Chapter 11 – The Horizon of Burning Ash
Three days past since Harry's eventful conversation with professor Marius, and though he found the idea of Grindelwald being held under the school a fascinating concept, it did have the inevitable effect of scaring him as well. Afterall, he didn't have the slightest idea as to what Dumbledore was thinking in banishing the creature below Hogwarts, where everyday on the surface, untrained witches and wizards were trying to learn magic. Just seemed an absolutely foolish thing to do from his point of view… what if it escaped?
Harry had rather hoped that he'd have a good chance to think long and hard about it during the day, but sadly he was mistaken. Marius seemed even more agitated since he'd given Harry so much information, that he decided in a rush of intuition, to put the students to more use than simply practicing meager spells and curses by also having them help prepare the castle itself. Harry didn't know it then, but Marius and the other teachers were all getting more anxious as the days past, and many of them could be found looking off into the distance towards the vast rolling hills of the countryside, as if just waiting for something to appear on the horizon.
As far as preparing the castle was concerned, Harry didn't have the slightest inkling as to what more could be done to Hogwarts to better it for war. From his knowledge the teachers had been working around the clock applying spells and enchantments to the castle walls. This seemed to be the view of everyone else as well who were under the impression that everything in that regard had long been taken care of. With the tension amongst the students reaching fever pitch, there were questions from some as to why they were being called to work now.
It came soon after as a great surprise to each house, when large, scaled blueprints were put up on their respective notice-boards one evening, describing in detail precisely what Marius in his insane vision wanted to achieve. The Gryffindors were amongst the first to see them, and comments and speculations as to what they were quickly spread throughout the students. Ginny took a brief look at them, not sure what to make of the drawings. Neville followed suit after that, also unaware as to their true purpose.
'Any ideas people?' asked Justin Finch Fletchley, to the mob gathered around the notice-board. Several people shook their heads in bewilderment.
'Looks like a letter "T" to me.' answered Ginny off the top of her head, looking for an adequate explanation. Neville took a closer look at the picture.
'I don't think it's a letter "T" somehow,' and he indicated to the image with his finger, 'Look here, there are stairs going from top to bottom.' Justin and Ginny both inched closer, squinting.
'Hey you're right!' Justin said with candor, then his face screwed up with confusion. 'But wait a sec,' he continued, looking at the drawn stairs, 'If those are stairs, then how big is this thing supposed to be?…'
Harry, Hermione and Ron had just entered the common room, drawn by the mystified group of students before them. Each also had their glimpse of the picture, Ron spending far more time than usual.
'What do you think Weasley?' Dean Thomas asked quickly, his eyes still connected to the drawing. 'Any ideas?'
Ron stared unhindered at the drawing for a few moments, turned, and with one great feeling of pride said to his fellow peers; '…No.'
Hermione let out an audible groan, Ron rounded on her, slightly offended.
'But my brother Charlie would know,' he continued hastily, trying to get everyone's attention again, 'I saw a picture of one of these on a file of his he brought home once. Wouldn't have any idea as to what it is though, but I know they're big.'
Harry, Neville and Dean looked curiously to him, the same question on their lips.
'How big?!' they all asked in unison. Ron pointed to the drawing expectedly.
'Well it's pretty obvious people, look! It's got a scale next to it. See, this thing is about… eight meters tall.'
Dean and Neville almost choked as they heard this, Harry looked surprised.
'That's as tall as my uncle's house!' he remarked loudly. A soft hiss of gossip started circulating about the room. 'And we're supposed to build this?'
'Looks like it.' Hermione answered quickly, absorbed within the blue-prints. It's severe lines and measurements almost striking a chord with her. Ginny looked to her oddly, confused at Hermione's apparent interest in the drawings.
'What's up with you?' she asked he curiously, breaking Hermione out of her reverie.
'Oh… well, isn't it strange, Professor Marius is using us to build these things?' silence then hit the room.
'Wait a sec Mione…' Ron queried swiftly, 'What do you mean "These"?'
Hermione stood stone still for a sec, a slight bead of sweat starting to roll down the side of her head.
'Well… I…' she began hesitantly. Harry rounded on her next.
'Is there something we should know Mione?'
'I… I promised Marius I wouldn't say anything though.' Harry and Ron looked to her severely. 'Oh… ok, we're not building one at all…' an intense feeling of relief spelled the crowd.
'Oh thank goodness for that!' Dean announced happily.
'We're building ten.' Everyone's faces drooped horribly.
'WHAT!' the crowd yelled in horror. Hermione stood back slightly at their reaction.
'Err… w, well he told me you'd all be better off knowing when you started work on it tomorrow morning… Then you wouldn't complain so much…'
Dean and Justin were in fits of gloom. Harry, Ginny and Ron all felt similar, not sure whether they'd want to build whatever these things were.
'And, how long is he giving us until he wants them finished?' Ginny asked timidly, rather afraid of the idea of building ten.
'Until lunch.' Hermione answered, looking slightly ashamed. 'Pity, he didn't tell me what these things are.'
'You sure about that!'
'Pretty sure…'
Dean looked as though he'd been slapped in the face. Barely able to control his anger, he fronted directly up to Hermione.
'Why didn't you tell us any of this before, we wouldn't have minded knowing we had to build ten of these bloody things?' several others nodded in agreement. Hermione had a guilty look stretched across her face. She didn't look as though she wanted to say anything.
'Well…' she began, her voice strained slightly, 'Marius… he, he told me not to tell anyone. I wanted to say I couldn't keep that promise, but my mouth said ok. I don't know how, but I know I can't ever go back on my word.'
Harry tuned his attention to Hermione. Had Marius truly done this to her as well? He remembered back to when he spoke to the old man himself. Marius had forced an answer from his mouth against his will. Somehow it didn't seem unlike him to use the same means on Hermione.
He looked about the room. The atmosphere around him was starting to get agitating. Dean was behaving menacingly towards Hermione, which seemed to have everyone else on edge. He'd had enough however, and he left the room for an early night. The problems he and the rest of his fellow peers had and were about to face the next day, gradually drifting to the back of his mind, as for once, he fell into a calm and blissful sleep, with not dream or everyday issue plaguing his mind.
