Chapter 14 – Hailfire
A nervous air broke what remained of school spirit early next morning. No body could sleep fitfully anymore. Not with current affairs on their minds at least. It seemed strange that with all the hype that had been aroused due to muggles sacking wizard England, not hide nor hair had been heard of the aggressors. No one talked much of it of course, the very whisper of a threat would murmur about the corridors for hours on end, and the rumors thereafter would cause panic beyond reckoning. The school was afterall, stone still on a knife's edge.
Harry, Ron and Hermione had talked extensively to each other recently. Though conversations were usually limited to such questions as; "what will happen next?" or "how are we going to get out of this one?". All in all, not very stimulating. If anything, the apparent fear that had not only resided in the three, but everyone else as well, had worked it's feeble fingers well enough to increase the nervousness that all in the castle held. It was just too much to bare. Each day and night witches and wizards lived in fear or trepidation, not knowing whether or not muggles would attack in minutes, hours, or days. The notion that they were there at all made some think that maybe they may wake up more dead… than alive.
Such was the calm before the storm. Silence echoed loudly where laughter and learning usually took place. Hogwarts was no longer seen as an exclusive school of magical appraisal. Now, it was a fortress. Boarded up and secure from almost all outside interference, Hogwarts stood as the last bastion of magical power before what was now known as a great wasteland, plagued by scouring tribes of merciless muggles, each group more vicious and deadly than the last. It was only a matter of time until the castle was discovered, everyone knew that for certain. The question on everyone's minds was how long would it be? Perhaps the muggles already knew. No one person could say.
In the great hall the adults spent the majority of their time in soft, subdued conversation. Harry had seen them once by accident. All of them were clearly as worried as the students, though they tried hard not to show it, even they were unaware of the enemy's true plans. It was unnerving to say the least. But what was more distressing was what he was seeing. He was sure that none of these people… these parents, would willingly allow their children to fight in war. Maternal instincts prevented it. But this was the hand everyone was dealt. By Marius's edict, those students who were able enough were drafted into the defense force, regardless of the wishes their parents held. It was all those desperate mothers and fathers could do to draft themselves as well. Casting an eye over the crowd of uneasy witches and wizards, Harry could only feel that familiar twinge of despair, as he knew better than most, that nearly all of who sat before him, could quite possibly die. Even those whom he cared most about… Mr and Mrs Weasley.
Elsewhere, teachers were discussing similar concerns. If not as public as the student's outspoken fears, it had been common knowledge that the notion of war could quite conceivably turn the average person to jelly. And in actual truth, the largest worry that was held was of the student's own lack of ability. Madam Pomfrey was heard at one stage to openly defy Marius's reasoning behind sending the children to war, arguing that children had no place on a battle field. The cruelty and hatred, not to mention the obvious danger was too much for young minds to bear witness to, especially if the opposition was a highly trained force, as was it was most certain to be when the attack did come. But there was no withdrawing from Marius's edict. No, not at all. As shameful as it was, the general teaching staff were afraid of Marius, right down to their every bone. No one would dare question him of course, too many were aware of his Auror past, that alone was reason enough to be afraid. Though it could be admitted, that if more people knew of his secrets, then his reputation would increase ten fold.
McGonagall accompanied Dumbledore towards the school grounds. Not a word was spoken, but the feelings were the same. If only there had been another way to sort out this entire mess. Perhaps then this war would not be needed at all. But it was too late now. Too much had happened, and negotiation was beyond possibility. Albus knew this, and still his mind ticked over constantly, working hard as ever to find a solution, however vague and improbable it may seem, just to avoid war. How vainly he tried.
As the two senior teachers came into contact with the soft green grass, they saw to no real surprise that Morheim was already there. He held himself like a god. Standing as defiant as ever on the peak of a high ridge. Not a trace of doubt resided upon his face, his confidence deeply imbued into him as he watched with delight a sight that Dumbledore and McGonagall could not see from their vantage point. It was an expression of sheer superiority, absolutely fearless. As Albus closed in on him he slowly turned to meet the elderly man's stare, an odd smirk stretching gradually across his face as he greeted him.
'Well old friend,' he shook Albus's hand jovially, 'I had never in my lifetime considered the possibility that I'd live to see such times, nor to see such a sight as beautiful as this!' and he waved his hand in mute gesture across the field below. Dumbledore gazed downward across the green slope at something that made his eyebrows arch in surprise. McGonagall gasped in shock clasping her hands over her mouth. There before them stood an army of number beyond reckoning… Heliopaths, every last one of them. Thousands of them in their depraved ranks stood to attention, their fierce battle cries echoing out across the grounds, sending shivers down McGonagall's spine. What a rabble. Horrible hisses and creped sounds wretched from each warrior in turn, hungering for battle, each emitting a faint glimmer of smoke from beneath their own disheveled cloaks. It was a fearsome sight to behold, Marius turned to McGonagall.
'Over six thousand Minerva!' he gloated with a sense of delight the old lady was not used to seeing in him, 'Each one of these has a sole purpose in mind, and that is to destroy our enemy. And they've no need for weapons either. Limbo has afforded them abilities of their own far beyond our measly ways… I almost feel sorry for the poor souls who stray across their path! HA!' he laughed out loud in a way that did not sit well with the headmaster, who turned away from the army as swiftly as he'd arrived. Marius's questioning gaze followed him.
'What is it Albus?!' he asked curiously, a short smile still evident on him. Dumbledore turned slightly and spoke in such a harsh tone that Marius had to cringe somewhat to recover.
'I wonder… old friend,' Albus began, his sideward glance holding Marius effortlessly, 'Is your war mongering worth the lives of every person in this castle? Is your pride so big and your head so swollen that you cannot see what destruction you are doing to yourself?! These creatures are demons Marius. They thrive on misery and are no better than the degenerate Dementors that I was foolish enough to allow into this school previously. This "army" of yours can quite easily become our enemy at the drop of a wand, in their bloodlust they may turn on you as quick as they were to join our cause. Because of you, they're free from the demonic constraints of the Limbo universe, and I must say, even should we fend off a muggle attack, your name will live on in memory as being the one wizard who tainted this school beyond recognition by allowing these monstrosities residence here. I can see clearly that your advanced years have not improved your maturity, you're still as fool hardy and head strong as you have always been. I will not condone a war of humanity to be fought with beasts as rife as this, nor will I allow my own students to fight along side them. If danger from the enemy was not bad enough. You can forget drafting my finest students in your little rabble Morheim. Just the thought sickens me to no end, and when this war is over, I suggest you leave at once!'
And in one swift turn of his heel he was walking back toward the castle, leaving Marius absolutely mortified, and McGonagall without words. No one could remember a time that Dumbledore had lost his temper with someone, despite his softness of voice, his words cut like razor wire into Marius's ego, and he furrowed his brow in frustration, as he watched the headmaster's shadowy silhouette cross the lawn back to the castle without looking back. Slowly the old man turned his blustering attention to McGonagall, who was still staring off into the distance.
