Harry Potter and the Emerald Raindrop

AkashaWinters

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the Harry Potter world. JK Rowling owns the Harry Potterverse anyone who doesn't know that should be exiled to Mars, I make exceptions only for poor penniless people in remote corners of third world countries, who cannot read and don't have the money to buy the overly priced one – thousand paged books. I make no money from my poor attempt at fanfiction. Also for this page, A necklace of raindrops was written by Joan Aiken, I do not own any of the rights etc.

Chapter 10

Under Attack

Today was the first of September, The first day of school, they had yet to reach Hogwarts as the bad weather had so far held the back, the break in the rain lasting only long enough for the hand fasting. Gavin had assured him that they were not far away from Hogwarts now and should reach the castle by sundown in time for the welcoming feast. Harry didn't especially mind if he was late, but he had manage to miss the beginning of the welcoming feast many times and did not like to be late again. Since supplies were running low and only magical supplies could be purchased from Hogsmeade, Jacob and Harry had offered to ride ahead to the small village of Bellmory that was slightly off their route to buy supplies. The hills here were much bigger, some could even be considered mountains and the countryside was wild with few villages and scarcely trodden roads.

Harry waved goodbye to Megan as the Wagons began to move away from their night's campsite and Harry mounted Taz. "Race you!" Jay called cantering of to the east across wild purple heather towards a large ridge. Harry laughed and followed in pursuit, he enjoyed this simple life so much, he though smiling to himself, but still, it would be nice to get in touch with the wizarding world again.

Around lunchtime Harry and Jay arrived at the village of Bellmory, it was very small with a few farms scattered about the hill, a village school, church and shop. They dismounted the horses and tied them outside the shop. The middle-aged shopkeeper kept an eye on them at all times while they collected the things on their shopping list, Harry felt disgusted that the women trusted them any less than any of her other costumers, but then realised that before he had met Jacob and the rest of their group, he probably would have held the same prejudices.

Jacob paid the lady at the till and thanked her with his famous dashing smile, the women was considerable warmer to them after that and wished them a good journey. Jacob and Harry took the horses to the village common and let them graze while they ate their lunch. Clouds were beginning roll across the blue sky and the light began to dim. Storms coming, Harry thought.

"Look!" Jay pointed to the south where a snowy owl was soaring towards them. "It's Hedwig, she's got a letter for you". Hedwig landed on the ground next to Harry and he detached the letter from her outstretched leg and pulled it from the envelope.

Dear Mr. Potter,

It seems that you have once again managed to disrupt the magical blood ties with your family; this situation is unfortunate, but unavoidable. I do not need to remind you of the danger you are in while you are outside the grounds of Hogwarts, however I trust that you are in good company and protection, do not stray far from your group and keep alert at all times. I will hope to have the pleasure of your company by no later than September 1st, when we will discus your interesting night visions.

Yours Sincerely,

Professor Albus Dumbledore, Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

P.S. I suggest you improve on your drawing past time, Professor Snape was less than impressed by you current artistic ability.

Harry groaned, "great, school hasn't even started yet and he's already mad with me!"

"Who? The headmaster?" Jay asked, leaning over his shoulder to read the letter.

"No, Snape." Harry replied in pure misery, "He saw your doodles, he's going to make my life a living hell!" Harry dropped his head into his hands. This was going to be a terrible year, he could just tell.

It had begun to rain as Harry and Jacob mounted the horse laden with full saddlebags and made their way out of the village towards the wild countryside once more.

"You sure you know where we're going?" Harry asked Jay nervously as he peered up at the black thunderclouds and pulled on his winter cloak and a pair of gloves.

"Yes, Uncle Gavin gave me this." Jay held out a small metal contraption with a needle, a bit like a muggle compass, except this one was obviously magical. "It homes into the biggest mass of magic around, which in this part of the world is Hogwarts." He explained. Harry nodded and began to canter as they headed out of the valley following the direction of the compass.

Rain lashed down and wind howled around the precession of wagons, it was late afternoon, yet it looked like nighttime it was so dark, it was impossible to see more than a meter or two in front of them the rain was so dense. They were not far from Hogsmeade now only a couple of miles away. A flash of lightning hit the ground to their right and the echoing of the thunder was deafening to the ears, something was coming, the horses were nervous, the people even more nervous. Gavin peered out at the road ahead; he hoped Jacob and Harry returned soon, there was something dangerous about, something looking for them.

