Good news ladies and gentlemen (and all the rest of you)! I've finally managed to get my hands on a program which will actually let me upload files formatted. Therefor, from now on, all animal speak will be in italics.
Just so you know, Voldemort and the Death Eaters don't know that Avada Kedavra doesn't really kill, so they'll keep using it for a while.
Anyway, you know what's really sad? Currently the thing I worry about most is uploading a chapter that doesn't live up to your expectations. My life is sad, isn't it? That being said, here's the chapter.
Chapter 12: Battle Report, Quidditch, and a Rat.
Attack on Diagon Alley Foiled!
Special Corespondant: Kerrin Pearson
Yesterday at 9:15 in the evening, Death Eaters attacked Diagon Alley. According to eyewitnesses, the Death Eaters immediately began firing the Killing Curse at nearby witches and wizards. Before the Death Eaters could curse more than ten people, salvation came in the form of Harry Potter.
Eye witness Dedalus Diggle describes what he saw. "I couldn't have been more terrified! I was thinking to myself; 'this is it Dedalus, this is the end. You aren't going to make it out of this one.' There were Death Eater's everywhere. I tried to apparate out, but they must have erected anti-apparition wards or something. Tricky little blighters Death Eaters. I was watching as this one particularly ugly one, well I'll admit, I couldn't see his face, but I'm sure he was ugly, anyway, I was watching him, I was hiding in a cauldron at the time, anyway I was watching him approaching a young wizard, he looked to be only ten, anyway, I was watching him, and he was about to curse the poor boy. I was thinking, 'oh you poor child. Never to grow up to appreciate the simple joys of self-inflicted dementia charms.' Anyway, the Death Eater got as far as saying 'Avada-' before his words ended in a bloody gurgle. There was an arrow through his throat! I looked from where it came, and I saw Harry Potter himself! I read about how he was an elf, but I never really believed it. I thought it was all just a dementia charm induced hallucination! Anyway, you should have seen him! He looked sooo mad! There was a fire in his eyes I hadn't seen since I accidentally set my eyes on fire! Now that was a fun night! Anyway, there was no doubting he was an elf then. He had the pointy ears and everything. So , anyway, he was standing just at the edge of an alley, which was full of shadows behind him. So, he approached the Death Eaters, who were all staring at him surprised. Guess they aint never seen an elf before either. So anyway, Potter comes out and glares at the Death Eaters. Then this bright green rune begins to shine above the Death Eaters. "Justice has Come," he said in this really cool voice. Right after he said it, a volley of arrows whipped out from the alley behind him, passing so close to his head that his hair was moved by the breeze, before falling amongst the Death Eaters. Out of the alley poured another fifteen or so elves, all carrying drawn bows, firing at the Death Eaters. Potter slung his bow over his shoulder, and drew this wicked curved sword, lashing out at the nearby Death Eaters, who were still frozen in fear by the surprise attack. Anyway, I watched as about half the elves slung their bows, and also drew swords, and moved in to fight up close to the Death Eaters, while the others continued to fire arrows. I watched Potter as he fought. He moved faster than lightning! He swung his sword so fast, it was a blur. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw another Death Eater about to fire the Killing Curse at an elderly witch. Without turning his head, Potter threw his left hand out towards the Death Eater, and a dagger sprouted from the bastard's chest! Sadly, I didn't see any more, because the cauldron I was hiding in rolled over, and I was stuck underneath it.
Mable Haversack, the elderly woman, continues the story. "Harry Potter saved my life he did! I don't know how he saw that Death Eater, but somehow he did. I always knew he was a good boy. His parents were such nice people. Pity what happened to them, Lily made such a nice cup of tea. There must have been at least a hundred Death Eaters there, and only twenty elves, but it looked like the elves were winning. They were rotating around strangely though. One second one would be fighting with a sword, then they'd fall back and briefly disappear into the shadows for a moment, before re-emerging and fighting with their bow, before returning to using their sword. It was very odd. Not only did they seem to worry about the Death Eaters, but they did the best they could to protect as many people as they could. If they saw someone in danger, they'd risk their lives to save that person. I saw Potter jump in the way of a curse meant for a young lady, and he didn't even flinch when it opened a deep gash on his forehead. He didn't even seem to notice. Three Death Eaters were approaching him , all attacking him at the same time. Somehow, in the blink of an eye, he had returned his big sword to its scabbard, and drawn a twin pair of slightly smaller swords ones from his back, using them to deflect the curses! He seemed to use those swords as if they were extensions of his own body, swinging them with a speed, and deadly accuracy the likes of which I've never seen. It was then that I noticed a trio of elves in white robes moving among the injured witches and wizards who littered the ground, healing them! I also saw what looked like a cauldron wobbling of its own free will, but that's just silly. Anyway, soon the elves had eliminated most of the Death Eaters they had been fighting, and I watched as all the elves switched to their bows, and began to pick off the remaining few Death Eaters. I don't even know how they saw some of them, because they would fire into the shadows, or where it looked like no Death Eater was, and they always hit. It looked like the Elves could see through invisibility charms!"
