Chapter 8: What a Night

Harry walked in feeling very intimidated and nervous. Albus Dumbledore was sitting contentedly at his chair with a three week old Fawkes perched, lightly, on his shoulder. Harry, Ron, and Neville stood, while the three girls sat down. Around the office was an assortment of odd things of which Harry had no time to look closer at; for, Dumbledore had spoken. "Now, tonight the six of you were aware that there were Dementors and Deatheaters around, were you not? They all nodded, dreading what was coming. "Yet, you all decided to wander out of the train to put a stop to it, am I right?"

"Yes, sir," they murmured.

"And if I am not mistaken; you did a great job," he said flatly. A blank look spread across the faces of the six teens, and then they all smiled broadly. We're not in trouble Harry thought, until…

"That does not replace the stupidity of your actions. Harry, you of all people should have seen that it was a trap." Harry silently cursed himself for getting his hopes up.

"Wait a second," said Harry, "If we hadn't have gone out there tonight the Deatheaters would have swarmed the train, and in the tiny space we have to fight, we surely would have been killed."

"Harry, do you know that some of the Deatheaters have children at this school? Harry understood what he meant but still saw a problem.

"Professor, the Deatheaters are ruthless, they will do anything Voldemort says; even if it means killing their family."

"Harry, nevertheless, what you did was wrong and I advise you not to do it again." Harry couldn't believe it. He was being treated like a baby again, but just when he was about to retaliate Professor McGonagall burst in looking shaken.

"Albus, Goblins….." she stammered, "Goblins are attacking the school!" Hermione gasped, Luna and Ginny screamed, and Harry, Ron, and Neville were frozen in their seats. Albus Dumbledore's face went rigid and all twinkle that may have been in his eye before was lost. His next action was swift and leader-like. He muttered an incantation and his voice could be heard throughout the school.

"All students report to their common rooms at once. Teachers, join me in the Entrance hall. Please move as quickly as you can. The school is under attack." Dumbledore finished severely and the running and screaming in the halls could be heard miles away. "You six, are to go straight to your common rooms," he said, "And Harry," he said as Harry was almost out the door, "The power you have is matched by only one other. Use it only when necessary." Harry was taken aback but a crash heard throughout the school sped him up. He slid down the railing of the staircase and met his five companions at the foot of the stairs. They ran as fast as they could to Gryffindor tower with Luna veering to the right to her common room. As they reached the Fat Lady, they realized that they didn't know the password.

"Merlin's Beard!" said Ron. Suddenly the Fat Lady's portrait swung open.

"How did you know, Ron?" Hermione asked as they raced into the loud common room.

"I didn't," he said. As the five friends sat down in a corner (all the seats were taken) they heard some of the chatter going on;

"I saw them. Goblins, they were, I'm sure of it!" "I hope the teachers can handle it!"

Harry was thinking along the same lines, Goblins were not creatures to be messed with. When they want to, they can be some of the most powerful creatures of modern times, but I am the most powerful wizard of modern times besides Voldemort. Harry heard a struggle outside and raced to the window. What he saw made his stomach do flips. The teachers were losing, bad. Dumbledore seemed to be the only one standing, and about one-hundred viscous Goblins were closing in on him. Dumbledore was putting up a courageous fight but even one as powerful as he would be taken by one-hundred Goblins. Harry knew what he had to do. If he was the most powerful wizard in the world then it was time to show it. He raced across the room staying low so that no one would see him. As he reached the portrait he turned and saw Hermione looking around for him. He raced out of the Common Room and realized that he would never make it in time. He knew what he had to do and muttered, "Accio Firebolt." Harry's gleaming broomstick came charging to him. He mounted his broom and pelted off toward the grounds. He reached the door and burst thru it revealing a horrible sight.

Albus Dumbledore was on the ground as were all of his colleagues. Harry turned to the Goblins and saw them advancing on him now. What sick creatures they were. Eyes like a hawk and ears like an elf. These particular Goblins looked like ferocious predators which was funny because they were so little. Just when Harry was going to cast his first spell, it happened. For the second time that day he felt a tremendous power surge thru him. He looked at the oncoming Goblins of mass destruction but saw nothing more than little flies. Flies that had been buzzing around for much to long. Flies that needed to be swatted. Harry rose on his broomstick toward the clouds and he soared back down shouting, "STUPEFY!" or "IMPEDIMENTA!" Harry knew that these would do no good against Goblins but to his surprise, his spell seemed much stronger and the Goblins that were unlucky enough to be hit were blasted away. Harry, then raced down to the ground and dismounted his Firebolt.

