Chapter 12

The Attack

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

As always the pub was packed with students, teachers and shoppers. They found their three friends at a table near the back of the room. Seamus was showing Neville what he had bought in Zonko's joke shop. Harry brought the drinks while Ron got three more chairs.

As soon as lunch was over the six friends parted once more. Ron was so impressed with the items Seamus had got in Zonko's that they decided they would have to go there first.

"It's wicked" Ron said for the hundredth time, "Did you see it change colour?"

Hermione sighed. "Ron, I need to get school supplies, can't we get those first? At this rate I'll get nothing I need on my list."

"But Hermione, you heard Neville he said there weren't that many left and just think of the fun we'll have. Did you see it change colour?"

Harry laughed and Hermione groaned, "Fine, Zonko's first but then Blotts and Flourish okay"

"Now that's the Hermione I love, I mean we love, yeah we love" Ron coughed going red and walking a little faster. Harry smiled and walked faster to keep up with his friends.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

On the way to Blotts and Flourish Hermione shivered, "It's got really cold, hasn't it? The wind is starting to pick up" she said as she wrapped her cloak around her shoulders.

Harry looked around, people were obviously getting colder and then he realised why,

"Oh no!" he whispered. "Hermione, Ron move, the Dementors are here in Hogsmeade. That's why it's gone cold."

As the Dementors swooped down the villagers and students started to run.

"Go! Get away from here" Harry demanded to his friends, "I'll try and keep them off"

"Harry, be careful" Hermione shouted.

Harry ran to the centre of the road and drew his wand. "Expecto Patronum" he shouted and the white mist burst from his wand. The barrier held off some of the Dementors but his right hand started to shake.

"Concentrate" he told himself, "You've done this a dozen times. Concentrate"

A burst of pain shot through his scar and Harry's happy thought vanished. He fell to his knees in pain and dropped his wand hand. Harry looked up and saw the Dementors attacking; he fought the pain in his scar and tried to stand. Raising his wand he shouted with all his might,

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!"

This time Prongs the Stag appeared and quickly got to work.

Further up the street he saw Aurors arrive and join in the battle. Harry dropped his hand when he saw the last Dementor vanish. Placing his hands on his knees he was breathing really heavily. His head throbbed so he knew it wasn't over and his "feelings" were proven correct when he heard the familiar popping noise of people apparating. Harry ran to a side shop and watched as Voldermort's Death Eaters arrived.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>.

With the Dementors gone there was a lot more fighting back from the villagers.

"Expelliarmus" he heard a man shout.

"Stupefy" another called.

"Protego" a third yelled.

"Petrificus Totalus" a girl's voice screamed.

Harry recognised Hermione's voice and Ron's followed. Up along the street Harry saw Dumbledore and the Aurors fight back, they were like an army. His scar ached but he couldn't stand around and just watch, he ran out of his hiding place and stunned, hexed and fought every Death Eater he came across. One by one the Death Eaters and villagers dropped to the ground.

When Harry thought there couldn't possibly be anymore his scar exploded with pain.

"Agghhhh" he screamed falling to his knees.

His hands covered his forehead and he felt really sick. He had to move if he remained where he was in the middle of the street one of the Death Eaters would get him or worse Voldermort himself. He couldn't understand, his scar hurt before but why was it so bad this time?

He wasn't going to leave Voldermort control him he was going to fight. Using every bit of energy in his body he ignored the pain at the front of his head. Voldermort was really close but he hadn't shown his face. Harry didn't think Voldermort himself would appear it wasn't like him to show up in the middle of a town on a Saturday afternoon, but Voldermort was stronger now he wasn't the weak body-less form anymore. He had been reborn and was stronger than ever and as Harry stood watching, waiting he remembered what Voldermort had said in the Chamber of Secrets about rising again and that's exactly what he did.

"It's him" he heard one man shout, "He who-must-not-be named, I saw him."

