Chapter 7
The Plan
The meal at the Leaky Cauldron was relaxed and even Hermione was discouraged from reading one of next terms books at the table. The friends ate, joked and exchanged stories with the Aurors, later on Tonks was hounded by the other girls to perform her party trick, when she agreed she received looks of mild distaste from their other guardians. Soon she was enlarging facial features and changed her hair colour through about seven colours, finally after a whispered request from Harry, she morphed into her Snape face and sneered at Ron, who burst into uncontrollable laughter.
After one of the most enjoyable nights Harry could remember, they retired to there rooms Ron and Harry in one Hermione and Ginny in the other. The adjacent rooms where taken by the Aurors, Tonks being the only woman had her own. Before bed Tonks informed them a ministry was sending cars tomorrow morning. She then turned to Ron, your father passed a message on to me from your mother, telling me to make sure you had everything packed tonight or you'd make us late. Harry snorted trying to prevent laughter, "Hey!" Exclaimed an indignant Ron. "Watch it! I'm a prefect, and I'll give you detention."
"Yes Percy..." Retorted Harry. "But school doesn't start till tomorrow morning so I'm making the most of it now."
Ron bristled, he hated being compare to his older siblings and was now very red faced. Harry left him fuming in the corridor and entered their room. Harry packed his few extra items in easily and threw himself on his bed to watch his friend. Ron having now returned the massive piles of books to Hermione, also found he was having little trouble packing. It was made considerably easier once he removed two layers of the eight protective layers of his broom. Harry couldn't help smiling, Ron was probably more protective of his broom than anything, well perhaps except Hermione, remembering all the attempted attacks on Draco Malfoy in her defence.
When Ron finally finished they took turns in the small bathroom and retired to their beds. Ron kept Harry awake for several hours with schedules for Quidditch training; new moves he wanted to try and what his thoughts were for the Chasers, that they would have to replace this year. In the end Harry covered his head with his pillow and no sooner had he closed his eyes he was asleep.
"Yesss we will do it tomorrow." The familiar hissing voice stated, the room was dark, hiding the number of hooded figures, but not the massive snake curl around this mans feet.
"How many will we use master?" Came a woman's voice.
"We will sssend sssix as it is only the diversion, the ssstation is protected but not like the ssschool."
"When will the rest attack?.." But the woman was cut off.
"SSSilence!" He shouted. "He isss here!" Then the deep set, thin, red slits, which where the man's eyes, shrunk further in concentration.
"AHHHHH!" Harry awoke suddenly the pain in his scar incredible, feeling like it had bursts open. He touched his forehead and moved his hands down in front of his face, thankfully no blood was present. He knew he had to try and find out more, but the pain in his head would prevent him returning. Harry quickly tried to meditate, he cleared his mind, and the pain left almost immediately. Harry then started searching images in the black void of his mind, initially fragmented then becoming clearer till he found it again.
"SSSoon they will return to usss and there is no longer a need to hide, we will begin our rain of terror. Now go prepare for tomorrow." And with multiple *pops* the room emptied and the vision faded.
Harry opened his eyes reached for his glasses and pulled his dressing gown from the end of the bed putting it on. He pulled a quill and parchment from his trunk and quickly jotted down every detail he could remember from the two episodes. Harry quietly padded to the door and slipped out managing not waking the snoring Ron. Looking down at his new watch, it told him it had just turned half past two, but this was important and he knew what to do. He walked next door to Tonks door and knocked, waiting to hear movement from inside the room, the door swung open quickly and a wand was pointed at his chest. "Prove it's you Harry." She said, surprisingly alert considering she was wearing a knee length night shirt with puppies on it.
"I've spent the night with a full grown lion called Godric a couple of times, and you flirt with Remus when you're together..." Started Harry.
"Enough..." She interrupted. "Come in...And I do not flirt with Remus...Much." She finished with a slight grin.
When they were both inside she closed the door and asked. "What's up?"
"Last year Dumbledore told me, the Order has a faster way of communicating than owl post, and more reliably secure than flu and I need to talk to him immediately."
"Life or Death?" She asked quite seriously.
"For a lot of people." He replied nodding.
The young Auror went over to her robes that where neatly folded on the chair nearest the small fireplace, told him to sit and removed a little plastic shell shaped compact. She opened it, tapped it with her wand and muttered an incantation followed by 'Albus Dumbledore, Hogwarts'. She waited a few seconds then talking to device that looked like a muggle compact, stating clearly, "I've got Harry here, something important to talk to you about." Handing the little compact to Harry, who saw the face of the Headmaster on the mirror on the inside.
