Chapter 20- The Rescue

The group walked through the forest slowly. They pulled their cloaks close around themselves. Sirius went ahead as a dog to make sure the coast was clear. Rich flew as a falcon ahead to see if the Death Eaters had left the camp. Sirius came back and gestured for them to follow.
"I hope everyone's ok." Anaka said softly.
"I'm sure they're fine." John said reassuringly.
Soon they could see an opening ahead. The falcon flew down to them and transformed with Sirius.
"The camp ahead is empty." Sirius told them.
"The captives are in a clearing a little farther. There are about 20 or 25 Death Eaters there." said Rich.
"I have an idea." said John suddenly.
"What is it?" Alania asked.
"Well, if they see us as wizards then they will know who we are right?"
The others nodded.
"How can he not know it's us? Are we supposed to wear costumes or something?" Snape snapped.
"Severus, let him speak." Remus scolded.
"No! We are wasting our time! Voldemort could be back any minute. He could be in the camp for all we know!"
"That's why we could give him something he's never seen before." John said anxiously.
"I don't like where this is going." Rich said shaking his head.
"But it could work dear!" Alania said realizing what John wanted to do.
"If you don't want to you don't have to," John told his father, "but I'm going to. We can knock out all the Death Eaters. Then Voldemort will think I at least was here. He won't think that the others were here too!"
"He's not that stupid." Rich sighed.
"Please Richard! We are wasting time!" Alania begged.
Rich stared at his wife and son. Then he took off his cloak.
"Let's get it over with then." He said.
Alania and John took off their cloaks. Then they closed their eyes. The air grew hot as they started to change. John's skin changed to a silver color. Alania's changed to a light blue and Rich's changed to a bright green. Their ears grew pointed and their fingers grew longer. John's hair changed to a sea green, Rich's hair changed to a dark green and Alania's hair changed to a dark blue. Black wings erupted from John's back. Alania's wings were a shining white and Rich's were a dark gray. They seemed to glow in the dark forest. They smiled at each other.
"Should we go?" Alania asked Dumbledore.
"Be careful." He said sternly, "We will meet you in the second camp."
"Wait for our signal." said Rich.
The three Zekans took off their shoes and then took flight. John would have laughed if it hadn't been such a desperate time. The feeling was exhilarating. They flew over the deserted camp and soon came to the captives. Anger swelled in John as he saw Hagrid.
"This ends now." He whispered.
Slowly they circled the camp.
"We can start by freeing Hagrid. He should be able to help us take out some Death Eaters." Rich cried.
They dived toward the cage. Death Eaters stared at them wide eyed. They fumbled trying to take out their wands. The three Zekans landed lightly on the ground. Alania closed her eyes. She folded her hands. John watched as a small blue bubble seemed to go around them. Alania opened her eyes and smiled.
"That should protect us for awhile. At least when we are together." She said.
John smiled. His father rushed to Hagrid's cage.
"Who ere you?" Hagrid said slowly.
"It's me, Richard Miffugan. You must hurry Hagrid. Stay with Alania. She'll protect you from any spells." He said quickly.
He took the lock in his hands and stared at it. Hagrid took a step back as the lock melted. Rich watched it fall to the floor and cool. Then he opened the door. He rushed in to melt Hagrid's chains. John ran to the end of the bubble. The Death Eaters were cursing and trying every spell on the bubble.
"That's not going to work you know." He laughed.
He held out his hands to them and narrowed his eyes. There was a big flash of light and the Death Eaters were thrown back. John looked at the unconscious Death Eaters.
"Serves you right." He growled.
"John! Over there!" Alania yelled.
John turned. His mother was holding back some Death Eaters as his father freed Hagrid. She pointed to an isolated tent. Death Eaters were running out with struggling bundles. John ran towards them and soon was right beside the two Death Eaters. They turned on him and pointed their wands. The Death Eaters though were too frightened of John to get a good spell out. John stood there smiling as they fumbled over words and started the spell over again. He grabbed the wands out of their hands. He narrowed his eyes at them and the wands started to melt. The Death Eaters screamed in terror. They dropped their bundles and started to run. John quickly caught them and knocked them out. He looked around the camp and saw that all the Death Eaters had been knocked out.
