Lament of a Mage
As Harry heard the shriek, he turned to find Susan on the ground, not moving. Anger reared up into his eyes, his magic started projecting itself as pitch-black and something snapped in him. He bellowed out in rage, such a ferocious cry that all who heard it shivered to their bones.
The German mercenary who had shot the curse only had a brief moment to hear the wailing of the banshee before Harry gave him his undivided attention. He shuddered with the hostile magic which was being focused on him. Before he could say or do anything, Harry trained his wand on him, roaring, "KODAND!"
An arrow as black as the abyss, reeking of malevolence appeared at the end of his wand-tip. He banished it at the wizard. Not recognizing the spell, the mercenary both cast a Protego Maxima and dodged but the black arrow both tracked him and shattered his shield. The spell struck him in the centre of his chest, causing his body to disintegrate where he stood. In the next second, no trace of him remained.
Others were horrified with the magic that he had just cast but Harry was just getting started. He turned his wrath upon another who was trying to run. Levelling his wand, he roared, "TADITAM!" The spell contained all his fury and his wrath. As the blinding, blue bolt from his wand struck the death eater, there was a momentary image of the man's entire skeleton shining through his flesh before his body exploded in a flash of super-heated steam. The report from the thunderclap temporarily deafened everyone for more than a hundred yards.
These two attacks would have exhausted any ordinary wizard, but in his current condition, Harry didn't even feel it. The battle rage was on him. To Harry's perception, everyone else was moving in slow motion. Every single death eater and mercenary responsible for this cowardly attack today was going to die and that was that. Even Dumbledore, engaged as he was, saw Harry's movements become a blur as he surrounded himself in a penumbra of blackness that concealed him from normal senses. If any of the Mystics had been there to see it, they would have recognized this as The Dance of Death that even very few of them had ever mastered.
The Germans immediately rallied, signalling what was left of the death eaters to action. They left off fighting the Ministry Aurors and students to face the new threat. By the time they formed their skirmish line; five more of them already lay dead. Harry was conserving his strength, he had used fire-whips on two of them and spell-chains of shield-breaker, stunner, bombarda maxima on the other three. At least, that left bodies to identify, well, sort of.
By this time, the temporary deafness caused by Harry's thunderbolt had begun to ease. Some of the death eaters, seeing how things were going, attempted to run. Harry casually flicked bone-breakers at their backs and they collapsed to the ground, flailing helplessly as their legs refused to obey them anymore. Some of the death eaters threw down their wands and cast themselves at the feet of the Aurors, begging for protection.
All this time, the wizards in the skirmish line had been coordinating their attack while Harry had been subtly manoeuvring to make sure that none of his allies were behind him. They fired their wands in a volley of spell-chains that would have shredded any five competent wizards but as the spells passed through the empty space where Harry had been when the spells left their wands, he returned fire with spell-chains of his own, one from each hand. The wizards on both ends of the skirmish line flew backwards with most of the bones in their bodies shattered.
Most of the others had stopped fighting. They could see the carnage being dispensed by the teenage lord and were scared. A few more death eaters who knew they were the next to be slaughtered ran from the scene, the thoughts of the wards being broken forgotten. Harry however was not in the mood to let them flee. Summoning his magic, he contemptuously turned his back on the skirmish line and chased down the deserting death eaters with a blur of speed while his wand cast spells and curses. One of his curses took the head off of a death eater, another was cut in half and the third one had run into a group of Aurors to save himself. All this time, in spite of his rage and speed, every spell was placed with pin-point accuracy, finding its mark. To those observing, it looked like he had lost all control, casting wildly regardless of whether innocent people were in the arc of fire. He wasn't even speaking, he was hissing and spitting as he cast, like a snake. Any death eater who was unfortunate enough to find himself in front of his wand didn't live another moment. This act of destruction scared even the battle hardened Aurors. This was clearly not the teenage Lord that they all adored. This was some primal being. The war mage was showing why he was a cut above everyone else in battle.
Wagner who had been fighting Dumbledore suddenly realised that the old Headmaster had started casting at a different level altogether. His wand was now a blur, the spells came so fast that it was impossible for him to dodge them or shield from them. What's more was that the headmaster was now sending animations at him. It all became difficult for him to defend against. Once or twice he even had to swat aside some borderline dark spells which would have killed him. Knowing there was just one way for him to save his skin today, he cast the smokescreen which temporarily blinded Dumbledore, and fired red sparks into the air and then disapparated. The red sparks were the signal to beat a hasty retreat. Here and there, throughout the village, the few remaining mercenaries and death eaters who still could, disapparated.