Harry recounted the two episodes, consulting the parchment as he did to make sure he got all the details right. The old man's face in the mirror looked quite grim and told Harry, to hand him back to Miss Tonks, which he did. Tonks was told to wake up the other Aurors he would be arriving in a few minutes. Tonks closed the compact told Harry to wait here, and walked towards the door, but before she left Harry said quietly.
"Thanks Tonks...Oh and cute puppies on the night shirt." He added with a glint in his emerald green eyes.
She turned, examined her clothing and walked to the bed collecting her dressing gown before leaving, returning two minutes later followed with her colleagues all in dressing gowns. They positioned themselves around the room and waited. The strange group which look more like an adult sleep-over party, than dark wizard catchers, did not have to wait long. Within ten minutes there was a series of soft knocks on the door, two Aurors positioned themselves in front of the door, one kneeling in front of the other both with wands out, Tonks walked silently to the door and swung it open quickly, but seeing the Headmaster the Aurors backed away.
The Headmaster had not come alone with him was McGonagall, Snape, Flitwick and Remus, after curt greetings and introductions the Headmaster spoke. Explaining Harry's vision and he believed the distraction attack almost certainly was to be on platform nine and three quarters. While he had an idea about the true target, the protection of the students at Hogwarts was the priority. Half way through his account of Harry's vision, he was interrupted by a sneering Snape, who asked how he was so sure this was not a deception, as occurred to Potter earlier in the year.
The Headmaster explained how, he might of thought as much, but with a great presence of mind, Harry had confirmed otherwise. He explained that the secondary contact, when Harry was not asleep had occurred due to both Harry's scar, and as a by-product to training Harry had received from Miss Tonks. Tonks blushed slightly, when her name was mentioned and Remus gave her a proud smile. The Headmaster further explained he believed Harry had used a little practised, and rarely used talent, of what muggles called astral projection. To search out Voldemort and from what little he heard tallied with the first vision. Harry received several suspicious glances from the Aurors and a look of disgust from Snape, but he kept his head bowed as he listened to the Headmaster. Dumbledore now stated, the purpose of this meeting was not to argue this matter, but guarantee the protection of the students and their families while at the station.
An Auror asked, straight away, 'why they didn't just set up an anti apparition field upon the platform and a guard of ten Aurors at the barrier, preventing the attack?' However it was pointed out, that many parents apparated to the platform to see there children off. They risked having large numbers of witches and wizards spliced attempting it, and it also would not prevent a portkey being used.
After several more ideas, rejected for various reasons including resources and the risks involved, it was Remus who came up with the first plan that gain unanimous approval. The werewolf explained, they should make the train apparition proof and with a large Aurors presence, make students immediately get on the train where it was easier to protect them. Leaving only Aurors on the platform to deal with an attack.
Harry had been listening intently to all the plans, and ideas had formed in his mind, he raised his hand earning him several laughs from Aurors, and a warm smile from the Headmaster, who said to him, "This is a gathering of ideas among equals Harry; you do not need permission to speak."
"Well I had a few questions sir." Started Harry
"Ask away." Replied the Headmaster.
"Err Professor Flitwick...Could an Illusio charm be used on the platform in time?"
"Yes Mr Potter, but I see little need as the students would all be on the train."
"Well, it was just I was thinking, when the Death Eaters apparate to the platform and find it covered with no students and just Aurors they will dispperate away, and I know this prevents the attack but I thought what if they apparate to the platform and believe it is occupied by no Aurors and just students and their families. I know this is slightly more dangerous, but it might allow you to capture a number of them before they realise what is happening. I was also wondering if it is possible to exclude people from the charm?"
The little Professor thought for a moment and replied. "It makes the charm slightly more complicated but I see no reason why not."
"Its just, that if you are planning to capture the Death Eaters, numbers are pretty important and students are usually, and especially at the moment, a bit reluctant to take orders from strangers claiming to be Aurors. I was thinking it may be more effective to keep all the Aurors disguised, to guard everyone and use some of the prefects and professors to get the students on the train. They should hopefully keep everyone on the train, to prevent any heroics." At this Harry saw a slight grin appear on Dumbledore's face.
The faces on the Aurors, apart from Tonks, whose face was showing nothing but pride for her young student, were a mix of awe and shock. The plan was simple and yet ironed out several problems, they hadn't seen with Remus's original plan.
Finally Harry added, "Professor Dumbledore, I think I might be able to assist off the train."
He expected an immediate negative response from the Headmaster, but instead a straight forward question, "How so Harry?"
"Well there are two more problems, I can see the first is any parents and students arriving during a possible fight, might wander through the barrier straight into it. This could be dealt with simply though, as soon as anything happens closing the barrier and hopefully opening it shortly after, but with someone on the muggle platform making sure no one panics. The second is that a Death Eater tries to escape towards the train, this I think I could prevent while under my dads old cloak."
