Chapter 11

To Battle!

In Whitewall in Central London, just a few minutes walk from Houses of Parliament and on the edge of Buckingham Palace is Number 10 Downing Street, which traditionally has housed the British Prime Minster. Downing Street houses many of the senior officers of state and thus has many security measures and guards in place at all time. Today as it had been in the past several months, additional security was in place, though not known to anyone but the Prime Minster.

"Mr. Shacklebolt, may I have a word with you?"

Standing tall a strapping man in his mid-30s entered the office holding a pad of paper and prepared to take notes. Moving smartly into the office, he stood erect before the Head of State. "Yes, Sir. How can I be of service, Sir?"

"Ummm, I'm not exactly sure how to ask this. I have been informed by ummm, someone that you are. No, no what I am try to say is…my counter part across the pond has told me that he is experiencing similar problems to that we are having here in England. He was wondering if the problems we are having may be crossing the ocean and should he be concerned. Am I uh making any sense to you?

"Perfectly sir. You are asking if the United States will be having dark wizarding problems similar to what we are having here," His deep voice resonated across the room as he looked squarely at the face of the man in front of him, "That is what you are asking isn't it sir?"

"Yes, yes. So it is true then? You really are a magician of sort?"

"Magician, oh no sir. I'm a wizard, an Auror to be exact. That is a member of the Magical Law Enforcement community. In my case, the Ministry of Magic employs me. As for your other question, I'm not sure what is happening over there. I could check with my superiors if you wish."

"So it's decided. We really don't need much from the Minister. Mostly just information and access to something items in the Department of Mysteries, reopening the school, telling them to stop wasting their time with the pamphlet hunt." Harry was reading off the board that Ron had poorly scribbled on.

"Now Ron, I really don't think it is within the power of the Minister to make the Chudley Cannons win," smiling at his oldest friend.

Turning back to the group in a more serious tone, Harry addressed the group again. "Now there is a couple of things I'd like. One. Throw Umbridge in Azkaban, two make Fudge her roommate and three, free any others who are falsely imprisoned."

Turning to Hermione to insure she understood. "I really don't trust who and what I see at the Ministry. Too many spies like the bird back at the Burrow. I think we should keep our eyes open for anything that seems even a little suspicious. Also, if anyone is asking too many questions, well I think you get the idea. It will be just Ron and myself going in. If something seems odd outside, Hermione will come in. Gin and Mad-Eye will be outside watching out for our backs." Ron beamed; this was his part of the plan. He had discussed it prior to the meeting with Harry. It was good and sound.

"Why Gin? Why doesn't see come in with us." Hermione asked. She wasn't privy to that meeting.

"Because, I can feel her emotions to some degree. It will be a sign to me that something is really going on."

Turning, he continued, "Molly and Arthur, I would like you to stay back. Keep and eye on Remus and start contacting the Order. We will want a meeting tonight to go over what has happened in the last few days. Arthur, I would like you to contact Hermione's parents and see if you could convince them to stay here instead. It will be safer."

The worried look on her face told me she hoped they would take him up on the offer. Although they hadn't discussed it, not even mentioned in fact, he knew she was worried about their safety. She didn't see too happy when they left the Burrow to go home. Even if it was warded and under watch.

Now facing the last of his inner team "Luna and Neville? I have a special job for you. First you need to contact your folks and let them know your OK. They haven't heard from you in several days. If you want to invite them here, you are more then welcome too. Just remember, that they can't find the place and you can't tell them where we are. When it's time, we will go get them, so they'll need to be packed. I think I would feel better if we didn't have to worry about them being out there with the DeathEaters."

Reading from a parchment in his hands "Next, I need another secure way to contact everyone. It has to be something simple and have two, preferably four codes that can be sent but not understood by anyone but those it is intended for. "

"You mean something like the coins Hermione made for the DA," Neville replied

"Yea, something like that."

Almost breaking down the door, Hagrid rushed into to see the professor. "Minerva, we have to leave. I am going to ring the alarm. The castle is under attack."

"What are you going on about Hagrid? What is there to attack? There is no reason to attack. The only ones here are you, Mr. Filch, Firenze and a bunch of houselves."

"The Acromantula, they have gathered thousands and they are leaving the forest and heading out. Some are coming this way and others are heading towards town." Hagrid was winded. He pointed towards the windows.

"Oh my. Ring the bell, and have Argus meet us at the top of the Astronomy Tower. I will send a message to the Ministry." Hastily she ran towards the stairs "Hurry!"

From the top she yelled down, "And don't forget the elves."

"I'll take that message to the Minister." Mr. Fudge plucked the message from the errand boy. Looking about him, he opened the sealed scroll and read the contents.

