(18)Unexpected Gaurdian
It was still dark the next morning though a pink line was begining to show on the horizon. Ron stumbled downstairs. He had hardly slept all night. His brothers, Fred & George, were gone. Ron had spent most of the night awake, mostly crying. Now, he was angry. At himself for thinking they were gone, for there may yet be a chance that some had survived. At Percy for probably being a part of the attack. Ron stared, dazedly, at Harry & Merida sleeping on the couch.
"Ron?" Ginny suddenly appeared. "You up too?"
Ron spun around. "Er----yes! I am."
"Can't sleep either!" Ginny flopped down into a recliner. "I'm worried about them. Wonder who attacked the train?"
"Percy!" Ron's voice was full of hate. "He ruined everything!"
"We don't know that for sure!" Ginny defended.
"GINNY!" Ron retorted.
"Shhh! Keep it down!" she ordered. "You'll wake them up!" Ron sighed, frusterated & sat in a chair beside Ginny. Both soon fell asleep.
It was late into the morning when Ron woke up. Harry, Merida & Ginny were already gone to a late brunch. Ron half-heartedly entered the Great Hall. He wasn't really hungry for once but he didn't know where else to go. Besides, being in the Great Hall offered an opportunity to hear what was going on at the train wreck.
Merida ran up to Ron as soon as she saw him come in. "Cho & Breann are alright! Maybe someone else made it!" she raised an eyebrow.
"I hope Fred & George are OK!" Ron said.
"I hope so too," Merida grabbed his hand & pulled him along. "Come on! Let's go find Harry. It may take another day or so for the Aurors to go through everything. Just wait & see!"
It did take a few days, not because of the severity of the wreck but for the constant interuptions. The Aurors were often harrassed by rogue Dementors passing by & had to be on alert for any Death Eaters.
"Constant vigilance I alw---!"
"I swear, if you say it one more time, I'll KILL you!" Lupin snapped. "Just shut up & help me move this door. Not one more word about vigilance, Allastor!"
"Sorry!" muttered Moody. "It's true, though!"
"I know!" Lupin spasmed. "Now shut up!" The two began moving aside broken bits of train in silence for the next few minutes.
A soft whistle interupted them. The Aurors had gotten into the habit of whistling to each other when one saw a Dementor or Death Eater as there was little time for words. Lupin & Moody looked up to see Kinsgley pointing his wand towards two Dementors. Five more were on the way. Lupin & Moody drove two of them off but the other three pressed in closer. An eagle & a dolphin Patronus were sent to their rescue.
Lupin glared at Snape once the Dementors were gone. "So that's it, isn't it?"
"What?"
"You know what!" Lupin growled. "You made your Patronus a dolphin to serenade Rachelle? Was that how you did it?!"
"Excuse me?" snarled Snape. "I did not! I had trouble with mine & it only formed after I met her! LONG after!" Lupin just snorted not believing. "Remus!" Snape groaned. "Let me guess! Yours is a dolphin as well?"
"No, you mangy dog!" Lupin retorted, storming off. "It's a wolf!"
A week had gone by. Merida was sitting in the library with some old homework. Though classes had been cancelled days ago & the school closed, Merida needed something to pass the time. She was working mostly on Lupin's & Harry's classes. This was the time for it! What everyone had practiced against boggarts & each for. The remaining students had been very quiet lately, staying within small groups.
Out of nowhere, Harry pounced on Merida, making her scream! "Harold James! What the hell did you do that for?!"
"Sorry!" Harry laughed. "but guess who's at St. Mungo's Hospital? Oliver Wood! They found him & he's alright! A bit smashed up, but he'll be fine!"
"Really?" Merida yelped. "& Fred? George?"
Harry stared at the floor. "Y-yeah. They've been found too!"
"And?" Merida asked after a moment of silence. Harry looked up at her & shook his head. "Ron? Ginny?" Merida whispered.
"They're in the common room," said Harry. "Ron is swearing about Percy, blaming him for everything!"
"I don't blame Ron!" Merida muttered. "After everything else Percy did!"
The Aurors, themselves returned to Hogwarts & were now clustered in Dumbledore's office.
"That's everyone from the train," said Kingsley. "Only Wood, Lee Voth & Chang! The Dementors are getting bolder. It's hard to trap one by itself!"
"Our concern now is the rest of the children," said Moody.
"We'll get them out," Dumbledore agreed. "even if we have to walk every last one of them home!"
"Problem is, I think Hogwarts is the next target!" Kingsley added. "& Hogsmeade is our weak spot. Death Eaters may come in through there, maybe even the Dark Lord himself! I'm sure it's any day now!"
"Alright! We need to clear out Hogsmeade," said Dumbledore. "& we'll set ourselves up there."
Once Hogsmeade was made secure, all everyone had to do was wait. A few more students were able to get home in the meantime, as some had relatives in Hogsmeade Village & so left with them. Now, the castle was mostly empty.
