Title: Harry Potter And The Walkers
Author: ENSIGN
Chapter 05 – The Great War Of The Walkers
'That smell.'
'So familiar.'
'The smell of cleanliness to the extreme.'
'The smell of my childhood.'
It was a smell of safety, a smell of homecoming. It was a smell that everything was alright. It was the smell of clean, steamed starched linen and antiseptic. The smell of a hospital.
"Look! he's moving."
"You're sleepy Mione. Madam Pomfrey said he wouldn't wake for another five days."
"No! I serious! See he's twitching again."
"Bloody hell! you're right!" Ron's extremely loud voice struck his eardrums.
"Ron? Hermy?" Harry croaked.
"Yes Harry, they are here. Still resilient to damage after all these years I see." A soft gentle voice filled his head.
"I remember you." She was a woman. He remembered her voice but he couldn't finger it on a name.
"Yes, you do. Your memories are jumbled." Came the same voice.
"Ik... onne." Came Harry's pained voice.
"What?"
"Quiet Ron!" Came Hermione's reprimanding voice.
"No. Not now Harry." The woman spoke again
"Duble... ore."
"He's on his way."
"Ant gee."
"Your blindfold is still on. No. Don't take it off." The soothing voice spoke as Harry reached to remove the offending piece of cloth. "Rest now. Your mind stone will be by your table when you wake."
With that a sense to calmness passed over him, drawing his back to his world of dreams.
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Hermione watched with awe as the floating lady created a green ball of power within her hand before pushing into Harry's chest.
"Wow. Did you just do wandless magic?" Ron questioned still looking at the woman's hand with wide eyes.
"Yes." The woman answered in a soft voice that resonated throughout the room. "You might want to close your mouth Ronald Arthur Weasley. Your headmaster Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore. Is on his way."
Hermione rolled her eyes at the woman's use of everyone's full names. She turned her gaze to that of the now sleeping patient. For the first time in her life she had seen Harry sleeping peacefully. Even when he was under the effects of dreamless sleep potion his face still wasn't completely relaxed.
She traced his facial features with her eyes. Madam Pomfrey had been able to fix most of injuries Harry had received. Looking back at it, the situation would have been extremely humorous. The ever zealous matron of the hospital wing fussing and clucking over Harry after the woman in green had deposited him on a hospital bed.
Her eyes landed upon the ever existent blindfold over Harry's eyes. Curiosity had been eating at her. Just what was beneath his blindfold? Harry had told her he had always worn the blindfold no matter what. She was puzzled, he was still able to navigate and perform his everyday activities with ease, when yet it was obvious that he had no use for his eyes.
Come to think of it no one seemed to know what Harry's eyes now looked like. The only person who knew was Professor Snape and the rumor was that when ever that incident was ever brought up the potions master would pale and start to shake involuntarily before quickly changing the subject. Her curiosity had started to get the better of her as she thought back to their previous Potion lessons.
XXXXX
As common practice, all conversation died down and an abrupt silence engulfed the dungeon room as the classroom door swung open to emit one Professor Snape.
The potions master strode into the room, robes billowing in his wake. As usual he flashed the Gryffindors a glare, taking a while longer on Harry before moving swiftly towards his desk. Slamming down the large tome he held within his hand he proceeded to speak.
"This lesson you will... be... brewing..." Snape trailed off before he paused and his eyes settled upon a particular black haired green eyed Gryffindor.
Hermione alone with the rest of the class traced the professor's gaze to a grinning Harry who sat slouched in his seat. What surprised Hermione more was not the curious look upon Snape's face but the weird demented amused grin on her best friend's face.
"Wipe that stupid grin off your face you idiotic boy. Five points from Gryffindor."
Hermione turned towards the Slytherins where Malfoy sat smirking at the Gryffindors. Returning to Harry, she was even more surprise when his grin grew even greater. Straightening himself Harry bent his head and peer over his glasses at the now slightly fuming potions master.
She was even more surprised when Snape back up a step before breaking the staring contest and turning towards the board.
"Five points for you insubordination Potter." Snape then proceeded to taunt the rest of the Gryffindors, favoring the Slytherins and generally being as ass.
The rest of the lesson proceeded in silence from the Gryffindors and the occasional taunt from the Slytherins. What happened at the end of the lesson would be the event that would ingrain itself within the minds of the sixth year potion students.
Hermione had just finished the potion they were currently brewing, "The Drought of Magical Detection". She had to admit it was truly a complicated potion. Some of the Slytherins had failed outright by melting their cauldrons within the first five steps (Not mentioned by Snape of course). Harry on the other hand, along with her, two Ravenclaws and four Slytherins included were the only ones to finish the potion.
"Seeing that those of you who have a shred of talent have managed to finish your potion bottle two phials, one you are to administer yourself and another for my grading. The antidote should you poison yourself is right here at my desk."
