CHAPTER 8
"HIS DEEPEST LAIR"
September 12th, 1996- Malfoy Manor
A cloaked figure materialized before the Dark Lord. It stood before Him under the dim candlelight.
"Severus, welcome." Voldemort spoke to him silkily.
"My Lord." He then bowed.
The Dark Lord sneered and waved His cloak in front of him as he neared Severus.
"So, Severus. What news do you have for me?"
Severus steeled his already impassive face, "My Lord, the Headmaster has continued to teach the boy, and his merry band of followers, strategies to counter our efforts. He has not indulged to me the details of these lessons. The Muggles (at this, Voldemort gagged), have made significant strides in creating defences in the Forbidden Forest. Interior and exterior patrols have also been increased, which shall truly-complicate- our infiltration efforts." He finished.
The Dark Lord pondered this information and turned his back on Severus. He seemed to be in a contemplative mood.
Severus waited with baited breath. He did not look forward to be subject to the Cruciatus.
The Dark Lord opened a drawer and let out a large parchment. "Come here, Severus. I wish to show you something."
Severus tentatively approached Voldemort. Once he got good look at the parchment splayed on the desk, Voldemort 'glided' behind Snape.
"Go on, Severus. Tell me what you think. Be honest and tell me what else can be done." He ordered him through a serpent-like whisper.
Severus nodded and continued to stare at what now looked like a complex plan for an offensive for the entire British Isles. It was, to say the least, ambitious in its scale and its goals. The plan involved attacking Hogwarts while Dumbledore was away. But even drawing the Headmaster away from the school would pose a challenge. The Headmaster tends to keep his movements a secret, to the point where he would only find out Dumbledore had left the Castle the day after.
If they needed to strike the School the moment the Headmaster was gone, then there must be men stationed nearby, ready to strike the defences which were still in its infant stages.
If a serious calamity struck the school or any of the Muggle military posts on the Grounds or in the Forbidden Forest, there may be a chance the Headmaster would decide to accelerate his plans, which would mean involving the boy.
Yes, this would make the likelihood of Dumbledore and Potter leaving the school together even greater. But the planned calamity must be done soon.
Seeing as Muggle vehicles would find it difficult to navigate the terrain of Hogwarts and the Forbidden Forest; a full frontal assault would be inadvisable. As far as Severus knew, the Muggle mercenaries only brought with them small-arms. At the same time, the Mercenary group looked as unprofessional as one could get, as though they were a bunch of school children playing soldier seeking to strike gold; smuggling in Muggle war machines would be too suspicious and frankly, too high-profile for a group like them.
But in any case, Snape remembered never to judge on appearance alone.
Going back to the plan: a few good men would suffice. They need not destroy the school and cause too many casualties. Simply eliminate the Headmaster and withdraw.
He turned to Voldemort, who was looking out of the window, caressing his wand.
Severus spoke, "My Lord. I find the plan to be…ambitious but it can be done. However, may I suggest a more covert approach to eliminating the Headmaster?"
At this, the Dark Lord turned to face him with the most sinister of smiles. His red eyes gleaming predatorily.
"Let us hear it then, Severus."
PRESENT DAY-HOGSMEADE
"I have a visual on the target. He's with a boy. They've moved into an alley near the Hog's Head." Muttered a mercenary disguised as a tramp.
"Good. Keep me updated. Listen for the sound of Apparation. It is similar to the snap of wind." His headset drawled out.
After less than a minute, he heard the distinct noise of Apparation. He calmly answered "Wombat, this is Beetle, they have disappeared. Over."
"Confirm it."
The tramp slowly rose from his sitting position, carrying an empty bottle of Ogden's Firewhisky and meandered his way towards the alley. Pretending to vomit, he heaved onto the dark pavement and slyly observed the emptiness before him. They were not there, and after ensuring that the alley contained no doors and exits, he sent a transmission.
"Wombat, the targets have gone. Over."
"Proceed to the rendezvous point. Do not be noticed, or you will answer to me."
