Disclaimer: I alas do not own Harry Potter I wish I did but I don't. All I own is this computer I'm working on and a few other items in this room of mine.
A/N: Alright people here is what you all have been waiting for and so you know this battle started out at around five pages but its now 18 pages long me and my beta spent this whole time working out air combat and everything else we used in this, I must say it was fun writing this chapter and I hope you all enjoy it. Also people Tonks has the ring on her ring finger because she choose to put it there she don't want to get married yet but is welling to promise herself to Harry and no other.
Chapter 19: Dragon Flight
12 February 1997 15:11 AM A.D
Dumbledore
Dumbledore nodded absently his attention on the approaching attackers but his head snapped up and he searched the sky when another resounding roar rang out. The headmaster sucked in a sharp breath as he counted the massive shapes of six dragons flying out of the heavy cloud cover. For a moment the old man considered swearing as he identified the beasts, two Hungarian Horntails, three Welsh Green's and a Chinese Fireball. The ragged formation flew in from the same general direction as the small army of Voldemort's minions. Nor was it just dragons flying loose as each beast bore two riders on their backs, black robes billowing in the wind and white masks shielding their faces.
"Six?" Dumbledore whispered, august as the dragon's passed over head and with graceful tilts of their wings circled back to their own lines and with almost negligible flaps of their great pinions rose into the concealment of the cloud cover once again. "I knew he had a few dragons but this many?"
There was a resounding silence from those who stood with him as the defenders of Hogwarts considerer the forces massed against them and the difficulties now more than doubled with the arrival of a force of dragons. The horde arrayed against the defenders were bellowing and screaming, working themselves up into a frenzy, spurred on by the sight of the dragons.
Moody's magical eye was trained on the clouds and clearly tracking what the others could not see. "I sincerely hope that Dragon we saw earlier is going to help us, not join with the others. It will take Charley at least half an hour to reach us with enough tamers to take down those beasts."
The first of the Trolls was now nearing effective attack range, bellowing and thumping their clubs against the ground as they came and the defenders braced themselves, their attention shifting back to what was now the immediate threat. They could only trust in each others skills and to watch the backs of those nearest them. None of the defenders would run from either the ground based attackers or the airborne threat.
Dumbledore nodded in absent agreement and silently placed his trust in Harry and his dragon to guard the skies above the school. Hogwarts had other defenders, not just those gathered here and though at this time he could not see them he had no doubt that they would fight to preserve the lives of the students. He fleetingly sent a thought to Minerva wishing her well and focused his attention on the battle about to be joined.
"I know that the dragon and her rider will help defend the school. That she will defend is not in question. What is of more importance is how effective she can be against so many. Six is more than I expected."
He noted just before they closed into combat that from somewhere on the eastern side magic was being cast when a Troll was forced back all of two steps. He sighed softly, knowing that one of Harry's core groups had decided to take the fight to their attackers.
Then there was no more time for distractions.
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Harry
Harry was at that very moment thinking along those exact lines. Settled securely to Silvenestri's back as they arced above the clouds, his eyes scanning the thick cottony mass for signs of the intruders he could only wonder how he was going to beat six lesser dragons. With his own power weakened somewhat by his renewed youth and a very young greater dragon beneath him he knew he must exercise extreme caution dealing with this enemy. One or two lesser beasts he was sure he could handle but six?
One of the smaller nimble Welsh Greens exploded from the blanketing clouds and reared up in front of Silvenestri talons extended in challenge and his breath hissing from straining lungs. The thunder of the air was deafening as the beast back winged to maintain that hover for a split second and then those wide glinting wings folded and the beast dived, talons missing her by a few paltry feet and he was gone into the cover of the clouds.
Harry trembled, shocked by the sheer speed and nimbleness of the beast. He had been thinking of relying on Silvenestri's speed and her dexterity to keep them safe in this combat but now he needed to rethink his strategy. He was not going to injure himself or his dragon because he did not think through and modify his strategy at need. The Welsh Green's were obviously going to be far faster and more maneuverable than he had assumed.
At least he had had warning not to underestimate their rivals and in the lesson neither he nor Silvenestri had been injured.
He dared not permit his dragon to know that he feared for their survival. He dared not permit her to know that he doubted her abilities. Now above all times Silvenestri needed all of his confidence. They WOULD prevail.
"Damn. Silvenestri, my love, let's teach these guys how you really fly a dragon in battle." Harry shouted, well aware of the shudder that had run through his mount at the nearness of the green. "Let's show them how a real dragon and her rider can fight."
Silvenestri issued a deep throated growl and lowered one wing tip, turning in a blindingly fast move and as she came around into the dive Harry felt his confidence rise. Silvenestri might still have the edge over the greens. She could literally turn on a wing tip and that was an advantage they would need to employ. Her ability to make so tight a turn was beyond even the greens and the rate of their descent whistled the wind past his ears. Lips drawn back in a feral grin, fangs glinting in the sunlight the silver dragon folded her wings and they dropped like a stone toward the clouds in pursuit of the insolent green.
Marking that glint of bright green against the darker grey of the clouds that was the fast vanishing tail of the green dragon Silvenestri set her course and plummeted, confident enough in her aerial skills that if she did not hit that somewhat larger bulk concealed within the clouds that she could pull out of her dive before they crashed to earth. She would show the insolent lesser beast that a Silver was far superior to his skills in the air.
The disturbance of displaced air as they plummeted through the clouds must have warned their prey, Harry decided, heart in his mouth with anxiety. In the split second before the dragons clashed he saw the two Death Eaters shift their positions to either side of the straining greens neck, giving themselves some cover from the pursuing Silver. He felt his dragon reach extending herself to the limit and felt the quiver in her great body and then she lunged, her claws straining to gain a grip on green hide and her teeth snapping just short of their mark.
The Death Eaters cursed into the wind and he caught the unmistakable tang of magic as they sought to steady themselves. He frowned, noting what he termed a pathetic attempt at a rider's harness they were using and how it would unbalance the beast as they sought to shelter under the greens neck, protected from falling by levitation charms. Their cowardice in protecting themselves from the raking talons of the silver dragon left the green exposed and he doubted that either rider had time to note the small figure clinging to the gleaming silver back as they sought to protect themselves from her attack.
The Dragon Lord within him was incensed at their disregard for their mounts safety. Their craven cowardice in protecting their own hides left the green undefended. He would gain no advantage or aid in defending himself without his riders use of magic to ward off either magical attacks directed against him or against the oncoming silver out to dig her talons into his hide and rake him from tail to neck.
