Chapter 18
A Distraction
Bill and Raya ran quickly down the corridors to the Potions classroom and entered just in time to here Snape's voice drawl, "Take your seats."
Raya took her seat. She sat next between Bill and George. And as most anyone would expect George was sitting next to Fred. Snape stared over at the table and noticed, for the first time, that there was more Weasley boys than there was suppose to be. He walked slowly over to the table.
"What is this?" asked Snape staring at the twins, Charlie, and Bill.
"We have come for a visit, Professor Snape," responded Bill.
"Yes," said Fred sarcastically, "that and we wanted to come and visit our favorite teacher."
"Quiet, you fool," said Snape as he glared, "I don't need any of your wise cracks in my classroom, your youngest brother does well enough interrupting the class in your stead."
Ron felt a blush creep into his cheeks. Hermione put her hand on his reassuringly.
"And we couldn't be prouder," said George, smiling up at his former professor.
"I see," said Snape.
He slowly walked away his black cape billowing behind him.
Fred and George gave actual genuine smiles in Ron's direction, which Ron returned.
"Today we will be working on our potions from last week," said Snape turning towards the class once he reached his desk. "If you did it correctly, your vile should have turned a violet color and should have a layer of skin appearing on the surface in a dark brown color. It should be labeled with your name and your partner's on the shelf. Go!"
Raya pointed her wand at the self, "Wingardium Leviosa!"
The vile titled, "Draco and Raya" floated over towards her.
"What kind of potions are we working on today?" asked Fred looking into the vile then drew back his head sharply and crinkled his nose like he had smelled something rancid, "besides knock out gas?"
"This is a potion is suppose to act as a shock absorber," said Raya, "all we really need to do yet is add the powdered roots and a handful of crystal salt."
After an hour class was over and everyone had completed their potions.
Next on their class schedules was Care of Magical Creatures.
They walked onto the sunny grounds of Hogwarts. The sun had risen high in the sky, melting some of the snow, missing patches here and there. The large group walked together, however, Bill and Raya seemed to have distanced themselves slightly from the group talking in hushed voices.
"What do you suppose is going on there?" asked Harry, looking over at his sister talking quietly with Bill.
"They're probably in love," said Fred, batting his eyelashes and clasping his hands together in the crook of his neck, "probably talking for running away together to some new land."
"EW!" said Harry. "Don't talk about my sister that way. It's just, just, icky."
"Yes," said George, leaning over his brother, "but lets remember that we had to listen to your lovely proposal to our dear baby sister."
"Shove off you two," said Charlie, he was laughing however, "they're probably just talking about the Mark."
"What mark?" asked Ron.
Hermione rolled her eyes and slapped her hand to her forehead.
"Ron you dolt!" said Hermione, "how can you not remember something that Raya and Draco have talked with us about a number of times?"
"What!" said Ron, innocently looking around and his brothers and his friends, "I just don't remember. Is that a crime?"
"No," said Hermione, "but if you had remembered it would have be insurance to me that I wasn't marrying a complete numbskull!"
Fred and George were having no trouble at all expressing their feelings about this situation. They were laughing hysterically with their heads tipped back so far that it was a surprise that they didn't snap.
"Yeah," said Ron blushing, "a load of laughs you two!"
"Everyone c'mon!" they heard Hagrid call, "class will be starting soon."
"C'mon!" said Harry to everyone "lets get front row seats."
"Well Hullo Harry," said Hagrid, "Ron, Hermione, Neville. Oy! Fred, George, Charlie, and there's Bill! What are you all doing here?"
"We came for a visit today Hagrid," said Fred, then he added in his best buttering up voice, "we couldn't wait to this class to see you!"
"Yeah!" said George, "we couldn't wait to see you Hagrid." Then mocking Harry at the end of his second year, or their third year, George pretended to tear up. "It's not Hogwarts without you Hagrid."
The "weeping" George found refuge upon his brother's shoulder, "It's alright brother dear. I know. We've missed him so much!"
Hermione lifted her hand to cover her mouth while she was laughing. And Hagrid saw the ring glitter upon her finger.
"Hermione," said Hagrid taking her hand and lifting it closer to his face, "is this ring for what I think it is."
Both Ron and Hermione blushed.
"Yes Hagrid," said Hermione, "I'm getting married at the end of the year, right after school is out."