The night didn't seem to go for long enough. Unfortunate for Harry and his friends, Marius felt kind enough to wake the children himself, and before too long, the masses of black robed students were outside, cutting, lifting and moving large shaped pieces of wood and stone into place in regard to Marius's wishes. Bad mouthed curses came this way and that with many not happy about the work that was being asked. But those with any kind of sense already understood Marius's tendencies, and given that, his apparent dislike for petulant children. Malfoy was quick to uptake on this when he found half his body covered in a thick layer of white fur, Marius apparently being too lazy to bother completely transfiguring the boy into another ferret as he'd intended.
At this moment the school was more likened to a muggle prison camp. Under the tyrannical rule of Morheim Marius, and with a thick air of fear amongst the crowds, the work progressed quickly. Three "T" shaped structures were completed before 9.00am, their exact purpose still unclear even as they stood at their full height, towering over the school grounds and casting an ominous shadow over the young workers. Though it was inevitable, there were several casualties of such hard work. Cho Chang and Luna Lovegood both had to be revived from exhaustion, after committing to one too many cutting spells, whilst Neville Longbottom broke his shin bone when he lost concentration levitating a very heavy piece of granite, which promptly dropped and crushed his leg, to many a wailing of pain. Of course Madam Pomfrey was more than able to repair the damage in a moment, Neville thought it'd be best for himself to work with the wood instead of the stone, which Harry thought was quite acceptable.
The tyranny continued, Marius refused to give the students any kind of break for their labor, not that he thought using spells to lift wood and rocks was any kind of work. But it did show for a brief moment that Marius was really desperate to finish the work on time. He seemed to be waiting for something, Harry couldn't tell what exactly, though he knew it definitely had something to do with the "T's" in some way or another. And that struck him with a curious sense of foreboding, because nobody he'd talked to had any idea what the structures were supposed to be. Sure he'd thought for a moment to ask Marius himself, but he could not deny he was scared out of his mind at the idea.
Hours snailed past, and before too long, ten, eight meter high "T" like structures proudly overlooked the school grounds. Their immense size giving the students an incredible feeling of achievement, since it was they and they alone who constructed them... whatever they were. Marius was even heard to have said at one stage;
"Now isn't that just great kids?! See what wonders a little hard work can do?"
Though everyone was terribly exhausted by the whole process, it was still good to see their efforts actually helping the school, rather than dragging it down into the primordial goo that was their generation.
It wasn't long afterwards that the students all retired for a siesta of sorts, being so drained as they were, Harry included. It came as welcome relief from the pressure they had been under for the morning. Yet despite this, Harry's mind continued to wander back to the issue of the structures. His brain kept on thinking of different possibilities as to what they were, and this wasn't helped by the continual suggestions Ron was giving him as he gazed out the window at their sinister forms. Why, oh why had they all spent their morning building these absolutely ridiculous looking things in Hogwarts' backyard? Surely there was a reason behind it. But it seemed beyond him at the moment.
No one woke for another three hours, except for Harry who didn't feel like resting so much as the other students. It was odd that, because although he'd been losing much sleep as a result of his dreams, Harry had the distinct notion that he was somehow gaining strength, both physically and magically, though he couldn't discern why. It was yet another mystery he had to deal with. But an interesting one he would admit. He was curious as to whether he truly was gaining in power. It certainly felt like it. Started about the time he intensified his defense training he was sure of it, and he wondered whether Marius had sensed anything else about him to justify his concerns.
Harry found it difficult to sleep during his indefinite break, so he stirred briefly, taking a fleeting glance out his window. During his sleep, an unusual cover of grey cloud had blanketed the sky, blotting out the sun's rays. It made a rather depressing scene to look at. The dark, unnerving atmosphere outside produced an irritated feeling within Harry's stomach. The huge "T" shaped structures became bathed in such a sinister light as they looked more likened to massive graves. Harry unwittingly shivered, trying for a moment not to be consumed by the mood outside.
Casually he scanned the field. His tiredness had well and truly left him now, and he had the sudden urge to walk outside. Could do him a world of good… Next to him, Ron stirred.
'Argh…' he scowled sleepily, rubbing his eyes, 'What are you doing up? I'd have thought you want more sleep after this morning.' Harry stifled a grin as he got to his feet.
'Just leaving actually, I'm looking to walk for a bit. Wanna come along?' Ron looked hazily towards him, or through him, depending on how you wished to take it. Dismissively, he waved his hand in Harry's direction and flopped back down onto the bed, not intent on getting up.
'Ok then, perhaps later.' Harry concluded reaching for his glasses, before heading down the stairs and out the portrait door. Sweeping his cloak up in his stride, he walked quickly down the corridors, not really taking in which way he was going, rather, letting his feet guide him to his destination. It was this mindless meandering that became his undoing, as not long after walking about a corner, he ran headlong into a hard object, which yelped in surprise and sent him to the floor.
Adjusting his glasses haphazardly, he looked carefully to what… or rather, who had flattened him. It was Ginny. Her previously vibrant, red hair suddenly becoming a misshapen fuzz as she fumbled with several dropped books, trying to reduce whatever embarrassment to herself she may have received in front of Harry.
'Oh dear! I'm so sorry!' she apologized frantically, still fumbling. 'I really didn't see you there.'
Harry got to his feet, offering her a friendly hand.
'No harm done, really it's ok. I wasn't really watching where I was walking anyway…' he cast an ominous look to the mountains of books she had been attempting to carry.
'What are those for?!' he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Ginny looked to her books, rather embarrassed.
'These… oh, they're nothing really. Just extra work for myself. Complex defensive spells. You know, the kind of thing Hermione's into. Gotta prepare myself afterall.'
'For the war?'
Ginny looked oddly at him, not quite sure what he'd meant.
'Well… I don't know about war, but until all this is over anyway. You can never have too much knowledge under your belt. What with the way professor Marius pushes us, you'd think this castle was going to be destroyed or something… I mean really, what can muggles possibly do to us anyway?'
