Chapter 16
"Oh my God," cried several of the order members as the arrived on a flat overlooking the battle that was raging on. It appeared that Dumbledore's order had not arrived in time to prevent Voldemort from questioning and slaughtering the Centaurs, and now Dumbledore and his order where in the throws of a fierce battle.
"There dead. Look at them, they have been burned to death!" Cried Hermione as she had tears streaming down her face. "Harry there all dead," she sobbed.
Harry and his order where rooted to the spot that they had arrived in. The images they were seeing where forever going to be imprinted in their minds. Several of the Centaurs had been apparently tortured and killed, as others where unblemished but still utterly lifeless.
"Pre-Prepare to battle, we did not come here to be spectators. Flyers in the air and fire at will," said Harry.
Immediately the flyers took off in a blur, which Harry assumed was because they preferred to be in the air rather then in the mixed of the battle.
"Remember to keep your form, together we are strong, but separate we are no match for them," said Harry.
As his order nodded their agreement they started a slow march down the hill towards the battle that awaited them. Many of Harry's order looked like they could faint on the spot, trembling from head to toe and without any trace of color, but they never turned back. They continued on knowing that if they didn't then there was a chance they would need twenty or so caskets for Dumbledore and his order who were clearly overmatched.
"AAAHHHH!!!" Screamed a female's voice.
Harry's head jerked in the direction of the shrill scream for he recognized that voice anywhere. "TONKS!!!" Screamed Harry as he began running into the battle hindsight completely forgotten as his order ran tensely behind him.
"STUPIFY!" Shouted Harry striking the death eater in the back as he stood over Tonks who was lying flat on her back staring up into the face of her soon to be killer with a look of pure terror in her eyes.
"TONKS!" Cried Harry as he tried to get to her as she quickly got up from the ground with her wand in hand.
"Watcher Harry!" said Tonks before she grasped the concept that Harry was here and in immediate danger. "No honey, what are you doing here?" Said Tonks as she made a slashing movement with her wand sending out what appeared to be pink flames toward a group of death eaters that were pressing down on Moody and Kinglsey Shacklbolt.
"What do you think where doing here?" Said Harry with a smile on his face before fifteen or more death eaters surrounded him and his order. "NOW, CAST YOUR CURSES NOW!" Bellowed Harry.
"Without hesitation everyone in Harry's order screamed "STUPIFY!" At the top of their lungs even though Harry was in their immediate path. However, they knew better then to not listen to him for they had worked and began to trust each other completely over the few months they had all worked together. As the Hexes where vastly approaching Harry vanished allowing the spells to hit their marks. Several of the death eaters dropped on the spot, leaving about eight to take on Harry and his order. As the death eaters cast an array of curses towards Harry's order Harry appeared back in line beside Ron and began giving commands again.
"SHEILDS UP NOW! HURRY!" Said Harry as the death eaters that remained were bearing down on them with a vengeance.
"AAAHHH!" Shrieked Ernie McMillian as he took a spell full force in the chest.
"GET HIM!" Shouted Harry as he cast a spell of his own at the attacking death eaters. Immediately four members circled Ernie McMillian before he vanished from sight.
"They got him now Harry, he'll be okay," shouted Ron as he wildly waved his wand around yelling every curse he had ever learned during his studies at Hogwarts.
Shouts could be heard now from all directions as the battle raged on with a multitude of colors springing forth from all different directions.
"Oh," moaned Seamus Finnagin as he fell face down on the cold earth after being struck with a bright gold light.
"SEAMUS!" Cried Dean as he stepped in front of his best friend who lay still on the icy ground. "HELP. HE NEEDS HELP!" Yelled Dean as he, Ron, and Neville had taken position around the immobile Seamus till the medic team arrived.
"Another one already," could be heard as if it was spoken by the wind as Seamus body vanished from the battle as well.
"BASTARDS!" Cried Dean as he began shouting spells toward the death eaters who had attacked his friend. The first spell Dean cast was the paralyzing spell that Harry had taught them all at the begging of their order training. The spell had hit the death eater who had stricken down Seamus in the gut where he now lay motionless on the ground. The blow to his best friend though had seem to affect Dean dramatically, and Harry was forced to bring his order up and surround Dean because he had quit producing any forms of protection for himself.
"STUFIY," Shouted Harry as he seen a death eater running towards a group of Dumbledore's order that were being forced back into the woods. "CHO, LOOK TO THE SOUTH." Shouted Harry in hopes that his flyers would here him before Moody, and several others that Harry didn't recognized were completely overpowered.
"AAAHHH!!! IT BURNS. OH MY GOD, IT BURNS! GET IT OFF OF ME, AAAHHHH..." Screamed a handful of the death eaters that had been forcing Moody and the others into the woods. When the death eaters had stopped casting spells towards them when Harry's aerial team had delivered their contribution to the battle Moody and the rest of his group took advantage of the situations and overpowered the rest of the remaining death eaters that were attacking them.
"BUGGER!" Screamed Neville as his robes became alight with flames, and began rolling madly on the ground.
"NEVILLE! CAST A COOLING CHARM ON YOURSELF!" Shrieked Hermione as she ran towards him. Neville did not here her though as he continued to roll around on the ground shrieking and covering his face with his hands.
Hermione finally got to where Neville lay thrashing on the ground and produced a fountain of water from her wand tip ridding Neville's robes of the offending flames. "Th-thank you," said Neville as he slowly stooped to pick up his wand and return to battle, but the medic team quickly pulled him under the invisibility cloak and removed him from the battle.
After several more minutes of intense battle with the attacking death eaters that had swarmed Harry and his order they finally prevailed. However, Harry's order where now lacking several members that weighed heavily on all of there minds.
"HARRY LOOK!" Cried Parvati pointing to her left where three death eaters had overpowered and where now torturing a member from Dumbledore's order.
"NO!" Yelled Harry as his rage began to rear its head again, and with a long slashing motion two of the three death eaters where hit and thrown into the nearby trees with a sickening crunch.
"STUFPIFY!" Yelled Ron hitting the remaining death eater as he tried to retreat back into a group of death eaters.
Ron turned towards Harry with a huge grin on his face after Harry's medic team arrived and took the man from Dumbledore's army under their invisibility cloak. "We showed them didn't we mate? They didn't even see that coming," said Ron when his face immediately paled.
"What is it?" Asked Harry when he heard "CRUCIO!" Yelled behind him. He expected to feel the painful curse hit him any moment as he prepared himself for the effects, but the screaming that was being produced was not coming from him. Jerking his head around he saw Mr. Weasley writhing on the ground while a death eater stood above him.
"DAD! DAD!" Cried Ron as he raised his wand shakily in the direction of his father and his attacking death eater.
"NO RON, YOU'LL HIT YOUR DAD FROM THIS DISTANCE!" Yelled Harry as they both looked on in horror.
"CRUNCH." Fred and George leaped from their brooms and began punching and kicking every inch of their father's attacker they could find after they effectively knocked him off their father. "BASTARD, YOU DON'T MESS WITH OUR FAMILY!" Said one of the twins as he continued to punch the bloodied face of the death eater after his mask broke and fell from his face with the tirade of punches while the other was pulling out a full potion bottle from his robe.
"MOVE AWAY BRO!" Yelled what sounded like Fred as he through the full potion bottle onto the death eater where he immediately began smoking and screaming madly. Then both twins raised there wands to finish of the badly wounded death eater till Mr. Weasley pushed their arms down to stop them from taking another man's life.
"DAD," Yelled Ron as he ran towards their father as Mr. Weasley turned in their direction. Immediately his face became ghostly white as he now realized that almost all of his sons where in the battle. Harry hoped Ron would keep the information about Ginny being here a secrete from him since he did not look well at the moment. Harry and his order had overlooked the charm to disguise their faces or it wouldn't have been a problem. They had been unaware that the charm could only be used once a month unless you wanted to take the risk of the side effects it could cause if you used it more then once in a month. Leave it to Hermione to save us all, thought Harry as he now realized he was standing alone in the middle of this horrendous battle after Ron left him to go be with his dad.
