Disclaimer: I don't own anything that you recognize
A/N: Thanks a lot to all of those who reviewed and to Ally Serenity for betaing this chapter
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Lily and her group got ready. They would be transported as close as possible to the castle and then wait for the signal. The young woman checked her bag once more to be sure she was as ready as she could be. She climbed on Amaris' back. Theo, a member of her group, was already sitting on the Silver dragon. On her right she sew James, Sirius, Bella, Derna, Remus, Kermal and the other riders preparing for the diversion. She smiled a bit as she saw the prince wave at her. Waving back, she checked that Theo and her whole group were ready.
"Well, let's go!"
Alright Lil.
They sprung into the air, imitated by the other dragons whose riders had volunteered to transport them. After a short flight, they landed as close as they could from the Castle, without being spotted. Thanking the riders and dragons, they dismounted and watched them leave.
"Alright," said Theo, the leader. Lilyaris was not technically one of them so she couldn't really command them. But that did not prevent them from listening to her; they knew her words were not to be taken lightly. "We will go over the plan one more time. As soon as we give them the signal, Lilyaris will manage to manipulate the wards, and they will put the diversion into motion. During the panic that is going to follow, we will part into five groups of two. Each team will take care of one restraining area."
"We stun the guards, place the pins on them, transfigure something into their clones, except for two, in whom we transform through Polyjuice, after placing an illusion to hide the process. We then give the prisoners the portkey. Which will activate thirty seconds after entering in contact with the blocks," continued Carline, one of the rare commoner witches.
"And if some are left behind, we give the extra portkey. Once they are all gone, we place the stunned guards in the area and put the projector in after activating it," added Sir Morfred.
"Good, and then?"
"We check our bracelet to see if the others are done or in danger. If they are fine we get out of there through the portkeys," finished Leis
"Alright, and where will you land?"
"A kilometer away from the base, in the forest," answered Lily, who was starting to grow impatient. "And if some of us are encountering difficulties, the others have to help if they can without endangering their own mission."
"Great!" Theo gave them a small smile. "Well, let's go! Invisibility charm and cloaks on."
Seconds later, the ten people had disappeared into thin air.
Maris?
Yes?
Go with James and the others and look after them.
I will, you can trust me.
I do.
Good luck Lily, and be careful.
You too Maris.
With an invisible hand, Lily pat her draconian friend before following her group. All of them had placed a charm on themselves beforehand, which allowed them to see through invisibility's contraptions.
They walked swiftly, not wasting any time and soon the castle came into view.
"Lilyaris, we will leave you deal with this…"
Taking out her staff and enlarging it, Lily started to concentrate. When she was fighting she didn't need to fall into this type of trance, but for huge magic manipulations the trance was compulsory, to protect herself against the power backlash. The power of the staff began to fill her, and unknown to her she started to glow faintly white. Opening her spiritual eyes, letting herself be guided by the magic, she saw the wards Voldemort had placed on the area. Instead of its brilliant golden color, the magic flows were a dark red and were pulsing. The young woman knew she had to be careful. A drastic change in them or their disappearance would immediately alert the Dark Lord. She had to alter them slightly, so that they would allow entrance and the use of Magic. All the people participating were wearing protecting amulets. Lily had seen to their making and was sure of their efficiency. They would shield their wearer from the malevolence of the wards.
Slowly, with every precaution possible, she started to weave some power threads in the wards, thus altering the whole flows. The added power, while not acting directly in the enchantment where attracting some dark threads to them, and made them shift little by little from their original position. Still being careful not to deliberately alter the flows, Lily continued her tedious work. Finally she got what she wanted: the new configuration now allowed entrance. Now to allow the use of Magic, she had to key all the participants to the wards. This would be a bit easier. She had asked for a drop of blood from everyone and had the blood secured in a large vial. Getting in a lighter trance, where she was still able to move, she took the vial and did something she loathed to do. Muttering lowly, she started to use some Blood Magic. With her spiritual eyes, she saw the dark red threads come out of the vial and join with the already existent wards, spreading through them. She felt dirty doing that. Even if the blood was willingly given, it was still Dark magic. Albus had told her once that it was the intentions that determined the true darkness of Magic. Lily believed it, but nonetheless, using it disgusted her.