Harry growled, infuriated that anyone should ride a dragon into combat and not care for their mounts safety. The beast should be their first priority, not their last. They seemed to have no concept of the art of combat riding and this ignorance was going to be his greatest ally. His chances against so many opponents now had risen a notch or three with the obvious inexperience of the team. Team? He could not even call them that and if the other riders and their mounts were equally as novice as this beast and his riders then that inexperience would gain he and Silvenestri a fighting chance against them.
His growl turned into a snarl as the green dipped, his muscles straining as he sought to throw himself sideways to escape much of the force Silvenestri had gained from her dive and was transmitted through her speed into the razor claws now extended and sinking into green scaled hide. The Green roared with pain but his maneuver had earned him a reprieve, taking him out from under the silver and as he sought wing room Harry gained a clear view of the beasts head as they overshot their target.
Centered in the forehead of the Welsh Green was a glowing rune.
/Those bastards are using runes to control them/ He screamed this observation through their telepathic link, vocal speech being useless in combat. The raging winds caused by their speed made speech impossible.
The green was far from finished. Gaining a little wing room as the silver shot over him he thrust himself forward. Neck outstretched and fangs snapping, angling his body to lash his tail and attempt to hook his fore talons into the silver tail.
Silvenestri grunted fighting to back wing in desperation, trying to negate the advantage to the green at her miscalculation. With her vulnerable belly exposed to the greens snapping teeth she had more things to think about than human magic. The green was proving to be a canny fighter and was taking every advantage he could from the combat.
Straining she managed to hook a claw in a body ridge and hang on, stiffening her leg and keeping the greens teeth from her belly. Snarling she locked her neck around the greens and considered what next to do.
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Tonks
Tonks was absorbed with watching the battle taking place on the ground, her eyes narrowed and wand raised to let loose another charm when roars from above distracted her. She looked up, squinting as she tried to peer through the cloud cover. Dragons bellowed again and she heard the pain in the sound and swallowed with difficulty. Something was happening in there, hidden from view and she wondered that even the great beasts could see enough to engage in battle.
The clouds roiled for an instant and Tonks gasped as the interlocked forms of silver and green plunged through the cloud canopy. Silvenestri was locked to the green, necks entwined and her front claws scrambling at the green shoulder. The Welsh Green and the Silver were plummeting for the ground at high speed, neither seemed interested in supporting their bulk as the green, side on to the silver lashed at Silvenestri with his tail, rear legs pumping as he tried to rake the smaller dragons flank.
"Oh my…!"
Tonks gasp, fingers convulsing around the wand as Harry freed himself from the fighting harness and jump from Silvenestri's neck and onto the greens shoulder. The green roared, trying to flare his wings to capture the wind of their fall and generate some lift but Silvenestri's bulk trapped one wing, limiting his movement and they plunged down. Harry seemed unaware of their plunge, working his way to the neck ridge and to the securing buckles of the riding harness.
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Harry
He had reached the straps with out either of the two Death Eaters cowering beneath the dragon's neck noting his presence. One at least seemed to be intent on trying to reach the lower of Silvenestri's claws though what he thought he was going to do when he reached her Harry had no idea. The man seemed to have totally forgotten that he had a wand and was capable of magic. No doubt it had something to do with the Fear aura the dragons were generating which could cower humans who would normally consider themselves strong. Dragons tended to make people feel insignificant but at least one of these Death Eaters seemed to be getting over his fear as he was taking some action.
"I think it's time for you two to leave this fight and learn how to fly fast! How well can you levitate?" Harry shouted loud enough for the nearest rider to hear him over the screaming wind. "Ta ta!"
The nearer Death Eater looked up at Harry and behind the mask his eye grew wide. Silvenestri bellowed her great wings snapping wide as she tried to arrest their downward plunge. Harry hooked the blade of his sword under the leather strap and then pulled back with all of his strength. There was no time to cut through the harness with a knife blade and he trusted the green's hide to resist the blade. He leapt clear of the lashing harness as it snapped cleanly, the weight of the Death Eaters aiding its parting and both men screamed shrilly as they slipped away from the entwined dragons and plummeted toward the ground. Both Death Eaters screamed as they slipped away from the dragons back and began their own plummet to possible doom.
Silvenestri welcomed back her rider with a roar that was echoed by the Welsh Green. Harry threw himself across the green back, fingers grasping for the riding straps and as he pulled himself up onto the silver shoulder Silvenestri pushed away from the green. The male dragon was shaking his head furiously, enabling Harry to see that the glowing rune was now dark and he grinned a feral smirk. The liberated beast spread his great green wings and almost effortlessly gained control of his flight, the uncontrolled plunge swiftly becoming a supported glide.
Silvenestri roared, her smaller wings straining against the velocity of the air as she straightened out, scooping air under her, arching her neck to gain wind resistance, copying the greens maneuver and soared above the castle.
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Dumbledore
The shrill screams of the humans plunging through the air was clearly heard above the roaring of the monsters dotting the battle field and the crack and explosion of spells. Silvenestri's roar resounded close above and all eyes flew to the scene. The dragon's uncontrolled dive transformed into a tightly controlled maneuver enabling her to soar within a few feet of the battlements and as she cleared the tower her wings beat again, carrying her back up into the clouds.
Dumbledore gasped when a quick scan of the area showed the last moments of the Death Eaters plummet from the heights. He sensed magic at work but doubted that they had survived the fall. The shock alone, their instinctive fear of a fall from such a height might have been enough to kill them.
"That had to be a drop of close to a 1000 feet." Dumbledore whispered his attention snapping back to the battle in time to stun a Death Eater. He dared not turn his attention from the fight to scan the sky for signs of the other dragon's and their riders. 'My God, Harry. I did not wish for you at your age to carry the stains of men's blood on your hands or heart. Was there no other way? Did you really have to do that?' he thought dodging another attack with a nimbleness one would expect to find from a teenager.
"I'd say closer to 1500 Albus." Moody growled, a moment's concentration and his magical eye showing him a close up view of the bodies and the depth of the depression they had made on impact. "They can't have been any good at levitation to have left that kind of an impression."
Dumbledore rolled his eyes to glare at Moody who had the grace to blush a little before turning his attention fully to the fight. "Regardless, that had to hurt. Now get a move on with taking out those trolls before we imitate mush." Dumbledore called, noting a group of newly arrived Auror's and directing them into the fray.
