Chapter 8: Shields
Dusk was approaching when we met outside on a bridge overlooking the lake. Mouse was curled up by my feet, taking up a good half of the walk space. Molly hung over the railings, taking in the sights and smiling like the Cheshire Cat. Potter and Ron, it's just awkward to call them Harry or Weasley since it's my name and I am working with two other Weasleys, stood nearby talking softly about how the rebuilt bridge looks remarkable like the one that had been blown up.
Molly suddenly jumped up with a squeal. "Oh my gosh, Harry, did you see that?!" She asked.
"Uhh, yea, it kinda looked like a squid." I said. "But that'd be impossible."
Potter laughed and shook his head. "Yea, always been a giant squid in there. Never knew how it came to live there, but it's friendly."
"Probably Hagrid." Ron suggested.
Potter nodded. "Yea, probably Hagrid."
"That, oddly, makes plenty of sense to me, and I barely know the guy." I agreed.
"Wonder what else is out there…" Molly thought aloud.
Potter chuckled. "You don't want to know. Trust me when I say I put the least horrible parts of the Triwizard Tournament in The Goblet of Fire book."
"They really let kids participate in that?"
He shrugged. "Technically it was supposed to be seventeen and up, so the contestants were supposed to be adults. Needless to say that even then the Ministry had been overrun with Riddles followers. Since then the Tournament has changed to a more friendly competition. It's more about making friends than watching people fight to the death."
"Folk that came up with the tournament musta been bloody mad." Ron piped in. "Watchin' that dragon chase Harry, that was terrifying."
"BEING chased was terrfying Ron."
Molly was smiling widely as she listened to them. Mouses' tail was thumping loudly, the children were approaching.
They looked at all four of us, Teddy trying not to roll his eyes that Potter and Ron were joining us.
"Soooo, what are we doing?" Teddy asked after a moment.
"Going to learn about a more flexible shield spell." I said, leaning on my staff allowing my shield bracelet glint in the light of the setting sun. They flicked their eyes at it but said nothing. I looked over my shoulder at the Aurors behind me. "Anyplace we can go that's relatively secluded while open so we can practice?"
Potter nodded. "This way."
Together we walked off the bridge and down a hill.
"Now," I started to explain as we walked, "to form a shield you first need a foci dedicated to holding the spell. I use this bracelet, if you look at it you'd notice it bears different kite shields, each infused with energy and runes to help fuel and direct the spell according to my will. Because of this I don't need to use an incantation to cast the spell."
We stopped just outside a dark forest, Hagrids Hut was visible not horribly far from us, but otherwise no one from the castle could watch us easily.
"I want to demonstrate to you what the shield can block, and explain how to alter it to fit the scenario you're in. I am aware that the Headmistress does not generally allow dueling on school grounds, hence why we're out here." I put my hands on my hips, almost hitting Ron with the staff as I did so. "So that means I don't want to hear of you three practicing where you can be seen."
"They could use the Room of Requirement." Potter suggested.
"Interior rooms are still flamable." I pointed out.
He scratched at the back of his head. "That is true."
"So, we'll practice combatives out here and try not to start a forest fire."
Grasshopper coughed something under her breath.
"What was that?" I asked. I really hadn't caught what she said, but it was probably something about me starting fires.
"Nothing, Boss." She responded, looking away at the orange sky and violet clouds.
Mouse barked and huffed, his face spread wide in a doggy grin.
"Oh, yea, thanks for having my back there." I said to him.
He woofed and looked up at me happily, wagging his tail in glee.
"ANYWAY," I turned from him to the kids, "this week I want you each to make a foci of some sort to work with your shield spell. Your wands can work, but they can be broken or lost and still take time to draw. A bracelet or ring don't take time to draw, letting you put up your shield faster."
"Uncle Harry, what do you have for your foci?" Teddy asked.
Potter smiled softly and raised a hand. "Ginny made it for me, and I made hers. They're our wedding rings."
The girls all awed in unison. The motion was adorable, and did put some hefty emotional weight behind the spell.
Everyone looked at Ron for his. Eventually he pulled an amulet out from under his shirt. It was intricate and floral, though I could see the runes and spellforms intricately placed within the design. "Hermione thought this would suit me best…."
Everyone was trying not to laugh at the overly feminine necklace, complete with properly placed pink gemstones cut to look like flowers. It really did look like something a great aunt would wear. He quickly returned it to under his shirt.