"Understood Wombat. Out." The mercenary replied gruffly, not caring for the mudak on the other end and made his way to the rendezvous.
The rendezvous was near the Whomping Willow. Snape was with at least fifteen mercenaries who managed to smuggle in uniforms and weapons to look like the soldiers patrolling the Castle.
Snape looked at the men before him and the one disguised as a tramp, impressed with his ability to sneak past Muggle security. He sneered and began his briefing.
Moaning Myrtle's bathroom
Ron, Ginny and Hermione reached the sinks in the middle of the bathroom, holding some Comet broomsticks they managed to scrounge from the Quidditch storeroom thanks to Ginny's lock-picking skills. Miraculously, the ghost of the girl that haunted this place was nowhere to be found.
"I don't about you, but I'm not looking forward to Moaning bloody Myrtle knowing what we're up to." Ron muttered.
No one bothered to give a reply as Ginny was looking for the sink that led to the Chamber. After a minute, she managed to find the one with a snake symbol on the faucet.
"It's here." She breathed out.
Ron and Hermione flanked her and they looked at the sink tentatively. Hermione then turned to Ginny, "Ginny. You don't have to come with us."
Ginny simply chuckled and stared right back at her best friend. "I need to do this. If not now, then when?"
Hermione pursed her lips, and nodded. "All right." She turned to Ron and gestured for him to open the sink.
Ron cleared his throat, "Here goes nothing." He spoke a few words, but they came out wrong. After several attempts, he managed to get it right.
"Open"
The familiar hissing of the snake tongue chilled Hermione to the core, but for Ginny, it felt like her first year all over again. The cool, sinister voice of Tom Riddle taunted her.
"Ginny." The young Weasley was jolted from her stupor by her brother.
Brown eyes met blue ones and she saw nothing but concern and love for her. She gave him a shaky smile and held his hand.
"I'm good. Let's go then."
With their concerns abated for now, they looked down into the hole before them.
"How did you and Harry get down there?" Asked Hermione.
Ron sheepishly replied, "We jumped down and hoped for the best."
Hermione and Ginny would've laughed if it wasn't so dangerous.
Ron ignored their horrified looks and grabbed his broomstick. After staring back at the hole, he exhaled and gave them some final instructions. "All right. Hermione, you'll ride with Ginny. Just follow me." Ron told them shakily.
Once the trio mounted their brooms, they descended into the abyss.
After a few minutes, the trio managed to find themselves standing on the bones of various creatures the Basilisk may have fed on. Hermione gagged at the stench of the dank cavern.
"All right, the entrance to the Chamber is just up ahead. Let's go." Ron said to the girls as he led the way. Hermione turned to face Ginny, who was looking around the cavernous walls, most likely remembering the time she was brought here.
Hermione gazed upon the young woman before her and was nearly undone. Seeing all of this now, combined with the fact that young Ginny Weasley had to go through all of this in her first year made her realize the determination this young girl had in breaking free from the shackles of the Chamber. The fact that she was standing here before her showed she had beaten Voldemort's sway over her.
It made Hermione sick and angry at Tom Riddle for taking her innocence away, an eleven-year old girl.
She angrily wiped the tears that were about to fall, took Ginny's hand and squeezed it, bringing her attention back to the situation at hand.
"Your brother's up ahead. We're almost there."
Ginny nodded and allowed herself to be led back to the source of some of her greatest nightmares.
The trio reached the massive steel door laden with snake symbols. Then Ron muttered "Open" in Parseltongue, opening the door.
Once it opened they were attacked by a waft of stench coming from the Chamber. The trio gagged at the smell.
"Bloody hell!" Ron complained as he continued to cough.
Once the three of them calmed down, they entered the Chamber slowly and tentatively.
For Ron and Hermione, it would be the first time they have been inside the Chamber.
"Merlin." Hermione breathed. "The architecture is impressive. Salazar Slytherin built all of this?"
It was an eye-opening experience for Ron. As he looked at his sister, he felt a wave of sadness and disgust at the circumstances brought unto her. He moved towards Ginny and embraced her tightly, surprising her.
