I was going to leave this update until later but as I'm celebrating my 23rd birthday later on today/tonight I thought I'd update it now and not keep you all in suspense waiting to find out what happened in the battle and I very much doubt I'll be in any condition to update it Sunday *Cough "hangover" Cough*
Of Balls and Battles, part two
Upon arriving in Hogsmeade Harry's ears were assaulted with the sounds of battle; screams of the villagers, shouts from the Auror's and Death Eater's as they battled one another in the middle of the village; Werewolves barking and snarling as they smashed into shops and houses and swiping at people with their claws. It seemed that the Werewolves were there to destroy the village as much as possible as they mainly left the fleeing people alone unless they came too close. It seemed that Voldemort was trying to crush the Ministry's budget along with the Auror corps; however, this night ended Voldemort would win, fear spread to the people, Auror's killed or injured and the Ministry's money is crippled severely. Right now, the light-sided fighters were trying to do damage control even if they did not know it.
Harry barely had time to get his footing when a Death Eater fired some unknown dark blue spell at him; not knowing what the spell was or did Harry moved to his left and let the spell sail past him before he whipped up his wand and began to duel the Death Eater.
"Stupefy" Harry's silent stunning spell was sidestepped by the Death Eater who threw his own spell back at Harry.
"Avis" "Oppugno" the Death Eater conjured a flock of birds before quickly setting them to attack Harry, who swiped his wand through air and banished the attacking flock before turning his wand back on the Death Eater in what was becoming a fast-paced duel as they both tried to get the upper hand.
"Locomotor Mortis" "Incarcerous" the Death Eater shielded against both of Harry's silent curses showing that he was no rookie who was in his first battle unlike Harry.
"Serpensortia" the Death Eater conjured a huge python. "Kill the boy" the Death Eater spoke in English and being a conjured snake it obeyed him shooting towards Harry.
"Kill the Death Eater" Harry hissed in Parseltongue, and conjured or not all snakes listen to the speaker of their own tongue and the snake turned around and shot at the shocked Death Eater who just managed to pull himself out of his shock to banish the snake before it could sink its fangs into him.
"Potter" the Death Eater spat at Harry only now realising that he was not facing some wannabe hero but THE hero of the wizard world. "My master will reward me greatly when I kill you"
"Avada Kedavra" the killing curse shot out of his wand and flew straight at Harry, who upon hearing the Avada had silently Apparated from his position in front of the Death Eater to a few spots behind him. The killing curse carried on up the road before colliding with a tree and blowing a huge gapping hole in the middle of the trunk.
"Stupefy" "Stupefy" "Incarcerous" both of Harry's silent stunners found their mark in the back of the Death Eater and before he could fall to the ground ropes wrapped tightly around him as he fell face first. Harry looked around and seeing nobody paying attention to him went over to the fallen Death Eater and rolled him onto his back before he removed the mask.
"Theodore Nott Sr" Harry breathed not quite believing that he had just taken out one of his classmate's father even if said classmate was a Slytherin.
Harry stood up and turning round went running towards the main body of Death Eaters who were fighting the Auror's and Order members in the middle of the village whilst the Werewolves went smashing into building's almost unchecked; Harry was half way to the battle when he heard a childlike scream coming from one of the burning buildings, he skidded to a stop and listened for any sounds and after waiting a few seconds heard a child scream.
"Help me" Harry ran towards the burning cottage as fast as he could, as he reached the front door he blasted it apart and was knocked backwards off his feet as flames shot out of the now open door; getting back to his feet Harry quickly placed a flame-freezing charm on himself before charging into the door. Harry instantly started coughing as he entered the smoke and flame filled room; Harry looked around the room with watery eyes and not seeing anyone called out.
"W-where a-are y-you?" Harry shouted coughing as he did so and listening intently for any reply.
"I'm up here," shouted a child's panicked voice from above. Harry pulled his shirt over his head before he made his way to the staircase not even thinking of a bubblehead charm in his hurry/panic.
Making his way up the stairs Harry dogged a piece of falling ceiling; reaching the top of the stairs Harry called out again and heard the reply coming from the end bedroom which had had it's door smashed of it's hinges; Harry ran to the room and upon entering he came across a sight that belonged in a Muggle horror movie.
There was a woman laid across a double bed covered in blood and deep claw marks along her chest, arms and face. Her face, what could be seen through the blood and wounds was a mask of pain and fear. Her throat was ripped out and her clothes shredded. Looking to the side of the bed Harry spotted a man in a similar state as the woman only he was missing his left arm and his mangled face was unrecognisable; Harry had to fight the urge to be sick at all the blood and gore.