As Harry scanned the battlefield a great sense of foreboding filled the pit of his stomach. He could feel that something was amiss, but other then his order had been split up and him now fighting solo now he couldn't tell what it was. As he stood alone in the middle of the battle an intense cold swept over him, and his breath caught in his chest. The coldness went through Harry's skin like needles and bore down into his very soul. "DEMENTORS!" Shrieked a girl from the air, as the coldness swept across the battle plain as a group of thirty or more Dementors glided into the battle.
The screaming in Harry's head was so intense that his head felt like it might explode, and his eyes began to roll in the back of his head. Then the screaming quickly changed to images of Sirius falling through the vale at the Department of Mysteries with the look of complete shock imprinted on his face as the spell from Bellatrix hit him. The Dementors were surrounding Harry as he tried desperately to fight off the unconsciousness that was tugging at him from within. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry vaguely heard as he sunk to his knees as the Dementors bore down on him. Then Harry felt something warm glide by him warming his entire being as it pushed the Dementors back somewhat so Harry could stand. Harry quickly caught sight of a swan gliding around in front of him before it left back towards who ever cast it. "Thanks Cho," muttered Harry as he raised his wand and shouted "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" On que the transparent shape of a stag leapt from the tip of his wand and began charging down the whole group of death eaters as if it where a game. When it would bull rush one with its antlers it would rear up on its hind legs and chase after another one, but not before it would turn to Harry and smile to Harry's amazement. "Dad," said Harry as his Patronum charged down the remaining Dementors and sent them scurrying off into the woods. "Dad," shouted Harry again as the stag he produced trotted back to him and gave him another toothy grin before dissipating into the air. Hah, way to go dad, thought Harry.
"CRUCIO," Yelled a female's voice. This time Harry felt the full effects of the Cruciatus Curse.
Harry felt as if he could die there on the spot and never give it a second thought. His whole body was being racked with the immense pain that he had only felt twice during his lifetime. He couldn't make out anything that was happening around him, all he could see was white as he felt himself falling into unconsciousness and his throat felt like it was on fire. Harry vaguely heard the words "Stupify," uttered as he felt the blackness begin to take him. Then in a split second he found himself being shaken hard and being pulled to his feet by Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell, as Alicia Spinnet kicked the death eater to make sure she was unconscious.
"Harry look at me, are you okay," said Katie as she had both hands on either side of his face and was peering into his eyes as Angenlina supported his weight. "You need to lie down Harry, you had that curse on you for too long. We couldn't find where you where in time," cried Katie as all three girls had tears streaming down there face. "We are so sorry."
"No, I'm okay. Just needed to catch my breath," croaked Harry as his throat felt hoarse. Apparently he had been screaming and didn't even know it.
"Boys," Huffed Angelina as she would not let go of Harry. "Harry you need to lay down, and we are not taking no for an answer," said Angelina as she summoned her broom to her and instructed Harry to get on behind her.
At that moment though a high pitched laughter could be heard as the largest congregation of death eaters began parting. A loud roaring noise could be herd coming from the group as everything seemed to stop making noise as a large griffin sprang forth from the attacking death eaters. The griffin appeared to be later in years with gray hairs in the dark bush of his mane, but none the less it was clear that the griffin meant business.
"I TOLD YOU THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE SUPRISES YOU OLD FOOL!" Laughed Voldemort as he watched on in amusement as the griffin began eyeing out the prey he was going to sink his teeth into. "You know magic doesn't work the same on animals as it does on humans. There are a lot of people here who I doubt knows how to stop it before it's upon them. Lets just hope you can afford the loss of the person he so chooses to maul," Said Voldemort with a sickening sweet voice.
As death eaters began their assault on Dumbledore's and Harry's order again the griffin began his search for his meal. With the battle taking up where it left off no one paid the griffin any more attention since it seemed to be having a difficult time deciding on which human would make his best prey.
"Get back in the air, I am fine, but there are others who desperately need you," said Harry. The girls where not at all happy about leaving Harry alone there, but they climbed back on their broom and left after telling him to be careful.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR YOU PATHETIC BEAST, I SAID THE BOY? THE BOY!" Screamed Voldemort as he battled on with Dumbledore.
All of Dumbledore's order began scanning wildly around for any signs of Harry, till they heard a high pitched scream. The griffin had chosen his prey and was crouched down and eyeing Hermione, Ginny, and Sarah who had stuck together since Harry's order had been split up.
"NO!" Cried Harry.
"DON'T RUN, STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" Yelled Remus after winning his battle with his attacking death eater. However, at that moment the griffin growled and all three girls took off running in the same direction, which happened to be towards Harry.
"THEY BOY, KILL THE BOY YOU BEAST!" Yelled Voldemort again as he had just knocked Dumbledore to the ground.
Instantly the griffin's mane rose and he launched himself into his charge toward the girls. The griffin came grunting with each bound throwing grass and mud with each step of his massive paws.
As Harry watched the chase take place he saw that the girls where being overtaken by the griffin as if they were standing still. What spell do I use, panicked Harry as he was aiming his wand at the griffin.
"HARRY RUN! MAGIC DOESN'T WORK THE SAME ON ANIMALS HARRY, RUN!" Yelled Lupin as he spotted Harry while fighting off another attacker.
"What!" Panicked Harry as he saw that his friends would be overtaken within a few seconds. "Down Hermione, Sarah, Ginny clear my shot," said Harry. He remembered when he and Cedric had fought the gigantic spider during the Triwizard Tournament, and how the both of them had barely stopped it, but he was going to try regardless.
The girls immediately fell to the ground as Harry let his spell fly. The girls lay curled up in a ball as Harry's spell hit the griffin across it chest. The griffin leapt high in the air, and Harry thought that his friends where going to be mauled to death, but the griffin had leapt in surprise of being hit with a spell and was now on the ground growling madly.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM, RUN!" Shouted Harry.
All three girls sprang to their feet and took off in another direction, but the sudden movement of the girls running brought the attention of the griffin back on them.
"HEY OVER HERE, COME GET ME!" Shouted Harry after the griffin while he was waving his arms wildly over his head.
"YES GET THE BOY!" Yelled Voldemort as he was deflecting another spell from Dumbledore.
"HARRY NO! DON'T CALL HIM TO YOU!" Cried Lupin, but it was too late the griffin was now bounding strait ahead towards Harry.
Oh no, thought Harry as he watched the griffin come charging towards him. What do I do now, thought Harry as the griffin was bearing down on him? "STUPIFY!" Shouted Harry, but the spell only appeared to anger the beast further. As the griffin sprang for the kill, Harry fell backwards not even attempting to resists its' weight. Harry now lay beneath the griffin's forepaws, the head, and its snapping jaws. The Griffin's breath was so foul that Harry could feel the vomit rising in his throat, so Harry began doing the only thing that seemed logical at the moment. He began hitting the beast with his fist and screaming hoping that the griffin would leave him alone. With the sudden attack from Harry though the griffin began ripping at Harry with both his forepaws where his razor sharp claws were fully extended. As Harry wriggled beneath the massive weight of the griffin he was able to evade many of the claw strokes, but several also landed, and he could feel the claws tearing his flesh. "AAAHHHH! GET OFF ME!" Cried Harry in pure terror.
As the pain from the claw strokes began coursing through his body Harry's mind began functioning again and he remembered his Animagus form. Now lying underneath the attacking griffin was a Siberian White Tiger. For a moment the griffin seemed confused, but quickly recovered and began tearing and snapping wildly at Harry again. Harry immediately did the only thing again he could think of to stave off some of his attackers blows, he began making clawing motions of his own at the griffin's face, finally hitting with his third swipe. Harry could feel his claws sink into the griffin's face and tear away a large chunk of flesh, but at the time Harry was just happy that the griffin had stopped clawing at him. As Harry's paw came back down revealing the griffin's face he could see the damage he had inflicted upon it. The griffin now had a huge gash starting above its right eye and going all the way down his face, and its' right eye had now turned a milky white color. The grunting the griffin had previously been doing changed to a continuous roaring as he shook his head from side to side before he tried to claw Harry again. Harry then quickly raised his head up and sunk his razor sharp teeth down into the griffin's neck where he immediately tasted the bitter, salty taste of its' blood run into his mouth and onto his face matting down his once beautiful white fur. The griffin began to convulse and twitch madly till it sieced all movement and collapsed down onto Harry's injured body.