Hagrid looked over at the blushing Ron and easily put two and two together. '
"An' I suppose the gentlemen that proposed to ya is going to treat ya kind and won't fight with ya all the time," said Hagrid.
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Hagrid you know perfectly well who it is," said Hermione laughing.
"Good job Hermione!" said Ron, "announce our engagement to the world while you're at it!"
"Are you ashamed of it Ron?" asked Hermione "is why you're trying to keep it quiet!"
"You know that's not true!" said Ron defiantly, "its just weird being the only two people in Hogwarts School that knows who they want to be with for the rest of their lives and actually did something about it."
"Not the only one," said Harry quietly, "Both Ginny and I know as well."
"You an' Ginny?" asked Hagrid.
"Yes," said Harry beaming, "and if you want more surprises-"
Harry pushed Raya forward.
"Here we go again," said Raya under her breath so no one could here.
"This is Raya," said Harry.
"Well hullo there," said Hagrid, "any friends of Harry's is a friend of mine."
"I'm more than just a friend," said Raya, "I'm actually his sister."
"His what?" asked Hagrid, "I must have heard you wrong. Harry doesn't have a sister."
"Actually he does," said Raya, "a twin sister if you want me to be more specific."
"Well, I'll be," said Hagrid, amazed, but then he suddenly realized that he had a class of students waiting for him to begin class, "it's a pleasure to meet you, Raya."
"Thank you Hagrid," said Raya smiling.
"All right class everyone take your seats," said Hagrid aloud to everyone.
The group of friends all took their seats at the front of the class.
"Now I know this class is called care of "magical" creatures, but we're going to over look that today at take a look at a not so magical creature," said Hagrid, "but as everyone knows every creature is magical in its own special way."
Everyone nodded and Raya and Hermione rummaged through their bags and took out pieces of parchment for note taking.
"Today we will be working with horses," said Hagrid, and he out stretched his arms towards the stables. Standing there were twelve horses.
"Now your will be in groups of threes or pairs," said Hagrid, "there is enough horses for everyone. You can go up and choose your horse, but you can't touch those two."
Hagrid pointed and two horses near the side of the stables in a separate paddock. Raya recognized the horses as her own beautiful white mare, Amaltheea and Draco's chestnut mare, Bunny. Everyone got up to choose their horses
Amaltheea turned towards Raya and started whinnying and Bunny soon followed. Then both Amaltheea and Bunny jumped over the paddock and the stables and ran as fast as they could to where Raya sat.
"Amaltheea here must be yours," said Hagrid, "Dumbledore told me too look after these horses with special care. Beggin' your pardon, I mean no harm, but how are they different from the other horses?"
"First of all they both have seen much more than the other horses of yours," said Raya softly.
"What do you mean?" asked Hagrid.
Harry leaned in to listen to this too. He was curious at how Raya would answer.
"They have been in many battles," said Raya, "battles that make the one done on this very ground look like a small quarrel. Battles of ten thousand soldiers on each side firing arrows and dodging spears. Amaltheea and Bunny have seen Draco and I through many dangers and hard times."
She petted Amaltheea's nose and Amaltheea made a small purring sound of contentment.
"And also, though this is only for Amaltheea, she is half unicorn. And the horse the bred with the unicorn was half Pegasus. So she is half unicorn, a quarter Pegasus, and another quarter horse," explained Raya. "Bunny here is a wild mustang from the stables of the king of another realm. The finest horse in the King's possession. This horse can out run any horse but my own. These horses are very rarely seen apart and that is usually only if their masters are apart and that is even less seldom. Or used to be until Draco started school."
"Unicorn and Pegasus!" exclaimed Hagrid, extending his hand slowly towards the horse. "How is she with strangers?"
"Wonderful," said Raya, "if you're on our side. She can detect a Death Eater or servant of the enemy sometimes even faster than I can."
Then Amaltheea raised herself up on her two hind feet and whinnied. Then putting herself down the magical horse stared straight into her master's eyes. The wind began to blow harder.
"Looks like the wind's pickin' up," said Hagrid, "must be the new Spring wind."
Stood still for a moment.
"That's not the Spring wind," said Raya, "it's going against the wind."
Raya looked towards the forest and watched the trees move back and forth. She mounted Amaltheea.
