Chapter 17
The two warriors acted instantly. Splattered with blood, Tonks took four steps and crashed into McKinney knocking her over. Harry ran up to Dumbledore and caught him before he could even fall to the floor. Then they both disappeared.
Tonks pulled her wand and stunned the Auror who she had counted as friend. Ginny's only reaction was to shout, "Harry!" where her boyfriend and the ancient wizard had been moments before.
Alerted by the noise, Hestia ran up and slipped on the bloody floor. Realizing that she had landed on someone, she turned around to say excuse me, until she realized that her head had been cushioned by landing on Dumbledore's severed arm. She got violently ill.
Amelia had heard the explosion and turned to see what had happened. All she saw was the little blonde Auror crash into someone. With a unique presence of mind she called, "Everyone get down." Given the times, people did not need to be told twice. She called, "Senior Auror Tonks, what happened?"
Tonks replied, "I need help and a set of maniacals." Kingsley got up and helped her manacle McKinney without asking. She nodded, and he used his emergency portkey to take her to the holding cell.
Ginny couldn't wait any longer. She cried out, "Where's Harry?"
Bones quickly cleared the corridor except for Jones, Tonks, and Ginny. "What happened?" she demanded.
Tonks said, "Harry and I were walking down the hall about a dozen steps behind Dumbledore. He stopped to say hello to someone and McKinney hit him with a Reducto charm. Harry and I saw it happen. He ran at Dumbledore and I put down McKinney."
Bones said, "Auror Jones, there are only two logical places that Harry would have tried to take Dumbledore – Hogwarts and St. Mungo's. Please try St. Mungo's first. If you find them, please report back to my office. Good work Tonks. Miss Weasley, please come with me."
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Harry double apparated Dumbledore to the floor at St. Mungo's where Tonks had been. He shouted, "Healer Crabtree, Help!"
One second turned to two, turned into five. Dumbledore's lifeblood was spilling all over the floor. Harry acted. Using the same lesson that Healer Pomfrey had shown him days earlier, he sealed the wound on Dumbledore's spraying arm. It had been severed at the bicep, and was very messy.
A few seconds later, the first attendant came. Harry displaying a unique presence of mind said, "He'll need five or six units of blood restorative potion. Now. Move!"
Harry concentrated as hard as he ever had and tried to transfer some healing energy into Dumbledore. Healer Crabtree came by and summoned some potions. Within seconds she had poured the first one down Dumbledore's throat. Harry estimated that he'd lost as much blood as Tonks had. "He'll need five or six at least.
Crabtree checked the arm while waiting for the other attendants. "Did you do this?"
Misinterpreting her question Harry replied. "No he was attacked outside the courtroom."
"No. Did you heal his arm?"
Not focusing on her question, he replied, "I guess so."
Crabtree gave a rare smile. "Excellent work. Did Pomfrey show you that?"
"Yes ma'am."
Impressed at the finesse that he used in a battlefield setting, she asked, "How long did you spend on it?"
"About one second. Look, he was bleeding to death."
"Here hold him steady. Let's get another unit down him. You're well versed in battlefield healing Mr. Potter. Well done. Hold him a little higher." She poured the third unit down him.
By then Jones had caught up with them. Not wanting to bother anyone, and nearly sick from the sight of so much blood, she ran down the hall, and lost the last of her lunch.
Five minutes later, Crabtree had finished pouring the fifth unit of potion down Dumbledore. He had not gagged yet, indicating that he might accept a sixth unit. Given his age, Crabtree had serious reservations about using so much potion.
Harry was exhausted, but still he held his mentor. Poppy appeared and asked how she could help. Crabtree looked at Potter, and replied, "Your young healer has done all that he can, and needs some rest. Please take him back to the castle. Mr. Potter, please go back and get some rest. We may need you again this evening. Healer Pomfrey, he shouldn't be bothered. He probably is exhausted."
At that Kingsley stood guard outside Dumbledore's door. Harry accepted the portkey back to Dumbledore's office and Poppy led him to his reserved bed. Within five minutes, he was asleep, still wearing his bloody robes.
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Amos Diggory was admittedly in a panic. The one steadying force for his entire life had been Dumbledore. Now Diggory faced the likelihood that his days were numbered. He had already received (premature) reports that Dumbledore had died on the floor in St. Mungo's. Only a personal conformation from Amelia that she had seen Dumbledore alive, alleviated those fears, however slightly.
If Diggory was in a panic is was nothing to what the British wizarding world was feeling. The Daily Prophet ran a special, and it was being distributed before Harry had even been put to bed. By dinner time virtually every witch or wizard in Britain believed Dumbledore to be on death's door.
