Chapter Twelve: Guess Who's Coming To Quidditch?
A/N: This chapter is PG-13 to mild-R for violence.
The next couple of weeks were a flurry of activity as the students prepared for their exams. The Quidditch players - especially the ones in the DA - were even busier as they were prepared for the deciding matches of the Quidditch Cup on top of their studies. The Easter holidays offered a little let up from the pressure, but for the seventy or so students under Harry's control didn't notice as they spent much of the holidays in the DA room practising duelling or hand-to-hand combat with the Shengming, Harry or one of the growing number of Order members arriving at the castle.
The weekend after classes resumed was the date of the Hufflepuff-Slytherin match. Snape attempted to get the match cancelled but Harry persuaded the Council to allow it to go ahead, on the understanding that all available defenders - including the entire DA - would be present, a condition that Harry was happy to accede to, as it fitted in nicely with his plan.
Well, we're as ready as we'll ever be, Harry decided as he exited the War Room late on Friday night. I just hope he takes the bait.
The match passed off without a hitch, and Harry was unsurprised when Scott Summersby caught the Snitch within thirty minutes, winning the game for Hufflepuff by an impressive two-hundred points to seventy. Despite this, Harry wasn't too worried, Gryffindor were already ninety points of them and had a game yet to play.
----
"Good morning everyone. And welcome to the last game of the Quidditch season," Abercrombie said with his usual enthusiasm. "Today, the defending champions, Gryffindor, take on Ravenclaw!"
Harry shook hands with Lisa Turpin, Ravenclaw's new Captain and Keeper, then both teams rose into air as Madame Hooch released the balls and started the game.
"Gryffindor are really quick off the mark today folks, Chaser Whisp catches the Quaffle before it has even started to fall and he's off. ducks a Bludger sent his way by Terry Boot of Ravenclaw. reverse passes to Chaser Weasley. Weasley takes aim and shoots. Turpin's fingers brush the ball but it slides past. Gryffindor now lead ten points to zero and are still in possession. Chaser Skelton has the Quaffle."
Play continued for another hour, and as they normally did Ravenclaw recovered their momentum and managed to pull back Gryffindor's lead. Harry had just spotted a glint of gold near the centre line when a shiver ran through him.
It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall: his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil hanging from the arch. Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind, then fell back into place.
Harry paused for a moment then slammed the strongest Occulmency shields he could in place, leaving only a tiny gap for the mental connection he could feel with the other Council members, then he headed for the ground. «Jonas, Sparky. Priority One alert! We've got Dementors incoming and I doubt they're alone!»
«Understood.» said Jonas.
Glancing over at the teachers' stand, Harry saw Dumbledore get to his feet. "If I could have everyone's attention for a moment?"
Within seconds the pitch fell silent. Ginny, Ron and Lisa all caught Harry's eye, their question clear. He nodded and both teams began to drift down to join him.
"I have just informed that a portion of Voldemort's army is coming our way. If everyone could please say calm and return immediately to the castle. Anyone with a specific assignment should report to their designated battle station and await instructions. For those with no assignment: first to fourth years should return to their common rooms; fifth years should station themselves along the access corridors to the common rooms; sixth and seventh years, please report to Professor Hooch on the upper ramparts."
The students began to move, there was a certain amount of panic, but the DA and Order members in the crowd were able to funnel them towards the exits. Both Quidditch teams fell into step behind Harry as he strode from the pitch. He didn't stop until they reached the changing rooms and Jamie and the others had joined them. Dobby has stationed himself at the changing rooms at his request. "Civis, plan A. Apparate to Headquarters and tell Mad- Eye we need everyone he can spare. Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Jamie, and Mark. you're with me. Lisa, take the others up to the ramparts and standby to provide air support. Madam Hooch, Zachary and his team should join you soon."
Harry turned to Dobby. "Dobby, find Malfoy and his goons and lock them up."
"Yes Harry Potter sir."
"Do whatever you have to, to keep them contained."
"Yes Harry Potter!" said Dobby gleefully and left with a pop.
The two groups headed back to the castle but separated at the main stair. All of them had their wands with them at Harry's insistence but he and his friends had stashed much of their personal weaponry in Harry's office and they needed to retrieve it.
Jamie had decided that her Quidditch uniform provided the best protection of anything she had, so all she had to do was swap her Seeker's gloves for the dragonhide leather gauntlets had hid her set of throwing knives, and Ron didn't have to do much more as his only extras were his dragonhide boots and coat.