Neville's blood boiled when he heard the scream. He started casting his favourite family spell with all his power behind it. The Longbottom family curse which blasted through shields and killed without fail. It looked like there were three gods of war on the battle field and no one could stop them.
Harry had turned his attention back to the line of death eaters who had not broken formation or retreated. He was methodically annihilating them when Alice and Sirius rushed forward towards him. They understood what they had to do. If they didn't stop Harry there was no knowing to what extent he would go. Moony and Dora engaged what was left of the death eaters so that Sirius and Alice would have time to control the teen. Harry was in the process of casting another deadly spell when Sirius stepped in front of his wand.
Harry roared, "Step aside Padfoot! I will not leave a single one of these scum alive!"
Sirius was not deterred, "It's not about them, pup. You are what matters to me. I can't let you go beyond the point of no return. For the sake of the love that I have for you, please holster your wand."
Before Harry could respond, Alice caught his wand hand and said in a soothing tone, "You are not a murderer, son. Put away your wand."
Harry still held his wand tightly and was not ready to let go. His eyes were flashing dangerously and his magic was still surrounding him with a dark black aura. She hugged him to pacify him. After a few moments of stiffness, Harry finally slumped onto her shoulder. She gently pried his wand from his fingers and gently told him, "Go and see her, son. May be there is still hope."
While Alice and Sirius were talking Harry down, the few remaining death eaters that were still able made their escape. A handful of loud pops announced their disapparation.
Harry dashed to Susan's side. Daphne was tending to her fallen friend with Ron and Hermione standing over them. He took Susan from Daphne's charge to pick her up gently and embrace her. He stroked her cheek fondly and whispered, "Sue... Sue, get up... Sue... get... look the death eaters have fled. Sue come on, get up. Sue."
Hermione gently placed her hand on his shoulder, her voice choked with emotion, "Har. Harry. She... she is d..." She could not even bring herself to say it.
Harry was now shaking Susan fiercely as if she would sit up suddenly and tell him that she was faking. However Susan didn't wake up. Harry started shouting at the top of his voice, "Sue... Get up... SUE GET UP!"
He started wailing while pounding his chest fiercely and would only say, "Sue Get up." The dam had already broken and he cried unashamedly, tears streaked his face, hiccups marred his breathing and he sounded like a broken man who had just lost everything at the game of dice.
Dumbledore knew what had happened when he heard the shriek but he did not let it distract him while he duelled with the German. Now that his opponent had disapparated, he was equally worried. He advanced quickly towards Harry and Susan then tried to pry him away, "My boy, let me see."
Harry refused, "No, I won't let go of her."
Dumbledore still advanced and tried to interfere, "Harry please let me see."
Harry lashed out with his wandless magic shoving Dumbledore with such force that he was thrown about 10 feet back. Only Dumbledore noticed this use of wandless magic. He was part surprised and part scared with the amount of control Harry had over it.
Sirius, seeing that the situation was desperate, tried to reason with him, "Son, please let us see if we can do something."
Harry refused to let go, "No, I won't let her go. No. Never."
They realised that he wouldn't step aside and that they would have to use force on him. Nobody was willing. Reluctantly, Neville levelled his wand and him and firmly intoned, "Stupefy."
Harry keeled over while Neville looked at the others as if daring them to defy him. No one tried to do so. He had done what had to be done but none of them could bring themselves to do it. Sirius gave him a curt nod before conjuring a stretcher to levitate Harry onto it.
Dumbledore knelt over Susan's body and did some detection spells. Whatever the results were, he seemed slightly pleased. When he spoke, it was with a sense of urgency, "Have her taken to the Hospital Wing. She is alive but barely. There is still a chance that we can save her."
Moody was barking orders to Proudfoot with uncharacteristic stoniness "collect our wounded, bring them in. Those who are very serious should be sent to St. Mungo's immediately. Somebody gather the students and also the bo... bodies. Make a list of the casualties and report to me at the ministry this evening."
Amelia was in shock but true to her office she was doing her duty while Frank talked with the surviving Aurors to know what had really happened. Neville was with Alice and cried into her shoulder while she consoled her son. Ron and Hermione were with Sirius and Remus. They were watching over Harry who was on the stretcher and tied with a jinx. For good measure, Sirius hit him with a deep sleep charm so he wouldn't suddenly wake up.
