Chapter 5

Harry stood calmly as the werewolves charged down on his position. He ignored the fear, the urging of his mind to turn and run, he smiled, at least as closely as is possible for a wolf, and rushed to meet the attack, he leapt past Greyback, his fangs tearing a deep gash down the werewolf's thigh, and continued on, careful to stay beyond the reach of the attackers.

He noticed Ginny doing the same, and thought, "Smart girl, the two of us can't match the werewolves in strength, but we're faster, just keep out of their way, let Ron and Lupin fight them in close, and slip in when they aren't ready for it." He saw her pounce onto the exposed back of a werewolf, gripping with fangs and front claws, raking with the back legs, claws stripping flesh from bone. The werewolf twisted trying to reach the panther, but she jumped clear, and as the werewolf turned, Ron, the bear reared back on hind legs and struck, his massive front paws shattering bone as he slammed the werewolf's head into the brick wall of a neighboring building.

Harry turned back to Greyback and just managed to avoid the werewolf's jaws. Harry circled, staying just beyond Greyback's reach, and trying to keep the rest of the battle in sight. The werewolf Ron had hit lay against the wall, but it still moved feebly. Another werewolf lay unmoving at Lupin's feet. Harry couldn't see any serious injuries to his companions. He rushed Greyback again, trying to grab his leg again, but the werewolf was ready for him. Easily dodging Harry's attack, Greyback lunged, clamping his jaws on Harry's left front leg snapping the bone.

Hearing Harry's yelp of pain, Ginny reacted instantly, hopping onto the back of the closest werewolf, and leaping over another to pounce on Greyback from behind. Surprise and pain caused Greyback to release Harry's paw, letting him escape, but leaving Ginny cornered between three werewolves. Ignoring his own order to retreat if hurt, Harry transformed and lifted his wand reacting on instinct.

"Sectumsempra!"

One of the werewolves howled in pain, as several deep gashes appeared on his face, taking advantage of his distraction, Ginny darted past him and raked her claws across the calves of the werewolf Lupin grappled with. The creature's legs buckled, and Lupin slammed its head into the pavement his jaws ripping into its throat. Greyback reacted instantly, by tackling Lupin, and the two werewolves wrestled furiously, neither gaining the upper hand.

Harry fell back as the werewolf he had cursed rushed at him, diving into the telephone booth that disguised the entrance to the Ministry, and shoving the door shut with his foot. Harry reached up and dialed 624, but before he could finish, the werewolf reached through the broken glass, and Harry was forced to duck into the bottom of the booth. Laying in a tight ball, his feet braced against the door, Harry couldn't help but think, "Great killed in a phone booth by a werewolf, Lockhart made himself famous by telling people he survived this same situation." He tried to turn over to aim his wand, but felt the werewolf's claws brush his robes. Harry looked through the still intact lower glass and saw Ron and Ginny trapped against a wall by three werewolves while Lupin and Greyback continued their struggle in the middle of the street.

The fighters turned as a roar filled the narrow street from above, Harry stared as the bizarre sight materialized out of the night. Hagrid plummeted toward the ground upon a flying motorbike, his crossbow gripped in his left hand. Just behind him Grawp Hagrid's half-brother rode an elephant sized Abraxan horse, and brandished a massive club. The werewolf outside the phone booth turned to stare at the new arrivals as well, and Harry tore himself from the sight to yell, "Levicorpus!" The spell left the werewolf snarling in rage, but relatively harmless as he was dangling upside down about ten feet off the ground.

Hagrid released the motorbike about ten feet from the ground, letting it crash down atop one of the werewolves trapping Ron and Ginny. He dropped into a crouch and fired his crossbow at another. Grawp dismounted slowly behind him, ignoring the horse as it immediately returned to the air. The Giant looked around at the fight interested, and then plucked the still dangling werewolf out of the air and threw him at another. Greyback and his surviving fighters, retreated in the face of superior numbers, swimming rapidly across the swamp, urged on by several hexes from Harry, and another crossbow bolt from Hagrid. Harry slipped from the booth, holding his left arm gingerly.

Ginny rushed over to him, back in human form, "Harry! Are you alright?"

Harry smiled and carefully hugged her with his good arm, "I'm fine Gin, just a break."

Ginny kissed him lightly before turning to leap into Hagrid's arms, "Hagrid, we've missed you!"

Hagrid beamed down at them, "McGonagall thought yeh could use a hand. She's busy tryin' to get that Scrimgeour to believe Death Eaters are 'ere. He can't believe they'd try it."

Harry laughed, "Your timing was perfect. Ron, tell Hermione to get back up here with the twins, and a couple of others willing to risk the werewolves. We just need enough to guard the lift." Harry watched Ron dial the phone and sink out of sight, "We better get ready, they'll be coming soon."

Hagrid nodded, "Me an' Grawp'll help with that. Oh, almost forgot," Hargrid reached beneath his enormous coat and slipped a gleaming silver sword from a pocket, "McGonagall said you might need this, said with Dumbledore gone you're the one should have it. She said she woulda given it to yeh sooner, but you've been a bit hard to find."

Harry took the sword carefully and slipped it through his belt, "Thanks Hagrid," He turned to the group at large, "They'll be coming back any minute, small waves have failed, and the Ministry has apparation blocked. They've had plenty of time to bring in forces and so they'll probably attempt to overwhelm us with a massive charge, get someone into the atrium to lift the apparition block, and disapparate inside in force. We'll need more people to handle the attack, but Greyback and his like will be coming back. We're all immune to their bites, but most of the other's aren't.