"Bill!" said Raya called, "its time to fulfill your oath."
"What oath?" asked George, as he watched his eldest brother take a horse from another group.
"Harry," said Raya, "quickly. I am hesitant but you can come. So many you all. Just be careful and stay behind Bill and I."
"Why Bill?" asked Harry, "we've seen this sort of battle before, they haven't way should we be behind."
"Harry first of all battles aren't all about your place in line," said Raya, "if you had seen a true battle, like the ones I have been through, you would be reluctant to ever go to battle again. War mongering is not a trait to be proud of. Sec-"
"War mongering?" asked Harry.
"It means you're a little too eager for battles, Harry," said Raya.
"I am n-," started Harry but Raya cut him off.
"Secondly Bill in part of the Mark of the Potters," said Raya.
Bill lifted up the sleeve of his shirt and they saw the tattooed leaf upon it.
"What's that?" asked Fred.
"A Mark," said Bill.
"You got a tattoo!" said George, "Mum's going to kill you!"
"It's not just any tattoo," said Bill, "and Mum knows about it already."
The twins looked discouraged at not being able to hold something over their brother's head.
"Still!" said Harry.
"No time," said Raya, then she bit her bottom lip hesitantly and Hermione noticed it was one more similarity between the two of them, they both bit their bottom lip when they thought hard about something, "you can ride Bunny."
Harry lifted his eyebrows in surprise. Raya was letting him use Draco's horse. This must be a big step for her. Harry slowly walked towards Bunny. Bunny then lowered her head to look at him at his eye level. Harry saw in her eyes what seemed almost like an answer to his inner question. He eyes seemed to be saying, "Ride me. It's all right. I don't mind."
Harry quickly mounted and got used to the feel of a horse beneath him. He had never ridden one before. Bunny turned her head to look Harry in the eye once more. Now her eyes seemed to say, "Don't worry. I won't let you fall."
No wonder Draco loved this horse. It was like a human being with four legs.
"Amaltheea?" asked Raya, "Manke?"
Amaltheea immediately turned towards the Forbidden Forest. And immediately following Raya was galloping into the forest.
"Raya!" cried Hagrid, "It's forbidden!"
"We have to Hagrid," said Bill.
He motioned for everyone else to follow. Hermione looked around for a horse and grabbed the one that Pansy had chosen and mounted it quickly and set the horse to walk beside Bill's. Ron got onto a horse and everyone else eventually found themselves a horse to mount.
"Let's go!" said Bill and he followed Raya into the inky blackness of the Forbidden Forest. The rest of the horses followed uneasily, except for Bunny who charged forward in order to catch up with her best horse friend.
Once inside the Forbidden forest, and all the horses had caught up with each other, the air around them seemed to change from a crisp, winter air to a thick hot humid air.
"The leaves are still on all the trees," said Hermione more to herself that anyone else.
"This forest is protected under a powerful magic," replied Raya, "part of that magic is that the leaves never fall from the trees."
"And no snow falls on the ground either," said Ron, "is that part of the magic too?"
"Yes," answered Raya. She pulled on Amaltheea's light white rope reigns and halted and turned Amaltheea to go sideways across the road, blocking the other horses. A foul wind blew through the trees bringing a horrid smell through the air, though none of the humans, except for Raya, knew to what or who the scent belonged to. The horses on the other hand could definitely sense that evil was near and some started backing away uneasily.
"Ni!" commanded Raya to the horses, "e' yamen'!"
The horses stopped backing away, though they still were very nervous.
Harry could have sworn that out of the corner of his eye he saw a shadow dash between to trees.
"Raya," said Harry, "I think there is someone out there."
"Yes," said Raya slowly, "Death Eaters."
"What are we going to do?" asked Bill, "how should we handle this with Draco and all."
"I don't know why they are here," said Raya, "it may be to see if Draco is here. If that is the case then we must fight them and leave none alive. And if that is not their purpose than it is still a distraction from the quest he is on."
"Right," said Bill, "so either way we fight."
"Yes," said Raya, "I am afraid that most of the time when we are dealing with Death Eaters it means that we will have to fight."
"Alright," said Bill, "this is all good. But we are weaponless but for our wands."
"I am afraid to use wands against them," said Raya, "for they have very magical counter curses placed upon them that counter every curse known to us. Sometimes we will be able to get in lucky shots but I fear that may not be enough."
