Chapter 23

War Of the Worlds - Part Two

Outside the circle of brilliant flames, the battle continued on. Dumbledore watched his side fighting with all their strength, and he joined in also, doing everything he could. He kept looking toward the middle of the sea of chaos, all the time thinking about Harry. There was no protecting him now, he was on his own…

Paige followed her sisters as they forged a way through the dark army, making their way over to Buffy and Willows side as they had been separated. Piper expertly blew up any demon or warlock who happened to be insane enough to cross her path, Phoebe was almost as good as an actual Slayer when it came to fighting. She herself wasn't to bad since she had found out about her sisters, but she carried one of the many weapons Spike and Buffy had handed out from the room of requirement.

Buffy looked back at the line of students who had stayed by the castle, Spike gave a signal to them and they raised bows, complete with flaming arrows. She had a sudden flash back to her graduation and realised she should have come up with that idea as well as Spike. She herself was making her way back to the relative shelter of the castle walls, behind the order and Dumbldeore's followers, so that they could perform the spell to help Harry. Dawn was following her earnestly, wanting to be a part of it as well.

"Buffy, look," Dawn called out to her, pointing up at the sky. Buffy turned and looked and then she did a double take. The charmed ones were in trouble!

"Uh, guys," said Paige, pointing to the dark sky above them as she talked, her hand shaking. "Dragon!"

"I see it Paige," muttered Piper. "Any bright ideas anyone?"

"None coming to mind," answered Phoebe, trying to block out the sound of battle around them, trying to think of a way they could help.

"Any time now," Paige prompted her sister.

"I'm thinking, I ….ok. It's a long shot, but what about the first spell we ever cast?"

Piper looked sceptical. "The one we used to kill Jeremy? No offence Pheebs, but this is a freaking dragon we're talking about here. It's a little bit bigger then any demon or warlock we used that spell on."

"I know that. But at this point it's our only option isn't it? I mean everyone's…well, look around you Piper. They've got other thing's to deal with, and we have to help them."

"Fine," Piper relented. "The power of three will set you free…" they started the spell.

At first, nothing seemed to be working, and the dragon had to have really good hearing. It turned slowly in their direction, illuminated by the circle of flames and breathed more fire at the ground. Order members and enemies alike running before it.

"If we die because of this, I'm telling Mum, Grams and Prue this was your fault!" Piper told her sisters.

"Just keep up the spell," Paige answered.

Eventually, after what seemed like forever, the dragon slowly exploded into a shower of red and gold light.

"Wow. Cool fireworks!" was Paige's only comment. Her sisters turned to stare at her in amazement, looking tired and drained after all the energy and magic they had just used.

Paige grinned suddenly. "Hey…I always knew we could beat that thing…didn't I always say so? What's up with you? you guys look like you could sleep for a hundred years or something!"

"Paige…" started Phoebe warningly looking at Piper.

"Alrighty," said Paige brightly, ignoring them. "Next?"

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"Did anyone else just see that light show?" asked Gunn, protectively standing in front of Fred as they turned to watch the dragon exploding.

"The Charmed ones at their best," muttered Wesley.

"Yeah, well…that's a place we're not at," Gunn shot back at him.

"Guys…in the middle of a battle remember?" shouted Fred above the noise.

"At this point, I'm loath to admit it, but I'm actually missing…." Spike stopped. He hadn't realised he was talking out loud.

"Who?" asked Fred, holding a sword in front of her, actually putting up a good fight as they talked.

"Angel," Spike answered, running a demon through with his own weapon.

"Well…he's not here," Wesley shot back, gesturing across from them. "He's busy."

Spike looked in concern when he saw that Angelus had cornered Cordelia, who was lying on the ground covered with blood.

"Damn," he muttered and started to forge a way through the evil.

"Hey…we need you to!" shouted Fred, trying not to sound desperate.

Spike swore again, but his decision was made more quickly then he would have liked, when Fred was suddenly knocked unconscious

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Hermione refused to stay locked up in the castle for a second longer, not when everyone else was doing all they could to help Harry.

"It's stupid," she told Ron angrily. "We're his best friends….and we're sixth years. we've been through everything with him, and now this…"

"I'm with you," he agreed, nodding furiously. "But….he told us himself to stay here 'mione. We couldn't exactly argue, not in front of Dumbledore and Buffy."

"Let's take one of the tunnels," she said. "Where did he say they all were again?"

Ron thought for a second, then…"I remember. Come on, we're out of here."

As they walked towards the nearest secret passageway, they ran into the person they least wanted to see.

"Not now," Hermione told him, before he had a chance to speak.

"No…it's not what you think…" he protested. "I want to come with you."

Ron's mouth hung open in shock, but then his confusion cleared. "Oh yeah, I forgot you were all good now. How did that happen again?"

