Chapter 3: Attack on Diagon Alley
Josh sighed heavily, running a hand through his hair. "Harry, you don't need my help," he stated. "You are a perfectly capable wizard, and you have Hermione by your side. And she's the smartest witch of our age."
"And you're the smartest Wizard of our age," Harry replied. "Josh, I know you don't want to be apart of this war, but you're already apart of it. You were always there, by my side against Voldemort. In first year with the stone, second year with the Basilisk, third year with Peter Pettigrew, fourth year in the graveyard, and last year at the Department of Mystery. And now you're saying you're done with it? That Joshua Black doesn't want to got to war?"
"I'm tired of getting the people I love hurt," Josh lamely told.
"And you don't think I feel that way too?" Harry argued. "I'm at the center of this. Voldemort wants me and he's not going to be afraid to hurt the people I love. And he still wants you dead too, I reckon. I mean, aren't you an Heir of Slytherin."
"Yeah well, I'm not the only one," Josh murmured.
"You're not?" Harry replied, looking a bit surprised.
Josh nodded. "Turns out Rina can understand Parseltongue," he revealed. "No doubt she can speak it too. And if she can, so will her brother; and possibly my unborn sibling."
"And Voldemort would want to be a sole heir," Harry began, "And there's no doubt in anyone's mind that the Dark Lord would want to kill all of your family." Josh shrugged. "Look, All I am saying is that we can't hide from this war because of how too much involved of it we already are."
"Oh yeah?" Josh said, standing to his feet. "Just watch me." He turned and began to leave.
"Only cowards run and hide," Harry abruplty said, standing to his feet. Josh froze in his tracks. "Josh Black isn't a coward, is he?" Josh turned and glared at Harry.
xxx
"Alright, shut up shut up!" growled a growly voice of a cloaked man had entered a room fill with many dark cloaked dark witches and wizards, talking and waiting to be told to do something. Many voices came to a halt. "Where is Silas and his son?"
The figures walked out of the crowd reealing themselves to be Silas and Cyrus. "Hello, Lestrange. To what do we owe the visit?" Silas asked, crossing his arm.
"Potter will be going to Diagon Alley," Lestrange spoke. "As we assume as well as Black will be there, his mother, and your daughter." Silas and Cyrus glanced at one another. "What are you going to do?"
"We're going to attack!" Cryus abruptly spoke.
"What my enthusiastic son meant," Silas said, "Is that we are going to plan an attack. Kill my sister, her idiotic husband, and my nephew, and take back my daughter."
"They will have others around them to help," Lestrange told them.
"Then I will bring others to help me," Silas said with an evil smile.
xxx
"Alright, gang! Let's get a move on!" Sirius shouted from the sitting room, straightening out his shirt. Rina was also in the sitting room, patting down her blue skirt and sitting patiently on a chair. Seconds later, four boys entered the room; one blond, one red, and two raven haired; followed by a pregnant woman. They were all heading out to Diagon Alley to get their school supplies. "Well, it's about time," Sirius said with a smile. He looked at everyone in the room, smiling widely. "Look at this. Not too long ago, I was in Azkaban, and now I'm free with a new family," he said, tearing up. Some of the boys slightly rolled their eyes in bemusement. "I need to take a picture."
"Oh, dear," Sandra said, walking oer to her husband. "Pull it together, Sirius. Was there something about a security detail for this small trip."
Sirius cleared his throat. "Oh, yes, ahem, well," he coughed, wiping his eyes. "Yes, well, since we're taking Harry, we're going to have a little security detail in case. Don't worry, Ron, we're meeting up with your family in the Leaky Cauldron."
"How are we getting there?" Josh asked, straightening out one of his sleeves.
"Tis a surprise!" Sirius said, waving to the others towards the front door. Josh and Sirius exited the house last. It was an overcast, murky day. Everyone was surprised to see one of the special Ministry of Magic cars parked in the street, a driver leaning on the side of it. "Now that I'm back on the Ministry payroll, I was able to get one of these little babies. Let's go." Sirius explained as everyone gathered inside the Ministry car.
The car drive wasn't too long as the Blacks already lived in the city of London. They arrived at the Leaky Cauldron in no time. "We'll have additional detail once we're inside," Sirius spoke, waving everyone inside. Once inside, Ron was reunited with his family, where his mother fussed over him for a bit and then over Josh's pregnant mother. Hermione was also there, standing next to a giggling Ginny who both ran up to hug Harry. Sirius walked up and shook Mr. Weasley's hand, and spoke a bit. Bill walked up and shook Josh's hand, and to Draco's suprise, shook his hand as well. Josh also notice the quad of Aurors spread throughout the pub trying to look inconspicuous.