After the griffin was dead Harry transformed back into his human form in hopes that the movements would lessen the pain on his rib cage and allow him to breath better. However, that was not the case, and all Harry could do now was lay there under the weight of the dead griffin and let death take him.
"LETS GO. THE PRAT IS NO LONGER A THREAT TO US ANYMORE!" Yelled Voldemort as he and his death eaters began apparating away. Cracking noises could be heard all over the plain leaving Dumbledore's and Harry's order looking disheveled and worried beyond belief after witnessing Harry being mauled by the griffin.
It was obvious how badly Harry was hurt, from the sheets of blood that covered him. "Oh God, Harry sweetie, speak to me," said Tonks as she ran to his side and fell to her knees beside him. Everyone else approached Harry at a slow pace as if afraid that the sight of his mangled and bloody body would bring on their immediate death. Dumbledore, Minerva, and Remus where the only other three who ran up to see if Harry was indeed dead.
"I'M COMING, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, I COMING!" Yelled Hagrid as he came bounding from the woods with his crossbow in hand. "Where is it, I know its here, I have been chasing it for thirty minutes?" Said Hagrid as he and Madam Maxime came running towards the group. "What who killed it?" Asked Hagrid in surprise as he could see the dead griffin laying on the ground over the heads of evryone else. However, as everyone parted to give Hagrid a clear view he saw that Harry was lying motionless underneath the dead carcass of the griffin covered in blood.
"NOOOO. NOOOO! IT CAN'T BE. NOT HARRY!" Welled Hagrid as he ran the last ten feet to where Harry and the griffin lay. "HARRY'S NOT DEAD. HE'S NOT I TELL YOU. HE CAN'T BE DEAD, I KNOW IT," Cried Hagrid as giant sized tears poured down his face mixing in with his bushy beard. "GET OFF OF HIM YOU MANGY BEAST!" Roared Hagrid as he grabbed the dead griffin by the scruff of the neck and threw him to the side.
Tonks could not control her sobs as she saw the blood that covered Harry's face and clothes, and the numerous rips in his clothing that covered his body. "Harry speak to me, you must come back to us," said Dumbledore as he had several tears now sliding down his face as well.
To everyone immense relief Harry rolled his head to the side and his eyes were open. "Harry!" cried Tonks as she reached down and began to pull him into a hug, blood covered and all.
"AAHHH!" Cried Harry at the sudden movements. Tonks quickly stopped her movements and lay Harry's head down on her lap.
"Harry where does it hurt kiddo?" Asked Remus.
"All over," moaned Harry.
"Move aside," said Mary, as she, April, and Mr. Lenoge approached Harry. "Oh, my goodness," said Marry at the sight of Harry.
"It's not all mine," said Harry as he started to tremble. However, as he tried to set up blood started streaming from his right thigh where the claws ripped into him.
Ron immediately turned away and emptied his stomach at the sight of the blood that was flowing from Harry's leg. Every male in Harry's group paled at the sight, and the girls began sobbing.
"Please help him," cried Hermione as she was on the brink of hysteria.
"Quick, Mary, apply pressure to the artery. April apply pressure to the wound, we have to tie off the blood vessel before he looses to much blood," said Mr. Lenoge.
"You will be able to won't you?" Asked Remus.
"I'll try," said Mr. Lenoge.
"No I'm fine," said Harry pleadingly, for now all he wanted to do was leave this place, and have a happy Christmas with Tonks, Remus, and the rest.
As April began applying pressure to the gash in his right thigh Harry squeezed his eyes shut as tears sprang out from beneath his closed eyes, and he buried his face into Tonks as she held him to her. It's almost over Harry, just a few more seconds," said April soothingly as Mr. Lenoge prepared to tie off the blood vessel with a needle and thread.
"You there, Remus is it? Hold his leg as still as you can keep it," said Mr. Lenoge. "This is going to hurt."
Sure enough as Mr. Lenoge stuck the needle through the blood vessel Harry began thrashing around trying to get away from the new source of his pain.
"Hold it still!" Said Mr. Lenoge.
"Harry stop moving," said Remus.
"He can't, you are hurting him," chided Tonks as she held on to Harry the best she could.
Two minutes later and a lot more pain, and Harry's torn blood vessel had stopped spouting blood. "Give him some water," said Mary as she handed Tonks a bottle of water.
As Tonks gently lifted the trembling Harry up slightly so that he could reach the bottle of water some spilled out washing away some of the blood on his face. "Here Harry drink slowly," whispered Tonks as Harry began drinking the water as fast as she would allow it to pour into his mouth. After Harry had his fill of water, Tonks began pouring it gently over his face and using her robes to clean his face in hopes that there where no cuts on his face. To hers' and everyone else's relief the blood on Harry's face seemed to have come all from the griffin. However, many of his other wounds where going to need medical attention and fast, but the gash in his right leg was the worst of them.
"That's the worst of it," said Mr. Lenoge. The rest will have to be tied up with cloth till we can get him to St. Mungos.
"Can you do nothing else for him now?" Asked Dumbledore.
"I am afraid not. The best we can do for him now is bandage him up the best we can, and get him back to where we can work on him better," said Mr. Lenoge.
"Albus can we not send him back with a portkey?" Asked McGonagall.
"NO! He can not travel by portkey. That will worsen his injuries, we must keep him as still as possible," said Mary.
Why can't we send him back with a portkey?" Asked Remus.
"Portkeys are a ruff ride even if you haven't just been mauled by a griffin," said April haughtily.
"How do we get him back then," Asked Tonks.
"Flyers are you up for a flight to St. Mungos?" Asked Mr. Lenoge.
"FLY! You're kidding me right. I am not letting Harry get on a broom now," said Tonks.
"No of course not, we need a stretcher of some sorts so he can lay as still as possible," said Mr. Lenoge.
"Here," said McGonagall as she transfigured a discarded robe into a stretcher.
"You cannot take Harry to St. Mungos. It is too dangerous for him to be there unprotected. He needs to be taken back to Hogwarts," said Dumbledore.
"Impossible, if we don't get him to our hospital so we can help him then he will die," said Mr. Lenoge beginning to lose his composure.
"I know, and everything you need can be found at Hogwarts where we can protect him," said Dumbledore.
"This is not your decision to make," said Mr. Lenoge.
"I agree with Dumbledore," said Moody.
"You would," said April.
"Now you listen here Missy, we have been doing this a lot longer then you have, and we know that Harry cannot be seen at St. Mungos in that condition," growled Moody.
"So you would rather him die, then him being spotted at St. Mungos then. Is that what you are telling me," said Mary.
"You know darn well what we are implying," said Moody.
As Mr. Lenoge began to respond Harry began coughing and having a difficult time catching his breath.
"Harry!" Cried Tonks as she tilted his head to the side to let him spit out the blood that he had coughed up.
"Okay, we will take him back to Hogwarts, but we must do it now," said Mr. Lenoge.
After they finally agreed they began tying the stretcher to four brooms where Harry lay in the middle. "Listen," if he starts to convulse or cough you must stop, and calm him or help him to get the blood out of his mouth," said April.
"Gotcha," said Angelina, as she, Alicia, Katie, and Cho where the four chosen to carry Harry back to Hogwarts. Everyone figured the four lightest flyers could carry Harry's extra weight and keep him better balanced then the others.
"Now we will be circling below you, if Harry needs help, signal down to us, and we will stop immediately," said Remus, as he, Moody, Tonks, and Kinglsey had taken the other brooms from the rest of Harry's flyers to provide over watch.
"And for heavens' sake, keep it as smooth as possible. In a few minutes Harry's injuries are going to become very stiff, and the slightest jarring will cause him a tremendous amount of pain," said Mary.
As the flyers took off at a snails pace, everyone else left on the ground prepared to portkey back to Hogwarts. However, Dumbledore halted all the transportations and walked a few paces away from the group.
