Chapter 19
By the early hours of the next morning, those who had been chosen were struggling to sleep while they were bounced around in the back of a few four-toners. As the morning wore on, fewer were asleep, as the adrenalin started to pump. In the leading truck, Harry was quietly contemplating what was soon to happen. Just before six in the morning, the trucks pulled to a stop, and the young wizards stepped out onto the quiet streets of a French town. Half and hour later, they reached the tower block, and were slightly alarmed to see the audience that had gathered.
Fire and Ice assembled quickly around Harry. In the early morning light he could see the whites of their eyes, and he felt the excitement in their hearts. All had pushed back the fear, and all were prepared to risk everything. Harry felt pride. He turned to Sea, who he had chosen as his 2IC, and gripped his wrist in the sigh of Guardians. Sea nodded in return, and Harry gave the signal to move out. They had agreed on absolute silence.
They crept around the side of the building to one of the side entrances, which lay eerily open. Looking around the edge of the door, Harry could see the long barrel of a gun coming from the desk on his side. Apart from that, the immediate room looked clear. Harry called half of Fire to him. He edged away from the door and explained the plan.
'There is a guard just inside the door. You are going to go down the other side of the door, and do a quick dive into cover. You stay there until I call you out. Take no risks.'
Harry's voice was quit, but all were ready to trust to his words. He nodded to them and mouthed 'Go', before withdrawing back to the edge of the door. His heart was pounding as he waited for the distraction he had planned. Minutes later, it happened.
The Guards sprang into the entranced hall, triggering a blaze of fire from the sentry. As soon as Harry heard the click of the sentry ejecting his empty magazine he moved. With a speed born of desperation he dived forwards, rolling around the desk to halt kneeling before the surprised soldier. Not giving himself time to think, Harry squeezed the trigger, turning away so he did not have to see the effects of his shot. He had killed a man.
He gave a low whistle, calling the rest of Fire and Ice into the room. They entered silently, as the group Harry had chosen rose from their refuge. Harry nodded to them, before turning to Sea. He raised both hands and pointed towards one of the doors at the end of the room. He sent half of Fire and half of Ice with him, while he led the rest through the other door. Jack, and Fred and George were with him.
As the two group moved slowly through the rooms, they were soon immersed in a furious struggle with the soldiers, between life and death. As they took a breather after a particularly difficult fire-fight, several wondered how any of them would come out alive. Nearly all nursed injuries, though no one had yet fallen. A third years called Jon was the worst off, having been caught unawares by a thrown knife. Thankfully it had hit hilt first, though it mean this vision through his left eye was almost nil. After all had caught their breath, they moved on, knowing that the faster they were finished, the faster the other could start to fight the Death Eaters.
An hour after they entered the building, the groups emerged from the front. To those waiting there, they looked like different people. Fred was being supported by George, having taken a knife in the side when a wounded soldier lunged up behind them. Harry himself was nursing several broken ribs, after having got in a fight with a disarmed officer. Harry retaliatory blow had knocked the man out cold. Jack had blood running down his chest and back, and his shirt was in shreds. All looked similar.
As the others started their attack, Ginny rushed forward with her helpers, and quickly had the worst injured lying down on blankets. Harry had to be dragged away from Jacks bed, where he was trying to remove the rest of the boy's shirt, so Ginny could fix his own injuries. Conscious of the muggles still watching, she did not use magic, instead carefully binding his ribs, her hands light on his chest. Harry smiled at her as she worked, despite the pain.
'Thank you. How's Fred? It looked pretty nasty.'
'He'll be fine. No permanent damage, he'll just have scar for his future girlfriends to admire.' Ginny replied.
'So girl's like guys with some scars huh?' Harry's voice was sceptical.
'Well I do.' She answered, looking determinedly at what she was doing.
Harry raised his eyebrow and was about to ask another question when they were interrupted as several windows half way up the tower shattered and rained down on the pavements. Harry swore, and got up, Ginny just having finished with his ribs. He gave her a quick smile before returning to check on Jack.
What seemed like days later, Harry heard the signal from the roof of the tower that meant success. All around they cheered, and several ran inside to help the weary fighters out. Zab was the last out of the building. Looking much the worse for ware, he walked up to Harry. They gripped wrists in the sign of the Guardians, and Harry helped his weary friend sit down, before asking questions.
'How did it go?'
'The place was packed. It wasn't too bad until we got halfway up. It took nearly an hour to clear that one floor. You would have seen the windows.' Hary nodded.
'We split up like we agreed, and it worked. It just took a little longer than we expected. The Dementors nearly had us. But we did it.'