"I do believe this may actually, lessen risk on you, as opposed to trying to keep you on the train against your will during an incident. I will agree, providing there are no objects from the officials." The Aurors all too shocked by the tactics of this sixteen year old boy shock their heads.
Dumbledore instructed the Aurors and Remus to discuss the finer points of positioning, also instructing then to contact any colleagues, they felt they could rely on completely, then turned to Professor Snape and asked him if he would return to Hogwarts and obtain a supply of a mild pepper up potion. Stating he believed several people would be going without sleep tonight, and they all needed to be alert the next morning. Next the Headmaster handed McGonagall a sheet of parchment which Harry recognised as the DA list and told her to contact as many as she could before morning, start with the prefects and work down. She was to provide them with sufficient information, for them to complete a role of babysitters. Next he spoke to the tiny charms teacher, Flitwick replied to the question 'how long will it take?' Saying, 'he would like to go as soon as possible to start work'. Harry walked over and apologised as he interrupted. "I was wondering if I might accompany Professor Flitwick, I have been studying the Illusio charm and would like to see it myself, if that's alright?"
"Strangely I have no objections to any of your suggestions, this morning Harry..." Said the Headmaster smiling. "Provide that is ok with you Professor Flitwick."
"Oh yes, I would be quite happy to have a student, with such an interest. It is one of the most creative uses of a charm, I have ever heard of." Replied the tiny Charms Professor smiling at Harry.
The Headmaster added. "I would prefer it if you travelled unconventionally to the station, so as to not attract attention."
"I have some muggle money, we could take a taxi to Kings Cross, it would appear completely normal." Said Harry
"An excellent idea, I would advise you to take you cloak there will be little time to return I suspect, I will see to you other belongings and inform your friends." And with that the Headmaster joined the Aurors and Remus.
"I will wait for you downstairs, Mr Potter." Said Professor Flitwick. Looking, Harry thought, slightly too happy considering both the circumstances and the time. But then Harry thought back, and couldn't think of one occasion, the little teacher wasn't happy and decided this was just his way.
"Okay won't be a minute." He replied already half out of the door.
Harry quickly changed into comfortable muggle clothes and grabbed his cloak.Extracting the muggle money from his trunk, all the time careful not to wake Ron, he left the room and joined the Professor downstairs. The wizarding pub was completely empty so walked to the old door and both exited to the London streets. It was now past three in the morning, but the city didn't sleep and Harry had little difficulty waving down a cab, telling the driver they wanted to go to Kings Cross.
When they arrived, Harry was told it was eleven pound forty and Harry gave the man his last twenty pound note, telling him to keep the change. The cabby smiled, and told Harry, he and his grand dad where welcome in his cab anytime. The cabby added a 'guv''to the end of the sentence, which that was apparently law, when it came to final word, in a conversations with a London Taxi Driver.
Harry and the Professor walked to the wall, that was the magically barrier and Flitwick activated it discreetly. They both entered and the professor then sealed it after them. Over the next two hours the Professor walked up and down the platform, casting the modified charm. The professor explained the charm only had a range of a few yards, Harry listened intently to the explanations and directions of the tiny professor and practised the charm till he could perform it perfectly, before he helped. He knew the importance of its success and definitely didn't want his own failure, to cause a disaster. The Charm was complex, it involved complete concentration and Harry marvelled at the ease the little man performed it. Gone where the simple swish and flick charms, this charm required a complex combination of movements, tracing out a series of runes, while concentrating on both the formation of the spell and the outcome, then adding the exclusions.
By the time they had finished, it was nearing eight in the morning and both wizards looked slightly the worse for wear. They both seated themselves on a bench and rested. They pasted the time, talking about the forth coming year and the little professors love of teaching the NEWT students. Flitwick stated he found they progressed much faster despite the complexity of the charms, and that the lesson became more and more practical. Harry was quite surprised to learn, that like himself, the tiny professor found the theory of charms somewhat dull.
As it approached nine o'clock, the Hogwarts express pulled into the station. Shortly after two *pops* signalled the arrival of the Headmaster and Potions Professor, the Headmaster handed them each a foil wrapped bacon butty and they happily accepted, hungry from the mornings work. Professor Snape then gave each of them a small vile of pepper-up potion, and told to drink it in about half an hour, as it did not sit well on an empty stomach. The two Professors walked away to discuss the finer points of the morning and left Harry with his oldest mentor.
"You have matured a lot over the last year Harry, and your behaviour over the Summer is a credit to you. Your friends will arrive in about half an hour and I only request that you are already hidden under your cloak. They do not know of your role this morning and it would be safer for them if they don't find out. I was forced to tell them of your training over the holidays, Miss Weasley insisted something was different about you, but I did not tell them the nature of the training, I leave that up to you. I must leave now to the ministry, in the hope, I can convince them of the other target in today's attacks, Good Luck Harry."