Harry removed his Quidditch robes and slipped on a shoulder-and-back holster he'd bought over Christmas and replaced his leather Quidditch boots with the hardier dragonhide boots, then he removed the parts of his swordstick from their thigh holster and twisted them together. The completed stick went into the back holster and two throwing knives went into the underarm pockets. He checked the wand-holster was secure on his right wrist and then clipped the sheathes for his glaives on to his belt and dropped the Sceptre of Amor into the empty thigh sheath. Over all this he pulled his long dragonhide coat.
He looked around, they were all ready.
"Let's go."
----
Harry's group walked up the stairs to the War Room, where they were joined by the rest of the DA (with the exception of the aerial team), most of the teachers and Guardians, and the Shengming and Order members at the castle. Dr Chrystan had transformed into his immortal form.
Harry took his place at the table, and Ron, Ginny, Jamie and Hermione stood on either side of him. "Jonas report."
The Psychomens was examining his 'castle' and the various mirrors around the room. "My Scrying Spells indicate that a large continent is coming through the Forest. Sixteen-hundred yards and closing."
An alarm went off and the frame of one of the mirrors on the left wall glowed. Jonas swung round to get a good look. "Security has been breached at the jetty. Unknown number of hostiles. Twenty-three hundred yards and closing."
"Harry, if you would."
"Of course, Sparky." Harry told him. "Ernie, Padma, take DA Team Two, and go with Aduro, Grubbly-Plank, Hagrid, Firenze. Draper, Shi Hu, I'm putting your teams with them."
"Ron, Hermione, take DA Team One to the Entrance Hall. Sirius, Remus, Leona, Andromeda, Emmeline and the remaining teachers should accompany them, as will I. Sparky, I would prefer if you."
"I'm coming, Harry."
"Entrance Hall then."
"Where will you be, Harry?" asked Ginny.
"At the Entrance Hall." Harry replied. "Which reminds me. Jonas, can you expand the telepathic link to all the defenders?"
"I believe so."
"Do it."
«Broad-spectrum telepathic link online,» reported Jonas after a minute or two. «All staff, DA, Guardians, Shengming and Order members on-site are connected.»
«Hooch, Sprout, Troy, can you hear me?»
«Yes, Mr Potter,» replied Sprout.
«Is everyone is position?»
«We're missing the Slytherin Quidditch team and most of the Slytherin seventh years.»
«Moon and Zabini are with me,» Harry told her. «The other seventh years and the Quidditch team have been placed in protective custody.»
«Then we are all set.»
«Stay alert," Harry warned. «We don't have much coverage from the air. And with at least some of the Veela on Voldemort's side, there will probably be an attack from there.»
«We'll be careful, Harry,» Troy told him. «We won't let you down.»
«I know you won't.» Harry paused for a moment. «Okay, get to your positions. Aduro, Ernie, Padma. report in when you're in position.»
The massive Caelumi nodded his agreement, as did the two students, then they headed out, taking over half the defenders with them.
Once the corridor was clear, Harry headed for the door and the other followed him. Walking as fast as they did, it only took half the usual time to reach the Entrance Hall «Okay, I've decided that because we're defending a bottleneck we'll go out in waves."
"Sounds good, Harry," agreed Dumbledore.
"Okay. The first wave will move to the dock and attack Voldemort's forces as soon as they materialise. The second wave will position themselves at the stair outside and stand ready in the first wave is out-flanked. The third wave will be relatively small and will stay here, to protect the access points to the main castle."
"Sparky, I'd like to stay you to here. Guard our backs.»
"Very well."
"Professors Trelawney and Smith, Madam Pince, you're with the Headmaster. Neville, Luna, Mark, Anita, Susan. stay here." Harry told them. "Professors McGonagall, Snape, Jones and Ambrose, and Emmeline, Romulus and Blaise, I'd like you to form the point team. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Jamie, Remus, Leona and Sirius, you're with me."
Everyone nodded to show they understood, though one or two of the staff did so reluctantly. Harry waited until the point team was in position then he moved his group out. He drew the Sceptre and turned to the other Aspects. "Let's do it."
"Agreed."
"Vi Imperium de Amor Sceptrum. Nos resisto iunctus tam unus. Tam noster amo continuo. Ergo hoc debello OMNIS!"
The Sceptre and the Channelling Rings glowed briefly as energy flowed out of the rings and into diamond atop the Sceptre. "We're ready." Harry told them, and then turned to face the lake. "All we have to do is wait, and hope."
----
They didn't have to wait long. Five minutes later, Jonas voice broke into the telepathic channel. «Voldemort's forces are approaching the outer defence perimeter to the east and south east!»
«Aduro, Hagrid, Ernie, stand ready!»
«We're ready.»
«We won't let yeh down, Harry.»
There was a huge explosion from the direction of the Forbidden Forest. «Aduro, Jonas. report!»
«The Death Eaters just realised a barrage of fire spells. We've lost the outer defence perimeter!»