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Harry
Harry was quietly congratulating himself on a job well done as they soared through the clouds. The Welsh Green had been freed by the dislodgement of his riders who no doubt had more on their minds than controlling the beast, thereby allowing the rune to lapse. The male had shown no interest in Hogwarts or the battle after rising into free air and had flown free, great wings beating determinedly away from the fight and castle. Harry had no doubt the Green was on his way home but he spared a moment to admire how the beast had flown to avoid smashing into the ground or the castle.
In fact, though he avoided thinking of it in his public mind for his mount to read, he thought the green had shown far greater skill in the air than Silvenestri. He really needed to get more flying time in. Natural flyers or not dragons needed practice to perfect their skills and that green had brought the lesson home to him. When the battle was done and they had time he and Silvenestri were going flying every chance they could get.
/ One down five to go. / He thought to Silvenestri thumping her shoulder in approval.
/ Yes./ Silvenestri peered into the depths of the cloud, wishing for free air and clear skies. Playing hide and seek with dragons intent on killing her was not her favorite occupation. /There has to be some way of finding…/
For a moment Harry thought they had risen to a height where they were about to escape the cloud cover. The vapor around them acquired a ruddy glow, glistening drops of water shining brighter and brighter and the air was growing warmer.
/The Fireball/ Silvenestri screamed, turning on her wing tip as had proven so effective before and dropping into a dive to avoid the jet of flame that scorched the air where she had been flying moments before. /The Chinese Fireball is right behind us/
Silvenestri rocked on the rise of her wing beat, tucking her tail to avoid a sizzling jet of flame. The other dragon was only a dark shape in the clouds yet he seemed to have no difficulty finding them. Harry thought furiously as Silvenestri used her smaller size and speed over the larger dragon to weave and dodge her way through the jets of flame.
Harry slapped her shoulder to steady her, sensing the rising panic in the dragon. She was barely more than an infant compared to these beasts and he would not permit any harm to come to her. He reminded her wordlessly that she was not alone and that together they were a match for anything.
/ Descend! Descend and fly close by the southern tower. As you do the fly past make sure you pass the Astronomy tower, to the side of it and slightly higher than the tower itself but not by much. / Harry directed her, drawing his twin-blade and settling himself deeper into the riding straps, checking them for tension and bracing himself.
Silvenestri grunted not quite certain in which exact direction the castle could be found. Tucking her wings she dropped fifty feet in a stomach clenching move, trying to gain some distance from the pursuing dragon and hoping she would not place herself directly in the path of one of the other four beasts she knew were within the clouds. Something that was not dragon fire rocked the air just in front of her and Harry cursed softly, knowing that the Death Eaters riding the Fireball were trying to target her wings and urged her on.
Silvenestri dropped like a stone, angling her descent, wings beating furiously as she sought to gain ground and leave the clouds and dragon behind her. If she could beat the dragon to clear air she would be able to gain her bearings and set herself up to weave between the towers of the castle.
Breaking through the clouds at last she arced, grumbling to herself at discovering she was much further from the castle than she had assumed. As yet the Fireball had not emerged from the clouds but she knew he was close behind her and she wasted no time in setting her direction and settling into position for the fly past.
/ Let them know we are coming/ Harry noted the Fireball erupt from the clouds and arc into a turn to come in line for another try at his mount.
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Tonks
Tonks scanned the skies for any sign of her lover and friend and drew a shaky breath. She needed to trust Harry and she knew he was not likely to take unnecessary risks but there were so many dragons. They had not thought that the Death Eaters had so many beasts or that they could use rune magic to control them. The battle at the gates of Hogwarts was raging with injuries on both sides though from her perch it looked like the defenders might be gaining at least some slim advantage. That they had not as yet managed to take out all of the Trolls was worrying though.
A roar erupted over the castle and she spun, eyes widening. The familiar thunder of beating dragon wings filled the air, overshadowing the sounds of the battlefield and she looked to see Silvenestri flying directly at her.
"What the hell are you doing Harry?" She yelled backing instinctively to the very edge of the battlements crowning the tower even though she knew the noise destroyed any chance of him being able to hear her.
She caught a glimpse of the beast's rider, sword in one hand and wand in the other, oncoming at full speed toward her. A spray of red sparks followed by an arc of green sparks lit the area around the oncoming dragon and Tonks saw Harry look back over his shoulder before settling low to Silvenestri's back.
Tonks understood there was no time to give thought to this. They were obviously in some kind of trouble and she spun, releasing a spray of red sparks down at Hagrid on the south tower and spinning quickly back to keep an eye on events. Harry and Silvenestri were dodging and weaving, avoiding magical attacks being fired at them from the two Death Eaters on the now visible Chinese Fireball and Tonks shuddered at how close the two beasts were getting. Soon Silvenestri would be in range of the Chinese dragon and its fiery breath. Spinning back to the south tower she was relieved to see the red spray answering and she looked back to the oncoming dragons, loosing a green spray of sparks.
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Harry
Harry fervently wished that he could use rune magic while flying. To even try was useless as the runes would become distorted and unstable due to the airflow at such speeds. Magic during in flight combat was limited and could be quite tricky as air flow interfered with your aim, range and the type of magic that could be used. High speed flight effectively cancelled any chance he had of using rune magic against his pursuers.
The spray of green sparks from Tonks was very welcome indeed and he spared a glance over his shoulder at the oncoming beast before settling low to the dragon's neck and locking his legs tight to her hide, trusting the riding straps to keep him secure.
/Straight for the Astronomy Tower, don't spare the horsepower and no matter what keep a straight line./
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Silvenestri
Silvenestri stretched her neck, tightened her muscles into a rigid discipline and dodged the first jet of flame the Fireball aimed at her, pulling herself immediately back onto the course Harry demanded of her. She trusted her rider to know the best means of keeping them both safe and wished herself older and stronger and faster. Much, much faster. She was uncertain how long she could keep up this level of effort without faltering.
She felt the heat of the flames licking at the tip of her tail and surged forward, unwilling to singe her hide and with Tonks firmly in her sights she knew there was aid nearby and she was determined to reach that aid.
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Tonks
Tonks raised her wand as the dragons nose came abreast of the towers far battlement, a flap of straining silver wings and the dragon was past her, a straight arrow holding course and as the silver tail flickered past her she let loose with every charm and curse she could possibly think of, all aimed at the oncoming Chinese Fireball and his riders.
From the corner of her eye she caught a shimmering flicker of light, a silver blur far too small to be that of a returning Silver dragon even could the beast turn so quickly. It took a precious moment for Tonks to realize that the blur was in fact Harry's double blade on its way toward the oncoming dragon.
