Chapter 7
By half past one, the Guardians were ready to go. You could feel the adrenalin running round the room, and Harry struggled mot to let his nervousness be seen. Harry called the group leaders over for final arrangements. 'Ride in your groups, five join up with one. We'll meet at the rally point at 2:45. No -one does anything until everyone gets there. When you use the marks it's G1 or G2. Keep silence when we get close to the point. Everyone clear? Right. Move out.' The Guardians rode off into the forest, and within minutes were out of sight. Unknown to them, three of their professors were hovering above them, watching their progress carefully, as the groups separated and broke into a light canter.
An hour later, the Guardians of Group 2 rode into the rally point, and carefully dismounted. They quickly checked the area, then sat waiting impatiently for the others to arrive. Twenty minutes had passed by the time the last group rode in and dismounted. Harry patted Blade's flank, then led him over to the rest of the horses. A loud whisper rent the air. 'Group leaders, too me. Is everyone ready?' Harry looked round the circle, into the faces of his friends. He saw their anticipation, and their confidence. ' Groups two and three, take up your positions and wait for my confirmation before you deal with the sentries. Group one, get mounted up. Gin, Cott, get the others into two lines along the path. Put a pair at each end with orders to block any escape attempt. Wands first, but tell them to use knives if they need to.' Harry knew they had never before fought with intent to harm. Though he had enough hate to do it, he was not sure of everyone. 'On, second thoughts, you had better go with the pair, one at each end. Be prepared.' They nodded, and Harry saw the four riders of Group one looming out of the darkness. 'Luck.' The two soon melted into the darkness, and he turned to the riders. 'Zab, you lead so your at the back during the chase. If you don't get chased just come straight back. Good Luck.' Zab reached down and clasped a surprised Harry's hand, thumb to thumb. 'You too. Let's go!' They wheeled their horses and raced off down towards the path, and Harry took his position in the centre of the line. A minute later and they were back, chased by at least a dozen Death Eaters. As they had been told, the Guardians did not attack until the Death Eaters were in the centre of the line. Harry started the attack with a well placed 'stupify!', which brought several to the ground. The battle was over in minutes, with all the Death Eaters unconscious or seemingly dead. All were swiftly bound, and the group approached the house, Harry informing Dean and Seamus of their success, and giving them the go ahead for the next stage of the plan. Soon the house rang with the sounds of combat, and Harry called Cott and Zab to him. 'Time to go. I'll open the door, Zab you go in first with your group and secure the doors while the rest of us get in.' Harry and Group five were soon crawling up to the door. When they arrived, Harry grasped the Handle, mouthed 1,2,3, at Zab, and opened it. A badly aimed 'stupify!' immediately threw Harry backwards, but he was straight back on his feet and through the door, pleased to find that Zab's group had dealt with the five Death Eaters within. Soon they were joined by the rest, and slowly made their was through the house room by room, getting closer to the fighting. By now the blood was pumping, and Harry was hard pressed to stop himself running in recklessly when the finally located the fighting. He quickly sent half their force down the corridor to another entrance. Yelling 'Now!' into his mark, he stepped round the corner and started hurling curses. Soon, however, he found himself the victim of 'Expeliarmus!', and drew his blades. Harry was soon in the thick of the fighting, though he did catch a glimpse of Ginny helping Mal to his feet after a nasty blow. Though he had yet to draw blood himself, Harry was given a nasty wound by one of his attacker, before he hammered the man to darkness with the back of his knife. He was saved another blow as he regained his feet by Dean, who cursed an attacker about to stun him. He nodded his thanks, then suddenly realised that he could see no fighting Death Eaters. He quickly sheathed his blades, and summoned his wand. 'Group leaders, bind the D.E's and meet me in the Hall. Post sentry's a all three doors. Well done.' Ginny came up to him. 'No ones seriously hurt though a few have minor injuries.' She smiled at him. 'Are you alright?' Harry nodded wearily, and made his way to the Hall.
Dean, Seamus, Ron, Hermione, Zab and Cott were waiting for him. Once again he and Zab clasped hands, and Harry was surprised to find the others followed suit. 'It's the sign of the Guardians.' Said Zab, smiling. Harry nodded, as Hermione enveloped him in huge hug. 'We did it.' She said. 'You did it.' Looking at Harry. He grinned. 'The Boy who lives strikes again!' That made them all chuckle despite their exhaustion. 'Oh, Harry. We brought the Death Eater who chased us back, don't you think we should wake them all up?' Intoned Zab. 'Yeah. Get them all in the main room.'
Soon the Death Eater were groaning and struggling with their bonds. Going to the first in the line, Harry ripped off the mask. He was not expecting to see who was under it. 'Sirius?' Harry sounded astonished. 'Got it in one.' 'These aren't all teachers?' 'No most are trainee Aurors, though I think that one is Snape.' Said Sirius nodding his head. 'I don't suppose you'd like to release me?' At this point Harry got a very evil grin on his face. 'I don't know about that. What's it worth?' 'Harry James Potter, if you don't let me up this instant the Dursleys'll seem like a picnic compared to what I'll do to you!' Harry let him up, after giving it just enough time for Sirius to start getting worried. 'You wouldn't dare.' He said, as he was hugged by his godfather. 'You're right. I wouldn't. Well done. Well done all of you. Now if you'd like to free my associates we will return to Hoqwarts. I think you've earned a lye in tomorrow.' A cheer greeted his words, and the Guardians were soon on their way back to Hogwarts, with Harry riding side by side with his godfather.
