Chapter 22: Hell on Earth
Daphne and Tracey were accompanied by their fathers as they were apparated to Peverell Manor. For them, today was the first scheduled test of the personal transporters. They soon found themselves in the workshop.
"Hello there. Welcome, Uncle Cyrus and Uncle Reginald. Good to see you in one piece. So it works. Hello ladies…"
Harry was not wearing his entire armour. He was wearing a much lighter version that was made for training. Hermione was selecting weapons from the weapon rack, and Sirus and Remus were laughing at something. Daphne suspected that Harry and Hermione were about to be pranked. The Weasleys transported in, and present was most of the redheads which included Percy, Charlie, Ronald, Ginny and Authur. As the greetings occurred, Ronald talked idly with the snakes.
"Hey Ron, heard you and this one over here are having a good time?" Daphne asked.
"Hello, Daffy. Yes, we sound okay. We will keep practising until we are ready. It was fun?"
Neville and Luna apparated in, together. Tonks and Andromeda followed, and then the final group that appeared was Clementine, Fleur and Gabrielle. Suddenly some greetings were exchanged in French as Harry greeted the group. Then Clementine switched to English as she considered the rest of the visitors:
"Well, the travel was smooth. No problems. This is indeed a fantastic piece of magic!"
"Thanks. I loved your painting. It touched me. I cried quite a bit. My mother loved it too!" Harry replied as he considered that it was a piece that had been done from one of Priya's most treasured memories.
"Excellent. I loved the piece you gifted me. The lines and the layout is a different methodology. It was nice to see an Indian piece. I think some introductions are necessary?" Clementine asked.
"Daphne and Tracey, this is Master Painter Clementine Delacour. And these two, you have been speaking to them. We have Fleur and Gabrielle!" Harry explained as he made the introductions. Daphne and Tracey were happy to meet the French witches, and the wrist bracelets did not go unnoticed. Finally, Nymphadora or 'Tonks' as she was affectionately known to everyone greeted everyone with her signature slang.
"Wotcher everyone!"
Sirius Black inserted himself into the group, and Remus was just behind, as he prepared the 'obstacle course' from a data slate. Harry explained the activities:
"Hello again, everyone. Let us get started. For the next three days, until Hogwarts resumes, Charlie, Percy and Tonks will be given some small pointers to help them become proficient with their spells. For the rest of you, it will be an opportunity for us to explain how they approach combat. We have a small training course that we use. Please follow me, let us get started."
When the group was now perched on the platform, then they realised their 'small' training course was easily 1200 ft long. It was full of all kinds of trenches, cannons, drones, and barbed wire. Harry and Hermione could be seen as small specs, but there were any number of monitors that were attached to high zoom cameras that would track their movement.
"Sirius, do we have the surprise ready for them?" Remus asked jokingly.
"I think so. I think we will get them good with this one," Sirius replied.
"You have something planned for them?" Neville asked.
"Why yes. I found an old Black Spell that was lost in the historical clutter. It animates rocks into rock golems. It took some time, but I managed to build at least 20 emitters that will conjure the constructs. All of them will be deployed at random places in the field. Invictus has all of the stun cannons set to track their armour with full accuracy."
"But isn't that unfair?" Daphne asked.
"Exactly. We want to see what they will do?" Remus laughed. Sirius took up the megaphone and announced, "Starting the drill in five..four..three..two….one...surprise!"
Most of the past drills had focused on hitting drones. They were set up in patterns that mocked how Aurors formed firing squads when they needed to quickly overwhelm the enemy. The rock golems were quite surprising, and this was a powerful piece of magic that in other circumstances would terrify other opponents. The cannons were on full assault mode and Harry and Hermione were facing the equivalent of three hundred Aurors throwing spells at them.
"Where did those come from?" Hermione yelled over the spellfire.
"Must be a nice piece of magic he found somewhere. I like it!" Harry replied.
"This is just a demonstration. Standard tactics?" Hermione asked.