'I suppose you have similar thoughts?!' he spoke harshly. It was more of a statement than a question, but she nodded all the same, making the aging wizard cringe again in stubbornness.
'I've not seen Albus this angry for many years Morheim.' McGonagall spoke in her soft yet commanding tones, 'You have actively pushed for war with no real plan for peace. Are you expecting this feud between our cultures to last forever Marius? We must push for a diplomatic solution to all this. Force of arms does not make friends, only lasting enemies. I'd have thought you would know this above everyone else. At any rate, you would do well to adhere to Albus's advice, if I were you, I would leave at once.'
Marius looked back to her looking thoroughly insulted and he turned his back on her.
'I will command this army as I see fit Minerva!' he said with finality, crossing his arms, 'And I swear by the blood of my ancestors that not even Dumbledore will stand in my way. Now leave!'
McGonagall curtsied and left, neither resentful nor consumed with fear, but accepting. An appetite for such destruction could only lead to an end of similar proportions… destruction. As she too walked from the grounds, Marius looked down to his feet still hearing in his mind those cutting words that Dumbledore had served him so choicely. "Was that really his opinion?" He turned over in his head. "Why did he remain silent for so long?" Part of him felt ashamed by what he had done, but that inner voice was but a whisper in the dark as an overwhelming rush of anger and hatred surged through him. He remembered before about that woman the Heliopaths had found. Albus said she was the last survivor from Hogsmeade. The only one to survive the chaos and anarchy that had stricken the small town bare. Another twinge of hatred pulsated through him, and he turned his gaze to the forbidden forest to his right.
The tall graceful trees of this terrible place haunted even those brave enough to enter, and yet that was where she'd been found. Wherever the other survivors had tried to escape, if there were any at all, then that would have been where they'd have been running. The only route that led to Hogwarts and was not guarded by a muggle sentry. Muggles were to be found in the forest, he was sure of it. Just as they were at Hogsmeade at this very moment, looting the town by the most probable odds. "This should never have come to pass. This should never happen again!" Marius grinded his teeth together roughly as he envisioned what Madam Rosmerta's flight for life would have been like and he cursed them all under his breath for the insolence the muggles dared show to a witch. Whomever should commit to such an act of violence was worthy of nothing but the killing curse, or to his mind, a punishment that was far more… accommodating. To his knowledge the lady had remained mute after McGonagall had spoken with her. The memories that had infused themselves deep within her mind coming to light in frightening fashion, forcing her mouth shut despite her best efforts to release them. How horrible. No one deserved such a fate, and Marius felt that should any remnant of the Hogsmeade survivors remain, then they were to be returned as well, whether they be alive or dead. The thought drove a glimpse of madness through the old man's heart. Like a metal spike it sliced it's way into his thinking… poisoning his thoughts, and he clenched his fists so tensely that his knuckles grew white from the strain.
'I'll show them all! Especially that old fool Dumbledore!' he muttered quickly to himself, a small bead of sweat starting to roll down the side of his battered face before it suddenly froze and shattered as ice, as though it's very existence had never been. 'Oh yes… I'll show them!'
The small group of students left after Dumbledore's strict judgment had been practicing numerous curses to better themselves, when word came through from McGonagall that the entire prospect of a student force had been disbanded. This was immediately seen as a punch in the ribs after Marius had been so forceful in their training over the previous months, though very few there had any reason to believe anything other than that Marius had something to do with it, and had probably used almost the entire school year to play some over the top prank, by which to gain some personal revenge on the students he obviously despised. Whether or not this was indeed the real reason did not seem to filter through to anyone who cared enough to worry, though Hermione did have a subtle word with Ron saying that she thought it rather odd to end the program so abruptly, and that Marius had not thought to inform them himself since he was the one who had devised it in the first place.
Yet regardless of the internal workings of it all, the parents of those students involved were more than excited to hear the news that their sons and daughters would not be taking front line positions on the battlefield. It was such an intense relief, that for a few short hours after word had filtered through, almost everyone had forgotten that there was any danger at all. This was almost as if the past few months had not transpired, and that Hogwarts was once more the academic capital of magical learning, as it had been for countless generations before. But it wasn't right, and Harry knew this more than anything. For he'd been curiously silent as of the past few days… thinking. He'd thought it strange to begin with that students were to defend the castle and now that the decision had been reversed it seemed of no real surprise, but rather, he felt a blank resignation that this was going to happen no matter what. But it was still odd. Not just the very idea of a student defense force, but of recent events in general. As expected the student body had become increasingly agitated since the first news of muggle aggression began. Definitely no surprises there. But the teacher's increased edginess that was in some cases comparable to that of the students struck an odd thought within him. He'd known for some time that the teachers had performed many spells and enchantments to the castle to make it "battle-proof" so to speak, but how were they to know what a muggle war was like?
Sure he'd read some about it himself. Bloody and terrible events they were. Yet he was undecided as to how extensive the teacher's own knowledge was on muggles and their tactics. It was common knowledge to him, that the general population of magic folk paid very little, if any attention to muggles whatsoever. And this fact alone, seriously reduced his own confidence in his teacher's abilities, as there was the possibility that the spells in place would have absolutely no effect on muggle weapons at all. And if that wasn't reason enough to feel scared, then he was aghast as to what was. At least for now, no one thought anything of the events of the past few months to worry a great deal, even if that decision was fool hardy, it was worth it just for those few moments of calm, even if they were not destined to last forever.
Walking towards the common room after lunch, Harry took the apparent silence of the halls to something of an enigma, and he reveled in it, as though he may not live to feel such comfort again. Tall, stained glass windows let in rays of warm light as he walked across the stone floor. How beautiful it was that it seemed near impossible that events could be unfolding beyond the castle walls, that could potentially be of harm to them. It was almost unreal, to the point that he didn't hear the hurried footsteps behind him, until a cheerful hand patted him on the shoulder, diverting his gaze.
'What's up Harry? I didn't see you much at lunch.' Said Ron in a boisterous voice, catching Harry slightly off guard.
'Nothing's up… Not that much anyway… it's just…'
Ron's gaze narrowed somewhat at his friend's hesitation and came to a stop.
'It's just what?!' he prompted eagerly, yet looking rather suspicious of the raven haired boy.
'It just seems a bit early to be celebrating isn't it?' Harry spoke uncertainly, somewhat doubting his own words. 'I mean I've seen adults in the hall with big grins on their faces and stuff, as though nothing wrong could possibly happen to them. As if it was safe again to go outside in the open world.'
Ron stared back ad cleared his throat loudly.