Harry tried to avoid her gaze for a second. He knew that the situation was far worse than the student body was aware, though he had to continually remind himself that there were numerous facts he knew of that even his closest friends (Ginny included) did not.
'What's wrong?' she asked. Harry stood for a moment and ruffled his hair.
'Err… it's nothing. Don't worry about it…' he sifted about for a quick change of subject, the conversation was starting to head into dangerous waters. 'So… where are you heading?'
Ginny gazed to the portrait of the fat lady that sat bonded to the wall at the far end of the corridor.
'I was going to head to the common room and go over these books, but, if you're going somewhere, would it be fine if I tag along? Reading isn't really something I'm looking forward to doing.'
'Yeah sure, that'd be fine.' He answered quickly, the idea of having company seemed nice to him at the time, especially with Ginny. Despite being Ron's sister, he'd grown quite fond of her in the time they'd known each other. Not something he'd say openly to her of course, but he had an inkling that she might think the same.
Together they walked down the deserted corridors, talking as they went. An eerie silence about seemed to follow them everywhere, as both he and Ginny were pretty much the only two student's active in the entire castle. Everyone else was either too tired to be roused, or didn't out of fear of being pushed into more work under Marius's tyranny. It proved a point of good conversation knowing that no one else was about. It helped them both reflect on how stuffed everyone felt after working so long, and soon enough, jokes of Marius soon echoed about the hallways, to be quickly hushed up out of fear that he might actually be listening. He was afterall, that kind of guy. Unusually however, Ginny looked suddenly concerned towards Harry. It took him slightly aback.
'You know Harry,' Ginny began rather off key, 'You've been acting rather strange lately. Stranger than usual you might say.'
Harry looked to her, the corners of his mouth beginning to twitch.
'How could you possibly know that if you haven't been watching me day and night?!'
Ginny recoiled in embarrassment, a slight tinge of red apparent on her cheeks.
'Well… I never meant it like that, really I… stop laughing!' Harry silenced himself. 'It's just that, well, ever since Marius came and all this stuff with muggles started, you've been… weird.'
Harry raised a suspicious eyebrow, feeling slightly offended. Was he really acting weird like Ginny said?
'I don't understand Gin,' Harry queried her in suspicious tones, 'I just don't see how weird I can possibly be.'
'Well, I have noticed you zone out a few times. Whether it be through staring into space or just switching off completely, you've never truly been concentrating. It just seems your mind is elsewhere lately, that's all.'
Harry thought for a moment as he walked on. At least now he understood what she'd meant by it. Though it struck him as odd that she'd have seen so much of this 'unusual' behaviour without him realizing sooner.
'You saw all this?' he asked. Ginny nodded solemnly. Harry couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed. He thought that if Ginny knew this, then others were sure to have seen as well, though they would be less likely to ask him why as openly as Ginny did. And that wasn't a very reassuring thought. Again he tried to find a more pleasing topic to talk about.
'You can't seriously think of carrying those books,' he motioned to the gigantic stack Ginny was carrying. 'Here, let me help you…' and he pointed his wand to the books with a deft hand, 'Wingardium Leviosa.' The books floated effortlessly into the air beside them, and followed the two as they walked.
'Thanks Harry! I don't think I could've lifted those for much longer.'
Harry grinned happily.
'Glad I could be of service Gin, but I'm surprised you didn't think of it before me.'
Ginny waved a smart hand to him.
'Well I can't think of everything. Not all the time at least… that reminds me,' and she stopped suddenly, looking Harry in the eyes, 'Did you ever figure out what those things were we built this morning?'
Harry pondered. In truth he tried as best he could to push the question from his mind when he woke up, after remembering he thought about it far too much for his liking.
'Well… no to be honest. I still don't get what they're supposed to be. But they can't be very important…'
Ginny flashed him a wary look.
'You don't believe that do you?' Harry shook his head ashamedly. 'Besides, if they weren't important, why did professor Marius want them built so quick huh? I reckon there's something behind them…' Ginny trailed off momentarily, looking about herself.
'Hey, where are we going anyway?' she asked him. Harry looked around as well. In reality he hadn't been concentrating on where they were going. He just went where his feet took him, and that happened to be towards the grounds, which although he knew were rather depressing to look at, still lured him to walk.
'Fancy a wander on the grounds?' he asked by chance and watched as she considered.
'Well…' she thought for a second, 'I guess I'm not really doing anything else. Who knows when the school will wake up?!' Harry nodded acceptingly, and the two headed outside, a brisk, cold air whipping their faces as they left the corridors. It felt like rain was near, Harry had the feeling, what with the wind and the clouds, it seemed more than likely. It came as no surprise he found himself pulling his cloak up higher about his neck to keep warm as the cold air stung his face.
He certainly wouldn't usually walk outside on a day like today. It seemed the kind of thing you'd do given enough sun, whilst rainy days reserved moments inside, playing wizard chess or eating in the great hall. At this his stomach grumbled embarrassingly, he couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten anything substantial. Quickly he made a mental note to visit Dobby in the kitchens whenever he could spare the time. A nice plate of hot muffins would go down well indeed.
He looked to his side. Ginny was using him as a shield from the wind, but seemed to enjoy the time with him all the same. He felt consoled by this as he continued walking over the rolling hills of the school grounds. A soft pad of green grass cushioning his steps. Apart from the weather, he enjoyed himself thoroughly. Nothing seemed to pull his mind further from the harshness of reality. Here his mind was as free to wander as his feet were, and everything he'd heard from the beginning of the year about wards, defense, muggles and war seemed to ebb away like some distant memory, that he was none to happy to think about. Everything about the moment felt good until… he abruptly stopped walking.
Ginny halted with him, looking questionably towards him.
'What is it, what's wrong?' she said, trying to follow Harry's gaze. Harry craned his neck slightly, his ears picking up a dull sound.
'Do you hear that?' he asked her, trying to locate the source of he noise.
'Err… hear what exactly?' she replied disbelievingly. She obviously thought he was hearing things, although it wouldn't be a first.