"Is there any way that we will be able to get our hands on some weapons in time for the fight?" asked Bill.
"I have my sword with me," said Raya, then her face brightened slightly, "I have an idea."
Raya brought her Amaltheea close to the horse Bill had mounted.
"I will go deep into the woods and they will follow me," said Raya, "for I will make it clearly visible who I am. They will definitely follow me if they know, even if it is not their mission. Then you will go back to Hagrid's hut and get the collection on weapons that Hagrid has around and Dumbledore keeps a store of other weapons by Hagrid's hit, it is in a trap door ten paces away from Hagrid's front door. It is covered by grass to match the ground perfectly; you'll know where it is for when you step on it there will be a hollow sound. Then I will lead them back towards this spot and you be waiting here, and make sure that everyone has at least one weapon in hand."
Bill nodded his head.
"Don't linger and tell the plan to everyone whilst you just stand here on horseback. As you are riding back you can tell them the plan, but NO time can be wasted in this plot for it to work."
Bill nodded his head sharply.
"Then here I go," said Raya and she turned Amaltheea to look deeper into the forest, "tell them not to call after me."
And she was off. She sped on the tracks and let her hair loose of the tight bun it had been in and been in and her blonde hair streaked out behind her. She heard shuffling in the dark branches all around her. Just in case she lost her way she took out her sword and began putting quick cuts in the trees' bark to mark the path she had taken. Soon she could she shadows weaving themselves in and out of the trees behind and beside her. She picked up Amaltheea's pace and road faster through the woods.
Soon she heard a menacing laugh come from in front and she brought Amaltheea to a halt.
"Who's there?" asked Raya sternly, "show yourself!"
A Death Eater on a broomstick entered through the trees before her carrying a long menacing sword in one hand and a wand in the other. All around her other Death Eaters hovered above her in the air, forming a circle around her.
"You're are surrounded," said the Death Eater, "there is no going back to your friends."
"That may be what you think," said Raya holding up her sword, "but I think differently."
And with that she brought her sword against his.
"Where are we going?" asked Hermione as she and the others rode behind Bill.
"To get weapons," said Bill, "we have to stand against them."
"So this is a distraction plan?" asked Ron, "distracting their attention away from the fact that Draco isn't here."
"Right," said Bill.
"Who's them?" asked Fred riding up beside his brother, "this is crazy."
"Death Eaters," said Bill, "that's who."
Fred narrowed his eyebrows.
"But what would they want with us?" asked George, speaking both his and his brother's minds.
"They may not want you but they want-," started Bill.
"The famous Harry Potter," said Fred, "of course."
"No," said Bill, "well, yes, they would like him. But that's not the only person their after."
"Who else would they?" asked George.
"Me," said Bill, "I am part of a secret organization that fights against Death Eaters."
"Yeah," said Fred, "the Order. We are in it too though."
"No," said Bill, "not the Order. The Mark."
"What's the Mark?" asked George.
"A organization that is almost exactly like Death Eaters except we are on the side of good," answered Bill.
"And who else?" asked Fred.
"Raya," said Bill, "she is the main one they are after. She is the one that headed the foundation that I'm in. It's the Mark of the Potters. They need her dead. And we need her alive. She is our most powerful ally against Voldemort."
"This is very confusing," said George to his brother as they rode out of the Forbidden forest to Hagrid's hut.
Raya drew back her sword and swung once more.
"You cannot win," said the Death Eater on horseback.
"I don't need too," said Raya and again she brought her sword to him.
The Death Eaters on broomsticks seemed to hover around doing nothing. Raya looked up at them wondering.
"You wonder why they do not help me," said the Death Eater, "they wait for my command."
He lifted his hand as if to signal them.
"All I have to do it put my hand down," said the Death Eater, "and they will kill you."
Bill and the others arrived in the place they had been.
"Everyone have a weapon?" asked Bill.
"Listen," said Fred, "I'm still really confused about all this."
"You are going to be fighting Death Eaters," said Bill, slowly.
"And may I ask why it is not with wands?" asked Fred.
"They have counter spells to all of them placed upon them already," said Bill.
"It wouldn't have any effect on them," said Charlie, "any of the spells that you would perform."
"And how are you all of a sudden in the know how?" asked George.