'Look Harry you're just nervous that's all.' He spoke rather dryly, making Harry feel uneasy, 'But it's not like it's against the law to have a little fun. You of all people should be feeling great. You're no longer on that blasted defense list, surely you can be proud of that!'
Harry faced the ground for a moment as he thought to himself. Perhaps he was just being a little on edge. Maybe he should stop being so uptight and enjoy himself. For the moment at least. Though he could not remove the feeling he felt. Something was going to happen, he was absolutely sure of it. Where was an absolute certainty, but when… well, that was anybody's guess. At times when he'd retired to sleep, dreams of Hogwarts often filled his consciousness. And every time he dreamt, the feeling of a big event being just around the corner always haunted him, yet it disappeared long before he could grab it, as though it were knowledge not to be slandered by his own feeble mind. In all the sense was frustrating, not really knowing anymore even as the weeks slowly passed by. But it was hurtful as well, for every time he awoke from his sleep, the all too familiar surge of pain would strike through his scar, just as it had been the previous year and all other before. Thoughts he held reminded him of his fifth year, when for almost an entire semester, Voldemort gained access to his lucid mind and used him, to unlock the secrets of the department of mysteries.
Harry involuntarily shuddered, trying his best not to think about it. He'd almost gone mad when he heard of it. That old conjuror meddling with his mind like some sadistic toy had pained him to no end, for now he felt weak of the mind. Now that the wards protecting his mind had failed, Voldemort could do the very same thing once more, if he hadn't already started. Something that filled him with dread for every moment he thought of it. He felt cursed for every day he'd existed, but nevertheless, he had no choice but to go on. As much as he didn't want a war to take place between muggles and wizards, he was none the less interested in the outcome, for one thing would definitely come out of all this, and that would be awareness of muggles living on the planet, a prospect he was sure would change his world forever.
'Err… Harry?' he felt an odd tugging on his robes, and realised as he came back to reality that he'd been staring into space for over a minute.
'Oh, sorry about that. Just thinking again.' A slight tinge of red came to Harry's cheeks as he blushed embarrassingly. Ron took it with candor and patted him once more on the back.
'Don't you worry old mate, you'll pull through, and I'm sure we will too…' Ron trailed off in confusion as a sudden pain gripped Harry by the forehead, forcing him to his knees. His scar hurt terribly. Worse than that in fact, his entire body shook from the pain as he writhed on the floor clutching his scar in a semi scream. No one else was in the corridor with them as his strained voice echoed on. The sense of being cut off was the least of his worries as for the first time he'd ever known, magic burned through his scar like fire and it glowed an eerie, iridescent green despite his clenched teeth that horrified his red haired friend. Yet even as he writhed, he heard in his mind a fleeting voice that he could not discern save for a few words; "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning… and the end!"
And then a second later, it was gone, leaving him lying spread eagled on the floor panting for his breath. The apparent shock hadn't worn off, but it was without doubt one of the worst experiences he'd ever had to date, and a quick look at Ron made him well aware that this was indeed a first for him as Ron's own face had contorted into some form of surprise and terror mixed with each.
'What was that?!' Ron asked in a half croaked voice, not sounding nearly as confident as he was a mere moment before. Though Harry could not find an answer, his mind was a blur, and it was all he could do to let out an audible groan as he slowly lifted himself from the floor, large beads of sweat still pouring from his head.
'I've no idea…' he choked out, still not believing in what had just happened. But the lagging pain in his scar reminded him that it wasn't just his imagination playing tricks on him as he was so accustomed to experiencing. Ron was going pale, a shallow fear starting to pull through him as Harry's strength quickly returned.
'You should tell Dumbledore about this!' he ordered instinctively, and Harry took note. It went without saying that something with such a powerful effect on him would not go unnoticed. No not at all. But for those words he kept himself strangely quiet. He knew the voice as though he'd heard it so many a time before, and it scared him. Calming down slightly he regained his bearings, the experience having slightly altered him. He felt a little hazy, strange as well, and it was though he could sense every single thing taking place in the corridor at that very moment.
A sudden rush of adrenaline hit him in an instant as his senses picked up something wrong.
'GET DOWN!' he shouted, and he wrestled Ron to the floor as without warning, a huge explosion rocked the walls outside, shattering the windows above. Within a moment another blast, just as powerful rocked the castle from a distance and in his own mind, one single prevailing thought came to him. "RUN, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!"
Within moments the castle was in absolute pandemonium. Students still in the midst of lunch were caught unaware as several resounding blasts made the castle shake upon it's foundations. Everyone's instant reaction being to panic and scatter in every which way, the leading teachers not being present to control the unruly mob as the scene turned into total chaos. No one seemed to have the slightest clue as to what was going on, as hordes of students raced out the great hall's doors in a panicky rush of feet and bodies, people moving in different directions, sometimes colliding with each other as their baser instincts took a hold of them and likened themselves more to pitiful sheep. A high pitched whistling noise drew the attention of those who were too slow to leave the hall and as they looked up in odd confusion, their surroundings grew a strange, pearly white and flame tore through the aged building, incinerating all who remained inside.
Screams of terror rang throughout the school as even the ghosts in their deathly state, flew about in an odd display of fear, the students that surrounded them, not caring whether or not they ran around or through the non solid spirits, their minds no longer fixed on any real logic. Those who could however, knew in their hearts what a bombardment like this meant; The muggles had come at last.
Running as fast as she could, McGonagall burst into Dumbledore's office, her hair flustered up in as much panic as any student she'd have encountered, only to find the headmaster standing there with his back turned to her, his gaze firmly watching the scene outside through a small window.
'ALBUS!' she cried, almost collapsing as she fell to her knees. 'The muggles… they're atta… they're attacking!' her voice seemed incredibly strained and left her as she struggled to regain her breath. But Dumbledore merely stood there, his gaze still focusing on the events taking place outside his window that he appeared to show very little interest until at last he spoke.
'Minerva… where is Marius?'
The question took her slightly off guard but she thought all the same and a sudden feeling of confusion struck her. She hadn't seen him since the morning, where was he?
'I… I don't know.' She stammered between breaths, and she hazily analyzed the old mage's expression. Dumbledore stood still but behind his half moon spectacles, McGonagall could see an intense hatred suddenly flare from behind his eyes, something that she'd never seen in her lifetime despite her long service with him, and the fear that she felt from it scared her even more.
Slowly, Dumbledore turned himself about staring the old witch directly in the eyes, his voice heavy, his expression tired and yet his eyes filled with so much hatred, he walked towards his desk and took a seat behind it, before he spoke with such resounding significance.
'Minerva, you will find the general staff and have them round up as many of the students as possible. Have them taken to the safety of the Glyph caves that reside beneath this castle, Serverus can tell you where. The student's safety is my number one priority at this point in time….'