A scream, the ragged ear splitting shriek of a dragon in agony rang out over the battlefield. Tonks wanted to avert her eyes from the horror of it, press her hands to her ears to block out the sound but there was no time. The Chinese Fireball was floundering, flapping his great wings in agony to remain aloft, overbalanced by the neatly severed foreleg. Harry's enchanted double blade had sliced cleanly through the dragon's leg. A second scream was lost within the greater scream, the death cry of one of the Death Eaters, dislodged from the Fireballs back by Tonks' magical barrage.
The faltering Fireball thundered past the Astronomy Tower, one wing tip clipping the stone with a shrieking scrape that set Tonks' teeth on edge. The remaining Death Eater was obviously trying to retain some control of the pain enraged beast as they plunged past the tower and he even gained some height as the Death Eater sought to set him on Harry and Silvenestri's trail, still intent on taking out the silver dragon despite the loss of his companion and the severe wounding of his beast.
Tonks leaned over the battlement, intent on the Fireball that now rose though the beast was still bellowing in agony. She saw the Death Eater strike the staining shoulder a hard blow, no encouragement or emotion other than anger in the blow and she cursed him, aiming her wand for him though she doubted she had the range to target him.
A second such blow was halted by the massive impact of a giant sized crossbow bolt. Hagrid stood solidly on the South tower, bushy beard plastered to his chest by the wind of the dragons passing and a look of such anger on his face that Tonks was stunned. The half giant's skill with that massive and unwieldy weapon could not be doubted as the bolt blasted the Death Eater from the dragon's back to plummet to the ground somewhere beyond the walls of Hogwarts.
She only hoped he had not landed on any of the castles defenders.
The now rider-less Dragon seemed to stall in flight, wings freezing in mid motion and the great head shook fiercely from side to side. He had cleared the South Tower and now roared, head thrown back, long sinuous neck arching before the massive wings finished their down beat, lifting the beast a little in the air. Tonks watched as Hagrid leaned out over the southern towers battlements his attention on the faltering dragon. She could almost hear him willing the beast to escape and for a moment she thought the dragon was going to make it into the higher air and to freedom.
The dragon wheeled around, away from the castle and a great flap of its wings took it over the Forbidden Forest. It dipped low, rear claws brushing the treetops before a second down stroke of its wings tangled a wing tip in the upper branches of a tree and the dragon roared as it went down, vanishing into the dark forest.
Hagrid seemed to lean even further out over the stone of the tower and she knew he had marked the place where the beast had gone down. They would have to find it and see if they could do anything for the dragon. Most likely they would find him dead or barely alive and it would be a mercy to finish the job. No doubt that would upset Hagrid.
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Harry
Harry uttered a quiet word of apology for the dead dragon but he would not chance the safety of Silvenestri by targeting only the Death Eaters and then looked around anxiously. His next opponent was out here somewhere, no doubt lurking within the clouds and waiting for the chance to strike. He needed to devise some plan to deal with the remaining beasts as Silvenestri's reserves would be taxed by this high paced battle. She was far younger than the beasts against which they fought and she would falter from exhaustion before they did.
He didn't get much of a chance to consider battle plans as the clouds erupted with the passage of the remaining Welsh Greens, both attacking at once though from opposing angles. With his heart thumping in terror he dared not think, just act. With two dragons attacking them they well might go down here and now.
"UP!" Harry screamed both with his mind and his voice.
There was no time for more as the mouths of both greens opened. Twin jets of flame spewed from the gaping maws and his mount screamed as she lifted and flared her wings high, clearing the flame stream and thereby retaining the ability to fly. The searing gouts of fire hit Silvenestri on her flanks and she continued to bellow with pain but then they were past the greens and on the down stroke they were lifting higher and gaining a few precious minutes.
/Down! Down and fast/
The Greens needed to turn sharply and then gain some flight room before they could circle and come at her again. No doubt the Death Eaters were congratulating themselves on their strategy that had so nearly taken out the only air defense the school had.
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Dumbledore
"HARRY!"
Tonks's scream seemed crystal clear to Dumbledore as it wafted over the battlefield though an Ogre's death scream blended into the sound and took it into anonymity. The Headmaster took a momentary lull in the conflict to look up at the towers crowning the castle. He could just make out a figure on the Astronomy tower leaning over the crenellations and he hoped that with the din of battle and the concentration needed to fight off so many opponents that the defenders were too busy to note one sound amid so many. Light erupted from the East tower and was matched by a green glow from the South tower as one of the Welsh Green's arced around the towers as it began to gain height. Whoever was on the North and West towers were taking up the barrage firing at the second and slightly larger of the two greens as the dragon arced into a turn.
"Moody did you hear something just now?" Dumbledore queried as he returned his attention to the fight and he fashioned a shield to reflect the spells cast at him by a masked Death Eater. 'Moody knows but I can't very well let him or anyone else know that I know who it is fighting on that lovely dragon.' he thought.
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Moody
"No. I never heard a thing. I see everything but I never hear anything. You should know that by now." Moody growled.
His magical eye was following the flight of the silver dragon but he was thinking that none of the defenders seemed to have reacted with surprise. Perhaps they had been lucky and none of the others had clearly heard the scream as he had. His magical eye was not the only enhancement he had undergone to aid in his line of work. Multiple hearing charms to proof himself against people sneaking up on him had seemed the natural thing to do after that episode when he had spent almost a year in a trunk. It was not something he wished to chance happening again.
'Don't you die Harry Potter or Tonks will bring you back and then kill you again for her trouble. Slow roasting over a fire pit would be along the lines of it. I might even give her suggestions.'
Moody dodged a barrage of spells and Dumbledore responded with a barrage of counter spells then both looked up in the brief respite they earned in time to see that one of the Welsh Green's was flying free and riderless and two small shapes were plummeting in uncontrolled freefall from the clouds. Moody winced as his magical vision revealed both bodies crimsoned with blood gouged by massive claws.
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Harry
Silvenestri groaned under his knees, a sound more felt through flesh and blood than heard by the human ear.
/ Silvenestri can you continue or do we need to fall back for a time and get you comfortable/ Harry thought through the fog of pain, his own from the burns to his sides that mirrored Silvenestri's wounds and the greater pain of the dragon fed to him through their psychic link.
/ I'm strong and I can still go on… for now at least. Can I go to that sunny beach and sun myself after all of this is over/ Silvenestri thought to him, plaintive wistfulness clear in her tone.
Though she assured him that she was fit to fly he was afraid she was weakening fast. His own pain was lost within hers and that pain would stiffen them both and restrict the speed and nimbleness of the dragon. The simple truth was there were too many foes for them to fight. A one on one battle they had a chance at not only surviving but also winning yet against combined foes they were in trouble.