«Aduro, Hagrid! Do you have visual!»
«They're just starting to advance now.» reported Aduro. «Do we attack?»
«Advance forward yourselves and spread out. Attack as soon as they clear the Forest.»
«Understood.» said Aduro. «Only Death Eaters and Vetuni so far.»
«Have the teachers and seventh years hold back until the Dementors arrive.»
«Will do.»
Returning his glaze to the castle approaches Harry noticed a slight blurring in the air above him. As if aware of his notice, the area shimmered and resolved into a crowd of bodies. By Harry's count there were maybe sixty Veela, all in their monstrous, bird-like battle forms, and they were herding maybe fifteen or twenty Wyverns. Flying alongside them were the wizards responsible for the Disillusionment Charm, about fifty of them, all astride flying horses.
«Hooch, Troy, get your people into the air! Now!»
The two women instantly obeyed and twenty-one robed figures flew from the ramparts, firing curses at the enemy. They were flanked by four individuals with rather different methods of flight: Troy, who was garbed in a silvery winged armour appeared to fly unaided, while the auras surrounding Anderson and Menotti were no doubt responsible for their aerial manoeuvrability, while Harry easily identified the large dragon flying at the front as Jarred Laken, Hungarian Horntails weren't usually brownish-yellow in colour.
He watched the aerial dance of the opposing forces, for a few moments, but it was enough to show him that his people - though drastically out-numbered - had things well in hand. Laken's first strike took out over a dozen Veela and a single volley from Anderson and Menotti took down four of the Wyverns. He could also tell that Voldemort hadn't been able to find many skilled flyers, as Hooch and the Quidditch team were running rings round them and picked them off with little difficulty.
«Aduro, how are things with you?»
«They could be a lot better, there's a few more than we expected!» Aduro reported. «We've got maybe a five hundred creatures - mostly Acromatula and Dementors - plus eighty or so Trolls, a hundred and twenty Death Eaters, and a handful of Giants. No casualties as yet on our side, but it's only a matter of time.»
«Hold the line!» Harry told him. «Hopefully reinforcements will be here soon.»
«I hope so,» said Aduro. «We can't keep this up for long!»
Harry was spared from any further discussion by a disturbance down by the lakeshore. The army that had been moving across the lake finally revealed itself. It was a fairly small group perhaps a hundred or hundred and twenty strong, but it was lead by fifty large Vetuni, armed with an array of deadly weaponry. «Point team, attack!»
The small group of wizards and witches under Harry's command rushed forward, led by Professor Ambrose. Most of them had their wands out but Romulus and Blaise carried bladed weapons and Jones had his revolver in one hand and a long bullwhip in the other.
The pitch of the battle noise increased dramatically, the roar of gunfire clearly audible over the whooshing sound of curses and hexes. But this fight wasn't going as well as the others, and soon gaps began to open up in the lines. The Vetuni were the first to break through and the quickly raced for the stairs. Harry unsheathed his stick and popped the twin blades, and blocked a sword slash from one of them, then cut under the man's guard and sliced his belly open. Jamie palmed one of her daggers and then threw it at another vampire, a staffsmen, he screamed and when down his flesh instantly mummifying. They quickly found that Stunners didn't work very well and often didn't work at all, but that paralysing or flame-based spells did work.
Harry cut down his seventh vampire and then brought up his stick to eye level. "Exuro!"
The jet of flame caught the vampire caught in the chest and he fell. Harry grinned, this was going better than he expected. He sensed movement behind him, and whirled around, two vampires were approaching him from his flanks and a Death Eater was raising his wand to attack Harry from behind. "Crucio!"
Harry dodged the curse and switching his stick to a one-handed grip, cleared a knife from his jacket and threw it at one of vampires. "Petrificus Totalus!"
The Death-Eater conjured a Shield and blocked the Body-Bind. "Reducto!"
The speed of the counter-attack took Harry by surprise and forced him to block the curse only his stick. The wooden shaft shattered, leaving Harry with only a short length of wood with a single blade sticking out below it. He threw the shard in the direction of the second vampire wounding it and then flicked his hand into his hand. "Stupefy!"
This time it was the Death Eater that was caught unawares, and she fell down hard.
Harry got up, he glanced up at the skies. They were now relatively clear and he could see from the amplified silver glow over the lake that Menotti was now helping with the Dementors tying to gain entry there.
«Harry! Reinforcements just arrived at Hogsmeade village!» reported Jonas.
«Is Civis back?»
«Yes, and he managed to find two more of his clan!»
«Get them over here. Clarke, Williams, and Madam Troy should go and help the aerial team. Send the others to the Forest.»
«Will do.»
