Chapter VII – The Portal
There were injuries on both sides, of course. The Order and the DA were not invincible. Professor McGonagall had a poisonous looking gash on her cheek; Ron had several long cuts running down the length of his wand arm; glass shards had cut Tonks' left ear; Hermione's feet had been glued together; Harry walked in a mix of limps and sways; Professor Snape had cracked his left arm against the wall; Sirius had got a bruise from the falling rubble; and Neville had got burnt severely. Only 'Mad-Eye' Moody and Remus had emerged unharmed.
After tending to all the injuries, the Order set upon creating a kind of a 'gateway' from the prison tower to Hogsmeade. The tower allowed this as its ancient protective Magic did not recognize Dumbledore's new invention.
Professor McGonagall and Mad-Eye started waving their wands in complex motions and whispering as Hermione eyed them hungrily. Then they pointed their wands at Remus and Sirius who, as if on cue, started whispering in what Harry guessed as some ancient language. They, in turn, pointed their wands at Professor Snape, who at once started muttering as well. He then made a wide circle with his wand, as wide as his arms would stretch. The circle resolved into a red-green sphere. The Portal to Hogsmeade had been successfully formed.
Tonks had been explaining the process to Harry all the time, as she was too young to participate in the spell herself. Professor McGonagall and Moody had acted as the Creators, depicting the creation of the two places to be linked. Remus and Sirius had acted as the Revivers, depicting the revival of the ancient Magic that made the Universe. Finally, Professor Snape had acted as the Linker, who had formed a kind of bridge between the two places 'created' by the others. This Magic is known as the Nexus Charm.
Harry walked over to each of his friends to ensure that they were feeling alright. His chest thumped with pride as he saw his classmates fight, and moreover, win in the most dangerous situations, with the most dangerous Death Eaters. His heart also filled with awe at the sight of the Order dueling, with Magic powerful enough to shake the Earth. He had but one doubt in his mind; only he could not decide whom to consult. Finally, he decided upon going to Remus, as he was the most intelligent one present whom Harry could confide in without fear of mock. He walked over to him and asked, "Remus, why is it that the Death Eaters we had injured earlier, came back?" "To this, Harry, we can only have a guess. Perhaps this Department of Mysteries is so full of Magic, so heavy with enchantments, that nobody here can stay incapacitated, unless they are dead, for long." Harry nodded, and followed his former professor to the Portal. "You have to Disapparate into it," said Lupin. Harry nodded again, and both of them, the last ones left there, turned into smoke and entered the Portal, reappearing at the High Street of Hogsmeade.
Chapter VII – Unexpected Appearances
They were a cheerful party, heading home after a long battle, and moreover, victory. They had decided not to go to 12, Grimmauld Place first, but inform Dumbledore about the sequence of events. When Harry had sent the Order a Patronus from Grimmauld Place, the six of them had been at Hogwarts, awaiting Dumbledore's return from a trip to an unknown place. They were sure that Dumbledore would be back by then, and so they headed towards the castle.
When Harry expressed his concern over the duration of the Portal remaining open, he was told by Sirius that it would close in less than in a minute. They started walking merrily, with Tonks cracking jokes and the rest laughing. Harry turned to give the Portal a last look, and he froze as his eyes widened. He turned on his heel, and, as if in slow motion, shouted, "Death Eaters!" Because, around thirty black streams of smoke had burst through the Portal, the second before it closed.
Harry slashed his wand and sent one of the figures flying backwards, as the rest of the Order and the DA turned as well. Harry suddenly remembered one of Dumbledore's creations, and moved his wand to make a blue pentagram in the air, and shot it in the direction of the Death Eaters, freezing one of them in midair. Harry shouted at his friends, "A pentagram and the words 'Repellotonium Dark Magicka!'" Together, they managed to freeze all of the Death Eaters before they had descended on the High Street.
"Now what do we do?" asked Ron in a terrified whisper. Professor McGonagall took charge. "First we have to secure the residents. Do you think you could do that?" She directed this last at the DA, who nodded in agreement. "Good then. The Order should follow me and place protective charms on the road to Hogwarts." They all set to work instantly, as some of the more powerful Death Eaters were already stirring.
All done, they waited with baited breaths as the Death Eaters started to fly towards them again. They were repelled by the 'bubble' of Magic which the Order had placed around the area. "This will not hold much longer!" shouted Sirius, as one of the Death Eaters managed to stay in contact with the charm for over a minute. A few moments later, the bubble gave way. The Death Eaters charged at the good folks one-by-one. The Battle had recommenced. Every person took up duels with vigorous strength, but they were outnumbered greatly this time.
Fire flew everywhere from Remus' wand; Moody was shooting curses and jinxes indiscriminately; McGonagall had enchanted the ground to shoot projectiles at the Death Eaters every now and then, with precise aim; Snape scattered sparks everywhere which burned only, but all, the bad guys getting in touch with them. But the opponents had renewed energy. Sirius dueled two Death Eaters so that his wand was nothing but a blur, flashing like a sword. A Death Eater flew at him from the back, but Harry got their first, Petrifying the Death Eater.
Everyone was coping, but only just. They needed help, and it came. At that very moment, three people burst from the Hog's Head, wands all drawn – Professor Filius Flitwick, Kingsley Shacklebolt, and Aberforth Dumbledore. The next moment, Professor Rubeus Hagrid ran out of the Three Broomsticks, brandishing his fists.