Chapter 26: Battle Plans and Assassins Oh My!
It has been one month since Storm, Flame, Mist and Air told the wizarding world who they really are. The snakes and birds had proved quite helpful with information. The Order knew what was going on in the Death Eaters ranks because of Draco and the animals and they didn't even know it.
Draco and Athena's relationship has been smooth sailing. What was amazing on how well the two of them kept the relationship under wraps. James and Vanessa had been ignoring Storm, which was fine by him. But that was all going to change.
Storm rushed down the stairs to the common room having been held up by Sashe a snake that was delivering messages from another snake to Storm. Storm noticed Vanessa sitting on the windows ledge crying. Half of him wanted to know why she was crying and see if he could help, while the other half wanted nothing to do with her. The first one won. "Vanessa," Storm asked softly.
Vanessa quickly turned her head, saw Storm, and said quietly but not unkindly, "Oh, its you."
"Is something wrong," Storm asked a bit of concern was in his voice.
Vanessa was quite for a minute, "Yeah. I'm sorry."
"About what?"
"How I treated you when we were younger. Can I talk to Harry?" Most people wouldn't understand what she meant by that but Storm did, he nodded his head. "I never truly meant any of that. As well as hitting you that day. You're probably not going to believe me but I don't want the title. I don't want the responsibility that went with it. I just wanted to be a regular teenage girl. I wanted to know how far dad would let me take things. Have a perimeter, I just wanted someone to saw no. I was so happy when my mother first said no but dad still got it. I wanted to be treated like a teenager, not a goddesses.
"When you left a part of me died, I never realized how much I need you. When the sorting came around, I wanted you with me. I was scared and I felt so alone. A troll came in when I was eleven during Halloween. I was afraid and scared and wished you were there so I had some support from my family. When the triwizard tournament came, I wished you were with me before each of those tasks. I was scared, I wanted my mother again as well as you. I wanted my entire family when the entire thing was over and Cedric was killed. Someone to believe me when I said Voldemort came back. Dumbledore and Dad didn't believe that Voldemort was back. Dad just told me to keep my mouth shut about that so I did. Now this war is going on and I just wanted my twin and my mother back. I know I didn't make a very good impression on you two definitely you during the summer. But if I could go back and change it, I so would." Vanessa had tears running down her pale cheeks. Vanessa shuddered a bit as she remembered all the times she was hurt.
Storm smiled, walked over to Vanessa and hugged her, "I except you apology. You made it from your heart and soul and I forgive you." Vanessa cried, she cried for all the bad thing she had done when she was younger and that year. She cried for all the mistakes she made and had never fixed. She cried for losing herself in politics and what people thought of her. She cried for the love and friendship she had never got ever since her mother and brother left. She cried for the people she had treated badly. She cried for not crying before now.
Storm just sat there rubbing his sister's back providing comfort. He sat their comforting his twin and being there for the young woman. After a few minutes Vanessa's tears stopped and she only sniffled occasionally. Vanessa looked up at her brother in a completely different way. She looked up at him with hope, light, friendship and now family love. She was now a different person and would forever be. "Thanks Storm. I'm sorry about wetting your shirt though."
"It's okay. There it's gone." Vanessa smiled and hugged her brother. Storm was slowly coming back together with his family or at least the woman of the family.
"There you are," Mist called as Storm walked into the R.O.R.
"I told you he was on his way," Flame said as she countered an attack from Layla.
"Who said we doubted you," Layla said back as she swung at Flame's leg who jumped quickly. Storm walked over to Athena who was sitting next to Draco.
Athena was telling Draco what the moves going on were and if they were useful or not in this particular fight. "That was not a good swing, because that left Layla's side open and Flame could easily attack it as she dodged the attack," Athena said.
Draco nodded his head. "Layla is winning and where have you been?" he asked.
"Making up with my twin sister," Storm said
"That's good. Have you gotten a report from Sashe yet," Athena asked.
"Yeah, Tom is planning on seizing Hogwarts soon, when and how Sashe doesn't know." Athena nodded her head, "Time for strategies. Layla, Flame that is enough for now. Air any new information from either Sonara or Katul?"
"Yes, some of the Death Eaters are starting worry. It turns out that Tom is planning on attacking something around May 24. What the thing is the birds are not sure. But it has to be something big enough to frighten the lower Death Eaters. But in reality it can be anything."
"Good and Draco anything more from the ranks," Storm asked.