The hair on the back of his neck pricked. He scanned the immediate area. There was nothing unusual, no sign of any extra trouble. But it won't hurt to be cautious. «Stage 4.»
He received the replies he was expecting, and smiled. Everything was going exactly to plan.
"Expelliarmus! Crucio!"
The two spells hit Harry square in the back. He yelled partly in pain partly in anger as his wand flew out of his hand.
"Well, well. we meet again, Potter," hissed a familiar voice. "And for the last time."
Harry twisted round, and looked behind himself. Standing about thirty feet away, was Voldemort.
"Hello Voldemort." Harry said conversationally. "I've been expecting you."
----
Voldemort laughed. "So eager to die, Harry? You can't dodge my attacks forever."
"I don't have too." Harry told him. "I will destroy you."
"And do you propose to do that? You have no wand, that stick you were using is broken."
"With a power beyond your comprehension." Harry replied and parting his coat he slid his hand down his thigh. He flicked the Sceptre out of its holster and raised it. "I will destroy you with this. Kaulong Mei!"
A scarlet wave rippled from the Sceptre, towards Voldemort. A Shield was placed in its way, but it shattered it and easily drove Voldemort to his knees. "Impressive Stunner, Potter. But nowhere near powerful enough. Inferno Flammai!"
The massive wall of flame roared towards Harry. He grimaced and then brought the Sceptre in close to his body and uttered a different spell. Gudong Wei!"
A funnel of freezing wind materialised around him, protecting him from the heat, which only lasted a few seconds. When it had dissipated, Harry attacked again. "Gudong Gong!"
The funnel changed direction and instead of whirled around Harry it surged towards Voldemort. The Dark Lord was driven to his knees by the maelstrom but he wasn't out. "Osquassare!"
Harry leapt to one side to avoid the curse but it caught him in the knee, and a wave of excruciating pain knifed through him. He fell to the ground.
"It's all over, Potter," declared Voldemort. "I win."
A bandage appeared from nowhere and wrapped itself around Harry's knee and he could stand again, though not without pain. He chuckled.
"What are you laughing at!" demanded Voldemort. "I have beaten you!"
Harry could see his family gathering around him. He stood up and smiled. "On the contrary, Voldemort. This is going exactly how I planned."
"What!"
"Yes. Did you really think you could take us by surprise after all this time? I persuaded Dumbledore to hold the match today hoping that you would come. So I could I defeat you."
"Well, then you're in or a disappointment, Potter!" snarled Voldemort. "Because as powerful as you seem have become, there is one spell that you cannot stop! Avada Kedavra!"
Harry's grin didn't budge. "Jian Bi!"
A silvery almost mirror-like shield popped into place in front of Harry. When Voldemort's Killing Curse hit it, it was bounced off and was reflected right back at him.
Voldemort was driven to his knees again and appeared to be slightly weakened but was more shocked than anything else. "What. how. That is impossible!"
"No, just very difficult," Harry told him. "The Killing Curse cannot blocked, but the right spell can deflect it to a different target."
"No matter! Your tricks have done no more than weaken me. I will still destroy you!"
"Did you ever you wonder what the power you knew not was?" asked Harry. "Because I know."
"Really. and what is it?"
"Love."
"Hah! Sentiment will not save you nor destroy me, Potter!"
"I agree." said Harry. "But the pure, undemanding love of my family. of my friends. And the power they give me will."
He raised the Sceptre into the swordsman's the guard position. "Gladius Aboleo Potentia!" The Sceptre hummed and a blade of energy perhaps three feet long grew from the diamond at the top. "Professor Trelawney said that one of us must die, if the other is to live. It is time for you to die."
He brought the sword down in a strong brutal arc, slicing it towards Voldemort. Energy flowed out of the blade as it curved downward and it hit Voldemort square in the body. His snake-like exterior was vaporised instantly. For a brief second a shimmering ball of blue energy was visible inside the blast, but then that to disappeared.
Harry groaned, and dropped to his knees. When he looked up a few seconds later, Ginny was kneeling beside him and the other Aspects were clustered around him, protecting him from attack.
"We did need to get him up to the Hospital Wing." Ginny told the others.
"Take him, Ginny," Sirius told her. "Madam Pomfrey could probably do with your help. Jamie, why don't you go with her, you've done your share."
Whether or not Ginny and Jamie obeyed, Harry didn't find out immediately, as his body finally decided that it had had enough punishment for one day thank you very much and his world went black.
A/N: Ha! Evil cliff-hanger! Hope the rest of the chapter makes up for it. Don't worry the next one will probably be up in a day or two so the suspense shouldn't be too bad. In the meantime, please review.
A/N: This chapter is PG-13 to mild-R for violence.
