I don't own the Harry Potter Characters, this fanfic is for fun.
Chapter 16, Choosing the Route
The Two Hippogriffs flew all night. By Dawn's breaking, they were well over the English Channel, flying south toward France. Three of the four riding atop their backs had gotten used to the cold wind which swept against their faces as they flew as fast as the Hippogriffs could carry them. Hermione was still shivering and miserable, clutching Harry's waste tightly as they proceeded. Ron was still enjoying every minute of their flight, while Harry and Reverend Ewls' minds were on deeper things while they handled the reins of the hippogriffs.
Harry contemplated the fact that there was no turning back from the course that had been set for him. Strangely enough, he would rather had suffered through his N.E.W.T.s and become an Auror, than be out here, probably not to see Britain, much less his beloved Hogwarts for some time. Reverend Ewls' mind was planning routs, going over the map of the Mediterranean Sea in his mind, considering the best way to take in order to avoid detection from either muggles or wizards. He found himself willing to give his right arm in order that they could apparate, such was, however, out of the question. Apparition was dangerous on the count of Hermione's child, if anything went wrong, even in a normal pregnancy, it would put the child at risk. He also considered that it was now more than twenty-four hours since any of them had gotten any sleep at all, they would have to keep moving until nightfall, but they should at least get some rest.
The Hippogriffs were flying close to each other, so close that it didn't take shouting for Ron and Reverend Ewls to be able to hear Harry and Hermione. Reverend Ewls used this to his advantage.
"We're over the English Channel," Ewls called out to Harry. "We'll set down for a few minutes after arriving in France! Are you alright Hermione?"
"I hate flying," Hermione called back in a drowsy voice. "Other than that, I'm alright, just tired, and cold, and the baby's kicking."
Reverend Ewls laughed. "I think he enjoys the flight, hang on, we'll be over France in about in about thirty minutes."
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The Ministry of Magic arrived at Hogwarts early that morning at 5:32 AM, rescued Cacius Ewing and Arius Day, and apprehended Professor McGonagall, Amanda Ewls, and Hagrid. They were taken back by flu powder to the ministry of Magic, to a holding cell in which was a single bench upon which all three sat. After thirty minutes the three heard footsteps entering the hallway of the holding cells.
Rufus Scrimgeour and Arthur Weasley, lead by Cacius Ewing who was wearing the uniform of a member of the Auror Service, arrived in front of the bars of the holding cell. Professor McGonagall rose from the bench and, from the prisoner's side of the bars, assumed a stand-offish posture while facing Cacius Ewing.
"Are you three alright?" asked Arthur Weasley, whose face was pale and disgruntled.
"I thought I knew that you weren't with the Committee on Experimental Charms," said McGonagall to Ewing.
"Sub-Colonel Ewing, British Auror Command at your service," said Ewing with a smug grin. "As I'm sure you are aware, Captain Day is not with the Department of Magical Transportation. The minister and I would like to ask you three and Mr. Weasley a few questions, your answers to which will determine whether or not you will be returning to Hogwarts today."
Professor McGonagall, Hagrid, and Amanda Ewls were taken, in chains to a small, dimly lighted room with a table in the center. Arthur Weasley, although free, sat down next to McGonagall. Scrimgeour sat, with his cold, emotionless expression, in a chair away from the table. Cacius Ewing stood. After a few seconds of silence, the door to the room opened, and in came a huge, muscular man, dressed in well-kept, black robes. He was the size of Hagrid, only his face was clean-shaven and he wore glasses. His expression was one of fear-inspiring anger, incredibly harsh. Even McGonagall shuttered a bit, unnoticeably.
"This is Artemis Gray," began Scrimgeour calmly, coldly, as he remained seated. "…head of the new Department of Secret Investigations."
"The Department of Secret Investigations?" asked Arthur Weasley, startled.
"I'll be asking the questions, Weasley," said Artemis Gray in a very deep, harsh voice.
