Harry Potter and the HalfBlood Prince
By: Fred and George Weasley are MY Kings
Chapter 2: The First Battle
DISCLAIMER: I own nothing: JKR owns it all!
Harry made his way down the creaky steps at 8:00 AM, after his aunt demanded he come down to help fry the bacon. His search about half bloods in his text had turned up fruitless and he soon retired. Aunt Petunia was standing dressed in a blue robe looking like she had had a hard night, with dark circles under her eyes. Uncle Vernon was sitting in the chair with his favorite green tie around his small, thick neck, frowning over the local newspaper while Dudley was busying himself with a video game, rather than diving into scrambled eggs. Dudley had become more squeamish after the visit with the dementor last summer and had a change his appetite completely. He had lost at least ten pounds and was becoming thinner every day. The Dursleys' all continued with their business and didn't even look up as Harry strode to the oven.
"It's awful," Uncle Vernon said as he read the front page, "Can you believe it Petunia? Twenty-one killed, twenty-two injured, and four in critical condition. The bloody police have no suspects at all… What is this world coming to?" Uncle Vernon plopped some eggs on his plate, still frowning.
"Yes, dear I know. I can't believe it either… I couldn't sleep well last night. I had such an eerie feeling. I can't help but think that…" Aunt Petunia started.
"Oh, Petunia, don't go into such nonsense. Nobody knew this was coming." Uncle Vernon stated firmly.
Harry, whom had been listening as he flipped the bacon, turned and caught a glimpse of the picture on the front page. As he did, he stomach dropped and he felt a rising wave of panic. "Don't burn the bacon, boy!" Uncle Vernon said, turning his attention to Harry for the first time. Harry quickly flipped the oven switch off and sat the pan down on the table. He still couldn't believe what he had seen on the front page of a muggle newspaper. "Uncle Vernon, may I see the paper?" Harry asked timidly suspecting to be questioned by Uncle Vernon. Surprisingly, Uncle Vernon practically threw the paper at Harry. "Take it, boy. I can't look at it anymore."
Sure enough Harry had seen correctly. The large picture displayed an utter sight of chaos. People were running everywhere and the picture had captured a few flashes of light that looked like spells being cast. The same oh-so-familiar green light hung over the street like a curtain of doom. But that was not what had made Harry's stomach drop. In the center of the picture, there hung in the midst of all the destruction, the collosial skull that he had only seen once his life. However, he recognized it immediately: it was none other than the Dark Mark.
He quickly scanned the article for any information he could use and found nothing. He now felt like kicking himself for canceling his subscription to the Daily prophet at the beginning of the summer. But then he began to think deeper. Why had Voldemort's followers attacked downtown London in a muggle community? What was he looking for? What about the order? Were they there? Had anyone been hurt? Thousands of thoughts went buzzing through his head nonstop. But finally he felt anger rising into his chest.
Harry had not known anything about this until he was informed by a muggle newspaper, although he had awaken about eight hours after the event had occurred. That gave them plenty of time to owl me, he thought bitterly. Why hadn't any of the order wrote to tell him what had happened? Did any of them even care anymore? Feeling hot with anger, Harry stormed up the stairs and was tempted to slam his door, but instead bit his lip and shut it lightly. As if it wasn't enough that he was stuck here with absolutely no contact with the wizarding world… but then when something actually happens, still no one even tells him. He flopped on his bed, thinking of what a rotten day it had suddenly become. He felt like screaming or throwing something, but he held it in. All the pressure was getting to be too much, especially when he had absolutely nothing else to do.
Suddenly a crack sounded from within his small room. Jumping in response to the sudden sound, Harry turned over to see none other than Mad eye Moody standing in his room, looking thoroughly distraught and stressed. "Harry, we best be leaving now. I'll go down and tell your aunt and uncle while you pack. We'll lose a lot of time flying, so pack fast." Moody said in a strained and stressed voice that told Harry that this was not a time to ask why. Harry obediently packed up his belongings, while Moody disappeared down the stairs.
Moody returned quickly, and Harry was moderately surprised that Aunt Petunia and Dudley had not let out any squeals of fright and that Uncle Vernon had kept his voice down. Perhaps they too had sensed the no nonsense air that surrounded Moody at the present time. Without a word Moody gestured to Harry's firebolt, which had been in a corner right next to his broom servicing kit. Harry had forgotten ever putting it there. Moody conjured a spell to have Harry's trunk and other belongings trail his broom weightlessly while Harry let Hedwig out of her cage and went to retrieve his broom. "Awful sort has been happening Harry… I'm sure you've heard by now. We've got to get you out of here fast. The death eaters are aiming here. We want them to know that you've gone so they can't harm your aunt and uncle."