The next couple of weeks were a flurry of activity as the students prepared for their exams. The Quidditch players - especially the ones in the DA - were even busier as they were prepared for the deciding matches of the Quidditch Cup on top of their studies. The Easter holidays offered a little let up from the pressure, but for the seventy or so students under Harry's control didn't notice as they spent much of the holidays in the DA room practising duelling or hand-to-hand combat with the Shengming, Harry or one of the growing number of Order members arriving at the castle.
The weekend after classes resumed was the date of the Hufflepuff-Slytherin match. Snape attempted to get the match cancelled but Harry persuaded the Council to allow it to go ahead, on the understanding that all available defenders - including the entire DA - would be present, a condition that Harry was happy to accede to, as it fitted in nicely with his plan.
Well, we're as ready as we'll ever be, Harry decided as he exited the War Room late on Friday night. I just hope he takes the bait.
The match passed off without a hitch, and Harry was unsurprised when Scott Summersby caught the Snitch within thirty minutes, winning the game for Hufflepuff by an impressive two-hundred points to seventy. Despite this, Harry wasn't too worried, Gryffindor were already ninety points of them and had a game yet to play.
----
"Good morning everyone. And welcome to the last game of the Quidditch season," Abercrombie said with his usual enthusiasm. "Today, the defending champions, Gryffindor, take on Ravenclaw!"
Harry shook hands with Lisa Turpin, Ravenclaw's new Captain and Keeper, then both teams rose into air as Madame Hooch released the balls and started the game.
"Gryffindor are really quick off the mark today folks, Chaser Whisp catches the Quaffle before it has even started to fall and he's off. ducks a Bludger sent his way by Terry Boot of Ravenclaw. reverse passes to Chaser Weasley. Weasley takes aim and shoots. Turpin's fingers brush the ball but it slides past. Gryffindor now lead ten points to zero and are still in possession. Chaser Skelton has the Quaffle."
Play continued for another hour, and as they normally did Ravenclaw recovered their momentum and managed to pull back Gryffindor's lead. Harry had just spotted a glint of gold near the centre line when a shiver ran through him.
It seemed to take Sirius an age to fall: his body curved in a graceful arc as he sank backwards through the ragged veil hanging from the arch. Harry saw the look of mingled fear and surprise on his godfather's wasted, once-handsome face as he fell through the ancient doorway and disappeared behind the veil, which fluttered for a moment as though in a high wind, then fell back into place.
Harry paused for a moment then slammed the strongest Occulmency shields he could in place, leaving only a tiny gap for the mental connection he could feel with the other Council members, then he headed for the ground. «Jonas, Sparky. Priority One alert! We've got Dementors incoming and I doubt they're alone!»
«Understood.» said Jonas.
Glancing over at the teachers' stand, Harry saw Dumbledore get to his feet. "If I could have everyone's attention for a moment?"
Within seconds the pitch fell silent. Ginny, Ron and Lisa all caught Harry's eye, their question clear. He nodded and both teams began to drift down to join him.
"I have just informed that a portion of Voldemort's army is coming our way. If everyone could please say calm and return immediately to the castle. Anyone with a specific assignment should report to their designated battle station and await instructions. For those with no assignment: first to fourth years should return to their common rooms; fifth years should station themselves along the access corridors to the common rooms; sixth and seventh years, please report to Professor Hooch on the upper ramparts."
The students began to move, there was a certain amount of panic, but the DA and Order members in the crowd were able to funnel them towards the exits. Both Quidditch teams fell into step behind Harry as he strode from the pitch. He didn't stop until they reached the changing rooms and Jamie and the others had joined them. Dobby has stationed himself at the changing rooms at his request. "Civis, plan A. Apparate to Headquarters and tell Mad- Eye we need everyone he can spare. Ginny, Ron, Hermione, Jamie, and Mark. you're with me. Lisa, take the others up to the ramparts and standby to provide air support. Madam Hooch, Zachary and his team should join you soon."
Harry turned to Dobby. "Dobby, find Malfoy and his goons and lock them up."
"Yes Harry Potter sir."
"Do whatever you have to, to keep them contained."
"Yes Harry Potter!" said Dobby gleefully and left with a pop.
The two groups headed back to the castle but separated at the main stair. All of them had their wands with them at Harry's insistence but he and his friends had stashed much of their personal weaponry in Harry's office and they needed to retrieve it.
Jamie had decided that her Quidditch uniform provided the best protection of anything she had, so all she had to do was swap her Seeker's gloves for the dragonhide leather gauntlets had hid her set of throwing knives, and Ron didn't have to do much more as his only extras were his dragonhide boots and coat.