"Now, blocking something isn't just about blocking the THING, but other aspects as well such as momentum and thermal energies. The more you know about physics, the more you can potentially stop as that limit is based on your own energy levels and your own knowledge." I motioned for Padawan to stand opposite me as if we were to spar.
"Next thing is you need to be able to assess the threat in an instants notice." I continued.
Without warning Molly tossed a rock she had picked up along the way at me. My bracelet sparked as my shield came to life, the stone causing a light blue ripple in the air before it dropped to the ground.
I dropped the shield and turned to face the kids again. "See those ripples? That was the shield dispersing the momentum of the stone, causing it to fall before it hit me. Stopping a rock is easy, wait until bullets are flying at you and you have to disperse all that momentum coming at you as fast as sound."
I turned to face Potter. "Fire spell please." I asked, holding my hand up causing sparks to fly off the bracelet once again.
Potter nodded, wand already in hand and raised. A quick flick of his wrist and he shouted "Fuego!" sending a wave of fire at me. It hit my shield, clashing with the blue light, before fading away under the gaze of the rising moon.
Again I looked at the three kids. "To stop fire you need to focus on two things. First is the flame itself. Fire will consume oxygen if you're not careful to keep the back of your shield open. It will burn and kill if it gets to you. Second is the heat, the thermal energy, which can hurt you just as fast and far worse than simple flame." I showed them my scarred hand in the fading light. "I learned this lesson the hard way. It has taken me about six years to regain as much use back in it as I have. Take this lesson for what it is, make sure you're blocking all you need to, and more. I didn't think I had to block HEAT. I paid the price. Don't repeat my mistake."
They didn't say anything, but nodded that they understood.
"Now," I started again, but trailed off as Mouse started growling loudly. "Mouse?"
The hulking dog was staring into the forest, hackles raised and blue sparks falling from his fur.
I glanced over to the Aurors as Grasshopper ushered the kids behind us. "Don't look up you two."
They shared a worried glance but nodded. "Taking your lead here, Commander."
"Good." I smiled wickedly. "Padawan, can you light up that forest for us?"
She twirled both wands in her fingers as she smiled. "Oh of course!" And with some soft words she released the One Woman Rave.
Light came out from seemingly under the tree branches in a blinding array of colors. From the air rock music started playing, though this time I didn't recognize the song.
"Move your body like a hair troll, learning to rock and roll!" Was blaring through the air, making leaves and rocks vibrate.
Among the trees forms were moving, most of them long and lankey and wolflike.
And just in front of Mouse was a massive Loup Garou, even bigger than Harley MacFinn, with fur as black as night.
Almost as soon as the spell was cast the werewolf lunged forward, Mouse jumping up to meet him.
"Ron," Potter screamed, "get the kids back to the castle!"
"Forzare!" I shouted, pushing as many of the werewolves back as I could. There was easily fifteen or twenty of them. I backpedaled alongside Molly and Potter. "Where are the dementors posted?!" I called over "Spin around like a crazy elf, dancing by himself!"
"They should be here." He called back. "But we should come across some closer to the castle. Worst case get to that whomping willow at the top of the hill!"
I looked over my shoulder to see Ron and the kids starting to back up to us, the lanky half-werewolves starting to surround us, eyes gleaming in the light of the stars and moon.
"Hells bells." I muttered under my breath as I looked for Mouse. Again he was pouncing on who I could only assume was Fenrir Greyback. The loup garou rolled back on his haunches and smacked my dog out of the air with a resounding thud.
Behind me Harry was casting spells, freezing and incapacitating as many of the werewolves as he could. I had to prepare to take the one chance I had.
I pulled off my amulet and began to swing it over my head, directing my will and energy as I focused on my target, Mouse doing a good job of keeping his chest in my line of sight. Before long I had gained the needed momentum, and Fenrir leaned back again to strike at Mouse.
I released the silver amulet with a shout of "Vento Servitas!"
Like a silver bolt of lightening the amulet darted forward and dug into the werewolfs' chest.
Only, he didn't fall over and turn human.
Again Mouse was hit aside into a tree. This time he didn't get back up.
Red hot anger flared up inside of me as the black wolf turned to face us, lips curled up in a smile as he watched us with knowing eyes.
"Forzare!" I shouted, aiming my blasting rod at him and emptying the energy stored in my rings into the spell.