Outside the situation was no better than it was within the great hall. If anything, it was worse. With no teachers about to stem the chaos, children and adults alike ran rampart across the grounds, Heliopaths as well materializing out of the ground, only seeming to herald a new wave of terror as explosions began to tear apart the castle walls from the outside, the hundreds of spells and incantations applied to them doing seemingly nothing to prevent them collapsing on each other.
Another whistling noise sounded above as with a thundering smash, two missiles slammed into the North tower with earth shaking force. The shockwave disintegrating the stone that supported it, causing it to give way almost immediately, the entire tower wrenching slightly before it collapsed some forty meters, taking with it all who were inside and all who's cruel fate saw them beneath it's shadow when the tower's gargantuan form smashed into the ground, a giant cloud of smoke and ash billowing where the beautiful spire once stood.
Looking about themselves in horror, Mr and Mrs Weasley found themselves being roped into the chaos of the school corridors. Unsure of what to do and with their children's lives in danger, Mrs Weasley broke down in fear, her own terror consuming her whilst her husband vainly shouted for their children. Another blast from the outside shattering still more windows and her crying picked up a sudden notch, as though all hope of finding them was lost.
'PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER MOLLY!' Arthur shouted to her, shaking her by the shoulders. 'We're no good to them if we're dead!'
Molly didn't stop crying, but she became more resolute and hazily got to her feet. But at that very moment, the wall blasted apart next to her, a final scream and she was wiped from all conscious thought.
Albus walked through the castle with incredible speed. Every so often a glowing orb would fall from the sky with it's smoky black trail and strike into the earth with a powerful blast, making him pick up the pace even more. Accompanying him was his most trusted teachers, McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey were amongst them. Serverus and Hagrid as well. Marius was strangely absent from the group, and Dumbledore's steely glint in his eyes seemed to justify this. For every corner they rounded they came upon numerous students. Some were lost, others scared to their wits end, some not even aware of themselves as they sat huddled up in corners as each resounding detonation caused overhanging stone beams to crack, faint showers of dust falling from them to the floor below.
But not all those found were lucky. Ginny Weasley was found unconscious in Gryffindor common room pinned to the floor by a giant stone slab which had apparently crushed her arm until Madam Pomfrey was able to release her and heal her wounds. Further on, Serverus discovered Justin Finch Fletchley overcome by toxic fumes from his potions staffroom, that had been annihilated in a single blast. And Hagrid on his way through Hogwarts' courtyard found Cho Chang running around like a mad idiot whilst bombs dropped around her. In Hagrid's own words, he said he was surprised that she didn't go up with one of those as the rest of the castle was being destroyed quite nicely indeed. Yet even though a large majority could be helped with ease, many others both student and adult alike were badly injured and required medical attention in St Mungo's, whilst others still were dead.
The death that had followed the onslaught did not rest with the people however. Trying hard as they might to escape the carnage, four dragons lifted from their perches to flee the scene only to be battered by the hail of explosives that rained from the sky above. Two were killed instantly by the fallout, another two beyond help as they crashed headlong into the ground, dazed and confused. And the Heliopaths fared no better on the ground, their status as a fire spirit helping them little as the barrage wiped many from the field, their tattered number scattering into the forest as those brave enough to stay were consumed by the barrage and killed. None were spared the anarchy and it became more and more obvious as to how futile any attempt at defense was as the attack drawled on.
The devastation wrought by the attack continued for another hour, the hail of flame falling from the sky in regular intervals wreaked devastation on the castle. Those who were fit enough to walk were taken to the caves that Dumbledore had suggested beneath the surface, whilst all that could not be spared the destruction laid to die in the inferno that had begun to engulf the grounds above, whether they were alive or not. And it had transpired that Dumbledore was right in his thinking. The castle could not be saved, the possibility was too remote to gamble, and it gave solid proof to all who'd been skeptical before hand, that Muggles were not as weak and insignificant as it had originally seemed.
Dumbledore stood silent within the Glyph caves that resided beneath the castle. Once it had been a dining place for wizards and witches most royal, yet now it stood as a depressing shelter from the torment above. Students held each other in a fearful embrace as explosion after explosion went off above them. Those who's fear had left them, even if only because of shock sat listening to the hail with some form of interest, whilst their companions cowered with each other praying for some semblance of peace again. Just as they had that morning, when they'd been eating some of the world's finest food that could be prepared. How had things changed so quickly?
A powerful blast rocked the shelter suddenly and a few people broke the silence with slight whimper of fear. In all, three hundred people had been found alive. Yet many more were above them, whether they were alive or dead was anyone's guess, but as each bomb fell, hope drained from the survivors, their own faces going pale at the horrible sounds they made. McGonagall who was also there moved to Dumbledore carefully, her movements as cat like as she could make them as not to startle the old man, who turned to greet her if his gaunt expression could be seen as a greeting.
'What do you think Albus?' she queried in curiosity, but still feeling rather afraid of what answer she might receive. Albus looked to her, that same anger still apparent in his eyes.
'About Marius I can say there is no curse in any language to account for such incompetence. I will see to it that he is punished for his desertion if that is what it truly is. But then, I may be wrong Minerva, he may have a very good excuse for leaving so abruptly in our hour of need. Humph!'
Dumbledore didn't appear as confident as his words and another blast rocked the shelter, spilling dust over his spectacles. Casually he took them off and cleaned them on his robes, and he continued.
'As for the muggles, I believe they are testing us. With the exception of madam Rosmerta who is now mute and beyond help, none of us has seen any muggle come within a kilometer of this castle and yet they've pinpointed our whereabouts with such precision that could be admired if not feared. Yet you must be mindful about this Minerva, the real battle has not begun yet. And I fear for those above who have survived the fires. They may yet be in danger, though no one can say how long we have until another attack comes, they obviously know we're here and vulnerable at that. I still worry Minerva… Yes, I still do.'
McGonagall looked to him sympathetically and could see behind his anger the slow tearing down of Dumbledore's spirit, the day had indeed taken it's toll on him.
'Do not fear Albus,' she spoke consolingly, trying to ease him as best she could. 'There was no foreseeing this event, you are not at fault for any of what's happened here today.'
Dumbledore looked once more to the old witch, trying as he might to stay his voice or to hold back that solitary tear that had begun to form at the corner of his left eye.
'No Minerva, you misunderstand me. I do not worry over whom it is that should receive blame, even if I may be that person… no…'
and he looked anxiously at the crowd of scared people sitting in front of him.
'It is Harry I'm worried about Minerva… where is he?'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I spent some time working on this chapter cos I wanted to get the war started just right, though it was raher tough and I'm not sure I did it exactly right even now. But I hope you like in nonetheless. Oh and "jac" I haven't written any more stories on fanfiction.net, this is my first. But I can tell you now that this story is to have a sequel, so stay tuned.