She got out of her trance, and wiped the sweat that had been forming on her forehead.
"Alright, done."
"Thank you Lily."
Theo took out his wand and looked in the sky, a crown shaped cloud showed that James and Remus' group was here, the bow-like and the flower one indicated that Bella and Sirius' group, as well as Derna and Kermal's were there too. Smiling, he muttered a few words and a loud thunder roll erupted.
As soon as the sound started to fade, three teams of dragon riders started to fly other the area, spreading a soporific gas. It wouldn't affect the magical creatures, or the prisoners, because of the magical cells they were in: it prevented anything from entering, and for once it would play in Lily's favor. Even if she had accepted the plan at first, she had then opposed firmly to the bait idea; too many things could have gone wrong… And she did not want someone else to risk her life in her place. So with several strategies and the King council she had helped changing the plan a bit.
As Voldemort's men placed there started to panic, Lily and Theo slipped out of the bushes and started to run to the cell they had to take care of…
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As Lily ran to the cell-like area, she was going over the plan once more. Up to now, everything was going as planned… She was hoping it would last… They dodged all the panicked dark soldiers who were trying to stop the dragons, completely taken aback by the gas to protect themselves.
They reached the cell quickly and in a few seconds, stunned all ten guards. Lily could see the surprise on the prisoners' face. Placing the pins on the chest of Voldemort's men, she took on hair from one of them and gulped the vial. The Potion was disgusting, and she knew it. She felt herself shift appearance. Minutes later, she was a tall man with chestnut hair and brown eyes. She transfigured her clothes and took off the invisibility contraptions.
She noticed that Theo was done as well, and was currently rummaging through his bag. Imitating him she pulled out a long rope. This had been the best form they had found for a portkey, as it would allow lots of people to grab it.
But before handing it through, she had to take down the wards around it. Surprisingly the solution had come from Jenna, a small girl...
Flashback
As they had retired after devising most of the plan, but blocking on the way to give the portkeys to the prisoners, Lord Eskal had go to tuck his daughter in bed. As he opened the door, he saw her reading a fairy tale to her doll, engrossed in her story.
"And then the prince Charming was repelled from his princess tower by the Dark Witch Karandas who put up thick magical shield to stop him. All the people who tried to pass them were changed into stone until someone would come and break the enchantment. The Prince Charming tried and tried and tried, when finally a fairy came to his aid, having heard of his despair at not reaching his princess… She went to him and told him how to pass the wards. She gave him an enchanted sword that drained the field from its magic if it was raised for Good. The Charming Prince followed her advice and was able to enter the tower. The Dark witch Karandas was enraged to see him defy her. She transformed into a big black winged serpent with poisonous fangs and breathing out lightning bolts. But once again, the Fairy came to his aid, …"
Eskal didn't wait for the end of the story and raced down to the Hall, hoping to catch his companions. Luck was on his side this night, as most of them were still in the room.
"Sire! Sire!"
"Eskal? What's the matter?" The King was alarmed to see the usually composed man flushed and out of breath.
"I might have an idea to solve our problem… What about draining them from their magic?"
Silence followed as everyone still here pondered over this.
"Is it possible?" asked the King to the scholars.
The men were talking in hushed whispers, debating heatedly on the suggestion. Finally one of them stepped forwards.
"We believe that it can be done…" his eyes were shining with excitement before the challenge. "Count on it. We shall spend the night over it, but you will have something tomorrow."
End Flashback
And they did have something. A thing Lily was now activating and putting at the base of the wards. It was a big obsidian disk, with small runes and holes placed on it. Pushing on a silver speck embedded in the disk, she felt it buzz slightly in her hands as she quickly placed it down. Silver threads stuck out and seemed to attach themselves to something and glowing a gray color. The disk had a dark red halo around itself and was still vibrating. Suddenly it stopped. Bending over, Lily took the small device and stored it back in her bag before handing the rope to the prisoners.
At first they had been cheering them on, but after a few hushed words and looks from Lily they shut up and followed her instructions.
There were a lot of them, more than they had thought there would be… There were five holding areas, each of them holding at least five hundred men. Lily just hoped that there would enough room on the portkeys for everyone.
