Thanks to everyone who reviewed! I know the last chapter was a little odd
and this one doesn't seem to have anything to do with it, just be patient
okay? Next chapter should be up within a few days if not sooner.
Chapter 2 Fighting the Dark
Stilgar ran down the alleyway, completely lost, his mother's words running through his head. An explosion off to his left made him dart deeper into the shadows. Go Stil! Don't stop and don't look back, get away! And Stilgar had run, run as fast as he could away from the advancing death eaters that had his family trapped in their basement. Around him the air was thick with smoke, the sky burned orange and red as the entire town went up in flames. Struggling for breath he though he heard someone behind him, turning he tripped and went crashing into some garbage cans. Some shingles fell where he had been standing; a few minutes later there was a roaring crash as the building fell in. The heat was so intense it hurt and the fire was loud it roared around him. Just then the house on his other side seemed to twist sickeningly as half of it collapsed in as a spell blasted away the bottom half. Burning boards fell around him. He could here screams all around and curses being shouted. Suddenly some forms on brooms streaked overhead, Stilgar choked on smoke and recognized their robes, the Order of the Phoenix. He struggles dot stand, just then five death eaters rounded the corner. Before them ran four people, all of them pouring blood from bad wounds, one man was missing an arm. They came to the wall where Stilgar stood and turned, screaming in fear, trying to find a place to hide. All one teenager could do was curl up in a tight ball and scream. "No no no no no no!" He wailed, a huge billowing cloud of smoke and embers engulfed them and his screams turned to whispers. Stilgar pulled his shirt up over his face and kept low, suddenly the smoke cleared with the aid of spells. The five death eaters stood in a line staring down through dark mark masks at their terrified captives.
"Ah another one!' One murmured pointing to Stilgar, who shrank back, his mouth dry with fear. It was happening, it really was, all that they heard in the news, people being hanged, chopped up, it was happening, to him! Somehow it seemed unreal, he'd never thought of himself as a possible victim. A little voice in his head shouted NO this isn't happening, not to you! But it was.
"Five, good we'll each get one to kill." Said a harsh voice form the one who appeared to be in charge, a dark mark was embroidered on each sleeve.
"I thought anyone young enough and in good enough condition to be trained as a future death eater or slave should be taken alive?" Asked another, his voice was slow and stupid.
"Yes…oh yeah, the Lord would be displeased if his orders were not followed. Fine, I still get to kill one of them; we'll take that boy back." He growled, gesturing at Stilgar, they all turned to the others except for one who advanced on Stilgar, wand raised.
"Good evening." Everything stopped, shrieks form the prisoners were heard, Stilgar opened the eyes he hadn't known he'd closed, and wished he hadn't.
Standing in long black robes just behind his death eaters was Voldemort's apprentice, marked by the fact he wore no mask and his robes were covered with tiny ark marks. His face…his nose as flat and snakish, the eyes were faintly red and glowed; his skin was white as bone, even his lips, even his tongue when he spoke.
"Five, one prisoner four to be killed. Use the cruciatus curse for a half hour, then tear them apart." That was it, no hint of mercy or regret as he assigned them their deaths. "That youngster will make an excellent death eater, but first he needs to learn a lesson…use the curse on him for a half hour as well, then bring him the Lord." Just then another group of death eaters passed, Stilgar could see the looks on the faces of eight prisoners of all ages as they were marched to the town center for a special execution by Voldemort's best. All of them were screaming and twisting, trying to free themselves of collars and shackles that burned red hot. The dark lord's apprentice left with them, the death eaters turned back to their prey. High above each of them shot up a dark mark into the sky already filled by hundreds of others. A huge explosion shook the earth and the level of screaming abruptly rose. Stilgar could see through a gap in the fence people being lined up in groups, having their legs broken, then having the curse used on them by death eaters who prolonged the half hours by infrequent rests during which they broke the prisoners fingers or kicked in their ribs. Others were haled up into a tree by their necks of by he metal hooks sunk into their stomachs or ankles.
Suddenly a foot collided with Stilgar's face and tumbled backwards, chains leaped out of a wand and wrapped themselves around his neck and wrists, they burned Stilgar screamed and struggled and they charred his skin, to no avail.
"Crucio!" they all yelled, Stilgar could do nothing but stare at the curse leaping from the wand point towards him, there was nowhere to run, no room to dodge. Suddenly a figure leaped over the wall behind them, a huge gold shield leaped into being and the figure flung itself at the death eaters. It attacked viciously, flipping and whirling, striking out with hands, feet, ropes of lightning, fireballs, and curses. Five minutes later the alley was in utter ruins, the cobblestone street torn to shreds by the violence of the fight. The death eaters lay on the ground motionless. The figure turned back to them, they couldn't see his face for a hood but he wore black pants and shirt and boots with silver runes and trim. From his shoulders hung a huge black hooded cape, attached on each shoulder by a silver clasp. Idly he wiped off a knife on a death eater's body and it vanished up his sleeve, then he lowered the hood.