The force should have hit Fenrir like a train, only he was pushed back maybe five feet.
"Craaaap." I muttered.
"Hope you got more planned than that, Commander." Potter asked.
"Molly, change of plans, need to get out of here." I shouted over the next lines of the song.
Just as the man was singing about dancing hippogriffs flying off from cliffs she cut the spell and darkness overtook the world.
"We're kinda surrounded, Boss." She panted.
"We can clear a way out, just get the kids out of here. Ron, can you get Mouse?"
"On it." Ron looked around, saw Mouse, and lifted his wand. "Levicorus!"
Steadily Mouse floated above the crowding werewolves and over to us as the girls screamed.
"Expelliarmus!" Potter was shouting behind me.
"Go! GO! To the tree!" I shouted, aiming my blasting rod at the lesser wolves and yelling "FORZARE!" sending three of them flying in the air.
Then I saw one of them had Viccy. Cold fear washed over me alongside the threat of even more rage. In my anger I hadn't been paying attention to where the kids were.
"Shit." I cussed. "Potter, go with them and disarm the tree, I'll get Viccy and meet you inside the school."
"Understood." I could hear the raw anger contained in his voice as he cast silent spells between those with incantations, sending more wolves sprawling.
There was a quick shimmer in the air as Molly covered them up in a veil while also upkeeping an illusion of the party still standing their ground. It would only last an instant before they'd realize it was a fake, but that's all they'd need to get out of this situation.
I shoved my staff into my armpit and reached into my pocket for my gun.
Which I had left in my office.
I cursed at myself as I sidestepped a lousy charge, separating me from the illusionary group. The next instant Fenrir fell upon them, falling right through the empty space.
Good, they got out of the trap.
The trap I was still in.
"Hells Bells." I muttered again, looking around as Fenrir turned to face me, rage in his eyes.
Two could play at that game. I let the rage I felt at seeing Mouse hurt, at hearing Viccy scream as she was grabbed, fill me once again. The world seemed to slow as I raised my blasting rod at the black loup garou.
"Fuego." I hissed. Fire, hot and beautiful, flew from my wands tip, catching his fur ablaze.
Fenrir howled in pain, prancing back from me, giving the other wolves pause.
I took my chance and bolted through the opening, knowing full well they'd give chase. Let them.
It took a few moments before they realized their prey was getting away, and ten werewolves took after me. I looked around, trying to find any sign of where Viccy was taken. I remembered they went away from the lake, so I took off in that direction, listening as hard as I could for her voice.
"VICCY!?" I shouted, hoping to drum up a response from her.
Instinctively I reached for my amulet to give me light, but it wasn't there. I cursed as I recalled it was still in Fenrirs thick hide.
I couldn't slow and look for tracks. I spun, running backwards a few steps, and cast another push of force behind me, sending three more stumbling over each other. The others gained a little ground on me.
I kept running, looking for any sign of those who took the little girl. I was quickly coming to assume they took her through the forest.
Suddenly, the night took on a new shade of dark, one that scared me to my core. I looked over my shoulders, the werewolves had stopped in their tracks, tails tucked and ears flat against their heads. A soft wine escaped from them.
The dementors had arrived.
Quickly I dove into the forest, bringing light into my staff, swinging it near the forest floor looking for tracks. I knew they weren't going to be subtle.
"VICCY!" I shouted again, not worried about making myself a target if it meant saving a young girl.
Slowly I went back towards where we had been attacked, searching for clues, calling her name. The ground was so messed up from animals coming and going all day that I couldn't find any sign of them. Still I searched on, desperate to find her.
The more I stayed in the area the more dementors showed up, combing the forest for Fenrir and his werewolf army. Of course that meant they targeted me as well.
A quick force of will and muttering of a spell and my beat up patronus joined me at my side, his growl enough to keep the cloaked figures at bay.
The moon was high in the sky when I made my way back up the hill, using my staff as a hiking stick, the glowing wolf besides me. I released the spell once I entered the castle doors.
The halls were empty, lit softly, ominously, by sconces filled with fading flames and by the light of the full moon sending silver streaks across the stone floors.
The braziers to either side of the golden gargoyle were bright and freshly lit. I stood there a moment, panting and catching my breath, trying to figure out how to tell Ron and Harry that their niece was taken by werewolves and that I couldn't find her.