His mother was talking to Hagrid and his father left to find the others. John stared at the moving bundles. He picked them up and went into the tent. There were three other moving bundles.
"Let's see what you are." Mumbled John as he undid the knot.
"Let me out you no good traitor!"
John gasped and stood up quickly. Ron tumbled out of the bag. He groaned and held his head. He stood up and gapped at John.
"You…. you stay back! It was fool…. foolish of you to put us in there untied!" he stammered.
"It's ok Ron! It's me!" John said smiling. Ron's mouth opened wider.
"John? Muffin man is that you?"
"I'll explain later!" John said untying the other bag.
George tumbled out and stayed on the floor. John quickly knelt down and felt for a pulse.
"He's alive." John said with relief. He put a hand on his forehead. George opened his eyes slightly and groaned.
John undid all the bags and found Hermione, Fred, and Professor McGonagall. They helped George up and walked out of the tent.
"I hope to get an explanation soon, Professor Miffugan." McGonagoll said, limping out of the tent.
John nodded. They came out of the tent to the noise of relief. Students and teachers were untied and given aid if they needed it. Rich and Alania were healing the most in need.
"John you found them!! Oh George!" Anaka cried. She ran to George and John.
"Hey Ana. Was my fake as good looking as me?" George said weakly.
"Stop talking you joker. Why must you give me such frights all the time? Is my 7th year going to be this exciting?"
"We need to get them help." John reminded her. Anaka nodded and they went to Dumbledore.
Once everyone was getting help, the group got back together.
"Where's Snape?" John asked.
"He couldn't be seen by these people. Some already saw him as a Death Eater so I sent him back to the castle. There is no need to confuse these people any more tonight. Everything will be explained later." Dumbledore replied.
"Perhaps we should change our appearance," Alania said slowly, "I think the people are getting uncomfortable."
"We could use you like this though." Remus pointed out.
"Stay as you are for now. We must get a move on." said Dumbledore.
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The Death Eaters entered Hogwarts quietly.
"I don't like the looks of this." One of them mumbled.
They walked down the halls and found empty classrooms. They entered the Defense Against the Dark Arts room. When they looked inside they saw a ghostly figure looking back at them.
"Who are you?" they growled. The ghost smiled and pointed up. The Death Eaters looked up to find Peeves smiling at them.
"Ahh!" they cried as a bag of armor fell on their heads.
"I say Peeves," said Nearly Headless Nick as he looked at the Death Eaters, " do you think that killed them?"
"Who cares? It was very funny!" Peeves laughed and left the room. Nearly Headless Nick followed.
All around the castle similar things were happening. Death Eaters would enter deserted rooms or halls and suddenly be knocked out. Other ghosts would come and drag their unconscious bodies outside.
Voldemort and Peter were stalking up and down the halls searching for Dumbledore's office.
"We just need to know the password." Voldemort grumbled as they turned a corner.
"Perhaps you should leave." said a deep voice behind him. Peter trembled as they turned around. A smile spread across Voldemort's face as he saw the ghost behind him.
"Why Baron! It's been ages." said Voldemort. The Bloody Baron stared at Peter. He continued to shake.
"I'll…. I'll leave you two alone…" Peter murmured and scrambled down the hall.
"Leave here Tom Riddle." The Baron said one more time.
"Why should I?" Voldemort hissed.
The Baron smirked and then flew through a nearby wall. Voldemort grimaced and continued down the hall. When he came to a window he looked out. The sight astonished him. Each of his Death Eaters were lying on the lawn unconscious. He watched as a ghost dragged out Peter. Rage boiled inside him.
"Lord Voldemort! What has happened?"
Voldemort turned at the voice to see Snape running towards him.
"The ghosts." He growled.
"I'm sorry my lord." Severus said, hiding a smile, "I lead the others to the camp but before the Death Eaters attacked John changed into a dreadful creature. They realized I had betrayed them and I ran. They are probably freeing the prisoners now."
Voldemort clenched his fists. But then his face changed. A smile grew on his lips.
"Severus," he said starting to walk down the hall, "perhaps you heard that a dark figure attacked young Anaka Lupin?"
"Yes, I heard my lord." Severus said, walking beside his master.
