Learning to Lead Chapter 11: Battle in Hogsmeade

Harry was about to wave his friends off so that he could do a round of the city when the air grew cooler. He felt Ginny shiver beside him and heard her whisper, "Dementors." He nodded, having come to the same conclusion. The cold had already seeped inside his gut.

He turned as an explosion shook the far end of the street. "Ginny, Ferral, begin moving the students to the Honeydukes passageway. Bring any villagers with you. Get word to Silverwood that there's an attack.

"Hermione, Ron, your patroni are needed here. Fred, George, any products you have with you on hand?" They shook their heads. "Ah, well. Help with the patroni. Neville, you and any from your team should make your way to the Hospital Wing and alert Madam Pomfrey that there may be wounded. Our top priority is producing the students and making sure help can get to us."

The others nodded. "Terran, let's go find out what was on that end. Ferral, after the students are in the tunnel, we might need back-up." As everybody hurried their separate ways, Harry fought back his anxiety, the near-crippling fear that something was about to go wrong. "We're buying time, but once they've evacuated, we get ourselves out."

"Ah, hello Potter," a cold voice drawled, as the apprentices drew near the end of the street.

Harry's wand was already trained on the man, as Terran aimed his own at the other robed figure. "You're too late, Potter," he continued, "our colleagues will be closing in from the only other road that leads toward Hogwarts." Harry's stomach churned, his anger steadily climbing.

"Malfoy, I'm not here for pleasantries. Expelliarmus!" With that, the fierce spell fight began. Within a few moments, it was clear the shorter death eater that Terran was fighting was far weaker, and he knew it. Recognizing the danger, the man slipped into his rat animagus and scampered away.

"Pettigrew!" Malfoy shouted angrily, before he too disapparated.

Harry and Terran both turned to run back, hearing Ferral shouting curses down the road. Approaching at a run, they saw Ginny hurry a villager and her child into Honeyduke's.

Harry felt his heart stop as a green curse hurtled through the air toward Ginny, not realizing he had let out a cry. Just behind her, Ferral had noted the curse, too. Without sparing a second thought, Ferral dove to intercept the curse.

Ferral's body fell, lifeless even as Harry began casting furiously at the assailant, fury driving his spells faster and faster, until one wizard lay stunned and two others had disapparated.

Harry threw himself to his knees beside Ferral's body, ignoring the headache that was pulsing behind his eyes. Ginny, too, knelt beside Ferral, looking shocked. For a moment, they stared without knowing.

Ginny's eyes were wide. "He saved me…"

"I saw," Harry's voice was hoarse. Terran had moved beside Ginny and rested his hand on her shoulder. "Ferral…"

Harry had no idea how he got back to Hogwarts, or why he was lying in a Hospital Wing bed. He was mildly surprised that only Hermione was beside his bed, and focused on her words. "You sustained a few injuries in your battle. Madam Pomfrey decided, after you fainted, to keep you in a coma until she could stabilize your blood loss."

"Hi, Hermione," Harry still felt numb. "It was real? Is Ferral-" Harry couldn't finish his question. Hermione understood.

"I'm sorry, Harry."

"Anybody else?"

Hermione shrugged. "Nobody has told me. It's very quiet here, that must be good? The adults arrived at Hogsmeade quickly, though there were no other Death Eaters left. We were all ushered away very quickly."

"Where is everybody else?" Harry asked, looking around.

"Snape is with Sterling and Silverwood with Saldor, in his quarters. He is, understandably, not interested in being out and about right now. Terran is with Ron and Ginny by the lake. We can join them, if you want? Madam Pomfrey said you were free to go when you woke up."

Harry began to get up. "I'm surprised Master Shadowman isn't here…" he trailed off, feeling selfish that he expected his master to only think about him.

Harry and Hermione headed out of the Hospital Wing, running into Ron and Ginny on the way down. "Oh, Terran stayed down by the lake," Ginny answered the unspoken question, Harry noting that her eyes were still bloodshot, and her makeup had tear streaks. His heart ached to see her so upset. "We have to get ready for dinner."

Harry nodded. "I'll go check in on Terran. I'll meet you guys at dinner." Harry wandered outside, seeing Terran by the lake. He sat beside the other boy without speaking, giving them both comfort of another person who understood. For Harry, Terran was the brother he'd never had, who understood him.

After a few minutes, Terran spoke. "We aren't going to London today. They've put off the meeting until next weekend now." Harry nodded, absently. "It's not your fault, you know."

"I know. Or yours."

"We'll need to address our teams, Aeter. They need to know… Ginny's a mess-"

"I ran into her on the way down. She's with Ron and Hermione. They'll take care of her."

"We should also speak to Master Saldor. Masters aren't accustomed to losing their apprentices."