By then healers and trainee healers had started apparating in with the support staff and started to work on the wounded. Most of them were to be taken to St. Mungo's while the students who were not seriously wounded were administered first aid on the spot and then asked to see Madam Pomfrey who would deal with their injuries. A few grievously injured students were also sent to the castle since St. Mungo's was already over-crowded and they were running out of help.
The General and others walked with the students to the school, their heads lowered and their expression solemn with the Aurors and the members of the Order of the Phoenix following them. Viktor and Fleur had been asked by Dumbledore to join them with the Weasleys and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix. It was sort of a procession for those who died today and for those who fought today to save others. Correct numbers weren't yet known but it was believed that about 15 students had died while 20 or so had been injured, mostly among the members of the Order of the Snow Leopard.
The bodies of the dead were taken to St. Mungo's from where the parents of the students could claim them. Dumbledore also knew that it was only a matter of time before parents would be coming to the castle asking for answers and to see if their children were harmed. He knew that he would have to face them. There was nothing for it.
After Dumbledore had examined Susan, she had been sent to Hogwarts. No one yet knew if she was alive or dead. Hestia and Emmeline had taken charge of her and apparated to the gates. From there, Hagrid carried Susan to the infirmary in record time, carrying Susan as if she weighed nothing more than a rag doll to him.
The healers of the Order of the Snow Leopard who had been learning some basic healing were in the Hospital Wing with Madam Pomfrey. As soon as they heard about the attack, they quickly went in and reported for duty. Dumbledore had made some portkeys on the spot to let the healers get there in the quickest time possible and as many as possible could be saved. When the injured started coming in, those with superficial wounds or minor injuries were sent to the Great Hall where the students had set up camp and were tending to the injured ones.
Ron and Hermione had defiantly asked to return to the castle with the students and the ministry entourage. They were asked to be carried on stretchers because their injuries appeared to be many but Ron couldn't stand the thought of spending a night in the infirmary. Harry was being carried on a stretcher by Neville, Sirius or Remus who were taking turns at carrying him.
A team of Aurors stayed back to find what had happened and to record statements of the residents of the village. It was then that the muggleborns also arrived at the village under the leadership of Mr. O'Neil. It had taken him sometime to get help and he arrived as soon as he could. The 20 or so wizards who were with him presented themselves to the Aurors to ask how they could assist them while he and a few others made their way to the school to meet the minister and to offer their support anyway they could.
When the procession reached Hogwarts, students started moving toward the Great Hall with everyone else while Harry was taken to the Hospital Wing and his friends followed suit with Sirius, Remus, Amelia and Alice. The students had come out of the castle and they were standing on both sides of the procession as sort of honour guard as they entered.
Dumbledore led the entourage into the Great Hall. After having most of them comfortably seated, he left for the hospital wing with Neville and Frank at his side. Neville looked grim and very determined and didn't leave the headmaster's side for a moment. He had noticed Colin and others with him when they entered and asked Colin to order others to return to the Great Hall where it was expected that the students would soon be ordered to gather so the headmaster could address them.
When they reached the Hospital Wing, Hannah tackled Neville with such force that he landed on his rump. Hannah's eyes were blotchy. She looked like she had been crying. He wiped her tears with his thumbs and gently patted her on her back, "Han, it's alright."
Hannah wailed, "Nothing is alright, Neville. Su. Susan is de. dead."
Dumbledore was talking to Poppy Pomfrey, "What is the diagnosis, Poppy?"
She said grimly, "She is alive, Albus but barely. And that is only because someone cast a stasis charm on her before sending her here. Even so, whatever she was hit with is eating at her magical core, depleting her life force. I haven't seen anything like this before. I fear that if we can't figure out what to do, she will be dead in a few minutes."
Dumbledore frowned, "But there must be something that you can do."
She morosely refused, "No. There is nothing that I know of."
While Dumbledore thought about what to do, one of the healers was talking to Frank, "General, we don't have enough healers here."
He barked, "Then get some from the Hospital."
The healer shook her head, "They are already far to over-burdened to spare any. We will have to figure out something else and do that quickly."