"Why did they attack that muggle community early today?" Harry asked as he felt his frustration ebbing away seeing as he finally had some contact with a fellow wizard.
"We're moving now Potter. Questions later. The sooner we leave, the better everything will be." Moody growled in response as he grabbed his broom and hobbled down the stairs awkwardly, with Harry bringing the rear. They walked through the kitchen leaving each Dursley with a face twisted with both anger and fear, and left through the front door. Standing in the lawn waiting for them was Tonks, Lupin, and two other people: a tall dark man and a slim short woman with flowing brown hair. Harry knew he had seen the man and the woman before but couldn't put names to the faces. Everyone's face looked extremely strained and pinched as though they hadn't slept for days.
"You know the drill, Harry," Tonks said while putting a simple disillusionment charm on him. Today her hair was a dark brown with matching eyes, which made Harry question the situation all together. "Trying to blend in," She said as she noticed his questioning look, and gave what was an excuse for a faint smile.
"We need to leave, now." Moody bellowed making everyone jump.
"Right," The familiar man said with a sly determination as he performed an invisibility charm. Everyone else mounted their brooms then followed the man's suit. "Let's go," Moody's voice commanded behind Harry, as Harry quickly kicked off the solid ground. The rush of air into his face and hair lifted his spirit completely. Why hadn't he done this earlier in the holidays? The rush of just flying was enough to take his mind off anything.
He knew where they were going, but he had no idea why or what else was going on. He sensed it was rather serious business due to all the uptight expressions, but he wished they had said something… given him a little hint. At least they had actually come to get him instead of leaving him out in the cold like earlier this morning.
He had no idea where to go but somehow his broom seemed to be steering itself, as if enchanted to follow someone else's broom, although he couldn't see who was ahead of him. He began to feel restless but was jerked back when he started feeling cold and when he heard a loud scream to his right as if someone was in pain. It sounded suspiciously like Tonks. Harry heard Lupin call out from his left, with Tonks responding, "Lupin, they hit me… look they are everywhere," and then as Harry looked down, he saw what had hit Tonks and why he had begun feeling so cold. Demontors, hundreds of them were directly underneath them, as well as at least twenty death eaters all casting spells in their direction. His broom began buckling out of control as Moody yelled, "Lupin take Potter and Prewett help Tonks back. Aberforth and I can take care of this." Harry heard another voice call out "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" He finally regained control of his broom and followed Lupin, who had become visible again, into the quickly darkening sky. Harry had not known where all the time had gone. Behind him, the familiar woman was helping Tonks. Harry couldn't help but notice how much unorganized the party seemed to be compared with last time. Of course, this probably hadn't been planned until today and with such short notice and with a severe problem weighing their minds down, it seemed as if anything could go wrong. Harry was swiftly dodging spells although he had no idea how the death eaters could see him, especially since he and the other order members had gained so much elevation. Lupin was also having a hard time escaping the beams of light, and sent some down in reply. Harry wasn't sure what had become of Tonks and the other woman, because the sky had turned a sharp black and they were no longer in sight. Lupin's figure was hardly visible. Harry pushed to keep up with Lupin, and finally they reached a clearing where no death eaters or dementors were present. Lupin began to decrease his speed and look behind. "Where are Prewett and Tonks?" Lupin demanded as Harry came by his side.
"Right behind you," a voice sound as a the two women caught up, "we have to keep moving Remus, the death eaters are pursuing us now that Alastor and Aberforth are defeating the dementors. They're close behind."
"Well we can't go to the headquarters while they're tailing us, Prewett." Lupin responded angrily as he began picking up speed once again.
"The second party is still waiting, we'll have to send a distress signal…that is if they haven't been ambushed as well."
"We still are in charge of getting Harry there safely," Lupin stated.
"Which we will be able to do once the second party comes to our aid," Prewett responded in a matter-of-fact tone of voice.
"Would you please stop your bickering? Your driving Harry and I mad," Tonks said through clenched teeth obviously still in pain.
"What were you hit with?" Lupin asked with concern.
"No idea, it's the strangest thing I have ever seen. It's a curse made just to cause pain, but nothing else. Doesn't really fit the death eaters' style if you ask me." Tonks replied. Immediately after Tonks had finished her sentence, a spell grazed Harry's head and brought their attention back to what was happening. Lupin roared out "FERO IMPERIAC!" while Prewett yelled, "DEFIHDA!" Harry, frustrated at the lack of knowledge that he had about the current situation, yelled out "STUPEFY!" The death eaters soon retreated for no apparent reason. Lupin wondered out loud as he saw they were turning, "What are they doing?"