"Ron? Wha-?"
"I'm sorry." He cut her off, his voice crumbling.
He stared into her bright, brown eyes. "I had no idea… This place… Harry told me all about what happened in here, but I didn't realize just how-God, Ginny. You never should have gone through this. Bloody any of it!"
Brother held sister. "I failed you. I-. "He couldn't finish as he cried, cried for his sister's innocence, for the fact that she nearly died at the hands of a memory. He cried for the way his sister was thrust into the war. He cried for his failures as a brother.
Ginny hugged him tighter, feeling tears prickling her eyes. She brought Ron's face in front of hers, holding it in her small hands. "No. No, you didn't. You stayed with me and loved me all the same. You may be a prat, but I wouldn't have you any other way. None of this was your fault. It was Riddle's and Riddle's alone."
They both gave out tearful chuckles as they continued to hug each other.
"I love you, Ron." She spoke to his ear.
"I love you too, sis," Ron said back.
A moment later, they separated. They turned to see Hermione who had also succumbed to tears.
Both Ron and Ginny grinned tearfully at the bushy-haired witch, who huffed and wiped her eyes.
"Well of course I love you too, Ginny!" she struggled to hold a smile as the siblings then laughed at her exasperated response.
Hermione walked over to them both and hugged Ginny. After finally reconciling with the Chamber, they continued with their mission.
The Basilisk's corpse had fully decomposed, leaving behind only a skeleton.
Hermione and Ron were in awe at the sight. Even Ginny was shocked, as it made her wonder just how Harry managed to kill it.
"Godric, how did Harry manage that?" Hermione asked Ginny, dumbstruck.
"I dunno. By the time I woke up, the snake was already dead and Harry was bleeding." Ginny replied, still somewhat stunned.
Hermione was still shocked but Ron was the first to recover.
"Well, we don't got all day. Let's grab these fangs and get the hell out of here." Ron ordered.
"Be careful! The venom can still kill you if you scratch yourself." Warned Hermione as she began to kneel before the corpse.
Ginny joined in and after five minutes, they managed to secure enough fangs to destroy a horcrux thrice.
Hermione brought out a small, beaded bag and packed all the fangs into its seemingly bottomless pit.
Ron and Ginny were both surprised and impressed. "H-how?" asked Ron.
"Undetectable Extension Charm. It took me a week to master it. It was quite complex but then I realized that in case something terrible happens, we might need to-"
"Okay, okay, we get it, 'Mione. Blimey, you're bloody amazing, you know that?" Ron cut her off with an astonished voice.
Hermione blushed at the praise and glared at Ginny, who struggled to hold back a giggle.
They made their way out of the Chamber, clambered onto their brooms and flew back to the bathroom.
Ginny contemplated on their journey and reminisced. When she left the Chamber in her first year, she was a scared little girl, fearful of getting expelled and ended up with nightmares.
The Ginny that left the Chamber now reconciled with fact that the Chamber may always stay with her, but it would never define her.
The successful trio reached the bathroom and closed the sink and made their way back to Dumbledore's Office.
Meanwhile near Ravenclaw Tower
Luna was humming an unfamiliar tune as she skipped towards the Grey Lady.
"Hello there, miss Grey Lady." She greeted her serenely.
The ghost ignored Luna and continued to float down the corridor. Luna did not mind. There were times when the Lady would just be there, minding her business despite Luna's presence.
Neville panted lightly as he caught up with Luna. He caught sight of the ghost and was a bit unnerved.
"Is-is that her?" he asked Luna.
Luna nodded and took Neville's hand as they approached the Grey Lady.
"It's rather hot for September. Daddy says the mating season for the Nargles usually occurs in high temperatures. Must be the reason for all the strange things happening today. It would be really interesting to find a Nargle. Wouldn't you agree, Neville?" She suddenly asked.
Neville, not knowing whether to say yes or no, simply said, "uh…"
'What do you want, girl?' The Grey Lady finally answered them.
