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Chapter 22 - The Order Of The Phoenix

After a short while the two stopped before a dead end. Ginny effortlessly waved her wand with a single swish, after a moment's pause the wall started to shiver, becoming transparent before their very eyes.

'I take it they can't see us.' Said Harry pointing to three people in the office. One of which was precariously tied to a chair while the two others towered over him.

'Corse not.' Tutted Ginny. 'Luckily they can't hear us either. Now we need to get in there.' Peering past the group in the office she looked through the blinds into the main Auror office outside, the site looked pretty grim.

'They've got everyone tied up, I think there's a couple dead as well.' She said, motioning towards a few slumped bodies away from the main group.

'Anyone in there you recognise?'

'On their side or ours?'

'Either.' Shrugged Harry.

'I don't recognise anyone from the group who have taken over, however some of the Aurors I do. Look Neville's at the back with a few others.'

'Who's the guy in the chair?'

'That's Jenkins.'

'On our side?' Asked Harry bluntly.

Ginny looked struck. 'What do you mean? Of course he's on our side otherwise he wouldn't be tied up.'

'We don't know that.' Said Harry fairly. 'He's giving us up. listen.'

Disbelievingly, Ginny put her ear to the wall to hear. '… So where is this secret passageway then Jenkins?' Asked one of the men who was now lounging over Kingsley's desk as if it was his own. His face masked by long brown hair.

'It's all over the Aur… Au.' Harry's concentration was pushed to the limit from behind the wall as Jenkins faltered. Placing someone under the imperious curse without direct sight was harder than he remembered. 'You know I haven't the foggiest i-idea.'

'Really', snarled the man, moving from Kingley's desk. 'This ought to remind you. Crucio!'

Jenkins' scream of pain gave Harry the opportunity he had been waiting for. He burst through the hidden entrance, unnoticed by the occupants and quickly stunned all three.

Panicking, Ginny followed him through and crouched by the main door, low enough to be below the window. When she noticed no one was firing at her and Harry was standing, chuckling at her, she glared dangerously at him.

'What?' She demanded.

'They can't hear us and the blinds are shut.' Said Harry, grinning.

She looked at the windows to notice the shut blinds. She would have sworn they were open, her head whipped back round to face Harry. 'How did you manage that?'

'Magic.' Stated Harry, his eyes dancing dangerously.

'Merlin.' Muttered Ginny.

'Is there another entrance into the main Auror office?' Inquired Harry nonchalantly, as he levitated the three unconscious forms together, where he bound them tightly.

'Yeah there's a couple. One gives access to the landing above the stair we use when going to the Ministers office and there's another one around the corner.' Answered Ginny. 'The landing would be the best for ambushing, they wouldn't know where you're hitting them from.'

'Make your way over there then and wait for my signal. I'll attack from here and draw the fire, you protect the hostages.'

'Ok, give me two minutes. I'll be in position by then.' Said Ginny, as she made her way back into the passageway.

'Send a Patronus if you get into trouble.' Shouted Harry after her.

'Will do.'

Cautiously, Harry kneeled by the door, whilst opening the blinds slightly so he could get a view. From his peep hole, he saw a tall man approach Neville. Thinking quickly, he cast a quick eavesdropping spell and listened intently.

'So, Auror, what will it be death or cooperation.'

'I'll never join you Nott.' Spat Neville. 'I knew it was a mistake clearing your name.'

Nott, laughed mercilessly. 'Ah yes the grand reform scheme does seem to have back fired. All this time we've had you chasing Potter whilst we've planned this. Potter might not even be alive at this point.'

'What did you do to him?'

'Nothing.' Replied Nott, sounding disappointed. 'As you know he disappeared. Last I heard he was out the country, our sources said he fell into depression, and we know where that can lead.'

By the look on Neville's face, he knew all too well.

'He's lucky really.' Continued Nott. 'He fought so hard against the Dark Lord it would have been a shame for him to watch it all be for nought.'

'It'll only be successful if you win.' Commented Neville fairly.

'We've already won, we have all the Aurors tied up and the Minister is working on locking down Gringotts to our control.' Neville smiled. 'What are you smiling at?'

'Nothing.' Said Neville shaking his head. 'Just be careful Nott, Goblins won't take this well, you might have rebellion on your hands.'

'Maybe rebellion is what we want.' Said Nott coldly. 'This isn't just about muggles and mudbloods you fool. This is about all magical beings.'

Being so engrossed in the conversation as he was, Harry missed the glint in the eye of a man just to the left of the hostages. He raised his wand and pointed at the gap in the blinds he had spotted and shouted 'Confringo!'

