Harry's Back
The Hogsmeade visit was the next day. Umbridge still let the Muggleborns go. That surprised everyone. Hermione made it to the Hogs Head pub and saw a familiar looking person behind the counter.
"Miss Granger?" the man asked, "I am Aberforth Dumbledore – I was always against what my brother did during the first dark war. I will not let anyone know of your meeting here."
"Thank you." Hermione said. She was led to a private room.
Students began to fill the pub. Aberforth led them to the private room he had shown Hermione to.
"First of all, thank you for coming here. Our purpose in being here is to agree on a course of action. Umbridge's actions are preventing us from learning magic and I feel we should learn it ourselves. I have found the perfect location to learn the stuff without anyone finding out."
Colin Creevey put his hand up. "Do you know where Harry is?" It was no secret that Colin hero worshipped Harry and while at first it was really annoying, Hermione convinced Harry a year ago that it could prove useful.
"He is trapped in a place known as the Void. He has made contact with me – I'm not sure how yet but we're working on a way to bring him back."
The meeting ended with a pledge to form a group in order to learn magic. It was voted to hold the meetings in the Chamber of Secrets as soon as a way to get there without being noticed was found, however there was a slight problem with that idea. Rebellion hit its first problem later that week as it had been discovered that one of the group had gone to Umbridge and told her everything. Umbridge immediately had all of the muggle borns arrested and thrown in the dungeons where some where taken out and raped by members of the Inquisical Squad – though Hermione was not touched for some reason. She spent the days locked up thinking about Harry, and how desperately she wished he could come and help them to escape. In her mind, Hermione knew that it was only eleven days to Christmas, and she didn't know how badly that would be important to what was to happen the next day.
#
Voldemort was sitting on his throne at Malfoy Manor when Lucius Malfoy came in. He knelt and kissed the hem of Voldemort's robes.
"Why have you not reported before now Lucius?"
"Forgive me my Lord. I have been unable to get out of Hogwarts before now and since Umbridge controls the mail, I was unable to get a message out."
"No excuses." Voldemort raised his wand at Malfoy. "CRUCIO!" Lucius fell to the floor as he was hit by the torture curse.
"What have you to report Lucius?"
"There is still no sign of Dumbledore or Potter. All the Mudbloods have been arrested and I refuse to teach Defence magic to non-Slytherin students."
"Our plans must advance Lucius. Gather all our followers – we will break our loyal Death Eaters from Azkaban and when they are recovered from the Dementors influence, we will attack and take over Hogwarts before Christmas! I will use all of the forces at my command – werewolves and giants and Dementors as well as my loyal Death Eaters"
"There is one thing my Lord. I hear that the Mudblood Granger can perform a double Patronus. But she was also arrested, so she should not interfere with your plans." Lucius told his master.
"That is of no importance. She will be among the first to die. We will attack on December 15th – make sure all the Muggleborns are in the Great Hall on that day!" and Voldemort allowed the word to spread – Voldemort was going to attack Hogwarts the next day.
#
"Concentrate Harry. Focus on your form." Merklyn said.
"I'm trying, but it's hard." replied Harry.
"See the form in your mind and focus on becoming that form."
Harry focused his mind and saw the form in his mind. He concentrated on becoming that form and moments later, he transformed into a giant lion.
"Bravo! I knew you could do it, but there is something strange happening." said Merklyn.
"What do you mean?" Harry asked.
"I sense that Voldemort is gathering his forces and is about to attack Hogwarts and that person you hold most dear to you" Merklyn said, and Harry began to panic.
"Send me back" he demanded.
"We have not finished your training" Merklyn said, but Harry shook his head.
"Do it, anyway" Harry virtually ordered and after a few moments, Merklyn nodded.
"You have the last of my energies. That is all I can give you" and the much older wizard sent a ball of energy at Harry and the boy was surrounded in a lot of blue sparkling energy and vanished from the void at the same time that Merklyn vanished.
#
"How the hell did this happen?" Hermione thought to herself as she dodged a curse fired by a Death Eater. Beside her Ginny fired stunners in rapid sucession and felled two of Voldemort's followers.
"Where do we go? Battle slobbering killing animals or battle 50ft killing giants?" Hermione asked.
"The giants are nearer" Susan said.
"But theres more Death Eaters" Luna said as she pointed out the hooded and robed figures battling Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Hermione could see brooms in the air and the spells rain down on the giants.
"The giants are being taken care of, and the wolves can wait for the moment" she said. "We'll go after the Death Eaters" and they ran towards them and joined in with the melee.
"Glad you could join us" grunted Ernie.
"Had some trouble" Susan said, and she fired a severing spell which took a Death Eater's left arm off at the shoulder.
"Nice one" Hermione said, as she stunned several Death Eaters at once.
Minutes passed as they fought against the massed ranks of Voldemort's followers. It seemed as if they kept replicating themselves after being knocked out. The students battled relentlessly against the odds but kept facing the enemy with no possible way of winning, until Hermione had an idea on how to deal with the attackers. Diving from a rock that had been created by the defenders, he rolled to his left and sent a jet of pure energy and it sped towards the Death Eaters and hit the ground in front of them. At that exact moment, the ground heaved up in a tremendous explosion as the spell opened up and blew the Death Eaters to whoever ruled the next world – something Hermione wasn't planning on finding out for some time.
"That was flaming brilliant" Neville said, brushing bits of grass, soil and roasted dead person of his robes. The air reeked of smell burnt flesh and it made several students turn away and brings up their breakfasts.
"It was just something that suddenly came to mind" Hermione said, as he looked around the students. Several of them bore deep cuts to various parts of their bodies, but every single one of them looked eager to start on the next order of business.
"Voldemort!" Luna hissed, and they all turned to look at Voldemort who was coming towards them.
"We're dead without Harry" Colin said.
"Just as well I am back" Harry said, and everyone looked behind them and looked at the sight of a newly returned Harry. "That's worse then floo travel" he muttered as he picked himself up off the floor.
"Harry!" Hermione yelled and ran right into his arms as they embraced.
"OI" Neville yelled, "THERES A BLOODY WAR GOING ON HERE" and the two broke apart.
"Sorry, but theres no time like the present" Harry grinned and he and Hermione leant in for another kiss. "Shall we go and get him?" he asked when they broke apart, indicating Voldemort.
"Why not"
"We have nothing better to do" Hermione winked, and they gathered all the surviving students and with shield charms around them, they advanced on Voldemort. Voldemort was thinking that he was winning when he saw the mass of students coming towards him.
"If they want to die together, then so be it" Voldemort said to himself, and moved to meet them.
A/N:
Well that's another exciting chapter in "A Year Without Harry", and I hope you like it.
Some of the readers who subscribe to "True Friends" will notice that a few of the different battles are re-used in here. That is because I am too tired to write anymore and need a bit of a break from writing this particular fic as I spent a few weeks thinking about what to do with this chapter. Besides… it can pull double duty for this as well.
Regards:
Robert
Aka
Killer of Liam and Seamus
(budrick will get that)