Snape still somehow managed to find fault with her and surprisingly Harry's perfect potion. "Your potion is slightly pale Ganger and yours is too lumpy Potter. Ten points from Gryffindor for your inadequate brewing skills." Hermione inwardly fumed whereas Harry simply shrugged and returned to his seat where he downed his phial of potion.
"Did I say to drink your potion yet Potter?" Snape's scathing voice cut the air.
"No, you didn't professor." Came Harry nonchalant answer.
"Five points for your disobedience and ten for your rudeness. Now drink your potions."
'Stupid, fucking, lousy, good for nothing, overgrown, dungeon dwelling greasy haired, vampire bat from hell!' Hermione mentally kicked herself for her use mental use of swear words before downing her potion.
Just as she was certain she had botched her work and poisoned herself the effects of the potion kicked in. Immediately she felt a chill go through her body and a slight burning feeling within her eyeballs. Closing her eyes to rid both the tears and pain she opened them to a myriad of colors. It was truly magnificent.
Magic flowed throughout the entire classroom. From the silvery light emitted from the potions to the dark blue spell causing Snape's cloak to catch the currents of the air. She could see magic.
"Using make up now are we Potter. Trying to hide your ugly mug." Malfoy's taunting voice rang through the class.
Ignoring Malfoy's weirdly muggle taunt Hermione was indeed shocked to see what looked like an extremely complex glamourie charm on Harry's face. More specifically a two inch wide halo around his eye level.
"Remove your beauty charm Potter, I will not have any silly wand magic done in my lab. Ten points from Gryffindor." Snape ordered with a smirk upon his face. Apparently even the professors knew that Harry always had sleeping problems.
"Of course Professor." Harry drew his wand and waved it over his face muttering an unheard incantation.
"Did I say you may use your wand in my class Potter? I remember making it clear in your first year that there would be no silly wand waving performed within my class. Certainly your miserable excuse of a brain would be able to comprehend my words?"
'Lousy, snort haired, hooked nose, bottle fucking, genetic mistake of a fuck witted bat!' Hermione again mentally kicked herself. If Ron had heard what went on in her mind, she would never live it down.
The potion which only lasted a few minutes had already worn off and she could now understand some of the questioning looks directed at Harry. Before she had seen a golden light coming from Harry's eyes, now she instead saw a blindfold covering his eyes, she shrugged it off as an side effect of the magic upon their eyes; after all they did drink a eye altering magical potion.
It took a few seconds more before she realized what most of the class were so curious about. Harry had been wearing a blindfold the entire time. He had performed tasks not to mention brew a complicated potion with ease without the use of his eyesight.
"New muggle fashion statement Potter? You never struck me as the vain type? Then again, with your big headed celebrity status, I'm not really surprised. Five points from Gryffindor for inappropriate dress code during classes." Snape snapped.
'Dungeon dwelling, foul smelling, phial screwing piece of dragon manure!' Hermione didn't bother with the mental kick this time. Snape fully deserved that comment. Harry had never wanted anything that came his way, yet he still managed to stand up to what hardships life threw at him.
Hermione was just about to stand up and inform Snape just what she though of him. When Harry placed a reassuring hand upon her shoulder.
"Seeking comfort from your girlfriends Potter. There is to be no displays of affection within classes Potter. Ten points from the both of you." Snape looked positively gleeful, the Slytherins were giggling in the background and the rest seemed to be mentally debating whether Azkaban would be a worthy price to pay for murder.
Hermione was just about to go off on a mental swearing campaign when she was interrupted by the gentle squeeze Harry's hand gave her.
"Apparently you didn't understand my earlier words Potter. I said to remove you fashion accessory. Five more points from Gryffindor and a detention with me tonight Potter."
Suddenly and silently Harry had stood up and moved extremely close to the potions master invading his personal space. The giggling and murmuring stopped, even Professor Snape was surprised. His eyes widened slightly and he took a step back in shock.
Harry slowly and seemingly dangerously tilted his head upwards to meet the gaze of the professor. It was slightly amusing, Hermione concluded. The potions professor was apparently intimidated as he took another step back.
What came next sent a shiver up her spine as Harry's voice switched to one of malice and threat. In a soft cold whisper that the student's barely caught he hissed.
"Do you really want to look upon my eyessss Severussss? Since you so thoroughly insisted, I will indulge your request." Without waiting for a reply, Harry back turned to the students, reached up and ripped off his blindfold.
A pained, scream of agony echoed throughout Hogwarts castle soon after.
XXXXX
Hermione shivered. She could still remember the screams. It was a scream that one would associate with the Cruciatus curse. Harry had held the man's gaze only breaking it and replacing his blindfold after ten seconds of Snape's screaming.
He had then collected his bag and strode out of the classroom, leaving the now whimpering Snape, who had curled into a ball murmuring to himself. Since that incident Snape had gone to great lengths to get out of Harry's way in the corridors and had so far not made a single comment nor even bat an eyelash at Harry during Potions.