A nervous air broke what remained of school spirit early next morning. No body could sleep fitfully anymore. Not with current affairs on their minds at least. It seemed strange that with all the hype that had been aroused due to muggles sacking wizard England, not hide nor hair had been heard of the aggressors. No one talked much of it of course, the very whisper of a threat would murmur about the corridors for hours on end, and the rumors thereafter would cause panic beyond reckoning. The school was afterall, stone still on a knife's edge.
Harry, Ron and Hermione had talked extensively to each other recently. Though conversations were usually limited to such questions as; "what will happen next?" or "how are we going to get out of this one?". All in all, not very stimulating. If anything, the apparent fear that had not only resided in the three, but everyone else as well, had worked it's feeble fingers well enough to increase the nervousness that all in the castle held. It was just too much to bare. Each day and night witches and wizards lived in fear or trepidation, not knowing whether or not muggles would attack in minutes, hours, or days. The notion that they were there at all made some think that maybe they may wake up more dead… than alive.
Such was the calm before the storm. Silence echoed loudly where laughter and learning usually took place. Hogwarts was no longer seen as an exclusive school of magical appraisal. Now, it was a fortress. Boarded up and secure from almost all outside interference, Hogwarts stood as the last bastion of magical power before what was now known as a great wasteland, plagued by scouring tribes of merciless muggles, each group more vicious and deadly than the last. It was only a matter of time until the castle was discovered, everyone knew that for certain. The question on everyone's minds was how long would it be? Perhaps the muggles already knew. No one person could say.
In the great hall the adults spent the majority of their time in soft, subdued conversation. Harry had seen them once by accident. All of them were clearly as worried as the students, though they tried hard not to show it, even they were unaware of the enemy's true plans. It was unnerving to say the least. But what was more distressing was what he was seeing. He was sure that none of these people… these parents, would willingly allow their children to fight in war. Maternal instincts prevented it. But this was the hand everyone was dealt. By Marius's edict, those students who were able enough were drafted into the defense force, regardless of the wishes their parents held. It was all those desperate mothers and fathers could do to draft themselves as well. Casting an eye over the crowd of uneasy witches and wizards, Harry could only feel that familiar twinge of despair, as he knew better than most, that nearly all of who sat before him, could quite possibly die. Even those whom he cared most about… Mr and Mrs Weasley.
Elsewhere, teachers were discussing similar concerns. If not as public as the student's outspoken fears, it had been common knowledge that the notion of war could quite conceivably turn the average person to jelly. And in actual truth, the largest worry that was held was of the student's own lack of ability. Madam Pomfrey was heard at one stage to openly defy Marius's reasoning behind sending the children to war, arguing that children had no place on a battle field. The cruelty and hatred, not to mention the obvious danger was too much for young minds to bear witness to, especially if the opposition was a highly trained force, as was it was most certain to be when the attack did come. But there was no withdrawing from Marius's edict. No, not at all. As shameful as it was, the general teaching staff were afraid of Marius, right down to their every bone. No one would dare question him of course, too many were aware of his Auror past, that alone was reason enough to be afraid. Though it could be admitted, that if more people knew of his secrets, then his reputation would increase ten fold.
McGonagall accompanied Dumbledore towards the school grounds. Not a word was spoken, but the feelings were the same. If only there had been another way to sort out this entire mess. Perhaps then this war would not be needed at all. But it was too late now. Too much had happened, and negotiation was beyond possibility. Albus knew this, and still his mind ticked over constantly, working hard as ever to find a solution, however vague and improbable it may seem, just to avoid war. How vainly he tried.
As the two senior teachers came into contact with the soft green grass, they saw to no real surprise that Morheim was already there. He held himself like a god. Standing as defiant as ever on the peak of a high ridge. Not a trace of doubt resided upon his face, his confidence deeply imbued into him as he watched with delight a sight that Dumbledore and McGonagall could not see from their vantage point. It was an expression of sheer superiority, absolutely fearless. As Albus closed in on him he slowly turned to meet the elderly man's stare, an odd smirk stretching gradually across his face as he greeted him.
'Well old friend,' he shook Albus's hand jovially, 'I had never in my lifetime considered the possibility that I'd live to see such times, nor to see such a sight as beautiful as this!' and he waved his hand in mute gesture across the field below. Dumbledore gazed downward across the green slope at something that made his eyebrows arch in surprise. McGonagall gasped in shock clasping her hands over her mouth. There before them stood an army of number beyond reckoning… Heliopaths, every last one of them. Thousands of them in their depraved ranks stood to attention, their fierce battle cries echoing out across the grounds, sending shivers down McGonagall's spine. What a rabble. Horrible hisses and creped sounds wretched from each warrior in turn, hungering for battle, each emitting a faint glimmer of smoke from beneath their own disheveled cloaks. It was a fearsome sight to behold, Marius turned to McGonagall.
'Over six thousand Minerva!' he gloated with a sense of delight the old lady was not used to seeing in him, 'Each one of these has a sole purpose in mind, and that is to destroy our enemy. And they've no need for weapons either. Limbo has afforded them abilities of their own far beyond our measly ways… I almost feel sorry for the poor souls who stray across their path! HA!' he laughed out loud in a way that did not sit well with the headmaster, who turned away from the army as swiftly as he'd arrived. Marius's questioning gaze followed him.
'What is it Albus?!' he asked curiously, a short smile still evident on him. Dumbledore turned slightly and spoke in such a harsh tone that Marius had to cringe somewhat to recover.
'I wonder… old friend,' Albus began, his sideward glance holding Marius effortlessly, 'Is your war mongering worth the lives of every person in this castle? Is your pride so big and your head so swollen that you cannot see what destruction you are doing to yourself?! These creatures are demons Marius. They thrive on misery and are no better than the degenerate Dementors that I was foolish enough to allow into this school previously. This "army" of yours can quite easily become our enemy at the drop of a wand, in their bloodlust they may turn on you as quick as they were to join our cause. Because of you, they're free from the demonic constraints of the Limbo universe, and I must say, even should we fend off a muggle attack, your name will live on in memory as being the one wizard who tainted this school beyond recognition by allowing these monstrosities residence here. I can see clearly that your advanced years have not improved your maturity, you're still as fool hardy and head strong as you have always been. I will not condone a war of humanity to be fought with beasts as rife as this, nor will I allow my own students to fight along side them. If danger from the enemy was not bad enough. You can forget drafting my finest students in your little rabble Morheim. Just the thought sickens me to no end, and when this war is over, I suggest you leave at once!'
And in one swift turn of his heel he was walking back toward the castle, leaving Marius absolutely mortified, and McGonagall without words. No one could remember a time that Dumbledore had lost his temper with someone, despite his softness of voice, his words cut like razor wire into Marius's ego, and he furrowed his brow in frustration, as he watched the headmaster's shadowy silhouette cross the lawn back to the castle without looking back. Slowly the old man turned his blustering attention to McGonagall, who was still staring off into the distance.