Harry removed his Quidditch robes and slipped on a shoulder-and-back holster he'd bought over Christmas and replaced his leather Quidditch boots with the hardier dragonhide boots, then he removed the parts of his swordstick from their thigh holster and twisted them together. The completed stick went into the back holster and two throwing knives went into the underarm pockets. He checked the wand-holster was secure on his right wrist and then clipped the sheathes for his glaives on to his belt and dropped the Sceptre of Amor into the empty thigh sheath. Over all this he pulled his long dragonhide coat.
He looked around, they were all ready.
"Let's go."
----
Harry's group walked up the stairs to the War Room, where they were joined by the rest of the DA (with the exception of the aerial team), most of the teachers and Guardians, and the Shengming and Order members at the castle. Dr Chrystan had transformed into his immortal form.
Harry took his place at the table, and Ron, Ginny, Jamie and Hermione stood on either side of him. "Jonas report."
The Psychomens was examining his 'castle' and the various mirrors around the room. "My Scrying Spells indicate that a large continent is coming through the Forest. Sixteen-hundred yards and closing."
An alarm went off and the frame of one of the mirrors on the left wall glowed. Jonas swung round to get a good look. "Security has been breached at the jetty. Unknown number of hostiles. Twenty-three hundred yards and closing."
"Harry, if you would."
"Of course, Sparky." Harry told him. "Ernie, Padma, take DA Team Two, and go with Aduro, Grubbly-Plank, Hagrid, Firenze. Draper, Shi Hu, I'm putting your teams with them."
"Ron, Hermione, take DA Team One to the Entrance Hall. Sirius, Remus, Leona, Andromeda, Emmeline and the remaining teachers should accompany them, as will I. Sparky, I would prefer if you."
"I'm coming, Harry."
"Entrance Hall then."
"Where will you be, Harry?" asked Ginny.
"At the Entrance Hall." Harry replied. "Which reminds me. Jonas, can you expand the telepathic link to all the defenders?"
"I believe so."
"Do it."
«Broad-spectrum telepathic link online,» reported Jonas after a minute or two. «All staff, DA, Guardians, Shengming and Order members on-site are connected.»
«Hooch, Sprout, Troy, can you hear me?»
«Yes, Mr Potter,» replied Sprout.
«Is everyone is position?»
«We're missing the Slytherin Quidditch team and most of the Slytherin seventh years.»
«Moon and Zabini are with me,» Harry told her. «The other seventh years and the Quidditch team have been placed in protective custody.»
«Then we are all set.»
«Stay alert," Harry warned. «We don't have much coverage from the air. And with at least some of the Veela on Voldemort's side, there will probably be an attack from there.»
«We'll be careful, Harry,» Troy told him. «We won't let you down.»
«I know you won't.» Harry paused for a moment. «Okay, get to your positions. Aduro, Ernie, Padma. report in when you're in position.»
The massive Caelumi nodded his agreement, as did the two students, then they headed out, taking over half the defenders with them.
Once the corridor was clear, Harry headed for the door and the other followed him. Walking as fast as they did, it only took half the usual time to reach the Entrance Hall «Okay, I've decided that because we're defending a bottleneck we'll go out in waves."
"Sounds good, Harry," agreed Dumbledore.
"Okay. The first wave will move to the dock and attack Voldemort's forces as soon as they materialise. The second wave will position themselves at the stair outside and stand ready in the first wave is out-flanked. The third wave will be relatively small and will stay here, to protect the access points to the main castle."
"Sparky, I'd like to stay you to here. Guard our backs.»
"Very well."
"Professors Trelawney and Smith, Madam Pince, you're with the Headmaster. Neville, Luna, Mark, Anita, Susan. stay here." Harry told them. "Professors McGonagall, Snape, Jones and Ambrose, and Emmeline, Romulus and Blaise, I'd like you to form the point team. Ron, Hermione, Ginny, Jamie, Remus, Leona and Sirius, you're with me."
Everyone nodded to show they understood, though one or two of the staff did so reluctantly. Harry waited until the point team was in position then he moved his group out. He drew the Sceptre and turned to the other Aspects. "Let's do it."
"Agreed."
"Vi Imperium de Amor Sceptrum. Nos resisto iunctus tam unus. Tam noster amo continuo. Ergo hoc debello OMNIS!"
The Sceptre and the Channelling Rings glowed briefly as energy flowed out of the rings and into diamond atop the Sceptre. "We're ready." Harry told them, and then turned to face the lake. "All we have to do is wait, and hope."
----
They didn't have to wait long. Five minutes later, Jonas voice broke into the telepathic channel. «Voldemort's forces are approaching the outer defence perimeter to the east and south east!»
«Aduro, Hagrid, Ernie, stand ready!»
«We're ready.»
«We won't let yeh down, Harry.»
There was a huge explosion from the direction of the Forbidden Forest. «Aduro, Jonas. report!»