"Hermione... Hello... Anyone home?" Ron's voice and his fingers snapping in front of her face broke her out of her trance.
"Sorry Ron. Just thinking." She whispered a reply.
"I believe that you kids should be heading back to your dormitories now. Walker Fariahlia and I have a few matters to discuss." Came the soothing and grandfatherly voice of Dumbledore.
Hermione only nodded and set off without a protest, her mind obviously took tired to try. Ron followed behind her.
Once the students were out of earshot, Dumbledore turned towards the woman who had been watching everything with amusement. Twinkling red pupils met blue ones. "Now, I have just gotten back from the ministry, let's discuss your lodgings Walker Fariahlia." Dumbledore waved his wand conjuring up two comfortable armchairs by Harry's bed.
"Call me Liah." The Walker waved off her title. "Friends of Harry's are friends of mine. So, Hermione Granger, tell me more about Harry, he rarely speaks of his past."
XXXXX
Hermione Granger lay in her four poster bed wide awake. Unlike the other girls who needed their so called beauty sleep she was used to little amounts of sleep. Of course Harry had a higher tolerance to sleep deprivation, she knew other wise. With his Walker status Harry now no longer needed sleep. So why was he now in the hospital wing sleeping his injuries off? She remembered reading from the book Harry gave her that physical injuries prove no harm to a Walker on a slight hindrance. Still the knowledge didn't help much when she first saw Harry's body being levitated towards her as she and Ron ran out of the castle.
XXXXX
Hermione came to a stop causing Ron to collide into her back.
"What was that for Hermione?" Ron grumbled.
Ron didn't get an answer. Approaching them, levitating the mangled and bleeding body of Harry Potter was a woman dress in emerald green robes. The most prominent features of the women were her long black hair, webbed feet, pointed ears and blood red pupils. If it wasn't for the friendly smile on her face, Hermione would have considered the woman a threat. Other than a couple of vines creeping over her body, the extra bodily features and the fact that she was floating a foot off the ground, the woman could have easily passed as a normal drop dead gorgeous young human woman.
"Merlin's beard! Is that Harry!" Apparently Ron had seen the floating body as well.
Hermione made to speak but stopped when the woman floated by her and the professors straight into the school.
Shaking off her surprise at being ignored she grabbed Ron by his wrist before running after the woman.
After running non-stop for five minutes from the front doors straight to the hospital wing. Hermione threw herself into the Hogwarts Hospital Wing to be met with a scene of the matron of the hospital wing, Madam Poppy Pomfrey arguing with the woman in green. From the snippets that she caught she gathered they were arguing about Harry's treatment.
Looking from both the arguing women to Harry who now lay on the bed and back again, Hermione Anne Granger snapped.
"WILL THE TWO OF YOU BLOODY STOP ARGUING AND START HELPING HARRY!!!" Hermione's shouted, her voice no doubt being heard throughout the castle.
"Wow. Mione didn't know you had it in you?" Hermione ignored Ron's lame attempt at a joke. He was no doubt trying to break some of the tension.
"That's what I've been trying to do but this lady here wouldn't let me." The matron explained as she pushed pass the Walker to get to Harry.
"And what I have been trying to say is that Harry doesn't require medical attention." Came the calm voice. The Walker reached out a hand to grasp the matron's shoulder.
"Doesn't need attention! Look at him for heaven's sake! He's a bloody pulp!" Pomfrey again tried to reach Harry's bed only to be held back by the Walker.
Thankfully Dumbledore had managed to reach the Hospital wing by now. 'Come to think of it wasn't Madam Pomfrey with Dumbledore?'
"Ah. Poppy, I see you made it back in time with your portkey."
'Well that explains that.'
"Headmaster, please can you reason with this woman tha..." The motherly matron was cut off when Dumbledore raised his hand and spoke. "Poppy, Harry is a Walker and thus there are no medical techniques that would work on him. Furthermore he can't die through mortal means. Now Poppy that your patient is safe I would like you to excuse us." With that Pomfrey gave a nod and reluctantly went into her office.
"Greetings my lady, I'm Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of this school and you are?" The aged wizard addressed the woman while giving a small bow.
"I am the Walker Fariahlia, I am one of Walker Potter's companions. If you don't mind I would like to remain in Walker Potter's company until he is fully healed. I am required to at least stop his bleeding."
"Yes you may, now that I have confirmed that Harry is alright, I need to see to the ministry. No doubt they are having a panic attack after that amount of magical release. See you my lady. Mr. Weasley, Miss. Weasley, Miss. Granger, Miss. Lovegood and Mr. Longbottom you may stay, just be sure to be back in your rooms by curfew. If you need anything Walker Fariahlia, I'm sure that the students and staff would be more than happy to comply." With that Albus Dumbledore headed straight for Madam Pomfrey's office. No doubt to floo to the Ministry.