Soon enouh, the whole group was stepping into Diagon Alley. The colorful, glittering window displays of spellbooks, potion ingredients and cauldrons were lost to view, hidden behind the large Ministry of Magic posters that had been pasted over them. Most of these somber purple posters carried blown-up versions of the security advice on the Ministry pamphlets that had been sent out over the summer, but others bore the black and white wanted posters of Death Eaters known to be on the loose.
Josh noticed some windows had been boarded up, including Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlor. Though, on the other hand, a number of shady-looking stalls had opened up all over the Alley. As they passed on of the stalls, a seedy-lookinh little wizard was rattling armfuls of silver symbols on chains, came up to the trio of Ginny, Hermione, and Rina. "How about a necklace for one of you prettly little ladies, eh?" he said in his high-pitched scraggly voice. "Protect your little necks, eh?"
"Oi! Back off," Sirius exclaimed stepping in front of the trio of girls. He stepped up to the other wizard who only stood up to Sirius's chest. "If I were on duty..." He glared down at the short wizard.
"But you're not," Sandra added, grabbing Sirius by the arm. "Come along, dear."
Sirius turned towards the group. "Alright, I think the women should go ahead and head over to Madam Malkin's for some robes,and us men will head over to Flourish and Bott's and get everyone's school books. Then we will meet up at the Weasley Twins' shop. That sound alright to everyone?" Everyone pretty much nodded in agreement.
"Sounds good, but I should go with the women," Mr. Weasley spoke up. And the women and Mr. Weasley headed to Madam Malkin's while the others headed to Flourish and Bott's. Josh noticed that the four Aurors that had accompanied them, two followed after the women.
Josh and the others followed Sirius into the spellbook shop, and as soon as everyone was inside, they went their separate ways, ignoring the pleas of Sirius, who wanted to stick together. Josh and Draco were in an aisle together when the two heard heated voices. Curious, the duo walke to the front of the shop to see the shop owner arguing with someone who Josh and Draco were stunned to see who it was.
"I know he's in here! Where is he?! Where is my boy!?" the blonde woman cried.
"Look lady, I don't know who you're asking for!?"
"Mother?" Draco spoke up. A misheveled Narcissa Malfoy turned to the sound of her voice, on the verge of tears.
"Draco," she cried, running up to hug her son. He relunctantly hugged her back. She released him with tears in her eyes.
"Please, Draco, please," she pleaded with a confused Draco. "I need you to come with me, please."
"Why?" Draco asked. Josh stood next to his cousin, but couldn't help feel sorry for his Aunt.
"Please, Draco," Narcissa continued to plead. "Please, come with me. If you don't, I can't gauruntee your safety." Josh's eyebrows furrowed though Draco shook his head, taking a step back. Narcissa began to cry.
"Oi!" Heads turne to see Sirius walking forward. "You! Beat it!" he growled. Narcissa took one last look at her son, and then quickly left the shop. Sirius stopped next to his son. "What was that about?" he asked. Josh looked at Draco who shrugged, and sniffed.
"I don't know," Draco answered, turning away and walking back down the aisle to looked for books. Josh and Sirius shared a looked and then too continued to book shop.
Not too long after that strange counter, the Blacks and Weasleys exited the book shop and began to make their way towards the Weasleys' Joke shop. As they strolled down the crowded alley, a lone figure harshly bumped into Josh's shoulder.
"Oi!" Josh yelped, turning towards the figure. He watched them huddle and stroll away quickly as possible. Josh suddenly began to get a very bad feeling for an unknown reason. He continued to watch the figure walk away. He heard a rumble and instinctively looked up. There were grey clouds covering the sky and every now and then, was a flash of light.
"Joshua! You coming?" Josh's father called. Josh looked at the sky and then back at the figure that bumped into him, who has now disappeared. Her turned back and began to follow after his father.
"Whoa," Josh heard someone breathe out.
Set against the dull, poster muffled shop fronts around them, Fred and George's windows hit the eye lik a firework display. Casual passerby were looking back over their shoulders at the wndows, and a few rather looking stunned-looking people had actually come to a halt, transfixed. The left handed window was dazzlingly full of an assortment of goods revolved, popped, flashed, bounced, and shrieked; people's eyes watered just looking at it. The right-handed window was covered with a gigantic poster; purple like those of the ministry, but enblazoned with yellow flashing letters:
Why are you worrying about You-Know-Who? You should be worrying about You-No-Poo - The constipation sensation that's gripping the nation.