Just then Albus could feel the war wards being bypassed and he stiffened. He was curious and worried about it. About a minute later, a retinue of 5 healers with a man at the head of them entered the hospital wing to find about 10 wands trained on them. The leader of that little retinue actually chuckled, "Albus, my boy. So far I am not disappointed. This is more than I expected when I entered the castle."
Dumbledore by now recognised Harsh and advanced towards him, "Lord Harsh, we are in trouble here."
Harsh grimly nodded, "I know Albus. I have brought some healers to render assistance to you and the ministry. These healers will take over the treatment of the students and later if your General is willing, they will render their services in St. Mungo's."
Albus said agitatedly, "Actually our problem is far bigger. Susan was hit with an unknown curse. It is eating away at her magical core. We don't know how to stop it."
Harsh looked around the hospital wing and asked, "Where is Miss Bones?"
Albus led him around the partition beyond which was Susan. She laid inert, her body pale as if all blood was lost, the shadow of death already over her face. Harsh proceeded to cast some diagnostic charms. After he was done studying the results, he cursed loudly in a language that Albus did not understand before adopting his calm demeanour again and turned to Albus, "We can save her but I will need Harry's help. Where is he?"
Albus sheepishly pointed out the bed with Harry's name plaque on it. There the young war-mage lay, in a deep sleep, bound with restraints both physical and magical.
Harsh frowned, "Why is he being tied?"
Sirius explained, "He went berserk when Susan fell. He was indiscriminately killing wizards right and left. We had to stun him to stop him from causing harm to innocent bystanders."
Harsh knew that he wasn't getting the whole story. It was highly doubtful that Harry would ever allow one of his spells to hit an innocent. But there was no time to get the story straight if they were to save Susan. He nodded then turned to his healers asking them to take care of the students. The healers with the discipline that came to them from being associated with the Mystics started tending to the students while members of the Order of the Snow Leopard assisted them with Poppy Pomfrey diligently following their orders. She knew what Harsh was capable of. If the healers he brought had even half his talent, they all would learn a thing or two from them.
Harsh proceeded to Harry's bed and vanished the ropes that bound him. With another flick of his wand, he dispelled the restraining charms. He produced a potion from the inner pocket of his robes and poured it down Harry's throat. Pointing his wand at Harry, he started chanting. After 5 minutes, he enervated Harry. While all this was going on, one of his healers diagnosed and started to draw out the curse that had afflicted Susan.
As soon as Harry woke, he was out of his bed ready to lunge at whoever stood in his way to get to Susan. Harsh however held him by his shoulder and said sternly, "Stand down, Harry. I command you."
These words felt like drops of water on a hot frying pan which sizzles at first but then cools down. Harry realized that Harsh stood before him. He immediately sank to his knees and fell at his feet, "Pranam Guruji".
Harsh placed his hands on Harry's head and murmured, "Vijay Bhav, vatsa".
Then he raised Harry by the shoulders and Harry looked more at peace with himself than before. He asked him, "Guruji, what brings you here?"
Harsh smiled serenely, "Varah Mihir told me to come."
Harry became agitated, "Save Susan? Can you? I mean, I thought she was…"
Vikram took his hand and guided him to where Susan was lying on a bed with a partition blocking the view from the rest of the hospital wing. He turned to the healer who was murmuring a chant over her. They exchanged a few glances, after which Harsh's face became grim.
Harry was alarmed. He asked him, "Guruji, what happened?"
Harsh made an effort to smile, "Harry, she will be fine. She was hit with a nasty curse which can be quite fatal."
Amelia who had just come behind the partition asked him, "Will she live?"
Harsh nodded, "We can counter the curse and she will be fine."
Amelia was an Auror who was trained to see when people were lying or keeping back some information. She observed the looks exchanged and decided to confront him later.
Harsh spoke to Harry, "We are going to cast the counter curse for her. Then you will have to call her back. She is very close to departing for the next great adventure. You must give her a reason to come back. What you have to do is hold her hand and try to talk to her in your mind. Can you do that?"
Harry nodded determinedly, "I will do it."