"Charge, Shoot and Slice. We are using the battle link. Prepare to get dragged in. Three.. two…"
The group who was looking on observed how Harry and Hermione quickly ran across the field before they charged into the golems and reduced them to powder. Harry also combined his "stomp" with his wandless magic to toss the golems at each other. Then he used the pistol in his other hand to shoot modified bombardas. When his shields were close to being depleted, he summoned a giant earthen wall to obtain recharge time. Hermione often transfigured small stones into earthen spikes, as she tossed them like harpoons. Harry floated the wall he had summoned as he moved up the field. He occasionally shot the other golems that were far away with the overcharged bolt mode on his rifle.
"Sirus they are doing a little too well. Send the drones." Remus commented as everyone looked on at the impossible conditions. And yet where pair seemed to enjoy themselves. For most people, their mouths were wide open. Daphne however, knew better.
Soon enough, many drones were sneaking their way around Harry's conjured wall, as they attempted to flank Harry and Hermione by wearing down their shields. For the onlookers, this already was much too unrealistic. Death Eaters did not have the numbers nor the mobility to move so quickly or attack from the air. Soon enough the jetpacks roared into action as Hermione glided like a swan. She manoeuvred herself where she could shoot the drones with her pistol and in some cases, she landed on them to deliver sword strikes as she tiptoed from one drone to the other, mid-air.
"That is some Legolas level stuff there. She is very nimble now." Remus commented the others looked on, in amazement.
"Hermione's magic is beginning to take to her body. She was always a powerful witch. What is Harry doing?" Sirius asked.
There was a bloody scream as Harry used his jetpack to jump some distance into the air before landing on the ground. Suddenly the entire area was disrupted by magical energy as his fist collided with the earth and released a shock wave. While the rock golems were temporarily off-balanced, now Harry was weaving through his kicks, punches and slashes. Now his hands, feet and even the sword crackled with lightning. The muscle weave also helped greatly to absorb shock and amplify their hitting power. Hermione apparated next to Harry and commanded a water stream to become a whip. Now the water was shaped into a thick tentacle as she slapped all the golems into the ground, as she finished with the last set of enemy combatants.
The one hundred rock golems were piles of smoking rock. The simulation was over, and Harry and Hermione had decimated the opposition.
There was a realisation that hung in the air for the onlookers. There had never been any type of engagement with magicals that even come close to what Harry and Hermione had been subjected to, this morning. Even the legendary Mad-eye Moody who had trained Sirius at the Auror academy would have not survived ten seconds of the course.
The reality was that magical combat generally aimed to land a successful spell on the enemy. That single spell would make or break a duel. Only if the individuals were talented, then perhaps a volley of hostile spells could be traded. And if you were blocking a spell, you were not on the offensive. Harry and Hermione's decision to build optimised, area-specific shielding that was enhanced by magical crystals was an entire game-changer. It also helped that the Protego spell had been continuously modified to resist far more dangerous attacks. The new spell was at least a twenty word phrase and they had committed it to runes, as they updated the modules ever so often.
The pair made their way to the observation platform and Charlie, Tonks and Percy looked on in utter astonishment. Tracey was surprised, but Daphne already knew of their capability.
"Alright, that was a nice warm-up. It was a demonstration of how we do combat. Now Tonks, Chalie and Percy, you did the suggested reading?"
There were three nods.
"Good. I am going to teach you how to modify your apparition. I am bringing heavier shields and we are going to teach you how to slam opponents. We will start with mannequins. Fleur, you can stay also. I want to see if the exercise has made your core efficient enough to do apparition. As we use a modified process of it, you won't need to spend as much energy and you can get around, unlike other people your age."
William Granger had arrived unto the platform via transporter, and Harry acknowledged the man after hugging him.
"Ah look. Uncle William is here. He will take the rest of you through basic rifle safety and then you can have a plonk at some targets."
"I take it you had fun, Hermione. I can see the grin on your face?" William asked.
"Sure. I summoned an octopus tentacle with water and smacked the enemy combatants into nothing. I will show you the video…it was kind of funny."
"Atta girl!" her father beamed.