"Harry again you have proven your bravery today, by sacrificing yourself for the safety of others. I am terribly sorry that this has all fell upon you my boy," said Dumbledore in a whisper as he raised his wand in the air and produced a flaming phoenix for Harry before he walked back to the others and left for Hogwarts.
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"This is taking forever," said Cho to her other flying companions as she looked over at Harry as he was trying to mask his pain. "He needs help now."
"I know, why don't we speed up some, and then if it is to much for Harry we can slow down?" Suggested Angelina.
"That sounds good to me," said Alicia.
"Hold on Harry, we are going to start flying a little faster, but if it's to much for you tell us okay," said Katie.
"To much for me. Never," said Harry as he was trying to sound brave. His comment made the four girls smile sadly at him as they increased their pace.
Five minutes later, the group encountered a swift wind that caused Harry's stretcher to jar and bang into the brooms that were holding him still. He groaned aloud at a particularly hard impact with Cho's broom before he slumped into unconsciousness.
"HARRY!" Cried Cho, as Katie signaled the rest to go down.
"What, what is it?" Asked Remus as he leapt from his broom and ran for Harry with Tonks right behind him.
"The wind made him start bumping into our brooms, and he fell unconscious," cried Cho.
"Harry can you here me?" said Remus as he lightly tapped Harry on his right cheek.
Harry slowly started to open his eyes, to everyone's relief. It's not much further kiddo, and then everything will be okay. It was breaking Remus's heart to see the pain in Harry's eyes, and know that he should have prevented it.
"Ah, his bandages are holding as well as can be expected, but he is terribly cold," said Moody in the softest gruff he could produce since he could see Harry's body through the blanket that was covering him. Moody, Remus, and Kingsley quickly discarded their robes and gently covered Harry up with them trying to make him as comfortable as possible as Tonks stroked the matted hair from his face.
Again they took off into the night at a snails pace, but after thirty long agonizing minutes they could see the lights of Hogwarts in the night sky. "We made it Harry," whispered Cho as they started their descent towards the grounds of Hogwarts.
Remus and Kinglsey untied Harry's stretcher from the broomsticks and levitated him behind them up to where Mary, April, Mr. Lenoge, and no doubt Madam Pomphrey were awaiting his arrival. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````
"HARRY!" Yelled Ron as he and all of his order saw him being levitated on a stretcher to the hospital wing.
The loud shout from Ron awoke Harry from his unconsciousness with a low moan, but quickly tried to cover it up with a smile.
"Harry, honey are you okay? Remus how is he?" Asked Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm fine Mrs. Weasley, smiled Harry with the best smile he could muster. "Do you think we can leave for our Christmas break now?" Asked Harry before he began coughing again.
As the mediwithces tended to Harry, Remus pulled Molly off to the side. "Molly he is stable at the moment, but he has lost a lot of blood, and is in a great deal of pain right now, even if he won't show it. To tell you the truth, I think he is scared of what they are going to do to take care of his wounds. Maybe you could go in with him and talk to him for a little while," said Remus.
"Of course I will Remus. I wasn't going to let him go in there by himself anyway. You know I consider him one of my sons, and I know him all to well, I can tell that he is terrified," said Mrs. Weasley.
As the hospital wing door opened to allow Remus to bring Harry's stretcher into the wing, everyone piled into the wing with him. "What is this? Out everyone out this instant!" Ranted Madam Pomphrey looking outraged.
Actually Madam Pomphrey I was wondering if you could check on a few people that we were minding to when Harry showed up. They are in the Room of Requirements," said Mr. Lenoge as he, Mary, and April got ready to work on Harry again.
"Yes, very well," said Madam Pomphrey as she left with Professor McGonagall who had agreed to show her where it was located.
"Harry mate, were not leaving your side," said Ron. However, at this moment Harry wished everyone would leave. All he wanted to do was be alone at this moment as he could feel tears stinging behind his eyes.
"Ron, the best thing you can do for him now is to get everyone to leave right now, and to wait outside till Harry has been taken care of," said Mrs. Weasley as she could see Harry wanted to be alone right now.
"But mom, I want to stay here," whined Ginny. "He saved my life."
"Come on everyone," said Remus as he began guiding everyone out of the room. We can wait outside till everything has been taken care of. As everyone began leaving the room, Mrs. Weasley continued to hold Harry's hand as she gently stroked his hair out of his eyes. Tonks sat on the other side of his bed while she held his other hand. Harry was grateful that Mrs. Weasley and Tonks had stayed with him at this moment because he was terrified of what Mr. Lenoge, Mary, and April were going to have to do.
"Can one of you help us get some things set up?" Asked April.
"I will," said Tonks as she got up from his bedside and gave Harry a quick peck on his forehead before she left to help out the others.
"Mrs. Weasley I-I really am okay," said Harry with the strongest voice he could muster.
"SSSHHHH, Harry its okay, everything is going to be just fine," Cooed Mrs. Weasley as the tears started leaking out from Harry's eyes. He no longer had the strength to reply, so he just laid there keeping up his brave face. It was breaking Mrs. Weasleys heart to watch him be so strong and so utterly terrified all at the same time, and so she did the only thing she knew to do. She pulled him into a motherly hug, and told him everything was going to be okay, even when she had no clue if they were or not. To her surprise she heard Harry start to quietly cry into her shoulder as she rocked him back and forth.
"CLANK!" Sorry about that," said Tonks, as here cheeks became rosy. "I swear I sat that over there," she continued saying as she saw Harry extract his tear stained face from Mrs. Weasley's shoulder to smile and quietly snicker out loud at Tonk's clumsiness.
"Okay, Harry this is going to hurt quite a bit, but it is better to tell you this up front then to find out when we began," said Mary softly.
"Why can't you give him something for the pain?" Asked Molly awestruck at the thought of Harry having to go through the stitching without any source of painless potion. They had already explained to her that Harry's wounds were too extensive to magically heal, they would have to be stitched to heal properly.
"He has lost to much blood to take any source of painless potion. The potion would just thin his blood, and cause things to bleed more heavily," said Mr. Lenoge with the most sincerity as possible. "Now Harry do what ever you want to lessen the pain for you, but try not to move," said Mr. Lenoge.
"Remus," mouthed Harry.
"What's that sweetie?" Asked Mrs. Weasley.
"He wants to see Remus I believe. Don't worry Harry I'll go get him," said Tonks as she left to go find Remus. Seconds later Remus came walking into the room behind Tonks.
"What is it Harry?" Asked Remus.
"I'm sorry," mouthed Harry.
Ouch, thought Remus. He didn't know how many more heart breaking experiences he could take in one day. "Harry you have nothing to be sorry about. It is I that should be apologizing to you. I should have never said that to you," said Remus.
Harry shook his head, and began to mouth something else when Remus held up his hand to stop Harry from wasting anymore of his strength. As Harry looked up at Remus, Remus could truly tell how frightened Harry was. "We can talk all we want when we take you to Grimaul Place for Christmas," said Remus as he began to leave Harry's bedside.
At seeing Remus about to leave Harry began squeezing Mrs. Weasley's hand with as much strength as he had left. "Remus, I think Harry wants you to stay here," said Mrs. Weasley while Harry shook his head yes.
"Of course," said Remus as he couldn't hold back his tears any longer. "I will stay."
"Okay Harry were going to began," said Mary. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````
Well, I hope you liked it, and it was as good as you were expecting. To tell you the truth, I had the best time writing this chapter. I don't know it was like I could feel myself in Harry's place there, and I know we all like to think that we would do the same thing Harry did for his friends in that situation, but we never know until we are in one of those situations. Oh, yeah and I finally got to write some parts with Hagrid in it. I have always liked his character, but the story line didn't call for much of his character. He will be in small parts in the rest of the story, but not much. Thanks again for all of your reviews, and I would really appreciate it if you would drop me a line, and tell me if you liked this chapter. I really want to see what you all thought of it. Next chapter you will see how things go from the battle, so until next Saturday, have fun and stay safe. (Isn't that what Bob Ross used to say).