Gray produced a small vial and held it out to the four who sat at the table.
"Veritaserum," Gray said. "You will all be administered a few drops of it, as you know it will not be painful, but we can do this the easy way or the hard way." Gray walked to the chair at which sat Hagrid. "Professor Hagrid I can either give you the serum to drink, or force it down your mouth, as I said, we can do this the easy way or the hard way."
Hagrid gave a brave but nervous glance at McGonagall who nodded to him. Hagrid took the vial, held it over his mouth, and allowed two tiny drops to enter his mouth. Hagrid passed the vial to the other four who sat at the table, each took a few drops of the potion.
"We'll start with you Hagrid," Gray said. "Where are Granger, Ron Weasley, Potter, and Reverend Ewls heading?"
"I don't know?"
"He's clearly resisting the veritaserum somehow," said Ewing.
"Not Possible Cacius," said Gray. "Even half-giants are susceptible to veritaserum, believe me, I know."
Artemis Gray then turned to McGonagall.
"Very well, moving on, Professor McGonagall, do you know where they are going?"
"I would guess to the Temple of the Holy Cross."
"Very Good, and where is that?" McGonagall shrugged as if to answer that she did not know without even saying anything. "Healer Ewls what about you, do you know where the Temple of the Holy Cross is?"
Before answering, Healer Ewls looked down at her hands which were folded, resting on the table. She gathered her strength and gazed into Artemis Gray's eyes, demonstrating to him that she was not afraid of him.
"You won't catch them, Thomas is more powerful then ten of you."
"Oh we'll catch them," Boasted Gray. "Where is the Temple of the Holy Cross?
"There's a port-key, somewhere in Israel, that's all I know," Ewls said hesitantly. "No one knows how to get to the Temple of the Holy Cross."
"No, no one does," Gray began in response. "But we'll trail them to Israel."
"I'll put my fastest broomsmen on them," Said Ewing. "They wont' have a moment's rest, they since they can't apparate and there are no flu or port-key connections across the Mediterranean, they have no choice but to fly, in which case they will be visible, we will catch them."
Artemis Gray nodded. "I'd also send about twenty or so to Israel to meet them there. Guard the major cities, that's probably where the port key will be, my guess would be either Tel-Aviv, Jericho, or Jerusalem." Gray then turned his expression toward the minister. "Minister I see no reason to hold these three any longer."
Scrimgeour nodded. "You four are free to go, I wouldn't wander too far from Hogwarts though, we'll be watching you."
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The two Hippogriffs were almost to the French Coast, they could see the green land interrupting the endless blue of the channel. At this site, Hermione beamed as she soon would set foot on land again. Meanwhile, behind the two hippogriffs, seven broomsmen followed atop firebolts, gaining on them fast. The four atop the hippogriffs had not thought to look behind them for several hours.
A red spark from a stunner curse suddenly zoomed right past the two Hippogriffs, causing Reverend Ewls and Harry to look behind them; both noticed the seven broomsmen who were quickly gaining on them, and now opening fire with stunners.
"Shit, we've got company," shouted Harry.
"I see them," shouted Ewls in reply. "Harry, let's split up, break off from me to your left on the count of three, one, two three, break left!"
The two Hippogriffs split apart from each other amid the hale of stunner curses which filled the sky but still managed to miss the two hippogriffs. Both Harry and Reverend Ewls began pull up and push down on the reins of their Hippogriffs violently, in an effort to cause them to engage in evasive action to dodge the stunners. It worked, as thus far, none of the stunners were able to hit the two hippogriffs. After the hippogriffs split off, so too did the broomsmen, four of whom followed Reverend Ewls and Ron, three of whom followed Harry and Hermione.
Hermione took her wand and began firing stunners and incendio curses at the three broomsmen who were now on their tail, while Harry continued evasive action. Ron did the same for Reverend Ewls, although his shots were much less accurate than Hermione's who had already hit one of the broomsmen with an impediment jinx, causing him to fall to the sea. This brought the number of trailing broomsmen to six. Four broosmen now trailed Ron and Reverend Ewls.