Hearing a small whimper, he looked across the room and spotted a small girl who could only have been five or six years old; the front of the girls Nightdress was covered in blood but luckily, she seemed to be unharmed as Harry made his way over to her.
"P-please don't hurt me," the girl begged with tears streaming down her face as she backed into the wall.
"I won't hurt you" said Harry softy as he stopped walking and knelt down on one knee with a warm smile on his face, still mindful that he was in a burning building.
"I just want to help you," said Harry still in his soft voice as he extended his hand to the girl. "We need to get out of here the building is slowly collapsing" as if to prove his point the building shook as more of the building collapsed causing the girl's eyes to widen in fear.
"What about mummy and daddy?" asked the girl not knowing that her mother and father were never going to wake up again.
"There's nothing I can do for them sweetie there gone" Harry said softly as smoke began to fill the room.
"But there right there" said the girl in confusion pointing at the body's not understanding that her parents were dead.
"I know, but their dead," Harry said softly not really knowing how else, to explain it too the girl with the limited time they had.
"You mean their in heaven?" the girl asked with more tears flowing from her eyes.
"Yes and we need to get out of here before we join them" said Harry softly but bluntly as they heard more parts of the building collapse.
"You promise that you won't hurt me?" the girl asked as she looked into Harry's eyes.
"I promise" Harry answered quickly knowing that they didn't have much time.
"Ok" said the girl as she placed her hand in Harry's still outstretched hand. Harry quickly pulled the girl to him wrapping his arms around her waist before standing up picking the girl up easily as he did so; turning Harry ran out of the bedroom and towards the stairs only to find that they were engulfed in flames preventing them from going down them.
"Shit" Harry cursed as he tried apparating them out but he couldn't. "Your parents have wards up stopping me from getting us out magically," Harry said to the girl though he doubted that she understood what he was talking about. Harry spotted an open door to the left of the stairs and ran into it; Harry found that they were in a purple room that was obviously the girls.
"We're going to have to go out the window," Harry said as he quickly crossed the room to the window and placing the girl on the floor he aimed his wand at the window, waving it in a complicated pattern he vanished the glass before he turned to the girl.
"I'm going to levitate you out the window," said Harry as he took aim at the small girl who involuntary flinched.
"Wingardium Leviosa" the girl gave a small yelp as she was lifted into the air; Harry directed the girl out the window before slowly lowering her to the ground, as her feet touched the ground Harry lifted the spell.
He climbed onto the windowsill and turned around so he was facing the room before lowering himself down as far as he could before he pushed away from the building with his feet as he let go of the windowsill and jumped down onto the ground, upon landing Harry got up from his crouched position and hurried over to the girl.
"Come on lets go" Harry said as he picked her up once more and started running out of the back garden.
"Where are we going?" the girl asked as she bounced in Harry's arms as he ran towards a crop of trees.
"We're getting out of sight," Harry answered as he darted behind a tree and placed the girl on the ground before calling out. "Dobby" the wee man popped in and looked at the girl in surprise as she had screamed slightly as he appeared out of nowhere.
"You is needing Dobby sir," Dobby asked as he looked up at Harry.
"Yes I need you to get me a dreamless sleep potion from my supplies" Harry answered quickly; Dobby was there and back within twenty seconds and handed the potion vial to Harry.
"Will you be needing Dobby for anything else?" Dobby asked as he watched Harry rip the sealing wax from the lid of the vial.
"Yes" Harry answered the elf before he turned to the girl who was watching the pair with wide eyes. "I need you to drink this potion," Harry said as he held it out to the girl.
"What will it do to me?" the girl asked clearly not realising that it did just what its name said though Harry was not expecting her to know that.
"It will put you into a deep sleep," answered Harry with a small smile. "Its nothing bad I promise" Harry said hoping to reassure the girl, he must have been successful as the girl took the vial from him.
"Ok" the girl then drank down the purple potion and making a face at the taste. "It tastes icky," she said before her eyes rolled into the back of her head and she began to fall backwards but Harry quickly caught her before she could hit the ground.
Harry turned back to Dobby "Take her to the infirmary, Madam Pomfrey will look after her" After Dobby and the girl had vanished Harry stood up and headed back towards the battle that he could hear was still on going.
Remus Lupin had just taken down a Death Eater when he heard a grunting and moaning from behind him, turning he saw a Werewolf transforming back to its human form. After a few seconds the man stood, he was around five foot eleven, with dirty brown/grey hair, average build with torn dirty robes that were splattered with blood, as was his mouth.