"So, Hermione Anne Granger, tell me about Harry while we are waiting." Fariahlia spoke.
XXXXX
She now became more curious to Harry's state of health. "Yes, you do. Your memories are jumbled." The Walker named Fariahlia had spoken.
Harry had mentioned something after that. She just couldn't remember. 'Remember... remember...' Hermione chanted through her mind. 'Remember... rememb... that's it' she would have hit herself. A mind stone, Harry needed to remember therefore he required a pensieve. Harry's memories would be in the pensieve. She would be able to help Harry remember if she could only go to the hospital now.
Smack.
Hermione slapped her forehead. Ron. He had access to Harry's cloak.
XXXXX
Ron was running. Tables flew past him in a blur as he pursued his prey. Jumping up and over a table he closed the distance. She turned her head to sneak a glance before spurring forward faster.
Ron had noticed the Hogwart's kitchens was surprisingly bare and missing the usual army of ever serving house elves. Still, no matter, all the more privacy for him.
A few minutes later he had cornered his prey. The bushy brown haired girl turned and swiveled her head trying to find a route of escape. Seeing none she instead tilted her head and flashed a coy smile.
"Looks like you caught me. What do you intend to do with little ol me?" She replied to the now advancing Ron.
"Yes, I have my sweet, and what should I do with you now? Hmm... What do you want me to do?" Ron by now had placed both his hands on either side of the girls head and was staring into her brown eyes.
Hermione slowly extended her tongue, and carefully licked her lips. With a deep throaty growl, she ran her hands up and down her scantily clad body. Beckoning to him. She whispered.
"Wake up Ron."
"Huh?" Her reply caught him off guard. "WAKE UP!!!" Hermione then proceeded to slap him.
SMACK.
"OW!!!"
"WHAT TH..."
SMACK.
"OW!!!"
"WAKE UP!!! RON!!!"
SMACK.
"Ok! Ok! I'm bloody up already!" Ron cursed as he was knocked out of his pleasant dreams involving one partially dressed Hermione Granger, the kitchens and chocolate sauce. He was definitely going to kill the person who woke him up. Azkaban be damned.
He forced his eyes open. He blinked once.
Twice.
Trice.
"What the? Hermio..." He was cut short by the girls hand over his mouth.
"Would you shut up already? I don't know how strong my silencing charm is." Came the prefect's reprimanding voice.
With a heroic effort, Ron sat up. Through his sleep blurred vision, he could make out Hermione, enough to tell that she had neither of the earlier food smears on her. Ron groaned in disappointment.
Still slightly stunned, Ron could only stare at the girl perched over him. "Ron I need Harry's cloak, quick." Hermione then proceeded to push the Gryffindor prefect towards Harry's trunk. She silently cast an awakening charm upon him to prevent him dropping off.
XXXXX
The moonlight shone through the windows of the hospital wing. A single beam, refracted by the window panes lit up the sleeping body of the only patient of the hospital wing. At that moment the boy-who-lived lay in bed sleeping soundly. A result of yet another sleeping spell cast by the Walker Fariahlia.
At that exact moment the main door to the hospital wing slowly swung open. The soft squeak went unnoticed by the guardian of the hospital wing, the great matron Poppy Pomfrey. She was probably off tending to Snape after he returned from one of Voldemort's gatherings or sleeping within her attached dorm.
The door swung shut again. Although no presence could be seen, foot steps were heard moving towards the sleeping Walker's bed. The occasional shoe could be seen appearing out of thin air before disappearing again.
"Really Mione, I agree with visiting Harry and all. But to we have to do this in the middle of the night at Merlin knows what time."
"Yes we do. The only way Harry will tell us something is when we get it out of him through force. You know him as well as I do. He hardly tells us anything much now a days. I just want to know what he's done so that we may help him better."
"And you think violating his memories is a wise thing?"
"Well... no. But... Oh! Never mind. Just follow me." Hermione said frustrated as she whipped off the cloak and walked towards the bed. Ron followed reluctantly.
Hermione stood at the left while Ron took his place at the right. They both stared in silence at the peaceful sleeping face of Harry in silence.
"You really going to go through with this Mione? You do know that if he catches us, he might never forgive us." Ron whispers after a minute or so.
"I don't know Ron. I want to, but at the same time I feel as if I shouldn't." They both approached the stone basin atop Harry's bedside table. The silvery liquid shining brightly within drew their attention. Leaning closer towards the bowl both could vaguely see images flashing and soft silent voices. Ron, the ever curious one leaned even closer to get a better view.
Hermione, realizing what her friend was doing reached out to stop him. Unfortunately just as she had grabbed his arm, Ron's nose broke the surface of the silvery substance.
In a blur of vision the world around Hermione disappeared only to be replaced by another.
Shaking her head and blinking her eyes to adjust to the bright light of the sun, Hermione looked up at Ron who too was blinking his eyes.
