Chapter 15
To everyone at Hogwarts, it seemed to rain forever. The dark sky
seemed to stretch back forever into everyone's mind. It meant raining was
miserable and cold, and there were a few accidents. Finally came the day
many had been waiting for. The Guards were to be announced. The Guardians
had worked long and hard to find them, and it was up to Hawk to announce
who had been chosen.
The Great Hall was packed, both with students and refugees escaping Voldemort. Once everyone had finished eating, Harry stood, and walked to the now familiar position at the front of the enlarged Hall.
'From all of you, a hundred have been chosen to join us as the Guards. I must first say that this is not the only choosing. At the end of each term in the future, you way put yourself forward, and you will be tested for the Guards. But for now, we have the best of you. Please go over the Stealth when your name is called.'
Harry pulled a list from his pocket, and looked around the Hall. There was total silence, even at the Slytherin table. Harry knew they would be surprised with some of his choices.
He started to read the list. One by one, those chosen rose from their seats and joined Zab. One of the first to be called was the young Jack, accompanied by several of his friends. They're paths were traced by their classmates, unaware that they were watching something that would change so many lives forever. As the last rose, Harry looked up.
'Thank you.'
He said, before stepping down, and leading the Guards out of the Hall, and through to a new set of rooms that had been designed for their use. Not stopping to explain anything, they were led to another chamber. It was a light room, with about twenty tables and chairs.
Harry bid them have a seat. On the tables were piles of equipment, and also different robes. They were dark grey, and had an emblem on the left side. It showed a crossed wand and dagger, on a silver shield. Once all had sat, Zab spoke.
'Before you join the Guards, you must take the vow of joining.' Zab lifted his staff, and conjured words to float shimmering on the air. 'Stand, and speak as one.'
'I vow to serve, to hold, and to fight, in the name of the Guards. One as many, many as one.'
As they spoke the words, all felt their power, and a change in themselves take place. They were feeling what the Guardians had before them, the power of Raima. When they had taken the vow, they sat, one by one, and waited in a newfound calm for Harry or Zab to speak.
'Welcome, Guards of the Hawk. You have won the right to wear the robes of the Guard. From now your lives will change. You will be split into teams, each led by a Guardian. For the rest of the school, normal classes will resume, for you, training will continue. This is an honor, but with it will come sacrifices. Stealth will show you your new quarters, where you will be based. You will still sleep in your houses, for now.'
Harry paused, and looked around the room. All were listening intently, hanging on his every word.
'Stealth is the Commander of the Guards, so it is him who you should go to with any queries. Some of you have been chosen because you have special talents. Richard Hall, Sophie Wells, and Georgina Stratford will be working under Peace, could you three please see her at our infirmary later. David Hooker and Victoria Jessop, you will work with Rook. Stealth will take Nick Robs, Finn Damusk.'
Zab had ten, which he would teach the value of silence and invisibility. Harry would take a further ten, who would become a group capable of blending in with the muggle world, and so accomplishing missions without attracting attention. To do this they would learn all muggle combat techniques, as opposed to concentrating on dueling, as most would do. Among those would be Jack, whose skills had showed talent, while Harry also warmed to him through the understanding of what he had been through.
'Take your kit, and Stealth will now show you your rooms. Will my squad please come to the Guardians chambers as soon as you are done.'
Harry nodded to Zab, who then took up where he finished, showing the Guards around, and explaining their duties. Zab also oversaw the marking, which would allow contact at all times. When Zab left them, most stayed I n their new common room, while those who had to meet tutors left. Jack led the ten Harry had chosen to the Guardians rooms. They included Fred and George, of whom Harry was sure Mrs.Weasley would be very proud. Jack knocked, and Harry opened the door to greet them.
'Hi Hawk.'
'Jack.' Harry replied. 'Follow me, all of you.'
Harry led them through to the now familiar practice room, pleased to note they all now wore their new uniforms. He could tell they were all wondering why they had been singled out, nervous of what they were going to be asked to do.
Deciding to keep them tense or a while longer, once in the room Harry simply removed his robes, as though they were simply going to hold a practice. Jack followed his example without hesitation, though the others were slightly slower. He then sat cross legged on the mats, as they formed a semi-circle around him. Only then did he speak.
'I have chosen you because you all possess special talent in combat skills. In the coming war we are going to have to operate in the muggle world undetected. You will be trained to do just that. In a few days muggle war will cover much of Europe, and the magical world will be at steak. You will act where no one else can, or will dare to. Your training will be very different in several ways. Though you will always carry wands, you will be trained to not use them. We start tomorrow. I will meet you here at two. You can go, though any one who wants too is welcome to stay for some light practice.'
A light smile played around Harry's lips. Jack immediately stood and moved away from the door, followed by Fred and George. The rest nodded their thanks and left. Harry rose smoothly to his feet.
'Well, how about a bit of entertainment. You three against me?'
'Easy!' Grinned Jack.
Two minutes later all three were on the floor, and Jack was pinned under Harry lean frame. Both were laughing.
'Easy?' Harry smirked
'Ok, ok. You win.'
'Good.' Harry got to his feet, them pulled Jack up. 'Now bed, all of you. You're up at half-five tomorrow. They groaned and left, thanking him. As Jack ran out Harry cough him by the arm and ruffled his hair.
'Next time.' He said.
'Defiantly!'
Harry left, knowing what it felt like to have a brother for the first time in his live, before the weight of his responsibilities closed in once again.
Eclectic Angel - Sorry, this comes up as soon as it's written, so I don't really want a beta reader, but feel free to make any comments in reviews. Chronotiger - Thanks for the compliment, and I'd like to but I can't promise this will get finished. If and when it does, I will certainly add it to your page!