On the shout Harry just managed to throw up a quick shield which the shards of glass bounced off, the force of the blast still sent him flying and he crashed heavily into the wall behind him. Groggy and disorientated, Harry shook himself before his natural instinct took over.

Spells rained down upon him only to bounce off the shield he resurrected, walking forward he struck out with his wand, sending a man to the floor crippled in pain. The next flick left a man stunned.

The commotion had evidently alerted others who rounded the corner to the Auror office prepared to join the fight. They were taken off guard though when some quickfire stunners crashed into them from above, Ginny had found her vantage point and used it well.

Whilst the majority attacked Harry and returned fire on Ginny, Nott took a couple of others and ran from the scene, heading towards the lifts. Spotting them Harry quickly dispatched another and gave chase, waving his wand as he went to release the tied up Aurors.

They responded quickly moving to help Ginny overthrow the remaining Death Eaters.

Only paying attention to his quarry Harry steamed on ahead, he missed the lifts and headed straight for the stairs next to them, he had a hunch on where they were going, and the stairs gave him a chance to head them off.

He sprinted upwards towards the top floor, the sound of his feet pounding, echoing around him. Breathing heavily, he burst through the door five floors up and ran through the conference centre, as he turned onto the corridor that led to the Ministers office. Nott and his entourage were heading straight towards him.

There were three flashed of green light and the men surrounding Nott fell to the floor as ropes sprung to ensnare the man himself. As he struggled against his bindings, Harry approached slowly, picking up the wizards dropped wand as he went.

'Who the h…' Nott barely started to ask when Harry forced his way into his head. The unorganised, ill-prepared mind was easy to break, so it didn't take the accomplished legilimens long to find the information he needed.

Leaving Nott with a final flash of green, Harry sprinted to the Ministers office, he threw open the doors to just witness a flash of blue light whisk away Minister Greengrass and what looked to be Draco Malfoy.

'Shit.' Swore Harry, running to the fireplace. He threw the flew powder into the fire shouting 'The Leaky Cauldron.' The green flames he was expecting never came. 'For fuck sake.' He fumed to himself, as he once again turned on his heel.

I'm wasting too much time. He thought angrily as he jumped over the limp form of Nott on his way back to the lift. 'Atrium!' Shouted Harry as he skidded into the lift, stopping himself against the back wall. The lift lurched and sent him horizontally backwards before shooting down a couple of floors.

He exited into pandemonium.

The Aurors had all found wands and were battling hard to release the Ministry workers that had been rounded up inside the great halls. Running on instinct alone and fuelled by adrenaline, Harry joined the fray.

With a single mindedness that had always served him well, Harry forced his way through the battle. Ducking and weaving an array of stray spells. Harry sent a stunner to his left after spotting an Aurors wand being blasted from her hand. He could only hope he hit his mark as another set of duellists blocked his line of sight.

Harry pushed past another three who were brawling, their wands forgotten, as he moved away from them a flash of green light moved just above his head. Glancing to its source he saw Ginny slam a stunning spell into the chest of a man surrounded by three or four dead bodies. Before Harry could even think about going to help her Ginny had disappeared into the throng.

Another man fell to one of Harry stunners before he reached his destination, which happened to be a red phone box which was somewhat absurdly sitting in the corner just out the way of the chaos. He slammed the door behind him and punched the hashtag key. The phone box lurched awkwardly before raising into the air.

As Harry observed the carnage below he spotted a raised wand pointed right at him. He just jumped to hold onto a bar above him when the bottom of his vessel was blown away. Hanging precariously, he was forced to throw up a hasty shield to stop the next spell, before being rescued from a barrage of green light as he broke through the surface of the earth into the street above.

Panting he fell out of the phone box onto the street, where after a second to collect his breathe he dissaparated on the spot causing a passing glassy eyed muggle to take a double take.

He landed directly in Diagon Alley, in a small street just beside Gringotts bank. What he saw made his heart sink. I'm too late.

Smoke plumed out of the lower floor windows of the bank. A group of goblins had been piled before the marble steps where they were burnt in the street in front a crowd of on lookers. A strong guard of arms levelled their wands at the crowd, forcing them to keep their distance as a figure emerged from the smoke.

The Greengrass' had been thought to be neutral during the war so Harry had never gotten a close look at Quinton before. Harry took one look at the goatee adorned face before raising his wand, decision made.

That's when he spotted it, the slight glint of light on one of the roof tops. He moved just in time as a bullet passed through the air his head had just vacated. He moved quickly and entered a shop through the back entrance.

