Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix- Chapter 22
Harry jumped behind a barrel, which was at the front of a store, and viewed the scene in front of him. There was complete chaos. There were some villagers of Hogsmeade who hadn't got away fast enough and were at the mercy of the Death Eaters and/or Dementors. Harry watched open mouthed as a Death Eater killed a young woman without hesitation. He was feeling cold and empty. The Dementors were close enough for him to feel their draining power, but they were too far for him to hear his mother being murdered. Harry looked around and saw people lying dead in the mud, saw people being levitated and spun around, saw people having their souls sucked out and people being killed left, right and centre. He heard a Death Eater to his left laughing as a boy of about seven begged for mercy from the pain of the Cruciatus curse. His stomach contracted as he remembered the power of the curse. Just as Harry had got the courage to help the boy the Death Eater killed him. Harry stopped in mid-crouch and froze as he watched the boy's lifeless form fall tot he ground. * Where is the Ministry? Or the Order of the Phoenix, isn't this their job too? * His mind screamed. The yelling, crying and screaming of the people filled his head. Part of him just wanted to turn and run. Ron and Hermione were with Remus, they were safe. He tried to convince himself. Harry was about to make a break for it when something caught his eye. Not Ron, not Hermione, not Remus. It was Ginny. She was bent double as a Death Eater concentrated his Cruciatus curse on her. A Dementor was standing ready beside the Death Eater. Harry took only a second to digest what was happening before he leapt up and ran into the fray. There was a loud noise behind him as he ran to Ginny. More voices and more shouting. He could dimly hear more spells and curses being shot off. They were here, the help was here. His mind took no notice of their presence, though. If he had to wait for the help to reach Ginny, it might be too late. There were too many people for the help to get to all of them.
He dogged a curse from his right and a person to his left. He ran as fast as he could. Ginny was only a few metres away now. She was lying on the ground, twitching uncontrollably, but she didn't scream. Harry had no set plan. He seemed to be working on automatic. His brain seemed strangely detached from his body. His mouth opened.
"Expelliarmus!" He bellowed. The Death Eater was caught unawares and was launched in the air; his wand flew from its owner. The Death Eater hit his head on a rock and fell, unconscious. Harry ran to Ginny's side. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at him fuzzily.
"Ha-Harry?" She whispered. Before he could answer a blast of icy wind hit him. His scar began to burn and his mind raced. Soon he heard it again.
"Take Harry, Lily!" The evil laugh, the sound of his mother begging for his life, the green light. Harry looked up and saw a Dementor hanging above them. Ginny cried out when the Dementor lowered its hood. Harry blindly groped for his wand. His fingers brushed it and he pointed it at the Dementor.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He yelled. A silver mist erupted from his wand. Harry's vision was restricted by the approaching darkness. He was struggling to stay conscious, his mind briefly wondered where help was. Through his limited vision Harry saw the Dementor glide backwards as the silver mist served as a barrier between the Dementor and Harry and Ginny. Harry was gripping Ginny's hand with his free one. His eyes were trained on the Dementor and he didn't know if Ginny was conscious or not. As the Dementor moved away the voices in his head quietened slightly and the pain from his scar lessened slightly. The Dementor stayed where it was, as though it knew its presence was causing Harry great distress. Just as Harry was feeling as though all his energy had been sucked out of him and felt ready to collapse a familiar voice sounded close by.
"Here! Over here! There's two children over here!" Harry tried to call out, but felt unable to do anything but sit there, holding Ginny's hand tightly. There were voices calling, curses flying and the Dementor moved off. Harry's mind cleared. His scar still throbbed slightly, but the voices of his mother and Voldemort were gone. The darkness clouding Harry's vision cleared and Harry looked down. Ginny was deathly pale and silent. She was staring at Harry with wide, terrified eyes and she was shaking. Harry glanced up and saw Dumbledore, McGonagall and Lupin coming up to them.
"Potter! What were you thinking? Are you hurt, Ginny? You, Harry?" Professor McGonagall was pale and looked worried. Neither Ginny nor Harry answered. They both just sat there.
"Harry, thank you." Ginny suddenly whispered. Harry looked down at her blankly.
"Come on, you two. We need to get you guys back tot he school with your fellow peers." Dumbledore gazed at them solemnly.
"Wait! Professor, where's Ron and Hermione? Are they okay?" Harry asked clambering to his feet. Lupin bent down and picked Ginny up. She was too weak to stand on her own.
"Yes, they are fine. Remus took them to safety when the attack first began." Dumbledore answered calmly.
"Snuffles is with them. I looked for you but I couldn't find you!" Remus said looking worried. Harry apologised.
