I do not own Harry Potter. This chapter is my first war scene. How did I do?





It was just before dawn on the morning after the students returned to Hogwarts. The sun would be hidden storm clouds when it came up. The wind grew stronger with every passing minute, and the snow was coming down so fast that it was already a meter deep after only an hour. Without magical aid, you couldn't see your hand if it was more than 10 centimeters away from your face. Yet four people were standing on a tower's balcony, each facing one of the cardinal directions, and each with a phoenix on his or her shoulder. They were in battle uniform. Sirrus could do nothing to calm the storm. That meant that it was made by a more powerful elemental, or possibly more than one. Hedwig had left hours earlier, sent to the ministry for help.





Just inside the forbidden forest General Malich stood before his troops, prepping them for the attack. They were to lead the first wave on the castle. They were the spell breakers. They would do all they could to break the defenses of the castle. Then General Harlin would lead his animage core on the castle. Only his best, the dragons, Rocs (extremely large birds), and Chimeras (crosses between snake, goat, lion, and raptor) would directly attack. The other various animages would defend the rest. During this time, General Arokor would lead his troops out of the lake. No one had thought that there was an alter motive to destroying Hogsmeed, but there was. It was to get access to Hogsmeed's side of the lake. On one had thought to check on the squid or mer-folk, and not death eaters controlled their underwater city. Arokor's troops were like the USA's Navy Seals. The worked in small groups, and tried not to be seen. They would sneak into the castle while the fighting went on outside, if they could. If not, they would aid in the outdoor battle. General Karovic's troops waited in clearings thorough the forest. They were the dragon riders, and their job was to prevent escape by air. Last was General Smith, the only American. He was a wizard with training in Muggle warfare. The few that knew him in the muggle world knew him as Captain Smith of the US Army. His troops job was to encircle the castle. They were to lay siege on Hogwarts. Even if the others failed, the siege would continue. All the five of them had to do was wait for a sign. Each General had 100 death eaters with them. The anticipated little resistance, but didn't want to underestimate their advisories.





The four stood on the tower using magical sight to allow them to see through the storm. Suddenly, at one moment, the skies cleared, the wind stopped, the snow ended. The sun was just over the horizon. Then, before they knew what was happening, 100 death eaters charged forward from the forest.







The death eaters charged forward for the castle. Suddenly a barrier appeared before them, clear with gold and red tints. It was a barrier spell. They had been seen already. Malich knew that it would cause his troops some trouble; they have a tendency to expand and/or get stronger every time someone fails to break it. Finally it fell completely, and the second wave came in behind them. Malich could see warrior wizards in red and white killing off his troops. He smiled. 'Finally, some actual competition.'

Harlin shuddered as he saw another of his dragons fall. It was almost an hour into the battle, and almost all of the smaller animages were gone. He knew that Arokor would be arriving any minute, and would not be pleased. Four warriors were taking out hundreds of death eaters, and Arokor's troops would not be able to get into the castle. Harlin was a bit surprised when the four of them turned into phoenixes. 'What rare animages, I think that Merlin himself was the last phoenix animage. This is going to be interesting.' The phoenixes were flying in a circle. He could have sworn that he heard their voices, in English, say the words 'Phoenix Flame' just before a huge ring of fire engulfed his remaining Chimeras and Rocs. The last dragon fell moments later, after the four had returned to human form.

Arokor was not pleased. Somehow, four people had taken out most of the two hundred death eaters that had attacked before his men. Now, his men were falling too. Not once had anyone been able to so much as even attempt to curse the four defending the castle. Karovic and his dragon riders were flying above the battle. Suddenly four dragons fell.



The five generals used their mind link spell to communicate.



I say that we call your reserves Smith, end phase one, and go for phase two.

I agree. Who are these people?

I heard one of them say that they were The Order of The Phoenix, beyond that. . .

I do agree with phase two. Or we could report back and ask our lord for advice

What if they don't stop with defense? What if they can destroy our blockade?

Then we die in service of our master.

Have any of you seen their coat of arms? One of the symbols is a lightning bolt.

That could mean that Potter is one of them. Judging by their size, only one is an adult.

We will have to worry about that later, all of my animages are dead. What do we do?

We proceed to phase two, add in any barrier spells we can think of. I will report back.

Why you?

I am already flying. I can get over the top of the apparition barrier, then apperate.

Do it.

NO!

What?

I just saw them take out Arokor!

I'm alive, just down. Either none of our soldiers our dead, or . . .

I've checked more than eighty and all of them were dead. Many were killed with swords.

Then they want me because I'm a general. Kill me if they try to take me.

We would all expect . . . NO! I'm down too.

At least Karovic got away, they just got me.

Order your troops to back off - keep a line around the school. I'm ordering my troops in.

Let us hope that others can arrive soon.





The four stopped when the army began to retreat. They knew, however, that they knew both that a siege was planned, and that they couldn't keep the pace up. They had less than an hour until their charm that protected the school from having any idea what was going on would fade. Then chaos would break out inside. Finally, they decided to pull inside and lock out the school. At the last moment they dragged one of the generals in with them, then locked up the school. Thankfully, Hagrid had lived inside the school since the attack on Hogsmeed, so he too was safe. They made sure than the general could inflict no harm on any person, including himself, then collapsed against the great room wall next to the door, almost two hours after sunrise.



Less than ten minutes later, Professor Dumbledore awoke. Just as every morning, he walked up to the window to look out over the lake. What he expected to see was some snow. Instead he saw a line hundreds of dead death eaters laying on a bloody battlefield, floating in the lake, or impaled on tree limbs. There were dozens of dragons, as well as some chimeras and rocs. Then he saw that there was a line of living death eaters encamped just beyond the first trees of the forest. He sounded the general alarm.