A/N - Hello again dear readers. It looks like I have gotten the next chapter out on time. It's shorter than I originally wanted it to be but I'd reached a place that made for a good stopping point and decided it was better to get you a shorter chapter on time than no chapter at all. It cut very close though. I made last additions to this chapter less than hour before posting it. Whether I'll continue to get chapters out on time or not remains to be seen but at least this week I got the chapter out for you as normally scheduled.
Disclaimer: The X-Men were created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby and belong to Marvel Comics. Harry Potter was created by and belongs to J.K. Rowling. I make no money from this and the only thing that's mine are the original parts of the story.
"Normal speech"
"Telepathy"
40) BEFORE THE BATTLE
Monday, May 29th 1995 was Memorial Day in the U. S. and Ilvermorny, like all American schools, had no classes. This didn't mean that the students were particularly joyful to have the day off. It was school practice for the end of year exams to begin the day after Memorial Day and run for the next two weeks.
Harry had tests on each of the next 8 school days, Tuesday through Friday of the first week and Monday through Thursday of the second week. He had tests in all of his subjects both magical and mundane. While his magical tests would remain under the Ilvermorny name and be confined to the magical world his mundane tests would be registered to the Adams Greylock School name and would be used on his mundane school transcripts should he decide to attend a mundane university after graduating from Ilvermorny.
It was a grueling two weeks. He didn't get time off from X-Men training because of his exams and had to manage his time as wisely as he could. Fortunately he was very good at time management having learned it during his years at the Dursleys when he'd been loaded down with all of the chores and had to get them all done as quickly as possible, or before Vernon came home from work OR ELSE!
A lot of preparation happened during those days. It was decided that the X-Men would come to Hogwarts on Friday the 9th but in secret so that word of their presence wouldn't leak out in advance. If it all went well no one would know that they were there until the next morning. At the same time Auror Moody would arrive with a large contingent of trusted aurors, all of whom had been thoroughly vetted in advance before being selected for this mission. Moody had stepped up using his new Danger Room but quite a bit and a select number of chosen aurors had been subjected to intense training for the last two months. Whether it would be enough for these elite aurors remained to be seen but Moody had done his best in the time that he had to train them up as well as he could.
Director Bones was also going to be at the school but she would arrive separately. Minister Fudge would be accompanying her. He wouldn't be participating in the battle himself, freely acknowledging that he wasn't much of a fighter, but he wanted to be there to give whatever support he could. Since he had been helpful in getting Moody's Danger Room approved and was supporting the changes that Dumbledore, Bones, and Moody were making with the DMLE Bones was willing to bring him along for the ride. To keep himself busy he volunteered to help Madame Pomfrey with any of the wounded who might need help. Above all he didn't tell anyone where he was going that day. Not even Undersecretary Umbridge knew where he'd been until after the battle was over.
It was also during this time that the escapes from Azkaban were discovered when a surprise inspection of the prison was done by Head Auror Scrimgeour who discovered golems in some of the cells. This led to a detailed inspection of the prison by the DMLE and the full scope of the escapes came out. The warden was immediately suspected and after some questioning spilled the whole story including the involvement of the dementors who all quickly left the prison before any steps could be taken against them.
"So let me get this straight" said Scott to the professor during a team meeting when they received the news of the breakouts, "almost all of Voldemort's Death Eaters have escaped from prison and presumably have joined up with him?"
"I think that's a reasonable conclusion" said Xavier, "and we should expect them all to be at Hogwarts when the time comes."
"What about the dementors?" asked Sirius, "it's reasonable to assume that they've joined Voldemort too. The only magic that can beat them is the Patronus Charm. I know some of the staff and aurors can perform that charm but it's very complex and not all of them can do it. After my time in Azkaban I've been having a lot of trouble with it myself."
"That's true" said Xavier, "but you're forgetting that dementors are still physical creatures and are vulnerable to non-magical physical attacks. You can use your optic blasts on them Scott, probably even from a long distance away. Telekinesis will probably work on them too and who knows what electricity might do to them. As for the cold that they radiate, that won't matter to you Bobby."
"True" said Bobby, "the cold never bothered me anyway."
"Oh God" said Warren making a face, "Bobby, someday that line of yours is going to be used in a song and it's going to be a big, annoying, catchy hit that we'll all want to gouge out our ears over after having to listen to it on the radio 50 times in a single day."
"And we'll all blame you" said Harry with a smirk, "hopefully it won't be a Disney hit. Those never go away!"
"Oh brother" said Bobby rolling his eyes, "chill guys, just chill."
"For that comment alone you should die" said Warren pretending to throttle Bobby
"Excuse me!" said Hank getting things back on track before Warren, Bobby, and Harry could get into a full blown argument, "does the public know about the escapes?"