The 'fantastic five' spent the rest of the morning and afternoon shooting blanks at practice targets, under the very careful supervision of William G. He only allowed one person to shoot at a time, as he observed like a hawk. Very occasionally, Daphne got an accurate shot. Neville and Luna also struggled. However, Tracey and Ronald seemed to do quite well. Daphne wondered if Tracey's ability as a seeker assisted her. Ronald on the other hand had the tightest spread of all the children.
"Excellent Ronald. Any chance you are using your magic to assist you?" William asked.
"Yes. I am good at tracking targets. Quidditch. Keeper."
"You seem to have a natural talent for being a marksman. I will get a pulse rifle for you and we can see how you do against moving targets."
By the time the evening arrived Charlie and Tonks could apparate far more efficiently. While they were not fluent and practised as Harry, they would still be able to surprise enemy combatants with a sudden charge, if they were equipped with a shield. One thing became obvious – Harry and Hermione had practised the skill until it had become naturalised, and a lot of work was involved to reach their level of fluency. Percy was quite proud because he now possessed a skill that he would learn next year. And he could execute it far more efficiently and could skip forward short distances.
Fleur on the other hand, from Harry's initial probe of her core, had managed to apparate at least ten kilometres after Harry had carried her to a particular spot outside Peverell manor. Now she could practice the skill slowly, as she was an entire two years early. However, she was not ready to practice charging into objects, as she did not understand the idea of a matter stream and changing energy for momentum. Harry reasoned that during the holidays he would teach her some of the physics that was involved.
"Well Fleur, this progress was fantastic. I will see you tomorrow?"
"Well yes. But can I stay at the Manor? Gabrielle is looking forward to talking with Astoria and Ginny too! I want to talk to Daphne and Tracey?"
"Mips?"
POP!
"Get them comfortable. Whoever wants to stay, give them guest rooms."
"Can we have a movie night?" asked Daphne.
"I think that is a great idea. Then we are going to work on some things, afterwards. You can hover around and ask questions, and see our shenanigans."
"I would like that. I am so excited to see how you build your…devices?" Daphne insisted.
"Oh, Daffy you will be pleased then. We have some good fun lined up for you. Yes, we call them devices." Harry replied.
Daphne and Tracey had the best night of their lives as they looked at The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring. What surprised Daphne, in particular, was that Harry and Hermione were rather capable of household charms. Hermione made her signature pasta, while Harry made fried chicken wings, chips, onion rings and the other things that were considered to be trashy movie food. She wondered how he could be such an accomplished cook. Then she remembered what her mother had told her, and realised that he had initially been forced to learn the skill.
"You made these?" Daphne asked as she munched on the mozzarella sticks.
"Sure. This was just some light finger food. I used to do the Sherperd Pie and the Christmas Turkey all by myself. I say if you can cook with magic wandlessly that is when you are truly a fearsome duelist. It is far more challenging than combat magic any day. That is another skill that I am working on, but that is difficult."
Daphne crunched into the fried food and grinned a little, as the movie played in the home theatre. For fast food this good, she was marrying Harry Potter.
The second day had arrived as everyone ambled downstairs to the kitchen. With the many people who were staying at the manor, the elves prepared a full English breakfast for everyone. Daphne sat down next to Harry and could hear a little of the conversation between him and his mother.
"Well, it was nice to know you enjoyed the little hideout in France. And thank you for giving Frédéric the data slate. I will speak to him this evening. Have a good shift at the I.C.U. Love you mum."
"Love you too son. Don't get up to too much trouble. And please don't build any bombs. Alright?" Priya replied.
"Not making any promises. Although, Ginny and Astoria have taken that portfolio over?" Harry grinned at Daphne, before she took the risk and smiled a little.
After everyone was finished and settled, Harry and Hermione took the group to the workshop and began to work them through high-intensity casting. As soon as one person was tired and could not continue, another person was switched in to continue the activity. Resting sessions included a small snack and Gatorade. By the time lunchtime had arrived, Tonks, Percy and Charlie were almost on the verge of dropping dead.
"You….Youarea madman!…..You are alooneybin!" Tonks gasped between breaths.