Stilgar found himself looking into a pair of dazzling emerald eyes; suddenly a wand wipe out and the chains vanished…with the killing of the death eaters the burning had stopped. Then he stopped the blood, mostly, flowing from the stump that had once been the old man's arm.
"Come, The Order of the Phoenix is retaking the town. I'll take you to the evacuee departure area. There you'll be taken the Fortress to have your injuries treated."
"My daughter!" One woman shouted, "where is she?"
"Ma'am everyone is being taken to the Fortress, you'll probably meet her there." Then he turned and lifted them all into the air with a spell, suddenly a broom appeared in his hand and he flew off with them in tow, dodging curses that flew up at them like snowflakes in a storm.
Finally they saw a huge well lit area ahead, people were rushing everywhere and large groups disappearing. They were landed near one of these.
"Faron! Five more here, they're hurt pretty bad," their rescuer paused as he surveyed the lines of people waiting to get out and the order members using portkeys to transport them. "I'll juts take them myself," suddenly a very bright light was everywhere, then they were in a huge cave, people were seated everywhere in chairs.
"You two who are unhurt, please wait here, the rest of you follow me." Two stayed and Stilgar left with the rest, they were led out into another giant cavern, twice as big as the one before. In the back yet another cavern branched off. They were led into here and joined about a hundred and fifty others seated about, waiting for the healers to call them.
A half hour later Stilgar was told to come in, a nurse with blood all over her led him to a wheeled bed and helped him up. She treated the injuries on his neck and wrists, then he was sent back out to the main cavern.
Everywhere along the walls were little rooms with cloth hangings for walls. Stilgar was put into one of these and asked his name, and family members names. Then he was told to wait, if…when they found his family they would bring them to him. He was given a number and told to remember it, 234. Then he was left alone.
**
Harry made nine trips to the town and back, then went into the healer's area and began to help heal people. Because of his skill he was put in the room for those with the worst injuries. Reattaching limbs, someone with a rope with a hook on the end sunk all the way through them, another without five square inches of unburned skin on him…he saw it all and tried his best to help them. Finally he was sent back out. Harry hurried over to the office where every person brought in was organized. For those that came single this was the only way to find their families. Each of the little rooms had a number, each family had a room. Currently there were 288 rooms and 390 people in them; another 172 uninjured were waiting in the entrance room. When a family member was found and healed and put in a room the uninjured or only slightly hurt family member who had been waiting was told that someone for their family had been found and joined that person (s) in their room. Most of the people in the main hall were sleeping, better for healing, but those in the entrance room were awake and waiting for news on how their loved ones had fared. All dead were sent to another cave next door to await identification by family members, probably not for a few days. Each patient who was conscious was asked their name first and given a name tag before being healed. The people were healed in groups of fifteen, fifteen in the room at a time. Harry took the job of getting them to the right room with their family afterwards.
Harry hurried into the entrance room, clipboard in his hand, ignoring his bloodstained robes. When he entered everyone went silent, all hoping that their name would be called and they would be reunited with a family member.
"Mrs. Anderson?" A middle-aged woman in the back stood up quickly and hurried forward. "We have your daughter, your husband's in surgery. Miss Sedro?" A young girl looking to be about nine came running up. "Anita Walker? Clarice Towning? Jeff Hamis?" The three people came up to him, the others slumped a little.
"How long until we can go home?" A man with soot in his hair asked.
"The town is still burning, and there's still over fifty people out there somewhere. There's still a lot of heavy fighting going on." This was greeted with worried murmurs.
"Is your facility here big enough?"
"Barely, the Order has taken heavy losses over the past month, there's only four patrols here in England at the moment. Aside from your town Faerlow was also attacked. Everyone form that town is in the other wing. It could take days to finish healing everyone and identifying the bodies."
"What about our families?!"
"Patience, we're doing everything we can to save them. Sometime tomorrow morning everyone will be asked to help identify the bodies. The fighting in the town should be over by midday tomorrow, then the repair and fire fighting crews will really be able to work." Harry responded, not taking insult at the man's anger, he was worried about his family, that was all. Harry nodded to the five and they followed him out. Harry showed them each to the small rooms where their family member(s) were, and then he headed back to surgery.