"Whoa! Where are we?" Ron asked in awe as he looked around at the surroundings.
Hermione took a look around. They were standing in a barren valley. The ground looked eroded and the mud baked in the heat of the twin suns over head. Other than barren land, Hermione could see nothing else. No trees, no animals, nothing. "Something tells me we aren't in Kansas anymore."
"What?" Ron asked giving her a weird look. "Muggle saying." Hermione waved him off.
"Any idea where we are?" Ron's questions was answered by a lady they recognized as Fariahlia. She had appeared right in front of him. Startled, Ron tripped and fell onto his behind. Hermione gave a small yelp.
"Liah. I'm sorry. We didn't mean to..." Hermione didn't get to finish as the Walker turned around completely ignoring her. Pacing in front of the two students, the Walker looked as if she were waiting for someone.
"HARRY!!! I KNOW YOU'RE HERE!!! SHOW YOURSELF!!!" Finally frustrated, the Walker shouted.
"No need the shout my dear. It's not like we can start the meeting as Octhelion isn't here yet." A voice called from behind Hermione.
Whipping around the two came face to face with a taller much more muscular Harry Potter. Unlike the Harry they were used to seeing daily he had shoulder length hair tied back and seemed to hold himself straighter and in a more confident manner. He was dressed in emerald green battle robes and pieces of armor could be seen showing beneath them. The two most outstanding features were the ever present blindfold and the pair of golden wings sprouting from his back. At present they were folded into what looked to be a much comfortable position.
"Well he better be, if he knows what's good for him." Fariahlia replied.
"Don't worry, I know what's best for myself." Another voice spoke.
An old man dressed in the same attire as Harry had appeared, only difference was that he was in white. Only then did the two realize that all three Walkers were part of the memory and all were wearing Battle robes and armor. The two students then proceeded to just observe the memory.
"So this is where they're warping in?" Octhelion questioned.
"Yes, two hundred clicks away from my command center. Where's Shassha and Thalos?" Fariahlia enquired leveling a questioning eyebrow at Harry.
"Don't worry. They are fine. They will meet us at the rendezvous point later. Shassha's command center is under attack as well."
"Damn that Phrixus. I'll rip his head off when I get to him." Fariahlia swore.
"Don't think you'll be able to do that. The bugger didn't really have a head the last time I saw him." Harry chuckled. This seemed to relieve the tension.
"Still love what you and Merlin did to him. Too bad his stubbornness to die is as bad as yours." Octhelion chuckled.
"Let have a look at the battlefield then." Harry said grinning.
The group of Walkers begun to rise into the air as Harry said this. Hermione and Ron were both surprised as they too begun to rise.
Having a clearer view of their surroundings Hermione could see that they were indeed in a desert but in one direction there lay a vast forest in the distance. The valley that they were standing in before appeared to run along the ground as far as the eye could see.
"So you are warping in your troops over there?" Harry indicated towards a site where some sort of machine stood three kilometers away from the valley. "Octhelion will warp in with his Falcon Engines 100 kilometers away and I myself will warp my Steel Claws directly into the command center."
"You plan to have the troops engage the Phyrexians within the valley? It would be harder for my Engines to do their work."
"Don't worry Octhelion, I have this planned out. The Phyrexians will be coming in with air units. The Falcons would be delighted to pay them a visit. Furthermore should they bring in Negators, the valley would shield the Elves from their shelling. My Steel Claws will provide backup should they be needed."
Fariahlia gave Harry a funny look. "Why back up? Why not use them as shock troops, it's not like they will die." Harry looked slightly embarrassed at that question. "Erm... it's not that I don't want to use them as shock troops, actually it would be a splendid idea. It's just that I can't." At this point Harry's face turned red. "The problem is that they just aren't mobilized yet."
Octhelion rolled his eyes. "I told you that you shouldn't have put so many features into those things. The maintenance alone would kill you."
"Hey! I'll have you know, they have so far been extremely critical in the defense of most of the worlds." Harry retorted.
"Enough children. The battle is drawing near and soon we will carry out our plan." Fariahlia decided to break up the oncoming argument. The two other Walkers gave her what looked like death glares before all vanished.
A loud band exploded in Hermione's head as the world around her plunged into darkness. Wobbling her head and opening her eyes, she accepted Ron's hand to pull her up. Standing up straight, she saw that they were now within a steel plated room. Maps and unknown instruments littered the tables around the room. From the lighting of several glowing crystals she could see that there was no door leading into the room, Hermione assumed that there either wasn't one or it was hidden.
The three Walkers stood at the middle of the room perched over a map. They were discussing something. Hermione made for them only to be held back by Ron.
"No Mione. I wouldn't try to do that. They have some sort of shield set up. Even if this is a memory it still seems to be active. Got myself shocked when I tried to get near."
The two could only watch as the three Walkers discussed the situation silently every once in a while waving their hands and shacking heads. After a minute or so the scenery faded into darkness to be replaced by a new memory.