Josh snorted to himself as he followed the others into the Weasley shop. The place was packed with customers. Boxes of merchandise was stocked up nearly to the ceiling, to which Josh noticed were Skiving Snackboxes that the twins has perfected during their last, unfinished year at Hogwarts.
"Welcome, welcome, welcome, to our Shop!" shouted Fred Weasley as he made his way towards the group with arms wide open. "Hello mum, dad, siblings and friends," he greeted. "Come, come, ladies an gents. Let's give you the tour!" He said excitedly and began to show the group around, showing them all kinds of different products. Some of the others, including Josh, wonered off on their own to take a look around.
Josh found himself in at the end of a shelf, where small, shiny, and soft black stones sat. "Instant Darkness Powder," George said, appearing next to Josh. "It's from Peru. Handy if you want to make a quick escape."
"Neat, how much?" Josh asked.
"For you? Nothing," George answered. Josh began to stammer in reply. "You don't pay here, Josh. It was one of the first business decisions Me an' Fred agreed on. You gace us our start-up loan. We didn't forget. Go on. Take anything you want. It's yours free of charge. Just make sure to tell people where you got it from."
Josh smiled. "Alright, will do." As George walked away, Josh continued to browse around, later joing his father. He was amused about how his father was loving the heck out of this store, grabbing a bunch of items. He was grabbing more, but his wife appeared and told him that he couldn't have everything. Josh was smiling, watching his parents' chemistry. He had that with Daphne and couldn't wait to make it more. Josh and the others continued to browse, saying hi to other Hogwarts students that happened to be there; Seamus and Dean were there, and Dean was talking up a storm with Ginny. Some of Dumbledore's Army was around as well. Neville was around, and was excited to show everyone he knew, his new wand he had gotten. He also spoke of how his grandmother was so proud of his OWL scores, especially in Defense Against the Dark Arts.
Josh noticed shuffling out the window, seeing some groups of witches and wizards quickly leaving. He thought nothing of it and continued to browse with his family; him and Draco teasing Rina with some of the products. Josh noticed how Rina felt a little more alive these days, not having a death eater father making you do things that you don't want to do. She was a bit more happy. Josh was happy to have her around, as well as Draco who really changed for the better; a true Slytherin, if he may say so. He was fairly interested in most of the product and even held an intelligent conversation with the Weasley twins about their products.
But soon, it was time to go or so Mrs. Weasley had announced. Everyone groaned; Sirius was the one who was most disappointed to go. Everyone gathered around, as Mrs. Weasley and Sandra made sure they were okay and good to go. Josh led everyone out of Weasley Wizard Wheeze's, holding the door open for his friends and family. Most of everone was ready to get back home, especially Sandra who complained about her feet being swollen.
"Say what you want about my brothers, but they are a couple of joke geniuses," Josh heard Ron say to Harry. Once Josh stepped in the Alley, the hairs on the back of his neck rose up and suddenly, everything began to feel different.
"Look out!" Josh was suddenly tackled down to the ground as a red curse whizzed over his head. Josh and Draco sat up and looked around. People began to scream in terror and frantically run around as a large group of Death Eaters began to attack the Alley. The two teen boys stood to their feet and were shocked to see a barrel of spells and curses headed their way. But before Josh could whip out his wand, a shield erupted just in time in front of the boys. The curses hit and cracke the shield in front of them.
"It's not going to last!" Josh heard someone say. He turned to see it was his mother who had put up the shield. And just as she said, the shield broke, and Josh and Draco dove to the ground. There was a yelp. Josh snapped up to see a cutting curse struck his mother's leg. Anger began to boil inside Josh as he whipped out his wand.
Some of the other adults as run out of the Weasley Twins' shop, including the Twins, and began to attack some of the closest death eaters. Harry quickly ran out to help fight, his two best friends quickly following after them. Josh took a step forward but was stopped by his father. "I need you to get out of here," he shouted over all the noise of screams and shouts.
"But I can help!" Josh growled out.
"I know you can," Siriue replied, "But I have to go do my job, and I need you to protect your mother and cousins, and get them out of here, understand?"
Josh nodded in frustration, and turned to Draco as his father went on to join the battle. "Come on, Draco, help me with my mother," he told Draco who nodded. The two boys quickly mover over to Sandra and helped her to her feet. "Are you okay, mum?" Josh asked as he looked around, wondering where Harry and the others were.