"Hello Remus Lupin" said the raspy voice of the filthy Werewolf with a sadistic smile upon his face showing his yellow teeth.
"Greyback" Remus ground out with clenched teeth as he came face to face with the Werewolf who had turned him all those years ago when he was just five years old.
"You really don't think you can beat me do you Remus?" Greyback asked as Remus raised his wand and pointed it at the Werewolf.
"I have waited my entire life for this moment," Remus said as he dropped into a duelling stance. "I will have justice for what you did to me and everyone else you turned" Remus' eyes turned pure amber as the wolf inside him readied for the fight.
"Very well, let us do this," said Greyback as he removed his wand. Without another word the two Werewolves lunged into a fierce battle; spells and curses flew back and forth at such speed their wands were blurs. Within minutes both of them had cuts and bruises all over their bodies, but being Werewolves they both could withstand a lot more pain and punishment. After another five minutes of vicious dulling Remus managed to hit Greyback with an Expelliarmus forcibly removing the other Werewolf's wand from his hand and knocking him to the ground.
Stalking/limping forward towards his fallen foe Remus levelled his wand at Greyback preparing for one final curse. "I told you I would have justice," Lupin snarled as he looked down at the bloody form of the most savage Werewolf in British history.
However, before Remus could say or do anything else, Greyback lunged at him knocking and tackling him to the ground he began brawling with the younger wolf. Remus snarled and began to fight back as he punched every part of Greyback that he could reach. It was now a test of strength and stamina as the two Werewolves fought for dominance.
Remus grunted as Greyback punched him in the nose, he could feel blood running from his nose as it was most likely broken but he continued to grapple with the older wolf. Remus lunged forward with his head and opening his mouth, he clamped his teeth around Greyback's nose and bit the elder wolf as hard as he could, as he tasted the metallic tang of blood in his mouth interacting that he'd drawn blood as Greyback screamed with the pain of having his nose bitten. Letting go of the older mans nose, Remus spat out a chunk of flesh before he head butted Greyback on his injured nose, knocking the older man to the ground off his chest.
Greyback was holding his nose in absolute agony as Remus scrambled to his feet and picked up his fallen wand. Turning to the crouching man, he kicked him as hard as he could in the ribs to make sure he stayed down this time. Remus levelled his wand at the fallen Greyback and this time he did not waste time with talking, he just shot his curse as point blank range.
"Avada Kedavra" for the first time in his life, Remus Lupin fired the killing curse at another human being, if you could call the Werewolf known as Fenrir Greyback Human. The sickly green of the killing curse jumped out of his wand and struck the crouching man in the back of his head, ripping the life from his body as he fell on his face dead.
Remus breathed a sigh of relief as he looked out were the battle had been taking place, and seeing that the Death Eater's and Werewolves were either captured or had just retreated he turned around and limped his way back up to Hogwarts fully intending to let Madam Pomfrey to fix him up as best she could before sleeping for at least ten hours.
"This is not my night" Harry said to himself as he closed the lifeless eyes of Auror Turpin; Harry had already taken down the father of a classmate, saved a young girl from a burning building, fought against more Death Eater's, getting a pierced thigh and a few cracked if not broken ribs along with numerous cuts and bruises. Now he had to break the news to his friend that her father had died in battle and would not be coming home again.
"This is really not my night" Harry sighed as he stood from his crouched position and began to make his way up to the school, knowing that the Auror's and Medi-witches had it well in hand; Harry could do nothing as he was a fighter not a healer.
Azkaban Prison
Lord Voldemort was in his element as he duelled three Auror's at once; Voldemort and the other Death Eater's were holding off the Auror's while Alecto and Amycus Carrow, the resident Death Eater ward breakers attacked the wards on the prison building.
"How much longer" Voldemort shouted to the brother and sister as he blasted one of the Auror's through the air and batted another's curse away as if it was a fly.
"Around five or ten minute's milord" Amycus Carrow shouted back as he and his sister worked as fast as they could to bring the wards down. "These wards are stronger than we thought" Amycus shouted as he waved his wand in a complicated manner.
"You have seven minutes to bring them down" Voldemort snarled as he hit on of the two remaining Auror's with the killing curse bringing the duel to a one on one. "If the wards aren't down by then you will be, permanently" Amycus and Alecto blanched at their lords words and they began to work faster not wanting to bring Voldemort's wrath upon themselves.