«The Death Eaters just realised a barrage of fire spells. We've lost the outer defence perimeter!»
«Aduro, Hagrid! Do you have visual!»
«They're just starting to advance now.» reported Aduro. «Do we attack?»
«Advance forward yourselves and spread out. Attack as soon as they clear the Forest.»
«Understood.» said Aduro. «Only Death Eaters and Vetuni so far.»
«Have the teachers and seventh years hold back until the Dementors arrive.»
«Will do.»
Returning his glaze to the castle approaches Harry noticed a slight blurring in the air above him. As if aware of his notice, the area shimmered and resolved into a crowd of bodies. By Harry's count there were maybe sixty Veela, all in their monstrous, bird-like battle forms, and they were herding maybe fifteen or twenty Wyverns. Flying alongside them were the wizards responsible for the Disillusionment Charm, about fifty of them, all astride flying horses.
«Hooch, Troy, get your people into the air! Now!»
The two women instantly obeyed and twenty-one robed figures flew from the ramparts, firing curses at the enemy. They were flanked by four individuals with rather different methods of flight: Troy, who was garbed in a silvery winged armour appeared to fly unaided, while the auras surrounding Anderson and Menotti were no doubt responsible for their aerial manoeuvrability, while Harry easily identified the large dragon flying at the front as Jarred Laken, Hungarian Horntails weren't usually brownish-yellow in colour.
He watched the aerial dance of the opposing forces, for a few moments, but it was enough to show him that his people - though drastically out-numbered - had things well in hand. Laken's first strike took out over a dozen Veela and a single volley from Anderson and Menotti took down four of the Wyverns. He could also tell that Voldemort hadn't been able to find many skilled flyers, as Hooch and the Quidditch team were running rings round them and picked them off with little difficulty.
«Aduro, how are things with you?»
«They could be a lot better, there's a few more than we expected!» Aduro reported. «We've got maybe a five hundred creatures - mostly Acromatula and Dementors - plus eighty or so Trolls, a hundred and twenty Death Eaters, and a handful of Giants. No casualties as yet on our side, but it's only a matter of time.»
«Hold the line!» Harry told him. «Hopefully reinforcements will be here soon.»
«I hope so,» said Aduro. «We can't keep this up for long!»
Harry was spared from any further discussion by a disturbance down by the lakeshore. The army that had been moving across the lake finally revealed itself. It was a fairly small group perhaps a hundred or hundred and twenty strong, but it was lead by fifty large Vetuni, armed with an array of deadly weaponry. «Point team, attack!»
The small group of wizards and witches under Harry's command rushed forward, led by Professor Ambrose. Most of them had their wands out but Romulus and Blaise carried bladed weapons and Jones had his revolver in one hand and a long bullwhip in the other.
The pitch of the battle noise increased dramatically, the roar of gunfire clearly audible over the whooshing sound of curses and hexes. But this fight wasn't going as well as the others, and soon gaps began to open up in the lines. The Vetuni were the first to break through and the quickly raced for the stairs. Harry unsheathed his stick and popped the twin blades, and blocked a sword slash from one of them, then cut under the man's guard and sliced his belly open. Jamie palmed one of her daggers and then threw it at another vampire, a staffsmen, he screamed and when down his flesh instantly mummifying. They quickly found that Stunners didn't work very well and often didn't work at all, but that paralysing or flame-based spells did work.
Harry cut down his seventh vampire and then brought up his stick to eye level. "Exuro!"
The jet of flame caught the vampire caught in the chest and he fell. Harry grinned, this was going better than he expected. He sensed movement behind him, and whirled around, two vampires were approaching him from his flanks and a Death Eater was raising his wand to attack Harry from behind. "Crucio!"
Harry dodged the curse and switching his stick to a one-handed grip, cleared a knife from his jacket and threw it at one of vampires. "Petrificus Totalus!"
The Death-Eater conjured a Shield and blocked the Body-Bind. "Reducto!"
The speed of the counter-attack took Harry by surprise and forced him to block the curse only his stick. The wooden shaft shattered, leaving Harry with only a short length of wood with a single blade sticking out below it. He threw the shard in the direction of the second vampire wounding it and then flicked his hand into his hand. "Stupefy!"
This time it was the Death Eater that was caught unawares, and she fell down hard.
Harry got up, he glanced up at the skies. They were now relatively clear and he could see from the amplified silver glow over the lake that Menotti was now helping with the Dementors tying to gain entry there.
«Harry! Reinforcements just arrived at Hogsmeade village!» reported Jonas.
«Is Civis back?»
«Yes, and he managed to find two more of his clan!»
«Get them over here. Clarke, Williams, and Madam Troy should go and help the aerial team. Send the others to the Forest.»