Draco nodded his head, "Yes, father has been hinting for a while that Dumbledore is to easy. He will be over thrown soon. How I'm not sure but somehow he will be and if he does overthrow Dumbledore will be in some battle."
"We have a lot of information good. I learned from Sashe that Tom would be trying to seize Hogwarts. If Draco is right, Tom is trying to kill or throw Dumbledore out of being Headmaster and putting in some Death Eater. Then it will be easy to attack, which he will be hoping to do around May 24. So we have a place, date and a how. Lets start trying to forge a battle plan."
Mist nodded his head and waved a hand. "There is a secret passage ways from the cellar of Honeydukes to the humpback witch on the third floor. There is also another passageway from a tree in the middle of the Forbidden Forest to a tapestry on the same floor as the Headmasters office. Death Eaters if they know this passage way would use it to attack the Headmaster and kill him. So we better check that out and seal it. We should also put some Risan shields up. The Protect Shield and the Forbidden Shield should do it. What do you think Athena?"
"I agree with you with sealing the one in the Forest. But we should also seal the one that leads into Honeydukes. We should also ask Sirius if he knows any from his days. Ask Vanessa to ask Potter if he knows any passageways out of Hogwarts. I agree with the shields. The Protect and the Forbidden should do it."
"One question, if a shield is forbidden doesn't that mean you are not aloud to use it?" Draco asked timidly.
"With most cases yes, but with this no. This shield will take out anyone who means to hurt the people in the castle, and won't let them back in. We can also tell it to take out anyone who has a certain mark like the Dark Mark," Athena explained. Draco looked like he was about to say some thing but Athena quickly cut him off. "We will make sure Snape isn't thrown out. Don't worry. He's a good teacher when he not scaring people."
"Now we wait till night fall," Storm said after a moment of silence. "Layla shadow over to Hagrid's hut and wait for us to appear. The rest of us will meet by the Womping Willow and travel over. Okay?"
Everyone nodded their heads. "Storm should I come," Draco asked.
"I would like it of you stay in the castle and listen to what the other Slytherins are saying. But if you really want to come, I'm not forbidding you from coming," Storm replied.
"Storm you forgot one piece of information. What time are we going to be meeting at the Willow?" Air asked.
"Eleven o'clock."
"Vanessa," Storm whispered as he walked behind Vanessa as they went to DADA.
Vanessa nodded her head a little, "What?"
"Meet me after class and just fallow me all right?" Storm asked. Vanessa nodded her head in confusion and the two entered the classroom. The class went smoothly and soon the bell rang.
Vanessa fallowed Storm, Mist and Apollo telling her friends that she will meet them for lunch later. "What's up?" Vanessa asked as she stepped into a classroom to see all the other Risans.
"Do you know of any secret passage ways from here to Hogsmead or anywhere out of Hogwarts?" Storm asked. Air had some parchment in her hands waiting to write.
"I know a few but I have to show you," Vanessa said. She took off her purse and pulled up a yellow tattered piece of parchment. "I solemnly swear I am up to no good," Vanessa said as she put her wand on the parchment. Slowly a map was formed. Vanessa spread it out.
"There is one from the Womping Willow to the Shrieking Shack. You can immobilize the tree by touching a knot that's on it. There is another one if you go up to the Astronomy Tower and take a right before you reach the stairs that lead you up. There will be a painting of planets and stars. Rub your hand over the rings of Saturn it will open up and lead you to Madame's Puddifoot's roof. Don't ask me how, but every time I use it, I keep on winding back up on the roof. But it's a one way. You can only go from here to there not vice-versa. Why do you need to know," Vanessa asked.
"We think that someone will try to assassinate Dumbledore and then Tom will siege the castle. Were not positive but we want to make sure," Storm said truthfully.
Vanessa sucked in a breath as she went threw the information, a hand went threw her hair. When she was done she had a worried look on her face knowing what it could do to the light side if Dumbledore was killed in the school, the very school that was said to be perfectible safe. "Then take this, to turn it on just say 'I solemnly swear I am up to no good' then when you're done just say 'mischief managed.' It will wipe clean," Vanessa handed the paper to Storm. "You might want to ask it if it knows of any passageways. Just say 'O kings of mischief tell me where all the hidden passageways are' then the map should show you and how to enter the passageway," Vanessa instructed. Her hazel eyes filled with worry and hope. "Try to protect him. Is there anything else?" Everyone shook their head. "All right, let me know if you have anymore questions," Vanessa gave Storm a quick hug and departed.
"Well that went well," Athena remarked brightly trying to lighten the mood up a bit.
