Episode One Hundred and One
Part One
The plan was subtle in the effect that no one saw it coming. Dark wizards were taken by surprise by the newly dubbed 'Bounty Hunters.' The raids were effective and while the Ministry had its panties in a bunch over the new methods they could not complain about the number of dark wizards being removed from power.
They complained ardently about the location Dumbledore had chosen to house these criminals. No one thought that the Chamber of Secrets could be put to such use, but it was a simple matter of adding steel bars and minimal furniture, it already had the feel of a prison.
More students were pulled from the institution and the number of students was at a record low by Christmas holidays. No one wanted their children living and sleeping above a prison filled with malignant and festering evil. Minerva didn't know how to change public sentiment since she agreed with it.
Only one thing could change the status of 'war.' It was as if Dumbledore had been waiting for it, known it was coming. The first in a line of many attacks had been attempted on the school, the third so far in recent history.
The students were protected but with each new attack more were removed and suddenly Hogwarts was a ghost town. Its doors had closed officially for the first time in over a thousand years. There were no students to teach, no reason to keep it open as a school.
Hogwarts had become a prison, and Dumbledore's plan was coming into full sway. Now the ancient castle could really become a battleground. He would force the fight on his own territory.
Part Two
Gwen looked sideways at Harry. The long tables had been vacated by students and refilled with all sorts of Order wizards and witches. Many of them were here as prison guards, armed with wands that they used as stun guns. Others were here as support in case of another of the now frequent attacks.
Harry returned Gwen's imperious glance. A question passed between them and Gwen's mouth couldn't work out the answer just yet. They had both felt it, like the cold hand of death slapping them. Voldemort was near and feeling deadly.
They stood abruptly, and didn't bother to hide their hasty retreat into the entrance hall. They rushed up the stairs with no need for words. Dumbledore needed to know immediately that his psychic beacons were on high alert.
Even knowing that he was near they were surprised to find that the view of the front lawn was obscured by hundreds of squat black tents. It had stopped them dead in their tracks at the top of the first landing on the staircase. It seemed that the dark forces had mobilized and were taking Dumbledore's forced hand seriously. They would fight and they would fight at Hogwarts.
The view was terrible and awe inspiring all in the same breath.
Gwen's heart did a little jump as she spotted a bright blond helmet of hair standing amongst a group of chatting wizards. He was the only one who was unmasked and Gwen recognized that proud profile. Her hopes that Draco would change had obviously not panned out.
She shook her head and continued up the stairs. If she could ever help that boy get his head turned around now was not the time. Dumbledore needed to know that Voldemort was near and the sudden appearance of all of those tents could not go unnoticed either.
They continued their way up the stairs after a moment of awestruck silence. Their journey was slower now, hindered by a dragging sensation they couldn't fend off. Their feet lugged and each step became an inward battle to continue. The chore of getting to Dumbledore's office had suddenly become near impossible.
When finally they arrived at the foot of the stairs they looked at each other like people who had crossed the sea in a dinghy. "I don't remember the stairs ever being that trying." Harry said breathlessly.
"Me either. Something is definitely out of place."
When they entered the office they found it empty. Each of them drew a heavy breath and exchanged another silent volley of question and answer. The entire thing was being played out like an old silent movie without all of the wild gesticulation. There was an understanding that had been built over their few short years of friendship that had lain dormant for months. It was now actively allowing them communication without words.
The queer dumb show played itself out and finally Gwen understood. The castle's enchantments and protections had been slowly whittled down over the last few months by those hardened individuals in residence of the Chamber of Secrets. The reinforcements had arrived and it wouldn't be much longer before chaos reigned. The old magic was being replaced with new magic for a dark purpose. The stairs had become a trap.
Part Three
There was no way to apparate within the castle grounds. The risk of getting stuck in the sluggish enchantment on the stairs was not one either Harry or Gwen was willing to take. So they sat in Dumbledore's office trying to think of some way to alert the others to the presence outside and the well laid plans from below.
"If we could get a hold of an owl." Harry mused.
"That would be fantastic, but…" A thought occurred to her and her eyes grew big. "I can fly over the stairs and it might not affect animals. I can't believe I didn't think of it before."
"Think of what?" Harry asked.
"I'm an animagus Harry. I can turn into a swan."
Harry smiled. "It's brilliant."
"I only hope it works. I'll try and find Dumbledore and then I'll see if we can get you down." Without another moment wasted she transformed before his eyes and become the snowy white swan with the tiny star etched in her breast. She took to flight without hesitation and floated down the stairs with ease. Perhaps if she could get a broom to Harry he could fly over it as well.
She did not find Dumbledore, but she ran headlong into Minerva and while returning to her human-like self began a detailed account of what she had seen and felt and the staircase conundrum. Minerva nodded as if she were not truly surprised by the transpiring of these events. "And you have not seen Professor Dumbledore?"
"Neither hide nor hair." Gwen replied. "But we must do something, with or without him."
Minerva appraised the young woman slightly. She had remembered very well her god-daughter's determination and courage, but she had never seen it in play. She nodded brusquely as Gwen turned away. "But first thing's first. I must get Harry down that staircase."
It was as easy as she had assumed. She found a broom quickly enough, tied it so that it would hang from her neck and not strain her wings. She floated it up to him and he floated down with her, still in swan form. They met Minerva in the Great Hall, stopping short to listen. She was explaining something to the wizards and witches gathered and they were all very rapt.
Gwen recognized that stature, the tone of voice she was using. She was delivering an address to her troops.
The war was on.
