Chapter 11: The Castle
The mission lasted through to nearly the end of the year. Harry made himself remember Cho, despite the pain, instead of letting himself get too caught up in the mission. He didn't want to lose sight of its meaning.
When dementors swarmed them, Harry thought of his first, and last, kiss with Cho in Hogsmeade. His patronus was a beautiful Antarctic dove, which Cho's parents had told him was the animal that provided the feather at the core of Cho's wand.
Harry barraged his companions with questions as a way to distract himself from the memories of his love. Mad-Eye Moody seemed the most eager to teach. Harry dedicated himself to learning the advanced spells they taught him, practicing over and over at night when he wasn't sleeping or on guard duty. They'd eat bland rations and sleep at irregular intervals, because the Dark wizards attacked with guerilla tactics every few days or so. Harry sought the counsel of the chaplain, and the old man helped him through his grief.
When they arrived near the castle, a towering structure of cold, gray brick guarded by giant sentries, Harry volunteered to go with the reconnaissance party. They flew high into the air, scanning the battlements and dodging arrows shot from unmanned bows. A back, unguarded entrance was reported to the others, and then the Order entered through it.
A giant skirmish ensued, with three dozen Death Eaters against the fifteen man Order. Harry soared high into the top of the chamber, casting fire and water attacking spells on unsuspecting Death Eaters while navigating through a storm made up of their attacks.
Several Death Eaters chased him up to the heights of the chamber, and he fought them all himself. He executed barrel rolls and dramatic dives, firing indiscriminately at their perfect formations behind him.
All the while he remembered not to be tempted by death and the prospect of returning to Cho early; she had told him to be safe, and he had a job to do.
The opposing flyers were defeated, one by one. Mundungus Fletcher, a member of the order, found Remus' cell, and they rescued their malnourished ally.
Suddenly, a hundred Death Eaters arrived; they were probably reinforcements. The Order retreated from the castle. Just outside the structure, Harry's broom was destroyed by a rogue spell. Then, on the bridge over the chasm before them, the part of the bridge below Harry suddenly broke, and he had to hang on to the part of the bridge left in front of him in order to stay alive. Professor Snape saved Harry's life by pulling him to safety, and a new respect formed between them. Cho's words about the good in people kept ringing in Harry's head.
In the end, the Order somehow found a way to get back to Hogwarts without casualties--and with Remus. The rescued man was snuck into the castle and revived by Madame Pomfrey. As soon as he was healthy, Remus had to leave and resume the fight. He thanked Harry profusely before they parted.
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