Turning his full attention back to the Auror in front of him, Voldemort unleashed upon the poor man who never really stood a chance against the Dark Lord.
"Sectumsempra" "Crucio" "Avada Kedavra" the Dark cutting curse severed the Auror's arm from the shoulder down, while the Cruciatus Curse struck him in the chest but before he could even fall half way to the ground or scream in pain, his life ended as the killing curse struck him in the forehead.
Looking around the rocky island that Azkaban was built upon, Voldemort saw that his Death Eater's were tearing the Auror's apart. More than half of the original thirty were on the ground either dead or dying.
"My lord Dumbledore is here" shouted a Death Eater from his right.
Looking to his right Voldemort saw that indeed, Dumbledore and his merry band of Order were here, already engaging his Death Eater's in battle. Voldemort's nostrils flared in anger while his blood red eyes burned even darker in his anger at the sight of the old fool. Voldemort began taking long pot shots at the Order members as the old headmaster made his way over to the Dark Lord, blasting Death Eater's out of his way as he did so.
"Dumbledore" Voldemort spat as he dropped into a duelling stance; he should have known that Dumbledore and his merry men could not keep their noses out of his business.
Good evening Tom" replied Dumbledore pleasantly as though he was greeting an old friend.
"Why did you come here tonight old man?" Voldemort asked as he glared hatefully at the headmaster.
"Too stop you Tom," replied Dumbledore with a grandfatherly smile that he knew grated on the Dark Lord's nerves. "And perhaps for a little chat" Voldemort was quite surprised with that last one.
"About what Albus?" asked Voldemort thinking it could only be good to keep Dumbledore occupied as the Carrow twins brought the wards down and he was curious as to what the old fool wanted to talk with him about.
"About Harry" answered Dumbledore who was mainly trying to plant small seeds of doubt in the Dark Lord's mind, anything to make Harry's job that little bit easier.
"What about Potter" spat Voldemort even if he was curious about his archenemy?
"Harry is going to beat you Tom," Answered Dumbledore confidently his eyes twinkling brightly in the darkness of night.
"I will crush Potter like the bug that he is," snarled Voldemort with venom. "Beat me indeed, tell me old man what gives you that impression when you yourself have never beaten me?" though Voldemort would admit it to no one he was weary of how confident the old man seemed in his belief.
"Because Harry posses a power far greater than your own" answered Dumbledore before firing a stunner at the Dark Lord indicating that their little chat was over as he had planted the little seed of doubt in the Dark Lord's mind.
"Nobody has power greater than mine Dumbledore" spat Voldemort as the headmaster moved a chunk of rock into the path of his killing curse.
"Harry does," said Dumbledore as he began to rapid-fire curses and hexes at the Dark Lord as his aura flared around him in a brilliant light blue.
The headmaster and Dark Lord fired spells and curses back and forth so fast that their wands were nothing but blurs in the air; magic crackled around the two wizards as the ground at their feet cracked. Death Eater's, Auror's and Order members alike stopped and watched the two wizard's duel in absolute awe. All except the Carrow twins who had just taken down the wards on the prison building, they entered the prison knowing that the guards were outside watching the duel between the headmaster and their Lord, therefore leaving their path clear to retrieve the imprisoned Death Eater's and anyone who would join their Lord.
Ten minutes later and both wizards started showing signs of tiredness, along with the cuts and bruises covering their bodies; the Carrow twins exited the prison doors with satisfied smirks on their faces.
"My Lord, our men are back at headquarters," shouted Amycus before he and his sister activated their Portkey's, their role in the assault now done.
Voldemort heard his Death Eater shout, and he released a wave of pure magic at the old man sending him flying through the air and crashing onto the rocky beach, only inches away from the sea surrounding the island.
"Retreat, we have what we came for" Voldemort screamed at his Death Eater's before whirling around and firing a huge Fiendfyre serpent into the open doors of the prison, setting the prison alight with fire that could only be controlled by extremely powerful witches and wizards and then not always.
"Morsmordre" screamed Voldemort firing the Dark Mark into the sky before he activated his Portkey and he along with the Death Eater's vanished from the now burning Azkaban.
"Help our wounded" Dumbledore commanded as he went to try to control the burning prison. "And secure any prisoners" twenty minutes later and Dumbledore had managed to put out the Fiendfyre, but Azkaban was now nothing more than a pile of burnt rubble as it had collapsed in on itself. Another ten minutes later and Dumbledore and the Order activated their Portkey's taking them back to Hogwarts.