'That sound!' he repeated again, his annoyance rising. 'Can't you hear it?' Ginny listened hard as well, trying to pick up whatever mysterious sound had grabbed Harry's attention. But it seemed in vain, she could no more hear it than Harry could be good at potions, and her disbelieving face seemed to infuriate Harry even more.
'I swear to you I can hear it… off in the distance somewhere. You have to listen hard.'
'I'm sorry Harry, but I can't… err, maybe you were imagining things.' She said hopefully. Harry didn't feel fully convinced, but put it down to a lack of sleep. Perhaps he was just imagining things.
'You're probably right Ginny. I bet it was nothing.' Harry bowed in submission.
Suddenly a loud but distant bang echoed about the grounds. Harry and Ginny both whipped around immediately.
'I told you I heard something!' Harry piped up immediately. Ginny seemed lost for words.
'But where's it coming from?' she asked immediately. And as if to answer their question, a second bang, this time not as loud as the first, echoed around them, guiding their gaze towards a high ridge ahead, which obscured their view. Quickly they headed for it, desperately trying not to trip up on their long, black robes as they ran in leaping bounds. But for all their running, the sight that greeted them over the ridge was one of horror, that not only filled them with fear, but brought back everything that they'd heard from Marius and Dumbledore about the situation "outside". Making it feel more, real.
There before them in a deep valley laid the town Hogsmeade. A regular there would expect to see the myriad of black tiled rooftops that stretched for over a mile in all directions, only separated by a few narrow streets, that more often than not, teemed with magic folk of all kinds. Now however, this vibrant, all wizard settlement was unrecognizable. Thick clouds of black smoke, fueled by huge, raging infernos on the ground, billowed into the air, filling their lungs with a horrible smelling ash every time they breathed.
Squinting, neither of them could see hide nor hair of anyone who lived in the town. But the devastation that the fire had wrought on the populous was but the tip of the iceberg. As Ginny looked to the sky, bright lighted objects seemed to fall from the clouds. Not knowing what they were, one could have considered them beautiful. They bore much resemblance to fireflies as the descended, except that trailing behind each was a smoky black trail. Suddenly, one hit the ground within Hogsmeade, releasing an almighty explosion that made the earth tremor beneath their feet and destroyed several adjacent buildings. More soon followed, the air quickly becoming thick with a rainfall of others that fell to the earth. Each briefly lighting up the ground like a flickering candle as it annihilated whatever unfortunate part of the town it struck.
'Oh my god!' Ginny gasped breathlessly, clasping her hands over her mouth in horror. Inside, Harry felt immeasurably hollow. He couldn't help but think of all the people he'd met in Hogsmeade, and despite his not wanting to be negative, the thought occurred to him that many may have suffered dearly for living in the township. True, some may have escaped successfully, but others, many others, may be dead. At any rate, he thought to himself, Hogsmeade was well and truly destroyed, yet even so the firefly like objects continued to pound into the town, each sending tremors through the ground that kept Harry off balance and unsure of himself, as well as adding to the terrible feeling of fear he held within himself. Hogwarts was next for sure he thought, and his doubts in his teachers rose as he wasn't sure the charms placed on the castle was intended for this kind of attack.
'We have to tell Marius. He'll want to know about this for sure!' Harry spoke quickly to Ginny. But she was as pale as a ghost and barely able to control the jittering of her own fingers.
'There'll be no need for that, I'm afraid.' Said a cold, familiar voice. Harry spun himself about quickly and to his shock, watched as professor Marius slowly materialized in front of him out of thin air.
'Sir… it's, it's Hogsmeade!' Harry spoke in choked breaths, unable to keep his voice steady at the sight of the town. Marius raised a authoritive hand to silence him.
'Yes Harry I know of Hogsmeade's situation. I have been here longer than you think.' He swept past the two children with a swish of his cloak, and looked apprehensively over Hogsmeade as it burned with an intense vigor, making the horizon almost choke in a cloud of black smoke and ash.
'The bombardment of Hogsmeade started merely ten minutes ago. And already the town is destroyed.' He faced the shell shocked children with a steely glint in his eyes.
'This children,' he motioned a hand to the burning township, 'is exactly what I said would happen not so many weeks ago. I regret I have not pushed you all hard enough with your training, I was not expecting this barrage of flame for another three days yet. Nevertheless, it just proves our own place in this world does it not Harry. Being raised by muggles, you would know exactly how their world works. Everything is governed by technology, including methods of waging war. Our different societies have existed apart for too many years now, and I fear that the collective might of the wizard world in their ignorance of muggles, cannot hold back this storm. We will be forever scarred by this, I guarantee it.'
Ginny buried her head within her hands and cried relentlessly. It was apparent that the capabilities of muggles had quite outweighed anything she'd anticipated before. It was all far too overwhelming for her. Harry looked to her with sympathy, evermore aware of the scraping feeling of hollowness that existed within him. And he took a last glance at Marius's terrifying face.
'Then it's started professor?' he asked with a tear threatening to roll down his cheek. Marius looked to him with a deep seated stare of regret, which before confirmed both their worst fears beyond doubt.
'Yes Harry, I'm afraid it has,' Marius spoke mournfully, before breaking his gaze with the boy who lived and staring once more at the shattered husk of what was once Hogsmeade.
'The war has begun………….'
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At last it's about to start. Hi all, Richard again. I hope you've all found this chapter as interesting as the last, finally everything is starting to come together as I wished when I started the story some while ago. Say... any readers got any idea what the "T" structures are? Haha, think of Ron's brother Charlie, that's all the hint I can give you for now, but I'll come back to it next chapter anyway. But in saying that, it's getting harder to post chapters for you fine people because I lack incentive at the moment. It doesn't do well to write so much and not know whether people are even reading it. I'm happy for all my readers now, but I'll say it plainly, it just isn't enough. I need more reviews, and there's nothing I can do to get any short of writing a completely new story under another title. But... anyway, I suppose I'll get around to writing the next one soon. Things get rather complicated as of now. Happy Reading.