"Yes" said Xavier settling everyone down again with a look, "it's big news in Britain."
"I hope Neville's okay" said Jean glancing at Harry, "weren't some of those escapees the ones who tortured his parents into insanity?"
"Yes" said Harry.
"Don't worry about Neville" said Xavier, "I'm keeping an eye on him. He knows to contact me or Albus if he's upset. He can always come here if he needs to get away."
"Of course he can" said Warren, "we mutants stick together."
"Amen" said Hank, "has Dumbledore told you what's being done about the students that young Master Malfoy was supposed to recruit for Voldemort?"
"Yes" said Xavier, "he's made arrangements to keep all students in the school away from the battle." Xavier quickly explained what Dumbledore would do.
"That's good" said Warren, "but when that happens they'll have to realize that someone leaked the plan. Will young Malfoy be all right?"
"Master Malfoy is probably the last person the other students will suspect" observed Hank "since he's the one recruiting them to Voldemort's cause in the first place."
"That may be true about the students" said Harry, "but will Voldemort think that? From his point of view Malfoy would be a suspected traitor too."
"Which is another reason why Voldemort must be defeated" said Xavier, "only then will everyone truly be safe."
Harry's last exam occurred on Thursday, June 8th. He'd get his results back at the end of the following week and then the spring term would end and most students would go home. A week or so after that the school would start its summer session for students who needed remedial instruction. The school's summer day camp would also start up at that time for the younger magical children who were not yet students at the school.
The day after Harry's last exam was the day the X-Men were set to go to Hogwarts. To keep their presence a secret for as long as possible they timed their arrival for late in the evening after the curfew for the students. Only Dumbledore was there to greet them when they arrived. He showed them to large guest suite that had rooms for all of them. This time Mage came with the team as he wanted to be there for his Godson for this fight. He planned on wearing a glamour so no one would recognize him.
"Are we the last ones to arrive?" Scott asked Dumbledore.
"No" said the headmaster, "the aurors will be here tomorrow before it gets light. We'll all assemble outside the castle doors to greet our guests."
The team didn't stay up as they knew the next day would be long and they all wanted to be in top shape for it. Professor Xavier contacted them all and reminded them that even though he was back at the mansion he would be with them tomorrow as he always was and he would help them as best as he could if they needed it.
Harry lay awake for a little while that night thinking about what would happen tomorrow. Hopefully it would be the last time he would ever have to deal with Voldemort. Before he fell asleep his thoughts turned to Ororo. He had told her about the upcoming battle and she wasn't all that pleased about it, especially since she wouldn't be allowed to go with him and help out. She understood why the battle was happening but wished Harry didn't have to be there. She gave him a strong warning that he'd better come back. She made it quite clear that she would be very angry with him if he got himself killed and she would resurrect him to make sure that he knew it.
When Draco Malfoy woke up in the early morning of June 10th he wondered how things would go down that day. He knew that the information he'd sent to Professor X had been passed on to Dumbledore but he had no idea what the headmaster had decided to do to stop Voldemort. He was very nervous but was doing his best to hide it from everyone. He'd done what Voldemort ordered him to do. There were a large number of Slytherins in the upper years who had agreed to help Voldemort in his plan to take the school. All they needed was to get word that the fight had started and they would storm out to help the Dark Lord.
Although many of the Slytherins were siding with Voldemort a fair number had refused to join him. In his own former year Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, Blaise Zabini and, oddly enough from Malfoy's point of view, Crabbe and Goyle had all said no to Malfoy's recruiting. Malfoy wondered what Voldemort would do to them after he won. He knew the man's punishments would be terrible. Anyone who refused his call was likely to be killed and Malfoy dearly hoped that he wouldn't win.
When Malfoy reached the Slytherin common room that morning on his way to breakfast he discovered, to his surprise, that breakfast had instead been brought to the common room where it was laid out on several tables and desks.
"What's going on?" he asked Theodore Nott.
"We don't know" was the reply, "the house is apparently locked down so the house elves have sent breakfast to us."
"The house is locked down?" asked Malfoy.
"Yeah" was Nott's answer, "all of the entrances are sealed. No one can get in or out."
"Why?" asked Malfoy.
"No one knows" said Nott, "I called for a house elf and she told me that the headmaster had decided that no one was to leave the house today. Elves won't bring people out of the house and portkeys don't work."
"But we have to get out" said Malfoy, "the Dark Lord's expecting us."
"I know" said Nott "someone must have talked."
"No one would dare" said Malfoy while glaring at the other boy.
"Obviously somebody did or we wouldn't be stuck in here now" shot back Nott, "the question is who? I'd hate to be in their shoes when the Dark Lord finds out about this."