'I suppose you have similar thoughts?!' he spoke harshly. It was more of a statement than a question, but she nodded all the same, making the aging wizard cringe again in stubbornness.
'I've not seen Albus this angry for many years Morheim.' McGonagall spoke in her soft yet commanding tones, 'You have actively pushed for war with no real plan for peace. Are you expecting this feud between our cultures to last forever Marius? We must push for a diplomatic solution to all this. Force of arms does not make friends, only lasting enemies. I'd have thought you would know this above everyone else. At any rate, you would do well to adhere to Albus's advice, if I were you, I would leave at once.'
Marius looked back to her looking thoroughly insulted and he turned his back on her.
'I will command this army as I see fit Minerva!' he said with finality, crossing his arms, 'And I swear by the blood of my ancestors that not even Dumbledore will stand in my way. Now leave!'
McGonagall curtsied and left, neither resentful nor consumed with fear, but accepting. An appetite for such destruction could only lead to an end of similar proportions… destruction. As she too walked from the grounds, Marius looked down to his feet still hearing in his mind those cutting words that Dumbledore had served him so choicely. "Was that really his opinion?" He turned over in his head. "Why did he remain silent for so long?" Part of him felt ashamed by what he had done, but that inner voice was but a whisper in the dark as an overwhelming rush of anger and hatred surged through him. He remembered before about that woman the Heliopaths had found. Albus said she was the last survivor from Hogsmeade. The only one to survive the chaos and anarchy that had stricken the small town bare. Another twinge of hatred pulsated through him, and he turned his gaze to the forbidden forest to his right.
The tall graceful trees of this terrible place haunted even those brave enough to enter, and yet that was where she'd been found. Wherever the other survivors had tried to escape, if there were any at all, then that would have been where they'd have been running. The only route that led to Hogwarts and was not guarded by a muggle sentry. Muggles were to be found in the forest, he was sure of it. Just as they were at Hogsmeade at this very moment, looting the town by the most probable odds. "This should never have come to pass. This should never happen again!" Marius grinded his teeth together roughly as he envisioned what Madam Rosmerta's flight for life would have been like and he cursed them all under his breath for the insolence the muggles dared show to a witch. Whomever should commit to such an act of violence was worthy of nothing but the killing curse, or to his mind, a punishment that was far more… accommodating. To his knowledge the lady had remained mute after McGonagall had spoken with her. The memories that had infused themselves deep within her mind coming to light in frightening fashion, forcing her mouth shut despite her best efforts to release them. How horrible. No one deserved such a fate, and Marius felt that should any remnant of the Hogsmeade survivors remain, then they were to be returned as well, whether they be alive or dead. The thought drove a glimpse of madness through the old man's heart. Like a metal spike it sliced it's way into his thinking… poisoning his thoughts, and he clenched his fists so tensely that his knuckles grew white from the strain.
'I'll show them all! Especially that old fool Dumbledore!' he muttered quickly to himself, a small bead of sweat starting to roll down the side of his battered face before it suddenly froze and shattered as ice, as though it's very existence had never been. 'Oh yes… I'll show them!'
The small group of students left after Dumbledore's strict judgment had been practicing numerous curses to better themselves, when word came through from McGonagall that the entire prospect of a student force had been disbanded. This was immediately seen as a punch in the ribs after Marius had been so forceful in their training over the previous months, though very few there had any reason to believe anything other than that Marius had something to do with it, and had probably used almost the entire school year to play some over the top prank, by which to gain some personal revenge on the students he obviously despised. Whether or not this was indeed the real reason did not seem to filter through to anyone who cared enough to worry, though Hermione did have a subtle word with Ron saying that she thought it rather odd to end the program so abruptly, and that Marius had not thought to inform them himself since he was the one who had devised it in the first place.
Yet regardless of the internal workings of it all, the parents of those students involved were more than excited to hear the news that their sons and daughters would not be taking front line positions on the battlefield. It was such an intense relief, that for a few short hours after word had filtered through, almost everyone had forgotten that there was any danger at all. This was almost as if the past few months had not transpired, and that Hogwarts was once more the academic capital of magical learning, as it had been for countless generations before. But it wasn't right, and Harry knew this more than anything. For he'd been curiously silent as of the past few days… thinking. He'd thought it strange to begin with that students were to defend the castle and now that the decision had been reversed it seemed of no real surprise, but rather, he felt a blank resignation that this was going to happen no matter what. But it was still odd. Not just the very idea of a student defense force, but of recent events in general. As expected the student body had become increasingly agitated since the first news of muggle aggression began. Definitely no surprises there. But the teacher's increased edginess that was in some cases comparable to that of the students struck an odd thought within him. He'd known for some time that the teachers had performed many spells and enchantments to the castle to make it "battle-proof" so to speak, but how were they to know what a muggle war was like?
Sure he'd read some about it himself. Bloody and terrible events they were. Yet he was undecided as to how extensive the teacher's own knowledge was on muggles and their tactics. It was common knowledge to him, that the general population of magic folk paid very little, if any attention to muggles whatsoever. And this fact alone, seriously reduced his own confidence in his teacher's abilities, as there was the possibility that the spells in place would have absolutely no effect on muggle weapons at all. And if that wasn't reason enough to feel scared, then he was aghast as to what was. At least for now, no one thought anything of the events of the past few months to worry a great deal, even if that decision was fool hardy, it was worth it just for those few moments of calm, even if they were not destined to last forever.
Walking towards the common room after lunch, Harry took the apparent silence of the halls to something of an enigma, and he reveled in it, as though he may not live to feel such comfort again. Tall, stained glass windows let in rays of warm light as he walked across the stone floor. How beautiful it was that it seemed near impossible that events could be unfolding beyond the castle walls, that could potentially be of harm to them. It was almost unreal, to the point that he didn't hear the hurried footsteps behind him, until a cheerful hand patted him on the shoulder, diverting his gaze.
'What's up Harry? I didn't see you much at lunch.' Said Ron in a boisterous voice, catching Harry slightly off guard.
'Nothing's up… Not that much anyway… it's just…'
Ron's gaze narrowed somewhat at his friend's hesitation and came to a stop.
'It's just what?!' he prompted eagerly, yet looking rather suspicious of the raven haired boy.
'It just seems a bit early to be celebrating isn't it?' Harry spoke uncertainly, somewhat doubting his own words. 'I mean I've seen adults in the hall with big grins on their faces and stuff, as though nothing wrong could possibly happen to them. As if it was safe again to go outside in the open world.'
Ron stared back ad cleared his throat loudly.