"Reverend, why do you think that more of them followed us?" asked Ron in a frightened shout, while Ewls made the Hippogriff to violently jerk in order to dodge the stunners. After asking the question, Ron fired several stunners of his own at the trailing broomsmen, hitting none of them.
"They assume I'm the better flyer."
"Are you?" Ron's voice was deeply nervous.
Reverend Ewls hesitated before answering. "Truthfully, this is my first time flying a Hippogriff."
"wha?"
"Don't worry I've read about how to handle them… once," said Ewls, his voice almost comical. "Is your wand broken?"
"No,"
"Well then shoot those bastards."
Ron fired just about every jinx or curse he could think of aside the unforgivable curses; none of them managed to hit any of the trailing broomsmen whose firebolts were simply faster and more maneuverable than the hippogriffs. Harry and Hermione were now a few kilometers away, flying high and parallel to the French Coastline. Hermione, amidst her cold shivering and suffering, continued to fire jinxes at the two remaining chasers. Seeing that Hermione's accuracy was no match for the maneuverability of the firebolts, Harry made a rash decision in the face of Hermione's fear of flying.
"Hermione Hang on tight!"
"What?"
Suddenly, Buckbeak climbed a few feet, and then barrel-rolled amid Hermione's screaming, ending up in a nose-dive toward the sea. The broomsmen followed them in nose dives of their own. They were now traveling at an incredible rate of speed toward the channel.
"HARRY PULL UP!"
"HANG ON!"
It seemed inevitable to both Harry and Hermione that they would meet their ends smacking face-first into the sea. At the second that they would have plundered into the channel, Harry pulled Buckbeak out of the dive. As Buckbeak leveled off, one of the two pursuing firebolts crashed into the channel. Hermione turned her head to the side of the hippogriff and threw up in the direction of the sea.
"Harry, I'm going to kill you!" shouted Hermione after she had finished vomiting.
"Can you take the reins?" shouted Harry.
"Yeah why?"
"Get ready, I'm going to slow us down and bring him in closer."
"YOU'RE GOING TO DO WHAT!"
Meanwhile, atop Frogtongue, Reverend Ewls and Ron were still attempting to dodge the chasers' jinxes as best as they could. Frogtongue's constant violent movement in evasion of their pursuers made Ron's job of hitting his opponents almost impossible.
"Ron remind me to tell you that your accuracy needs work!"
"If you would hold her steady for a second I'd hit something."
"If I did that they'd hit us for sure!"
One of the broomsmen, in an attempt to catch Frogtongue in a crossfire flew more quickly, moving around in front of the hippogriff. As the man atop the broom extended his wand at Frogtongue, Reverend Ewls extended his wandless hand at the broom. From out of his hand, with a loud screeching noise which resembled electricity, a white, lightning-like substance hurled at the broomsman, hitting and throwing him off of his broom to the sea.
"Where did you learn to do that?" shouted Ron.
"I'm a Nasserite! We're almost over the coast, we'll set him down there."
Meanwhile, Buckbeak was flying much slower, the remaining trailing broomsman gaining on him. Several stunners emerged from his wand as Harry anticipated and dodged them successfully.
"Hermione do you remember the imperius curse?"
"That's an unforgivable curse, I can't…"
"Hermione just use the fuckin curse! Bring him alongside us."
"You're crazy Harry!"
"So are they!"
Hermione aimed her wand at the trailing broomsman.
"God forgive me," she said. "IMPERIO!"
The curse worked, the broomsman had stopped firing at Harry and Hermione. Hermione, with her wand, brought the broomsman just along side the Hippogriff, within five feet of him. Upon the face of the broomsman was a look of emotionless emptiness. Harry then let go of Buckbeak's reigns, crossed himself, moved the foot opposite the parallel-flying broom around to the other side of the hippogriff, and jumped toward the broom, landing on it thigh first in a sitting position behind the broomsman, after which he threw the broomsman off of the firebolt and took control of the broom, flying directly along side Hermione.