Stilgar was waiting quietly, watching everything going on in the room with interest. It was very noisy, but the healers all seemed to know what they were doing. Then he spotted Harry pushing a bed with someone lying on it towards him. Stilgar almost stood, but Harry gestured for him to stay down as he pushed Stilgar's eight-year-old sister into the small room beside Stilgar's bed.
"Is she okay?"
"Broken leg, two broken ribs, burns on one cheek, but she should be fine. She's under a sleeping spell right now though. She'll wake up in the morning around eight." Harry assured the younger boy.
"Has anyone found my mum and dad?" Stilgar asked, looking up hopefully.
"Yes, your dad's being healed right now, we haven't located your mother yet. But we don't have every person here identified either. Someone should bring your dad over in about a half hour."
"Okay, thanks Harry."
"Anytime Stil, see you." Harry turned and hurried out and back to the entrance chamber. Stilgar sat cross-legged waiting, watching his sisters even breathing and worrying over his parents.
**
Harry collapsed into a chair as the rest of the council came in. This was one of the worst attacks yet.
"Alright everyone, the fighting is almost over, there's still a small pocket of death eaters holding out on us but…" Miranda paused as did everyone, receiving a message form Sirius. "I appears they've been "dealt with", the repair crews?"
"They're all inside the town, it's tough work, the death eaters really dud a number on it." Mundungus reported in.
"Voldemort took a portkey out just before we raised the wards. He took fifteen prisoners with him. There's still thirty eight missing besides them." Harry blinked and tried to stay awake, he'd been up since dawn two days ago and had spent most of it healing and fighting.
"There are no plans to attack for the next few weeks so we should have enough time to work on the towns." Sarlan supplied.
"Alright then, Green patrol and Maroon, you're on vacation for two weeks, I suppose you're leaving Harry?" Miranda asked him.
"Yes, but first I'll drop in with my spies and see if they can't root out anything new, I'll be in touch." She nodded and he left.
**
Harry had been spending the summer on a tropical island Sirius's family had owned for eight generations. It was warm with perfect waves for surfing or just swimming. And he was the only human on it. When he got back he was greeted by a hoot from Hedwig as she soared overhead and a hiss from Kino, a friendly fifteen-foot long water snake who lived in the stream that ran by the large house. Harry toppled into bed, absolutely exhausted.
Please Review! A nice LONG chapter! I'm aiming for longer chapter sin this story.
Chapter 2 Fighting the Dark
Stilgar ran down the alleyway, completely lost, his mother's words running through his head. An explosion off to his left made him dart deeper into the shadows. Go Stil! Don't stop and don't look back, get away! And Stilgar had run, run as fast as he could away from the advancing death eaters that had his family trapped in their basement. Around him the air was thick with smoke, the sky burned orange and red as the entire town went up in flames. Struggling for breath he though he heard someone behind him, turning he tripped and went crashing into some garbage cans. Some shingles fell where he had been standing; a few minutes later there was a roaring crash as the building fell in. The heat was so intense it hurt and the fire was loud it roared around him. Just then the house on his other side seemed to twist sickeningly as half of it collapsed in as a spell blasted away the bottom half. Burning boards fell around him. He could here screams all around and curses being shouted. Suddenly some forms on brooms streaked overhead, Stilgar choked on smoke and recognized their robes, the Order of the Phoenix. He struggles dot stand, just then five death eaters rounded the corner. Before them ran four people, all of them pouring blood from bad wounds, one man was missing an arm. They came to the wall where Stilgar stood and turned, screaming in fear, trying to find a place to hide. All one teenager could do was curl up in a tight ball and scream. "No no no no no no!" He wailed, a huge billowing cloud of smoke and embers engulfed them and his screams turned to whispers. Stilgar pulled his shirt up over his face and kept low, suddenly the smoke cleared with the aid of spells. The five death eaters stood in a line staring down through dark mark masks at their terrified captives.
"Ah another one!' One murmured pointing to Stilgar, who shrank back, his mouth dry with fear. It was happening, it really was, all that they heard in the news, people being hanged, chopped up, it was happening, to him! Somehow it seemed unreal, he'd never thought of himself as a possible victim. A little voice in his head shouted NO this isn't happening, not to you! But it was.
"Five, good we'll each get one to kill." Said a harsh voice form the one who appeared to be in charge, a dark mark was embroidered on each sleeve.
"I thought anyone young enough and in good enough condition to be trained as a future death eater or slave should be taken alive?" Asked another, his voice was slow and stupid.