'Look Harry you're just nervous that's all.' He spoke rather dryly, making Harry feel uneasy, 'But it's not like it's against the law to have a little fun. You of all people should be feeling great. You're no longer on that blasted defense list, surely you can be proud of that!'
Harry faced the ground for a moment as he thought to himself. Perhaps he was just being a little on edge. Maybe he should stop being so uptight and enjoy himself. For the moment at least. Though he could not remove the feeling he felt. Something was going to happen, he was absolutely sure of it. Where was an absolute certainty, but when… well, that was anybody's guess. At times when he'd retired to sleep, dreams of Hogwarts often filled his consciousness. And every time he dreamt, the feeling of a big event being just around the corner always haunted him, yet it disappeared long before he could grab it, as though it were knowledge not to be slandered by his own feeble mind. In all the sense was frustrating, not really knowing anymore even as the weeks slowly passed by. But it was hurtful as well, for every time he awoke from his sleep, the all too familiar surge of pain would strike through his scar, just as it had been the previous year and all other before. Thoughts he held reminded him of his fifth year, when for almost an entire semester, Voldemort gained access to his lucid mind and used him, to unlock the secrets of the department of mysteries.
Harry involuntarily shuddered, trying his best not to think about it. He'd almost gone mad when he heard of it. That old conjuror meddling with his mind like some sadistic toy had pained him to no end, for now he felt weak of the mind. Now that the wards protecting his mind had failed, Voldemort could do the very same thing once more, if he hadn't already started. Something that filled him with dread for every moment he thought of it. He felt cursed for every day he'd existed, but nevertheless, he had no choice but to go on. As much as he didn't want a war to take place between muggles and wizards, he was none the less interested in the outcome, for one thing would definitely come out of all this, and that would be awareness of muggles living on the planet, a prospect he was sure would change his world forever.
'Err… Harry?' he felt an odd tugging on his robes, and realised as he came back to reality that he'd been staring into space for over a minute.
'Oh, sorry about that. Just thinking again.' A slight tinge of red came to Harry's cheeks as he blushed embarrassingly. Ron took it with candor and patted him once more on the back.
'Don't you worry old mate, you'll pull through, and I'm sure we will too…' Ron trailed off in confusion as a sudden pain gripped Harry by the forehead, forcing him to his knees. His scar hurt terribly. Worse than that in fact, his entire body shook from the pain as he writhed on the floor clutching his scar in a semi scream. No one else was in the corridor with them as his strained voice echoed on. The sense of being cut off was the least of his worries as for the first time he'd ever known, magic burned through his scar like fire and it glowed an eerie, iridescent green despite his clenched teeth that horrified his red haired friend. Yet even as he writhed, he heard in his mind a fleeting voice that he could not discern save for a few words; "I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning… and the end!"
And then a second later, it was gone, leaving him lying spread eagled on the floor panting for his breath. The apparent shock hadn't worn off, but it was without doubt one of the worst experiences he'd ever had to date, and a quick look at Ron made him well aware that this was indeed a first for him as Ron's own face had contorted into some form of surprise and terror mixed with each.
'What was that?!' Ron asked in a half croaked voice, not sounding nearly as confident as he was a mere moment before. Though Harry could not find an answer, his mind was a blur, and it was all he could do to let out an audible groan as he slowly lifted himself from the floor, large beads of sweat still pouring from his head.
'I've no idea…' he choked out, still not believing in what had just happened. But the lagging pain in his scar reminded him that it wasn't just his imagination playing tricks on him as he was so accustomed to experiencing. Ron was going pale, a shallow fear starting to pull through him as Harry's strength quickly returned.
'You should tell Dumbledore about this!' he ordered instinctively, and Harry took note. It went without saying that something with such a powerful effect on him would not go unnoticed. No not at all. But for those words he kept himself strangely quiet. He knew the voice as though he'd heard it so many a time before, and it scared him. Calming down slightly he regained his bearings, the experience having slightly altered him. He felt a little hazy, strange as well, and it was though he could sense every single thing taking place in the corridor at that very moment.
A sudden rush of adrenaline hit him in an instant as his senses picked up something wrong.
'GET DOWN!' he shouted, and he wrestled Ron to the floor as without warning, a huge explosion rocked the walls outside, shattering the windows above. Within a moment another blast, just as powerful rocked the castle from a distance and in his own mind, one single prevailing thought came to him. "RUN, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN!"
Within moments the castle was in absolute pandemonium. Students still in the midst of lunch were caught unaware as several resounding blasts made the castle shake upon it's foundations. Everyone's instant reaction being to panic and scatter in every which way, the leading teachers not being present to control the unruly mob as the scene turned into total chaos. No one seemed to have the slightest clue as to what was going on, as hordes of students raced out the great hall's doors in a panicky rush of feet and bodies, people moving in different directions, sometimes colliding with each other as their baser instincts took a hold of them and likened themselves more to pitiful sheep. A high pitched whistling noise drew the attention of those who were too slow to leave the hall and as they looked up in odd confusion, their surroundings grew a strange, pearly white and flame tore through the aged building, incinerating all who remained inside.
Screams of terror rang throughout the school as even the ghosts in their deathly state, flew about in an odd display of fear, the students that surrounded them, not caring whether or not they ran around or through the non solid spirits, their minds no longer fixed on any real logic. Those who could however, knew in their hearts what a bombardment like this meant; The muggles had come at last.
Running as fast as she could, McGonagall burst into Dumbledore's office, her hair flustered up in as much panic as any student she'd have encountered, only to find the headmaster standing there with his back turned to her, his gaze firmly watching the scene outside through a small window.
'ALBUS!' she cried, almost collapsing as she fell to her knees. 'The muggles… they're atta… they're attacking!' her voice seemed incredibly strained and left her as she struggled to regain her breath. But Dumbledore merely stood there, his gaze still focusing on the events taking place outside his window that he appeared to show very little interest until at last he spoke.
'Minerva… where is Marius?'
The question took her slightly off guard but she thought all the same and a sudden feeling of confusion struck her. She hadn't seen him since the morning, where was he?
'I… I don't know.' She stammered between breaths, and she hazily analyzed the old mage's expression. Dumbledore stood still but behind his half moon spectacles, McGonagall could see an intense hatred suddenly flare from behind his eyes, something that she'd never seen in her lifetime despite her long service with him, and the fear that she felt from it scared her even more.
Slowly, Dumbledore turned himself about staring the old witch directly in the eyes, his voice heavy, his expression tired and yet his eyes filled with so much hatred, he walked towards his desk and took a seat behind it, before he spoke with such resounding significance.
'Minerva, you will find the general staff and have them round up as many of the students as possible. Have them taken to the safety of the Glyph caves that reside beneath this castle, Serverus can tell you where. The student's safety is my number one priority at this point in time….'