"Correct. There has been some improvement in terms of executing non-verbally. See, you haven't had this much improvement in five years of school. And I forced it out of you, by directing your brain away from the fixation on the words, and by tapping the feeling of the spell. Sometimes, you need to be drilled."
"How did you discover all of this? I haven't learnt that much magic in many years!" Charlie asked.
"We practised on our own and we merely remained observant. We also entertained questions that most wizards would not think about. Are the words the spell? Did the magic come from the body or environment? How do you create a new spell? How quickly does a newly created spell become executable by anyone else?" Hermione answered.
"Perce said you guys were geniuses. I think I understand…" Charlie replied.
"Geniuses? Nah, merely curious. When you have free time, you will practice in the training room. We will track your progress. At least one hour daily will make a lot of difference." Harry replied.
"How long have you been doing this for, daily?" Tracey asked as beads of sweat trickled down her face.
"Sometimes three hours daily for the last thirty months. Sometimes we missed a couple of days." Hermione answered.
"Does this type of casting help with the wandless magic?" asked Charlie.
"Yes. That is why our abilities are much advanced. I am muggleborn, and I am the product of practice and exercise." Hermione replied.
"That is good to know. I don't think many of us can manage with that much practice. Being talented with a wand, and a rifle is plenty good enough. Being able to grab or push small objects is good too." Charlie replied.
"Correct. We are not looking for our outcomes for everyone. And then our House Magic gives us access to certain talents too. We expect you to be dangerous with a wand, and you will leave the heavy hitting for us. The shields and invisibility will also give you an edge. Doing a finite, wandlessly? That is the most important skill to get out of being in a body bind." Harry replied. As Daphne listened, she understood that their most dangerous invention was not openly being mentioned. The ability to destroy a mass number of wands would leave most helpless. Why was so much preparation being made for the war?
It seemed that they could put up enough of a fight right now. Unless….
Unless it wasn't about beating them in combat. The plan was to conquer them and force the magicals to bend to his wishes. They would force magical England into submission? This made Daphne uncomfortable - Harry and Hermione seemed to be fair people, and they had not hurt an innocent soul.
Perhaps they were fighting for reforms? That was it. This preparation was for a total purge. Pansy? Draco? Nott? They would either accept the changes or be exterminated. And her family were in a position to step into the power vacuum? The Greengrass family supported by the Davis family would rule supreme. So Tracey had been right.
Harry was a part-time Slytherin, indeed. That made him unpredictable and dangerous.
The rest of the afternoon was spent in the training course, as the older wizards had a go against the cannons. Harry had drilled one of the lesser enhanced Protego spells into their memory. While they could not conjure it fluently on the spot because of the seven word length, they could often cast it beforehand behind cover and move to another place while being under fire. Charlie had managed to charge into a couple of targets as the shield emitters offered him protection. Percy and Tonks had not managed with the pistols, but their spells were far more confident and quicker. By the time the evening had arrived, the group broke off the practice to relax, because they were dead tired. The other juniors continued to practice accuracy exercises as they practised leading far-away targets with the guns, under careful supervision.
Fred and George had appeared in the workshop – It seemed they wanted assistance with a project. Daphne and Tracey had decided to loiter around, as the twins were considered entertaining. Fred after explaining his proposed project made Harry and Hermione laugh, and the snakes began to wonder what could be so funny. The girls then got an introduction to Monty Python and realised that this 'idea' would indeed make a fine prank.
The twins had also compiled a wishlist for the features for the new Marauder's Map that would allow them to cause maximum chaos. As the night progressed, Hermione and Harry continuously added to their initial features. Finally, when they were done, they had created a small bracelet that was capable of projecting a three-dimensional image of the entire castle. As they added more sophistication, the group was able to see all the activities live from the castle. The pair also tied in their surveillance sources and even used some of the magic that they had gotten from their recent mission, to tag magical presences and heartbeats, by delivering some mico-scanners to the compound in hidden places.
"Question. Could you include the Hogwarts Express too?" asked Tracey.
"Hermione, think we can send a runic array to one of the new reconfigurable transmitters?" Harry asked.