"I'm fine," She answered. "It's just a small scratch." Josh looked down at his mother's wound and it definitely was not just a scratch as it was bleeding profusely. "Tergeo!" Josh incantated, cleaning away some of the blood from his Mother's leg, and then conjuring gauze around her wound. The two boys helped sandra, and led some of the younger children, consisting of Rina, Mrs. Weasley, and Ginny away from the battle, dodging whatever curses and spell that came their way; eventually shooting one of their own. Josh led the others into a smaller alley. He and Draco placed his mother gently on the ground. Mrs. Weasley ran over to make sure she was okay as Josh moved to the front of the group. He peaked out to see that the regular Alley exit was blocked by a few Death Eaters.
"The exit's blocked," Josh informed the others.
"What do we do?!" Ginny asked, her wand out and at the ready. Draco and Rina also had their wands out as well. Josh sighed heavily. He didn't want to leave his mother, but he knew he had too.
"Ginny, you and Rina protect our mothers," He told the girls. "Draco and I will clear the exit."
"We will?" said a surprised Draco. "There's four of them, and I've only dueled one on one."
"Well what better way to get new practice than live experience," Josh replied, looking at the four death eaters blocking the exit. "We can take them, no problem. Besides, I have an idea." Draco skeptically glanced towards Josh who gave a mischevious smirk.
The four unknown Death Eaters were standing guard, catching and cursing any stragglers just trying to escape. Suddenly, there were stunned to see that a random fog began to rise around them. "What is going on?" said one of the death eaters. "This can't be a natural fog!"
"Someone is doing this," said another of the Death Eaters, "Be at the ready!" The other Death Eaters nodded, raising their wands. "Spread out!"
"I can't see a thing in this fog," growled a death eater. "Gibbons! Do you see anything?" The death eater known as Gibbons didn't answer. "Gibbons? Treystone? Butcher?" No one answered. "Is anyone there?"
"I'm here."
The Death Eater turned around to see Josh standing right behind him with his wand at the Death Eater's face. "Oh, er," the Death Eater muttered. "Can we talk about this?" Josh smiled and stunned the Death eater.
"Clear!" Josh shouted.
"Clear over here," Draco shouted back. Josh waved his wand and cleared out the fog. He waved towards the others. Mrs. Weasley and Ginny helped Sandra moved towards the exit as Rina quickly followed behind. Josh kept watched as Ginny opened the brick wall and the others quickly made their way through. Other innocent stragglers appeared from their hiding places and made towards their exit joining the others.
"Josh, wait up!" Josh turne to see Harry, Ron, and Hermione run up. "Are you alright?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine, are you guys alright?" Josh asked. The trio nodded. "And everyone else?" he worriedly asked, wondering about his father.
"Still fighting the death eaters," Harry answered. "They told us to get out of here." Josh noded and wave the others towards the exit. Draco followed, and just as Josh was to follow, a cutting curse struck his right arm. Josh groaned as he dropped his wand and dropped to his right knee, hitting the hard ground.
"Just the person that I was looking for."
Josh looked up to see his cousin, his uncle, and another death eater in a mask standing with their wands lowered, except for Cyrus, whose wand was pointed at Josh. Behin the group was a battle that was still raging on. Screams and shouts could still be heard all around. "It's my favorite young cousin, Mr. Joshua," Cyrus taunted. "Break into the Ministry lately?" Josh slowly turned, eyeing at his wand that lay inches from him. "Don't even think about it, Black," Cyrus hissed. "You're just one curse away from death, but I'd thought we could have a little chat."
"We have nothing to talk about," Josh growled, nursing his arm. A curse whizzed slightly across the right side of Josh's temple. He felt the warm blood begin to trickle down the right side of his face.
"Where's my daughter?" Silus growled out.
"Believe me, she's better off," Josh replied, anger beginning to boil inside. He twitched his fingers, and his wand twitched.
"She only ran off because you nrainwashed her!" Silus argued, his wand raised high.
"I showed her the truth!" Josh argued back. "I showed her what a murderer you are. I showed her how you murdered your own father in cold blood!"
"Shut it!" Silus yelled, a sickly green curse leave from his wand and striking the ground next to Josh. He clenched his fists and his teeth, his wand moving a little more.
"Look, Josh," Cyrus began, "All we want is my little sister. That's all. And then you can die. It's just that easy."
"Well, you can't have her," Josh said through his teeth, "She doesn't want to go back."