"You really are crazy Harry!" shouted Hermione.
"You're almost to the Brittany coast, set him down on the beach, I'm going to give Reverend Ewls a hand."
Harry, now atop his new firebolt, broke away from Hermione who flew Buckbeak. Harry gained altitude as he flew toward Ron and Reverend Ewls who were still being trailed by four broomsmen. Reverend Ewls was still maneuvering hard while Ron was firing whatever Jinx came to his mind frantically at the pursuers.
A stunner suddenly hit Frogtongue in the side, he screamed loudly and violently, his flying became more sluggish, less controllable.
"Shit!" Ewls shouted. "Hold on, keep firing." He leaned forward to Frogtongue's small ear, come on Frogtongue, stay with me!"
Two of the broomsmen hurling firebolts, managed to hit Frogtongue on the wing, igniting his feathers. As they finally crossed over the coast nearby where Hermione had set down, the Hippogriff began to lose altitude, it's eyes became drowsy. Ewls tried frantically to control their descent while their left wing was still burning. Meanwhile, one of the pursuers who had caused the damage to Frogtongue's wing suddenly fell off of his broom, his robes aflame as Harry emerged from his side, flying as fast as he could at the other of the two pursuers who had hit Frogtongue's wing. The pursuer turned away from Harry and attempted to escape, Harry gave chase. Ron still fired frantically at the pursuers, finally hitting with a stunner, the remaining one of which still followed the hippogriff.
Only a singled pursuer remained, and he was currently being chased by Harry, who fired stunners and impediment jinxes at him, finally hitting him with the latter, causing him to fall off of his broom to the ground below.
"Frogtongue will only barely make it!" Ewls said to Ron as the Hippogriff's descent turned violent. "Hang on we're going to land on the beach."
Harry came along side Ron and Reverend Ewls. The three were flying along the beach, just over it. Reverend Ewls was attempting to slow down Frogtongue's descent as best as he could. Buckbeak was now in sight, standing next to him was Hermione and five other individuals who had joined her on the beach. Reverend Ewls noticed this and turned his attention to Harry.
"Never leave Hermione again!" He shouted to Harry in anger. "Hang on this'll be a hard landing."
Suddenly, Frogtongue's eyes closed as he began to plunge toward the sandy ground.
"Ron we're going to jump!"
"You're fucking kidding."
"Hold on to me! And watch your mouth!"
Ron took hold of Reverend Ewls around his waste. Reverend Ewls signed the cross and suddenly, without any apparent leg movements, lifted quickly, as if jumping, off of the Hippogriff. Below he and Ron, Frogtongue hit the ground with a violent crash. Harry landed several meters away from Hermione and noticed that the people who had joined her and Buckbeak on the beach were by no means friendly. One of the men held Hermione in front of himself facing Harry, as if to use her to shield himself, while pointing his wand at her head. Three others stood beside the one holding Hermione, while another held his wand at Buckbeak. Harry was not quite sure what he was doing, but Buckbeak was unable to move, and seemed to be struggling against the curse.
Reverend Ewls and Ron landed a few meters from Harry's position, after landing they ran to Harry's side. There were five attackers with wands drawn at Harry, Ron, and Reverend Ewls.
"Let her go!" shouted Ron.
"Drop your wands, or we'll kill her!" said the Wizard holding Hermione.
"Why should we, you're going to kill her anyways," said Harry.
"My friend, let me put it to you plainly, in case you've never dueled with a Nasserite," Said Reverend Ewls calmly. "You won't win, now let her go, and you won't get hurt."
"Yeah what are you going to do, Nasserite?" said the Wizard holding Hermione I have the upper hand, and you're more than twenty feet away?"
At this, Reverend Ewls gave a playful smile.
"I love how you always underestimate us," Said Reverend Ewls calmly. "Hermione duck."