"Already on it. Hold on to your nuts, chipmunk," Hermione replied, as she worked away at adding the adjustment.
It was half past twelve in the morning and Harry extracted the finished parts from the ESAB CNC machine. The machine had engraved most of the reflection runes before Harry and Hermione installed wand cores and small power gems into the device.
"Fred and George, thank you very much for your insights. We have never needed to sneak around, so your advice on how you go about being unnoticed is handy. Sure you have invisibility gauntlets, but always good to have the skill and not need it."
"That coming from you Lord Prongslet is high praise indeed!" George laughed.
"Alright, we are going to nap. Daphne and Tracey thanks for the company. It was good for you to see how we prototype with CAD/CAM and then how we utilise the magic. That has been our secret to the broom production." Hermione commented.
"You are welcome? This was amazing!" Daphne replied.
Daphne and Tracey were sharing a room, as they chatted with each other on the double-decker bed.
"That was pretty interesting. I would have never thought that Muggle machines can do runes like that. Nobody can etch runes like that. Not that fast." Tracey replied.
"No. They are pretty skilled. I had no idea a computer could design things and you could make them. Now I am convinced that we wizards may not be all that bright when it comes to certain things. We don't know how to do mass manufacture. Brilliant at other things, but the muggles got better machines."
"The pureblood princess is admitting that the mundanes are better at some things?" Tracey asked.
"At some things, yes. I think being magical is great, but we can learn from mundanes too. They have more variety in the food and clothes. Maybe we can do some Amazon shopping sometimes. I saw some pieces that no Wizarding shops carry."
"I wonder if they can fly us home? I want to see the gunship again?" Tracey wondered.
"We can ask. I don't think Fleur and Gabrielle have seen the thing either. Tomorrow?"
"Yes Daffy. We will ask?"
It was old years day. Today was not so much a case of intense training, but a short recap for the older wizards. Charlie seemed to be acceptable with the pistol, but Percy and Tonks struggled. After they were finished, the fivesome had a go at the course at a decreased difficulty.
Neville and Luna were fairly adept with the shielding. Ronald managed to knock many of the drones out of the sky with the rifle. Tracey and Daphne had gotten some infrequent shields. Of course, their teamwork was not been fluid. Harry and Hermione guided them from the video feed as William stood by.
They would eventually get to know each other and coordinate better.
The parents and grandparents observed the progress from their dataslates, and there was some improvement with the older wizards. While the selection of spells and the speed were still lacking, the shielding, stunning and explosion spells are far more confident. For the younger wizards, Neville and Luna could sometimes cast non-verbally. Ronald preferred the rifle, as he did crowd control.
"Alright, this was just a little tease. We will continue these sessions on Saturday and Sunday when you are free. You can come to the obstacle course. Fleur that includes you too, the bracelet can take you from school to the workshop. Holiday time, we will push the lot of you." Harry explained.
"This was fun?" Tonks laughed.
"Ah, we have a glutton for punishment. Don't forget to take new power crystals please." Hermione replied. Neville, Luna, the Weasleys and Tonks left the shop. Astoria made herself present, as she was accompanied by Gabrielle after Ginny had left.
"Harry a question?" Tracey asked.
"Yes?" he replied.
"Any chance we could go flying in the gunship? If it is possible? I was wondering if Fleur and Gabrielle knew about it?"
"Oh that – Hermione is the tank full? You in the mood to fly?"
"Is that even a question? Oh please. Maybe we can carry these five on a joyride."
Harry buzzed Cyrus and Reginald.
"Your daughters would like to take a trip to France on the gunship. Delacour residence. We were thinking we might show Clementine our contraption too. I promise to be responsible and to keep them safe. They will be home by…...ten-ish tonight."
"That is acceptable. Girls, please be on your best behaviour. Whatever Harry says, you follow." Cyrus replied.
"Tracey, you too," Reginald suggested.
There was a chorus of "Okay!" followed by the confusion of Fleur and Gabrielle. What was a "gunship?"
Fifteen minutes Fleur and Gabrielle were in open shock as they looked on at the gunship.