Everyone - Thanks for any reviews. I'll try to write some tomorrow but if not it might be a while as I'm going out of range of a computer. Defiantly something by the weekend. - Pose
The Great Hall was packed, both with students and refugees escaping Voldemort. Once everyone had finished eating, Harry stood, and walked to the now familiar position at the front of the enlarged Hall.
'From all of you, a hundred have been chosen to join us as the Guards. I must first say that this is not the only choosing. At the end of each term in the future, you way put yourself forward, and you will be tested for the Guards. But for now, we have the best of you. Please go over the Stealth when your name is called.'
Harry pulled a list from his pocket, and looked around the Hall. There was total silence, even at the Slytherin table. Harry knew they would be surprised with some of his choices.
He started to read the list. One by one, those chosen rose from their seats and joined Zab. One of the first to be called was the young Jack, accompanied by several of his friends. They're paths were traced by their classmates, unaware that they were watching something that would change so many lives forever. As the last rose, Harry looked up.
'Thank you.'
He said, before stepping down, and leading the Guards out of the Hall, and through to a new set of rooms that had been designed for their use. Not stopping to explain anything, they were led to another chamber. It was a light room, with about twenty tables and chairs.
Harry bid them have a seat. On the tables were piles of equipment, and also different robes. They were dark grey, and had an emblem on the left side. It showed a crossed wand and dagger, on a silver shield. Once all had sat, Zab spoke.
'Before you join the Guards, you must take the vow of joining.' Zab lifted his staff, and conjured words to float shimmering on the air. 'Stand, and speak as one.'
'I vow to serve, to hold, and to fight, in the name of the Guards. One as many, many as one.'
As they spoke the words, all felt their power, and a change in themselves take place. They were feeling what the Guardians had before them, the power of Raima. When they had taken the vow, they sat, one by one, and waited in a newfound calm for Harry or Zab to speak.
'Welcome, Guards of the Hawk. You have won the right to wear the robes of the Guard. From now your lives will change. You will be split into teams, each led by a Guardian. For the rest of the school, normal classes will resume, for you, training will continue. This is an honor, but with it will come sacrifices. Stealth will show you your new quarters, where you will be based. You will still sleep in your houses, for now.'
Harry paused, and looked around the room. All were listening intently, hanging on his every word.
'Stealth is the Commander of the Guards, so it is him who you should go to with any queries. Some of you have been chosen because you have special talents. Richard Hall, Sophie Wells, and Georgina Stratford will be working under Peace, could you three please see her at our infirmary later. David Hooker and Victoria Jessop, you will work with Rook. Stealth will take Nick Robs, Finn Damusk.'
Zab had ten, which he would teach the value of silence and invisibility. Harry would take a further ten, who would become a group capable of blending in with the muggle world, and so accomplishing missions without attracting attention. To do this they would learn all muggle combat techniques, as opposed to concentrating on dueling, as most would do. Among those would be Jack, whose skills had showed talent, while Harry also warmed to him through the understanding of what he had been through.
'Take your kit, and Stealth will now show you your rooms. Will my squad please come to the Guardians chambers as soon as you are done.'
Harry nodded to Zab, who then took up where he finished, showing the Guards around, and explaining their duties. Zab also oversaw the marking, which would allow contact at all times. When Zab left them, most stayed I n their new common room, while those who had to meet tutors left. Jack led the ten Harry had chosen to the Guardians rooms. They included Fred and George, of whom Harry was sure Mrs.Weasley would be very proud. Jack knocked, and Harry opened the door to greet them.
'Hi Hawk.'
'Jack.' Harry replied. 'Follow me, all of you.'
Harry led them through to the now familiar practice room, pleased to note they all now wore their new uniforms. He could tell they were all wondering why they had been singled out, nervous of what they were going to be asked to do.
Deciding to keep them tense or a while longer, once in the room Harry simply removed his robes, as though they were simply going to hold a practice. Jack followed his example without hesitation, though the others were slightly slower. He then sat cross legged on the mats, as they formed a semi-circle around him. Only then did he speak.
'I have chosen you because you all possess special talent in combat skills. In the coming war we are going to have to operate in the muggle world undetected. You will be trained to do just that. In a few days muggle war will cover much of Europe, and the magical world will be at steak. You will act where no one else can, or will dare to. Your training will be very different in several ways. Though you will always carry wands, you will be trained to not use them. We start tomorrow. I will meet you here at two. You can go, though any one who wants too is welcome to stay for some light practice.'
A light smile played around Harry's lips. Jack immediately stood and moved away from the door, followed by Fred and George. The rest nodded their thanks and left. Harry rose smoothly to his feet.
'Well, how about a bit of entertainment. You three against me?'
'Easy!' Grinned Jack.
Two minutes later all three were on the floor, and Jack was pinned under Harry lean frame. Both were laughing.
'Easy?' Harry smirked
'Ok, ok. You win.'
'Good.' Harry got to his feet, them pulled Jack up. 'Now bed, all of you. You're up at half-five tomorrow. They groaned and left, thanking him. As Jack ran out Harry cough him by the arm and ruffled his hair.
'Next time.' He said.
'Defiantly!'
Harry left, knowing what it felt like to have a brother for the first time in his live, before the weight of his responsibilities closed in once again.
Eclectic Angel - Sorry, this comes up as soon as it's written, so I don't really want a beta reader, but feel free to make any comments in reviews. Chronotiger - Thanks for the compliment, and I'd like to but I can't promise this will get finished. If and when it does, I will certainly add it to your page!
Everyone - Thanks for any reviews. I'll try to write some tomorrow but if not it might be a while as I'm going out of range of a computer. Defiantly something by the weekend. - Pose