Three days past since Harry's eventful conversation with professor Marius, and though he found the idea of Grindelwald being held under the school a fascinating concept, it did have the inevitable effect of scaring him as well. Afterall, he didn't have the slightest idea as to what Dumbledore was thinking in banishing the creature below Hogwarts, where everyday on the surface, untrained witches and wizards were trying to learn magic. Just seemed an absolutely foolish thing to do from his point of view… what if it escaped?
Harry had rather hoped that he'd have a good chance to think long and hard about it during the day, but sadly he was mistaken. Marius seemed even more agitated since he'd given Harry so much information, that he decided in a rush of intuition, to put the students to more use than simply practicing meager spells and curses by also having them help prepare the castle itself. Harry didn't know it then, but Marius and the other teachers were all getting more anxious as the days past, and many of them could be found looking off into the distance towards the vast rolling hills of the countryside, as if just waiting for something to appear on the horizon.
As far as preparing the castle was concerned, Harry didn't have the slightest inkling as to what more could be done to Hogwarts to better it for war. From his knowledge the teachers had been working around the clock applying spells and enchantments to the castle walls. This seemed to be the view of everyone else as well who were under the impression that everything in that regard had long been taken care of. With the tension amongst the students reaching fever pitch, there were questions from some as to why they were being called to work now.
It came soon after as a great surprise to each house, when large, scaled blueprints were put up on their respective notice-boards one evening, describing in detail precisely what Marius in his insane vision wanted to achieve. The Gryffindors were amongst the first to see them, and comments and speculations as to what they were quickly spread throughout the students. Ginny took a brief look at them, not sure what to make of the drawings. Neville followed suit after that, also unaware as to their true purpose.
'Any ideas people?' asked Justin Finch Fletchley, to the mob gathered around the notice-board. Several people shook their heads in bewilderment.
'Looks like a letter "T" to me.' answered Ginny off the top of her head, looking for an adequate explanation. Neville took a closer look at the picture.
'I don't think it's a letter "T" somehow,' and he indicated to the image with his finger, 'Look here, there are stairs going from top to bottom.' Justin and Ginny both inched closer, squinting.
'Hey you're right!' Justin said with candor, then his face screwed up with confusion. 'But wait a sec,' he continued, looking at the drawn stairs, 'If those are stairs, then how big is this thing supposed to be?…'
Harry, Hermione and Ron had just entered the common room, drawn by the mystified group of students before them. Each also had their glimpse of the picture, Ron spending far more time than usual.
'What do you think Weasley?' Dean Thomas asked quickly, his eyes still connected to the drawing. 'Any ideas?'
Ron stared unhindered at the drawing for a few moments, turned, and with one great feeling of pride said to his fellow peers; '…No.'
Hermione let out an audible groan, Ron rounded on her, slightly offended.
'But my brother Charlie would know,' he continued hastily, trying to get everyone's attention again, 'I saw a picture of one of these on a file of his he brought home once. Wouldn't have any idea as to what it is though, but I know they're big.'
Harry, Neville and Dean looked curiously to him, the same question on their lips.
'How big?!' they all asked in unison. Ron pointed to the drawing expectedly.
'Well it's pretty obvious people, look! It's got a scale next to it. See, this thing is about… eight meters tall.'
Dean and Neville almost choked as they heard this, Harry looked surprised.
'That's as tall as my uncle's house!' he remarked loudly. A soft hiss of gossip started circulating about the room. 'And we're supposed to build this?'
'Looks like it.' Hermione answered quickly, absorbed within the blue-prints. It's severe lines and measurements almost striking a chord with her. Ginny looked to her oddly, confused at Hermione's apparent interest in the drawings.
'What's up with you?' she asked he curiously, breaking Hermione out of her reverie.
'Oh… well, isn't it strange, Professor Marius is using us to build these things?' silence then hit the room.
'Wait a sec Mione…' Ron queried swiftly, 'What do you mean "These"?'
Hermione stood stone still for a sec, a slight bead of sweat starting to roll down the side of her head.
'Well… I…' she began hesitantly. Harry rounded on her next.
'Is there something we should know Mione?'
'I… I promised Marius I wouldn't say anything though.' Harry and Ron looked to her severely. 'Oh… ok, we're not building one at all…' an intense feeling of relief spelled the crowd.
'Oh thank goodness for that!' Dean announced happily.
'We're building ten.' Everyone's faces drooped horribly.
'WHAT!' the crowd yelled in horror. Hermione stood back slightly at their reaction.
'Err… w, well he told me you'd all be better off knowing when you started work on it tomorrow morning… Then you wouldn't complain so much…'
Dean and Justin were in fits of gloom. Harry, Ginny and Ron all felt similar, not sure whether they'd want to build whatever these things were.
'And, how long is he giving us until he wants them finished?' Ginny asked timidly, rather afraid of the idea of building ten.
'Until lunch.' Hermione answered, looking slightly ashamed. 'Pity, he didn't tell me what these things are.'
'You sure about that!'
'Pretty sure…'
Dean looked as though he'd been slapped in the face. Barely able to control his anger, he fronted directly up to Hermione.
'Why didn't you tell us any of this before, we wouldn't have minded knowing we had to build ten of these bloody things?' several others nodded in agreement. Hermione had a guilty look stretched across her face. She didn't look as though she wanted to say anything.
'Well…' she began, her voice strained slightly, 'Marius… he, he told me not to tell anyone. I wanted to say I couldn't keep that promise, but my mouth said ok. I don't know how, but I know I can't ever go back on my word.'
Harry tuned his attention to Hermione. Had Marius truly done this to her as well? He remembered back to when he spoke to the old man himself. Marius had forced an answer from his mouth against his will. Somehow it didn't seem unlike him to use the same means on Hermione.
He looked about the room. The atmosphere around him was starting to get agitating. Dean was behaving menacingly towards Hermione, which seemed to have everyone else on edge. He'd had enough however, and he left the room for an early night. The problems he and the rest of his fellow peers had and were about to face the next day, gradually drifting to the back of his mind, as for once, he fell into a calm and blissful sleep, with not dream or everyday issue plaguing his mind.