Hermione blinked. Again she was flying above the valley. This time though it had a different feeling to it. A feeling of uneasiness. She grabbed onto Ron's hand for reassurance.
Three pops to her right signaled the arrival of the three Walkers again. Hermione was about to speak to them but she remembered that they were in a memory. The Walkers remained silent and continued staring at the machine Harry had pointed at earlier.
Hermione turned towards Ron to ask him a question but found that unlike her he was staring at her hand held onto his. Blushing, she released her hold and took a step away from him. "Sorry." She apologized. "No problem." Ron whispered also blushing now.
Their fluffy moment was interrupted by a sizzling electrical sound. Below them, the machine which Harry had indicated earlier was giving off bolts of electricity. The power being emitted could be felt even through the memory. In a burst of light a bright purple portal materialized before it.
Hermione watched in awe, as immediately troops clad in silver armor begun to march out. The troops she assumed were Fariahlia's elves begun to form ranks across the desert before the valley.
Coincidently as soon as the ranks were formed, another portal flashed into existence on the opposite side of the valley. Unlike the silver armored elves, black monstrous beings began to pour out of the portal. Oblivious to the ideology of ranks, they begun to congregate in large groups. The monsters were huge, Hermione guessed that they were about ten feet in height and from the sea of blades she saw, they were well armed.
After ten minutes the stream of troops ended and the portal winked out of existence. The battle was beginning.
"ALL TROOPS!!! AT THE READY!!! FORWARD MARCH!!! DOUBLE TIME!!!" Fariahlia's peaceful voice had turned into one of command and power. Hermione watched as the elves begun to march at a rapid pace towards the valley.
An eerie shriek filled the air. Hermione clamped her hands over her ears. She was getting a headache from the wail, no doubt Ron had one as well. Again she clamped her ears as several booms sounded. She turned towards the demons and was horrified as they begun firing what looked like shells towards the elves.
The shells impacted within the ranks of the elves. Mutilated bodies were thrown about as the shells exploded in flashes of white light. Black tendrils of energy remained a few seconds after the initial explosions. A shell landed near where she was and she could see blood, dirt and various body parts being thrown about. Still the troops ignored the carnage and pressed on.
"CONTINUE FORWARDS TROOPS!!! THE ENEMY IS WITHIN YOUR SIGHTS!!! HOLD!!! DEPLOY ENERGY CANNONS!!! FIRE!!!"
Several booms filled the air as projectiles were launched, this time from the elves. Hermione's hopes that the elves could retaliate were dashed as the shells impacted upon a barrier covering the Phyrexian army. She could hear Harry swearing over the noise.
"Bloody wankers. No one told me they had mana shields. Thank god the bastards had only one volley each."
Another shriek sounded causing Hermione to clamp down on her ears. When it ended, there was silence for a moment and suddenly with great speeds the mechanical beings launched themselves towards the elves.
"PIKES AT THE READY TROOPS!!! IMPALE THOSE MONSTERS!!! BREAK THEIR FORMATION!!! HOLD THE VALLEY!!!" Fariahlia shouted again. She took a deep breath and turned to Harry. "Wish me luck Harry. I'm going with my troops." At Harry's nod she vanished.
Hermione and Ron both descended as Harry flew after Fariahlia. Out of the corner of her vision she could see that Ron was being pulled in the direction of the other Walker.
Hermione was shocked. Unlike watching the battle from the safety of the air, it was different down here. The elves at the front lines were bent on one knee, pikes at the ready. Sword armed elves stood behind them ready for combat. Blood stained the ground and in the background elves missing limbs were being carted off.
Hermione's eyes widened in horror as black shapes appeared and begun to descend the valley walls. At the last moment she shut her eyes. The sounds of screaming, wails, metal clashing and explosions bombarded her ears.
She opened her eyes only to see an elf before her being sliced in half by its opponent. She turned to see a group of five elves battling with an eight legged Phyrexian. Its body and blades streaked with the blood of its victims. Rockets flew overhead and soon the smell of blood and smoke filled the air. All around her death was being dealt. She had now noticed that the army of Phyrexians were made up of various units. She had guessed that there were at least five different kinds in the battle she was in.
She jumped backwards as a beam of white energy impacted near her. The Phyrexian that stood there before was obliterated in the flash.
A man landed beside her in a crash. As the dust cleared she saw he was dressed in emerald green robes. 'Harry.' He had a look of fury upon his face as he drew a sword from within his robes. Sword in his right and staff in his left, he too like the elves, rushed into the melee. Hermione yelp in fright as Harry sliced through one opponent after another. He dodged the rotary blade of a particular nasty looking Phyrexian before bashing it over the head with his staff. Dealing death to his last opponent in an area he teleported to yet another weakened zone.
A Screeching sound filled the air as bird like machines started swooping in from the air. Their whirling blades slicing through flesh and metal.