"Yes…oh yeah, the Lord would be displeased if his orders were not followed. Fine, I still get to kill one of them; we'll take that boy back." He growled, gesturing at Stilgar, they all turned to the others except for one who advanced on Stilgar, wand raised.
"Good evening." Everything stopped, shrieks form the prisoners were heard, Stilgar opened the eyes he hadn't known he'd closed, and wished he hadn't.
Standing in long black robes just behind his death eaters was Voldemort's apprentice, marked by the fact he wore no mask and his robes were covered with tiny ark marks. His face…his nose as flat and snakish, the eyes were faintly red and glowed; his skin was white as bone, even his lips, even his tongue when he spoke.
"Five, one prisoner four to be killed. Use the cruciatus curse for a half hour, then tear them apart." That was it, no hint of mercy or regret as he assigned them their deaths. "That youngster will make an excellent death eater, but first he needs to learn a lesson…use the curse on him for a half hour as well, then bring him the Lord." Just then another group of death eaters passed, Stilgar could see the looks on the faces of eight prisoners of all ages as they were marched to the town center for a special execution by Voldemort's best. All of them were screaming and twisting, trying to free themselves of collars and shackles that burned red hot. The dark lord's apprentice left with them, the death eaters turned back to their prey. High above each of them shot up a dark mark into the sky already filled by hundreds of others. A huge explosion shook the earth and the level of screaming abruptly rose. Stilgar could see through a gap in the fence people being lined up in groups, having their legs broken, then having the curse used on them by death eaters who prolonged the half hours by infrequent rests during which they broke the prisoners fingers or kicked in their ribs. Others were haled up into a tree by their necks of by he metal hooks sunk into their stomachs or ankles.
Suddenly a foot collided with Stilgar's face and tumbled backwards, chains leaped out of a wand and wrapped themselves around his neck and wrists, they burned Stilgar screamed and struggled and they charred his skin, to no avail.
"Crucio!" they all yelled, Stilgar could do nothing but stare at the curse leaping from the wand point towards him, there was nowhere to run, no room to dodge. Suddenly a figure leaped over the wall behind them, a huge gold shield leaped into being and the figure flung itself at the death eaters. It attacked viciously, flipping and whirling, striking out with hands, feet, ropes of lightning, fireballs, and curses. Five minutes later the alley was in utter ruins, the cobblestone street torn to shreds by the violence of the fight. The death eaters lay on the ground motionless. The figure turned back to them, they couldn't see his face for a hood but he wore black pants and shirt and boots with silver runes and trim. From his shoulders hung a huge black hooded cape, attached on each shoulder by a silver clasp. Idly he wiped off a knife on a death eater's body and it vanished up his sleeve, then he lowered the hood.
Stilgar found himself looking into a pair of dazzling emerald eyes; suddenly a wand wipe out and the chains vanished…with the killing of the death eaters the burning had stopped. Then he stopped the blood, mostly, flowing from the stump that had once been the old man's arm.
"Come, The Order of the Phoenix is retaking the town. I'll take you to the evacuee departure area. There you'll be taken the Fortress to have your injuries treated."
"My daughter!" One woman shouted, "where is she?"
"Ma'am everyone is being taken to the Fortress, you'll probably meet her there." Then he turned and lifted them all into the air with a spell, suddenly a broom appeared in his hand and he flew off with them in tow, dodging curses that flew up at them like snowflakes in a storm.
Finally they saw a huge well lit area ahead, people were rushing everywhere and large groups disappearing. They were landed near one of these.
"Faron! Five more here, they're hurt pretty bad," their rescuer paused as he surveyed the lines of people waiting to get out and the order members using portkeys to transport them. "I'll juts take them myself," suddenly a very bright light was everywhere, then they were in a huge cave, people were seated everywhere in chairs.
"You two who are unhurt, please wait here, the rest of you follow me." Two stayed and Stilgar left with the rest, they were led out into another giant cavern, twice as big as the one before. In the back yet another cavern branched off. They were led into here and joined about a hundred and fifty others seated about, waiting for the healers to call them.
A half hour later Stilgar was told to come in, a nurse with blood all over her led him to a wheeled bed and helped him up. She treated the injuries on his neck and wrists, then he was sent back out to the main cavern.
Everywhere along the walls were little rooms with cloth hangings for walls. Stilgar was put into one of these and asked his name, and family members names. Then he was told to wait, if…when they found his family they would bring them to him. He was given a number and told to remember it, 234. Then he was left alone.