Minister Scrimgeour,

The grounds of Hogwarts and Hogsmeade are under attack by Acromantula. Although the school has been closed, there are still staff members at the school. I have no means to get the community emptied. I am having everyone evacuate. I understand that literally thousands of these creatures are heading in our directions. Please send help.

Minerva McGonagall

Headmistress

Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Smiling, he crumpled the note and pocketed it.

Pacing his office, the Minister of Magic was talking to himself again. "What am I to do? Attacks everywhere, Muggles getting suspicious, what else could happen?"

"Well, now that you mention it, I just left Hogwarts and you should be getting a message from Professor McGonagall requesting assistance with the attack at Hogsmeade and Hogwarts." The portrait above the fireplace spoke with an air of authority.

"What? What attack? I haven't heard anything about a attack." Opening the door, he yelled "Weasley?"

"Yes, Minister"

"Have I received a message from Hogwarts?"

"No, sir. I will check the post for incoming messages."

"It appears that an attack by thousands of Acromantula from the forest is underway."

Turning he grabbed some floo powder and tossed it in to the fireplace.

"Trifle," he yelled

"Yes, Minister?" A portly man's face appeared in the green flames.

"What have we got to fight a army of Acromantula?"

The portly face broke out in a grin, "Heliopaths? We can have them there in two shakes." Excitement could be heard from him.

"Well, get them to the forest at Hogwarts and the outskirts of Hogsmeade. They must be stopped."

"Yes Minister" the face said as it vanished.

Speaking to no one in particular, since he was in an empty room again "What's a Heliopath?"

"This is not our fight Bane," An old gray mare was addressing the leader. "We should leave. Go deeper into the forest."

"Yes, we must leave," echoed another centaur.

Turning to address the herd, Bane spoke, "Are we Centaurs or whimpering dogs that run for fear? We will fight for our home."

From the darkness of the trees and lone centaur stepped out. "We are Centaurs, and Centaurs don't run."

"Firenze, what are you doing here?" asked another.

"I have come to fight beside my brothers. I may not be welcomed among the herd, but I will not leave the home of my fathers to insects. You have seen the skies; you know what is to come. This is only the beginning. I will stand and fight for what I believe in."

"What is that noise? Are they here?" A smaller centaur moved towards the front.

"No, it is balls of living fur, moving on the ground. They are going towards the battle. Brave little ones. They are an example for all of us. To battle!" Bane turned to Firenze "Lead the way, Brother."

"A post was received for the Minister and sent down to the office." An elderly witch was behind a counter looking in a massive book. "Cornelius Fudge was the receiver."

Looking perplexed, Percy Weasley spoke softly and directly to the witch. "Thank you. Mention this conversation to no one."

Racing out of the room, he headed to the Aurors Office. Seeing one he recognized, he called "Dawlish, find Fudge and detain him in the lockup. Something is wrong here, and I intend to find out just what it is. Don't let him be seen by anyone and turnout his pockets."

Ten giant winged fire creatures appeared above and just outside the grounds of Hogwarts. Bodies as big as large whales, but trunks that extended from their faces. They floated above the ground burning everything below. The mythical heliopaths had arrived.

Fire encased the grounds as the spiders emerged from the forest. A wall of flame separated the insects from the school and town. As the fire grew, the spiders retreated only to be confronted by pygmy puffs. What had started as maybe 50 hairy balls of fur had grown to more than five hundred over the course of the day. They seemed to be attracted by the spiders. For to them, these were a delicacy. As the spiders raced by, the hair on the puffs extended and grabbed the spiders like the tongue of a toad, immobilizing them by breaking their legs. The piercing cry of the Acromantula could be heard for miles.

Centaurs separated the forest from the battle and destroyed any further attempts to retreat. After several hours of battle, the attack had been dispelled. The heliopaths did not know they should stop the burning and continued to lay waste to the grounds. As the tiny pygmy puffs ate their prey, the flames of the heliopaths too consumed them. The centaurs stood and watched horror as the defenders were slaughtered. As quickly as they appeared the winged creatures disappeared, leaving behind scorched ground and a thankful, but bewildered herd.

"Minister? I think you should see this." Percy Weasley looked happy to have accomplished something important for once.

"You asked me to look in to the message that was sent from Hogwarts. The message was intercepted before arriving at your office by what was reported as Cornelius Fudge." Both were walking towards the holding cells used for interrogations by the Minister.

"So where's Fudge?" The Minster was looking through the holding cell door.

"That is what I am trying to say sir. We don't know. This man was disguised as Fudge. I had him picked up by Dawlish, and held. Dawlish reported that within a half hour, he changed into this man."

Comprehension was shown upon his face as he looked to his assistant. "Polyjuice Potion. Find out who he is, have the Aurors interrogate him and take him to Azkaban. Then see me, I just received word that Potter will be here within the hour."

Still under the cover of his invisibility cloak and following Percy Weasley, Draco Malfoy beat a hasty exit.