"Yeah, he won't be happy at all" said Malfoy. On the other hand he himself was quite glad the house was locked down. Hopefully this development would help Voldemort to lose today. He wondered if the other houses were locked down too.
As it happened the other houses were locked down with almost everyone in them not knowing what was happening. In Hufflepuff no one knew anything, not even Susan Bones as her aunt had not warned her of what was coming. The Ravenclaws were similarly clueless except for Luna Lovegood who had a knowing look on her face. No one was paying attention to her though so she kept her thoughts to herself.
The situation in Gryffindor was mostly the same. No one could leave the house. Breakfast had been brought in by the house elves and served to the students in the common room although they wouldn't answer any of the students' questions. Only the Weasleys and Hermione knew what was happening.
"I wish we could be out there" said Ron in a low voice.
"Ron, how much could we really do?" asked Hermione, "this is Voldemort and his forces we're talking about. We wouldn't stand much chance against them."
"Harry's out there" said Ginny.
"Harry's an X-Man" said George, "and as our mum told us last year – "
" – we're not" finished Fred.
"Maybe we can see something from the windows" said Ron. Before anyone could respond to that Seamus Finnigan and Dean Thomas approached them.
"Do any of you know where Neville is?" asked Seamus.
"Isn't he here?" asked Ron.
"We can't find him" said Dean, "no one's seen him and he wasn't in his bed when I got up."
"That's not unusual" said Ron, "he likes to get up extra early and go outside to exercise..." Ron trailed off as he realized what this meant for Neville. Hermione gasped.
"He's not here" she said, "he must have left the tower before it was locked down. Whatever's going on out there he's in danger from it."
"Oh bugger" said Ron.
Neville was outside. He was aware that the battle would be happening today and he hadn't intended to be part of it. He'd gotten up extra early in order to get through his morning exercises and be back in Gryffindor Tower before the lock down began. Unfortunately he miscalculated his time while he was out running around the lake and when he got back to the front of the castle he was shocked to see the staff already gathering outside along with the X-Men and a bunch of aurors.
"Mr. Longbottom" said Dumbledore catching sight of him and walking over to him before anyone else could approach him, "why are you out here? You should be in your house."
"I got up early to exercise sir" said Neville, "I didn't think anything would happen this soon."
"It shouldn't" said Dumbledore, "but it is. I'll have a house elf take you back to the tower."
"Wait headmaster" called Cyclops walking up to the two wizards with the other X-Men behind him, "let him stay."
"Cyclops I really don't think – " Dumbledore began but the X-Men leader stopped him.
"He's one of us" said Cyclops putting a hand on Neville's shoulder, "we'll take care of him." Dumbledore gave Cyclops a hard look.
"Let him stay Albus" said Xavier in Dumbledore's head, "he's my student too. We won't let anything happen to him."
"All right" said Dumbledore sounding stern, "but I'll have a house elf on standby anyway. If Mr. Longbottom is in danger he will be sent to safety."
"Agreed" said Cyclops. Dumbledore moved away from the X-Men who gathered around Neville.
"All right Shaper" said Cyclops using the code name Xavier had given Neville before he left the mansion at the end of Easter Break, "you probably should be back in your house but you're here. Don't feel bad. All of us have gone through a baptism of fire at some point."
"Some of us even went through it without any training first" said Marvel Girl thinking of the day she joined the X-Men, "you at least have some of that."
"Here's what we want you to do" said Cyclops, "your job will be to guard the front doors of the castle. Stay out of the battle. Stay inside the entrance hall and keep watch. If it looks like the enemy is getting close use your power to seal the doors and then go find a place to hide. This won't keep them out for long but it will give us extra time to stop them and it will buy you time to get away. Understand?"
"Yes" said Neville before adding "fearless leader." The other X-Men laughed.
"Yeah you really are becoming one of us" said Iceman, "you'll be a great addition to the team when you turn 18." Neville beamed at Iceman and then ran off to get inside the castle and begin keeping watch in the entrance hall. Once he was gone the X-Men rejoined the staff and the aurors.
"Are you sure about this?" Dumbledore asked Cyclops in reference to Neville.
"He'll be all right" said Cyclops, "Professor X wouldn't let him stay if he didn't have confidence in him." Dumbledore nodded although he didn't look fully convinced. Suddenly he turned sharply and looked in the direction of the front gates.
"They're here" said the headmaster, "they've just tipped the border wards. Now they'll have to get through the gate."
"That won't take long" said Director Bones.
"No" said Flitwick, "but it will take a few minutes if there are any last minutes things we need to do."
Before anyone could answer Professor Flitwick everyone was startled when a portal began appearing near Dumbledore who held up his hands to stop people from raising their wands.