**
Harry made nine trips to the town and back, then went into the healer's area and began to help heal people. Because of his skill he was put in the room for those with the worst injuries. Reattaching limbs, someone with a rope with a hook on the end sunk all the way through them, another without five square inches of unburned skin on him…he saw it all and tried his best to help them. Finally he was sent back out. Harry hurried over to the office where every person brought in was organized. For those that came single this was the only way to find their families. Each of the little rooms had a number, each family had a room. Currently there were 288 rooms and 390 people in them; another 172 uninjured were waiting in the entrance room. When a family member was found and healed and put in a room the uninjured or only slightly hurt family member who had been waiting was told that someone for their family had been found and joined that person (s) in their room. Most of the people in the main hall were sleeping, better for healing, but those in the entrance room were awake and waiting for news on how their loved ones had fared. All dead were sent to another cave next door to await identification by family members, probably not for a few days. Each patient who was conscious was asked their name first and given a name tag before being healed. The people were healed in groups of fifteen, fifteen in the room at a time. Harry took the job of getting them to the right room with their family afterwards.
Harry hurried into the entrance room, clipboard in his hand, ignoring his bloodstained robes. When he entered everyone went silent, all hoping that their name would be called and they would be reunited with a family member.
"Mrs. Anderson?" A middle-aged woman in the back stood up quickly and hurried forward. "We have your daughter, your husband's in surgery. Miss Sedro?" A young girl looking to be about nine came running up. "Anita Walker? Clarice Towning? Jeff Hamis?" The three people came up to him, the others slumped a little.
"How long until we can go home?" A man with soot in his hair asked.
"The town is still burning, and there's still over fifty people out there somewhere. There's still a lot of heavy fighting going on." This was greeted with worried murmurs.
"Is your facility here big enough?"
"Barely, the Order has taken heavy losses over the past month, there's only four patrols here in England at the moment. Aside from your town Faerlow was also attacked. Everyone form that town is in the other wing. It could take days to finish healing everyone and identifying the bodies."
"What about our families?!"
"Patience, we're doing everything we can to save them. Sometime tomorrow morning everyone will be asked to help identify the bodies. The fighting in the town should be over by midday tomorrow, then the repair and fire fighting crews will really be able to work." Harry responded, not taking insult at the man's anger, he was worried about his family, that was all. Harry nodded to the five and they followed him out. Harry showed them each to the small rooms where their family member(s) were, and then he headed back to surgery.
Stilgar was waiting quietly, watching everything going on in the room with interest. It was very noisy, but the healers all seemed to know what they were doing. Then he spotted Harry pushing a bed with someone lying on it towards him. Stilgar almost stood, but Harry gestured for him to stay down as he pushed Stilgar's eight-year-old sister into the small room beside Stilgar's bed.
"Is she okay?"
"Broken leg, two broken ribs, burns on one cheek, but she should be fine. She's under a sleeping spell right now though. She'll wake up in the morning around eight." Harry assured the younger boy.
"Has anyone found my mum and dad?" Stilgar asked, looking up hopefully.
"Yes, your dad's being healed right now, we haven't located your mother yet. But we don't have every person here identified either. Someone should bring your dad over in about a half hour."
"Okay, thanks Harry."
"Anytime Stil, see you." Harry turned and hurried out and back to the entrance chamber. Stilgar sat cross-legged waiting, watching his sisters even breathing and worrying over his parents.
**
Harry collapsed into a chair as the rest of the council came in. This was one of the worst attacks yet.
"Alright everyone, the fighting is almost over, there's still a small pocket of death eaters holding out on us but…" Miranda paused as did everyone, receiving a message form Sirius. "I appears they've been "dealt with", the repair crews?"
"They're all inside the town, it's tough work, the death eaters really dud a number on it." Mundungus reported in.
"Voldemort took a portkey out just before we raised the wards. He took fifteen prisoners with him. There's still thirty eight missing besides them." Harry blinked and tried to stay awake, he'd been up since dawn two days ago and had spent most of it healing and fighting.
"There are no plans to attack for the next few weeks so we should have enough time to work on the towns." Sarlan supplied.
"Alright then, Green patrol and Maroon, you're on vacation for two weeks, I suppose you're leaving Harry?" Miranda asked him.
"Yes, but first I'll drop in with my spies and see if they can't root out anything new, I'll be in touch." She nodded and he left.
**
Harry had been spending the summer on a tropical island Sirius's family had owned for eight generations. It was warm with perfect waves for surfing or just swimming. And he was the only human on it. When he got back he was greeted by a hoot from Hedwig as she soared overhead and a hiss from Kino, a friendly fifteen-foot long water snake who lived in the stream that ran by the large house. Harry toppled into bed, absolutely exhausted.
Please Review! A nice LONG chapter! I'm aiming for longer chapter sin this story.