BATTLE OF HOGWARTS

Assembling the Forces…

The one thousand aurors were dressed in military style clothing, except instead of camaflouge green it was bright red like blood. They wore serious frowns and grim expressions on their faces as they entered through Dumbledore's magically enlarged floo and patrolled the corridors. Meanwhile, there was a shout that was heard continuously, in Professor McGonagall's voice: "ALL STUDENTS REPORT TO COMMON ROOMS, SEE PREFECTS FOR DETAILS… ALL STUDENTS REPORT TO COMMON ROOMS, SEE PREFECTS FOR DETAILS…" It went on over and over until the call became quite annoying.

Meanwhile Dumbledore was hastily formulating defences and directing the aurors. "Bones!" He called out when he saw her stride into the Astronomy tower. "We need muggle machine guns to cut down the centaurs."

"What? Why in heavens would we want to kill the centaurs? They have vowed to protect Hogwarts with their lives."

"They are bewitched, Amelia, the necromancers are quite powerful. Trust me on this, I have dealt with one in my youth, but back then I had help from Nicholas Flamel." He said.

"Why don't you call him right now?" Amelia asked.

"Excellent idea," Albus said, his sky blue eyes lighting up at that thought. "I'll be in my office if you need me. See to the defences of Hogwarts in my absence, please."

Amelia nodded. "Okay, you lazy bums, get conjuring. I need four muggle machine guns." She ordered nearby aurors. They looked up at her in confusion.

"What's a machine gun?" One of them asked, she had purple hair and green eyes. Her name was Nymphadora Tonks.

Amelia shrugged. "That's what Albus wanted. I better ask him…"

And so the preparations of Hogwarts went, slow and confused, but they got things done. For example all the first to fifth year students were hauled up in their common rooms. The sixth and Seventh year students who were willing to protect the castle were put in charge of the towers and turrets of Hogwarts, where they would have clear vision with witch they would use to fire the 'machine guns.' After Amelia got the drawings needed to conjure such strange devices, and after enough testing, they got it to work with much wonder and splendor.

Albus meanwhile took several deep breaths as he cleared his mind, and focused hard on one thing, convincing Nicholas Flamel to come to Hogwarts. Nicholas himself was like a hermit, a recluse, he hated people. His wife was different, a bit, not much, but different nonetheless. She was a hufflepuff at Hogwarts, over several hundred years ago. Albus was mainly focused on convincing her.

He threw in a handful of Floo powder into the fire, and kneeled down on the hardwood floor in front of the jade porcelien.

Nicholas's head came on. "How the bloody hell do you know where I live? I am under the goddam fidelous charm for godsakes."

"Your wife told me," Albus said.

Nicholas grumbled to himself, "I should have listened to her when she told me to be the secret keeper. Goddam laziness y'hear? I hope you aren't lazy, are you?" He hated laziness. It was one of his pet quirks, among many, they kept changing day to day. Honestly, Nicholas was not… stable anymore. He barely had a decade or two to live since the philosopher's stone was gone.

Now he lived in Kansas, Texas, in the goddam United States of America. Albus hated Americans, and their politics, and everything about them despite his openminded ness for several other things that would make a lesser man cringe in fear. For example, Luna's father, and his pleas for funding his inventions. Albus gave it gladly from his enormous fortunes because he liked to amuse himself with Luna's father's inventions and mysterious designs. Another example was his tolerance for muggle borns.

But he would absolutely never tolerate America. They were supposed to be British! He had fought as a general in that war…. And back when he was young that war had been a blow to his pride.

However he had experience with war, which was why he was the Champion of the Aurors, and minister of magic, and headmaster, and several other things at the same time.

However Nicholas Flamel was a wonderful spellcaster. Albus sorely needed him to combat the necromancers. He could not rely on Fawkes alone. Phoenixes were the sole enemies of the necromancers, and their songs would keep a necromancer out… but that was only one and judging by the centaurs gathering outside, their eyes glowing red to show they had been bewitched, it seemed there was more than one centaur at work here.

"I need help Nicholas." Albus began, not sure if Flamel would come.

"What kind of help?" Nicholas asked suspiciously. "If you want me to make the stone again, well perish the thought! I told you I would get rid of it and rid of it I got, y'hear me?"

"I hear you. There are a bunch of rabid centaurs under the control of necromancers who are attacking my school. Nicholas, I sorely need your help. Will you come to Hogwarts to protect the castle?"

Nicholas's eyes widened. "Necromancers?! Why didn't you say so?" He said. He was a pale sort of man, very skinny because he rarely ate, he looked about forty and had wrinkles under his eyes. The kind of bags you get from not sleeping and that was exactly what Nicholas did. He rarely ever slept, had a volatile temper, and was slightly deranged… all from the after effects of giving up using that stone.

"I'll be right over," Nicholas said grimly, his eyes had an insane glint to them that would have brought fear into Albus at any other time. Now… it brought happiness.

"Here I come!" Nicholas called out and jumped… and entered Albus's office. He was dressed in blue pajamas, just plain sky blue like Albus's eyes. He wore no socks, no shoes, and looked as if he just woke up. In his left hand he held a wand, in his right, he held a bottle of champaigne.

"To celebrate," He said and pointed at the bottle. "To celebrate our victory!"

"I hope so, Nicholas, old friend. I dearly hope so. Come, we need to reinforce Hogwarts' walls."

"Perish the thought!" Nicholas exclaimed. "I have a better plan."

"What is it?" Albus inquired.

"In the battle of Greece against Persia, three hundred Spartans held off against thousands of Persians at the battle of the hotgates. I don't remember the details exactly but I saw a movie on it a few days ago in my crystal ball. I was practicing divination you see… I like to go to the movies…"

Albus's eyebrows rose. "Fascinating," He drawled. "What does this have to do with anything?"

"Young man… you lack imagination." Nicholas said. "You see, my plan is to summon the three hundred Spartans and convince them to defend the walls of Hogwarts."

Albus sighed. "You know what, do what you must, I will direct the aurors in their proper positions." He said and left the office. As he went down the staircase he heard Nicholas Flamel cry: "Spaaaaaaaaaartaa!"

He sighed. Nicholas had really lost it. Still he hoped that Nicholas still had the magical skills to fight necromancers again.