"That creature is the key to everything. It will stay in this castle undetected. When I think the time is right it will emerge again."
"How long are you planning to wait my lord?"
"Probably a month," Voldemort said with a shrug, "just enough time for the Aurors to assemble. I want you to stay here. Try to convince them you've changed. Tell Dumbledore everything I have told you. Tell him in one month we will have the final battle."
At this Voldemort left the school. Severus watched him wave a wand over the Death Eaters and they all disappeared.
"A month." Severus mumbled, "We have a month to think of a way to fight the most dangerous wizard ever."
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"The creature that attacked Anaka is still in the castle. It will be awakened in one month. That is the same time when Voldemort will attack the castle again." repeated Snape.
Dumbledore sat in his office with Severus, Remus, Sirius, Professor McGonagoll, the Miffugan's, Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Anaka.
"So we have a month to think up a battle plan." Rich said thoughtfully.
"We must alert the Ministry at once." Dumbledore replied.
"Hopefully the Aurors will get here quickly." said Alania.
"We must send someone to them immediately." said Severus.
"I will go." replied Professor McGonagoll.
"Are you sure Minerva?" Remus asked.
"It's only a bloody trip," she snapped, "I need to get out of here anyway."
She stormed out of his office, leaving everyone speechless.
"Well I guess that settles that." Ron shrugged.
"Now what?" Hermione asked.
"Now we wait. I'm afraid we will have to schedule the OWLs sooner. At least in a week." Dumbledore replied.
"A week?!" Hermione squeaked.
"Professor Dumbledore," John said, "I don't think these kids are ready!"
"You have a better idea?" Severus sneered.
"As a matter of fact I do." John said with a lopsided smile, "I propose that all classes concentrate on reviewing. Give the class lots of work and homework and then send everyone home. The 5th years will have to come back in two months. Pick some date in July."
"What about the Quidditch House Cup?" Anaka asked.
"I'm afraid that will have to be canceled. There haven't been many games this year anyway."
Anaka nodded.
"It could work Dumbledore." Remus replied.
"Only those who want to fight can stay." said Sirius.
"We'll stay!" cried Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Anaka.
"I meant teachers." Sirius said sharply.
"I'm not leaving you here dad!" Anaka said angrily.
"I'm not leaving you Sirius!" Harry exclaimed.
"I suppose me and Ron wouldn't be of much help.." Hermione started.
"Hermione! You would leave Anaka and Harry here to fight?" Ron interrupted.
"What could we do?" she snapped.
"I'm afraid she's right Ron." Dumbledore said slowly, "You and Hermione and all the others must leave. Anaka and Harry can stay for a while."
"I will never leave you dad." Anaka mumbled.
"Anaka." Her father said sternly, "Not now."
"I'm not a kid any more dad. I can choose if I want to stay or not."
"Not if I say you have to leave."
"I'm staying if you like it or not!"
"Can you figure out your personal problems later." Severus growled.
"Shut up!!" every screamed at him. Severus went a shade paler.
"Please! Everyone calm down." Rich said calmly.
"It goes the same with you Harry." Sirius said, ignoring Rich.
"I don't think so." Harry said narrowing his eyes, "I don't abandon people that easily."
"You'll both get killed!" John cried, "You shouldn't stay."
"You think I'd leave you here!" Anaka yelled, "Unless you and dad leave I'm staying!"
"Everyone calm down." Dumbledore said quietly.
"This is stupid! We should be studying!" Hermione scolded.
"Oh Hermione shut up!" Ron cried.
"Why should I carrot head!" she screamed.
"Well we are not going either." Alania said.
"I don't know," Rich said slowly, "perhaps you and John should leave."
"Rich!!" Alania exclaimed.
"Everyone be quiet!" Dumbledore screamed.
The room grew silent. There was an awkward silence and then Dumbledore sighed.
"I think we all need to rest. This isn't the time to quarrel. We need to work together." He rubbed his forehead, "Everyone get some rest. We'll work with the Aurors when they arrive."
Everyone nodded and quietly left the room.
"I suppose he'll make the announcement tonight." said Remus.
"Yes, I suppose he will" Sirius replied.
"All we have to do is wait for the Aurors." said Alania.