Chapter seven: Battle by the Hogwarts Train
"So," said Ron, "there probably just checking like in our third year."
"Ron!" said Hermione, "There working for Voldemort!"
"Oh, where's Harry?" Hermione looked around. Hermione looked at Ron and motioned for him to come with her but Ginny intervened;
"Hey, we're all a team, were all going to help Harry." The other two nodded.
"All right, c'mon."
Harry was already at the front of the train, squinting out the windshield. Thru the rain the sight was still unmistakable. Fifty, maybe more, Dementors gliding toward the train. He had to try and stop them. He was almost down the steps to get off the train when he felt a hand on his back. He turned around and saw it was Ron's. "We going out there?" he asked.
"Not you guys, I don't want you all getting hurt and no offense, but using a patronus in a classroom is a whole lot different then in a real Dementor attack.
"Didn't you notice Harry, there are more than Dementors out there," said Ron. Harry looked back at the windshield and saw, five or six people walking, not gliding. Harry knew that these must be Deatheaters and was grateful for the other's help. He couldnt do this alone. Harry, not wanting the others to hear any weakness in his voice, spoke clearly and firmly.
"All right we'll take 'em by surprise. I'll handle the Dementors and you guys try and hold off the Deatheaters until help comes. I'm sure the conductor told Dumbledore already." Harry wasn't sure this was true but it made him feel a lot better about what he was about to do. Everyone nodded their approval. "All right, let's go." The five walked off the train, Harry in the lead, wondering if they'd ever get back on it again and started attacking thru the tumultuous rain. Harry thought of this happiest moment in his life and cried, "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" A silver stag erupted from the tip of his wand and charged the advancing Dementors. Harry was amazed by the effect. He must have driven forty or so away, with the others staggering back. Another thing Harry was amazed by was the power surge that rushed thru him. He felt like he could do any spell in the world with ease. He knew he had to use this while it was still with him. With only about ten Dementors left Harry looked at the struggle with the Deatheaters. It wasn't going very well at all. Harry rushed over to find Lucius Malfoy dueling with Ron, Harry shouted, "EXPELLIARMUS!" and just when Malfoy was making that same slashing movement Dolohov made to Hermione his wand floated upward and then right into Harry's outstretched hand. That gave Ron the opening to shout;
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS!" Malfoy's body snapped together and fell down rigid as a board. Harry turned and saw a Dementor closing in on Hermione who was being held down by Bellatrix Lestrange. Hatred rushed thru Harry and he thought of that same happy moment and cried;
"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" Instantly the Dementor vanished and Harry rounded on Bellatrix. Taking a leaf out of Snape's book he shouted, "STUPEFY MAXIMUS!" Bellatrix was taken by surprise and blasted away knocked unconscious. He ran over to see if Hermione was Ok and the two of them started firing spells at nearby Deatheaters. Luna was lying on the ground motionless and Harry hoped like hell she wasn't dead. Malfoy was back up looking for Harry and nine Dementors were closing in. They were losing badly, but Harry thought of Sirius and decided that if he was going to die it would be when he was locked in battle with an opponent. With new power he turned around and fired an enormous silver stag at them and the remaining Dementors vanished. He turned around and saw Malfoy and shouted, "STUPEFY MAXIMUS!" and Malfoy was rendered unconscious just like Bellatrix. Nearby Ginny was losing against McNair and Harry cried "EXPELLIARMUS!" McNair's wand floated to Harry and McNair also got a taste of Harry's new favorite spell, "STUPEFY MAXIMUS!" With the Deatheaters having lost three members and Harry's team only missing one from action, no Luna got up and Harry was so relieved that she was Ok and not dead. They were winning six to three and Hermione just disarmed Dolohov and She and Harry both cried, "STUPEFY MAXIMUS!" They were now up six to… Ron, Ginny, and Luna were down and the answer was walking up towards them.