We here at the Daily Prophet would like to thank Mr. Potter and his comrades for defending Diagon Alley so well, and with such bravery and spirit. Who knows how man innocent witches and wizards would have died if it were not for the courage of the elves.
Harry dropped his copy of the paper on the table. They were in the great hall for breakfast the day after the attack
"I hate publicity." He said, groaning.
"Then you shouldn't have become an elf." Ron said.
Harry glared at Ron. "It wasn't exactly optional."
"So did you recognize any of the Death Eaters?" Ginny asked.
"No. They weren't any of his Inner Circle. If anything, I think they were just a bunch of new recruits." Harry said.
"That's too bad." Hermione said.
"Ya. I want to find Wormtail before Christmas. Not for freeing him, because once my parents are back, they can testify, I just want to catch the rat." He said.
"Ya. It's a good thing you didn't get hurt to badly Harry." Said Ron.
"Speaking of which, I need to talk to Allia for a moment." He said, rising and walking quickly to the female elf.
"How many were injured?" He asked her in a whisper.
"About thirty. Your plan worked. When they were injured, they fell back into the shadows and gated back to the Camp. None were too badly injured. Feldarath was hurt the worst. He'll have a limp for a while, but he'll be okay." She whispered back.
"Good." He said, nodding. "If you get a chance later, gate over to the Camp. They deserve to have some praise, they fought well. I'd do it, but I'll be pretty busy today with class.
She nodded in reply, and he turned and walked back to his friends.
"What was that about?" Ginny asked, as he sat down.
"Nothing. Just wanted to make sure everyone was healed alright." He replied.
"Oh, well that's good." She said.
"Tomorrow's the game against Slytherin." Ron interrupted.
"Oh damn, I forgot about that." Harry replied.
"You forgot about Quidditch? What's wrong with you mate? You've changed." Ron said sincerely.
"Shut-up Ron. He's been busy." Ginny said in his defence.
"Ya. Anyway, I'm not worried about the game. We'll win." Harry said, sure of himself.
"Good. Can't let Slytherin win." Ron said.
Just then, a thought crossed Harry's mind.
"Ginny, can I talk to you in private for a minute?" He asked her.
"Sure Harry." She said, as she got up to follow him out of the hall. As soon as they were out, Harry pulled her to the side.
"Gin, is there a rule saying that you have to play Quidditch on broomstick?" He asked.
"What? Well, I think there's something in the rules about players having to stay on their brooms for the first minute. Why?" She askedconfused.
"How would you like to fly my Firebolt tomorrow?"
"Are you sure about this Harry?' Ginny asked, as the two walked to the locker rooms before the game.
"Yes. Malfoy's gonna freak!" He laughed.
"Are you sure you'll be faster?" She asked.
"Trust me Ginny. I'll be faster." He told her reassuringly.
She nodded, and the two walked in silence to where the rest of the team were gathered.
"Okay people." Harry began. "Here's the plan. We win. That's it."
"That's it?" Ron asked in confusion."That's the plan?"
"What's wrong with it? We win. Short and simple." He said.
"Okaayyyy." Ron said, shaking his head.
"Let's go people." He said, gesturing for them to head out to the pitch. "Ron, wait up a second."
"What?" Ron asked.
"I'll bet you five Galleons we'll win in under three minutes." Harry said grinning.
"What? C'mon Harry, even you can't pull that off. You're on." Ron answered.
"Good. Let's go." Harry said.
"Annnnnnnnnnnd here come the Gryffindors! Led by new captain Harry Potter, the Gryffindors are ready to pounce on the dirty Slytherin snakes. Now that Potter's back as seeker, Slytherin doesn't stand a chance in hel-"
"Thomas!" McGonagall yelled at Dean Thomas, who had replaced Lee Jordan as commentator.
"Sorry professor. The new members of the team this year are Colin Creevey, and Seamus Finnigan. Ginny Weasley is the other new chaser, having moved from her previous position to enable Harry to retake his position as seeker. Madam Hooch has released the balls, and this game is on!"
Harry sat idly on his broom, waiting patiently. Nearby, Ginny also sat, not moving.
"And it seems as if something is wrong with Potter, and Weasley's brooms! They're not moving! Wait, what's this? Potter has spread his wings, while passing his Firebolt to Weasley, who promptly switches brooms! This is very odd, why is he not staying on his broom, surely he can't possibly go faster with his wings! The Firebolt has too be fas- WHOA! Did you see that?"