Hogwarts
Harry limped into the great hall with dread in his stomach as he knew the next convocation he was about to have would be anything but pleasant.
"Harry" shouted several people as they saw him limp into the hall, many gasped at the sight of him covered in cuts and blood along with soot from the burning houses.
"Potter what happened in Hogsmeade?" Snape asked without as much as a sneer on his face.
"We managed to beat back the Death Eater's and Werewolves," Answered Harry tiredly as he suddenly felt very tired all of a sudden but he had a job to do before he could even think about resting. "You will have to ask someone else for a full report as I do not know everything," Harry said to Snape as he spotted Lisa making her way over to him through the crowd of students.
"Very well Potter" Snape nodded at Harry. "You should go and see Madam Pomfrey," said the potions master as he looked over Harry's many wounds.
"I have one more job to do that is more important than relieving a little pain," answered Harry quietly as Lisa reached his side and began looking him over.
"Very well" Snape said as he noticed the sadness that came to Harry's eyes as Lisa reached his side; he could very well guess the job that Harry had to do. Though he would deny it to his dying breath, Snape's respect for the young wizard had shot up in the last few hours, Harry had been one of the first to go into battle and now he was taking it upon himself to give the bad news to his best and perhaps only friend.
"Harry look at the state of you," said Lisa worriedly as her eyes raked over Harry's battered body. "We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey" Lisa had taken his arm and was trying to guide him out of the great hall.
"Lisa you need to come with me" said Harry as he put a stop to the smaller witch's actions of leading him to the hospital wing.
"Why?" Lisa asked as she was forced to stop her movements in getting her friend up to the hospital. "You're in no fit state to be taking me anywhere Harry" Lisa with a mischievous smile on her pretty face.
"Please just come with me," Harry pleaded in a chocked voice, as he knew Lisa would probably not smile her brilliant smile for along time after he gave her the news.
"Ok Harry" conceded Lisa with worry on her face as she looked at Harry's pleading face; Lisa helped Harry out of the great hall and into a small-unused classroom just off the great hall.
"What is it Harry?" Lisa asked as she turned to face a grim looking Harry.
"Sit down Lisa" said Harry in a soft voice as he somehow managed to perch himself on the edge of a desk. "It's your Father," Harry said answering her question.
"What about him?" Lisa asked her voice laced with fear as all sorts of possibilities ran through her mind.
"I'm so sorry Lisa," Harry said as he looked down at the floor. "He didn't make it through the battle;" Harry looked up at Lisa's chocked gasped to see tears streaming from her eyes.
"He's dead?" Lisa asked already knowing the answer but she wanted to be completely sure.
"Yes" whispered Harry wincing as Lisa began to sob loudly; Harry stood from the edge of the table, hobbled over to Lisa's crying form, placed a hand on her shoulder, and was very surprised when the sobbing girl stood from her chair and embraced Harry and cried on his shoulder. Harry awkwardly wrapped his arms around the crying girl and gently began to rub his hand in what he hoped were comforting circles around her back, even if his injured ribs were screaming in protest at been held so tight.
"Make them pay Harry" Lisa said five minutes later after her crying had subsided to sniffles; her voice was muffled as her face was still buried in Harry's shoulder but he heard her none the less. "Make them pay for taking my father" Lisa said looking up into Harry's eyes with bloodshot eyes and an emotionally broken face.
"I will," said Harry as he nodded his head looking into Lisa's blue eyes.
"Promise" Lisa asked as she buried her head back in Harry's shoulder with a hiccup.
"I promise to make everyone of the bastards pay" Harry answered as his bright green eyes went almost black with his anger; nobody made his friend cry and got away with it, as soon as he was able too Harry would begin actively hunting the Death Eater's and they would feel his wrath.
After five minutes, Lisa's breathing evened out, indicating that she had fallen asleep. Harry using the last of his strength picked up the smaller girl and made his way out of the classroom and up to the hospital wing. After getting Lisa settled into a bed, he transfigured her dress into a night dress that would last until she took the dress off; Harry then tucked the blanket under her chin and kissed her forehead, before making his way over to Madam Pomfrey so she could fuss over him all the while one thought ran though his mind.
"Very soon the Death Eater's will quake in their boots when I'm done" Harry thought as he settled down under the blankets of his bed after downing a glass of dreamless sleep, looking at the occupant in the bed next to his Harry saw the little girl he'd saved earlier that night sleeping peacefully. He smiled sadly, as he drifted off to sleep missing the returning Headmaster and Order members by mere minutes.
End of chapter five:
How was it? Please review.