"Wait!" called Dumbledore who had recognized the style of the portal. Seconds later the portal was fully formed and Dr. Strange stepped out of it followed by the Ancient One.
"Stephen" said Dumbledore greeting his friend, "this is unexpected. What brings you here?"
"I think you know why we're here" said Dr. Strange holding up a silver box that both Dumbledore and Lightning recognized, "this is the decisive day."
"It is" said Dumbledore who bowed his head to the Ancient One, "Ancient One it is good to see you again."
"You too headmaster" said the Ancient One, "we are here to help if you will have us."
"We will" said Dumbledore, "and it's an honor to have you with us." He quickly introduced both sorcerers to any people around him who didn't know them. Professor Flitwick was happy to meet the Ancient One again, especially since that sorcerer remembered him.
"With the two of you at our sides" said Flitwick, "the odds in our favor have just gone up." This sentiment was echoed by several other people. Only a few of the British magicals had met either sorcerer before but they all knew about them. The Sorcerer Supreme and his mentor the Ancient One were well known in all of the various countries of the magical world. Their choosing to come to Hogwarts to help defend the castle seriously boosted the morale of the defenders.
That morale received a further boost when another gate opened right by where the X-Men were standing. Out of that gate stepped –
"Thor?" asked Lightning in surprise seeing who was coming through.
"Aye Lightning" said Thor brandishing his hammer, "it is I, and I am not alone." Indeed he was not. Stepping through the portal behind him were all of the Avengers.
"Hello friends" said Iron Man addressing the X-Men, "we hear you could use some help."
"That we could" said Cyclops, "we sure as heck won't say no."
"It'll be like Halloween all over again" said Angel as the X-Men greeted the Avengers.
"I'm glad magic doesn't seem to affect you" Lightning said to Iron Man.
"Tony Stark thinks of everything" said Iron Man sounding amused which made Lightning smile. Magic wasn't nearly as dangerous to technology as it had often been assumed if you knew how to properly modify your equipment to be magically resistant. He remembered the previous year when the X-Jet had come to Hogwarts to take the team home after the battle with the Brotherhood. The plane hadn't been affected at all by the magic in the area. Presumably something similar had been done to Iron Man's armor as he also seemed unaffected by the local magical atmosphere.
"Excuse me" said Director Bones cutting into Lightning's thoughts as she came over to them followed by Dumbledore, Moody, McGonagall, and Flitwick, "who are your friends?"
"Director Bones," said Cyclops, "Headmaster Dumbledore, Auror Moody, Professor McGonagall, Professor Flitwick" said Cyclops, "allow me to introduce you to the Avengers. A team of superheroes with whom we are friends."
"Welcome to Hogwarts" said Dumbledore, "if you are here to help us then we are glad to have you. We have all heard of you and certainly welcome your help."
"We are glad to aid you" said Thor speaking for the group, "I know of you headmaster and of your Dark Lord. My brother Loki, god of magic, warned me about him and of the despicable things he has done. One such as him must not be allowed to run free."
"Dealing with people like him is what we do" said Captain America.
"I'm well aware of that" said Dumbledore holding his hand out to Captain America, "Captain, I'm Albus Dumbledore. I doubt you remember me but we met during the war. I was a lot younger then of course."
"We all were" said Captain America shaking his hand, "did we know each other well?"
"Hardly" said Dumbledore, "we only met once in London in late 1942 when you stumbled into the Leaky Cauldron by mistake." Captain America's face showed recognition.
"Oh yes" he said, "I remember you now. You had auburn hair at the time, didn't you?"
"I did" said Dumbledore with a smile, "I was sitting at the bar when you came in."
"That's right" said Captain America, "I'm still not sure how I wound up in that place but thank you for being kind to a stranger and helping me out that day."
"My pleasure" said Dumbledore, "war makes associates of us all."
"Yes, it does" said the captain.
The headmaster and the captain talked for a few more minutes before Dumbledore broke off the conversation and called for everyone's attention.
"It's almost time" he said, "they'll be through the wards any minute now. Let's take our places."
The two superhero teams, the two sorcerers, the Hogwarts staff, and the aurors from the DMLE all faced toward where the invaders would come from. It was time to fight.
(To Be Continued)
A/N - That's all for now. It looks like almost everyone's been invited to the party. Next time the battle starts. I actually intended for the first part of the battle to included with this chapter but it wasn't ready yet so it will be in the next chapter.
I don't really care for Neville's code name of Shaper but I haven't been able to come up with anything better that would also fit him and his powers. If you have any ideas I'd be interested in hearing them.
That's all for now. Hopefully the next chapter will be ready in a week - but it might not be. We'll see. As usual please take a moment to leave me some feedback. Constructive comments are always welcome but no flames or trolls please. As always stay safe and well everyone.