One morning, Harry sat up sharply in bed, pressing his hand to his scar. "Ron! Neville! It's happening!"
"What is?" came Neville's sleepy growl.
"Hogsmeade........Death Eaters.....Voldomort!" Harry gasped. At the mention of the Dark Lord's name, everyone was suddenly wide awake.
"Hey, look over there!" Dean pointed out the window & across the grounds. Hogsmeade was on fire, a soft glow against a blue-black pre-morning sky. Neville let out a low growl. "What's with you?" Dean asked him. Oops!
"I--er--uh," Neville sighed. "Lupin bit me last year!"
"W-W-What?!" Dean half-laughed.
"He bit me & since then has kinda watched over me!" Neville went on. "Lupin was at Hogsmeade tonight for his shift. Now look at it!"
"I'm sure he's fine," Harry tried to reassure him.
"Someone's coming towards the castle!" Ron squeaked, pointing to two groups of forms running towards Hogwarts.
"I think you've owned that rat one day too long, Ron!" Harry smirked.
"Yeah!" Ron smiled sheepishly. "At least I don't bounce around like a ferret!"
"Let's go downstairs!" Harry laughed.
Six Death Eaters headed for Hogwarts castle & entered. The went seperate ways down the halls & vanished. Harry, Ron, Neville, Dean & a few others appeared moments later as the Aurors burst through the door.
"Which way did they go?" Lupin snarled, his eyes glaring up & down the corridors like the predator he was.
"Who?" asked Neville.
"Six Death Eaters," answered Lupin. "Lucious & Bellatrix among them!"
"We just got downstairs," said Harry. "We haven't seen anyone come in!"
"OK, let's split up then!" Kingsley ordered. "Harry, you & your friends take cover & be prepared!" Everyone split up in different directions.
"One moment!" said Lucious, stopping suddenly in front of one of the House Portraits.
"Oh come on!" Bellatrix snapped. "One of those Aurors is a wolf! We don't want him picking up our trail!"
"Hang on!" Lucious ordered. "I don't want my son involved in this! We'll leave the Slytherin Tower intact for now!" He sealed the Portrait securly so no one could get out. "Alright! Now we can move!"
Snape was the guard of Slytherin Tower. Seeing Hogsmeade under fire, he summoned all students down to the common room. He had to get them out of the tower. Draco was ahead & stopped at the door. It wouldn't move!
"What do you mean it won't move?" Snape snapped.
"I mean it won't open!" Draco retorted. "It's jammed! Stuck! Immobili----!"
"I get it!" Snape sighed. He tried using spells on it but the door remained shut.
"It appears to be some sort of Dark Sorcery," said Draco. "Probably an ancient sealing charm. There are several that my father knows of based in various old langauges such as--------!"
"While I find that fascinating, Mr. Malfoy, right now I REALLY need this door open!" Snape interupted. "Now would be an appropriate time!" He groaned. Now what did Lucious do?!
"Uh---it's---er! I know what this is!" Draco suddenly yelped. "A simple counter-spell will fix it! Totalis Lockus Finite!" The door opened!
"Wonderful, Mr. Malfoy!" said Snape. "50 points to Slytherin!" Unbelievable! In the middle of a war & Snape is still handing out points!
As Snape led the others away, Draco disappeared & hurried to catch up to his father. Draco soon found him, heading for Gryfindor Tower. "Dad? Wait! What are you doing?"
"I believe the more pressing question is what are you doing out of your Tower?" Lucious glared at Draco.
"Looking for you," said Draco.
"How sweet!" Lucious groaned. "I sealed that tower to keep you safe!"
"Professor Snape is taking care of us!" Draco said. "I came here for you!"
"Now that your out, you might as well join us!" Lucious began moving on toward Gryfindor. Draco stayed put. "Draco?"
"I'm not going anywhere!" Draco snapped. "It's because of this----because of that Mark that ruined our family! Mom wasn't pleased with you in Azkaban!"
"Narcissa can handle anything!" said Lucious. "Now you must join! In a few days, my lord will come to full power. You are 17 now! It is time for you to join!"
"Never!" Draco yelled. "I'll never except the Mark!"
"You will do as you're told!" Lucious ordered. "Come now! It's alright! Soon we will be on top of the world!"
"I'm NOT joining!" Draco defied.
"Don't be foolish!" said Lucious. "Draco? Draco Malfoy! Get back here! Immobulious!"
Draco jumped around the corner just in time. "I'm not coming back!" he yelled over his shoulder as he fled.
Lucious & Bellatrix continued on their way. "He'll join, Bella! Don't worry! He's just a little scared right now!"
"He'd better join!" Bellatrix warned. "The master thinks highly of him & how he'd make a good follower!"
They came to Gryfindor Tower but like the others, it was empty. "Blast! That Potter boy!" Lucious snarled.