As they walked back to where the other students were gathered, away from harm, Harry told them what had happened. Ginny was too weak to give her account of the story, but she nodded as Harry said certain things. Harry glanced around. Not only were there Ministry officials, but also members of the Order. There were Death Eaters being arrested in some places, in others, injured villagers and visitors were being attended to. Harry stopped and looked back to where he had knocked the Death Eater attacking Ginny, but couldn't see him.
"He got away." Dumbledore answered, seeing Harry's searching look. Harry felt disappointed.
"Gin, did you see who it was?" Ginny remained silent, thinking.
"No." She finally answered, looking away.
"It's possible the girl didn't see who he was, Albus. They do wear masks." McGonagall's voice interrupted. Dumbledore nodded absently, watching Ginny carefully. Remus held her gently as he carried her up the hill to the Shrieking Shack. There they were met by villagers, visitors and students, all hiding out.
"Oh My God! Ginny!" Harry saw Mr. Weasley and Percy come running down the hill. Harry guessed that they had been helping the Ministry in the attack. Ron and Hermione also came running down the hill to meet them.
Remus put Ginny down so she could cling to her father and brother and left somewhere. Ron, gasping, asked if Harry was okay. When he answered yes, Ron turned to his sister and began fussing over her like his father and brother. Hermione turned to Harry and hugged him tightly.
"We didn't know where you were! We were so worried! Where were you? What happened? Why didn't you come with us? Neither Snuffles nor Professor Lupin would let us go looking for you! My God! You're safe!" Hermione was crying. Snuffles suddenly appeared, grabbing the edge of Harry's robes and leapt on his when Hermione backed away. Ron turned back to Harry after making sure Ginny was okay.
"You saved her life!" He gasped at Harry, "You saved her life again!" Ron pulled Harry into a tight hug and almost immediately released him, his eyes swimming with tears. Percy came over and shook Harry's hand vigorously and Mr. Weasley, holding Ginny, shook his hand too.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Mr. Weasley croaked. Harry felt very uncomfortable.
"It's okay." He said uneasily. Hermione them pulled him into another quick hug and Ron brushed away his tears. Dumbledore smiled at them quickly. Lupin reappeared, with a large hunk of chocolate. He broke it into two pieces and ordered Ginny and Harry to eat. Dumbledore told the students that once they reached Hogwarts every student would have some chocolate. He didn't know how close each person came to a Dementor, but he wasn't taking any chances.
Harry felt warmth fill him as he bit into the rich chocolate.
Harry jumped behind a barrel, which was at the front of a store, and viewed the scene in front of him. There was complete chaos. There were some villagers of Hogsmeade who hadn't got away fast enough and were at the mercy of the Death Eaters and/or Dementors. Harry watched open mouthed as a Death Eater killed a young woman without hesitation. He was feeling cold and empty. The Dementors were close enough for him to feel their draining power, but they were too far for him to hear his mother being murdered. Harry looked around and saw people lying dead in the mud, saw people being levitated and spun around, saw people having their souls sucked out and people being killed left, right and centre. He heard a Death Eater to his left laughing as a boy of about seven begged for mercy from the pain of the Cruciatus curse. His stomach contracted as he remembered the power of the curse. Just as Harry had got the courage to help the boy the Death Eater killed him. Harry stopped in mid-crouch and froze as he watched the boy's lifeless form fall tot he ground. * Where is the Ministry? Or the Order of the Phoenix, isn't this their job too? * His mind screamed. The yelling, crying and screaming of the people filled his head. Part of him just wanted to turn and run. Ron and Hermione were with Remus, they were safe. He tried to convince himself. Harry was about to make a break for it when something caught his eye. Not Ron, not Hermione, not Remus. It was Ginny. She was bent double as a Death Eater concentrated his Cruciatus curse on her. A Dementor was standing ready beside the Death Eater. Harry took only a second to digest what was happening before he leapt up and ran into the fray. There was a loud noise behind him as he ran to Ginny. More voices and more shouting. He could dimly hear more spells and curses being shot off. They were here, the help was here. His mind took no notice of their presence, though. If he had to wait for the help to reach Ginny, it might be too late. There were too many people for the help to get to all of them.
He dogged a curse from his right and a person to his left. He ran as fast as he could. Ginny was only a few metres away now. She was lying on the ground, twitching uncontrollably, but she didn't scream. Harry had no set plan. He seemed to be working on automatic. His brain seemed strangely detached from his body. His mouth opened.
"Expelliarmus!" He bellowed. The Death Eater was caught unawares and was launched in the air; his wand flew from its owner. The Death Eater hit his head on a rock and fell, unconscious. Harry ran to Ginny's side. She opened her eyes slowly and looked up at him fuzzily.
"Ha-Harry?" She whispered. Before he could answer a blast of icy wind hit him. His scar began to burn and his mind raced. Soon he heard it again.
