Harry felt as though he was being crushed. He felt his back explode in pain, it was unbearable. He was slammed down to the ground landing on his feet but falling into a crumpled heap on the floor, realisation hit home like a harsh slap, I can't feel my legs!
Harry moaned in pain, slowly his spine started to seize up and he lost all feeling below his waist.
With pure determination Harry forced his eyes open, he could hardly believe what he saw, there was no hope left, he wasn't going to get out of this one, he was still there in Azkaban, and there were two Death Eaters with their wands pointed at his heart.
~~~*~~~*~~~
Hagrid had been catching up on sleep in his hut after having been scouting parts of Scotland for Voldemort's hide out for hours, he was only awaken by the commotion when Fang jumped on his chest, realising something was wrong Hagrid jumped up and grabbed his crossbow, Fang was waiting at the door franticly for him. Hagrid saw the bodies of two of the centaurs just outside the forest,
"Bane! Creole!" The giant bounded towards his fallen friends and his eyes raked the forest for their attackers,
"What kinda coward kills innocen' creaters like tha'?"
He muttered to himself swelling with anger.
It was then that the Death Eaters came into view, hundreds of them, all cloaked in black.
Hagrid's heart thudded painfully and Fang quailed beside him,
"This is it Fang! We gotta do our bit."
Hagrid closed his eyes and charged towards the death eaters thinking only that he might stop a few of them before they got to the castle.
Fang was given confidence by the bravery of his owner and leapt upon the nearest Death Eater.
The battle had truly commenced.
~~~*~~~*~~~
Arabella had taken Fred George and Ginny back to her room, they were all still quite confused and upset. In the end she decided that it was time to tell Ginny about her guardian,
"Ginny, do you believe that Harry is still alive?" Asked Arabella quietly.
Ginny met her professor's gaze, her eyes watering and gently shook her head sending her curls cascading over her face.
Fred and George hugged their sister as she cried but Arabella caught their eyes and they moved away,
Ginny wiped her eyes and looked up.
"Why did you ask me?" She asked.
Arabella smiled slightly, you remember when you wouldn't believe that Harry was dead, when you just knew he was alive, and you couldn't explain it?"
Ginny nodded solemnly.
"Well, there was a reason, you see, in some old wizarding families a strange phenomenon of magic occurs and people are appointed as guardians."
Arabella's voice was soft but it penetrated the tense atmosphere and kept the Weasleys' attention.
"Yes, I've heard of guardians before." Said Ginny wringing her hands together.
"Ginny, Professor Dumbledore and I believe that Harry potter is your guardian. And that means there is a sort of link that is very strong between the two of you."
Ginny's mouth fell open and she looked genuinely surprised.
"My guardian?.. Mine?!"
Arabella smiled sadly, but then her face trembled.
"We wanted Harry to know before we told you, but…"
Ginny's face went ashen
"He's dead isn't he." She whispered.
Arabella had to fight the urge to agree with the girl, she still hadn't felt any sign to prove otherwise, but Dumbledore had been so adamant…
"I won't believe it until I see proof, you have to think the same way." She said finally.
Ginny rubbed her eyes staring at her hands still in disbelief.
"But if these links are accurate…" Trailed Ginny.
"They are, but we cannot afford to dwell on them and depend solely on something based in emotion." Said Arabella placing an understanding hand on the young girl's shoulder.
"We?" She asked.
Arabella's lips came together in a thin line and tears filled her eyes.
"I am Harry's guardian."
~~~*~~~*~~~
The Hospital Wing was a scene of pandemonium, Dumbledore shot red sparks into the air and everyone's attention was drawn to him.
"Listen to me! We must be organised or this will be a disaster, All of you who can will need to fight, gather up anyone in fifth year or over and gather as soon as possible at the entrance hall. Go!" Ordered the headmaster, his eyes blazing.
Everyone sped off to round up anyone suitable to fight, Dumbledore headed straight to Arabella's office.
"Bella, the time has come. We must fight to defend the school. Miss Weasley, you will go directly to the Hospital Wing. There will be casualties to tend to and your parents and brother are there. Fred, George, you two will come with me."
The revelations about guardians were driven from all minds, each of the people in the room had a purpose and they left the room.