/ I think I'll join you on that beach in the sun if Tonks lets me out of her sight after this. It would be nice to lie in the sun. Look out/ Harry screamed as the clouds roiled and the massive form of one of the Hungarian Horntails loomed large before them.
Silvenestri tipped her wings, turning from the oncoming dragon and with a downbeat of her wings rose above the spell fired at her from one of the Death Eaters riding the Horntail.
/Down! Go down and run between the north and west towers and as low to the ground as you possibly can. / Harry thought and took precious moments to assert a block to ease the pain from his mount, wishing that he could heal the wounds but such was beyond him. He twisted on the dragons back as she dipped into a dive and hurled his sword in an overhand throw, straining his shoulder muscles as he did so as he put all of the force he could muster into the throw.
Silvenestri went into the turn grunting with the effort. She accomplished the turn with far less grace and speed than she had when she had used so similar a maneuver against the Welsh Green. Exhaustion and the pain of the burns were slowing her down but she was spry enough to roll over a jet of flame the other Dragon breathed as she flashed past and the spells the Death Eaters were casting at her were neatly dodged then they were past and she knew they had a precious minute before the larger dragon could match their course.
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Tonks
Tonks frowned from her position high over the battlefield, watching as a group of leather clad men joined the defenders at the gates to Hogwarts. To her surprise none of the men, five in all, paid the slightest attention to the ongoing battle except to avoid the conflict and take up position behind the defenders. She leaned over the battlement of the tower and peered at the group but could not make out faces though she thought she caught a flash of vibrant red hair.
'Charley and the Dragon Tamers?' She mused. 'I hope so. Harry needs all the help he can get.'
The thought of Harry set her gaze once more to the sky seeking any sign that Harry and Silvenestri were still up in the skies and sighed with relief when the clouds roiled and the silver dragon exploded from the cloud cover. Her relief quickly turned to anxiety as the clouds immediately behind their passage exploded into a jet of flame a moment later. The silver dragon was in a dive seemingly aimed right for the ground and picking up speed fast.
Harry's hand was raised as they plummeted toward the ground and the fast approaching castle and a spray of first yellow and then blue sparks erupted from the wand he gripped. Tonks looked immediately to the north and west towers but only the north showed an answering spray of yellow sparks. Afraid that the west tower had been screened by the bulk of the castle from Harry's alert Tonks fired a barrage of blue light in the duration of the tower and a moment later answering blue sparks come from one of its upper windows.
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Harry
Harry seeing the acknowledging signal fired from the towers settled himself firmly, checking the riding straps had not been weakened by the fiery attacks or by the aerobatics they had been required to perform. He fired off a stunning charm over his shoulder, not really expecting it to have any effect on the pursuing dragon or its riders. It was the principle of the thing and to salve his pride in keeping the Death Eaters from thinking they had this fight going their way.
/ Silvenestri, remember to stay close to the ground. / Harry sent the cautionary thought to his mount as he raised himself a little in the straps to catch his returning sword that had just gotten back. His side flared with pain and he was quick to ease the stretch on scorched flesh. 'Tonks is so going to kill me for all of this.'
Silvenestri edged into a turn, intending to run as close to the castle's wall as possible in her fly past and dropped lower and lower unwilling to spare a seconds attention from the concentration needed to fly safely at such low altitude and proximity to the ancient stone walls. As they're passed the north tower she could almost feel the enemy dragon closing in behind them.
The Hungarian Horntail was closing the distance with powerful sweeps of massive wings but his sheer size forced him to fly a further distance from the castle walls but the great head turned, jaws agape preparatory to unleashing a jet of flame that would bathe the smaller silver dragon and the castle in flame hotter than a blast furnace.
Sprays of green light shaped like arrows flashed from the North Tower, showering the huge dragon and his riders and the air shimmered with magical energy. Curses rained down, most deflected by the Death Eaters.
Silvenestri had streaked past the northern tower, wing tips just clearing the ancient stone of the walls and Harry, with a quick glance back at the oncoming dragon ducked his head and braced himself.
/ Up and around the West Tower and come in behind them/
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Charley
"That looks just about right to give our secret weapon a try out." Charlie muttered to a companion as he watched the smaller silver dragon leading the Horntail toward the north tower.
"We don't know how much we will need to take one that big down."
"Even if it slows the beast down and gives the Silver a chance to escape I will count it a success." Charley returned and dived for the nearest large bag, hastily reaching for the hidden weapon. "She's nimble! Quite a neat little flyer."
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Silvenestri
Silvenestri groaned with the effort of pulling the tight turn and climb that was required to lift her up and over the wall of the castle to enable her to complete the turn and come in behind the larger beast. Wings straining to hold the line of her flight she caught a glimpse of a group of men gathered to one side of the conflict before the castle one of them kneeling and raising some strange device aimed directly at her. There was no time for her to worry that she was to be mistaken for an enemy as her wings caught the updraft and she put all of her strength into the turn, looping around the western tower and coming in over the wall.
Screaming in over the wall and tucking her wings close to her body Silvenestri dropped like a stone, falling toward the rump of the horntail now turning around the tower. She snapped her wings out to slow her descent, shocked that the larger dragon was not already on the far side of the tower and threatening the defenders. Extending her claws before her she determined to rake the beast, perhaps even come in tight enough to skim over him and take out the Death Eaters.
Her claws lodged in the beast's tail but even as she secured her grip she knew that something was wrong. The dragon was shaking his head and roaring, forelegs clawing at his mouth and the Death Eaters were ignoring her, firing curse after curse at something she could not see. Something within Silvenestri stirred a cold rage and determination gripped her. No doubt the horntail was going to blast the defenders with fire and she could not allow that. She could not do much damage to the beast but she could do some damage to his riders.
Gripping with her claws she vaulted her bulk over the dragon's back and a cone of frigid air blasted from her maw, taking the nearest Death Eater in the back. The man screamed, a sound heard above the din of combat and the wind of their passage, snuffed out abruptly. The Horntail and the Silver locked to his back soared over the combat zone.
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Harry
Harry gaped at the Death Eater toppling from the dragon's back his face an unnatural blue and frost in his hair. The lead Death Eater was flailing in the air, one arm appeared useless and the larger dragon was in obvious distress. The horntail roared and his flight seemed to be impaired and small though she was in comparison to the greater size of the mature dragon Silvenestri drove her opponent into the ground, releasing her grip at the last moment and climbing with powerful sweeps of her wings.