Hermione bit into the hand of the person holding her. He shouted in pain, letting her go. Hermione quickly dove for the sand, while Reverend Ewls extended his wandless hand to the man who was holding Hermione, now wreathing in pain. From Ewls' hand, hurled a white lightning-like substance, which hit the man squarely in the chest, sending him back several meters unconscious.
The other four, one letting go of his attention on Buckbeak, drew their wands and aimed at Reverend Ewls, Harry, and Ron, forgetting Hermione who had picked up her wand which had been lying in the sand. From a kneeling position, she stunned two of her opponents, while Buckbeak's talons sank into the other two causing them to scream in agony. Hermione then stunned them, ending their pain temporarily.
Hermione had noticed Frogtongue's crash while she was being held captive by her opponents but had not time to worry about it until now as her opponents lay unconscious before her.
"Frogtongue!" She shouted as she and Buckbeak began to run toward the downed hippogriff. Harry, Ron, and Reverend Ewls joined them in the run, coming upon Frogtongue who lay collapsed on the sand, eyes barely opened, breathing with difficulty. The expressions on the face of everyone present were ones of sadness. Reverend Ewls placed one of his hands on the fallen hippogriff's head, after a second, he retracted it.
"He's dying," Ewls said.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione all began to pet Frogtongue softly as his breathing became more and more erratic until it finally stopped.
"It's my fault," said Ron in tears of guilt. "I couldn't hit any of the broomsmen before they hit us."
"You did the best you could," Reverend Ewls responded. "I should have maneuvered better. Frogtongue gave his life to save us. Now he goes to a better world, come, its dangerous to stay in one place, the ministry has followed us this far, I reckon they'll be on us the rest of the way."
The four began to set off from the beach toward a grassy field. Buckbeak had not yet joined them, noticing this the four stopped in their tracks in order to observe what Buckbeak was doing. He stood aside his dead brother, Frogtongue, in his eyes was a distinctly sad look as he lowered his beak and pulled a feather from the other Hippogriff's head. After which, Buckbeak set off with the four humans.
Upon entering a wooded area approximately a kilometer away from the beach, Reverend Ewls knelt down and signed the cross.
"Lord let me transcend space and time, by your grace," He muttered to himself while the other three observed him intently. After a single second, he rose again and addressed the three. "I've just contacted the order, it seems as though things are going very badly in England, we're being put on trial for treasonous misconduct."
"How can they do that, we're not even present to stand trial," said Hermione.
"They'll have a kangaroo, military tribunal without us, Arthur Weasley and Professor McGonagall will be representing us as best as they can, but it seems Hermione your child, is now seen as a greater threat than Lord Voldemort himself… Oh get a hold of yourself Ron!"
Reverend Ewls took from his pocket a detailed map of Europe, after studying it for a few seconds he looked back up at the three.
"We have to press south, there's a member of the Order of the Cross living near Beauxbattons Academy, she owns another Hippogriff."
"Beauxbattons is on the Mediterranean coast, it'll take us weeks to get there," Hermione Complained.
"No, the order has done the calculations if we keep a good pace we can be there in a week exactly, once we have the other hippogriff, we're going to take our friends in the Ministry of Magic on a wild goose chase, just in case someone tipped them off that we're heading for Israel. They'll expect us to cross the Mediterranean soon and fly across Africa, we're going to fly East over the Italy, and the Balkans, to Bulgaria, From there to Turkey, from Turkey to Israel. The whole trip should take us about three weeks if all goes well."
"But Reverend, I'm due in four weeks, that's cutting it very close," said Hermione.
"I know, we're therefore going to pray that you deliver on time or late."
At this, Hermione gave a nervous chuckle.
"You're going to pray," she said, clearly indicating that to her this was inadequate. "I hope it works."
"So do I Hermione, because right now prayer is all we've got," Ewls responded. "Now let's get moving we have a lot of ground to cover before nightfall."