"
"Oh my God," cried several of the order members as the arrived on a flat overlooking the battle that was raging on. It appeared that Dumbledore's order had not arrived in time to prevent Voldemort from questioning and slaughtering the Centaurs, and now Dumbledore and his order where in the throws of a fierce battle.
"There dead. Look at them, they have been burned to death!" Cried Hermione as she had tears streaming down her face. "Harry there all dead," she sobbed.
Harry and his order where rooted to the spot that they had arrived in. The images they were seeing where forever going to be imprinted in their minds. Several of the Centaurs had been apparently tortured and killed, as others where unblemished but still utterly lifeless.
"Pre-Prepare to battle, we did not come here to be spectators. Flyers in the air and fire at will," said Harry.
Immediately the flyers took off in a blur, which Harry assumed was because they preferred to be in the air rather then in the mixed of the battle.
"Remember to keep your form, together we are strong, but separate we are no match for them," said Harry.
As his order nodded their agreement they started a slow march down the hill towards the battle that awaited them. Many of Harry's order looked like they could faint on the spot, trembling from head to toe and without any trace of color, but they never turned back. They continued on knowing that if they didn't then there was a chance they would need twenty or so caskets for Dumbledore and his order who were clearly overmatched.
"AAAHHHH!!!" Screamed a female's voice.
Harry's head jerked in the direction of the shrill scream for he recognized that voice anywhere. "TONKS!!!" Screamed Harry as he began running into the battle hindsight completely forgotten as his order ran tensely behind him.
"STUPIFY!" Shouted Harry striking the death eater in the back as he stood over Tonks who was lying flat on her back staring up into the face of her soon to be killer with a look of pure terror in her eyes.
"TONKS!" Cried Harry as he tried to get to her as she quickly got up from the ground with her wand in hand.
"Watcher Harry!" said Tonks before she grasped the concept that Harry was here and in immediate danger. "No honey, what are you doing here?" Said Tonks as she made a slashing movement with her wand sending out what appeared to be pink flames toward a group of death eaters that were pressing down on Moody and Kinglsey Shacklbolt.
"What do you think where doing here?" Said Harry with a smile on his face before fifteen or more death eaters surrounded him and his order. "NOW, CAST YOUR CURSES NOW!" Bellowed Harry.
"Without hesitation everyone in Harry's order screamed "STUPIFY!" At the top of their lungs even though Harry was in their immediate path. However, they knew better then to not listen to him for they had worked and began to trust each other completely over the few months they had all worked together. As the Hexes where vastly approaching Harry vanished allowing the spells to hit their marks. Several of the death eaters dropped on the spot, leaving about eight to take on Harry and his order. As the death eaters cast an array of curses towards Harry's order Harry appeared back in line beside Ron and began giving commands again.
"SHEILDS UP NOW! HURRY!" Said Harry as the death eaters that remained were bearing down on them with a vengeance.
"AAAHHH!" Shrieked Ernie McMillian as he took a spell full force in the chest.
"GET HIM!" Shouted Harry as he cast a spell of his own at the attacking death eaters. Immediately four members circled Ernie McMillian before he vanished from sight.
"They got him now Harry, he'll be okay," shouted Ron as he wildly waved his wand around yelling every curse he had ever learned during his studies at Hogwarts.
Shouts could be heard now from all directions as the battle raged on with a multitude of colors springing forth from all different directions.
"Oh," moaned Seamus Finnagin as he fell face down on the cold earth after being struck with a bright gold light.
"SEAMUS!" Cried Dean as he stepped in front of his best friend who lay still on the icy ground. "HELP. HE NEEDS HELP!" Yelled Dean as he, Ron, and Neville had taken position around the immobile Seamus till the medic team arrived.
"Another one already," could be heard as if it was spoken by the wind as Seamus body vanished from the battle as well.
"BASTARDS!" Cried Dean as he began shouting spells toward the death eaters who had attacked his friend. The first spell Dean cast was the paralyzing spell that Harry had taught them all at the begging of their order training. The spell had hit the death eater who had stricken down Seamus in the gut where he now lay motionless on the ground. The blow to his best friend though had seem to affect Dean dramatically, and Harry was forced to bring his order up and surround Dean because he had quit producing any forms of protection for himself.
"STUFIY," Shouted Harry as he seen a death eater running towards a group of Dumbledore's order that were being forced back into the woods. "CHO, LOOK TO THE SOUTH." Shouted Harry in hopes that his flyers would here him before Moody, and several others that Harry didn't recognized were completely overpowered.
"AAAHHH!!! IT BURNS. OH MY GOD, IT BURNS! GET IT OFF OF ME, AAAHHHH..." Screamed a handful of the death eaters that had been forcing Moody and the others into the woods. When the death eaters had stopped casting spells towards them when Harry's aerial team had delivered their contribution to the battle Moody and the rest of his group took advantage of the situations and overpowered the rest of the remaining death eaters that were attacking them.
"BUGGER!" Screamed Neville as his robes became alight with flames, and began rolling madly on the ground.
"NEVILLE! CAST A COOLING CHARM ON YOURSELF!" Shrieked Hermione as she ran towards him. Neville did not here her though as he continued to roll around on the ground shrieking and covering his face with his hands.
Hermione finally got to where Neville lay thrashing on the ground and produced a fountain of water from her wand tip ridding Neville's robes of the offending flames. "Th-thank you," said Neville as he slowly stooped to pick up his wand and return to battle, but the medic team quickly pulled him under the invisibility cloak and removed him from the battle.
After several more minutes of intense battle with the attacking death eaters that had swarmed Harry and his order they finally prevailed. However, Harry's order where now lacking several members that weighed heavily on all of there minds.
"HARRY LOOK!" Cried Parvati pointing to her left where three death eaters had overpowered and where now torturing a member from Dumbledore's order.
"NO!" Yelled Harry as his rage began to rear its head again, and with a long slashing motion two of the three death eaters where hit and thrown into the nearby trees with a sickening crunch.
"STUFPIFY!" Yelled Ron hitting the remaining death eater as he tried to retreat back into a group of death eaters.
Ron turned towards Harry with a huge grin on his face after Harry's medic team arrived and took the man from Dumbledore's army under their invisibility cloak. "We showed them didn't we mate? They didn't even see that coming," said Ron when his face immediately paled.
"What is it?" Asked Harry when he heard "CRUCIO!" Yelled behind him. He expected to feel the painful curse hit him any moment as he prepared himself for the effects, but the screaming that was being produced was not coming from him. Jerking his head around he saw Mr. Weasley writhing on the ground while a death eater stood above him.
"DAD! DAD!" Cried Ron as he raised his wand shakily in the direction of his father and his attacking death eater.
"NO RON, YOU'LL HIT YOUR DAD FROM THIS DISTANCE!" Yelled Harry as they both looked on in horror.
"CRUNCH." Fred and George leaped from their brooms and began punching and kicking every inch of their father's attacker they could find after they effectively knocked him off their father. "BASTARD, YOU DON'T MESS WITH OUR FAMILY!" Said one of the twins as he continued to punch the bloodied face of the death eater after his mask broke and fell from his face with the tirade of punches while the other was pulling out a full potion bottle from his robe.
"MOVE AWAY BRO!" Yelled what sounded like Fred as he through the full potion bottle onto the death eater where he immediately began smoking and screaming madly. Then both twins raised there wands to finish of the badly wounded death eater till Mr. Weasley pushed their arms down to stop them from taking another man's life.
"DAD," Yelled Ron as he ran towards their father as Mr. Weasley turned in their direction. Immediately his face became ghostly white as he now realized that almost all of his sons where in the battle. Harry hoped Ron would keep the information about Ginny being here a secrete from him since he did not look well at the moment. Harry and his order had overlooked the charm to disguise their faces or it wouldn't have been a problem. They had been unaware that the charm could only be used once a month unless you wanted to take the risk of the side effects it could cause if you used it more then once in a month. Leave it to Hermione to save us all, thought Harry as he now realized he was standing alone in the middle of this horrendous battle after Ron left him to go be with his dad.