Luna beamed at the ghost's response. "That's nice of you to ask, Ms Grey Lady. Well, we were wondering about your mother's diadem. It's important, you see. We need it to-"
At this, the ghost scoffed and moved away. 'Fool. I thought you were different from the rest of them. You are not the first one to seek my mother's diadem. Yet you, of all people, dare to make a mockery of my mother's house, seeking trinkets to help in your exams, for glory, for power! I have been made a fool once, and it shall never happen again, especially from the likes of you!' the ghost all but screamed at them.
Neville's eyes widened at the accusation and began to retort when Luna spoke in her usual airy self, "I'm not really seeking your mother's diadem for personal gain, Ms Grey Lady. My friend and I are here to destroy it."
The Grey Lady stopped moving. Her demeanour became guarded. 'Destroy it, you say? What guarantee do I have that you won't use it like that other boy back then? The boy with the strange name.'
Luna then grew serious, but with the serene tone still present, "Tom Riddle has hurt my friends. He has hurt you. And we can't defeat him unless you tell us where the diadem is. Please, Ms Grey Lady. Help us. It is what Rowena Ravenclaw would want." She implored.
The Grey Lady hesitated. She did not wish to be fooled again, especially by someone whom she empathized with. The Lovegood girl had been treated terribly by her own housemates. How can she be sure that the girl won't use the diadem to get back at her tormentors?
The Grey Lady remembered her long lost love, the Bloody Baron. He was like a Gryffindor: headstrong, brave and willing to take chances. Maybe she could take a chance.
The ghost sighed and approached the duo. "I hope you'll do the right thing, Miss Lovegood."
At this, Luna and Neville relaxed and waited.
'It is here. In the Castle. In the room where all things come and go.' The Grey Lady then disappeared.
Luna and Neville were stunned. It was hidden in the Castle.
"The room where all things come and go?" Neville asked.
Luna also tried to remember where she had heard of it. She thought of the elves mentioning a Come and Go Room.
"Oh! The Room of Requirement!" Neville exclaimed.
"Yes. Let's go then." Luna beamed at Neville as they ran as fast they could to find the diadem.
After passing through several patrols, the duo reached Barnabus the Barmy's portrait.
"This is it." Neville said.
Luna then nudged him. "You do the honours, Neville. You understand this room better than any of us."
Neville looked at her, perplexed. "M-me?"
Luna nodded, still smiling at him.
Neville grinned back and with confidence, he paced in front of the wall.
"We need a place where all things are hidden. We need a place where all things are hidden."
The Room of Requirement materialized. Neville and Luna looked at each other, and together, they entered.
The Room of all things Hidden
They were shocked by all the junk that was inside the room. Mountains of ancient material was stacked all over the room. It seemed endless and they were beginning to wonder if they could ever find the diadem in time.
"To think this was the D.A. training room last year. Bloody Hell." Neville spoke.
Luna was still humming, looking at some of the trinkets and an old sofa.
Neville, sensing that they might end up distracted by the things inside, tapped Luna's shoulder.
"Let's start looking. It's better if we stay close. We might get lost in here." Neville said nervously.
Luna hummed her assent and they began searching the aisles, looking for signs of the diadem.
40 minutes later
"There's too much stuff. We'll never be able to find it!" Neville groused.
Luna was staring ahead, unmoving.
Neville, concerned, approached her slowly.
"Luna? Have you seen something?" Neville asked.
He gently put a hand on her shoulder and she turned to face him.
"Remember when we were discussing about Horcruxes with Professor Dumbledore? He mentioned that magic, especially dark magic, leaves traces." She finished airily.
Neville nodded. "That's right. The problem is I can't really sense it. It must be buried under all this stuff. I tried summoning it but it didn't work." He said disappointedly.
Luna turned back to where she was staring and walked towards a box at the end of the row.
Neville followed her. "Luna, can you see it?" he whispered.
"Yes. The Nargles are everywhere. The concentration is greatest….right here." She stopped before a wooden box, which looked like it had never been used before.