"You too Professor." Replied Harry as the Headmaster *popped* away.
Harry sat silently on the bench for another fifthteen minutes, then downing the small vile of red coloured potion, depositing the empty container in a litter bin. Harry put on his cloak and walk over towards the red engine of the train and sat on the drivers foot plate. The next thirty minutes would, in hind-sight, be quite amusing twenty Aurors *popped* on to the platform and began what appeared like a well rehearsed charade, of acting like students of varying ages. Included in the group, Harry realised was all the Aurors, Harry remembered from his collection from the Dursleys last year, even Mad Eye Moody was amongst them. The old man's magic eye swivelled in Harry's direction and he dragged a light trunk over to within five yards of Harry. The old Auror then sat on the trunk, as if waiting for his friends to arrive, he spoke under his breath never looking at Harry.
"Tonks told me about the meeting, good plan Potter, protecting the students is the most important thing, but it's not in an Aurors nature to let a Death eater get away scot free. Aurors are paid to catch the b*stards no matter what the risks, I don't reckon any of them will be getting away today though." The scarred face and slit of a mouth looked like it was trying to smile.
He's enjoying this, thought Harry who was starting to feel a little nervous, but nodded at the ex-Auror, who he knew could see him with his magical eye.
"Better get back to the others, few of them are wet behind the ears. They may start panicking soon, if I'm not there to hold heir hands, good hunting Potter."
Harry's nerves gradually increased over the next hour, he saw his friends arrive and with a few other members of Dumbledore's Army obviously contacted by McGonagall. Harry was pleased to see them taking the job seriously, as they started shepherding students to the train, encouraging parents that they should go home, and their children would be fine. The prefects became so good at it, partly due to the students insistence they went, not wanting to appear anything but grown up in front of their peers, but mostly due to the calm and business like authority they seemed to have developed. Harry heard snippets of conversations and apparently registers where being taken on the train and by 10:50 only twelve students had not arrived.
Thinking that at least the majority where safe, it surprised him when only a few seconds later, Harry heard a dozen *pops* no more than thirty feet from him. Equally surprising was his own reaction, for within a instant, all his nervousness was forgotten. As the battle started, he in fact, felt quite keyed up.
Voldemort had obviously increased the numbers in the attack, Harry presumed because he knew of his knowledge of the diversionary plan. The Death Eaters however, where not expecting an all out attack from twenty Aurors, who looked like children and before they could regroup half there number lay stupefied on the floor. The remaining Death Eaters, began to attack the students, soon equal numbers started falling on both sides, killing curses where few and far between, abandoned for faster methods of disabling opponents. The ones that did occur, Harry was happy to see, flew high or wide of their target.
The battle raged for five minutes, numbers dwindling on both sides, they should have had more Aurors. His train of thought was broken though, when a single death eater abandoned the group, turning his attention to the train. The Death Eater was tall and from Harry could see heavily built, without being fat.
Harry saw the man looking at the train, and soon red blasts started exploded from the masked mans wand, firing towards the first carriage. Harry remembered the battle between Dumbledore and Voldemort, from earlier in the year, and instinctively transfigured a waste bin on the platform, increasing its size to almost the size of a small car. The curse struck the bin and it exploded sending paper and rotten debris across the ground.
The Death eater was confused for only a split second, and uttered a charm, as he rolled away from a stunning spell, Harry sent towards him. The Death Eater's charm sent a massive gust of wind out from his wand, causing Harry's cloak to be whipped from his shoulders and the hood from his head. Facing the man down now, Harry saw the malicious look of triumph in the mans eyes as he shouted the Fractio curse.
Harry had read about this curse in his hours of study and knew its effects, and while having the majority of the bones broken in a foot radius of the striking point was not fatal to a wizard, it would hurt a lot. But he was also knew he was only thing between the psychopath and the train. Pushing this from his mind, Harry didn't try and dodge, instead summoned every ounce of his strength and practically exploded the Expelliarmus charm at his opponent. The fractal curse hit Harry on his left shoulder, he almost lost consciousness as he heard ribs, collar bone, shoulder, upper arm splinter. The pain was incredible, less than the Cruciatus Curse, but at the same time more real, as he could actually feel splinters of bone in his shoulder. Harry almost passed out immediately when the pain was replaced with a numb, he was going into shock feeling his head become light. He fought to remain conscious and instead he crumpled in a heap on the floor, watching the effects of own charm hitting the lone Death Eater. The last things Harry saw before his vision blacked, was the man's wand fly from his hand and over Harry's head with the force of a bullet. Closely followed by the sight of the Death Eaters body rising into the air and cart wheeling backwards, as if a wrecking ball had caught him in the torso.
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