Storm nodded his head, "But this just the beginning of the end. I can feel it."
Layla waited in the shadows of Hagrid's hut. She wrapped her cloak around her, she may be a shadow but that doesn't mean she can't get cold. Layla saw some movement in the trees and waited her vision pierced threw the air. She focused more on the area and saw some people about four. All of them were thinner and smaller then her friends. Layla blinked her eyes and moved herself into the shadow of the tree. These people were defiantly not her friends.
"How are we going to get pass the hut," a voice asked it sounded male. All of the figures were in cloaks.
"Simple wait for the light to go out and we move," another voice said this one high pitched.
"What are we going to do when we are inside?" the original voice asked.
"Kill the old geezer of course," a female voice said.
"Besides the obvious, Lexicon," the original voice said.
"What else did you expect me to say," Lexicon said back.
"Let's just do the job, collect the money and move," a man said in a thunders voice.
"Thank you, Aloo," the original voice said. "Now I ask again how do we get up to the old man's room with all the light?"
"Just stick to the shadows and listen for footsteps or talking, Chief" the high pitched one said.
"Thank you, Cooper," the Chief said. "Now all we have to is wait for him to turn off the lights." Just as the Chief said that, Hagrid turned off the light.
"Good lets go," Lexicon said everyone started to quietly walk up to the castle.
Layla shot out a dark animal that looked like a jackal and shadowed over to Lexicon's shadow for a ride.
"Who wants to make a bet that Layla is bored," Athena said as the Risans walked along the border of the forest. They were in the shadows but could see Hagrid's hut nicely. Storm noticed a group of people running to the castle but soon disappeared into the castle.
"Hey isn't that Layla's jackal," Air asked. A jackal came running over to Storm. When he got there the animal opened his mouth and quietly but fast, "Storm the assassins are here. I'm fallowing them now. You must get to the Headmasters Office quickly. I'll try to stall them, but I don't know how well I can. Come quickly in bird's forms. I'll be waiting. Layla out." The jackal disappeared.
"Come on let's change," Storm said now truly worried at the change of plans. Soon everyone was a bird and flew off.
Layla hoped that message would get to Storm on time but for now, she had to do what she could. Layla shadow jumped herself into the shadow of some amour and made it fall down causing a huge crash. "Hey what was that noise," a voice asked. The assassins looked at each other and quickly ran the opposite direction. Layla quickly jumped over to Cooper's shadow and waited some more. Layla noticed a black raven flying fallowed by two red falcons, a brown hawk, a black eagle and a milk brown sparrow. They got the message. None of the assassins seemed to notice anything.
A commotion happened in front of the assassins who quickly turned down another corner. Layla could tell they were starting to become edgy. "Who are you," the Chief growled.
"My friends call me Storm. My enemies Nightmare," Storm said coldly as he drew himself up to full height and made himself look ten times scarier then the usual.
Layla returned to her human form, "You better watch out 'cause were watching you."
"Do you think a silly little girl and boy will scare me," Lexicon said in a snobby voice.
"You don't have to worry about them," Athena said, she and Mist came from out of nowhere just as scary as Storm and now Layla.
"You have to worry about all of us," Flame said on the other side, Air by her side both looking scary.
"So a little group of boys and girls are supposed to scare me," Cooper said in a terrified voice.
"I think not," Aloo said.
"At least she sounds scared, like all of you should be," Athena drawled out.
"Don't trifle with us," Layla said in her most scary and cold voice her black eyes piercing the body and soul of the assassins, even though she herself was a bit scared and would lay money that her friends were also a bit scared.
"With you and what army or weapons," Chief said in a very overconfident way.
"Like this," Storm said he wiped his bow and arrow out and shot in less then ten seconds. Athena then Air shot out an arrow forming a triangle around the assassins. Storm quickly said in the Ancient Language, "Trap these evil people in your clutches and don't let them escape!" The three arrows glowed a brilliant gold and quickly made a dome over the four assassins. "Now who are you, and who are you working for," Storm asked again. Layla was quite glad that no first or second years had come walking around, for fear of having an actual nightmare.
"Look all we know is that we need to kill someone named Dumbledore," Lexicon spitted.
"Don't lie to me," Storm said as he raised his voice though no one came.
"We were hired by some one name the Dark Lord," Cooper cried sounding very close to hysterics for which Layla couldn't blame her.
"You know more, so tell me and soon. My patience is wearing thin," Storm said coolly making himself even scarier then Layla though possible.
"Some one name Malfoy was going to replace him," Cooper said quickly and quite desperately.