/You breathed ice, Silvenestri! You breathed ice/
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Dumbledore
Dumbledore glanced around, noting the huddle of Dragon Tamers gathered around Charley Weasley and followed their gaze to watch as the Horntails head come into view. The beast's mouth was gaping wide though none of the Tamers seemed fussed at the impending inferno that would surround them. He could see the flank of the dragon was literally glowing green from the effects of the magical arrows fired from the North tower and as it completed its turn around the western tower he could see the mass of magical arrows dotting its hide.
A strange 'thoomping' sound near at hand drew his attention back to the Tamers but the scream of the Horntail jerked his head back to the dragon. He watched as Silvenestri dropped from the heights, coming over the castle wall and her reaching forelegs sank claws into the darker hide. It was the strange sound that worried him though for the dragon was screaming, his massive claws raking at his open maw and his head shaking from side to side violently.
As he watched Silvenestri seemed to rear over the Horntail, mouth agape and as they neared the defenders a blast of bitterly cold air washed over the group. Dumbledore shuddered in the frigid air, noting the Dragon Tamers wide eyed stares at the dragons passing overhead and dodging the plummeting body of the Death Eater.
Dumbledore had seen men frozen to death before this day and he blinked in astonishment, aware of the cluster of men around Charley whispering about Ice Breath.
The Dragon tamers had knelt, their only concession to the oncoming dragons, ducking to reduce the shock of the wind caused through the dragons passing and in the wake of that passage they tightened their cluster as the beasts roared overhead. Dumbledore decided that they knew a thing or two about getting out of a dragons way and himself ducked, taking Moody down with him then jumped nimbly to his feet to watch Silvenestri riding the larger beast into the ground. With a surge of muscle and wing she rose just before the Horntail thundered to earth, his rider toppling from his mount and lying still.
"Heard of Ice Breath before, anyone?"
"I've never heard of a dragon using anything other than fire."
"I've read that Greater Dragons had varying types of breath weapons. We need to investigate this but not now."
The voices of the Dragon Tamers drew Dumbledore and Moody to them where they found Charley fitting a red dart into the long and slender shape of a Muggle fire arm. Charley caught the shocked look on both older men's faces and offered a grin, not in the least repentant.
"It's called a tranquilizer gun. Only thing is we are not sure about the dosage required to knock out a dragon. That dose bothered the Horntail though so I'd say maybe three to take it down. Possibly two darts for the smaller greens."
"Muggle weapons." Moody snorted.
"If it makes controlling dragons in a situation such as this feasible don't complain." Dumbledore sighed. "We have never before had to face dragons in such circumstances."
"Exactly." Charley returned, scanning the sky for any sign of another dragon. "Tom, you better check the Horntail. If he's alive jab him under the front foreleg, in the joint to the body to get through his hide. Those arrows may have opened a wound to make it easier." Charley handed a hypodermic needle to one of the tamers. "That should keep him quiet. Someone go and check that Death Eater is out of the picture!"
Dumbledore turned to watch the disappearing form of the Silver dragon. "I must say that little dragon has some useful skills." 'As does her rider. Nice job, Harry.'
Moody nodded scratched an itch and fired a charm at an oncoming Death Eater, glancing at the downed bulk of the dragon that seemed to be twitching. "I must say I agree with you Albus."
"I wouldn't mind getting a closer look at the dragon. From the burns on her flanks she is going to require some specialist attention or the muscles, ligaments and tendons controlling her wings will pull as they heal, reducing her ability to fly." Charley commented, eyeing the dragon as she vanished into the cloud cover.
Moody just nodded and eyed the Muggle weapon as though he expected it to blow up in his face.
"One of the Welsh Greens has gone, presumably back to Wales where it belongs, but we can investigate that later. There is a Chinese Fireball wounded, possibly dead in the Forbidden Forest and the Horntail is, I presume, out of the battle?" Dumbledore commented. "They were fighting another green a while ago but I am not sure what happened to it."
"Do you know how many dragons there are?"
"There were three Welsh Greens, the Chinese fireball, and two Hungarian Horntails." Moody muttered, his eyes scanning the cloud cover once again. "That little dragon is certainly becoming slower and she seems to be having trouble turning."
"Incoming Dragons!" The shout rose from the far side of the battlefield and drew the instant attention of the Dragon Tamers.
Dumbledore, Moody and Charley were all standing back from the fight and were quick to gain a position where they could survey the oncoming dragons. Silvenestri burst from the cloud cover, arrow straight for the huge bulk of the remaining Hungarian Horntail that was descending in an attack sweep toward the battling forces at the gates of the school. The two Welsh Greens were suddenly there engaging the towers, one at the east tower and the second coming in at the North tower.
"If that Horntail keeps to that course and the Silver can distract it from breathing fire I might be able to get in a shot at its mouth. Dragon hide is too thick for this gun to penetrate but there are some vulnerable points. The Horntail's the greater threat at the moment." Charley decided.
"You have more of those Muggle things?" Moody queried.
"No. This is the first time we have tried using tranquilizer guns on Dragons. Besides I am the only one who knows how to use it."
"Reinforcements." Dumbledore noted the stir in the battle ranks, guessing that his summons for aid was being answered. However if they could not turn the Horntail from firing on the battlefield many of those now helping defend Hogwarts would be badly injured, if not slain outright in the fiery onslaught.
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Tonks
Tonks tried her best to keep her hands steady as she fired spells at the Welsh Green flying past the Astronomy tower, circling the northern tower and returning again and again to circle her position. It seemed with each circle of the towers the beast came closer and a roar trembled the stones under her feet.
The second green was roaring, using its sheer size and the thunder of its voice to terrify the defenders. The green was blasting flame at the towers as it passed though to date it seemed not to have caused any injuries to the defenders. The barrage of spells seemed effective at driving it out of killing range but she knew that they could not last forever.
Taking a moment's respite she leaned over the battlement and surveyed the field. The red head she presumed was Charley Weasley was kneeling that strange shape in his hand aimed at the oncoming Horntail and she saw him jerk as the beast opened its mouth to breath fire. A moment later the horntail roared and overshot the battlefield, Silvenestri hard on its tail, straining to catch the beast though what she thought she could do to stop it Tonks had no idea.
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Charley
He straightened as the dragons passed overhead, straining to detect any faltering in the horntails flight and loading a new dart into the chamber as he did so. Dumbledore and Moody were defending him, the other dragon tamers having gone to the north and east towers intent on using more traditional methods to aid the defenders under siege.
"Well?" Moody growled.
The Horntail arced into a wide turn, Silvenestri having to back off a little or turn ahead of the slower beast and he nodded slowly, noting the faintest hesitation in the flight of the big dragon.