Snape sat at the table in the staff room absently listening to the rain hitting the window, it was a horrible day, quite depressing, the meeting he was sitting through even more so. It reminded him of the fact that in four hours time the students would be arriving along with Harry Potter, bane of his existence. Retched boy, he was always getting himself in trouble and Severus was always the one to have to get him out of it. He gazed out of the window, his letter had been most interesting, he was travelling with gypsies, well it could never be said that the boy was normal. Severus himself had had his fair share of dealings with gypsies, he'd dealt with nearly everything in his time, but Harry was a different matter all together; he seemed to attract trouble. No, no, Severus had to admit there was something unusual about the boy, something that made him stand out and something that aggravated him no end, Severus thought frowning.

The meeting ploughed on they, seemed to cover everything from what to do if a child had a noise bleed in your class, to who would be arranging which part of the Christmas ball, something Severus had every intention of avoiding, social events really weren't his thing. The sky outside began to darken and Severus noted there were only two hours left before the insurable brats arrived. Suddenly something in the air began to change, there seemed to be an electric charge that warned of danger, he looked up from the speck of dust he had been scowling at to glace at the headmaster. Yes, he too seemed to have noticed the difference.

"Is it just me or is it a bit chilly in here?" Professor Flitwick squeaked.

"No, Filius, its not you" Dumbledore replied, gazing solemnly out of the window into the dense rain.

The rain was pouring down once again, water vapour rouse from Taz's black coat as the horse cantered below him heating his body. They could barely see a meter in from of them, the rain was so dense and lightning occasionally hit the ground, the thunder rolling round the mountains deafened them. They had been riding for hours and the rain had been showering down on them since lunchtime, Harry was frozen, he was sure Jay was too.

"We're not far now!" Jay yelled across to him, "we should meet up with the wagon's soon!"

Harry nodded, he was growing uneasy, there was something in the air, something he couldn't put his finger on but it was making him nervous, he wanted to get back to the wagons and fast.

"Come on!" Harry yelled, pushing Taz into a gallop, he was very tired but nervous as well and complied with Harry's request and moved faster.

Suddenly there was a voice on the wind, a screaming. Harry looked over at Jay, who was slightly behind him. Jay's expression showed fear as he yelled at Harry through the rain.

"Death Eater's!" He cried, voicing Harry's own fears, he pushed Taz faster. They raced at fall speed down the gravel path kicking up mud and stones as water poured down Harry's face and neck and blinded him, his heart was thumping in his chest as dread washed through him. Jay was hot on his heels as the rounded a sharp bend in the path and joined a larger road.

Up ahead, Harry could make out flashes of light through the stormy light the screaming was louder than before as they approached. A bolt of fire flashed across the dark sky hitting a large shadowy shape below, a horse whickered and galloped past in a terrified state. They could now see the wagons up ahead; two were surrounded in orange flames, lighting up the night's sky. People were running for cover, two men were pulling horses loose from the burning wagons and a women ran pulling a screaming children away from the open ground as another bolt of fire hit the ground. Suddenly there was a roaring sound from behind them, approaching from the south. Harry drew his wand and Jay raised one hand ready for an attack as they peered through the lashing rain waiting for a sign. Slowly large fly objects came into view, the gypsies had joined together in a group and held up their arms chanting as a barrier of glowing blue energy appeared above them, others were helping the wounded or hurling their own flames at the approaching objects.

The death eaters were gaining on them fast, they were flying on the backs of large purple-black tigers with red eyes, huge bat-like wings and serpent tipped tails, they made a screeching noise like an eagle as they swooped down upon them, talons outstretched like they were picking their prey. The death eaters jeered at them from above as their creatures swooped towards the group and fire rained down on them from the dark sky above, yet they could not breach the barrier holding them back, parted them from their prey, but the damage had already been done and reinforcements would be on their way.

Spurring the horse on he galloped into the night, breaching the barrier and making for the open ground ahead, death eaters hot on his heals. He could here Jay close behind him, covering Harry by hurling balls of flame at the beasts above. He knew that Hogwarts was not far ahead; he could see the lights of Hogsmeade to their right so the gates of Hogwarts should come into view soon.

I'm cruel!  Hoped you liked this chapter, he next should have some action in it too. Chapter 11… Late Arrivals. Harry and Jay retrieve help for the group, Harry makes an impression and is late to the welcoming feast once again!