Harry heard a high pitched laugh and he turned and saw Lord Voldemort striding to them. This was it, this was the end but he still wasn't giving up. "Hermione, you and Neville confuse him and I'll try and disarm him." They nodded and started throwing spells at Voldemort while Harry waited for the opportune moment. It wasn't working, Voldemort was just to good but Harry still tried to disarm him but to no avail. They would have all been finished if it wasn't for—
"Dumbledore!" Harry yelled Voldemort looked up from his attack and stared open-mouthed as Professors Dumbledore and McGonagall started attacking him. Harry turned his head slightly and saw Avery advancing on him, Harry shot a stunning spell behind his back and caught Avery off guard. He then disarmed him and went to help Dumbledore. Harry now had four wands in his hand and was putting them to use. Dumbledore was dueling Voldemort while McGonagall was tending to Ron, Ginny, Luna, Hermione, and Neville who were all stirring, and tying the Deatheaters up with ropes she conjured out of thin air. When Harry got to Dumbledore, Voldemort was closing in on him. With a cry of "STUPEFY MAXIMUS!" all four wands erupted with beams of red light. Voldemort was blasted back, but wasn't unconscious like his servants. He got up and Harry yelled "EXPELLIARMUS!" but Voldemort deflected it and laughed that horrible laugh again and said;
"Harry its finally time for you to die and go see your mudblood mother again. Oh and don't you have a new friend that was lost to our cause? Well, maybe you'll be happier there Harry." With that He cried, "AVADA KEDAV—AAAARRRGGGGGHHHH
"Ron, Luna, Ginny, Hermione, Neville and Professor McGonagall all sent stunning spells at Voldemort making him stagger. Dumbledore got up and was looking livid. Eleven wands were pointed at Voldemort (Harry had 4) and they all shouted the same spell; "STUPEFY!" Voldemort tried to block it but only managed to deflect some of it. He was blasted off his feet and against the train. Harry knew that if he had to defeat Voldemort this would be the time. He advanced on him and shouted, "STUPEFY MAXIMUS!" but Voldemort had vanished. There was nothing but air where he was just seconds before. Harry turned around and saw everyone looking as dumbfounded as he was. He walked back over to the group and saw the Deatheaters struggling to get out of their traps. "What are we going to do with them," Harry asked.
"They will be transferred to Azkaban, where they will meet the new guards," said Dumbledore.
"Who are the new guards?" said Harry.
"Let's just say that they are really fired up about their new job."
"Dragons? Dragons are guarding Azkaban Prison?"
"Minerva please inform the conductor of our status and accompany the students to Hogwarts on the train. I will be along shortly. Then lead these five to my office when you get there."
Back on the train the soaked teens were greeted with applause as almost everyone watched the battle out the window. Then they were bombarded with questions about the fight and if that was really You-Know-Who. Everyone claimed that they would have been out there if the conductor hadn't stopped them. Harry doubted it but he didn't press the issue. What he did do was go back to his compartment and take a long nap.
When he awoke he saw Hermione sleeping on the seats across from him. Ron, Ginny, Luna, and Neville were talking non-stop about the close escape. All four of them wanted to know what got into Harry when he started blasting Deatheaters away like ants. It always was the same answer. "I don't know."
The six of them were now celebrities. Everyone wanted to talk with them, even a few Slytherins. "So Harry, when you….." "Ron, it was awesome when…." "Hermione, I knew you were smart but…." "Luna, I'll never make fun of you again…." "Ginny, will you go out with me….." "Neville I never knew…." Ron always said that he wanted fame but this was too much. Even professor McGonagall was the center of attention. The rest of the ride for the six teens was spent in their compartment thinking of how lucky they were to be alive. Harry was also dreading the meeting with Dumbledore. He knew in the past he was praised for saving the day, even if he broke all the rules but this was too much. They jumped off the train to battle fully grown wizards and Dementors, but one thought kept coming back into his mind; we won. If it wasn't for Voldemort, five teenagers would have beaten five wizards, Deatheaters at that, and about fifty Dementors without any permanent injury. Harry knew that he had done most of it but if he would have been alone he would have died. The other six weren't used to fighting under so much pressure but that should be over pretty soon. All of them, now, had targets on their backs.
When the train pulled into the School station, Harry got all his belongings and bounded off the train and into the storm. Harry told them all to hold hands and with Harry in the lead looked for the carriages. Harry saw the gleaming red eyes thru the rain and walked toward the eyes of the thestral.
Harry led them all to the carriages and sat down inside. The ride up to Hogwarts was uneventful but right when they stepped on the ground, McGonagall hailed them. She told them to follow her and they walked into the castle glad to be out of the rain but dreading where they were going. She led them to the familiar stone Gargoyles and muttered "Hippogriff." She then left them and the six trembling students ascended the spiral staircase to the Headmaster's office. Harry looked around at the other five and said;
"I know we shouldn't be, but we're probably in trouble, so expect the worst."
"Thank you for that truly uplifting speech Harry," said Ron. Then another voice said;
"No need to be afraid, come in." And with that Harry opened the door and walked in.
Author note: Hope I didn't disappoint with this chap. next chap up soon. R&R as always enjoy