"PUSH FORWARDS MEN!!! THE FALCON ENGINES ARE HERE!!!" Hermione sigh of relief was cut short as another portal flash into view over the Phyrexians. Gunships began warping in and immediately started firing bolts of plasma upon the ground troops and falcon engines.
Harry was immediately pull aside as he slashed through another unit. "What?" Hermione heard him snap to the elven commander who had dragged him out of battle.
"We are loosing too much men my lord. We need to retreat." Harry stared at the elf silently debating with himself before answering. "Fine. Pull out slowly, I'll hold them back. Hold the line at the valley walls. I want the enemy to fight an uphill battle." The elf nodded and returned to the fight shouting out orders.
Hermione watched as Harry rose into the air and begun blasting a magnitude of spells into the enemy ranks. Every once in a while teleporting away to avoid a stay missile.
She managed to catch a glimpse of the spells used through the smoke; at least the large ones. A red beam, and a whirlwind of fire kicked up and begun sucking up the enemy's troops. A green beam, a wall of brambles grew in the path of the Phyrexians ensnaring those unlucky enough to approach. A Black beam and a swamp winked into existence trapping more Phyrexians. A blue beam and most of the Phyrexians hit became inactive allowing the remaining elves to cut them down. Dropping out of the air when he became to conspicuous a target he landed before Hermione, right in the midst of the melee. Harry stretched out his hand and released bolts of lightning from his fingertips. In a sweeping gesture he fried and demolished the troops in the immediate vicinity. This was hopeless, because as soon as a Phyrexian warrior fell another filled its place.
Harry was beginning to show signs of tiredness as he soon switched to powerful, but more wizard's like spells. His rapid spell casting was interrupted, when what sounded like a cell phone went off within his robes. Hermione was astounded. A cell call during a battle? Harry vanished in a swish of his cloak and reappeared beside Ron. Ron jumped and gave off a squeak at the sudden intrusion of his personal space. Hermione gave a short snort as she tried to conceal her laugh.
The Walker reached into his robes to pull out what Hermione thought looked indeed like a cell phone. "Give me good news... Excellent... Deploy them now." Shutting the phone Harry, waved his staff and the elf commander appeared before him.
The commander blinked in shock. He had been engaged in single battle with a Phyrexian Howler at one moment and the next he was floating before his commander.
"Change of plans general. Reinforcements are arriving. Tell your men to advance." The general furrowed his brows in confusion before nodding. With a wave of Harry's staff the general was gone.
"Time to turn the battle." Harry muttered to himself before winking away.
Her attention was now thrown to Fariahlia who was wielding a staff and shockingly, a whip. Unlike a normal whip she saw in most movies, this one was constructed out of interlinked blades. She was dispatching off her opponents with ease and fluid grace. Ron following the green clad Walker turned and gave Hermione a wave. He had apparently spotted her as her as her blue nightgown stood out among the red, black and silver.
Fariahlia bent low as a giant crab like unit reared up before her. A giant pincer clamped onto her, lifting her from the ground. Hermione could hear the sound of snapping bones as the carapace cut into the Walker's sides. The pincers had apparently managed to crush the armor she was wearing. Relinquishing her whip in favor of a discarded soldier's sword stuck in the unit's steel armored carapace. She hurled the weapon and it embedded itself in the Phyrexian's back. With its severed spine the unit crashed to the ground.
Raising her staff and bringing it down upon the claw's joint. The end embedded between the scissoring plates. Yanking sideways she levered the claw open slightly. Hermione shook her head, Fariahlia should have instead tried to teleport out.
She watched as a smaller unit clambered over the downed creature's back to hew the Walker's head from her shoulders. Instead of defending herself Fariahlia closed her eyes and concentrated. A second later a blast erupted from the Walker. Both friend and foe were thrown away in the blast. Finally breaking out of the claw's grip she reached for her whip and rushed back into the fray.
All fighting suddenly drew to a halt when an almighty roar came from behind the elven lines. A fireball flew overhead and crashed into one of the many gunships of the Phyrexian army. As the smoke cleared out, one could see that half the gunship had been incinerated in the blast. The remaining pieces of the vehicle crashed into a nearby gunship causing both to go down in a flaming wreck.
At this the fighting begun again, except this time it seemed the Phyrexians seemed to be retreating. A barrage of rockets flew and more ships begun to burn and fall. The Phyrexians were in full retreat. Another roar sounded, the fury and power seemingly encouraging and lifting the moral of the troops.
Through the commotion of the battle Hermione could make out two words from both the elves and Phyrexians, "Steel Claws".
After and moment of curiosity Hermione discovered the source of the roars. A magnificent massive mechanical dragon crash landed before her. Its landing shook the ground and caused a few troops to stumble. It stood over four hundred feet tall and was cover in silver armor.