Together Harsh and the healer pulled out their wands and started murmuring an incantation under their breath. Others had come to see what was happening. Harry held her hand in both of his. He tried to talk to her in his mind. At first, he felt idiotic. This however was the only way to bring her back so he tried with more energy. It went something like this-
"Su... Sue, you know I love you, right? I mean yes I just proposed to you this morning but the thing is that I have been feeling that way for a long time. You know I have loved you since I learnt that you like me. Remember that morning when Luna came to us and said that you like me. You have been in my thoughts since then and I realise that no one ever has loved me the way you do. I have had this dream where we are one happy family, you know. We were there in Potter Manor and surrounded by scores of children. You don't have a problem with that, do you? I want a big family because I had none. Being an only child would also make it boring. I. I had even thought about their names. I thought that if we had two sons we would name the first one after your father and mine - James Edgar Potter or Bones. The second one will be named after Sirius and we will think about the middle name later. I also thought that we will have a girl who would look like you and we will name her Ellie Lilly and..."
His musing was interrupted by a hoarse voice, "Did you even think about our marriage or go straight about having children?"
He snapped his eyes open and saw that Susan's eyes were half open and her lips were stretched in a small smile. Her face however still looked pale and it looked like she was in pain. Then it registered on him that she was awake and letting out a shout of joy, he engulfed her in a tight hug.
"Gently son, she is still frail", said Sirius who had been worriedly looking at what was transpiring but now was smiling though his eyes looked moist.
Harry let her go and a scene flashed in his mind. A vision which he had months ago and now it was coming to fulfilment.
He turned to Harsh, "Guruji, is she going to be alright?"
Harsh nodded, "Yes Harry. She will feel weakness, dizziness for about a week but eventually with a regimen of potions and the care of Sushrut, she will be right as rain. Now let us leave her to recuperate and give others a chance to greet her."
When they exited the partition, others went in but Harry stopped Neville, "I want to talk to you about something."
Neville nervously asked, "What is it?"
Harry scowled as he placed his forefinger in the centre of Neville's chest, "you stunned me in Hogsmeade."
Neville defiantly said, "Yes I did. You were being a prat when what we needed was to get her here."
Harsh intervened, "Harry we have a lot to talk about. Please harass Neville later. He did the right thing in stunning you. Who knows what you would have done when you went berserk."
That was when Dumbledore approached him, "Lord Harsh."
Harsh interrupted him, "Call me Harsh, my boy."
"Right, I wanted to talk to you. Will you stay and be pleased to grant me an audience in my office in the presence of a few more people? Right now, I have to go and talk with the parents who are at the castle gates and tell them about their children."
Harsh nodded, "I will Albus."
With that Harsh took him away saying that it would be a good idea for Harry not to be in the Hospital wing when the parents came in. Three of his healers were already on their way to St. Mungo's where they were urgently needed.
On their way in search of a quiet room, they came across Daphne who was going to the Hospital with Tracy and Astoria. As she saw him, she lunged for him and tackled him in a hug, "Oh Harry. Thank Merlin you are okay. I was so scared."
Harry gently extricated himself and introduced them to Harsh, "Lord Harsh Vardhan, this is Daphne Greengrass, Heiress apparent of House Greengrass, Tracy Davis heiress of House Davis and Astoria Greengrass, daughter of House Greengrass. Everyone this is Lord Harsh Vardhan, a man who has helped me in some very tight spots."
They were puzzled at such a singular introduction but Daphne had questions to ask, "Harry is Su. Susan okay? She jumped in the way of the curse meant for me. I. It would have been me in h. her place. I tried to treat her, but all I could do was cast a stasis spell and hope that a real healer could do more for her."
Harsh said to her gently, "Heiress Greengrass, I am sorry that curse was quite beyond your skill but your quick thinking likely saved her life. Also you should never mourn for people who do brave deeds. Beside heiress Bones is fine and recuperating in the hospital wing. Go up and see her for yourself."
As Daphne accompanied by others strolled towards the Hospital wing, Harsh was inwardly murmuring to himself, "and so Miss Bones has changed the fate."
As soon as Daphne and Tracy disappeared around the corner with Astoria, Harsh turned to him, "Is there some place we can talk without letting others know?"
Harry caught his hand and they both disappeared. They reappeared in the Chamber of Secrets where Harsh's eyes spread in wonder at the sight, "Impressive. I must say that you have been busy, Harry."
Harry nodded, "I have been but why are you here? I mean what prompted you?"
Harsh's expression turned sombre, "A few months ago, Varah Mihir reached out to me in Africa and told me that I would need to be here at Hogwarts in the evening of 14th of February. Since he didn't give any detail on it, I didn't insist. I merely followed. There was another thing that I had to do."
"What?"
Harsh pointed to his wrist, "the thread which I had tied to your wrist. The time has come that I untie it and ask of you what I want."