«Will do.»
The hair on the back of his neck pricked. He scanned the immediate area. There was nothing unusual, no sign of any extra trouble. But it won't hurt to be cautious. «Stage 4.»
He received the replies he was expecting, and smiled. Everything was going exactly to plan.
"Expelliarmus! Crucio!"
The two spells hit Harry square in the back. He yelled partly in pain partly in anger as his wand flew out of his hand.
"Well, well. we meet again, Potter," hissed a familiar voice. "And for the last time."
Harry twisted round, and looked behind himself. Standing about thirty feet away, was Voldemort.
"Hello Voldemort." Harry said conversationally. "I've been expecting you."
----
Voldemort laughed. "So eager to die, Harry? You can't dodge my attacks forever."
"I don't have too." Harry told him. "I will destroy you."
"And do you propose to do that? You have no wand, that stick you were using is broken."
"With a power beyond your comprehension." Harry replied and parting his coat he slid his hand down his thigh. He flicked the Sceptre out of its holster and raised it. "I will destroy you with this. Kaulong Mei!"
A scarlet wave rippled from the Sceptre, towards Voldemort. A Shield was placed in its way, but it shattered it and easily drove Voldemort to his knees. "Impressive Stunner, Potter. But nowhere near powerful enough. Inferno Flammai!"
The massive wall of flame roared towards Harry. He grimaced and then brought the Sceptre in close to his body and uttered a different spell. Gudong Wei!"
A funnel of freezing wind materialised around him, protecting him from the heat, which only lasted a few seconds. When it had dissipated, Harry attacked again. "Gudong Gong!"
The funnel changed direction and instead of whirled around Harry it surged towards Voldemort. The Dark Lord was driven to his knees by the maelstrom but he wasn't out. "Osquassare!"
Harry leapt to one side to avoid the curse but it caught him in the knee, and a wave of excruciating pain knifed through him. He fell to the ground.
"It's all over, Potter," declared Voldemort. "I win."
A bandage appeared from nowhere and wrapped itself around Harry's knee and he could stand again, though not without pain. He chuckled.
"What are you laughing at!" demanded Voldemort. "I have beaten you!"
Harry could see his family gathering around him. He stood up and smiled. "On the contrary, Voldemort. This is going exactly how I planned."
"What!"
"Yes. Did you really think you could take us by surprise after all this time? I persuaded Dumbledore to hold the match today hoping that you would come. So I could I defeat you."
"Well, then you're in or a disappointment, Potter!" snarled Voldemort. "Because as powerful as you seem have become, there is one spell that you cannot stop! Avada Kedavra!"
Harry's grin didn't budge. "Jian Bi!"
A silvery almost mirror-like shield popped into place in front of Harry. When Voldemort's Killing Curse hit it, it was bounced off and was reflected right back at him.
Voldemort was driven to his knees again and appeared to be slightly weakened but was more shocked than anything else. "What. how. That is impossible!"
"No, just very difficult," Harry told him. "The Killing Curse cannot blocked, but the right spell can deflect it to a different target."
"No matter! Your tricks have done no more than weaken me. I will still destroy you!"
"Did you ever you wonder what the power you knew not was?" asked Harry. "Because I know."
"Really. and what is it?"
"Love."
"Hah! Sentiment will not save you nor destroy me, Potter!"
"I agree." said Harry. "But the pure, undemanding love of my family. of my friends. And the power they give me will."
He raised the Sceptre into the swordsman's the guard position. "Gladius Aboleo Potentia!" The Sceptre hummed and a blade of energy perhaps three feet long grew from the diamond at the top. "Professor Trelawney said that one of us must die, if the other is to live. It is time for you to die."
He brought the sword down in a strong brutal arc, slicing it towards Voldemort. Energy flowed out of the blade as it curved downward and it hit Voldemort square in the body. His snake-like exterior was vaporised instantly. For a brief second a shimmering ball of blue energy was visible inside the blast, but then that to disappeared.
Harry groaned, and dropped to his knees. When he looked up a few seconds later, Ginny was kneeling beside him and the other Aspects were clustered around him, protecting him from attack.
"We did need to get him up to the Hospital Wing." Ginny told the others.
"Take him, Ginny," Sirius told her. "Madam Pomfrey could probably do with your help. Jamie, why don't you go with her, you've done your share."
Whether or not Ginny and Jamie obeyed, Harry didn't find out immediately, as his body finally decided that it had had enough punishment for one day thank you very much and his world went black.
A/N: Ha! Evil cliff-hanger! Hope the rest of the chapter makes up for it. Don't worry the next one will probably be up in a day or two so the suspense shouldn't be too bad. In the meantime, please review.