Harry had been slowly rising up in the air, and had suddenly dived down, tucking his wings in behind him as he flew to the ground, quicker than any broom. He swooped rapidly downwards, arrowing towards the ground.
Elven eyesight is much finer than that of a human, and mere seconds afterhe took flight, his eyes had picked up the motion of the snitch. He was a blur to those watching him, a streak of white speeding downwards.
Only feet from the ground, he flared his wings, stopping with his feet inches, from the ground, landing smoothly. He looked at his right hand, then open it.
"Potter has caught the snitch! A new record! Only one minute twenty three seconds of play, and Potter catches the snitch! Gryffindor wins 150-0!"
Harry grinned as he watched Malfoy yelling to Hooch that Harry had cheated. Nothing the git could do though. He was well within the rules. Quidditch just hadn't been made with elves in mind.
"Good job Harry." Allia said, as she came up to him. "You're a natural with those."
Harry grinned. "You have no idea how great it is to fly so freely, not worrying about anything but the wind in your wings."
Just then, Ron and Ginny landed nearby.
"Wow Harry! That was great!" Ginny exclaimed, as she ran over and kissed him quickly.
"We'll win the Cup this year for certain!"
"Bloody hell Harry! That was cheating!" Ron told him.
Ginny looked at him confused. "Why are you complaining? We won."
Ron nodded, "Ya, but this git made a bet with me. Now I owe him five Galleons. I didn't know you were going to use your wings!
"Ahh, but you didn't ask did you? You never asked; 'Harry, are you going to use your wings?' You never asked if my elven eyesight would enable me to see the snitch almost immediately, did you? No. Therefor, I saw the snitch, and used my wings to catch it fast." Harry said grinning widely.
Ron grumbled. "Fine. Remind me never to make a bet with you again."
"Never make a bet with me again." Harry said.
Ron glared at him, before turning his back and walking towards the locker rooms.
Ginny giggled. "You're so mean."
"Why thank you, my dear Huntress." He replied, looking down at her.
"C'mon, let's go." She said, dragging him off the pitch.
The five Marauders were just entering the entrance hall when suddenly Harry and Allia stopped.
They seemed to listen to something for a minute, before a wide grin slowly spread across Harry's face. In the blink of an eye, where Harry had stood now stood a lion. The four only had time to notice the lion's emerald eyes, and the white patch of fur on its forehead shaped like a lightning bolt, before the lion went tearing off down a side hallway.
"What's going on?" Ginny asked, somewhat frightened.
"Don't worry. Harry's just going to play a little game with a visitor." Allia said, the corners of her mouth twitching into an evil smile.
"A game? What are you talking about? What game?" Ron asked.
"Just a little game of cat-and-mouse." She replied.
"With who?" Hermione asked in confusion.
Suddenly there was a loud roar from deep within the school. The walls seemed to shake with the force of it.
"He's found him." Allia said, her grin widening.
"Found who?" Hermione asked in exasperation.
"Let me put it this way. A certain rat who has just entered the school is about to have a very bad day." She said, grinning wickedly.
Harry loped through the hallways of the castle, scaring a few students who seemed quite shocked to see a full grown lion stalking the school. He continued deeper into the school, his sensitive nose sniffing for the intruder the map in Allia's office had alerted him too.
There! Scurrying along the wall. Seems like the little rat decided to sneak in through a series of cracks in the wall.
Harry let out a loud roar, and pounced after the suddenly terrified rat. The rat managed to evade his paws, and took of down the corridor. Harry gave chase, his powerful limbs chewing up the distance between the two, bringing him steadily closer.
Students jumped out of the way as he shot after the squeaking rat. It tried to slip under a door to slow Harry down, but Harry simply leapt at the door, shattering it off its hinges with his weight.
He chased it until they re-emerged in the entrance hall once again, and he managed to corner the rat. Harry stalked slowly towards it, growling deep in his throat, ignoring the watching students.
Then he pounced, catching the shaking rat between his two front paws. He brought his head down, and showed the rat his mouth full of sharp, two inch teeth. He growled slowly, making sure he had a good grip on the rat, before lifting his head to look at Allia, who promptly froze the rat's body.
Harry shifted back to his human form, surprising the watching students. He bent down, and picked up the frozen rat, whose only sign of life was the terrified look in its eyes. Dangling the rat by its tail, he held it up, and looked into its eyes.
"Hello Wormtail, what a pleasure it is to see you again."
Sorry it took so long for this chapter to come out. I had writer's block after the newspaper bit. So if the part after it seems a little forced, that's why.
In case any of you were confused, self inflicted dementia charms is basically the wizard way of getting high.
Again, I'd like to thank all those who reviewed, it means a lot. Anyway, I'm not sure when the next chapter will be out, but hopefully not too long from now.
