before dashing onward. He was point for the group, leading it from carriage car to carriage car in the journey forward, and needed to concentrate on what he was doing. Behind him was Fred, cradling both his wand and the silver clipped MP-5 with the same hand, sometimes holding his wand with his free hand to cover Harry's advance into a new Car. Then Doc, Dolly, a concerned but cooperating Hagrid with his pink umbrella, and finally Ginny and George. While having Tamm along would have been preferred, it was reasoned quickly that her formable weaponry would be better served protecting their rear. Besides, Harry wasn't altogether sure that in her small size the Grand Am would have the same effect as if the Car was full sized. And the winds generated by the Train's increasing speed would be that much worse for her to deal with, magical or not. And Harry didn't want to explain to Day how his car got destroyed.
But Dancing Queen, as Dolly explained, was better built for flight and doing very well outside battling Dementors. Occasionally something sliverish would race by the windows too quickly to be seen. But its effects upon the Dementors outside were highly noticeable from the ghastly wailings and explosions of light that occurred beyond the windows.
The next two cars they entered all was reasonably well; the Aurors there had organized themselves into a suitable defensive force ready enough to deal with the threat occurring. Harry's appearance startled them though, with one pointing while loudly exclaiming, "I thought E' was up front with the others!" They tried stopping the group, namely Harry, from heading forward, due to concerns for their safety. But when Hagrid was seen, this attempt became an outright act as they tried to subdue the 'deranged half-giant' from harming them.
Harry had other ideals about that, and promptly displayed them by spraying the floor before the Aurors feet with gunfire. The sliver bullets chewed sizeable holes through the wooden flooring, revealing the track surface they were racing over.
"If any of you even touch Hagrid, that's what will happen to you!" Harry then yelled, not really caring what the Aurors thought while bringing the Calico up in a menacing manner. "He's on our side! I don't know about any of you!"
As far as Harry was concerned, the Ministry was another evil force he had to contend with. And he wasn't above using the Calico on its members.
"So, my advice to all of you", Fred then began, pointing his MP-5 at the Aurors as well "would be to get out of our way, or protect this portion of this Train. What these Muggle weapons lack in elegance is made up with brute force!"
When the others brandished their weapons, was enough to force the Aurors into let them go without attempting to stop them. They raced through one more car with its bewildered company of Aurors and students. But in the following car, Dementors had entered from the outside through an opened window in one of the center passenger compartments and were coming through the open door of that compartment, overwhelming both guards and passengers there in a dark furious cloud when the group entered.
Harry slid instantly left to the outer wall of the passageway, firing the Calico from the hip as Fred came up from behind firing his MP-5 with one hand while holding his wand in the other shouting; "Expecto Patronuns! "
Dementors either convulsed in screaming agony before exploding from the Slivered bullets, or were brutally attacked by a large Bear patronus that Fred created chasing them back into the compartment where they howled with a chilling fury. Once they were trapped within the compartment, both Harry and Fred moved up to the shattered door with Ginny and Doc coming up from behind stepping over the bodies of the fallen—watched by numerous frightened faces peering at them from the protection of closed doors and unbroken glass.
"On three?" Harry asked.
Fred was about to answer when the Dementors regrouped exploding suddenly from the compartment, and nearly overwhelming them all by sheer force. There was no time for Magic, just instant action. They all fired into the seething mass of despair, sending hideously shrieking portions of it careening everywhere before erupting in brilliant explosions of light. And still they came pouring out of the compartment in an unstoppable torrent.
Doc dropped his Styer-AUG's and once again launched his Dark Angel. This time Harry could see it clearly as it dove right into the mass, it was a wrathful ebony form enrobed in a long loose fitting gown swinging both a long Broadsword and Great Shield right into the heart of the dark mass. As it battered away at the monstrosities, Doc himself appeared to take injuries on his face and body up till George's arrival. Then together with Fred, George sealed off the compartment with a Blocking Barrier as Doc pulled the Dark Angel away from the dark mass looking very much worse for wear.
Even with help from Dolly and Hagrid he was slow to rise, but continually insisted that he was alright. He was able enough to treat any injured students and guards in the following three cars, but by the fourth car, the toll of using that patronus was making Doc stagger badly from fatigue.