The reaction at the school was mixed. Many of the students and some of the staff felt that same as the general wizarding population. They believed that it was simply a matter of time before he-who-must-no-be-named walked into the school or the ministry, demanded surrender, and that would be that. If he took several virgins along the way as would be a dark lord's right, so be it.
Some of the students who had, at a minimum, taken on a neutral stance when Dumbledore had obviously been winning the war, shifted their stance back to their traditional view and were ready to openly support the dark lord.
There were those who's faith in Dumbledore was so deep seated felt that it would just be a matter of time before the old master would be back, and ready to go.
A few felt that the torch had in fact already been passed the night before. They had anticipated a longer, more graceful transition, but in their eyes, the real leader of the free wizarding world was currently resting before dinner.
A white owl was released from the Owlery as Harry was sleeping. It was carrying a short message.
Auntie,
Please send Tonks to Hogwarts. Harry needs her.
Susan
At 4:30 Harry woke up, still wearing Dumbledore's blood on his gray robes. He asked to see three people, Professors Flitwick, McGonagall, and Minister Diggory.
At 5:00 the four were seated at a small table in Harry's classroom. "My suggestions are as follows. For the next six weeks, we drop History of Magic, and teach first aid instead. That would necessitate a change in the OWL examinations eliminating questions on content between 1400 and 1850. Professor McGonagall, I suggest that you be appointed interim headmistress of the school. You could appoint Hermione or one of the other sixth or seventh years as student teachers for the first two or three year classes. Professor Flitwick, I request that you take over leadership of the apprentice program, at least on an interim basis. Minister Diggory, please find three or four qualified people that can teach the Aurors and Ministry workers how to fight off the Imperius curse. I know that it can be done. Barty Crouch's son taught me how."
If Diggory had been daydreaming during the start of Harry's words, his attention snapped back at the end. In the last war, He-who, Voldemort had taken to using the light side's own people as his unwitting soldiers. Diggory would not allow that monster to ruin two sets of lives like that again. He nodded in agreement.
"What else?" asked Minerva.
"We hold class in the morning. School should be run business as usual to get everyone's mind back on their studies. I need to go back tomorrow afternoon to help the professor."
At 5:30 a weary Harry Potter, the apprentices and the heads of house made a point of coming down the stairs together. As one they sat, and as expected, every eye was upon them. As expected, the students took comfort that the school appeared to still be running. Several of the students who only hours before had been tempted to switch allegiance reconsidered their position.
At 7:00 Minerva called a staff meeting and announced that History of Magic was being cancelled until further notice, most likely for two months. In its place, the school would be gaining proficiency in first aid. Surprised at the news, Poppy was delighted when Harry told the group that one of his first years told him "Madam Pomfrey ran the class today, and she showed them some really cool stuff." She mouthed Thanks at him. He winked.
At 8:00 Susan Bones and Hermione Granger were called in Minerva's office and asked if they would assist in helping with the first and second year classes in Charms and Transfiguration respectively. The apprentices would have their own schedules rearranged and continue with their own work.
At 9:00 Tonks and Katie Bell arrived. For the first time since Christmas, the six people who would end up fighting Voldemort were together again. Katie had been given a pass for the evening and was not expected back. Knowing that they would not be disturbed for the rest of the evening, they sat by the fireplace holding each other and let their magical energy wash over each other.
At that moment, both Voldemort and Dumbledore were resting comfortably, each convinced of their side's victory in the upcoming showdown.
Harry had enjoyed the best sleep that he could remember. Before leaving for breakfast Harry told the witches, "Thanks to each of you for sharing your magical energies with me last night. We will face Riddle this spring, and we will win. Senior Auror Tonks, if you have the day available, I would ask that you accompany me to my second year class after breakfast. I would like to demonstrate dodging spells, and I know that they would be amazed to see how quick you are at casting spells."
Harry continued, "Ginny if you would be willing, I would like you to lead the DA group this evening at 6:00. It will be out on the Quidditch pitch. Please tell everyone who can fly to bring their broom. We will have dinner late." Initially feeling a bit left out over the changes, Ginny beamed at him.
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At 7:30 that morning Minerva stood up. "Please remain seated. Your first two classes will begin thirty minutes late today with a shorter pizza lunch served. We have some announcements regarding schedules and events."
Harry stood up and addressed the students. "Excuse me. I wanted to let you know that Professor Dumbledore was attacked yesterday at the conclusion of a Death Eater trial that he was presiding over. I was one of the people who saw the attack. Senior Auror Tonks captured the person who fired the spell at Professor Dumbledore. He was hi,t and he was badly hurt. I took him to St. Mungo's because the anti-apparation wards within the castle prevented me from taking him to see Madam Pomfrey. I gave him first aid by using some of the knowledge that she has so kindly taught me this last year. I will go to see him this afternoon, and I promise you that I will give you a report this evening when you have dinner. Professor."