"Alright, alright," Cyrus said, nodded his head, turning away. Josh took this moment to reach for his wand, but Cyrus was ready, sending a stabbing curse through Josh's right shoulder, knocking him into a wall. Josh yelped and groaned in pain. "Oh! How did you think that I wasn't going to see that, Josh? I know, that with you, that I have to always be at the ready. I will not make that same mistake again." Josh hissed, pain searing in his shoulder now, and more blood pouring out. "See this time, I'm not distracted by some harlot. This time, my senses are top notch. This time, you are alone and there's no one to help you. This time, you are going to die." Josh saw something move behind the three death eaters. He began to laugh. "Now, what is so funny?" Cyrus asked through gritted teeth.
"You waste too much talking, Cyrus," Josh calmly said. "If you're going to kill someone, just do it. Stop monologuing." And suddenly, spells began whizzing from behind the three death eaters.
"Arg!" yelled the masked death eater who fell to the ground. Silus turned around and began to send his own barage of curses and jinxes. Cyrus growled and turned to Josh.
Josh raised his left hand where his wand suddenly shot right into it. He grasped it and quickly dove to his left where Cyrus had sent a blue sickly curse his way. He dove and took cover behind a barrel, while Cyrus took cover in an alley across from Josh, sending any spells or curses his way.
"This isn't over, Black! I am not going anywhere until I see you as a dead corpse!" Cyrus growled. Josh recipercated with his own spells towards Cyrus. A curse then suddenly struck Josh's left hand. He hissed and ducked down, looking at his hand. It was covered in burns. More anger burned inside Josh. Why was he not doing so well? He's usually a good enough dueler. Was Cyrus actually better than him now? He heard Cyrus laugh. "Come on out, Josh! Accept your fate!" Josh sighed heavily and grasped his wand tightly. He stood up and out of his hiding spot. Cyrus followed suit. "Like a true Gryffindor," he laughed, raising his wand. "So pathetic." He let out some curses, but Josh was ready, raising his wand and creating the most powerful shield he could muster. The curses struck the shield but it held. Josh began to move closer to Cryus who continued to shoot curses and jinxes.
"Ventus!" Josh yelled, creating a hurricane-force like wind, knocking Cyrus off his feet, giving Josh an open. He whipped his arm around and created a fire-whip from his wand, snapping forward and striking Cyrus in his chest, leaving a long slash across his chest, and his clothes catching on fire. Cyrus growled in pain as he rolled around on the ground, putting out the fire. He stood up only to be met with a cutting hex where it grazed his left cheek.
"You'll pay for that, Black!" Cyrus growled, sending the familiar sickly green curse towards Josh's way. Josh dove out of the way, quickly jumping to his feet. He thrust his wand forward, conjusring arrows to spew out from the tip. Cyrus raised his wand, and conjured a shield, but he wasn't quick enough as an arrow struck his wand shoulder, causing him to drop to the ground and release his wand. He looked up to see Josh walk forward, his wand aimed at his head.
"What's that now? Me; two, you; zero," Josh taunted, breathing heavily. Cyrus glared up at Josh who suddenly felt the hairs on the back of his neck raise up. He glanced to his right and then back at Cyrus who gave a tiny smirk. Josh ducked and spun around, thrusting his wand forward. "Sagittas!" He shouted, releasing a barrel of arrows. He watched as at least six of those arrows struck a wand-raised, Silas. All of them were fatal wounds. Silas tried to speak, but instead coughed up blood, and falling to the ground.
"Father!" Cyrus cried out, pushing Josh out of the way and running over to his father. "Father, no! You're gonna pay for this, Black! You're going to pay for this!" he growled, grabbing his father's wand.
"Josh!" Josh heard his father yell.
"This isn't over!" Cyrus growled through his teeth, turning to see Sirius and others running their way. Cyrus grabbed a tight hold on his father and quickly activated the portkey he had, disappearing into thin air.
Sirius ran up to his son, looking over him. "What happened to you?" he frantically asked, looking at his wounds. Josh had four different wounds, a cut on his forehead, his arm, his shoulder, and a burned hand. "Where's your mother? Where's the others? What happened? Where is everyone else?"
"Dad, I'm fine, alright," Josh said, trying to calm his father down. Other Aurors were around, gathering unconscious death eaters, and surveying the area. "It's alright. Mum's alright. They all were able to get out. I was just ambushed at the last minute. I was able to hold them over long enough for you to get here." Sirius nodded, and hugged his son.
Sirius released his son, patting him on the shoulder. "Let's get you patched up and get you back to your mother." Sirius began to lead his son away.
Josh nodded, but he wanted to know what was going on. What was it that brought this on?
"What happened here, dad?"