Harry's heart stopped. One of the smaller shops exploded into flames and Harry saw the Dark Mark rise in the sky above the shop.

"Brilliant, just brilliant" Harry said

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Dumbledore ran over to Harry "Get yourself away from here, the Order and I will deal with Voldermort"

"The who?" Harry questioned

"We don't have time Harry, please do as I ask."

As Dumbledore went to fight Voldermort, Harry ran to find somewhere safe; he was still a target from Voldermort's Death Eaters. Stunning spells shot up and down the streets. Harry was shouting every incantation he could think of. As three Death Eaters approached at the same time Harry shouted,

"Tarantallegra"

Six legs started to dance and this was the distraction Harry needed to get away. As he headed away he shouted,

"Petrificus Totalus"

There was a thump and three bodies fell to the ground. Running as fast as he could someone shouted,

"Impedimenta"

Harry didn't look back to see who cast the spell but he quickly dropped and rolled to the right dodging the spell. As Harry hid down a side alley he saw another blast of light and he quickly ran to the far end of the alleyway. Breathing heavily he came through the far exit and nearly ran straight into Lucius Malfoy. His scar burst with pain, if Lucius was there no doubt Voldermort was very near.

"Stupefy" he whispered, not giving his hiding place away.

As Malfoy fell forward Harry ran back up the alleyway he had just run down and stood very still with his back to the wall. He wished he had his father's invisibility cloak with him.

"I heard someone run down here" he heard as Harry clamped his hand over his mouth so his breathing wasn't heard. He stealthy walked back up keeping his back to the wall with his wand hand ready.

"I'm not going down there" the second Death Eater said. "The Dark Lord said we were to watch our backs, there's no way I'm walking into the darkness"

"Don't say Lumos" Harry thought "Or I'm done for" but the voices got further and further away.

The army Dumbledore had called the Order were busy fighting Voldermort a few shops away and suddenly Harry felt very weak and unstable. Had he been hit without realising it? Something wasn't right, but it wasn't his scar that was making him feel this way. Harry fell to his knees, grabbing on to his wand as if that would take the pain away. He didn't know what to do, which way to go or stay where he was. He squinted back up the alleyway, he thought he saw Hermione in the distance but he wasn't sure. Everything hurt and on his knees he crawled to the entrance of the alleyway.

A spell hit Voldermort square in the chest and Harry cried out in the darkness.

"Stop, please, make it stop"

Hermione was at the entrance, like Harry she was looking for a safe place to hide. A scream echoed from the alleyway behind her.

"Harry" she thought. "Harry I'm coming. Lumos" she said and her wand lit up the cobbled alleyway and she saw Harry on his knees. Hermione turned to her friend,

"Harry, what is it? Have you been hit?"

"I don't think so" he stammered, "but you have to make it stop"

As Hermione came in and out of focus Harry knew she was very concerned. She tried to get Harry to stand with a lot of effort but he couldn't so she got him to lean his head on her knees.

"Where's Ron when I need him?" she said faking a laugh to keep Harry conscious. "HELP!" she screamed as Harry yelled in pain.

"Hermione" Ginny's voice was heard "What happened?"

"Make them stop" Harry whispered.

"Make who stop?" Ginny said.

"I don't know, he's rambling" Hermione looked concerned.

"Mione" Harry whispered, "Get help. Make them stop the attack. I can feel every hex, please help me."

"Oh my gosh" Hermione said finally realising what was wrong. "Ginny, get Dumbledore, Harry can feel every attack on Voldermort.

As Ginny went to get Dumbledore Hermione thought, "He must be in pain for ages. Dumbledore and the Order have been fighting Voldermort for a while now"

"Ms Granger" Dumbledore's voice was heard at the entrance of the alleyway.

"Quick Professor, you need to stop the fight, Harry is feeling the effects of every hit"

Dumbledore saw the pain etched all over the boy's face when Voldermort was hit from behind. Running out, raising his voice Dumbledore shouted,

"Voldermort, leave here and take your minions. There has been enough blood shed for one day. I command you to leave."