"I am going to get the same tattoo that Bill has," said Charlie, "become on of the Mark."
"So," said Bill, "enough talk. We have to be ready when Raya comes. Then we strike."
Fred and George looked at each other. Each held a long sword in their hand.
"Do you know how to use a sword?" Fred whispered to George.
"No, do you?" George whispered to Fred.
"No," whispered Fred.
They looked at each other again.
"Um…Bill!" they called in unison and followed their big brother.
And in one quick movement the Death Eater threw his hand downwards and the Death Eaters on broomsticks charged down at her. Raya turned her horse and quickly fled.
"After her!" ordered the Death Eater and the Death Eaters followed.
She road through making sure she stayed only by the trees where her sword had made a mark.
"I hear her," said Bill, "everybody ready. Hermione you have a long ranged weapon, you have to get the first shoot in."
"Right," said Hermione and, crossbow in hand, she moved forward so no one was in their line of fire.
Suddenly Raya burst through the trees.
"Go now," said Raya and she sharply turned Amaltheea out of Hermione and Charlie's range of fire.
Hermione let loose her crossbow in the darkness of the trees. A scream was heard; she had hit her target.
"Nice shot," murmured Ron with pride.
"Shoot again!" said Raya and she paused for a moment, "NOW!"
Hermione shoot once more right as the Death Eaters on broomsticks burst through the trees. A Death Eater fell dead.
The remaining Death Eaters dismounted their brooms and brought out swords and wands. Without warning Ginny and Luna burst through the trees. Ginny, with her spear, Luna with her bow and arrows, they ran towards the front of the group.
"How did you guys get here?" asked Harry.
"We heard about you all galloping off without us and decide to see what was up!" called Ginny, charging straight for the Death Eaters with her spear.
"Ginny!" said George, "get back! You aren't going to stop them with your Bat Bogey hexes!"
"My fighting goes far beyond Bat Bogey hexes!" Ginny called back.
She got in front of the group.
"Bring it on!" she yelled at the Death Eaters and the started to charge.
Ginny spun her spear in the air and whacked on Death Eater unconscious behind her and brought it forward and stabbed another in the stomach.
Her brothers, except Ron who had already seen her in action, looked at her in both amazement and pride.
Harry and Ron dismounted with their twin swords and charged to Ginny's aid. All the while Hermione and Luna were firing shoots.
Fred and George looked down at their weapons.
"There is no joke to get us out of this one brother dear," said George turning his sword around in his hand.
"No, bro, I don't believe there is," replied Fred.
"So we're going in?" asked George.
"We're going in," said Fred and they dismounted with their swords.
They charged at the crowd of Death Eaters and then stopped and looked very scared. They found one smaller looking Death Eater that was sort of staggered off farther away from the others. They looked at each other and then with all the ferocity of true warriors charged the one little Death Eater.
Bill dismounted alongside Charlie.
"This, my little brother," said Bill, putting his hand on Charlie's shoulder, "is what in a month you will be pledging your life to do."
"Can't wait," said Charlie smiling and they charged as well.
Raya, however, was waiting for the Death Eater in the lead that had yet to come out of the darkness of the trees. Then she heard the gust of wind. She peered around the tree and saw the Death Eater coming towards the sound of metal against metal. She waited until the Death Eater was right at her tree before coming out and taking one good whack at the head and watched it tumble off the rest of the body.
Raya returned to the battle scene to see that everyone one of the Death Eaters had been killed.
"Any injuries?" asked Raya.
"None to bad," said Bill, "just a few scrapes."
"I can't believe that we just did that!" exclaimed George, punching his fist into the air yet bring it down quickly wincing at a sore shoulder.
"Yes and what right brave soldiers you two were, running after the smallest Death Eater and double teaming him leaving three full sized Death Eaters for you little sister to take care of on her own," laughed Bill.
Everyone laughed, except Fred and George making excuses saying how strong the little guy was and just how tough he had fought them.
But Raya's mind was somewhere else. How prepared the Death Eaters had been. It seemed that they had expected everything to happen that happened. It was too easy a kill, everything had fallen too perfectly into place. Something was wrong.
"Raya?" asked Harry, "what's wrong?"
"We though it was their distraction from Draco," said Raya, "but I think it was meant to be ours."
Please Review! I hope you like the chapter.