As Harry scanned the battlefield a great sense of foreboding filled the pit of his stomach. He could feel that something was amiss, but other then his order had been split up and him now fighting solo now he couldn't tell what it was. As he stood alone in the middle of the battle an intense cold swept over him, and his breath caught in his chest. The coldness went through Harry's skin like needles and bore down into his very soul. "DEMENTORS!" Shrieked a girl from the air, as the coldness swept across the battle plain as a group of thirty or more Dementors glided into the battle.
The screaming in Harry's head was so intense that his head felt like it might explode, and his eyes began to roll in the back of his head. Then the screaming quickly changed to images of Sirius falling through the vale at the Department of Mysteries with the look of complete shock imprinted on his face as the spell from Bellatrix hit him. The Dementors were surrounding Harry as he tried desperately to fight off the unconsciousness that was tugging at him from within. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Harry vaguely heard as he sunk to his knees as the Dementors bore down on him. Then Harry felt something warm glide by him warming his entire being as it pushed the Dementors back somewhat so Harry could stand. Harry quickly caught sight of a swan gliding around in front of him before it left back towards who ever cast it. "Thanks Cho," muttered Harry as he raised his wand and shouted "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" On que the transparent shape of a stag leapt from the tip of his wand and began charging down the whole group of death eaters as if it where a game. When it would bull rush one with its antlers it would rear up on its hind legs and chase after another one, but not before it would turn to Harry and smile to Harry's amazement. "Dad," said Harry as his Patronum charged down the remaining Dementors and sent them scurrying off into the woods. "Dad," shouted Harry again as the stag he produced trotted back to him and gave him another toothy grin before dissipating into the air. Hah, way to go dad, thought Harry.
"CRUCIO," Yelled a female's voice. This time Harry felt the full effects of the Cruciatus Curse.
Harry felt as if he could die there on the spot and never give it a second thought. His whole body was being racked with the immense pain that he had only felt twice during his lifetime. He couldn't make out anything that was happening around him, all he could see was white as he felt himself falling into unconsciousness and his throat felt like it was on fire. Harry vaguely heard the words "Stupify," uttered as he felt the blackness begin to take him. Then in a split second he found himself being shaken hard and being pulled to his feet by Angelina Johnson and Katie Bell, as Alicia Spinnet kicked the death eater to make sure she was unconscious.
"Harry look at me, are you okay," said Katie as she had both hands on either side of his face and was peering into his eyes as Angenlina supported his weight. "You need to lie down Harry, you had that curse on you for too long. We couldn't find where you where in time," cried Katie as all three girls had tears streaming down there face. "We are so sorry."
"No, I'm okay. Just needed to catch my breath," croaked Harry as his throat felt hoarse. Apparently he had been screaming and didn't even know it.
"Boys," Huffed Angelina as she would not let go of Harry. "Harry you need to lay down, and we are not taking no for an answer," said Angelina as she summoned her broom to her and instructed Harry to get on behind her.
At that moment though a high pitched laughter could be heard as the largest congregation of death eaters began parting. A loud roaring noise could be herd coming from the group as everything seemed to stop making noise as a large griffin sprang forth from the attacking death eaters. The griffin appeared to be later in years with gray hairs in the dark bush of his mane, but none the less it was clear that the griffin meant business.
"I TOLD YOU THAT THERE WOULD BE MORE SUPRISES YOU OLD FOOL!" Laughed Voldemort as he watched on in amusement as the griffin began eyeing out the prey he was going to sink his teeth into. "You know magic doesn't work the same on animals as it does on humans. There are a lot of people here who I doubt knows how to stop it before it's upon them. Lets just hope you can afford the loss of the person he so chooses to maul," Said Voldemort with a sickening sweet voice.
As death eaters began their assault on Dumbledore's and Harry's order again the griffin began his search for his meal. With the battle taking up where it left off no one paid the griffin any more attention since it seemed to be having a difficult time deciding on which human would make his best prey.
"Get back in the air, I am fine, but there are others who desperately need you," said Harry. The girls where not at all happy about leaving Harry alone there, but they climbed back on their broom and left after telling him to be careful.
"WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR YOU PATHETIC BEAST, I SAID THE BOY? THE BOY!" Screamed Voldemort as he battled on with Dumbledore.
All of Dumbledore's order began scanning wildly around for any signs of Harry, till they heard a high pitched scream. The griffin had chosen his prey and was crouched down and eyeing Hermione, Ginny, and Sarah who had stuck together since Harry's order had been split up.
"NO!" Cried Harry.
"DON'T RUN, STAY WHERE YOU ARE!" Yelled Remus after winning his battle with his attacking death eater. However, at that moment the griffin growled and all three girls took off running in the same direction, which happened to be towards Harry.
"THEY BOY, KILL THE BOY YOU BEAST!" Yelled Voldemort again as he had just knocked Dumbledore to the ground.
Instantly the griffin's mane rose and he launched himself into his charge toward the girls. The griffin came grunting with each bound throwing grass and mud with each step of his massive paws.
As Harry watched the chase take place he saw that the girls where being overtaken by the griffin as if they were standing still. What spell do I use, panicked Harry as he was aiming his wand at the griffin.
"HARRY RUN! MAGIC DOESN'T WORK THE SAME ON ANIMALS HARRY, RUN!" Yelled Lupin as he spotted Harry while fighting off another attacker.
"What!" Panicked Harry as he saw that his friends would be overtaken within a few seconds. "Down Hermione, Sarah, Ginny clear my shot," said Harry. He remembered when he and Cedric had fought the gigantic spider during the Triwizard Tournament, and how the both of them had barely stopped it, but he was going to try regardless.
The girls immediately fell to the ground as Harry let his spell fly. The girls lay curled up in a ball as Harry's spell hit the griffin across it chest. The griffin leapt high in the air, and Harry thought that his friends where going to be mauled to death, but the griffin had leapt in surprise of being hit with a spell and was now on the ground growling madly.
"GET AWAY FROM HIM, RUN!" Shouted Harry.
All three girls sprang to their feet and took off in another direction, but the sudden movement of the girls running brought the attention of the griffin back on them.
"HEY OVER HERE, COME GET ME!" Shouted Harry after the griffin while he was waving his arms wildly over his head.
"YES GET THE BOY!" Yelled Voldemort as he was deflecting another spell from Dumbledore.
"HARRY NO! DON'T CALL HIM TO YOU!" Cried Lupin, but it was too late the griffin was now bounding strait ahead towards Harry.
Oh no, thought Harry as he watched the griffin come charging towards him. What do I do now, thought Harry as the griffin was bearing down on him? "STUPIFY!" Shouted Harry, but the spell only appeared to anger the beast further. As the griffin sprang for the kill, Harry fell backwards not even attempting to resists its' weight. Harry now lay beneath the griffin's forepaws, the head, and its snapping jaws. The Griffin's breath was so foul that Harry could feel the vomit rising in his throat, so Harry began doing the only thing that seemed logical at the moment. He began hitting the beast with his fist and screaming hoping that the griffin would leave him alone. With the sudden attack from Harry though the griffin began ripping at Harry with both his forepaws where his razor sharp claws were fully extended. As Harry wriggled beneath the massive weight of the griffin he was able to evade many of the claw strokes, but several also landed, and he could feel the claws tearing his flesh. "AAAHHHH! GET OFF ME!" Cried Harry in pure terror.
As the pain from the claw strokes began coursing through his body Harry's mind began functioning again and he remembered his Animagus form. Now lying underneath the attacking griffin was a Siberian White Tiger. For a moment the griffin seemed confused, but quickly recovered and began tearing and snapping wildly at Harry again. Harry immediately did the only thing again he could think of to stave off some of his attackers blows, he began making clawing motions of his own at the griffin's face, finally hitting with his third swipe. Harry could feel his claws sink into the griffin's face and tear away a large chunk of flesh, but at the time Harry was just happy that the griffin had stopped clawing at him. As Harry's paw came back down revealing the griffin's face he could see the damage he had inflicted upon it. The griffin now had a huge gash starting above its right eye and going all the way down his face, and its' right eye had now turned a milky white color. The grunting the griffin had previously been doing changed to a continuous roaring as he shook his head from side to side before he tried to claw Harry again. Harry then quickly raised his head up and sunk his razor sharp teeth down into the griffin's neck where he immediately tasted the bitter, salty taste of its' blood run into his mouth and onto his face matting down his once beautiful white fur. The griffin began to convulse and twitch madly till it sieced all movement and collapsed down onto Harry's injured body.