In the next car, they came upon members of Dumbledore's Army who were battling off attacking Dementors very handily.
Seamus and Dean were back to back in the corridor, standing up against the onslaught, while Neville and Lee were providing harassing attacks on the Dementors flank from different compartments. By opening the doors to the compartment they were in at odd times, attacking with their Patronuns', and then closing the doors before the Dementors could rally against them frustrated the creatures to no end. Some would howl and angrily scratch at the door glass, and while doing so suffer another surprise attack either from the Patil Sisters or the Creevey Brothers who'd suddenly attack from either end of the car. Because of this, the Dementors were utterly confused at to where to attack by the time Harry and the others arrived.
Fred and George decided to hang convention and simply opened fire upon the mass without warning or whatever to their friends, causing the whole corridor to quickly be filled with high-pitched screams before bright explosions had them all blinking the bright spots away.
"You bloody bastards!" Seamus yelled while rubbing his eyes. "Next time give a warning, will ya!"
"There wasn't enough time!" George countered.
"And there were too many of them moving too fast." Fred added while approaching Seamus blinking. "But otherwise, how are you both?"
"Bloody blind, thanks to you!" Seamus snapped back while trying to see.
"Well, I fared a little better." Lee replied. "But I fear my hearing has been damaged by your yelling, Seamus."
"Well mine happens to be excellent, Mr. Finniigan!" Hagrid roared from the back door, "And you need more restraint with that mouth of yer's, or yer be costin' your House points before the Term starts!"
He was half carrying, half dragging Doc into the car, with a very frantic Dolly ever close by. But even with frightened students gazing at Harry from behind closed doors, Hagrid's bellow did more to open those doors. And when those doors were open, Harry found himself suddenly recognized by everyone.
The Creevey's were the first to reach him. Short in stature and tired from fighting, still they welcomed his arrival with plenty of unchecked enthusiasm—as did many of the older students who knew him. The youngest ones just stated up at him in awe, which made him quite self-conscience of the fact he was standing there with a firearm and not a wand.
That feeling was short lived, again due to Hagrid.
"Harry!" he bellowed. "Get as many advanced students on your side as yer can, and send the rest back inter compartments for their own sake!"
He was kneeling next to Doc, who was seated on the floor back against the outside wall of a compartment. The physician was breathing deeply into some kind of disk as his wife concernedly watched.
Harry snapped his attention away, then loudly and quickly addressing those around him. "Alright, we're under Dementor attack. If there are any members of Dumbledore's Army, or any Students sufficiently advanced in Defensive Magic, you are welcome to join me in the defense of the Hogwarts Express. Otherwise, all of the less experienced students, please carefully but quickly proceed to the rear of the Train where's there's Aurors still able to protect you!"
That last part came out badly. Harry didn't want to be mean towards those who wanted to at least try helping out, but even to him what he just said sounded just like that.
But it wasn't an irresponsible decision for him to make under the circumstances, he realized. The inexperienced ones would be able to learn or handle those spells needed in such a short time, and letting them handle a firearm would be even more disastrous. No, he was right to say what he said…
And the reaction to what he said proved it. Quickly, the congestion in the corridor thinned out as several students started heading towards the rear of the car and out through the door there, leaving fifteen able bodied students, half of whom he personally knew and the rest he was quickly introduced to by Neville—who simply handled names, and nothing more. There just wasn't enough time for anything complex at the moment.
But there were some things, in spite being as well prepared for as he was, that simply surprised Harry into stunned silence…
Such as Dean pointing at the Calico in his hands, asking, "Hey Harry, where you get that gun from?"
"It's a loner." Doc breathed while slowly stepping by. "Now, did someone yell about their eyesight and hearing?"
Now the American was alive and active. Especially active, with Dolly anxiously trailing behind. Harry didn't even know what to think of the transformation.
Nor did Hagrid.
"Aey', yer sure yer well enough?" he worriedly asked.
"The Meth's dosages are calculated out to be helpful, not embinding." Doc replied gazing around. "Was there someone injured around here?"
Seamus quickly blinked, "The spots r' gone now."
Doc simply looked at him.
Then Fred waiting all this time at the far end of the car for all of them to get them selves organized, exasperatedly remarked to all of them, "If all are well and fine, can we get moving now?"
13