The Aurors strike

The moment Harry finished his sentence, he heard a loud noise that echoed off the cave walls. The magical protections he had raised were crackling under the impact of multiple spells coming from three people who were facing its entrance. They were all on brooms, and, judging by their outfit, they were Ministry employees. Probably Aurors.

Harry's instinct kicked immediately in. He put the Invisibility Cloak back in the bag, as there was no point wearing it unless he wanted to risk losing it in the coming fight. Just after the basilisk took refuge in it, he sealed the bag with a protective rune so he could be the only one to open it.

He got on his broom and raised his wand. His window to escape would be small and he needed to be ready. He would let the Aurors burn themselves out on the barrier and then jinx them before taking advantage of the speed of his Firebolt to get out of here as fast as possible.

The last barrier cracked violently. One more blast and it would give in. The three people were composed of one wizard and two witches. The witches had been attacking the barriers while the wizard was gripping his broom, a Nimbus 2001, ready to chase. Their strategy was obviously to keep him fresh to go after Harry. Therefore, he would be Harry's first target.

As the witches raised their wands for the final attack, Harry bolted out the cave while pointing his wand towards the wizard and casted the Impediment Jinx. He was lucky enough to catch him by surprise as he took the spell with full force and watched powerlessly Harry flying up the cliff. However, the witches had been ready. Harry dodged a spell coming from his right side out of instinct and, without even turning towards his opponents, he casted the Nebulus Charm to create a fog behind him. He heard the Aurors swear. He had just bought himself a few seconds, maybe minutes, he would need to use carefully.

But as he emerged from the cliff, he realised with horror that four more Aurors had been waiting at the top. He took the Expelliarmus Charm in his chest but, as he had put his wand away to fly, it just propelled him on the ground. The Firebolt landed behind him. He stumbled back on his feet. He needed to think fast as soon, the three others Aurors would get out of the fog, and he would be heavily outpowered.

Harry raised his hand.

'Exire supra terram!' He shouted.

His crafted spell surprised them as two giant roots emerged from the ground to catch the Auror who had knocked Harry down of his broom and a witch that was looking rather angry. As they were trying to disentangle themselves from the powerful roots, the two other Aurors approached him with a threatening look.

'So, you know how to design your own spells?' Said the third Auror, a ginger witch. 'And you can use nonverbal wandless magic? Not so bad for a fifteen-years old. But the damages you caused stop there. You want to be treated like an adult? So be it!'

'Easy Melania,' said the other Auror, a dark-haired wizard who looked like the leader of the group. 'He's still a minor. We are only here to catch him and bring him back alive.' His emphasis on the "alive" word rubbed Harry the wrong way.

'Don't you have Death Eaters to catch instead?' Hissed Harry while raising his guard. 'Dementors on the loose, massive outbreak at Azkaban and all you care about is a Hogwarts student on the run!'

'Potter it's enough,' replied the witch with a stern voice. 'Your lies don't fool anyone. I am going to ask this once. Surrender your wand and let us take you to the Ministry or else…'

'Or else what!?' Shouted Harry cutting her off. 'What is the Ministry ready to do to shut down the truth?!'

'It's not the truth!' Shouted the witch.

'This is what you think,' said Harry with a calmer voice. He nodded towards the wizard. 'But he thinks otherwise.'

'Potter… We have our orders,' replied the Auror. He had been one of the first to believe in the return of You-Know-Who. But he was loyal. 'If you surrender now, I can promise you proper treatment at the Ministry.'

'Surrender?' Repeated Harry with a smirk. 'Nowadays the word of an Auror is worth nothing. There is no way I am coming with you at the Ministry. Not until you all open your bloody eyes and realise that Voldemort is back!'

The two Aurors shivered when they heard You-Know-Who's name.

'You insolent, presumptuous little brat!' Exclaimed the witch while raising her wand.

A purple beam Harry didn't recognize rushed towards him and he just had the time to deploy a protective shield around him. But to his surprise, the beam pierced through the shield and a searing pain exploded in his left shoulder. He looked at it, horrified. His black cloak was getting darker… Blood. He raised his eyes on the two Aurors and his breath became heavier.

'I said no harm, Melania!' Shouted the wizard at the witch angrily. 'We are Aurors, not mercenaries!'

But as the Auror turned towards him raising an appeasing hand, Harry didn't hear anything he was saying. It was like the time had been slowed down. A few feet behind him was laying his Firebolt. The fog he had casted was starting to rise above the cliff meaning that soon, the three Aurors that had tried to trap him would be free from it. The roots were still holding against the two others Aurors but it wouldn't forever.

The ground started to vibrate and the two Aurors started to look around them anxiously.

'What is happening?' Asked the witch looking unsure.

Harry raised his wand and a red beam emerged from it and divided itself in the direction of the two Aurors who deflected it quite easily.

'Come on Potter,' smiled the wizard. 'A Stunning Spell? You surely can do better than…'

He never finished his sentence as a giant wave coming from the sea emerged from the tip of the cliff and crashed on the four Aurors.

Harry didn't wait to see if he had successfully put them out of action. He ran away while summoning his Firebolt and fled as fast as possible from the cliff.

At first, he thought he had been able to lose them, and it was good news because between the wave and his blood loss, his strength had been deteriorating by the minute. He needed to find a safe place and fast. But he heard a strange buzz coming from his left side that he recognised immediately thanks to his Quidditch experience. The three Aurors mounted on their broomsticks had caught up with him. He was so weak he couldn't pull his Firebolt's full speed.

He dodged a spell coming from on of the two witches and he leaned against his broom.

Was it the end? He was finding it harder to keep his eyes open. The blood coming from his shoulder was now leaking on the Firebolt's wood. Besides, it seemed a storm was coming as the sky became darker and thunder started to rumble in the distance. A powerful wind arrived suddenly which took the three Aurors completely by surprise. But Harry had seen worse above the Channel and succeeded in maintaining his broom straight. He glanced around him. The peaceful coming dusk had turned into a giant and violent storm. Rain was pouring on his face abd it was now way too dangerous to fly. But the good news was that he had now completely lost his attackers.

So that meant he could rest now, right? Wait no, he was still high in the sky in a storm that was starting to look like a whirlwind of darkness. But it was so soft when he was closing his eyes. There was no harm closing them a little. Just a few seconds so he could rest a bit. Just a little time of peace.

He didn't feel he had slipped off his broom. His body fell through the storm at an alarming speed. But he didn't care. For the first time in the last two months, he had fell in a gentle and restful sleep.