Harry apprehensively nodded, "What do you require, Guruji?"
"Harry a time may come when you will have to make a choice. The time may be today or it can be years from now. When it comes your magic will tell you. At that time, you may feel that the world is ending for you, you would feel hopeless but I want you to promise me that you will not do anything in your power to stop the events. You will not try to alter the fates. If you did, Mother Magic will not look kindly upon you for it. Do you promise?"
Harry felt apprehensive in promising anything to him. He shuddered slightly to think what it could be that would make him try to tamper with the fates. He was reluctant to promise it but he knew the importance of the occasion. Untying the thread would free him of his obligation towards Harsh which was the logical thing to do. He would just have to man up and shoulder whatever may come.
He turned to Harsh and said authoritatively, "With mother magic as our witness, I Harold James Potter-Peverell-Rosier-Weber-Black solemnly swear to fulfil the promise asked of me by Lord Harsh Vardhan. If I falter in my duty, may mother magic punish me with all her might. So I say, so mote it be."
Harsh untied the thread from his wrist while muttering an incantation under his breath and when he was done, a golden glow emanated from the thread as it dissolved into their bodies.
This being done, Harsh turned to him, "Now that we are done here may be you would like to return to Miss Bones, Harry. However please remember that she needs her rest and should sleep as much as possible."
Harry nodded and they both left the chamber.
Headmaster's office
Dumbledore had a hard time trying to talk to the parents of his students about how their children were either dead or injured. His heart broke with every stroke that fell with a word of his. They had brought the parents into the Great Hall where Frank himself talked to them, praised their children's valour and offered his deepest condolences. Albus could see that Frank was hit with true remorse for what had happened and the parents realised it too.
They would accept his condolences while trying to put up a brave front. He promised to each one of them that the ministry would not rest until it had exterminated all the death eaters. With this cowardly attack, they had closed all doors that might have led to any kind of clemency they might have found. From this moment, every death eater was going to be executed. The Aurors now would duel to kill than try to take hostage. If they had been pulling any punches before, it was not going to happen anymore. They had let Voldemort and his ilk terrorise them long enough.
Frank was also a father of a young boy so the parents knew he could understand what they were going through and that he would remain true to his word. Thinking ahead about the swarm of parents they would have, he had allowed the students to place floo calls to their homes from the floo in the Great Hall where many fireplaces had been set up. Most of the students who weren't in the Village or were unharmed were able to pacify their parents that they were safe however those who had been injured in the battle were having shouting matches with their parents about not leaving the school.
Young Seamus Finnigan who had been hurt with a gash in his arm which looked ugly was fervently rejecting his mother's orders to return. It even went as far as her threatening to disown him from his heritage. Seamus contemptuously replied that he would shift in with his friend, Heir Sayre formerly known as Dean Thomas and would act as his squire rather than give in to her protests.
Fay Dunbar's mother wanted her to return home promptly but Fay reminded her that she had sworn allegiance to Harold Peverell and she was not about to desert him at this crucial point of time. Her mother had pleaded with her but Fay told her that her father would have wanted her to stay and fight what lies ahead. Reginald Dunbar was nothing if not honourable.
There were similar stories around however there were a few who were pleased with their wards. Augusta Longbottom had come to the castle and she held her head high. She carried herself with such majestic air that it was hard to miss that she was indeed busting with pride for her grandson.
He had been apprehensive when Molly arrived. She barged in the Great Hall and Arthur tried to stop her. She shook him off for once growling, "let me see my children, Arthur."
Arthur caught her in a hug, "Mollywobbles, our children are mostly fine. Just some superficial scratches and nothing more. See they are being tidied up right now."
Indeed at that moment, Hermione and Ron were being tended to by the healers for their injuries. Mercifully they had cured them of their ailments before Molly could see. Hermione had a cut on her arm which had been closed and there was not even a scar from that. Other than that, her eye-brows were singed and had been regrown. Her best robes were in tatters but other than that she was unharmed.
There was a zig-zag scar on Ron's arm which ran from his wrist to the elbow on the inside and it looked red and angry. The healer was talking to him, "Do you want me to give you something for that scar?"
Ron attempted some humour, "You have got to be kidding. My best mate has a scar and people revere him. There is nothing wrong with having a scar."
Hermione smacked him on the head, glaring at him and saying, "Don't talk like an idiot, Ron."