Voldermort raised his bony hand and his Death Eaters stopped.

"Round one to me Dumbledore," he laughed.

There was a popping noise and Voldermort with his Death Eaters had disapparated, leaving Hogsmeade village quiet once more.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>

People started to pick themselves up off the ground, others started to look for loved ones. Dumbledore ran back to Harry and very gently he picked the boy up into his arms.

Ron saw Hermione, Ginny and Dumbledore across the street and he ran straight over.

"He's not!" Ron stuttered with fear in his eyes. "Tell me, he's not, Hermione?"

"No, not this time" Dumbledore answered, "but Harry needs medical attention and quickly. Harry will be okay Mr. Weasley, don't worry. Now if you would excuse me, I need to get this boy to Hogwarts. Will you and Ms. Granger please round everyone up and inform them that I'm with Harry, in case they start to look for us and worry?"

As Dumbledore walked off still holding Harry in his arms Ron placed his arm around Hermione's shoulders and said,

"He'll be okay, he's a fighter."

Lupin saw the three of them and thinking the worst ran over to them.

"Harry, Dumbledore," he started, "What happened, where are they?"

"It's okay Remus" Ron said. "Dumbledore is fine, but Harry" he paused.

"What about him?" Lupin questioned with fear in his eyes, "Ron, what about him?"

"Harry got hurt" Hermione whispered, "So Dumbledore has taken him to the hospital wing. He collapsed over there. He was in so much pain" she stopped looking at her old teacher, tears swimming in her eyes. "He cried out for help, I've never heard him ask for help before, he's always so brave."

Ron wrapped his arms around her shoulder more.

"Did he say anything else?" Lupin said softly.

Hermione was staring out on to the pavement looking past everyone trying to think.

"He said he could feel it everytime Voldermort was hit, Remus, he felt everything."

"Oh, my word" Lupin said, "We'd better get back to the castle. Ron will you please take your sister and Hermione back to your common room, and call for some tea, I think everyone could do with some."

Ron nodded and they headed back to the school.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Later in Dumbledore's office once more Snape leaned against the fireplace and Lupin was pacing up and down.

"Something isn't right Albus" Lupin said using the Headmaster's first name for the first time. "His scar shouldn't be bleeding. We know he always felt Voldermort's emotions, but the way he collapsed today it was like Voldermort was a voodoo doll, and everytime he was hit our Harry felt it ten times worse."

Realising he was now shouting Lupin stopped and raised his hand in an apologetic way.

"I'm afraid" Dumbledore said walking over to his Phoenix Fawkes. "I'm afraid" he repeated, "that I may know the answer. It was only after Ms. Weasley ran to me and asked us to stop fighting that I saw it for myself."

"Headmaster, could you please get to the point" Snape interrupted

"Yes, you are right Severus."

Sitting back down behind his desk the headmaster continued.

"Before Harry was born a prophecy was made."

"A prophecy" Snape repeated "and what did this prophecy say?"

Dumbledore continued as if the prophecy was in front of him and he was reading it.

"The one with the power to vanquish the Dark Lord approaches…born to those who have thrice defied him. Born as the Seventh Month dies and the Dark Lord will mark him as his equal"

When Dumbledore finished telling the prophecy, Lupin had his elbows on his knees and his hands supported his head. Lifting his head he said,

"So the prophecy was keeping them both alive today. Harry has to be the one to stop Voldermort."

Snape wiped his hands across his mouth in a thinking manner before saying,

"Does Potter know of this prophecy?"

Dumbledore shook his head.

"No he does not, and I don't think he should be told. He has enough to worry about."

"And what about Voldermort, is he aware of the prophecy?" Lupin questioned

"I can not answer that Remus" Dumbledore said closing his eyes for a few seconds. "I can't answer that because I do not know. I am sorry."

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

End of chapter