They both looked at each other and opened the box together.
It was the diadem. It had the Ravenclaw eagle on it. It was so beautiful. Whoever wore it would become the wisest of all. Neville could imagine himself wearing it. People won't bully him anymore. He'll be the top of his class, beating out Hermione. He could even be better than the bloody Chosen One. Everything he'd ever want will be given to him if he could just get the diadem onto his head.
'What? What is happening? Bloody hell! It's tempting me!'
"LUNA! PUT IT BACK IN THE CASE! LUNA!" He screamed as Luna made to put the diadem on her head.
Luna could not hear what Neville was saying. Why should she care? Once she has this diadem, everything will be made right. People will believe in what she says. They won't laugh at her creatures. The Quibbler will become famous, she'll bring mum back….Mum.
Mum.
Mum is…..
Mum is dead…
Mum is dead…
She's gone. She's dead Luna.
SHE'S DEAD LUNA.
LUNA!
"LUNA SNAP OUT OF IT!"
She gasped and lost her grip on the diadem and it fell on the ground with a plonk. She breathed heavily as Neville held her trembling form.
"That…was not p-pleasant to hold." Luna stuttered.
Neville continued to hold her. "I know, luv. I know."
He looked around to find a cloth but to no avail. So he used his handkerchief to gingerly hold the diadem and he put it back into the box.
After securing the diadem, he grabbed the box and Luna's hand.
Seeing her so silent concerned Neville. He nudged her, "Are you all right?"
Luna, being Luna, answered honestly and bluntly. "No, Neville. But thank you for asking." She then kissed him chastely on his lips.
If Neville was honest with himself, he would have gladly kissed her back. But the shock of the situation, and the kiss, made him freeze. The only kiss he ever had was from Ginny and even then it was just a peck on the cheek after the Yule Ball.
The horcrux spoiled what should have been a lovely moment between him and Luna. He looked away from the confused girl, but gripped her hand tightly. He stared into her eyes and told her, "I'm not taking advantage of you, Luna. Once we get this diadem destroyed, we'll have a talk. Just the two of us. You don't know how much I want this, us, t-to work." He stuttered the last part, blushing.
Luna blushed too, but her gaze never wavered and her expression softened. He wanted this to work, he wanted to talk.
The pair walked hand in hand. They found the exit after what seemed like an eternity and made their way back to Dumbledore's Office.
Dumbledore's Office
Neville and Luna entered the room, feeling closer than ever. They were bombarded by their friends' questions.
"Thank goodness. Are you two all right?"
"Did you find the diadem?"
"Merlin, you've got it, have you?"
Neville put his hands up, calming them down. "Guys, one at a time! Yes, we've got it and it's nasty. It tried to make us wear it, says it'll give us everything we've ever wanted." The boy finished grimly.
Ron, Hermione and Ginny felt themselves chill at his revelation.
Hermione broke the silence, "Is-is it in that box, Neville?" she gestured to the box in the boy's hand.
Neville nodded and slowly offered it to Hermione's beaded bag. The box was then secured in the endless bag.
"Undetectable Extension Charm. Sodding brilliant of Hermione, if you ask me." Ron proudly answered Neville's questioning gaze.
Hermione blushed at the praise as Ginny chuckled.
"Has Harry and the Professor returned?" Luna asked airily.
The trio grew solemn. It was Ginny who answered her, "Not yet. We checked the Map and they're nowhere near the Castle."
"Good thing Harry left the Map." Muttered Neville.
The group was silent for a bit.
"So, what should we do? Since we've got the Fangs, we could destroy the horcrux right now." Ron suggested.
Hermione shook her head. "No, not yet. Dumbledore told us to wait until he and Harry came back. We don't know what would happen if we tried to kill it without proper protections."
The five friends discussed their suggested plans once Harry and Dumbledore returned. They were sitting on the floor in the middle of the Office when suddenly, Ginny gasped.
"They're back! They're in the Astronomy Tower!" She paused, her cheerful face now turned into a frown. "Snape is going to them, and some other blokes with weird names."