"You're fathers out there as well," said Hermione sceptically. "What if you run into him…"

Draco shrugged. "I'll take my chances."

"But if I were you…" she continued insistently.

"Look, Granger, you're not me. So let's get going."

When Ron, Hermione and Draco emerged from the tunnel, they stood and stared at the scene before them.

"Well, you did say you wanted to help Harry," said Ron weakly.

"Yes I did," said Hermione stubbornly. "So, come on."

Draco shared a look with Ron and shook his head. "Glad she's your girlfriend and not mine is all I've got to say," he told him.

"I don't see him anywhere," Ron told Hermione as they walked forward. "Or Voldemort actually." for a moment Hermione stared at him, it was the first time Ron had said his name.

"Ron, it's almost pitch black, I can barely see anything!" she finally shouted back over the noise.

"Anyone want to take bets? I'd say they're both behind that fireover there," said Malfoy, pointing.

Ron groaned. "Well, that's that then. We're finished. Doomed. It's the bloody end of the world…"

"Shut up Ron," said Hermione and Draco at the same time. Hermione didn't know who was more surprised, her or Malfoy.

Ron scowled at her. "Since when do you side with him against me? Not ever, not even when we're not speaking."

"I'm sorry," she amended quickly. "It's just, this is no time for us to loose it. We just have to think…" she suddenly let out a high pitched scream as a vampire came hurtling towards them.

"Get down!" someone shouted at them, and Hermione recognised Cole, one of Buffy's friends who had recently come to hogwarts. He began to fight the vampire, who soon disappeared before them.

"Thanks!" shouted Ron.

"What are you doing out…" he started in surprise, but then someone else was yelling for him.

Hermione turned to see some others surrounded by a huge group of warlocks and other dark creatures, and one of them had fallen to the ground. "Be careful!" Cole told her, before rushing off to help.

"Come on, this way!" she shouted pulling Ron along with her after Cole.

"Are you crazy?" he shouted back at her, resisting and pulling out of her grip.

They soon reached them, Cole was now fighting alongside Spike and Gunn, and Leo was kneeling beside Fred, a golden glow spreading out of his hands.

Ron gaped at him. "What are you doing?" he asked. "What are you?"

Leo looked up at them. "I'm trying to help her. The wounds deep, that's why it's taking so long!"

Fred suddenly started to cough, and was struggling to sit up. Gunn glanced down at them both. "She ok?" he asked.

Leo nodded. "She will be."

He looked at Ron and Hermione. "Think you can help us look after her?" he asked.

Hermione nodded.

"Leo, incoming troll, look out!" said Wesley.

Hermione looked up, trying to control the terror she felt. She remembered the last time she had seen one of these things, back in her first year at school. It was still as horrifying for her now, but sheheld up her wand. She was more powerful now.

Strong chains shot out from her wand and wrapped themselves around the troll's feet. It let out an angry roar, and collapsed to the ground. Ron joined in yelling out "Stupefy!" and the troll fell unconscious.

Leo, Wesley and Cole turned to stare at them in amazement.

"What?" asked Ron defensively. "Not the first time I've taken out a troll. I am a wizard remember?"

"Spike," said Fred, gaining their attention. "Go help Cordelia!"

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Remus ducked and weaved through the streaks of light from wands as curses were aimed and hit their targets, trying not to get hit himself. He had to get to Harry, to find a weakness in the barrier around him and Voldemort…he had to help him. He didn't care that everyone else said Harry was the only one who could defeat him. He owed it to James Lily and Sirius to make sure that he survived. After all, they and everone elsehad spent so long trying to protect him….he couldn't stop now could he?

"Remus look out!" called out Mad Eye from somewhere behind him. Remus turned and saw a hideous looking demon crawling towards him. "Expelliarmus!" he shouted and light shot from his own wand. After the spell had taken effect, he turned to see what had happened to his friend.

"No!" he cried out, but he couldn't get there in time. Mad Eye fell to the ground as something to horrible to look at attacked him from behind. Remus shot a curse and it exploded, but to late. Mad eye's eyes were open wide, but he wasn't seeing anything.

"Albus," Remus shouted as they nearly ran into each other. "He's dead. Alastor…."

Dumbledore nodded gravely. "He's not the only one."

Remus was more shocked then he had been all night. "Who else?" he asked, not sure if he wanted to know.

"It doesn't matter now. We have to help protect the slayer. She is casting the spell to help Harry!"

Remus swore as they changed directions, back the way he had come. "I should have known before now," he shouted back to Dumbledore.

Suddenly he realised that Albus hadn't kept up with him, and that red light was spilling from a nearby death eaters wand.

This time, he was prepared, and knocked Albus aside, blocking the curse and adding one of his own.

Albus looked up at him gratefully. "Thank you," he whispered hoarsely.

Remus nodded and helped him to stand.

TBC