The sounds of gears clicking and hydraulics hissing was heard as the dragon raised one of its massive claws. Bringing it down in a wide sweeping motion it sent a whole platoon of Phyrexians into the air. It flared its wings and raised its head to let out another almighty roar.
"ONWARDS TROOPS!!! SLAY THEM ALL!!! LEAVE NONE ALIVE!!!" Harry's booming voice resounded. Hermione looked further up the dragon's frame. The light from the sun blinded her, but right at the top, standing upon the dragon's head was an unmistakable figure. 'Harry.'
"ONWARDS!!! TO VICTORY!!!"
With renewed vigor the elves rushed after the retreating Phyrexians cutting them down as they ran. The dragons blew fireballs and released its payload of rockets causing a wall of destruction and fire ahead. This effectively cut off the Phyrexian's retreat.
"KILL THEM!!! KILL THEM ALL!!!" Harry's commanding voice shouted
The scene dissolved and Hermione found herself standing beside Ron in a realm of total white.
"The both of you shouldn't be here." A calm voice spoke from behind them.
Author's Note:
Hello to all you happy people out there who don't have university exams. Those who do, I know your pain. Sorry but my updates will be a bit slow this month as I am having my exams at the moment.
Spells
Accio – A summoning charm; Used like this: Accio (Item Name)!
Alohomora – Unlocks doors.
Aparecium – Makes invisible ink appear.
Avis – Conjures birds.
Deletrius – Disintegrating spell.
Densaugeo – Makes the victims teeth enlarge.
Diffindo – Rips an object in half.
Dissendium – Opens a secret passageway to Hogsmeade through the humped back witch statue.
Enervate – Revives someone.
Engorgio – Enlarges things.
Expecto Patronum – A silvery wall that stands between the wand bearer and a dementor. If powerful enough a corporal patronus will form.
Expelliarmus – Disarms whoever the wand is aimed at.
Ferula – Bandages a wounded body part on whoever the wand is aimed at.
Finite Incantatem – Can stop and negate most spells is user is powerful enough.
Furnunculus – Gives you boils.
Incendio – Creates flames.
Inpedimenta – The Impediment Curse slows an object down.
Impervious – Repels water from whatever the bearer's wand is aimed at.
Locomotor Mortis – Stops someone from moving their legs.
Lumos – Makes light come out of the end of the bearer's wand.
Mobiliarbus – Hovers objects.
Mobilicorpus – Creates invisible strings used to move things.
Nox – Puts out light from bearers wand.
Obliviate – Charm that destroys a person's memory.
Orchideous – Makes flowers come out of the bearer's wand.
PeskipiksiPesternomi – Useless spell developed by Lockhart, supposed to round up pixies.
PetrificusTotalus – Full body-bind.
PointMe – Four point spell, points to north; Makes the bearer's wand act like a compass.
PriorIncantato – Reveals previous spell(s) conjured by a wand.
Quietus – Makes voice quieter.
Reducio – Decreases the size of something.
Reducto – The Reductor Curse blasts solid objects out of the way.
Relashio – Releases things.
Reparo – Fixes broken objects.
Rictusempra – Makes whoever bearer's wand is aimed at laugh.
Riddikulus – A laughter charm.
Serpensortia – Makes a snake come out of the bearer's wand.
Sonorus – Makes the bearer's wand act as a microphone.
Stupefy – Stunning spell.
Tarantallegra – Makes a person dance uncontrollably; Makes whoever bearer's wand is aimed at legs move.
Waddiwasi – Shoots objects at a high speed; In book 3 Professor Lupin uses it to send gum up Peeves nose.
Wingardium Leviosa – Makes things levitate.
Unforgivable Curses
Imperio – The Imperius Curse gives total control to the bearer of the wand.
Crucio – The Cruciatus Curse is total pain to receiver of the curse.
Avada Kedavara – The Killing Curse.
The Dark Mark
Morsmorde – Sends the Dark Mark into the sky.
Review Replies:
Gallandro-83: What I'm planning for Harry? Why my dear Gallandro-83, the general idea is kick Death Eater butt, kick scaly snake's butt, reform the wizarding world, get the girl and retire for just one peaceful year. The DEMON will be explained in later chapters. Ah yes, Walkers can be hurt and killed, just not easily, then again that also applies to old Montyshorts who survived the killing curse as well. Since you can't kill a Walker by the body, go for the mind.
Yugioh/Potter/Pokemon fan: Infinite power? Nope, but he's pretty close to it.
Clingon Warrior Girl: Thanks. Duels are pretty hard to write if you think about it.
BloodRedSword: Thanks and nope this isn't slash.
Nogoalielikeme: Thanks. The DEMON will be explained in the next chapter, or so I think. And yes Harry, the DEMON and a couple of Walkers were allied.
Egyptian Flame: Thanks.
Khadon: Finally, someone figured it out. Yup I nicked a few ideas from MTG. Thanks. Have a cookie. (Always wondered why they said that phrase.)
Rkhiara: Thanks.