After the griffin was dead Harry transformed back into his human form in hopes that the movements would lessen the pain on his rib cage and allow him to breath better. However, that was not the case, and all Harry could do now was lay there under the weight of the dead griffin and let death take him.
"LETS GO. THE PRAT IS NO LONGER A THREAT TO US ANYMORE!" Yelled Voldemort as he and his death eaters began apparating away. Cracking noises could be heard all over the plain leaving Dumbledore's and Harry's order looking disheveled and worried beyond belief after witnessing Harry being mauled by the griffin.
It was obvious how badly Harry was hurt, from the sheets of blood that covered him. "Oh God, Harry sweetie, speak to me," said Tonks as she ran to his side and fell to her knees beside him. Everyone else approached Harry at a slow pace as if afraid that the sight of his mangled and bloody body would bring on their immediate death. Dumbledore, Minerva, and Remus where the only other three who ran up to see if Harry was indeed dead.
"I'M COMING, MOVE OUT OF THE WAY, I COMING!" Yelled Hagrid as he came bounding from the woods with his crossbow in hand. "Where is it, I know its here, I have been chasing it for thirty minutes?" Said Hagrid as he and Madam Maxime came running towards the group. "What who killed it?" Asked Hagrid in surprise as he could see the dead griffin laying on the ground over the heads of evryone else. However, as everyone parted to give Hagrid a clear view he saw that Harry was lying motionless underneath the dead carcass of the griffin covered in blood.
"NOOOO. NOOOO! IT CAN'T BE. NOT HARRY!" Welled Hagrid as he ran the last ten feet to where Harry and the griffin lay. "HARRY'S NOT DEAD. HE'S NOT I TELL YOU. HE CAN'T BE DEAD, I KNOW IT," Cried Hagrid as giant sized tears poured down his face mixing in with his bushy beard. "GET OFF OF HIM YOU MANGY BEAST!" Roared Hagrid as he grabbed the dead griffin by the scruff of the neck and threw him to the side.
Tonks could not control her sobs as she saw the blood that covered Harry's face and clothes, and the numerous rips in his clothing that covered his body. "Harry speak to me, you must come back to us," said Dumbledore as he had several tears now sliding down his face as well.
To everyone immense relief Harry rolled his head to the side and his eyes were open. "Harry!" cried Tonks as she reached down and began to pull him into a hug, blood covered and all.
"AAHHH!" Cried Harry at the sudden movements. Tonks quickly stopped her movements and lay Harry's head down on her lap.
"Harry where does it hurt kiddo?" Asked Remus.
"All over," moaned Harry.
"Move aside," said Mary, as she, April, and Mr. Lenoge approached Harry. "Oh, my goodness," said Marry at the sight of Harry.
"It's not all mine," said Harry as he started to tremble. However, as he tried to set up blood started streaming from his right thigh where the claws ripped into him.
Ron immediately turned away and emptied his stomach at the sight of the blood that was flowing from Harry's leg. Every male in Harry's group paled at the sight, and the girls began sobbing.
"Please help him," cried Hermione as she was on the brink of hysteria.
"Quick, Mary, apply pressure to the artery. April apply pressure to the wound, we have to tie off the blood vessel before he looses to much blood," said Mr. Lenoge.
"You will be able to won't you?" Asked Remus.
"I'll try," said Mr. Lenoge.
"No I'm fine," said Harry pleadingly, for now all he wanted to do was leave this place, and have a happy Christmas with Tonks, Remus, and the rest.
As April began applying pressure to the gash in his right thigh Harry squeezed his eyes shut as tears sprang out from beneath his closed eyes, and he buried his face into Tonks as she held him to her. It's almost over Harry, just a few more seconds," said April soothingly as Mr. Lenoge prepared to tie off the blood vessel with a needle and thread.
"You there, Remus is it? Hold his leg as still as you can keep it," said Mr. Lenoge. "This is going to hurt."
Sure enough as Mr. Lenoge stuck the needle through the blood vessel Harry began thrashing around trying to get away from the new source of his pain.
"Hold it still!" Said Mr. Lenoge.
"Harry stop moving," said Remus.
"He can't, you are hurting him," chided Tonks as she held on to Harry the best she could.
Two minutes later and a lot more pain, and Harry's torn blood vessel had stopped spouting blood. "Give him some water," said Mary as she handed Tonks a bottle of water.
As Tonks gently lifted the trembling Harry up slightly so that he could reach the bottle of water some spilled out washing away some of the blood on his face. "Here Harry drink slowly," whispered Tonks as Harry began drinking the water as fast as she would allow it to pour into his mouth. After Harry had his fill of water, Tonks began pouring it gently over his face and using her robes to clean his face in hopes that there where no cuts on his face. To hers' and everyone else's relief the blood on Harry's face seemed to have come all from the griffin. However, many of his other wounds where going to need medical attention and fast, but the gash in his right leg was the worst of them.
"That's the worst of it," said Mr. Lenoge. The rest will have to be tied up with cloth till we can get him to St. Mungos.
"Can you do nothing else for him now?" Asked Dumbledore.
"I am afraid not. The best we can do for him now is bandage him up the best we can, and get him back to where we can work on him better," said Mr. Lenoge.
"Albus can we not send him back with a portkey?" Asked McGonagall.
"NO! He can not travel by portkey. That will worsen his injuries, we must keep him as still as possible," said Mary.
Why can't we send him back with a portkey?" Asked Remus.
"Portkeys are a ruff ride even if you haven't just been mauled by a griffin," said April haughtily.
"How do we get him back then," Asked Tonks.
"Flyers are you up for a flight to St. Mungos?" Asked Mr. Lenoge.
"FLY! You're kidding me right. I am not letting Harry get on a broom now," said Tonks.
"No of course not, we need a stretcher of some sorts so he can lay as still as possible," said Mr. Lenoge.
"Here," said McGonagall as she transfigured a discarded robe into a stretcher.
"You cannot take Harry to St. Mungos. It is too dangerous for him to be there unprotected. He needs to be taken back to Hogwarts," said Dumbledore.
"Impossible, if we don't get him to our hospital so we can help him then he will die," said Mr. Lenoge beginning to lose his composure.
"I know, and everything you need can be found at Hogwarts where we can protect him," said Dumbledore.
"This is not your decision to make," said Mr. Lenoge.
"I agree with Dumbledore," said Moody.
"You would," said April.
"Now you listen here Missy, we have been doing this a lot longer then you have, and we know that Harry cannot be seen at St. Mungos in that condition," growled Moody.
"So you would rather him die, then him being spotted at St. Mungos then. Is that what you are telling me," said Mary.
"You know darn well what we are implying," said Moody.
As Mr. Lenoge began to respond Harry began coughing and having a difficult time catching his breath.
"Harry!" Cried Tonks as she tilted his head to the side to let him spit out the blood that he had coughed up.
"Okay, we will take him back to Hogwarts, but we must do it now," said Mr. Lenoge.
After they finally agreed they began tying the stretcher to four brooms where Harry lay in the middle. "Listen," if he starts to convulse or cough you must stop, and calm him or help him to get the blood out of his mouth," said April.
"Gotcha," said Angelina, as she, Alicia, Katie, and Cho where the four chosen to carry Harry back to Hogwarts. Everyone figured the four lightest flyers could carry Harry's extra weight and keep him better balanced then the others.
"Now we will be circling below you, if Harry needs help, signal down to us, and we will stop immediately," said Remus, as he, Moody, Tonks, and Kinglsey had taken the other brooms from the rest of Harry's flyers to provide over watch.
"And for heavens' sake, keep it as smooth as possible. In a few minutes Harry's injuries are going to become very stiff, and the slightest jarring will cause him a tremendous amount of pain," said Mary.
As the flyers took off at a snails pace, everyone else left on the ground prepared to portkey back to Hogwarts. However, Dumbledore halted all the transportations and walked a few paces away from the group.