"Actually, I helped most of the students out!" Mcgonagal suddenly appeared where a cat once paced, wand at the ready.
"Fine!" Lucious sneered. "We'll take you out first!"
Mcgonagall glanced around calmly, as Lupin, Kingsley, Tonks & Dumbledore stepped out behind her. "Five to two?" laughed the Gryfindor Headmisteress. "You really want to take that chance, Lucious?"
Lucious & Bellatrix glanced at each other & then threw their wands down in defeat.
"Wise move!" said Dumbledore as Kingsley took the two Death Eaters captive.
"Two down, four more to go!" said Mcgonagall.
"That just covers the castle!" said Tonks. "Who knows how many more are outside? And I'm not anxious for when the Dementors come!"
"In that case," said Lupin. "Let's get a move on!"
"Exitos!" Ron ordered, throwing Mcnair backward. Ron & Ginny had run into Mcnair & Rodolphous. Ginny had managed to knock out the latter but Mcnair had surprised her from behind. "Come on, Ginny!" Ron grabbed Ginny's hand & pulled her away as Mcnair slowly picked himself up. They ran outside & ducked behind the garden wall. Ron led Ginny sideways & into the bushes. "OK, when I say go, we'll run that way into the forrest. There are plenty of places to hide there!"
"For how long?" asked Ginny.
"Don't worry," said Ron. "We won't go in to far. The Order will find us easily! GO!" he suddenly yelped & began sprinting into the forrest, Ginny close behind.
Ginny tripped & fell over but Ron didn't notice as he headed in deeper. Ginny picked herself up & looked around. "Ron? Ron where are you?"
"Ginny!" called a familiar voice. "It's alright! I'll take care of you!"
Ginny spun around. "Percy? What are you dong here?" She ran to him & hugged him hard. "I---well we all missed you! I'm glad you came back."
"I came back for you!" Percy petted her softly. "I don't want to leave my baby sister behind!"
Ginny pushed Percy away in disgust. "I'm NOT a baby anymore Perc'!"
"No I supposed not!" Percy smiled. "Alright then! My little----my YOUNGEST sister!" he changed his word at another disaproving look from Ginny.
"Yeah right!" Ginny laughed. "I'm your ONLY sister!"
"All the more reason to be protective!" teased Percy. "Come now! Let's go!"
"But Ron is----!"
"PERCY! GET AWAY FROM HER NOW!" Ron lunged at him. "Ginny, run!"
"No, Ron!" Ginny protested. "It's alright!"
"No it isn't!" Ron snapped. "Tell her Percy! Tell her about that train! You were there! I know it!"
"Stop it Ron!" Percy threw him off. "Come Ginny! Join me!"
"No!" Ron jumped at Percy again. "You helped to kill Fred & George didn't you?"
"It was unfortunate that they were on that train!" said Percy.
"So you admit it?" That was Ginny asking.
"Come Ginny!" Percy ordered.
"NO! She's coming with me!" Ron pulled her back.
"Let her decide!" Percy ordered. "Ginny? I've joined a grand life & our victory is close! Stay with me! I'll take care of you!"
"Percy I....!" Ginny's voice trailed off.
"You will stay with me!" Percy made to grab Ginny.
"Everta Statum!" Percy went spinning backward out of control & slammed into the ground.
Ron glanced around to see a rather unexpected gaurdian! "M-M-Malfoy?!"
"I may not like you Weasleys," Draco sneered. "but I despise Death Eater's even more!"
"Stay out of this, Malfoy!" Percy got up.
Draco turned to face him. He stood ready for dueling, one hand held up & his wand hand outstretched, waiting & ready. "Ron, get Ginny out of here! I'll take care of Percy!"
"Come on Ginny!" Ron yanked her away. They fled into the forrest, the voices of Draco & Percy fighting each other drifted after them.
Ron pulled Ginny along. "Be very quiet, Ginny! There are more Death Eaters out here!"
"I can't believe Percy asked me to join him!" Ginny said. "I guess you were right about him after all!"
"It'll be alright!" Ron said. "There are many members of the Order out here & if Draco can hold off Percy for a few seconds for us to get away I think we'll be fine!"
Ron & Ginny hid in the bushes as a few Death Eaters passed by. Ron heard two familiar voices say "Avada Kedavra!"
"Get under me!" Ron lay over Ginny, expecting to get struck with two death curses but none came their way. Ron left Ginny in the bushes & slowly crawled through the forrest back the way they had come. He suddenly stopped & stared. There lay Percy & Draco, dead! They had killed each other. Percy, no doubt had tried to remove Draco so he could get to Ginny, not expecting Draco to stop him. Ron picked up Percy's wand on lay it on his chest, folding Percy's hands over it. He did the same with Draco & then started to go back for Ginny. Ron stopped & glanced back one last time. "Thank you, Draco Malfoy! You may have just saved our lives!" Ron fled to Ginny's side.