'Yes, you did it. Casualties?' Harry voice betrayed his concern.
'Mostly minor, though there are a few who could have been in trouble if it took much longer. I didn't see a single Death Eater use AK. It was weird.' Harry sighed, his worry dispersed.
'We won't look a gift horse in the mouth. Nice job.' Zab shrugged.
'It's not what I though it would be, combat, I mean. I never thought I'd kill someone, and yet there are some of us who aren't even thirteen, and did it today without thinking.'
'We will kill again before this is over. It is the way it has to be. Our destiny as the Guardians. It was decide for us, but we cannot refuse it.'
As they walked among the Guards, congratulating here, and reassuring there, Harry and Zab felt strong again. They had come through, and they would again. At lunch food was passed out to hungry fighters, as the Guards discussed their first taste of combat. Jack was soon walking, despite the ugly wounds on his upper body. He spent much of the afternoon with Harry, talking about lighter matters.
The crowds thinned throughout the day, and by nightfall it was quiet enough for the worst of the injured to be sent back by portkey, while the rest enjoyed another bumpy ride in the trucks. Harry was thankful for this. The though of taking a portkey sent fear tingling through his body.
A sleepless night later, all were back at Hogwarts. Because it was a Sunday, the entire school was granted a day off, and for the first time in weeks the sun shone. Many took the opportunity to enter the Quiddich tournament organised by Madame Hooch.
Harry himself formed a team with the rest of the Weasleys, with Ron as keeper, Fred and George as beaters. And Bill and Charlie as Chasers. Because Ginny declined the offer of a place, Jack completed the team. Because they were not on until the afternoon, they decided to relax by the side of the lake. The day was hot, and soon the boys were in swim shorts. Both Harry and Jack moved with caution, but their injuries did not stop them taking part in the huge Gryffindor/Ravenclaw water fight that developed.
The only thing that ended it was an annoyed Madame Hooch announcing that unless they got into the air immediately, they would be disqualified. Several games later, the team were the undisputed winners. According to most, this was a foregone conclusion, as the team was made up of some of the best Quiddich players Hogwarts had ever seen. Harry retired to bed happy, and with a rising confidence in the light.
Ok - that's it for now. Sorry about chapter 18 it wasn't up to scratch, to me this one was better, agree? Next chapter up v.soon. Thanks for any reviews. - Pose
By the early hours of the next morning, those who had been chosen were struggling to sleep while they were bounced around in the back of a few four-toners. As the morning wore on, fewer were asleep, as the adrenalin started to pump. In the leading truck, Harry was quietly contemplating what was soon to happen. Just before six in the morning, the trucks pulled to a stop, and the young wizards stepped out onto the quiet streets of a French town. Half and hour later, they reached the tower block, and were slightly alarmed to see the audience that had gathered.
Fire and Ice assembled quickly around Harry. In the early morning light he could see the whites of their eyes, and he felt the excitement in their hearts. All had pushed back the fear, and all were prepared to risk everything. Harry felt pride. He turned to Sea, who he had chosen as his 2IC, and gripped his wrist in the sigh of Guardians. Sea nodded in return, and Harry gave the signal to move out. They had agreed on absolute silence.
They crept around the side of the building to one of the side entrances, which lay eerily open. Looking around the edge of the door, Harry could see the long barrel of a gun coming from the desk on his side. Apart from that, the immediate room looked clear. Harry called half of Fire to him. He edged away from the door and explained the plan.
'There is a guard just inside the door. You are going to go down the other side of the door, and do a quick dive into cover. You stay there until I call you out. Take no risks.'
Harry's voice was quit, but all were ready to trust to his words. He nodded to them and mouthed 'Go', before withdrawing back to the edge of the door. His heart was pounding as he waited for the distraction he had planned. Minutes later, it happened.
The Guards sprang into the entranced hall, triggering a blaze of fire from the sentry. As soon as Harry heard the click of the sentry ejecting his empty magazine he moved. With a speed born of desperation he dived forwards, rolling around the desk to halt kneeling before the surprised soldier. Not giving himself time to think, Harry squeezed the trigger, turning away so he did not have to see the effects of his shot. He had killed a man.
He gave a low whistle, calling the rest of Fire and Ice into the room. They entered silently, as the group Harry had chosen rose from their refuge. Harry nodded to them, before turning to Sea. He raised both hands and pointed towards one of the doors at the end of the room. He sent half of Fire and half of Ice with him, while he led the rest through the other door. Jack, and Fred and George were with him.