"You built this? Merde!" Fleur explained.
"Yeah, we were bored. Look we heard about the Beauxbatons flying carriage. It is house sized and pulled by Abraxan Horses. We decided we wanted to give you guys some competition. We can assure you that we can go much faster."
Fleur and Gabrielle were wondering if they were in trouble. How fast exactly was this thing?
"Maybe you won? Does it have weapons?" Fleur joked.
"Oh yea, we have cannons and guns too!" Hermione replied brightly as the ramp lowered and she and Harry got the five individuals seated. Then they disappeared and returned with their light armour and their weapons. Hermione began with the usual pre-flight checks:
"This is Thunderbolt-I starting pre-flight check….." Hermione began.
Ninety minutes later, the aircraft was approaching Delacour manor. Clementine and Luis were waiting patiently in the backyard, and as they uncloaked and Hermione set the gunship down gently. Clementine marvelled at how the object was constructed. After the standard greetings were done, the Frenchwoman was given a tour of the features and their method for flying the item.
"I am almost tempted to commission one for us as personal transport. The transporters are wonderful, but this is a definite statement! Stylish too!" Clementine explained.
"The frame was built for spaceflight. We can float and position as we need to line up the cannons. But yes, eventually we will be manufacturing more. Stay tuned." Harry replied.
"Fleur and Gabrielle, enjoyed the ride?" Hermione asked.
"Brooms are ruined for me. Hermione, can you teach me to fly?" Fleur asked.
"Sure. You are second on my classes list." Hermione replied.
"Can I learn too?" Daphne asked.
"Well, make that three." Hermione laughed.
"Alright, you three back inside. Time to take you home. Clementine, the girls will report as necessary when they have time and I will teach them. Fleur can do at least ten kilometres distance for now. She will get better as her core matures."
"Excellent. Safe travels home, Hermione and Harry!" Clementine replied.
It was nine o'clock in the night when Hermione set down in the Greengrass yard after dropping off Tracey. Cyrus and Opelia had been in the new Hydroponic greenhouse and under the fluorescent lighting, their baskets were full of produce.
"Well look at you. Nice vegetables there!" Harry laughed.
"Thanks, Harry. Amy and I are competing for the largest pumpkin. I have been using the internet to get the nutrient solution just right. I love the digital scale for Potion ingredients. Husband likes some of the new vegetables!"
"Good. As promised I have your two daughters, safe and sound. I would suggest that you Daphne pack your trunks and be prepared for Hogwarts." Harry suggested.
"Sure. But if I forget something they can send it with a transporter?" Daphne replied.
"Oh yes, right!" Harry replied.
"Look at you know daughter. Spoiled from all the convenience now. You go inside. Harry and Hermione, always a pleasure. I am happy that they utilised the time wisely." Cyrus commented, with a pleased expression on his face.
"If the next goal is their exam proficiency, then there has been a massive improvement. But for actual combat conditions? Much to do. We have time. They can shield a bit better. Anyway, we have work to do at the lab. Take care." Harry replied.
Later that night, Daphne and Tracey were only too happy to test out their "Marauder Map 2.0" which was significantly upgraded. Right now Albus Dumbledore was pacing in his office and Minerva was having a chat with Fillius on a bench. Now with the new people in the fold, it was easy to contact anybody. Daphne added Fred and George to her call which already included Tracey.
"And hello Ms Greengrass, how may Gred and Forge assist you?" Fred replied.
"I think many of the pureblood conservatives might love your merchandise. I heard the secret plans. I was hoping I could do some free research on what they desire most, and you pay me back by giving me a good laugh? And maybe the occasional prank for some of my undesirable admirers."
"Oh, that we would have done the pranks for free. We have an agreement?" George replied before both of the twins hung up.
"Oh yes Daffy, we are going to have so much fun. We can exercise under the invisibility and they won't be able to sneak up upon us with the bracelet alerts."
"Very excited about the apartment! I love having a personal shower!" Daphne replied.
Both snakes went to sleep, soon enough. The new school year was going to be absolutely wild.