The other four gathered around her, looking at the Map.
"Those names aren't English, that's for damn sure." Ron concluded.
"They look Russian, or Bulgarian. What are they doing with Snape? Only Anglo-Americans are patrolling the castle right now." Hermione said, now feeling a pit of dread in her stomach.
The others were also bearing similar expressions of dread. Dumbledore did mention previously of muggle mercenaries of Eastern European descent helping Voldemort.
The sky outside the Office window glowed green. A familiar mark was cast overhead. Alarms were suddenly raised all over the Castle.
"Oh God. Harry." Ginny paled.
The five friends gathered their things and rushed to the Astronomy Tower. They hoped they were not too late.
Hogwarts Defence Line- Phase Line Yellow
The alarms jolted Simmons out of his reverie.
"What the fuck?" he said.
His buddy Martinez simply shrugged. "That sounds like a Code Alpha."
The bunker then received a transmission.
"All Odin elements, this is Odin Actual. Possible infiltrators within the Grounds. Weapons at Condition One. Expect contact along the Line. Out."
Simmons and Martinez looked at each other. They were nervous, but took deep breaths and focused their attention on the front.
Simmons readied the M-60 while his partner gathered extra ammo boxes and his M-16A2.
After a few seconds of silence, flashes and some snaps were heard.
"Contact! 80 meters. Front!" a soldier shouted.
A cacophony of gunfire erupted in front of them as spells and explosives bracketed their positions. The obstacles and barbed wires were getting hammered too.
"All Odin elements, this is Odin Actual. Engage! Engage!"
"Time to fucking rock, dude!" Simmons said before he unleashed lead on the enemy.
The entire Line returned fire on the encroaching enemy. The enemy was well hidden and they could not get a clear idea of whether they were hitting anyone or not.
'So long as we keep their heads down.' Simmons thought as he continued to rain fire on them.
"Feed me, Martinez! Feed me!" he barked at his comrade, who immediately held the ammo belt.
Aurors and Hitwizards began firing spells at the enemy, who were pushing them back with their own violent spells.
"IMPEDIMENTA!"
"Incendio!"
"PROTEGO!"
"CRUCIO!" at this, Simmons heard several screams from men being subjected to severe torture.
"Bloody get out of there!"
"Send a Patronus out! There's too fucking many of 'em!"
The muggles were faring no better. As the fire-fight increased in its intensity, so did the glooming situation on the comms.
"Odin Actual, this is Odin 1-1, we've got hostiles teleporting in!"
"Odin Actual, this Odin 2-3, hostiles deploying a technical some 100 meters to the North. Over!"
Just as when things couldn't get any worse, many mercenaries were planting some small items along the front.
'No. Must be explosives!' he started aiming for those hostiles.
"Holy shit!" Martinez exclaimed while Simmons eyes widened in fear.
Several large vehicles materialized out of thin air, as if they grew immediately in size.
"T-72s! WHERE THE FUCK DID THEY COME FROM?" Shouted a soldier nearby.
"TAKE THE CREWS OUT! TAKE 'EM OUT!"
Simmons obliged and immediately opened fire on hostiles clambering onto the tanks. Some tanks were left without their crews, but many others were able to climb in successfully and began opening fire on bunkers, killing the gunners.
One T-72 on the right side of Simmon's line of sight slowly rotated its turret onto his bunker.
"OUT OF THE HOLE!" He started dragging his friend.
"OUTTA THE HOLE! THEY'RE GONNA BLOW IT!" He screamed.
They managed to just escape the blast as the bunker was blown to nothingness.
Both Simmons and Martinez were disoriented from the blast. Simmons saw that shrapnel stuck to his arm and pieces of wood cut his face and BDU. His comrade lay face first on the ground.
"Hey. Martinez." He said, the name sounded like it was being muffled by a pillow.
He shook his friend, but he did not wake. He put two fingers under his friend's chin.
'A pulse. Thank God.'