"They're leaving. No idea why… but, yes… look, there they go." Tonks said.
"But why?" Harry asked speaking up for the first time since this adventure had started, "They outnumbered us five to one."
"I have no idea… it makes no sense whatsoever. We better be off though before something else happens… It's been a long day." Prewett responded, as she turned and sped up, still helping Tonks.
"We'll have to go to headquarters now. I hope Moody and Aberforth are alright." Lupin said also increasing his speed. No one responded as they all felt the cold sharp air slap their faces and freeze their hands. Harry looked down at his own hands and noticed that he was no longer invisible like and wondered how long he had been in that state. It seemed like in no time at all and they appeared at number twelve, Grimmauld Place.
Mrs. Weasley followed by Ron, Ginny and Hermione all came running as the four stumbled through the entrance. Tonks was becoming worse by the second, Prewett looked ill, and Lupin looked older than ever with more gray hairs flecked upon his shaggy head. Harry was cold and tired from the long journey and was still clueless as to what was going on. "What happened? Don't tell me there was an attack." Mrs. Weasley said as she embraced Harry.
"Yes, Molly there was," Prewett said in a tired and gloomy voice.
"Moody and Aberforth stayed back," Lupin added.
"Well I am sure they will all be alright," Mrs. Weasley said, but her expression told a different story. There was an awkward silence in which everyone gazed upon Harry, waiting for him to speak, and he took his first opportunity. "Look what is going on?" Harry demanded angrily. He had waited for over five hours patiently but this was getting to be too much.
Mrs. Weasley, as if on cue, swiftly changed the subject, "Are any of you hungry? Ron go get Doge will you, Tonks needs some assistance."
After Ron left reluctantly, Prewett responded, "Molly, he has the right to know,"
"That's not for you to decide, Clara." Lupin said calmly.
"Well, then whose right is it?" She asked angrily while Harry just grew more upset as well.
"Dumbledore's." Lupin again said his voice smooth and calm.
"Look what happened last time we waited to let Dumbledore tell him something of importance," Prewett said icily with a challenging look on her face. Everyone seemed to inhale sharply at Sirius's death being referred to so suddenly, especially Harry. Why couldn't he know what was going on? It frustrated him beyond belief that they wouldn't tell him.
"LOOK I AM NOT A KID ANYMORE, I DESERVE TO KNOW WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON ESPECIALLY WHEN IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH WHETHER OR NOT I LIVE TO SEE TOMORROW!" Harry yelled with clenched fists. Why was this so hard? It was mere stupidity. This situation was oddly reminding him more and more of what had happened last year. No one seemed to want to respond. Clara looked from Remus, who shook his head, but then she spoke anyway. "I'm sure you've heard of the attack on the muggle community in London, correct?"
"Yes," Harry said more calmly, thankful that he was about to get some answers.
At that precise moment Doge, walked into the entrance way followed by Ron, and went to help Tonks. "Molly will you help me take her upstairs," Doge asked referring to Tonks, "The rest of you should really be getting to bed. It's been a long day." With that Doge and Mrs. Weasley left while supporting Tonks.
"Doge is right. We all should be heading up to bed," Lupin said, as he looked directly at Prewett. This seemed to encourage her more and she acted as though she hadn't noticed.
"Well, we arrived late at the battle," she said picking up where she left off as she began to walk towards the living room with Harry, Lupin, Ron and Hermione all trailing at her feet. Apparently, Ron and Hermione had no idea what was going on either.
"We had no idea he was going to attack a muggle community and as far as that goes, we still have no idea why he did. Of course, we all know that the abomination of the muggle race has been on Voldemort's agenda since day one. However, the thing we find odd ids that he actually killed a group of muggles personally... and that, well that is saying a lot. Not many are importantenough to be killed personally by the Dark Lord.Then it came to our knowledgethat his next move was going to acquire you, since he did not get what he wanted from the muggle village. We went in somewhat of an unorganized rescue mission to get you, knowing that he would destroy all of the muggles in his way including your aunt and uncle until he got to you. The death eaters caught wind of the rescue mission, which we wanted and they chased us down. The dementors have also joined forces with the dark lord, which we had really suspected. All of the death eaters are back in full force, which leaves us just a little bit outnumbered especially considering the deaths early this morning."
"What deaths?" Harry demanded.