"Shut up you insolent fool," Lexicon said and smacked Cooper in the back of her head.
"That's all we know honest." Storm looked at the Chief, who went rigged after a few minutes Storm then did it to Lexicon then Aloo and finally Cooper who was now in hysterics. "We have all we need to know," Storm said he moved his hand in an upward fashion. The dome glowed and disappeared with the people inside it, the arrows fell to the ground. Storm sighed and he looked much younger then usual. He looked like a small little boy trying to find his way home.
Athena snapped her fingers and the arrows went back to their owners, "What did you find out?"
"Kill Dumbledore and put Draco's dad in charge. Then slowly getting rid of all the teachers that aren't on the light and put in non-famous Death Eaters. They were hoping to have all of this done by May 24. Then they were going to attack Hogwarts," Storm voice started to break like he was about to cry. "Rape all the girls, kill them, and just slaughter the boys. The only people in exception to this were the ones were going to become Death Eaters." Storm broke and slid down the corridor wall as tears started to grow. Flame ran to him and started to consul him; soon everyone else was doing it. The girls hugging him and the boys doing whatever boys do.
"We won't let that happen Storm," Layla said confidently, putting on a brave face for her friend. "We are going to beat them at their own games. Stop them one by one and the first thing we do is set up the shield. We'll tell the Headmaster later." Storm nodded his head and his crying slowly stopped. When he pulled himself together after awhile, the group went out door, the moon was on its decent course.
"We have about five more hours before dawn we better hurry," Apollo said softly as he held Layla close.
The group walked to where the tree was, the group formed a circle and started to sing in the Ancient Language, "Close up this hole, Mother. Close it so tight no one can enter or exit. Fill the tunnel with your soil and stone. Close it up Mother. Close it up." The hole that was there started to fill up so that if you didn't know where the tunnel was you could just pass it.
"We better do the Forbidden Shield," Mist said, Storm nodded his head. Everyone grabbed hands and sang another song, "Forbade people who go under the name Death Eaters and anyone else who believe what they say is law. Forbade them from coming in and if they are in the castle evicted them. Please forbid those people." A blue wind crept from the hands of the Risans and rushed off to the school. Everyone took a deep breath and let go.
"What are you doing here," a voice said. Startling the group until they saw a lone centaur his bow raised.
"Hello Firenze," Layla said softly and kindly.
Firenze looked at the group, his eyes went big for a moment before bowing, "We have waited for you to come back."
What most people didn't know was that centaurs were made by the Risans hundred of years ago. It was the Risans who taught them to interpret the stars and their ways of life. When the Risans left the centaurs became angry and started to attack the wizards. That was when the wizards put so many restrictions on them and where they could live. The centaurs have waited and watched the stars knowing that the Risans would come back someday.
"As we have waited to see you again," Apollo said with a smile.
"May I signal," Firenze asked.
"No we will come with you," Storm said. Firenze bowed again and started walking with the Risans fallowing.
"The stars were saying that you would be returning soon," Firenze remarked.
"You have kept the old traditions and the lesson we taught you then," Athena said.
"Of course Warrior," Firenze said. "We are here." There was a glen and had the centaurs all around looking up at the sky and talking. When the centaurs noticed Firenze and the Risans they immediately bowed.
The biggest centaur came forward, "We are glad that you have returned. A major war is starting and all magical creatures will be effected in someway." The Risans nodded their heads.
The sun was starting to show and the sky started to turn colors. "We would love to spend more time, but we must go. If we sound the horn will you come to our aid?" Athena asked strongly but not forcefully. The centaurs nodded their heads.
"That is all we ask," Storm said gratefully. All of them transformed into birds and took off. Everyone but Athena went into Hogwarts. She went to the Astronomy Tower.
She landed gracefully and changed back into a human just as Draco opened the door. "I have something I need to tell you," he said quickly. He looked at Athena his eyes glistening.
"All right," she said and the two of them sat down cuddled close together. Draco sighed and started to tell Athena what happened and what he learned in the Slytherin Common room.
FLASHBACK
Draco looked at the clock to see it was a quarter till eleven. I better get ready, Draco thought. The common room was completely empty no one was up. Draco picked up his homework and started to ascend the stairs to drop off his homework and pick up his cloak. He heard someone coming threw the fireplace and he quickly hid behind the couch, his wand at the ready.
Malfoy came threw the fireplace, he brushed the soot off of his robes and looked around. Draco rose from behind the couch and waited for his father to speak. The two looked at each other for a while. "I see you are up, good," Malfoy said, Draco just nodded his head. "As we speak four assassins are on their way to get rid of the old geezer."