He was not out of the woods both literally and figuratively, as the tanks and mechanized infantry began pouring from the Forest. Some magical persons managed to neutralize the obstacles, allowing the tanks to roll on over. He even heard some soldiers screaming as they were crushed under the tank tracks.
"ALL ODIN ELEMENTS! PULL BACK TO THE SECOND DEFENSIVE LINE! I SAY AGAIN! PULL BACK TO THE SECOND DEFENSIVE LINE!"
Simmons was jarred from his stupor and tried dragging his friend out of the trench. Fortunately, the tanks and the infantry didn't see them. He just hoped the magical ones won't track him down.
He searched for his weapon. He was only left with his sidearm and a LAW.
With sheer superhuman strength, he held onto both and pulled on his friend's vest, crawling his way away from the advancing enemy.
Back in Hogwarts
The entire Castle was teeming with soldiers and Aurors. The five friends managed to wriggle their way out of their way until they came across a familiar face.
"Tonks!" Exclaimed Ginny.
The young Auror was stunned to see Ginny and four other students with her. She immediately frowned.
"What are you lot doing out of your dorms? Can't you see there's a situation going on?" She all but shouted at them.
Hermione was about to reply until another Order member arrived.
"She's right. You should return to your dorms and let us handle this." Remus told them.
"But Professor. Harry and Dumbledore need our help! We saw their names in the Map at the Astronomy Tower!" Ginny said impatiently.
"Snape and a few other blokes with weird names were approaching them too." Ron added.
Both Remus and Tonks looked at each other, grim-faced.
"No, it can't be-"Remus was cut off by Peeves floating around the ceiling, screaming.
"MURDER! MURDER AT THE ASTRONOMY TOWER! POTTY IS OUT RUNNING!"
They all left without preamble on their way to the Astronomy Tower, their hearts in their throats.
"TONKS! SEND OUT A PATRONUS AND TELL THE REST TO MEET US AT THE ASTRONOMY TOWER!" ordered Remus.
Tonks managed to send out a Patronus and caught up with them as they turned a corner. They saw Snape and a few others dressed in Muggle military garb.
"Why did it push through? I told you we needed to do this covertly!" they heard Snape snarl at the soldier whom he held at wandpoint.
The Order and Harry's friends all stared at Snape in horror and rage.
"Enemy spotted, sir." One Mercenary muttered.
Snape's hold on the mercenary slackened, and he turned to find seven, furious people ready to strike him.
Ginny couldn't believe what she was seeing. Snape was working for Voldemort.
'What the hell does he have to be surprised for?' she thought disbelievingly as she remembered Snape's words.
She struck first with a powerful Bat-Bogey Hex that nearly hit its mark if not for Severus' shield charm.
"WITHDRAW!" Snape bellowed to his men.
"Cover me, tovarisch!"
Multiple mercenaries opened fire with American-made weapons, covering Snape's retreat. It was a deafening sound.
"GET TO COVER! QUICKLY!" Hermione shouted at them.
Both Remus and Tonks casted their shield charms as the five kids hid behind pillars.
"Remus! Backup is here!" Tonks shouted over the gunfire.
"FRIENDLIES COMING UP! Squad, targets up ahead!" Shouted a British soldier as he and his squad returned fire and killed two mercenaries.
Moody, Professor McGonagall and Kingsley also arrived, firing Impedimenta jinxes at the Mercenaries, who were falling back as they suffered several casualties.
"Pull back! Now!" Exclaimed one of the mercenaries.
The allies advanced, pushing the mercenaries back who continued to lay down covering fire until finally, they withdrew. The Order continued to search for the Headmaster and Harry.
"MISS GRANGER! MR. WEASLEY! WHAT IN BLAZES ARE YOU ALL DOING HERE?" McGonagall said, rushing to hold up a shield charm.
"There you are Tonks! Where the devil is Albus!?" Moody barked.
As Tonks and Moody were discussing that, the five friends pored over the Marauder's Map.
"Harry is going after Snape!" Neville exclaimed.
"WHERE IS HE NOW?" Remus shouted at them.