Between hers and Theo's, a little bit more than two thirds escaped. Lily heard the gathering cries of the Death Eaters behind her. They had to finish this quickly if they wanted to get out of there. Pulling out the extra portkey, she sent it to the remaining soldiers, before starting to move the stunned guards into the area, not before placing the pins on them and activating the charms placed on the little thing. Theo was doing the same on his side. Finally she took out another device, one she had specially made for this. Pushing in the copper runes on the small glass cube, filled with different gemstones, she then threw it in the now empty area, saved for stunned ones. And suddenly an illusion sprouted up; making it look like the prisoners were still there. During the whole thing, they had had an Illusion spell going on to hide it from watching eyes. Giving the thumbs up to Theo and wiping some strands of hair out the way, she gathered everything back and took out the illusion.
Looking down on her bracelet, she cursed. The stone for team two was glowing red. The three others were white, meaning that the teams had already left the place.
"Theo, I am going; go to the meeting point and ship them away."
"I am not leaving you alone here!"
"Theo, they need you more than me. And I will only be gone for a few minutes. I will catch up with you soon…"
Theo was torn between the fact that the second team obviously needed help and the idea of leaving Lily alone. Finally his duty as leader commanded him:
"Alright, but be quick and careful… People will have my hide if something happened to you."
"I will, do not worry."
With that she ran to the area of team two, after cloaking herself again, Theo starring at the disappearing red-head before taking out his portkey and leaving, worry stretched on his features.
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Within a minute, Lily was near the second team, made of Carline and Leis. The two women had been a team for years and years and were best friends even before that. Once she saw them, she understood why they had been shown as being in danger. Apparently one of the guards had been alert and had managed to hit Leis with his knife. The blade had hit the woman in his side, and from her look had reached an important organ. Blood was flowing from the deep wound. Carline was at her side, trying to bandage the wound, but not daring to take out the weapon.
"Move, Carline, finish the mission, I will take care of her." Lily shoved the woman aside, a bit brutally, but she could not afford to be gentle, it was not the time for pleasantries.
Dumbly, she obeyed. Lily knew how to follow if she needed to. Kneeling near Leis, she placed her hand on the wound, sending Elfish healing power as she was taking the blade out. She entered a heavier and heavier trance as she deepened the healing. The injury was bad: the knife had hit the lung and had passed millimeters away from the heart, missing it by sheer luck. Slowly she felt her own power transform in healing energy. Pulling it out of herself, she sent it to the injured parts of Leis' body. She had to be careful, these types of wounds were tricky.
As she healed Carline's friend, she felt herself being drained, but she had no choice. In the corner of her eye, she saw Carline finish the mission as the prisoners disappeared through the portkeys. Well at least they had succeeded in freeing them. Looking up, she froze. Ten Death Eaters were coming her way and she didn't have enough power left in her for fighting them all or apparating. How could they see them? Was there not an illusion? She looked around and swore, again. The illusion had faded; they had taken too much time. But she was still invisible, at least. She motioned to Carline to come and threw Leis in her arms, the woman still out of cold.
"Take your portkey, quick. I am going to hold them off a bit, then I will follow you."
Too dazed to protest, Carline obeyed and rummaged in her bag for her way out.
Meanwhile, Lily had started to throw minor hexes, as she did not have enough energy for a big shield or bigger enchantments. But she was getting overwhelmed. Even if they did not see her, they were firing their hexes in the direction from which the curses were coming.
"Oh for God's sake, hurry up!" She hurriedly dodged a vicious looking curse whose aim had been accurate.
Panicking, Carline dropped her bag and had to kneel near it to find her portkey, a golden medallion. Finally she pulled it out. Grabbing the bag and the arm of Leis, she activated it and disappeared.
Sighing with relief, Lily looked at the place where she had been, forgetting the elementary rule of a fighter: always watch your back and CONSTANT VIGILANCE!
She didn't see the stunning curse and fell on the ground, out cold.
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She woke up and stirred, enjoying the soft mattress under her. She opened her eyes wide. Soft mattress? Springing from her bed, she looked around wildly. She was in her old bedroom in the castle. Starting to panic, she got up. There was no doubt, she was back to the castle where Voldemort was currently residing.
"No!"
She hit the closest wall with her fist.
"OW!" She cursed again, nursing her knuckles.
"No need to be violent my dear Lilyaris," hissed a deep baritone.