Outside the situation was no better than it was within the great hall. If anything, it was worse. With no teachers about to stem the chaos, children and adults alike ran rampart across the grounds, Heliopaths as well materializing out of the ground, only seeming to herald a new wave of terror as explosions began to tear apart the castle walls from the outside, the hundreds of spells and incantations applied to them doing seemingly nothing to prevent them collapsing on each other.
Another whistling noise sounded above as with a thundering smash, two missiles slammed into the North tower with earth shaking force. The shockwave disintegrating the stone that supported it, causing it to give way almost immediately, the entire tower wrenching slightly before it collapsed some forty meters, taking with it all who were inside and all who's cruel fate saw them beneath it's shadow when the tower's gargantuan form smashed into the ground, a giant cloud of smoke and ash billowing where the beautiful spire once stood.
Looking about themselves in horror, Mr and Mrs Weasley found themselves being roped into the chaos of the school corridors. Unsure of what to do and with their children's lives in danger, Mrs Weasley broke down in fear, her own terror consuming her whilst her husband vainly shouted for their children. Another blast from the outside shattering still more windows and her crying picked up a sudden notch, as though all hope of finding them was lost.
'PULL YOURSELF TOGETHER MOLLY!' Arthur shouted to her, shaking her by the shoulders. 'We're no good to them if we're dead!'
Molly didn't stop crying, but she became more resolute and hazily got to her feet. But at that very moment, the wall blasted apart next to her, a final scream and she was wiped from all conscious thought.
Albus walked through the castle with incredible speed. Every so often a glowing orb would fall from the sky with it's smoky black trail and strike into the earth with a powerful blast, making him pick up the pace even more. Accompanying him was his most trusted teachers, McGonagall and Madam Pomfrey were amongst them. Serverus and Hagrid as well. Marius was strangely absent from the group, and Dumbledore's steely glint in his eyes seemed to justify this. For every corner they rounded they came upon numerous students. Some were lost, others scared to their wits end, some not even aware of themselves as they sat huddled up in corners as each resounding detonation caused overhanging stone beams to crack, faint showers of dust falling from them to the floor below.
But not all those found were lucky. Ginny Weasley was found unconscious in Gryffindor common room pinned to the floor by a giant stone slab which had apparently crushed her arm until Madam Pomfrey was able to release her and heal her wounds. Further on, Serverus discovered Justin Finch Fletchley overcome by toxic fumes from his potions staffroom, that had been annihilated in a single blast. And Hagrid on his way through Hogwarts' courtyard found Cho Chang running around like a mad idiot whilst bombs dropped around her. In Hagrid's own words, he said he was surprised that she didn't go up with one of those as the rest of the castle was being destroyed quite nicely indeed. Yet even though a large majority could be helped with ease, many others both student and adult alike were badly injured and required medical attention in St Mungo's, whilst others still were dead.
The death that had followed the onslaught did not rest with the people however. Trying hard as they might to escape the carnage, four dragons lifted from their perches to flee the scene only to be battered by the hail of explosives that rained from the sky above. Two were killed instantly by the fallout, another two beyond help as they crashed headlong into the ground, dazed and confused. And the Heliopaths fared no better on the ground, their status as a fire spirit helping them little as the barrage wiped many from the field, their tattered number scattering into the forest as those brave enough to stay were consumed by the barrage and killed. None were spared the anarchy and it became more and more obvious as to how futile any attempt at defense was as the attack drawled on.
The devastation wrought by the attack continued for another hour, the hail of flame falling from the sky in regular intervals wreaked devastation on the castle. Those who were fit enough to walk were taken to the caves that Dumbledore had suggested beneath the surface, whilst all that could not be spared the destruction laid to die in the inferno that had begun to engulf the grounds above, whether they were alive or not. And it had transpired that Dumbledore was right in his thinking. The castle could not be saved, the possibility was too remote to gamble, and it gave solid proof to all who'd been skeptical before hand, that Muggles were not as weak and insignificant as it had originally seemed.
Dumbledore stood silent within the Glyph caves that resided beneath the castle. Once it had been a dining place for wizards and witches most royal, yet now it stood as a depressing shelter from the torment above. Students held each other in a fearful embrace as explosion after explosion went off above them. Those who's fear had left them, even if only because of shock sat listening to the hail with some form of interest, whilst their companions cowered with each other praying for some semblance of peace again. Just as they had that morning, when they'd been eating some of the world's finest food that could be prepared. How had things changed so quickly?
A powerful blast rocked the shelter suddenly and a few people broke the silence with slight whimper of fear. In all, three hundred people had been found alive. Yet many more were above them, whether they were alive or dead was anyone's guess, but as each bomb fell, hope drained from the survivors, their own faces going pale at the horrible sounds they made. McGonagall who was also there moved to Dumbledore carefully, her movements as cat like as she could make them as not to startle the old man, who turned to greet her if his gaunt expression could be seen as a greeting.
'What do you think Albus?' she queried in curiosity, but still feeling rather afraid of what answer she might receive. Albus looked to her, that same anger still apparent in his eyes.
'About Marius I can say there is no curse in any language to account for such incompetence. I will see to it that he is punished for his desertion if that is what it truly is. But then, I may be wrong Minerva, he may have a very good excuse for leaving so abruptly in our hour of need. Humph!'
Dumbledore didn't appear as confident as his words and another blast rocked the shelter, spilling dust over his spectacles. Casually he took them off and cleaned them on his robes, and he continued.
'As for the muggles, I believe they are testing us. With the exception of madam Rosmerta who is now mute and beyond help, none of us has seen any muggle come within a kilometer of this castle and yet they've pinpointed our whereabouts with such precision that could be admired if not feared. Yet you must be mindful about this Minerva, the real battle has not begun yet. And I fear for those above who have survived the fires. They may yet be in danger, though no one can say how long we have until another attack comes, they obviously know we're here and vulnerable at that. I still worry Minerva… Yes, I still do.'
McGonagall looked to him sympathetically and could see behind his anger the slow tearing down of Dumbledore's spirit, the day had indeed taken it's toll on him.
'Do not fear Albus,' she spoke consolingly, trying to ease him as best she could. 'There was no foreseeing this event, you are not at fault for any of what's happened here today.'
Dumbledore looked once more to the old witch, trying as he might to stay his voice or to hold back that solitary tear that had begun to form at the corner of his left eye.
'No Minerva, you misunderstand me. I do not worry over whom it is that should receive blame, even if I may be that person… no…'
and he looked anxiously at the crowd of scared people sitting in front of him.
'It is Harry I'm worried about Minerva… where is he?'
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I spent some time working on this chapter cos I wanted to get the war started just right, though it was raher tough and I'm not sure I did it exactly right even now. But I hope you like in nonetheless. Oh and "jac" I haven't written any more stories on fanfiction.net, this is my first. But I can tell you now that this story is to have a sequel, so stay tuned.