As the two group moved slowly through the rooms, they were soon immersed in a furious struggle with the soldiers, between life and death. As they took a breather after a particularly difficult fire-fight, several wondered how any of them would come out alive. Nearly all nursed injuries, though no one had yet fallen. A third years called Jon was the worst off, having been caught unawares by a thrown knife. Thankfully it had hit hilt first, though it mean this vision through his left eye was almost nil. After all had caught their breath, they moved on, knowing that the faster they were finished, the faster the other could start to fight the Death Eaters.
An hour after they entered the building, the groups emerged from the front. To those waiting there, they looked like different people. Fred was being supported by George, having taken a knife in the side when a wounded soldier lunged up behind them. Harry himself was nursing several broken ribs, after having got in a fight with a disarmed officer. Harry retaliatory blow had knocked the man out cold. Jack had blood running down his chest and back, and his shirt was in shreds. All looked similar.
As the others started their attack, Ginny rushed forward with her helpers, and quickly had the worst injured lying down on blankets. Harry had to be dragged away from Jacks bed, where he was trying to remove the rest of the boy's shirt, so Ginny could fix his own injuries. Conscious of the muggles still watching, she did not use magic, instead carefully binding his ribs, her hands light on his chest. Harry smiled at her as she worked, despite the pain.
'Thank you. How's Fred? It looked pretty nasty.'
'He'll be fine. No permanent damage, he'll just have scar for his future girlfriends to admire.' Ginny replied.
'So girl's like guys with some scars huh?' Harry's voice was sceptical.
'Well I do.' She answered, looking determinedly at what she was doing.
Harry raised his eyebrow and was about to ask another question when they were interrupted as several windows half way up the tower shattered and rained down on the pavements. Harry swore, and got up, Ginny just having finished with his ribs. He gave her a quick smile before returning to check on Jack.
What seemed like days later, Harry heard the signal from the roof of the tower that meant success. All around they cheered, and several ran inside to help the weary fighters out. Zab was the last out of the building. Looking much the worse for ware, he walked up to Harry. They gripped wrists in the sign of the Guardians, and Harry helped his weary friend sit down, before asking questions.
'How did it go?'
'The place was packed. It wasn't too bad until we got halfway up. It took nearly an hour to clear that one floor. You would have seen the windows.' Hary nodded.
'We split up like we agreed, and it worked. It just took a little longer than we expected. The Dementors nearly had us. But we did it.'
'Yes, you did it. Casualties?' Harry voice betrayed his concern.
'Mostly minor, though there are a few who could have been in trouble if it took much longer. I didn't see a single Death Eater use AK. It was weird.' Harry sighed, his worry dispersed.
'We won't look a gift horse in the mouth. Nice job.' Zab shrugged.
'It's not what I though it would be, combat, I mean. I never thought I'd kill someone, and yet there are some of us who aren't even thirteen, and did it today without thinking.'
'We will kill again before this is over. It is the way it has to be. Our destiny as the Guardians. It was decide for us, but we cannot refuse it.'
As they walked among the Guards, congratulating here, and reassuring there, Harry and Zab felt strong again. They had come through, and they would again. At lunch food was passed out to hungry fighters, as the Guards discussed their first taste of combat. Jack was soon walking, despite the ugly wounds on his upper body. He spent much of the afternoon with Harry, talking about lighter matters.
The crowds thinned throughout the day, and by nightfall it was quiet enough for the worst of the injured to be sent back by portkey, while the rest enjoyed another bumpy ride in the trucks. Harry was thankful for this. The though of taking a portkey sent fear tingling through his body.
A sleepless night later, all were back at Hogwarts. Because it was a Sunday, the entire school was granted a day off, and for the first time in weeks the sun shone. Many took the opportunity to enter the Quiddich tournament organised by Madame Hooch.
Harry himself formed a team with the rest of the Weasleys, with Ron as keeper, Fred and George as beaters. And Bill and Charlie as Chasers. Because Ginny declined the offer of a place, Jack completed the team. Because they were not on until the afternoon, they decided to relax by the side of the lake. The day was hot, and soon the boys were in swim shorts. Both Harry and Jack moved with caution, but their injuries did not stop them taking part in the huge Gryffindor/Ravenclaw water fight that developed.
The only thing that ended it was an annoyed Madame Hooch announcing that unless they got into the air immediately, they would be disqualified. Several games later, the team were the undisputed winners. According to most, this was a foregone conclusion, as the team was made up of some of the best Quiddich players Hogwarts had ever seen. Harry retired to bed happy, and with a rising confidence in the light.
Ok - that's it for now. Sorry about chapter 18 it wasn't up to scratch, to me this one was better, agree? Next chapter up v.soon. Thanks for any reviews. - Pose