The bang of the gun had panicked the people in the street, causing them to apparate away. This left the Ministers guard free to accompany Greengrass back into the bank, away from the confusion.

Knowing the sniper would be on the move for a better position, Harry ran through the small apothecary shop in order to join the main street. There were just enough people running back to the Leaky Cauldron to cover him from any fire. He sprinted down Knockturn Alley where the smaller, more condensed street would provide further cover.

He carefully stalked the street when he felt a vibration in his pocket. He answered the call wordlessly.

'Potter.' Greeted Clarke. 'Be careful, an assassin we have been trying to bring in has been spotted near your location. He's the one who got you in the shoulder.' Was all she said before hanging up again.

Warning in mind, Harry walked into an empty shop on his left. He made his way towards the rear of the shop, where he was sure there was a fire escape that led to the roof tops. He was just about to turn the handle of the door when it was kicked open from the other side. Slightly dazed from the impact, he dropped his wand and just managed to spin away as a hooded man slashed wildly at him with a knife.

Still stunned Harry stumbled backwards just about avoiding another slash as his adversary stepped forward after him. Trying to gain an advantage Harry threw a rash haymaker which was easily blocked by the hooded man who responded by kicking Harry in his exposed stomach. Winded from the blow Harry doubled over and rolled away straight into a cabinet.

Harry could only block the stab aimed at his heart by catching the blade in the palm of his hand. Ignoring the pain he used his legs to trip the other assassin over. Caught by surprise the man fell awkwardly releasing his hand from the knife he'd planted in Harry's hand.

Harry buried the knife in the mans side and twisted, causing him to writhe in pain. Using his advantage, Harry ripped the knife across the assassin's chest before bringing it back to land in his neck.

The man convulsed, spitting blood, before succumbing to his wounds. Groggily Harry dragged himself up, stumbling around in the dark to find his wand. Once found he healed the hole in his hand before making his way back to the street.

It was eerily quiet now in the main part of Diagon Alley, there was no one left apart from two guards outside the bank's front doors. Harry was just about to step into the middle of the street when a loud crack caused him to wheel around wand at the ready.

'Wotcher Harry.' Smirked Tonks, as she watched Harry's mouth drop.

'What are you doing here?' Asked Harry, shaking his head slightly

Tonks quirked an eyebrow at him. 'You didn't think the Order would let you fight this war on your own, did you?'

Shocked, Harry turned at the sound of dozens more people apparating into Diagon Alley. Each prepared for battle.

'We'll handle these.' Said Tonks as reinforcements filed out of the bank to see the two guards fall to the floor. 'You get after Greengrass.'

'I might have to kill him.' Warned Harry.

'Better than him getting away with it at trial.' Reasoned Tonks. An old argument. A war time argument that the two, along with Remus and Sirius, had fallen upon too many times. Each time was necessary.

'We're not judge, jury and executioner Tonks. Only soldiers.' Said Harry sadly.

'And now we're at war again.' Nodded Tonks with a hollow smile. 'Unless you can stop it. Now get after them.' She laid a comforting hand on his shoulder before moving passed him to join the fighting.

Sticking to the shadows, Harry skirted along the shop fronts to avoid confrontation, before slipping down the side of the bank. There was a window he could just about reach that had been blown open from the inside. He cleared the pane of any sharp glass and hoisted himself up slowly. Luckily he found the banks grand hall empty.

The scene was incomprehensible. Corpses of goblins were scattered around amongst the debris, their bodies broken. The desks had all been blown apart, the grand chandeliers that once hung regally from the ceiling now lay shattered on the ground and scorch marks from a blast adorned the walls and pillars.

Never mind a war, we'll have a rebellion if Greengrass isn't stopped. That's probably what the bastard really wants.

This in mind, Harry made his way toward the rear of the bank and the entrance to tunnel system leading to the vaults. If Greengrass really wanted rebellion there was a sure-fire way to achieve it, and he was almost there.

He stood on the platform, where he only waited a millisecond before a cart appeared before him. Normally only a Gringotts goblin can control the carts, however, knowing a curse breaker, and one called Bill Weasley – had its advantages.

Harry waved the palm of his hand over the control, muttering under his breath. After a moment of apprehension, the cart shot forward shoving Harry back into his seat with a humph. The rest of the journey was spent with him holding onto the sides until his knuckles were white.

Down and down he went, further than he had been before and much further than levels of even the oldest wizarding vaults. Goblin treasure was buried deeper in the earth.

Finally, the cart slowed smoothly as the ground levelled out. There was no light this far down and only the torches used by the bank workers could penetrate the gloom.

Steeling himself, Harry walked into the darkness.