"If I can get a second into him it would be better." He muttered when a roar overhead drew his attention.
One of the Welsh Greens had attempted to land on the Astronomy tower but missed its footing and plummeted before stabilizing itself and climbing back out of the castles maze of wings and towers. He noted that while there were arcs of green arrows coming from the other four towers there was nothing coming from the Astronomy tower.
"I have to go! I think that Horntail will slow and it has to come around the school in range of whatever those arrows are. Whoever is on that tower is in trouble."
Dumbledore followed his gaze and cursed softly, reaching out to halt Charley and pressing a ring into his hand.
"This will take you into a cupboard in the Room of Requirement. Be quick."
Confused he stared at the old wizard for a moment and shrugged, concentrating on the ring and the world went dark around him and the familiar pull of magical displacement closed over him.
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Tonks
The Welsh Green was getting closer with each sweep. She spared a moment to search the skies for Harry but could see nothing and she assumed they were either within the clouds again or behind one of the towers or possibly lower and close to a wall. With a soft hiss of breath she turned to the oncoming Green and fired a curse as a massive down stroke of the beasts wings lifted the Death Eater riders into view for a moment. The lead rider screamed and toppled from the beast but then the dragon was rearing back, forelegs extended and claws spread.
With a shriek Tonks dived for the nearby door hoping to gain cover as the dragon came in for a landing, wrapping its massive tail around the tower. She turned in the doorway to see the great green shoulder filling her view and hear the maniacal laughter of the rider and seeing red she fired a charm blindly up at the massive beast. Claws scrabbled on the stone and the beast slipped as the charm was released and the Death Eater choked and slipped to the tower floor.
The dragon roared, rearing back, bellowing repeatedly and Tonks heard the creak of protesting stone. A part of the crenellations broke away and with it the dragon lost its tenuous hold on the tower and toppled over the side, the Death Eater dragged down it. The furiously scrabbling claws shook the tower and Tonks fell to the floor, hitting her head on the floor and the world wavered between light and dark.
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Harry
Silvenestri was failing fast but would not consider backing off from the horntail. Harry had noted Charley kneeling amid the battlefield and unlike most others present he recognized the weapon in the Dragon Tamers hands. Confident that he was not fighting the beast alone he did not insist that Silvenestri back away from the fight.
He could see that the Green's were receiving heavy fire as they circled the towers and the Horntail seemed to be faltering in his flight pattern but he was not landing and the Death Eaters riding him were turning the beast back toward the battle field.
A blast of fire from one of the Green's rocked the North Tower but a hail of green arrows responded and Harry knew all was well there. He turned his attention to the Horntail and urged Silvenestri to one more effort. With just a few more beats of her wings they would be in position.
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Tonks
The world seemed to be baking with heat and roaring with continuous thunder and there was brilliant light near her. The cool breeze that wafted over her assisted in her recovery and she became aware that she was lying on warm stone and that there was a roar that was bestial, not that of natures fury. Pulling herself to her feet she realized that she was in the alcove of the Astronomy tower and that Charley Weasley was kneeling in front of her and the Welsh Green was teetering on the brink of the tower yet again.
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Charley
Charley had found himself in a dark small cupboard but on finding the door he had fallen from the cupboard and found himself in a massive room full of plain furniture. There were piles of school desks, cupboards, side boards and chests but he gave no thought to his surroundings. Dumbledore had revealed a secret of the school to him and he would marvel at it later. For now he needed to find his way out of this room and up to the Astronomy tower. Finding the door proved easy though he found himself in an unfamiliar corridor with a door at the far end.
With a small sigh he sprinted for the door, every sense he had telling him that he had to hurry. He burst through the door and into another hallway, this one he recognized and with a feral grin he was off and running determined to reach the tower before the dragon could do any more damage than had already been done. This tower alone had not released the magic enhanced green arrows and he feared that whoever had been on it had fallen to the Green.
He used every shortcut he had ever learned during his time as a student at Hogwarts to shorten the journey and breathed a sigh of relief as he charged up the last of the steps. Lungs heaving for breath he hurdled over the crumpled figure in the alcove at the head of the steps and slid to a halt in the doorway.
The Welsh Green, riderless and enraged seemed intent on tearing the tower apart, stone by stone. Lifting the rifle to his shoulder he aimed carefully, hoping to gain a shot and his opportunity came as the beast noted his presence, opening its maw to hiss and roar at him in rage. He knew this rage, the unthinking berserk rage of a dragon in pain and he did not hesitate to take the shot.
The green roared at the sting of the dart lodging in the fleshy throat, rearing back and shaking its head as its forepaws released their hold on the tower. The beast dropped over the side of the tower and Charley turned at the sound of movement behind him.
"Hi, Tonks." He greeted and reached to steady her. "You okay?" 'I wouldn't have thought she would be up here alone. I thought she was down on the ground somewhere and I just hadn't seen her.'
"Fine. Just fine. How many left?"
Charley turned from her, making his way to the crumbled battlements and surveying the area carefully. The second Green was netted, three of the Dragon Tamers securing the stakes and slipping chains on the beast. The dragon he had shot was airborne still but its flight was faltering and he was quick to load another tranquilizer dart into the rifle.
Quickly he scanned the skies for the Horntail and grunted softly. "The green and the Horntail but it looks like the dart I shot into him is having some effect. It won't take him down but it will make him groggy and stupid if we are lucky… well, if the rider on the Silver is lucky."
"Where is…?"
Charley smiled and nodded toward the south wall. "Over there. Down!"
Tonks dropped as Charley raised the rifle once again and the Green, hissing in fury opened its maw to breathe flame.
"Time for a nap, big fellow." Charley murmured, took the shot and dived taking Tonks back into the alcove as the dragon flipped into a turn, the massive long tail whipping out to sweep the tower and shake the walls.
"That should take him down within a couple of minutes." He said conversationally as he helped her to her feet.
A deafening roar, the scream of a mature large dragon shook the stones they stood on and Charley grunted softly.
"The Horntail."
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Harry
Harry's smile was broad as he and Silvenestri went straight at the last Hungarian Horntail. His double bladed sword was in his hand and pulled back ready for the throw at just the right opportunity. Silvenestri strained forward, her head angled and drawing in breath preparatory to using her paralyzing breath weapon when within range of the Death Eaters riding the Horntail.
'Silvenestri has her Ice Breath but she can only use that once in a day. We need to get close enough for her to hit the Death Eaters and we will only have one shot at it.'
