Chapter 18

The next day dawned cloudy, though without the pitter patter of rain all had grown accustomed too. From about six in the morning till lunch time, the grounds of Hogwarts were packed with Groups training. All were supervised by a Guardian, and most had one of the instructors constantly urging them on.

It was quite a sight for the people of Sword, when they stepped out from the Entrance Hall, onto the grounds to begin their own training. While they got on under the guidance of Ron, who found it incredibly amusing that for once he could tell his brothers what to do, Harry found Jack, and removed him from the horsemanship class he was in, and led him back up to the castle. They sat down in Harry's study.

'Jack, I need to talk to you about something.'

'What?' Jack replied, confused.

'About what happened to your back.' Harry spoke quietly but firmly.

'It's nothing.' Jack looked at the floor.

'It's a lot more than nothing. I know what it feels like, remember?'

Jack nodded reluctantly.

'You need to talk about it. Unless you want everything to be exactly how it was when you next see your stepfather, you have to tell me, tell someone.'

Harry's voice was earnest.

'Please?'

'It's my stepfather. He's just very strict, and when I get something wrong, he punishes me. That's the way it's always been. Normally it's not too bad, but just before I came here, he was very angry, so it was worse than usual.'

'No matter how strict he is, he should not be able to beat you. It's not right.'

'If that's true, then how come you have so many scars?'

Jack's voice was getting a defiant edge to it. Harry sighed.

'I live with my only living relatives. They're muggles. They hate what I am, and who I am. They get satisfaction in seeing me in pain. They use me as a scapegoat for anything that goes wrong. They do it in anger.'

'Why don't you go somewhere else?'

Jack was quiet.

'I will not endanger the lives of others just to stop me experiencing a little pain. Leaving my family would be giving Voldemort what he wants. But you can do something.'

'But it's different with me. He does it because he wants me to be better. He's so controlling. He'll always tell me what I've done before he beats me. I can't run away from him, because I don't know when he'll punish me. And my mother loves him.'

Jack's explanation came in a hurried rush of words, all directed at the floor. Harry paused before he spoke, not sure if what he was about to say was a good idea.

'What happened, before you came to Hogwarts?'

Jack seemed to be considering whether or not to answer. He looked up at Harry, trying to see if he was trustworthy.

'No one else will know.'

Harry promised. Jack made up his mind.

'My trunk fell down the stairs, and cracked a hole in the wall. It was just outside his study, and he was furious. He made me go and wait in his study while he fixed it. When he came back he asked me why I deserved to be punished. He used his cane. I couldn't do anything. I just thanked him when he was done, and left. It was the night before I came here.'

Jack had told his story without looking up, and when he did so Harry could see the tears collecting in his eyes. Jack wiped a hand across his face, not wanting Harry to see him show any sigh of weakness. Harry stood up, and moved over to Jack uncertainly. He had no idea what to say.

'Don't worry. I can arrange for you to stay here for Christmas and Easter, if you'd like?'

'Can you do that?'

Harry nodded, was shocked when the younger buy stood up and hugged him. He returned the hug, uncomfortably aware that he had no idea what he was going to do.

'Thank you.' Jack whispered, before leaving for his next class.



When Harry walked into lunch that day, he was greeted by a sea of robes. More tables had been added, and Harry was impressed with how the house elves were coping with the workload. When at last all were seated and eating, Harry was able to reach his own table, and relax over a Caesar salad. His meal was interrupted by Hermione, who signaled him using his Mark.

Taking one last mouthful, Harry went quickly to the meeting room, flanked by Ron and Zab. They were greeted by Hermione, her voice leaden.

'D.E's have captured a Ministry Office. They've taken control fo the area and refuse to negotiate with the Ministry. It's the only British office in France, and the aurors are already stretches to breaking point.'

'When?' Harry's voice was urgent.

'Six hours ago.'

'How many?'

'Minimum of eighty, plus dementors.'

'Shit.' Harry sat down heavily, and called Raima to him. She settled on his shoulder. He turned to Zab.

'Are the Guards ready?'

'As ready as they'll ever be.'

'Quill, is the office in a muggle area?'

'Yes, Right in the centre of town, unfortunately.'

'In that case my lot had better go too.'

'Stealth, get Fire, Shadow, and three squads on alert, lead by one of us. Ginny, your two bets healers. Hermione get some prints for Rook to work with. I want a full plan. We meet her in two hours. From the Guardians, take Seamus, Hunter, Emma, and Cheep. Combat kit, not robes. Get them all to the Great Hall now, and I'll explain the situation.'

Harry stood up and left the room quickly, going to his dorm with Zab to make their own preparations. Soon Zab left to round up the Guards, and Harry left to break the news to Fire. When he entered the dueling room, they almost didn't recognize him. Harry wore boots, black combat trousers, and a black t-shirt. His blades were in place, and his wand was at his belt. Strapped to his right thigh was his revolver, and in his hand was his staff. When he spoke his voice was grim.

'Go and get into your combat kit. Come back here fully armed as soon as you can. Go.'

They left immediately, and returned, fully expecting an explanation. Instead, Harry simply pointed towards a rack of rifles, muttered,

'Get to know them, and go to the Great Hall in an hour.'

and left. Casting hurried glances at each other they did as they were told. An hour later they joined the mass of Guards gathered in the Great Hall. They were greeted with whispers, caused mostly by the fact that they looked completely different to the others, and that they each now carried their rifle slung over their shoulders. The whispers were quelled when Zab, their commander, stepped up.

'Listen up all of you. It's time for you to prove your worth. Early tomorrow, you will get your first taste of live battle. Hawk will explain more.'

He stepped down, and Harry took his place.

'Death Eaters have taken control of a Ministry office in France. We have been asked to recapture the area. Tomorrow is a day you will remember for the rest of your lives, the day you faced up to your fears and won. After I have finished you must go straight to your meeting rooms and wait there. Your IC's will explain further. It is vital that you do not leave your rooms until you are told to do so. 2IC's, lead your groups. Go.'

Harry was pleased to see the groups leaving quickly for their stations, and turned to the chosen leaders.

'Sit. Alright, Rook, what have you got for us?'

All faces turned to Ron.

'It's a tower building in the city centre, so by working up floor by floor we should be able to gain control. However, there are a dozen different stairways, not to mention lifts so communication will be vital. The good news is we should be able to get up to the building without being seen. Our sources tell us the ground floor is defended by a company of Italian soldiers, so getting in shouldn't be too much of a problem. Once in we simply have to work our way up, clearing each floor separately. It shouldn't be too difficult.'

'Good. Fire and Ice can handle the soldiers, while the others get the D.E.'s. Stealth, you'll lead the main force, while I take Fire and Ice.'

Zab nodded.

'I'll leave the planning up to you, so work a system out and stick to it. Hermione, transport?'

'Now there we have a problem. Brooms are out of the question, as is apparition. And it's defiantly too far for horses. I think were going to have to do it the muggle way. Trucks.'

'Great. But.it doesn't sound like we have an alternative. How long will the journey take?'

'Six hours.'

'In that case we leave at midnight. Hermione, arrange it. We meet at ten to finalize plans.'

Harry left before anyone could protest, but heard Ron comment behind him.

'Just what I want. Hours in a bloody great truck. God has a cruel sense of humor.'