Before he could respond, Molly caught both of them in a vice like hug, "Oh Hermione, Ronald. I'm so glad that you are both alright."
Ron whined, "Mom... can't breathe. You're crushing us."
She released them and looked them over. She frowned when she spotted the scar on his arm and Ron told her that he liked it. It would serve him as a reminder of the day when he stood up for the weak in the face of insurmountable odds.
It was then that she noticed that the twins weren't there. Ginny hadn't been to the village because she and Colin had some idea about the Room of Requirement but none of their ideas came to fruition.
Molly turned to Arthur, "Arthur, where are the twins?"
Arthur fretted, "Molly…"
She snapped, "Don't Molly me. Where are my boys?"
Bill caught her in a hug, "Mom, they're fine. They're up in the Gryffindor Common Room. They're still in shock."
She screamed, "Shock? From what? What has happened?"
At this point Albus approached them, "They met Antonin Dolohov on the field of battle and they took him down for their uncles. I guess when the adrenaline rush wore off, they were shocked. I have asked Poppy to see to every student if they are in shock or anything else wrong."
Molly then realised that Harry also wasn't there. She turned to her husband again, "Arthur, where is Harry?"
Albus answered her, "He is in the hospital wing."
Molly shrieked, "What happened? Is he hurt?"
Without letting anyone answer, she marched up to the hospital wing. When she looked around in the infirmary, she could not see Harry anywhere. In fact she spotted the bed with his name on it empty. She shuddered with the thought of Harry being d... No, she couldn't bring herself to think about it.
She asked a healer nearby, "Where is Harry? What happened to him?"
Before the healer could answer Amelia accosted her, "Molly, Harry is fine. He has just left."
Molly could see that Amelia had been crying, "What happened? Is Susan..."
She left the question hanging and Amelia shook her head, "She is recovering. She was hit in the battle but the healers have countered the curse." She pointed towards the partition, "She is behind there."
Molly immediately proceeded towards the partition and entered the partition to see Hannah hugging her best friend. As Susan saw her, she gave a very watery smile, "Hello, Mrs. Weasley."
Molly hugged her lightly and fondly asked, "How are you Susan?"
"I am feeling sore everywhere. But the healers say that in a few days, I'll be right as rain."
Hospital Wing
The hospital wing bustled with activity, looking like the King's Cross station. Thanks to the talents of the healers who came with Harsh, lives of many students had been saved. Dumbledore had sent word that parents will be arriving soon to inquire after the health of their wards.
When Harry entered the hospital wing, he wanted to run to Susan first but he knew he had to thank every student who had stood their ground for him.
The first student was Rupert McNaughton whose head was covered in bandages and his left arm in a sling. When he saw Harry, he grinned, "So what do you say?"
Harry tried to grin back, "I'm pleasantly surprised Rupert. You held your ground quite well. Thank you for doing what was right."
Rupert waved him off, "I didn't do it for anyone but Gwendolyn who was there with me."
On the bed next to his was Gwendolyn, the right side of her face covered with a layer of poultices. Harry asked her worriedly, "What happened?"
She grumbled, "One of them was poking Rupert with his wand and Rupert was not ready to back down. When we got Hermione's message, I blasted the death eater in the face with a bombarda but one of his spells nicked my face. Madam Pomfrey was able to set me right though. We will be fine in a few days."
The bed beside her was occupied by Elsa Kuruvilla who looked forlorn and distant. Harry had to call her name a few times before she heard him, "Elsa that was the third time I called you. What happened?"
She said sorrowfully, "Marietta Edgecombe died right in front of me and I could do nothing. We were a group of 4 girls who were fighting a group of 7 death eaters while trying to save some students. Marietta Edgecombe, Cho Chang and Rupali from Hufflepuff were fighting them with me, fending off their attacks. Rupali was taken out early having fallen to a Killing Curse. It was as you had said in training. She freaked out when she saw the real thing. She could not move or do anything. We were seized with terror and our wits abandoned us in that moment. After Rupali was down, we started fighting with more fervour determined not to let them get the best of us. We were told to get the children to the ward line from where they could run away. As Rupali fell, I kept driving the students to the ward line while Cho and Marietta stayed back to fight the horde. Cho was great but she fell to a dark curse and then Marietta decided that getting the students away before she died too was important so she joined me. We killed 4 of them Harry but the three who were left banded together. The students were helping when they could but it was not enough. Finally Marietta pushed me out of the way of another killing curse and it killed her instead. I tried to avenge her and killed one more but took a cutter to my abdomen and would have died. Miraculously an Auror had arrived by then and took over ordering me to run with the students. I tried the best I could but passed out from excessive blood loss. When I woke up, I was here."