When Ginny reached the Hospital wing she found that her father had persuaded Madame Pomfrey that he was fit to fight and had left, she ran to her mother's arms and buried herself in the warm embrace.
~~~*~~~*~~~
Voldemort watched on amused as his death eaters flung their curses at the giant, he had specifically ordered them not to kill him just yet, 'his cries will announce our arrival very nicely'.
The giant glared at Voldemort looking more like a savage beast than a man.
"You won't win you cowardly filth! Dumbledore will destroy ya! Mark me words, yer days are numbered!" He cried.
Voldemort sneered.
"You are wrong my friend, your precious muggle-loving fool will die, along with all the others. Just like Harry did."
Voldemort's smirk grew as the effect of his lie hit the giant like a smack in the face.
"It's… not… true." Blubbered Hagrid, loosing his resolve.
"Pathetic cowardly boy, he wasn't much of a challenge really, I didn't even have to do it myself. Killed by your very own Professor Snape."
Hagrid bellowed in a mixture of grief pain and rage.
"Nooo!"
Voldemort laughed raising his wand and pointing it straight at Hagrid.
"You will die now. I have never taken kindly to pathetic half-breeds like yourself."
There was a flash of green light, and a terrible howl of grief ripped through the forest… No turning back
~~~*~~~*~~~
Harry glared at the Death Eaters in front of him. Hopelessness was quickly replaced by anger. He realised that the ancient magic that Voldemort had invoked in their bargain was keeping him there... in that terrible place.
"Where did you send the others?" Demanded the taller Death Eater. Harry didn't recognise the voice and simply glared defiance and clamped his mouth shut.
"Speak! Or you'll pay!" Yelled the death eater. Harry shook his head.
"Crucio!"
Harry could hardly stand the pain, no one could ever get used to the cruciatus curse. It was beyond endurance.
"They're gone, safe, you can't touch them!" Yelled Harry almost breaking down into tears.
"You've sent them to Hogwarts haven't you?" Said the Death Eater sounding horribly amused.
Harry didn't speak, his head was spinning.
"By the end of the night, Hogwarts will be destroyed, and those you have 'saved' will be dead." He whispered in Harry's ear.
Harry moaned in despair and before he knew it he was being plunged into darkness.
Fletcher turned on Wormtail angrily.
"What did you do that for?" He demanded seeing Harry's eyes roll back in his head as a result of the blow from Pettigrew's metal hand.
"You don't want to do this do you?" Demanded Peter looking Mundungus in the eye.
"You don't want them to destroy Hogwarts any more than I do…"
Fletcher stepped back stunned.
"W-what do you mean? Y-you were the one who brought the dark lord back!" He said confusion clouding his mind.
Wormtail sighed.
"We both know the feeling of guilt and doubt, it plagues us. It's like a curse, why do you think that so few Gryffindors become Death Eaters?"
Mundungus realised that what the rat was speaking was exactly what he'd been himself thinking since he'd first met Harry.
"So what do we do?" He asked shuddering at what would happen to them.
"What have we got to loose?" Pointed out Pettigrew motioning towards Harry,
"We've lost the other hostages, he'd kill us anyway…" Realised Mundungus with a jolt.
"Precisely."
~~~*~~~*~~~
"Is this everyone?" Bellowed Dumbledore over the crowd, the strange mixture of students and staff all lifted their eyes to their leader. Dumbledore felt a pang of sadness… So many young lives.
"Today we fight together, we cannot loose. The light will prevail! Do not be afraid… Be strong. Good Luck to you all!"
They left the castle through the gigantic doors and the sight that met their eyes would have been enough to strike fear into the heart of even the brave Godric Gryffindor.
Voldemort stood, his red eyes glowing with hate and madness, and behind him, his army. Row upon row of masked faces. Each one with their wand raised... Ready to kill.
"Do it for Harry!" Shouted someone from within the Hogwarts' ranks.
There was a loud cheer and the battle commenced.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
A/N
Okay, there you are… Please don't be mean, that's my job! Things are reaching crisis point so I'll try and keep posting quickly… But no promises! Love yas!
Thanks
to all my wonderful reviewers, you know who you are!
Love
Jona
xxx