The night didn't seem to go for long enough. Unfortunate for Harry and his friends, Marius felt kind enough to wake the children himself, and before too long, the masses of black robed students were outside, cutting, lifting and moving large shaped pieces of wood and stone into place in regard to Marius's wishes. Bad mouthed curses came this way and that with many not happy about the work that was being asked. But those with any kind of sense already understood Marius's tendencies, and given that, his apparent dislike for petulant children. Malfoy was quick to uptake on this when he found half his body covered in a thick layer of white fur, Marius apparently being too lazy to bother completely transfiguring the boy into another ferret as he'd intended.
At this moment the school was more likened to a muggle prison camp. Under the tyrannical rule of Morheim Marius, and with a thick air of fear amongst the crowds, the work progressed quickly. Three "T" shaped structures were completed before 9.00am, their exact purpose still unclear even as they stood at their full height, towering over the school grounds and casting an ominous shadow over the young workers. Though it was inevitable, there were several casualties of such hard work. Cho Chang and Luna Lovegood both had to be revived from exhaustion, after committing to one too many cutting spells, whilst Neville Longbottom broke his shin bone when he lost concentration levitating a very heavy piece of granite, which promptly dropped and crushed his leg, to many a wailing of pain. Of course Madam Pomfrey was more than able to repair the damage in a moment, Neville thought it'd be best for himself to work with the wood instead of the stone, which Harry thought was quite acceptable.
The tyranny continued, Marius refused to give the students any kind of break for their labor, not that he thought using spells to lift wood and rocks was any kind of work. But it did show for a brief moment that Marius was really desperate to finish the work on time. He seemed to be waiting for something, Harry couldn't tell what exactly, though he knew it definitely had something to do with the "T's" in some way or another. And that struck him with a curious sense of foreboding, because nobody he'd talked to had any idea what the structures were supposed to be. Sure he'd thought for a moment to ask Marius himself, but he could not deny he was scared out of his mind at the idea.
Hours snailed past, and before too long, ten, eight meter high "T" like structures proudly overlooked the school grounds. Their immense size giving the students an incredible feeling of achievement, since it was they and they alone who constructed them... whatever they were. Marius was even heard to have said at one stage;
"Now isn't that just great kids?! See what wonders a little hard work can do?"
Though everyone was terribly exhausted by the whole process, it was still good to see their efforts actually helping the school, rather than dragging it down into the primordial goo that was their generation.
It wasn't long afterwards that the students all retired for a siesta of sorts, being so drained as they were, Harry included. It came as welcome relief from the pressure they had been under for the morning. Yet despite this, Harry's mind continued to wander back to the issue of the structures. His brain kept on thinking of different possibilities as to what they were, and this wasn't helped by the continual suggestions Ron was giving him as he gazed out the window at their sinister forms. Why, oh why had they all spent their morning building these absolutely ridiculous looking things in Hogwarts' backyard? Surely there was a reason behind it. But it seemed beyond him at the moment.
No one woke for another three hours, except for Harry who didn't feel like resting so much as the other students. It was odd that, because although he'd been losing much sleep as a result of his dreams, Harry had the distinct notion that he was somehow gaining strength, both physically and magically, though he couldn't discern why. It was yet another mystery he had to deal with. But an interesting one he would admit. He was curious as to whether he truly was gaining in power. It certainly felt like it. Started about the time he intensified his defense training he was sure of it, and he wondered whether Marius had sensed anything else about him to justify his concerns.
Harry found it difficult to sleep during his indefinite break, so he stirred briefly, taking a fleeting glance out his window. During his sleep, an unusual cover of grey cloud had blanketed the sky, blotting out the sun's rays. It made a rather depressing scene to look at. The dark, unnerving atmosphere outside produced an irritated feeling within Harry's stomach. The huge "T" shaped structures became bathed in such a sinister light as they looked more likened to massive graves. Harry unwittingly shivered, trying for a moment not to be consumed by the mood outside.
Casually he scanned the field. His tiredness had well and truly left him now, and he had the sudden urge to walk outside. Could do him a world of good… Next to him, Ron stirred.
'Argh…' he scowled sleepily, rubbing his eyes, 'What are you doing up? I'd have thought you want more sleep after this morning.' Harry stifled a grin as he got to his feet.
'Just leaving actually, I'm looking to walk for a bit. Wanna come along?' Ron looked hazily towards him, or through him, depending on how you wished to take it. Dismissively, he waved his hand in Harry's direction and flopped back down onto the bed, not intent on getting up.
'Ok then, perhaps later.' Harry concluded reaching for his glasses, before heading down the stairs and out the portrait door. Sweeping his cloak up in his stride, he walked quickly down the corridors, not really taking in which way he was going, rather, letting his feet guide him to his destination. It was this mindless meandering that became his undoing, as not long after walking about a corner, he ran headlong into a hard object, which yelped in surprise and sent him to the floor.
Adjusting his glasses haphazardly, he looked carefully to what… or rather, who had flattened him. It was Ginny. Her previously vibrant, red hair suddenly becoming a misshapen fuzz as she fumbled with several dropped books, trying to reduce whatever embarrassment to herself she may have received in front of Harry.
'Oh dear! I'm so sorry!' she apologized frantically, still fumbling. 'I really didn't see you there.'
Harry got to his feet, offering her a friendly hand.
'No harm done, really it's ok. I wasn't really watching where I was walking anyway…' he cast an ominous look to the mountains of books she had been attempting to carry.
'What are those for?!' he asked, his curiosity getting the better of him. Ginny looked to her books, rather embarrassed.
'These… oh, they're nothing really. Just extra work for myself. Complex defensive spells. You know, the kind of thing Hermione's into. Gotta prepare myself afterall.'
'For the war?'
Ginny looked oddly at him, not quite sure what he'd meant.
'Well… I don't know about war, but until all this is over anyway. You can never have too much knowledge under your belt. What with the way professor Marius pushes us, you'd think this castle was going to be destroyed or something… I mean really, what can muggles possibly do to us anyway?'