"Great Hall!"
"THEN LET'S MOVE!"
They all made their way to the Great Hall where gunfire and spells were being traded back and forth.
Once they reached the Great Hall's corridor, the saw Harry chasing after Snape and 'Stunning' several armed men. His friends all heard his anguished voice, one they hoped to never hear again.
"SNAPE! HE TRUSTED YOU!" they heard Harry scream in despair.
"Take him down!" said a mercenary as he shifted his PKM to the chasing Harry.
"NO! He belongs to the Dark Lord!" Snape ordered.
"chyort!" The mercenary exclaimed as he began to withdraw.
"COWARDS! FIGHT BACK!" Harry bellowed.
Under intense gunfire, Snape casted a 'Bombarda' spell which pushed Harry several feet away, injuring his ribs.
"HARRY!" his friends rushed to him.
Snape snarled, and ordered his men to head into the forest.
"Squad! Don't let the bastards run! Move!" exclaimed the British patrol leader as they ran in pursuit of the Mercenaries out into the courtyard.
Harry's friends gathered around him, frantic and stunned.
"Harry! Harry can you hear me?!" Ginny knelt before him, frantically holding his grimy face.
"LET ME THROUGH!" Remus pushed Ginny away. He checked for a pulse and sighed in relief.
"He's fine. The spell may have knocked him out and injured him. Let's take him up to the hospital wing." Remus hoarsely told them. He nearly lost Harry tonight, he would've never forgiven himself if he did.
The five friends all nodded numbly. Hermione was sniffling. Not even the sound of gunfire and explosions in the Forest jolted them from their catatonic states. It was until Kingsley approached them and told them gently, "Harry will be fine. Go on up to your dormitories."
McGonagall gently lifted her Lions away from the Hogwarts doors and she also turned to Luna.
"Miss Lovegood, do you wish to join your friends up in Gryffindor Tower?" The tearful Deputy Headmistress struggled to form the words as she spoke them.
Luna turned to her and nodded. She allowed herself to be led by the hand through the Castle.
Gryffindor Common Room
The students could not sleep. They were restless and extremely worried. Outside the Castle, they saw destruction and chaos. Muggles and Ministry officials were frantically moving about. The students were wondering when this would all end.
"I-I want to go home. I want my mummy." Sobbed a first year student who was being comforted by a sixth year.
Dean and Seamus were sitting in front of the window where they could see the Forest. There were so many flashes in the tree lines; it was being lit up like a Disco Ball.
With a morbid sense of inspiration, Dean took out his art kit and began drawing the landscape, much to the shock of his best friend.
After what seemed like hours or even days, the definitive sound of aeroplanes was heard by curious students who were already looking at the Forest. Muggle air forces arrived and inundated the Forest with incendiary bombs and other munitions, illuminating the Castle in an orange hue and turning the once vibrant and magical Forbidden Forest into a hellish landscape.
Dean and Seamus were rocked from their seats as they felt the force of the explosions. Dean's art was scattered all across the floor.
"Shite, you all right mate?" Seamus grimaced as he rubbed his bum.
"I'm good Seam.' Fuck, my ears are still ringin'.'' Dean finished.
The sound and power of the explosion caused a small quake in the Tower. Many students, especially the younger ones, began crying and screaming.
Tomorrow would be even worse.
AUTHOR'S NOTE: Probably the longest chapter I've made so far. Regarding the chapter name, I remembered reading a quote from a Vietnamese general who was involved in planning the Tet Offensive in 1968. He mentioned it as striking deep into the enemy's lair. I also felt it was appropriate from the perspective of Tom Riddle's forces. So the battle scenes in the forest, I got inspiration from the siege of Khe Sanh, Call of Duty: Black Ops (because the S.O.G. mission included several T-55 tanks hehe). Several of Harry's lines were taken from the Half Blood Prince novel (authored by J.K. Rowling) and film, and so was Snape's order to keep Harry alive.
Thanks for reading, following and reviewing this story. Hopefully I post another chapter soon. Stay safe.