"Maybe we shall have order here for once," Draco said in a snobby voice, the voice he had been raised with. The voice he now hated to use but had to.
"Yes this school has most defiantly gone down to the dogs. I will be put in charge and slowly we shall get rid of the teachers that oppose us," Malfoy said.
"You will be the best headmaster this school has ever had, Father," Draco said his voice filled with praise but in the inside he was quite nervous and a bit scared.
"Yes I will be. With the Dark Lord by my side as well as Severus. You shall help me Draco," Malfoy said in a proud voice as he put a hand on Draco's shoulder.
"I will do anything to help the Dark Lord and you father," Draco said, using all his restraint not to move and stun his father.
"Good. Some time in the middle of May, the Dark Lord will send his Death Eaters here. We shall kill everyone who stands in our way. This will be our most finest moment Draco. The Dark Lord shall win once we destroy that old man and seize Hogwarts for the Dark Lord. It will be just a short matter of time. When Hogwarts is taken and the Potters destroyed, we shall win. As you know Draco, the Ministry has fallen already. It was to easy," Malfoy, said his voice filled even more with pride. "When I become in charge of Hogwarts all the mud bloods will learn where they need to be."
"Of course father. They have forgotten their place in society. Why just yesterday I heard a mud blood saying he will be minister when he graduates. I put him in his right place," Draco said in a proud snobby voice. Inside he was worried, the assassins shouldn't be coming today. They were supposed to come later once the shields were up and the passageways closed. I hope there all up now. "Why did you not tell me about this Father," Draco asked.
"I couldn't trust an owl to keep it a secret. Anyone can intercept it like we have been doing with Order's owls," Malfoy sneered.
"How did you get in, Father," Draco asked, truly curious.
"Simple my son. The Dark Lord gives great prizes to those who obey his command and fallow through," Malfoy said.
"So you asked him to see me?" Draco asked keeping his face void of all emotions.
"Of course. I need to tell you that and also for you to tell me which teachers will come to our side," Malfoy said. Soon the two started to talk about the teachers and education at Hogwarts and what can be 'approved' and such. The conversation went on for a long time. When it reached 1 o' clock in the morning Draco sensed something different in the air but he couldn't figure out what it was. "We will have to get rid of that," Malfoy said as if he didn't notice anything. The common room door opened and Malfoy was picked up and levitated out the door fallowed by Slytherins of all years, even Crabbe and Goyale.
Zabini went down the stairs and saw the last of them leaving, "Malfoy what happened?"
"I don't know," Draco said truthfully even though he had a very good idea on what happened.
"Everyone go back to bed." All the children up to third year went back to their rooms. The only one left were Zabini and Draco as everyone else was being dragged out of Hogwarts. "You know," Zabini said coldly.
"What makes you think I know," Draco said just as coldly.
"I saw you looking at that girl, Athena. You fell for her ever since the train when we first got here at the beginning of the year. I've notice you coming in late and leaving early. You know or at least have an idea," Zabini walked up to Draco so they were eye to eye with each other. "That thing took anyone that have pledged themselves to You-Know-Who or at least believed what he thought and supported him. So why didn't you go? You're a Malfoy one of the oldest wizarding families that is on the dark side. You should have pledged your life to him," Zabini quickly grabbed Draco's arm and pulled up his left arm sleeve. "No mark either, you're either a neutral or a light Malfoy. Wither way it's a first for the family," Zabini said.
"You've got a lot of gut Zabini," Draco growled out, pulled his arm away, and put his sleeve down again. "Where I stand is my own business and why I stand is also my own. What about you?"
"Same as you," Zabini said the two looked at each other until the clock rang. Draco looked out the projected window and saw the dawn coming up. "I'm going to bed," Zabini said and left the common room. Draco waited until he heard the door close. He sent a spell to make sure that Zabini stayed in his room until breakfast. Draco took a deep breath and left, not even taking a cloak.
END FLASHBACK
"So Zabini has an idea," Athena said quietly. She felt Draco's chest move up and down and snuggled her self closer to him.
"That's my guess," Draco said. The two of them stayed there until the sun was fully up. While the two were up their Athena told him what happened that very night to her.
"Thank god today is a Saturday," she muttered. Draco just nodded his head and held Athena close both scared for what the future would hold.
A/N so how did you guys like it? If you have, any questions or suggestions send it in a review. Remember the formula and please review.