"Sadly, Diggle and Jones both died this morning." Prewett said with a deep frown on her face. Harry also was disheartened. He remembered both Diggle and Jones who had been on his advanced guard last year. Ron and Hermione looked blank, while Lupin's face was slowly converting to what appeared to be frustration.
"Well what else do you want to know Harry?" Prewett asked with eyes downcast.
"Where did you and Aberforth come from? I recognize both of you but that is as far as it goes." Harry asked.
"Well as for me… I don't know how you would recognize me. I've only seen you once before and that was when…" She looked up at Lupin, as he shifted and looked away, "a long time ago." She finished, and Harry could've sworn he saw tears well up in her eyes. "Aberforth is Albus's brother. We're both two new members to the order. Two out of the five new members actually."
It suddenly clicked. Harry had seen Aberforth before in the picture of the original Order of the Phoenix. He had also seen Fabian and Gideon Prewett. "Are Fabian and Gideon Prewett your brothers?" Harry asked as the thought came into clear view.
"Yes," Prewett stated looking mildly surprised.
"I saw a picture of them and Aberforth in the picture of the original Order of Phoenix."
"Clara, why have you allowed Fred and George to enter the order? Heaven knows we are just about as mature as they are." Ron asked, slightly interrupting, but speaking hurriedly and for the first time since Harry arrived.
"Ron, the decision of who enters the order is not up to me by any means. But I think your brothers are very mature and are able to add a lot to the order." Ron gapped at her in response and looked at Harry while shaking his head. "There must be two different Fred and George's, cause the two I call my siblings are definitely not mature… at all."
"Ronald, maybe you never give them a chance to prove their maturity," Prewett suggested while an all-knowing smile was plastered on her face.
"Ump," Ron said giving her a shocked expression.
"Be thankful for your brothers Ron. Take it from someone who lost hers." Prewett said casting a sad look upon Harry, "Family is a great gift… a gift that many aren't lucky enough to enjoy. But you have a great family, Ronald… be thankful for that." Harry thought about how much truth was behind that while Ron seemed to be debating with the issue himself.
Hermione then started, "Clara, what does Vol…"
Lupin jumped and interrupted quickly. "Really, Harry, Ron and Hermione. Why don't you all go to bed? Harry your trunk is still back by the entrance and, well, I am sure you three need some time to catch up... so go ahead. I need to talk with Clara anyway." Although Hermione was slightly taken aback from being cut off, Ron and Harry had no problem leaving. As soon as they set off to make their way to the entrance, Ron began to make feeble attempts to conversing. "So…err… how were the muggles?" Ron asked timidly.
"They were better, I suppose. I actually was allowed to do my homework."
"You call that better treatment?" Ron asked, apparently disgusted.
As they reached the entrance Harry realized that he couldn't hear Sirius's mum shrieking from her painting. "Whatever happened to Sirius's mum?" Harry asked with a twinge of remorse at saying Sirius's name.
"Oh well, Clara Prewett performed this really complicated silencing charm on it. She's really specialized in charm work… it was brilliant what she did, really."
"Clara's been a god send Harry. She's the only one that levels with us. Ron and I have been trying to find out what's been going on for the past week, but Lupin kept holding her back from telling us."
"Lupin and Clara bicker non-stop also, if you haven't noticed."
"Oh believe me, I noticed." He said as he grabbed a handle on his trunk.
"I really think there's more behind that then we know." Hermione stated matter-of-factly.
"Hermione you think too much. Maybe they just don't like each other." Ron said as he bent down to help Harry carry his trunk.
"I'd rather think too much then too little like a certain person I know," Hermione replied.
"Hermione! Don't insult Harry like that." Ron said sarcastically as he and Harry made their way up to the bedrooms.
"Ugh, you're so thick you don't even realize when you are being insulted!" Hermione groaned in frustration. Harry, however, felt like laughing. He normally felt annoyed by their constant bickering… But it had just occurred to him how much he missed it… missed just being with his two best friends. They finally reached the room that Harry and Ron were staying in and set the trunk down while Ron and Hermione kept insulting each other. Maybe Hermione was right and there was something behind Lupin and Prewett's constant bickering. But if so, did that mean there was something more behind Ron and Hermione's bickering? With a smirk, he observed them and silently decided that the odds were all pointing the same way. With that he turned on his heel to go get something to eat, and left them to be alone.
A/N: Okay wow! Really long, at least it felt long. Better than the first chapter if I do say so myself. REVIEW! REVIEW! REVIEW! Thanks! I love reviews… they make my day! Any questions, complaints, ideas, or suggestions? PLEASE SHARE!
This Chapter has been revised :) If you notice any mistakes that I missed, please tell me. Thanks!