By half past one, the Guardians were ready to go. You could feel the adrenalin running round the room, and Harry struggled mot to let his nervousness be seen. Harry called the group leaders over for final arrangements. 'Ride in your groups, five join up with one. We'll meet at the rally point at 2:45. No -one does anything until everyone gets there. When you use the marks it's G1 or G2. Keep silence when we get close to the point. Everyone clear? Right. Move out.' The Guardians rode off into the forest, and within minutes were out of sight. Unknown to them, three of their professors were hovering above them, watching their progress carefully, as the groups separated and broke into a light canter.
An hour later, the Guardians of Group 2 rode into the rally point, and carefully dismounted. They quickly checked the area, then sat waiting impatiently for the others to arrive. Twenty minutes had passed by the time the last group rode in and dismounted. Harry patted Blade's flank, then led him over to the rest of the horses. A loud whisper rent the air. 'Group leaders, too me. Is everyone ready?' Harry looked round the circle, into the faces of his friends. He saw their anticipation, and their confidence. ' Groups two and three, take up your positions and wait for my confirmation before you deal with the sentries. Group one, get mounted up. Gin, Cott, get the others into two lines along the path. Put a pair at each end with orders to block any escape attempt. Wands first, but tell them to use knives if they need to.' Harry knew they had never before fought with intent to harm. Though he had enough hate to do it, he was not sure of everyone. 'On, second thoughts, you had better go with the pair, one at each end. Be prepared.' They nodded, and Harry saw the four riders of Group one looming out of the darkness. 'Luck.' The two soon melted into the darkness, and he turned to the riders. 'Zab, you lead so your at the back during the chase. If you don't get chased just come straight back. Good Luck.' Zab reached down and clasped a surprised Harry's hand, thumb to thumb. 'You too. Let's go!' They wheeled their horses and raced off down towards the path, and Harry took his position in the centre of the line. A minute later and they were back, chased by at least a dozen Death Eaters. As they had been told, the Guardians did not attack until the Death Eaters were in the centre of the line. Harry started the attack with a well placed 'stupify!', which brought several to the ground. The battle was over in minutes, with all the Death Eaters unconscious or seemingly dead. All were swiftly bound, and the group approached the house, Harry informing Dean and Seamus of their success, and giving them the go ahead for the next stage of the plan. Soon the house rang with the sounds of combat, and Harry called Cott and Zab to him. 'Time to go. I'll open the door, Zab you go in first with your group and secure the doors while the rest of us get in.' Harry and Group five were soon crawling up to the door. When they arrived, Harry grasped the Handle, mouthed 1,2,3, at Zab, and opened it. A badly aimed 'stupify!' immediately threw Harry backwards, but he was straight back on his feet and through the door, pleased to find that Zab's group had dealt with the five Death Eaters within. Soon they were joined by the rest, and slowly made their was through the house room by room, getting closer to the fighting. By now the blood was pumping, and Harry was hard pressed to stop himself running in recklessly when the finally located the fighting. He quickly sent half their force down the corridor to another entrance. Yelling 'Now!' into his mark, he stepped round the corner and started hurling curses. Soon, however, he found himself the victim of 'Expeliarmus!', and drew his blades. Harry was soon in the thick of the fighting, though he did catch a glimpse of Ginny helping Mal to his feet after a nasty blow. Though he had yet to draw blood himself, Harry was given a nasty wound by one of his attacker, before he hammered the man to darkness with the back of his knife. He was saved another blow as he regained his feet by Dean, who cursed an attacker about to stun him. He nodded his thanks, then suddenly realised that he could see no fighting Death Eaters. He quickly sheathed his blades, and summoned his wand. 'Group leaders, bind the D.E's and meet me in the Hall. Post sentry's a all three doors. Well done.' Ginny came up to him. 'No ones seriously hurt though a few have minor injuries.' She smiled at him. 'Are you alright?' Harry nodded wearily, and made his way to the Hall.
Dean, Seamus, Ron, Hermione, Zab and Cott were waiting for him. Once again he and Zab clasped hands, and Harry was surprised to find the others followed suit. 'It's the sign of the Guardians.' Said Zab, smiling. Harry nodded, as Hermione enveloped him in huge hug. 'We did it.' She said. 'You did it.' Looking at Harry. He grinned. 'The Boy who lives strikes again!' That made them all chuckle despite their exhaustion. 'Oh, Harry. We brought the Death Eater who chased us back, don't you think we should wake them all up?' Intoned Zab. 'Yeah. Get them all in the main room.'
Soon the Death Eater were groaning and struggling with their bonds. Going to the first in the line, Harry ripped off the mask. He was not expecting to see who was under it. 'Sirius?' Harry sounded astonished. 'Got it in one.' 'These aren't all teachers?' 'No most are trainee Aurors, though I think that one is Snape.' Said Sirius nodding his head. 'I don't suppose you'd like to release me?' At this point Harry got a very evil grin on his face. 'I don't know about that. What's it worth?' 'Harry James Potter, if you don't let me up this instant the Dursleys'll seem like a picnic compared to what I'll do to you!' Harry let him up, after giving it just enough time for Sirius to start getting worried. 'You wouldn't dare.' He said, as he was hugged by his godfather. 'You're right. I wouldn't. Well done. Well done all of you. Now if you'd like to free my associates we will return to Hoqwarts. I think you've earned a lye in tomorrow.' A cheer greeted his words, and the Guardians were soon on their way back to Hogwarts, with Harry riding side by side with his godfather.