Disclaimer: I am not Alan Dean Foster George Lucas, J.K. Rowling, Michael Reaves, or Steve Perry.
Enter Bletchley and Thicknesse.
Bletchley. We've analyzed their attack, sir. And there is a danger. Should I have your broom standing by?
Thicknesse turns an incredulous stare at Bletchley.
Thicknesse. Evacuate? In our moment of triumph? We are about to destroy the last remnants of the Army, and you call for evacuation? I think you overestimate their chances badly. Now, get out!
Exit Bletchley.
[aside] Cut and run just as we're about to wipe out the head base of the Rebellion? Preposterous!
Trooper. DA base, 3 minutes and closing.
Thicknesse. [aside] What harm can these last few brooms possibly do in that time? In less than three minutes, they will be orphans, easy pickings, and the war will effectively be won.
Only about seven Firebolts remain in the battle. Thirteen have been killed.
Hooch. Red boys. This is Red Leader. Rendezvous at mark 6.1
Neville. This is Red Two. Flying toward you.
Cedric. Red Three standing by.
Ollivander. Red Leader. This is Base One. Keep half your group out of range for the next run.
Hooch. Copy, Base One. Harry. Take Red Two and Three. Hold up here and wait for my signal to start your run.
All pilots of Red Squadron but Harry, Neville, and Cedric enter the trench, lasers firing on them.
McManus searches for the cannon tower.
McManus. We should be able to see it by now.
Hooch. I know. The disruption down here is unbelievable. I think my instruments are off. Is this the right trench? It's not going to be easy with that tower up there. Stand by to close up a little when I tell you.
Meanwhile, Snape is deterred by a Ministry shuttle, containing pilot Anthony Rickett, architect Heidi Macavoy, Dr. Augustus Pye, bartender Damara Dodderidge, and criminal Bilius Finbok, disillusioned residents of the Dark Mark who intend to use the chaos of the battle to desert. Their cohorts—Dorian Fungbury, librarian Chroniculus Punnet, and the bouncer Bozo—were forced to remain behind to make this escape possible.
Snape. This is Half-Blood Prince. What is the nature of your mission, broom?
Rickett. An incoming Ministry broom has been damaged by DA fire. They have been wounded.
Snape. I know of no such Ministry arrivals. Return to the station.
Rickett. Copy, Lord Snape. We are returning to the station.
Rickett switches off his transmitter.
Finbok. What? Are you crazy?
Rickett. Relax. We aren't going back. But if he thinks we are, that buys us a few more seconds to get clear. We're faster than he is, once we get moving. He won't be able to . . . uh-oh.
Heidi. What?
Rickett. He's coming at us.
Snape, Pucey, and Bole move toward the deserters. Detecting Heidi's presence aboard, Snape has correctly deduced their intentions and has decided to deal with the traitors personally.
Snape. Return to the station, broom, or I will fire on you.
As Snape targets the broom, Rickett comes to a dead stop, causing Snape and his wingmen to blow right past them. Irritated at himself for falling for such a simplistic maneuver, the Death Eater signals the Dark Mark.
Get a Summoning Charm on that mediwizard broom.
Technician. I'm sorry, Lord Snape, but the beam generator for that sector has tripped its breakers. We'll have it back online momentarily . . .
Mentally cursing, Snape turns to pursue the deserters.
Pucey. Lord Snape.
Snape. What is it?
Pucey. Another trio of Firebolt fighters is making a run up the same trench.
Detecting a powerful magical presence among Red Squadron, Snape reconfigures his priorities, recognizing the greater threat.
Snape. Break off. Back to the station to intercept the new attackers.
Pucey. What about the mediwizard broom?
Snape. Let it go. It's not important.
As Snape leads Pucey and Bole in pursuit of Hooch, McManus, and Jeremy Stretton, the trench's guns cease firing.
Hooch. This is it. Keep your eyes open for those brooms.
McManus. All short and long range scopes are blank. There's too much interference. Red Five. Can you see them from where you are?
Harry. No sign of any ― wait.
Harry sees Snape, Pucey, and Bole.
Coming in point three five.
McManus. I see them.
Hooch goes for the thermal exhaust port.
Hooch. It's the right trench, all right. I'm almost in range. Target's coming up. Just hold them off for a few seconds.
Snape. [to Pucey and Bole] Close up formation. I'll take them myself.
As Snape destroys Jeremy Stretton, Hooch moves toward the exhaust port.
Hooch. Almost there.
McManus. You'd better let her loose.
But Hooch is waiting for the right moment.
They're right behind me.
Hooch. Almost there.
McManus. I can't hold them.
Snape destroys McManus's Firebolt. McManus dies.
Hooch fires at the exhaust port.
Hooch. It's away.
The torpedo hits the Dark Mark.
Smackhammer. It's a hit.
Hooch. Negative. Negative. It didn't go in, just impacted on the surface.
Snape sets his sights on Hooch.
Snape. [to Pucey and Bole] I'll take the last one. You two go back.
Hooch is now being chased out of the trench by Snape.
Hooch. Red Five, this is Red Leader. Move into position, Harry. Start your attack run. Stay low and wait until you're right on top of it. It's not going to be easy.
Harry. Are you all right?
Hooch. They're on top of me. But I'll shake them.
Harry. [to Cedric and Neville] Red Five to Red pack. Let's go.
Meanwhile, Snape succeeds in firing at Hooch.
Hooch. Arrow. Shut off the main feed to number-one starboard engine. Hang on tight. This could get rough.
Harry. Red Leader. We're right above you. Turn to point . . . 05. We'll cover you.
Hooch. Stay there. I just lost my starboard engine. Get set up for your attack run.
Harry. You sure you're all right?
Hooch. I think so. Stand by for a minute.
Hooch's broom spirals out of control and plummets into the surface of the Dark Mark and explodes. She dies.
Exit all.
