Chapter 5
The First Strike
Harry woke up quickly and heard the door shatter and Mrs. Granger scream. The house went cold, all the lights disappeared, followed by two green flashes… Harry tripped. The stars were gone, the moon no longer shone. 'Dementors,' he thought quickly. Immediately he found his wand, dark flames appeared in his hand. Then Mr. Granger's comment came to mind, 'Protect them at all costs' Harry quickly made up his mind. He ran across the hall, two green lights lit up the house. He woke up Hermione quickly, "Get dressed now!" he whispered urgently. Hermione got up, "What? Okay, wait in the hall." Harry rushed back to his room and threw on his clothes then to Amanda's room and picked her up, then Hermione's again. She opened it as he approached, "What is it?" she asked. "Window, go now." Harry pushed her out. "Harry what's wrong?" she demanded. "Look up," was all Harry replied. She looked up and gasped, the Dark Mark hung in the sky. "Run, Hurry!" Harry said. "What about Mum and Dad?" she asked sounding on the verge of tears. Harry didn't reply. Death Eaters followed by Dementors entered Hermione's room, "THERE THEY ARE," he shouted. Harry pointed his wand at them, "EXPECTO PATRONUM," he shouted. A silver stag erupted. "Dispello patronum," shouted one of the Death Eaters, the patronum dispersed. Neo appeared and with a wave of his hand he threw all of the Death Eaters down the hall, he looked at them, "GO!" he commanded in a harsh voice. Then turned back to the Dementors, Neo muttered under his breath as they approached him, Harry pushed Hermione, down the roof then went after her. Harry shoved his wand back into his pocket without a second thought. After several blocks, Hermione and Harry were exhausted, they took refuge in an empty church. Hermione started crying, Harry held her gently, "I'm sorry, but I followed your dad's instructions." "What instructions?" Hermione looked at him with red eyes. "That no matter (he emphasized) the cost, I would protect both of you." Harry replied, "I would've given my life for you and your parents, if I could."
Harry noticed someone at the other end of the church, it looked like Neo, he was kneeling as though in prayer, after a few minutes he got up and walked toward them, "It is time to go to Hogwarts, everything will be sent later," he said directly. "WHAT ABOUT MY MUM AND DAD!?!?!" Hermione shouted angrily. Neo looked directly at her, "There was nothing to be done, we do not interfere, unless we have to." Harry noticed his arm was bleeding heavily; Neo winced in pain as he moved it. "SO MY MUM AND DAD ARE OF NO CONSEQUENCE!?!" she continued shouting at him. "No, they are not, the only matter is of your safety." He replied quite calmly. "WHAT?!?!" Hermione continued to rant, "ONLY OUR SAFETY?!?! YOU SELFISH, ARROGANT SELF-RIGHTEOUS BRUTE!!!!! NOW WHERE IS MY HOME! YOU… YOU…" "As amusing as I find this, there is no time to rant and rave Hermione," replied Neo calmly. "AMUSING, IS THAT ALL I AM?!?!? AMUSING?!?!" Hermione now looked scary. She stood up and swung. Neo almost seemed to dissolve for a second and her hand passed through him as though he were thin air. "If you now feel sufficiently vented I would appreciate you following me." Neo said. 'If looks could kill, Neo would be incinerated,' thought Harry.
Neo led them to the end of an alley, a something appeared, something huge in the sky. A bright light swallowed them at the same time, Harry looked around, they were right in front of the Hogwart's main entrance. "But…Impossible… How?" stammered Hermione who was still holding Amanda, "You can't apparate into Hogwarts." Neo looked at her, "That's what you think, that's what they think, that is what holds you back" he said, "Impossibility means one thing, lack of faith." Hermione looked at him, what we could see of him, "Lack of faith in what?" Neo smiled somewhat, "In everything, but especially yourself, and the One that counts." Then Neo disapparated.
Harry took Hermione by the arm and she went reluctantly. Dumbledore met them at the entrance, "Harry? Hermione? How did you get here? Is that your sister Hermione?" he asked. "Someone brought us here, Hermione's parents were attacked by Death Eaters and Dementors," Harry said watching Hermione carefully. Her eyes looked glossy, Dumbledore watched her for a split second, "Take her to Gryffindor Tower Harry. Let her have a good night sleep." "What's the password?" Harry asked. "Flitterbug," replied Dumbledore. Harry helped Hermione up the stairs to the common room. She collapsed into a chair by the fireplace, it wasn't lit so the room was cold, Harry muttered, flames sprung up in the fireplace, then he realized he didn't have his wand in his hand, he felt in his pocket, it was there, safe and sound. Hermione looked grateful, but she couldn't speak. She held Amanda tightly, the only family she had left. Harry sat beside her, he knew what it was like, having lost his family, but the pain had never been fresh like it was for her. Harry tried to comfort Hermione as best he could. He, himself, felt like he had lost something, a part of him. Then it hit Harry, where did his wand come from?
"My Lord," said Wormtail, "Everything is going according to plan, our spy is in place, we are also looking for the one called Neo, he nearly thwarted our plan, but he failed, the Grangers were killed, only their two daughters and Potter escaped." "Good Wormtail, you may yet live to see another day, send in Malfoy, the dementors and giants. We must move our headquarters, their escape did not go as planned, they may already know of our lair." Voldemort said, "Then we shall make our move. Yes Wormtail, we will wipe them out. Now go."