"Hagrid, you and Grawp take the front with Ron and Lupin take down the werewolves immediately, they can't be allowed to infect anyone else. Ginny, you'll be behind them, if any werewolf gets through, it's yours. Hermione and I'll watch your back. The others will be behind us guarding the lift."

Ginny came back over to Harry and said, "Can you fight with that arm?"

Harry smiled, "I can't change, it won't support my weight well enough, and I don't have time to heal it here. Ferula," Instantly bandages appeared, wrapping his left forearm in a tight splint. Harry flexed his wrist, grimacing a little, "It'll have to do."

Ginny looked at him in silence for a few seconds, "I can't convince you to go down and get it healed can I?"

Harry smiled, "No, I'm not leaving you and the others to fight without me."

Ginny smiled too, "Good, that way if I get hurt you can't make me leave."

"If you're injured, you get on that lift right away," Harry ordered.

"If you won't, then I won't," Ginny shot back.

"You will, or I will stun you and put you on it," Harry said loudly as the lift rose into sight extremely crowded with Ron, Hermione, Fred, and George, "And that goes for all of you. You get hurt, you get to safety." He ignored the protests from the others and explained what he wanted them to do. By the time he finished, the lift had arrived again, this time carrying Tonks, Luna, and too Harry's consternation, Neville, his boneless left arm now strapped tightly to his body.

"Neville," Harry said, "You're going back down, you're too injured for this fight."

Neville just looked Harry straight in the eyes, and grabbed Harry's left arm with his good one, squeezing gently. Pain coursed through Harry's body, his knees buckled, but Neville caught him, and helped him back to his feet before saying, "You're hurt worse than I am, so if you're staying, then so am I."

Ginny grabbed Harry's good hand and said, "Couldn't have put it better myself Neville, Harry just can't handle having people he likes in danger."

Outnumbered, and facing immovable opponents, Harry gave up, "Fine, stay if you want." He called Luna over, and addressed Neville and her, "You're about to see a huge secret of ours. I need to know you won't tell anyone."

Neville and Luna instantly agreed.

Harry smiled, "Okay, your job is simple. Just Fred and George, and keep anything that gets past us from getting in the lift." As the pair went to their spots, Harry jogged to Tonks, who was busy scratching her husband behind the ears. "Tonks, I need you with Fred, George, Luna, and Neville. Watch their backs and make sure anything that gets past us doesn't get to the lift. Be careful, Greyback and his goons are still around, and we don't want anyone else to get your husbands furry little problem."

"Not a problem Harry," Tonks said, Lupin rose up, put his front paws on her shoulders, and licked her face. Tonks laughed and said, "I love you too," before turning to join the others at the lift. Lupin turned to look at Harry.

"If you kiss me, I'm putting you on a leash," Harry said smiling, "You know what to do?"

Lupin nodded and Harry moved down the line to Hagrid, "Grawp understands what we're doing?" he asked.

"Course he does," Hagrid said, "I told him to crush the bad Werewolves, but leave Lupin and Ron alone, and then to crush any of the bad things he wants."

Harry laughed, "If he does that, I don't think the death eaters have a chance, but what about you?"

Hagrid laughed, opening his coat to reveal a quiver of bolts for his crossbow, and a bright pink umbrella hung on his belt, "I figure get two maybe three shots off, as they come, and once they get here, use me wand to keep em off a Grawp."

Harry said, "Be careful," and walked past Hagrid and Grawp to where Ron stood with Hermione, "They'll be here soon."

Hermione nodded, Ron said, "You two better get back, neither one of you is fit for the front line."

Harry smiled, "I'm going, just wanted to make sure you're okay, and wish you luck."

Ron smiled, "Well you said it, now go away, I have some personal things to say to Hermione before the next attack, and there's a girl that wouldn't mind the same from you once you quit playing general."

"Not a bad idea," Harry said, grabbing Hermione and spinning her so his back was to Ron and kissing her on the cheek.

"I meant," Ron said laughing, pulling Hermione back into his arms, "That one over there," He pointed at Ginny, who was watching them with an amused look on her face.

"Oh," said Harry keeping a straight face, "Yeah, I like her better anyway." Harry walked over to Ginny.

"What exactly was that?" Ginny asked.

"Just lightening the mood a bit," Harry said grinning, "You're not jealous are you?"

"If you don't kiss me I might start," Ginny said. Harry complied happily, breaking apart reluctantly when Hermione tapped his shoulder.

"Be careful," Harry whispered as he walked toward the lift.

As he took his place beside Hermione, Luna called out, "So what's this secret we're going to see?"

"Harry laughed, "Just watch Ron and Ginny," the Weasley siblings were already changing, the Bear and Panther standing where just seconds ago a boy and girl stood.

"Oh," Neville said, "You're all Animagi?"

"Yeah," Harry said, "But my arm means I'm more effective like this…

"And my animal isn't exactly useful in this kind of situation," Hermione finished for him, "But you can see why you can't tell anybody."

"Cause it's illegal," Neville said.

"It's not as bad as what Scrimgeour is…" Luna began, but Harry waved her off, pointing at the dark shapes moving at the end of the alley. As they came closer Harry could make out the shapes of Greyback and his werewolves interspersed with the Inferi. A few Death Eaters moved behind this screen, along with what looked to Harry like trolls, and towering over the rest, a pair of Giants, both bigger than Grawp, carrying massive swords in their hands. Harry heard someone curse behind him, then as the enemy grew closer, he felt with sickening dread a cold clammy feeling as the lights began to fade. Looking up in shock, Harry saw them gliding across the rooftops above them, Dementors, more than forty of them. He whipped his wand from his pocket, Hermione mirroring his actions, and bellowed, "Expecto Patronum!" The sound of his voice masked by the clash as the front lines met.