Harry tried to avoid her gaze for a second. He knew that the situation was far worse than the student body was aware, though he had to continually remind himself that there were numerous facts he knew of that even his closest friends (Ginny included) did not.
'What's wrong?' she asked. Harry stood for a moment and ruffled his hair.
'Err… it's nothing. Don't worry about it…' he sifted about for a quick change of subject, the conversation was starting to head into dangerous waters. 'So… where are you heading?'
Ginny gazed to the portrait of the fat lady that sat bonded to the wall at the far end of the corridor.
'I was going to head to the common room and go over these books, but, if you're going somewhere, would it be fine if I tag along? Reading isn't really something I'm looking forward to doing.'
'Yeah sure, that'd be fine.' He answered quickly, the idea of having company seemed nice to him at the time, especially with Ginny. Despite being Ron's sister, he'd grown quite fond of her in the time they'd known each other. Not something he'd say openly to her of course, but he had an inkling that she might think the same.
Together they walked down the deserted corridors, talking as they went. An eerie silence about seemed to follow them everywhere, as both he and Ginny were pretty much the only two student's active in the entire castle. Everyone else was either too tired to be roused, or didn't out of fear of being pushed into more work under Marius's tyranny. It proved a point of good conversation knowing that no one else was about. It helped them both reflect on how stuffed everyone felt after working so long, and soon enough, jokes of Marius soon echoed about the hallways, to be quickly hushed up out of fear that he might actually be listening. He was afterall, that kind of guy. Unusually however, Ginny looked suddenly concerned towards Harry. It took him slightly aback.
'You know Harry,' Ginny began rather off key, 'You've been acting rather strange lately. Stranger than usual you might say.'
Harry looked to her, the corners of his mouth beginning to twitch.
'How could you possibly know that if you haven't been watching me day and night?!'
Ginny recoiled in embarrassment, a slight tinge of red apparent on her cheeks.
'Well… I never meant it like that, really I… stop laughing!' Harry silenced himself. 'It's just that, well, ever since Marius came and all this stuff with muggles started, you've been… weird.'
Harry raised a suspicious eyebrow, feeling slightly offended. Was he really acting weird like Ginny said?
'I don't understand Gin,' Harry queried her in suspicious tones, 'I just don't see how weird I can possibly be.'
'Well, I have noticed you zone out a few times. Whether it be through staring into space or just switching off completely, you've never truly been concentrating. It just seems your mind is elsewhere lately, that's all.'
Harry thought for a moment as he walked on. At least now he understood what she'd meant by it. Though it struck him as odd that she'd have seen so much of this 'unusual' behaviour without him realizing sooner.
'You saw all this?' he asked. Ginny nodded solemnly. Harry couldn't help but feel slightly embarrassed. He thought that if Ginny knew this, then others were sure to have seen as well, though they would be less likely to ask him why as openly as Ginny did. And that wasn't a very reassuring thought. Again he tried to find a more pleasing topic to talk about.
'You can't seriously think of carrying those books,' he motioned to the gigantic stack Ginny was carrying. 'Here, let me help you…' and he pointed his wand to the books with a deft hand, 'Wingardium Leviosa.' The books floated effortlessly into the air beside them, and followed the two as they walked.
'Thanks Harry! I don't think I could've lifted those for much longer.'
Harry grinned happily.
'Glad I could be of service Gin, but I'm surprised you didn't think of it before me.'
Ginny waved a smart hand to him.
'Well I can't think of everything. Not all the time at least… that reminds me,' and she stopped suddenly, looking Harry in the eyes, 'Did you ever figure out what those things were we built this morning?'
Harry pondered. In truth he tried as best he could to push the question from his mind when he woke up, after remembering he thought about it far too much for his liking.
'Well… no to be honest. I still don't get what they're supposed to be. But they can't be very important…'
Ginny flashed him a wary look.
'You don't believe that do you?' Harry shook his head ashamedly. 'Besides, if they weren't important, why did professor Marius want them built so quick huh? I reckon there's something behind them…' Ginny trailed off momentarily, looking about herself.
'Hey, where are we going anyway?' she asked him. Harry looked around as well. In reality he hadn't been concentrating on where they were going. He just went where his feet took him, and that happened to be towards the grounds, which although he knew were rather depressing to look at, still lured him to walk.
'Fancy a wander on the grounds?' he asked by chance and watched as she considered.
'Well…' she thought for a second, 'I guess I'm not really doing anything else. Who knows when the school will wake up?!' Harry nodded acceptingly, and the two headed outside, a brisk, cold air whipping their faces as they left the corridors. It felt like rain was near, Harry had the feeling, what with the wind and the clouds, it seemed more than likely. It came as no surprise he found himself pulling his cloak up higher about his neck to keep warm as the cold air stung his face.
He certainly wouldn't usually walk outside on a day like today. It seemed the kind of thing you'd do given enough sun, whilst rainy days reserved moments inside, playing wizard chess or eating in the great hall. At this his stomach grumbled embarrassingly, he couldn't remember the last time he'd eaten anything substantial. Quickly he made a mental note to visit Dobby in the kitchens whenever he could spare the time. A nice plate of hot muffins would go down well indeed.
He looked to his side. Ginny was using him as a shield from the wind, but seemed to enjoy the time with him all the same. He felt consoled by this as he continued walking over the rolling hills of the school grounds. A soft pad of green grass cushioning his steps. Apart from the weather, he enjoyed himself thoroughly. Nothing seemed to pull his mind further from the harshness of reality. Here his mind was as free to wander as his feet were, and everything he'd heard from the beginning of the year about wards, defense, muggles and war seemed to ebb away like some distant memory, that he was none to happy to think about. Everything about the moment felt good until… he abruptly stopped walking.
Ginny halted with him, looking questionably towards him.
'What is it, what's wrong?' she said, trying to follow Harry's gaze. Harry craned his neck slightly, his ears picking up a dull sound.
'Do you hear that?' he asked her, trying to locate the source of he noise.
'Err… hear what exactly?' she replied disbelievingly. She obviously thought he was hearing things, although it wouldn't be a first.