"Harry again you have proven your bravery today, by sacrificing yourself for the safety of others. I am terribly sorry that this has all fell upon you my boy," said Dumbledore in a whisper as he raised his wand in the air and produced a flaming phoenix for Harry before he walked back to the others and left for Hogwarts.
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"This is taking forever," said Cho to her other flying companions as she looked over at Harry as he was trying to mask his pain. "He needs help now."
"I know, why don't we speed up some, and then if it is to much for Harry we can slow down?" Suggested Angelina.
"That sounds good to me," said Alicia.
"Hold on Harry, we are going to start flying a little faster, but if it's to much for you tell us okay," said Katie.
"To much for me. Never," said Harry as he was trying to sound brave. His comment made the four girls smile sadly at him as they increased their pace.
Five minutes later, the group encountered a swift wind that caused Harry's stretcher to jar and bang into the brooms that were holding him still. He groaned aloud at a particularly hard impact with Cho's broom before he slumped into unconsciousness.
"HARRY!" Cried Cho, as Katie signaled the rest to go down.
"What, what is it?" Asked Remus as he leapt from his broom and ran for Harry with Tonks right behind him.
"The wind made him start bumping into our brooms, and he fell unconscious," cried Cho.
"Harry can you here me?" said Remus as he lightly tapped Harry on his right cheek.
Harry slowly started to open his eyes, to everyone's relief. It's not much further kiddo, and then everything will be okay. It was breaking Remus's heart to see the pain in Harry's eyes, and know that he should have prevented it.
"Ah, his bandages are holding as well as can be expected, but he is terribly cold," said Moody in the softest gruff he could produce since he could see Harry's body through the blanket that was covering him. Moody, Remus, and Kingsley quickly discarded their robes and gently covered Harry up with them trying to make him as comfortable as possible as Tonks stroked the matted hair from his face.
Again they took off into the night at a snails pace, but after thirty long agonizing minutes they could see the lights of Hogwarts in the night sky. "We made it Harry," whispered Cho as they started their descent towards the grounds of Hogwarts.
Remus and Kinglsey untied Harry's stretcher from the broomsticks and levitated him behind them up to where Mary, April, Mr. Lenoge, and no doubt Madam Pomphrey were awaiting his arrival. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ````````````
"HARRY!" Yelled Ron as he and all of his order saw him being levitated on a stretcher to the hospital wing.
The loud shout from Ron awoke Harry from his unconsciousness with a low moan, but quickly tried to cover it up with a smile.
"Harry, honey are you okay? Remus how is he?" Asked Mrs. Weasley.
"I'm fine Mrs. Weasley, smiled Harry with the best smile he could muster. "Do you think we can leave for our Christmas break now?" Asked Harry before he began coughing again.
As the mediwithces tended to Harry, Remus pulled Molly off to the side. "Molly he is stable at the moment, but he has lost a lot of blood, and is in a great deal of pain right now, even if he won't show it. To tell you the truth, I think he is scared of what they are going to do to take care of his wounds. Maybe you could go in with him and talk to him for a little while," said Remus.
"Of course I will Remus. I wasn't going to let him go in there by himself anyway. You know I consider him one of my sons, and I know him all to well, I can tell that he is terrified," said Mrs. Weasley.
As the hospital wing door opened to allow Remus to bring Harry's stretcher into the wing, everyone piled into the wing with him. "What is this? Out everyone out this instant!" Ranted Madam Pomphrey looking outraged.
Actually Madam Pomphrey I was wondering if you could check on a few people that we were minding to when Harry showed up. They are in the Room of Requirements," said Mr. Lenoge as he, Mary, and April got ready to work on Harry again.
"Yes, very well," said Madam Pomphrey as she left with Professor McGonagall who had agreed to show her where it was located.
"Harry mate, were not leaving your side," said Ron. However, at this moment Harry wished everyone would leave. All he wanted to do was be alone at this moment as he could feel tears stinging behind his eyes.
"Ron, the best thing you can do for him now is to get everyone to leave right now, and to wait outside till Harry has been taken care of," said Mrs. Weasley as she could see Harry wanted to be alone right now.
"But mom, I want to stay here," whined Ginny. "He saved my life."
"Come on everyone," said Remus as he began guiding everyone out of the room. We can wait outside till everything has been taken care of. As everyone began leaving the room, Mrs. Weasley continued to hold Harry's hand as she gently stroked his hair out of his eyes. Tonks sat on the other side of his bed while she held his other hand. Harry was grateful that Mrs. Weasley and Tonks had stayed with him at this moment because he was terrified of what Mr. Lenoge, Mary, and April were going to have to do.
"Can one of you help us get some things set up?" Asked April.
"I will," said Tonks as she got up from his bedside and gave Harry a quick peck on his forehead before she left to help out the others.
"Mrs. Weasley I-I really am okay," said Harry with the strongest voice he could muster.
"SSSHHHH, Harry its okay, everything is going to be just fine," Cooed Mrs. Weasley as the tears started leaking out from Harry's eyes. He no longer had the strength to reply, so he just laid there keeping up his brave face. It was breaking Mrs. Weasleys heart to watch him be so strong and so utterly terrified all at the same time, and so she did the only thing she knew to do. She pulled him into a motherly hug, and told him everything was going to be okay, even when she had no clue if they were or not. To her surprise she heard Harry start to quietly cry into her shoulder as she rocked him back and forth.
"CLANK!" Sorry about that," said Tonks, as here cheeks became rosy. "I swear I sat that over there," she continued saying as she saw Harry extract his tear stained face from Mrs. Weasley's shoulder to smile and quietly snicker out loud at Tonk's clumsiness.
"Okay, Harry this is going to hurt quite a bit, but it is better to tell you this up front then to find out when we began," said Mary softly.
"Why can't you give him something for the pain?" Asked Molly awestruck at the thought of Harry having to go through the stitching without any source of painless potion. They had already explained to her that Harry's wounds were too extensive to magically heal, they would have to be stitched to heal properly.
"He has lost to much blood to take any source of painless potion. The potion would just thin his blood, and cause things to bleed more heavily," said Mr. Lenoge with the most sincerity as possible. "Now Harry do what ever you want to lessen the pain for you, but try not to move," said Mr. Lenoge.
"Remus," mouthed Harry.
"What's that sweetie?" Asked Mrs. Weasley.
"He wants to see Remus I believe. Don't worry Harry I'll go get him," said Tonks as she left to go find Remus. Seconds later Remus came walking into the room behind Tonks.
"What is it Harry?" Asked Remus.
"I'm sorry," mouthed Harry.
Ouch, thought Remus. He didn't know how many more heart breaking experiences he could take in one day. "Harry you have nothing to be sorry about. It is I that should be apologizing to you. I should have never said that to you," said Remus.
Harry shook his head, and began to mouth something else when Remus held up his hand to stop Harry from wasting anymore of his strength. As Harry looked up at Remus, Remus could truly tell how frightened Harry was. "We can talk all we want when we take you to Grimaul Place for Christmas," said Remus as he began to leave Harry's bedside.
At seeing Remus about to leave Harry began squeezing Mrs. Weasley's hand with as much strength as he had left. "Remus, I think Harry wants you to stay here," said Mrs. Weasley while Harry shook his head yes.
"Of course," said Remus as he couldn't hold back his tears any longer. "I will stay."
"Okay Harry were going to began," said Mary. ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ```````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````````` ``````````````
Well, I hope you liked it, and it was as good as you were expecting. To tell you the truth, I had the best time writing this chapter. I don't know it was like I could feel myself in Harry's place there, and I know we all like to think that we would do the same thing Harry did for his friends in that situation, but we never know until we are in one of those situations. Oh, yeah and I finally got to write some parts with Hagrid in it. I have always liked his character, but the story line didn't call for much of his character. He will be in small parts in the rest of the story, but not much. Thanks again for all of your reviews, and I would really appreciate it if you would drop me a line, and tell me if you liked this chapter. I really want to see what you all thought of it. Next chapter you will see how things go from the battle, so until next Saturday, have fun and stay safe. (Isn't that what Bob Ross used to say).
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