1Chapter 9

On the Way to Hogwarts

Harry slowly got off the train again, accompanied by Ron and Hermione, who had decided to neglect their prefect duties so they could stay with Harry. He appreciate their concern more than the would ever know, but his thoughts were elsewhere. Why had he dreamed of something so...horrific? Leaving Hogwarts, attacking the Fat Lady, and killing Ron. All of these actions reminded him of the things Sirius was blamed for when everyone thought he was a Death Eater.

"Harry, do you want to get in?" asked Ron in a confused voice.

Harry realized that he had been standing in the doorway of a carriage for a couple of minutes without moving at all. He slowly came back to himself and started his way up onto the carriage, taking a seat next to Hermione, who had already entered. Hermione looked at him with worry, but said nothing.

It was a quiet ride on the way up to the Castle, yet nobody seemed to have any objections to this. Ron was still contemplating upon the absence of Malfoy, Hermione looked out the window, staring at the cloudy night sky, and Harry kept on analyzing his dream. All of them were so preoccupied in thought, they missed the sight of a cloaked man who made a quick movement right outside of their carriage, before it caught fire.

"Anyone smell that?" asked Ron, sniffing around the carriage. It smells like something burning!"

Harry began to smell it too, and quickly realized what was going on.

"Jump!" ordered Harry as he flung himself out of the carriage.

Ron and Hermione followed immediately after, hitting the ground hard right next to Harry. They all turned around to see something much worse than just one burning carriage. All of the carriages had been set on fire, and Death Eaters were all over the place, attacking student with Unforgivable Spells. Harry hastily pulled out his wand as Ron did the same, and turned to Hermione.

"Hermione, go up to the castle, and get Dumbledore!' yelled Ron, as he moved towards the fires and Death Eaters with Harry.

Hermione nodded and rapidly scurried off towards the castle.

Ron and Harry moved to the carriage right behind theirs, where screams could be heard. Ash and smoke emitted from the inside of the carriage, yet Harry approached it anyway.

"Agugio!" said Harry, pointing his wand towards the carriage.

Water suddenly came pouring out, but it was clearly not enough to stop the fires. Ron also did a water spell, yet even their combined efforts were in vain. Harry saw no other choice, so he signaled to Ron, and they both went diving into the flames, straight into the carriage.

At first, Harry thought he had died and gone to Hell, but the screaming voices of Ginny, Neville and Colin Creevy made him think otherwise.

"Ron!" yelled Harry. Grab Ginny, I'll get Neville and Colin!"

Ron's head was easily lost camouflaging in the red flame with his hair, but he was certain he received a nod, before seeing Ginny grabbed and pulled out. Harry moved towards Colin and threw him out of the carriage. But Neville wouldn't budge.

"Go Neville!" yelled Harry. Get out!"

It was evident that Neville's fear would not allow him to leave the carriage. There was nothing else Harry could do, as the fire began to catch to his cloak. He gave one last fleeting look to Neville before jumping out.

Just moments later, the carriage broke down, still burning harshly. There was no sight of Neville.

But new screams coming from carriages further down drew away Harry's attention. Ron was already there, wand drawn at Death Eaters. Harry ran down to assist him. As he got closer, he noticed that Seamus was there, attempting to hold off the Death Eaters.

There were three Death Eaters, each looking more notorious than the next. Yet, as always, there faces were cloaked by masks. Harry charged at one of them dueling Ron and yelled, "Stupefy!"

The Death Eater fell instantly to the ground, stunned and motionless. The second Death Eater, perturbed by the failure of his fellow accomplice, quickly took cover with the third Death Eater behind a burning carriage.

"Rainew...I think that...was it Harry Potter?" asked the second Death Eater to the third one, seeming both excited and afraid. If we took his head, we...we would have the highest chain of the command next to our Lord!"

Rainew slowly peeled off his mask, because of the atrocious heat coming from the fires and replying, "Yes, but it is essential that we eliminate all of the children, and not just the Potter boy, lest the Lord has told you otherwise."

The second Death Eater was about to shake his head no, but before he could, the carriage toppled over him and Rainew, killing him instantly, and leaving Rainew severally burned.

Harry, Ron and Seamus had all used a Fortios spell to push the carriage over. Harry assumed both Death Eaters to be dead, so he didn't notice Rainew crawling out from beneath the carriage, flames slowly devouring his body inch by inch. Rainew weakly pulled out his wand and fired at Seamus yelling, "Avada Kedavra!"

There was a blinding flash of green light as Seamus's body fell limply to the ground. At the exact same moment, Rainew gave one last deep breath, and fell to the ground, also dead. Harry couldn't believe what was happening, that two people in his dormitory had just been killed. Two people he had been planning to spend the rest of the evening with, playing Exploding Snap, with Ron and Dean Thomas.

It now dawned upon Harry why Malfoy wasn't at school. His father was a Death Eater, of course! He didn't want Malfoy to get caught in the fray. Harry should've known!

The rest of the battle didn't seem to be faring any better than Harry and Ron's situation. There were not many student that were on the ground and not moving, yet many seemed injured and even more seemed missing. Harry only hoped that they had ran away, yet he knew that there was a much higher chance they were kidnapped.

Interrupting Harry's thoughts, Hermione came rushing over, sweat trickling down her forehead from running so fast for so long.

"Dumbledore is here Harry, we got separated, but he is coming with the teachers and-"

At the top of a hill overlooking the whole battlefield, Dumbledore's figure could be spotted, gleaming white from the cloak he was wearing.

"Death Eaters of rot and dust!" he yelled furiously, like Harry had never seen him before. You have trespassed on Hogwarts soil, attacking my pupils, who will never feel safe on these grounds again!"

All the fighting had stopped, including the Death Eaters, who were all watching Dumbledore in fear and awe.

"I shall now dispose of you FOREVER!" bellowed Dumbledore, as he waved his wand.

There was not flash of green light, or anything of enough evidence to make us understand why the Death Eaters died. But they did. One by one, they slowly fell to the hard, dirt ground. They made desperate noises and please for help from their Dark Lord. Yet Voldemort was nowhere to be seen.

Harry could remember Dumbledore's figure staring at the lost lives of his pupils, staring at Harry. Suddenly, a carriage's fire went out of control, and exploded. A chunk of wood made contact with Harry's head, and he knew no more.