He decided that if he was ever going to defeat these viscous creatures it wouldn't be in the air. He took a firm grip on his wand and shouted the first spell that came to his mind. Strangely enough, this spell was one he had never heard of much less able to conjure. For Harry yelled "RADIA COPTORUS!" This unknown spell cast a huge beam of reddish-orange light and just as this beam came within yards of the Goblins the villains used their own spells to contend with Harry's. It was Harry against over one-hundred viscous Goblins and he knew it was over. He had been so naive to leave the sky. The strange thing was that the Goblins were screaming horribly, and Harry didn't have to look very far to find the answer.

Harry's spell was overpowering the Goblin's and the incantation was melting the enemies into liquid. Harry felt like he could hold no longer. There were still more than fifty left and he was running out of strength. Forty to go, I can do it! Thirty more, don't give up! Twenty now, don't pass out. Ten left, come on, just a little more. Eight, oh no, I'm feeling dizzy. Four to go, Merlin help me. Three… two, I think. Oh no, my vision is fading. HOLD ON! Harry became too weak to think. It didn't matter at all though. Because in fact, Harry blacked out a moment later.

"Not the Goblins! No not the Goblins." Harry awoke. Without opening his eyes he said to himself, It was a dream I will wake up and it will be time to eat breakfast before we leave for school. It was all a dream. Harry heard a voice. It sounded like a woman's voice but he dared not to open his eyes. He was still assuring himself that it was all a dream and he wanted it to stay that way. The voice became clearer as he began to fully wake. The voice was shrill and the unknown person using it informed Harry that he had had no dream whatsoever.

"The Goblins!" Minerva McGonagall's voice came. "Are the students ok? THE GOBLINS!" Madame Pomfrey was trying to hush her up.

Harry opened his eyes. He was in a bed. He knew not where and he reached over onto his nightstand and got his glasses and put them on. As the room came into focus, he saw all of his teachers McGonagall was sitting up and still shouting in the bed next to him. He knew he must be in the Hospital wing. Wait a second Harry said to himself. He did a double-take and looked at the beds once more. It was just as he suspected. All but one of his teachers was present. Albus Dumbledore was missing from the room. Harry assured himself that the Headmaster was in his office, working but doubt was still high in his mind.

"Minerva its ok. We had some late night heroics and the Goblins are gone." McGonagall looked over and realized that Harry was also there and said;

"What are you doing here Mr. Potter? Did the Goblins get in the school?" Before Harry could answer Madame Pomfrey said;

"No, our young Mr. Potter made sure that that didn't happen," she said with a smile on her face. Harry's face, however, was growing redder by the minute.

"What do you mean, Poppy?" McGonagall asked.

"Ask Potter, he's the only one who knows for certain," she said blankly and bent down to hear Harry tell his tale.

"Harry wasn't sure if he was ready to talk about the events of that god forsaken night, but complied with McGonagall's pleas.

When Harry's tale was told, McGonagall looked stunned. "Potter, how did you… You just… Never have I…" Harry knew that he was in trouble and was ready for the worst. "Mr. Potter I will make sure that Albus gives you a special award for your actions. What you did was brave and I'm not sure if I've ever seen anything like it. Your parents would be so proud!" Harry was dumbstruck and at a loss for words. His blank look turned to a smile and the McGonagall smiled back. For the first time ever, Harry had seen it. Professor Minerva McGonagall, Deputy Headmistress of the school smiled. Harry made a mental note to inform Ron that this expression was possible to form on McGonagall's face, but his thoughts were interrupted when he caught the grim look on Madame Pomfrey's face.

"Minerva, Albus is in a coma. He is at St. Mungo's. He won't wake, and the doctors aren't sure if he'll survive."

Author notes: Hey thx for the reviews. And to The shadows; thx for giving suggestions, I think that constructive criticism is much more helpful than a bunch of great jobs. Don't get me wrong because I love to hear those also so don't stop posting them! Anywho, shadows there is a distinct reason that Harry wasn't able to do more at that time but telling you would reveal the plot point. Sorry for the delay, I had a serious case of writer's block. But now I have more ideas and I have a question for all who may be reading this; do you want me to continue with the non-stop action or take a little break and put in some romance? Answer in a review and I'll write to your decision. More updates will come slower as I just started 7th grade (yes I know. I must be the oldest writer here) and I will have homework and school time to compete with my writing. I at no point, however, will stop writing this fic. I guarantee a sequel also. So please keep reviewing and don't forget to vote! Cya!