'That sound!' he repeated again, his annoyance rising. 'Can't you hear it?' Ginny listened hard as well, trying to pick up whatever mysterious sound had grabbed Harry's attention. But it seemed in vain, she could no more hear it than Harry could be good at potions, and her disbelieving face seemed to infuriate Harry even more.
'I swear to you I can hear it… off in the distance somewhere. You have to listen hard.'
'I'm sorry Harry, but I can't… err, maybe you were imagining things.' She said hopefully. Harry didn't feel fully convinced, but put it down to a lack of sleep. Perhaps he was just imagining things.
'You're probably right Ginny. I bet it was nothing.' Harry bowed in submission.
Suddenly a loud but distant bang echoed about the grounds. Harry and Ginny both whipped around immediately.
'I told you I heard something!' Harry piped up immediately. Ginny seemed lost for words.
'But where's it coming from?' she asked immediately. And as if to answer their question, a second bang, this time not as loud as the first, echoed around them, guiding their gaze towards a high ridge ahead, which obscured their view. Quickly they headed for it, desperately trying not to trip up on their long, black robes as they ran in leaping bounds. But for all their running, the sight that greeted them over the ridge was one of horror, that not only filled them with fear, but brought back everything that they'd heard from Marius and Dumbledore about the situation "outside". Making it feel more, real.
There before them in a deep valley laid the town Hogsmeade. A regular there would expect to see the myriad of black tiled rooftops that stretched for over a mile in all directions, only separated by a few narrow streets, that more often than not, teemed with magic folk of all kinds. Now however, this vibrant, all wizard settlement was unrecognizable. Thick clouds of black smoke, fueled by huge, raging infernos on the ground, billowed into the air, filling their lungs with a horrible smelling ash every time they breathed.
Squinting, neither of them could see hide nor hair of anyone who lived in the town. But the devastation that the fire had wrought on the populous was but the tip of the iceberg. As Ginny looked to the sky, bright lighted objects seemed to fall from the clouds. Not knowing what they were, one could have considered them beautiful. They bore much resemblance to fireflies as the descended, except that trailing behind each was a smoky black trail. Suddenly, one hit the ground within Hogsmeade, releasing an almighty explosion that made the earth tremor beneath their feet and destroyed several adjacent buildings. More soon followed, the air quickly becoming thick with a rainfall of others that fell to the earth. Each briefly lighting up the ground like a flickering candle as it annihilated whatever unfortunate part of the town it struck.
'Oh my god!' Ginny gasped breathlessly, clasping her hands over her mouth in horror. Inside, Harry felt immeasurably hollow. He couldn't help but think of all the people he'd met in Hogsmeade, and despite his not wanting to be negative, the thought occurred to him that many may have suffered dearly for living in the township. True, some may have escaped successfully, but others, many others, may be dead. At any rate, he thought to himself, Hogsmeade was well and truly destroyed, yet even so the firefly like objects continued to pound into the town, each sending tremors through the ground that kept Harry off balance and unsure of himself, as well as adding to the terrible feeling of fear he held within himself. Hogwarts was next for sure he thought, and his doubts in his teachers rose as he wasn't sure the charms placed on the castle was intended for this kind of attack.
'We have to tell Marius. He'll want to know about this for sure!' Harry spoke quickly to Ginny. But she was as pale as a ghost and barely able to control the jittering of her own fingers.
'There'll be no need for that, I'm afraid.' Said a cold, familiar voice. Harry spun himself about quickly and to his shock, watched as professor Marius slowly materialized in front of him out of thin air.
'Sir… it's, it's Hogsmeade!' Harry spoke in choked breaths, unable to keep his voice steady at the sight of the town. Marius raised a authoritive hand to silence him.
'Yes Harry I know of Hogsmeade's situation. I have been here longer than you think.' He swept past the two children with a swish of his cloak, and looked apprehensively over Hogsmeade as it burned with an intense vigor, making the horizon almost choke in a cloud of black smoke and ash.
'The bombardment of Hogsmeade started merely ten minutes ago. And already the town is destroyed.' He faced the shell shocked children with a steely glint in his eyes.
'This children,' he motioned a hand to the burning township, 'is exactly what I said would happen not so many weeks ago. I regret I have not pushed you all hard enough with your training, I was not expecting this barrage of flame for another three days yet. Nevertheless, it just proves our own place in this world does it not Harry. Being raised by muggles, you would know exactly how their world works. Everything is governed by technology, including methods of waging war. Our different societies have existed apart for too many years now, and I fear that the collective might of the wizard world in their ignorance of muggles, cannot hold back this storm. We will be forever scarred by this, I guarantee it.'
Ginny buried her head within her hands and cried relentlessly. It was apparent that the capabilities of muggles had quite outweighed anything she'd anticipated before. It was all far too overwhelming for her. Harry looked to her with sympathy, evermore aware of the scraping feeling of hollowness that existed within him. And he took a last glance at Marius's terrifying face.
'Then it's started professor?' he asked with a tear threatening to roll down his cheek. Marius looked to him with a deep seated stare of regret, which before confirmed both their worst fears beyond doubt.
'Yes Harry, I'm afraid it has,' Marius spoke mournfully, before breaking his gaze with the boy who lived and staring once more at the shattered husk of what was once Hogsmeade.
'The war has begun………….'
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At last it's about to start. Hi all, Richard again. I hope you've all found this chapter as interesting as the last, finally everything is starting to come together as I wished when I started the story some while ago. Say... any readers got any idea what the "T" structures are? Haha, think of Ron's brother Charlie, that's all the hint I can give you for now, but I'll come back to it next chapter anyway. But in saying that, it's getting harder to post chapters for you fine people because I lack incentive at the moment. It doesn't do well to write so much and not know whether people are even reading it. I'm happy for all my readers now, but I'll say it plainly, it just isn't enough. I need more reviews, and there's nothing I can do to get any short of writing a completely new story under another title. But... anyway, I suppose I'll get around to writing the next one soon. Things get rather complicated as of now. Happy Reading.