Harry shook his head. "Should we call everybody together? Or is this your way of telling me that I should go to dinner?"

Terran smiled sadly. "Aeter, this will never hurt less. He was your friend. We will both always miss the excitement and joy he brought to these dark days. He lived life to the fullest, no matter what the consequences would be. He didn't compromise. He was a good person, and a good friend. He followed you to the end, Aeter. I would have done the same thing."

"But I don't want people dying for me!" Harry cried.

"You don't get to determine the sacrifices we choose to make, Aeter."

Harry sighed, bitter at Terran for insinuating that there would be more deaths, possibly even his own. But Harr was unsure of how he could argue. Finally, he stood. "We should make an appearance at dinner."

When Terran and Aeter made it to the Great Hall, they found Sterling waiting for them outside. After greeting one another, the three entered together, the Hall going silent upon their entrance. Nobody moved. Harry glanced uneasily at Master Sterling, then exchanged a sad look with Dumbledore, gesturing toward the podium on the dais. Dumbledore, understanding the unspoken question, nodded.

As Harry approached, he felt the eyes continue to follow him. "Today was…" his voice was going to break, tears prickled at his eyes, and Harry felt grief steel his resolve. "Today was a tragedy. Many of you will face this injustice again. But Ferral was a friend to all of us, loyal even when he was upset.

"Ferral believed so strongly in friendship that he sacrificed his life for a friend. There will be a day for fighting, a day for us to seek justice, and we will take it. But today is for sharing Ferral's memory and grieving a lost friend. To Ferral."

"To Ferral," the hall echoed softly, raising their glasses in response.

Dinner was a quiet affair, with most people chatting softly among themselves. Harry, Terran, and Sterling sat at one of the round tables silently. After a few moments, they were joined by three very somber masters.

"Thank you, Aeter," Saldor's voice sounded unused. "Ferral would have appreciated your words."

Harry nodded, his eyes focused on his plate. "He was a good person."

Saldor sighed. "Master Sterling, I will be going to his family tonight. The Board will be prepared for funeral arrangements?"

"We are prepared."

"Sir, may I have permission to join you?" Harry asked. "It was in my command…"

Saldor nodded after a moment. "Wear your dress robes. Do not expect much from his parents. His father was not kind to the boy. The mother felt his magic to be an affront to their God."

Harry grimaced. "Yes, Sir."

Harry resisted the urge to fidget beside Saldor. Saldor was understandably quiet today, and Harry was doing his best to not antagonize the man.

"Hello," the woman, dressed in a modest pink dress, answered the door. "Ah, it's you. What has Sebastian done now?"

For a moment, Harry was surprised to hear Ferral's birth name. "Mrs. Kennedy, this is Apprentice Aeternus, known in the wizarding world as Harry Potter. Is your husband home?"

The woman shook her head. "No, come in."

As they entered, Harry walked into a house not unlike the Dursley's growing up. He glanced at the photos of two boys-feeling a pang at the realization that he never knew Ferral had a brother. There was so much that they never got to know about each other.

"He's gone, isn't he?" the woman asked after a few moments, her face an odd mix between resignation and apathy.

"Yes, ma'am, I'm sorry." Saldor admitted sadly. "He died in battle this morning."

Harry thought he should speak. "He fought bravely against men who were attacking school children on a field trip. He and our friend Ginny were escorting them to safety. The curse was sent for Ginny, but Ferral… he stepped in front of it. Ferral lay down his life for a friend…"

"No greater love…" Mrs. Kennedy whispered to herself. "Thank you for coming. Sebastian sensed that he didn't have long left, he sent me a letter last week admitting that he had Seen it, though he didn't know when. I didn't believe it. He was an ornery, but loyal child. I've missed him. I know you don't believe it, but I love him. Magic is wrong…" she trailed off, not realizing she was still speaking to two wizards. "I should have written him back. John has always exchanged letters with him…"

The group lapsed into silence and Harry's heart twisted for what Ferral must have gone through. He had never seen somebody so reluctant to acknowledge they loved somebody. "You will give him the burial deserves?" She suddenly asked. "He won't be permitted in our burial grounds."

Saldor nodded, ignoring Harry's apoplectic face. "Yes, ma'am. If John wants to help plan, he can write me at this address," the man said, handing her a card. "I know you want to protect John, but closure may help."

Harry grabbed the crook of Saldor's elbow as they side-along apparated back to Hogsmeade. Harry steadfastly refused to look about though the damage was minimal.

"You did well," the master said quietly. "I'm sorry I have no comfort to give today."

"Nor I, you," Harry sighed.

The two walked back up to Hogwarts in silence, both brooding as they thought about their own heartbreak.

Harry resolved that he would make every Death Eater pay for Ferral's death. He wasn't sure, but he thought, Saldor strode more surely now than he had earlier in the day.