Turning away from her hand she looked at the man standing in the doorway with anger, even hatred.
"Go away."
" I don't think so." An evil glint made his eyes twinkle as he sat in the nearest chair. "Do you not like your room?"
"Leave. Now." The threat was audible in her voice.
"Funny, I thought I was in my castle… but you are ordering me to leave? I do not think so."
"It never was and never will be your castle," spat Lily.
Voldemort smirked at this.
"I disagree; but time will tell."
Lily returned his stare, not wavering.
"As stubborn as I remember… But you will help me achieve my goal."
"Never! I would rather die before that happens!"
"Dieing? You? No…I have a much better idea… If you refuse, then…" he snapped his fingers. Five men entered. Two of them were holding two small children each; the three others had a man or woman in their arms. All of them were unconscious.
"See, if you refuse to cooperate, well, let us just say that they will not see the next day that comes…"
Lily's widened in shock at this.
"Monster…"
"Why? Oh! That… and did I not tell you? With each hour that will pass others will die until you submit."
Lily gritted her teeth.
"So, what is your decision, my dear Lilyaris?
She bowed her head and turned to look through the window.
Voldemort's smirk widened. He had won and he knew it.
"We shall see each other soon, my dear Lilyaris."
Lily didn't answer as he left the room, followed by his men.
Once she heard the door shut, she slumped on the nearest chair and put her head in her hands. How was she going to get out of here?
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James, Sirius, Remus, Bella, Kermal, and Derna had all accomplished their missions. They had gone with their groups: They had apparated away from the castle and had flown as close to the castle as they could. Then with a little handy charm, they had shot their signals, waiting for Lily's group answer.
As soon as they got it; they attacked: they passed over the camp, spreading the gas they had been given. This gas had been the result of a failed attempt at creating a new prank by Sirius. He had intended to test his new coloring draught on Snape but had instead got a potion that removed all colors, and a gas that knocked him out for an hour.
They had modified it a bit to fit their need, and now were spreading it on the Death Eaters. The gas had been spelled to attack those harboring Voldemort's mark, or without soul.
It had worked very well, and when the hydrias had started to come, they had retreated to the former Shack, now labeled as the Forest Manor. Meanwhile a small group had been assigned for the freeing of the Dragons. Sir Yvan, Sir Thomas, and Amaris had been carrying a Magic-draining device. They quickly landed near the area holding the Dragons and soon they were all freed and asked to go to the manor. Yvan and Thomas joined James' group as they led the hydrias away from the camp before disappearing.
The move had been well timed and smoothly done. Quite happy, James surveyed his group, relieved to see no one missing as he gave the order to leave for the manor. In the blink of an eye, the whole draconian group was gone, as were the two others.
They reappeared in the skies over the North Forest and were greeted by a great sight, the whole army assembled before the building and organizing herself. People noticed them they started to land, cheers welcoming them back. Among the acclamations, James managed to signal to his riders to go and get some rest. In the corner of his eyes he saw Remus, Bella, Sirius, Derna and Kermal making their way through the crowd that had assembled around them.
"Let's go to the Manor."
"Yes, I want to see Lily," replied Bella as she headed for the doors. They quickly walked inside, still in their riding clothes and entered the Meeting Room after knocking to signal their arrival.
Immediately they knew something was wrong at seeing the faces of those present. The King and the Queen were seated at the end of the table, in high chairs. Sirs Albus and Exer were on their right, the counselors on their left. The scholars were placed near Albus and Exer. The noble commanding troops' units were also assembled here, even those who had been freed a few moments earlier. Theo was there, as well as the other leaders of informative or sabotaging groups. As the six friends scanned the room, a person stood out by her absence.
"Father? We were successful… No loss in our units. But, what happened? Where is Lily?"
"Yes, where is Lilyaris?" repeated Derna, looking at Theo. "Was she not with you?"
"Well…" stammered the man, looking at the king.
"James," cut the King, "Lily is missing."
"What!"
James had paled and shot a panicked look at his father. Upon seeing his serious face, he backed away and broke in run for the door.
"Stupefy!"
Bella's voice rang in the room.
"I will not let you get killed," she said to the stunned form of James, sprawled on the floor. She turned to the people present. "I want answers, and I want them NOW!"
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