When Harry spoke it sounded like he had a head cold, "I am honoured to have known four such fierce warriors as you and your friends are. I feel pride for the valour shown by you and others for us. Thank you." It was then he realised he didn't know what became of Cho, "Elsa where is Cho?"
She replied, "I asked when I came around to see if she had survived. I am told that she was critical and was taken to St. Mungo's."
The bed next to Elsa was occupied by Conrad. The Slytherin had one of his arms in a sling covered with a cast, his chest covered with bandages and one of his legs in a cast. When he saw Harry, he grinned.
Harry exclaimed, "Merlin, what happened to you Conrad?"
Conrad was still grinning, "I was evacuating students when I found the death eaters fighting Elsa and some others. When Elsa was the last and trying to get away, I engaged a death eater in a duel. He got under my shield with a dirty trick and my off hand was broken with a bone breaker but in retaliation I took his head. I was carrying Elsa to safety when another one of those cowards crept up on me and got to my leg with another bone-breaker. A nasty injury and pains like hell but I am not complaining. I was able to save Elsa."
Harry pressed his uninjured hand warmly, "You did great, Conrad. We are all proud of you. Do you happen to know who else was injured or died in Slytherin?"
He nodded, "A few Slytherins died as well. They were trying to save the students."
Harry's eyes were tearing up, "I can never express my gratitude enough for this."
Conrad said to him sombrely, "We didn't do it for you, Harry. This is as much our war as it is yours. We love our freedom so we would have fought the maniac anyhow."
The other students were either being treated or were given sleep potions so Harry decided not to bother them and go visit Susan. Before he could, Pomfrey stopped him, "Harry, the headmaster wants to see you and Neville in his office."
War briefing
When Harry and Neville reported to the Headmaster's office, a lot of people were already there. There was the General, the head of Aurors, Amelia Bones, Alice Longbottom, Sirius Black, Remus Lupin (Harry didn't know why he was there) and Percy Weasley who had a notepad open before him with a quill hovering over it.
Dumbledore pointed them to two seats, "Please sit. There are questions that need to be answered."
When they made themselves comfortable, Frank started speaking, "Since neither of you were in the village when the attack started, it would be useful to give you a brief background. The attack was led by one of the German mercenaries who goes by the name of Emmett Wagner. They brought death eaters into the village. When they had deployed the length of the main street in the village, they started sending teams into homes and shops to take the students captive. One such team was in the three Broomsticks where they were killed by some students who acted in unison with a message which was sent to them by Miss Granger. She and Mr. Ronald Weasley led the resistance and assisted the Aurors in fighting. Miss Granger was also sending messages to some students, who belong to a non-descript order and they all rallied to battle. A few members of this Order died but they prevented major damage until you both came in. Now there are some questions which need to be answered."
They nodded and Frank continued, "The first question is who destroyed the wards?"
Neville raised his hand, "That would be me."
Frank asked him speculatively, "And how did you do that?"
"My great Uncle Algernon Kroaker taught me a spell of his own invention. With enough force behind it, he believes it will destroy any ward."
Frank turned to Harry, "You were reported to be out of the village when the attack happened. How did you circumvent the wards?"
"That would be my doing, General. I have taught him the art of getting through any wards", said Harsh who was sitting in a dark corner where Harry had not yet spotted him.
It was Moody's turn to ask now, "How many students have you trained?"
Harry shook his head, "Sorry, Master Auror. That is confidential."
Frank nodded, "Moving on, what you have taught them?"
Harry said elusively, "Everything from dodging to casting."
Frank nodded, "You should know Harry that 20 students, 5 Aurors and five residents of the village were killed today. 4 Aurors and 20 students were grievously injured and are in St. Mungo's or the hospital wing. On their side, they lost 60 men, 5 were caught alive and many made their escape."
The briefing was over with that. Since they hadn't been in the fight from the start, they didn't know everything that had transpired.
Before they could leave, however, Albus stopped them, "The press is in the Great Hall and it is about dinner time. Come with us."
They didn't want to go to dinner but there was no polite way to refuse.