"Take Harry, Lily!" The evil laugh, the sound of his mother begging for his life, the green light. Harry looked up and saw a Dementor hanging above them. Ginny cried out when the Dementor lowered its hood. Harry blindly groped for his wand. His fingers brushed it and he pointed it at the Dementor.
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He yelled. A silver mist erupted from his wand. Harry's vision was restricted by the approaching darkness. He was struggling to stay conscious, his mind briefly wondered where help was. Through his limited vision Harry saw the Dementor glide backwards as the silver mist served as a barrier between the Dementor and Harry and Ginny. Harry was gripping Ginny's hand with his free one. His eyes were trained on the Dementor and he didn't know if Ginny was conscious or not. As the Dementor moved away the voices in his head quietened slightly and the pain from his scar lessened slightly. The Dementor stayed where it was, as though it knew its presence was causing Harry great distress. Just as Harry was feeling as though all his energy had been sucked out of him and felt ready to collapse a familiar voice sounded close by.
"Here! Over here! There's two children over here!" Harry tried to call out, but felt unable to do anything but sit there, holding Ginny's hand tightly. There were voices calling, curses flying and the Dementor moved off. Harry's mind cleared. His scar still throbbed slightly, but the voices of his mother and Voldemort were gone. The darkness clouding Harry's vision cleared and Harry looked down. Ginny was deathly pale and silent. She was staring at Harry with wide, terrified eyes and she was shaking. Harry glanced up and saw Dumbledore, McGonagall and Lupin coming up to them.
"Potter! What were you thinking? Are you hurt, Ginny? You, Harry?" Professor McGonagall was pale and looked worried. Neither Ginny nor Harry answered. They both just sat there.
"Harry, thank you." Ginny suddenly whispered. Harry looked down at her blankly.
"Come on, you two. We need to get you guys back tot he school with your fellow peers." Dumbledore gazed at them solemnly.
"Wait! Professor, where's Ron and Hermione? Are they okay?" Harry asked clambering to his feet. Lupin bent down and picked Ginny up. She was too weak to stand on her own.
"Yes, they are fine. Remus took them to safety when the attack first began." Dumbledore answered calmly.
"Snuffles is with them. I looked for you but I couldn't find you!" Remus said looking worried. Harry apologised.
As they walked back to where the other students were gathered, away from harm, Harry told them what had happened. Ginny was too weak to give her account of the story, but she nodded as Harry said certain things. Harry glanced around. Not only were there Ministry officials, but also members of the Order. There were Death Eaters being arrested in some places, in others, injured villagers and visitors were being attended to. Harry stopped and looked back to where he had knocked the Death Eater attacking Ginny, but couldn't see him.
"He got away." Dumbledore answered, seeing Harry's searching look. Harry felt disappointed.
"Gin, did you see who it was?" Ginny remained silent, thinking.
"No." She finally answered, looking away.
"It's possible the girl didn't see who he was, Albus. They do wear masks." McGonagall's voice interrupted. Dumbledore nodded absently, watching Ginny carefully. Remus held her gently as he carried her up the hill to the Shrieking Shack. There they were met by villagers, visitors and students, all hiding out.
"Oh My God! Ginny!" Harry saw Mr. Weasley and Percy come running down the hill. Harry guessed that they had been helping the Ministry in the attack. Ron and Hermione also came running down the hill to meet them.
Remus put Ginny down so she could cling to her father and brother and left somewhere. Ron, gasping, asked if Harry was okay. When he answered yes, Ron turned to his sister and began fussing over her like his father and brother. Hermione turned to Harry and hugged him tightly.
"We didn't know where you were! We were so worried! Where were you? What happened? Why didn't you come with us? Neither Snuffles nor Professor Lupin would let us go looking for you! My God! You're safe!" Hermione was crying. Snuffles suddenly appeared, grabbing the edge of Harry's robes and leapt on his when Hermione backed away. Ron turned back to Harry after making sure Ginny was okay.
"You saved her life!" He gasped at Harry, "You saved her life again!" Ron pulled Harry into a tight hug and almost immediately released him, his eyes swimming with tears. Percy came over and shook Harry's hand vigorously and Mr. Weasley, holding Ginny, shook his hand too.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Mr. Weasley croaked. Harry felt very uncomfortable.
"It's okay." He said uneasily. Hermione them pulled him into another quick hug and Ron brushed away his tears. Dumbledore smiled at them quickly. Lupin reappeared, with a large hunk of chocolate. He broke it into two pieces and ordered Ginny and Harry to eat. Dumbledore told the students that once they reached Hogwarts every student would have some chocolate. He didn't know how close each person came to a Dementor, but he wasn't taking any chances.
Harry felt warmth fill him as he bit into the rich chocolate.