Knowingly or not, Harry had just made Minerva's job much easier. "Thank you, Professor Potter. Thank you very much. We will be having some staffing and schedule changes for the next few months. First…"
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The students were amazed and generally delighted. They would get lessons from Hermione Granger, and Susan Bones. No more boring History of Magic. They would learn a dead-on useful class from a healer who had just received the best possible endorsement. In most of the students' eyes the only thing that could possibly have been better would be if they were first or second year students themselves.
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The second years were delighted when Tonks walked into Harry's class five minutes after it started. He had promised them a live demonstration of the usefulness of the skills that he had been teaching them for half of a year.
Tonks looked amazing in her crimson Auror robes. She projected a delightful mix of friendly approachability and awe inspiring confidence. Harry knew that her pageboy length sandy blond hair was her own, and smiled at her as he individually introduced each of the little students to her. Harry had them line up by one of the walls and he vanished all of the furniture in the classroom. The students stood on either side of Tonks standing slightly behind her, so they could get a good view. She said, "I am going to cast jelly legs jinxes at Professor Potter. How many of you think that I can hit him with it?"
To her surprise and slight disappointment, not one on the students raised their hand.
Unknown to Harry or Tonks, Moody, Minerva, and Flitwick were standing outside the door watching in.
Harry said, "OK, Auror Tonks. Five tries. Go."
Tonks aimed dead on at Harry. He was watching her closely. The student's eyes were fixed on their favorite Professor. A jet of red light shot at Harry. He dodged to the right and easily missed it. She fired again. Harry dodged to the right again. Tonks fired a third time this time aiming to the right of Harry. He didn't move. Tonks fired two quick spells forcing Harry to drop and roll to the left.
The class cheered for their favorite Professor.
"Who else wants to try?" asked Tonks. "Professor Potter's just too quick."
The class turned to Hanna. Harry nodded encouragingly.
She traded positions with Harry who offered to hold her wand. He whispered something in her ear. She beamed at him. "OK Senior Auror Tonks. Three tries. If you win, I have to buy you a dinner. If you lose, you have to buy butterbeer or Honeydukes chocolates for each of the students."
Outside, the professors were busy making their bets. Moody bet on the little girl. Minerva and Flitwick bet on the Auror's desire to have dinner with the emerald eyed hunk.
Harry acted as referee. "Hanna, are you ready?" She nodded at him. "Senior Auror Tonks, are you ready?" She nodded. "If, you're ready, then go."
Hanna watched Tonks' eyes as Professor Potter had taught her. Tonks cast dead on chest high. Hanna dodged to the left. She'd done it. She'd dodged a real spell cast by a real Auror!
Tonks was honestly surprised. "Good job. I'll try again." She aimed slightly to the left. Hanna had watched closely and dodged to the right.
Tonks aimed at the girl's hips. It always took longer to move your hips than your head or shoulders. She realized that she really would like to have Harry buy her dinner and spend some time with him.
Harry stepped in for a moment. "OK Senior Auror Tonks, hold up for a moment. We'll double the bet. Two dinners if we lose. Butterbeers and chocolates if we win. He went over to Hanna and whispered something in her ear. She nodded.
Outside, McGonagall and Flitwick were searching their pockets for galleons.
Hanna turned her body so she was perpendicular to the young woman. She now presented a smaller target. She could either lean forward or fall back.
Tonks aimed at her feet and fired. Hanna jumped and the spell missed her! The class ran up to congratulate her while Harry went up to Tonks and whispered something in her ear. She beamed at him.
Outside Moody was collecting his winnings, knowing that Potter would never have set the spunky little girl up to fail.
-
News of Hanna's success spread throughout the school. More than a simple bet over a butterbeer, it demonstrated that Harry's lessons were effective against real opponents. The students calmed down a bit. The students who were in the DA felt a lot better about themselves.
Harry and Tonks left the school after lunch to see Dumbledore. They found healer Crabtree. She told them that she originally had not expected Dumbledore to last the night. He was in a coma, but he was alive. She led them into his room and closed the door behind her as she left. She was please that they were making a noble effort, but his wounds were simply too severe.
"Hold his hand Tonks". Harry leaned over and pressed his forehead against the ancient wizard and felt his healing energy flow into the ancient wizard. She held Harry's other hand. For fifteen minutes they stayed where they were. Harry was exhausted when Dumbledore's breathing finally changed. With a giant cough, Dumbledore woke up.
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