The Horntail however had other ideas as primal instinct drove him to incline left and drop into a dive and the Death Eaters ducked low to the beast's neck. The Silver's breath weapon missed her target by mere inches however it was not a clean escape for the larger dragon's riders. At the last instant Harry had thrown his sword and the dragons dip while saving the beast itself from the flashing blade placed the Death Eaters riding him directly into the path of the blade.
The rear rider screamed at the sword took him through the shoulder and knocked him from the wheeling dragon's back, his flailing arm dislodging the forward rider from his precarious perch. With scrambling hands reaching for the harness and curses at his companion the Death Eater managed to retain his seat and slid his legs back under the riding straps.
Harry hissed in rage, his hope of taking out the larger dragon quickly and cleanly fading with the disaster. Silvenestri was faltering, exhausted and wounded. He needed to tend to his mounts injuries but there was no hope of avoiding this battle. The one factor in his favor was that the Welsh Greens seemed not to be interested in pursuing the Silver.
The Silver and the Horntail began to circle each other, the silver careful to remain out of the reach of the bigger dragon. Harry and the Death Eater glared at each other as their beasts circled, each with wand in hand and ready at the first opportunity to present itself to try taking the other down.
/A Green is down at the castle. I can't see the other. / Silvenestri reported.
/ Good enough. We can only hope that they can handle the greens. This one seems sluggish but he's an older dragon and used to fighting in the air. I think… Yes, that might work. It's risky but we are far more nimble than the Horntail and I don't think the Death Eater has full control of the dragon. If they fight each other it may be possible for us to pull this off. When I give you the signal I want you to dive. Don't pull up until I say so. /
Silvenestri grunted acknowledgement, too tired now to do more than gather her flagging strength and continue to circle the enemy dragon, waiting for the other to open a hole in his defense. Harry gripped his wand tighter and calmed himself, preparing every counter curse he could think of.
/ Now/
Silvenestri tucked her wings and dropped into the dive with a roar of challenge and the Horntail answered that challenge, screaming in protest to the Death Eaters counter commands, trying to force him to level flight again.
Harry felt his heart thudding in his chest as the ground rushed up toward them and listened to the scream of the Horntail. He glanced over his shoulder to see the beast was right on her tail and he grinned in challenge at the Death Eater, trying to distract him from controlling the dragon's flight. He lifted his returned blade in the air in challenge and the Death Eater raised his wand, forgetting all about the need to bring the dragon under control and Harry was quick to respond with counter curses, his goal accomplished.
Over the thunder of the wind and dragon wings Harry could hear the roaring of the bigger dragon and he could feel the growing magical emanations as the Death Eater stepped up his magical barrage but through it all the little silver dragon didn't falter. With all of the speed she could muster and with her heart thundering in her chest Silvenestri continued to dive toward the onrushing ground.
/He's the Seeker, Silvenestri and we are the Golden Snitch. / He sent to her. /Lets show him how poor a Seeker he is. /
This was their last gambit, Harry knew. There was a great heart within the dragon's breast but she was young and she was hurt and her reserves were failing. He would have to get her away from the combat if this failed. His own pain was rising in crushing waves and he knew they were finished.
"NOW!" He yelled, thumping a fist against her shoulder.
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Tonks
"The Green's going down." Charley commented, moving cautiously around the tower.
Tonks moved closer to the edge of the broken section, careful of her footing as she searched the sky for the battling dragons. Her eyes widened as she saw the plummeting forms and she pressed her hands to her mouth to contain the scream.
It looked like the leading dragon was going to plow into the ground with the bulkier dragon right behind her. Closer and closer to the ground they fell, the horntail roaring in rage as they dived.
"Pull up." Tonks whispered. "Pull up Silvenestri. Pull up."
When it seemed impossible for the dragon to break from the dive Silvenestri's wings flared and she extended her front feet. Charley sucked in a deep breath at that and Tonks dared not take her eyes from the scene. The silver neck extended to its full length and great muscles strained against the momentum of the dive. At the moment when Tonks was certain they could not pull out of the dive the great body lifted and tucked rear legs extended, silver claws seemed to dig into the ground, knees bending and with a massive down sweep of the wide wings the dragon seemed to claw her way into the air.
"She'll break her legs trying that!" Charley hissed.
The movement was more of a jump than anything but her wings failed to gather sufficient lift to clear her from the ground and she tried once again, this time slowing enough to enter a semi controlled slide. Dirt sprayed into the air, covering the Horntail on her tail and obscuring his sight and with a last spring that drew a scream from the Silver Silvenestri managed to throw herself sideways and come to an abrupt stop.
With a mighty roar of rage and dawning pain the larger dragon, enveloped in the dirt and dust spraying in the air from Silvenestri's slide lost sight of the ground and his prey. The ground beneath the observers shook as the massive bulk of the dragon impacted and the debris thrown up obscured their view of the crash but there was no mistaking that sickening crack of breaking bones.
"Neck broke, I'd say." Charley quietly commented. "Bastards forced them into combat like this and can't even keep them safe."
Tonks glared at him but Charley shook his head. "They never asked to be here. I saw the rune on them. I know what it means. Not the dragons fault, so don't blame them."
Chastised Tonks nodded slowly and turned away from the view on seeing the silver dragon stir. "There's still the rider to be dealt with."
"He won't have survived the impact and there are Auror's enough down there to deal with it."
Tonks hesitated a moment, just long enough to note that the remaining Death Eaters and their cohorts were fleeing the battlefield. It was over.
"Thank god." She whispered. "I'm going down."
She nodded briefly to Charley and hurried to the stairs. Harry was down there and while she had seen Silvenestri move after that dreadful landing she had not seen Harry. She needed to know that he was alright.
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Charley
Charley watched Tonks run from the tower and tackle the stairs before turning back to survey the battlefield. The drugged Welsh Green was on the ground now and two of his team were hurrying to chain the beast. They were uncertain how long the drug would contain it and he wanted to be certain they had the dragon safely confined before there was any danger of having him aware enough to cause trouble. The second beast was chained and contained by the net which left the Chinese Fireball he had been told about to locate.
"I'll probably have to put that one down if he survived." He whispered. "I hope not but I can't have a wounded dragon loose." His eyes rested on the stirring Silver dragon. "Then there is you, missy. I need to get close enough to you to see how badly you are hurt."
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Dumbledore.
'It's over. Just the cleanup… and damage control, of course.'
The headmaster sighed softly, leaning against the wall and considering the bodies strewn about the battlefield. The dust had yet to settle enough to permit them to approach the downed dragon and he desperately wanted to know that Harry and the little girl had survived the dive.
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