TOY SOLDIERS

Aurora's house

Venice, Italy

November 14th

2022 A.D.

"So, how many people are here?" Draco asked as he walked across the cobbled street.

"Everybody, expect Teddy and Tannis. They're up at Hogwarts trying to repair the castle." Amelia said. "we're here."

"Here? I don't see anything."

"Fidelius Charm." she said simply. "hold my hand."

Draco took hold of her pale and slightly chilly hand and she pulled him towards nothing. As soon as the door was open, Draco could see a short corridor just in front that led to a staircase. They stepped through and shut the door behind them. They had deemed it necessary to keep the location secret even from people they knew and trusted. Instead of disclosing the location, a person that wanted to enter would have to actually be guided there.

They walked up to the top floor of the building and entered Aurora's living room, that was still very alive with activity. Hugo, The Bobs, James, Scorpius and Rose were watching TV while Lynx and Violet were shuffling about in the kitchen. The News had been repeating Albus and Athena's arrival outside the White House over and over again for the last twenty minutes while speculating about why they could possibly be there. Lily was looking through one of the bookshelves, oblivious to everyone else while Harry and Ron seemed to be checking the whole place up and down for any kind of security concerns.

"Scorpius." Draco smiled.

"Dad!" he jumped off the sofa and hugged his father. "where's mum?"

"She's at home unpacking. She went a bit frantic after hearing that the Muggles had attacked Hogwarts and decided that we were all leaving the country." he explained.

"Maybe you should tell her not to unpack just yet." Ron remarked.

Draco turned looking slightly insulted. "And what's that suppose to mean Weasley?"

"It means," Aurora walked in from one of the rooms in the back of the apartment. "that we may all be leaving th country some time in the near future."

"That bad?" Draco asked unsure.

Aurora nodded. "We think so. Albus will be back soon," she turned to Amelia. "Where's your brother?"

Amelia shrugged.

"You think that he's actually be able to get my mum away from th Ministry at a time like this." Rose remarked.

"He'll drag her out if he has to." Amelia said simply, rubbing her shoulder.

Ron shifted looking slightly uncomfortable at the thought of his cheating wife coming there. Harry didn't look much better.

"Who's good at Extension Charms? I could do with some help making the rooms bigger." Aurora said.

"I'll give you a hand." Amelia volunteered.

Just then sounds of arguing came from outside the door. Lincoln walked in looking like he was about to burst a blood vessel in his head. "You're getting these two next time!" he growled at Amelia.

Ginny and Hermione had obviously erupted into a argument about Hermione's indiscretion which hadn't stopped for the entire journey back.

"What exactly do you want me to say Ginny?!" Hermione sighed with annoyance. "I've told you it was a mistake and I've said that I was sorry! I have a lot to deal with at the moment and having to fight with you at every turn helps no one!"

"I said I was willing to ignore what's happened because there's a little bit of a crisis going on but it's a lot harder when you insist on trying to be friends with me at every turn!" Ginny scathed back.

"Well maybe I thought that Ron!" Hermione's voice had broken at the last word and she was frozen on the spot. Ron didn't look happy to see her about was sending icy looks her way either. He actually seemed slightly relieved that she was alright but at the same time hurt by it. "Y-your...here." she mumbled.

"Where else would I be?" Ron asked simply.

This basic question seemed to be too much for even Hermione's amazing intelligence to handle. They simply stared at each other, not saying a word for a few seconds before Draco broke the silence.

"How can you stand these people?" he asked his son quietly.

"It takes a lot of effort sometimes." Scorpius admitted.

"Scorpius!" Rose shrieked.

"I didn't mean you!" Scorpius defend quickly. "I meant...Hugo."

"Yeah well, I'm hard to handle." Hugo said in the most smug egotistical way possible causing the Bobs to chuckle. He had put special emphasis on the word 'Hard'.

"Not that we don't understand and appreciate your difficult situations," a beautiful soothing voice said. Sophia had just walked out of the same back room that Aurora had come from. "what we need at the moment is cooperation and to work together. Albus will be back shortly and then we'll have an idea of what the plan is."

Hogwarts

Scotland, U.K.

November 14th

2022 A.D.

Tannis and the other teachers were organizing the repairs to the school inside the headmasters office. Teddy and a few of the Aurors had agreed to stay and make sure that the school was secure and help out in any way they could.

"I think we should at least try and get to work on the door today." Professor Arken suggested.

"Yes," Tannis agreed. "But I'm concerned that some of the damage to the corridors could be dangerous for the students. The hole in the floor will have to be dealt with immediately."

The door to the headmasters office burst open and an out of breath Hagrid came running in. "Professors! The Ruddy muggles are back!"

"What?!" Several teachers blurted.

They rushed out of the entrance and towards the nearest window that had a view of the courtyard. Hagrid wasn't lying. Through the many broken and burnt pieces of broken military equipment, a single Humvee was approaching the school.

Tannis and the other teachers quickly rushed towards the main entrance with their wands drawn and ready. The Humvee had stopped outside the blasted open main doors. The gunner on the 50. Caliber didn't seem to be taking any chance keeping the barrel trained on the entrance.

The doors opened and Major Weatherspoon stepped out. He was unarmed. He held up his arms as a sign of peace.

Tannis stepped out to speak to him. "Major." he said simply.

"We're not here to fight." Weatherspoon stated.

"Then why are you here?"

"New orders just came down. We're to set up a perimeter around the school and protect it at all costs."

Tannis wasn't sure whether to believe him or not. "You just tried to destroyed this school and now your saying that you are suppose to protect it?"

"I'm a soldier. I follow orders." Weatherspoon stated.

"He's not lying Alex."

Tannis shot around to see Albus and Athena walking towards him.

"We've managed to convince the President and the Prime Mister that we're not the enemy. In fact, now we're allies." Albus said conversationally. He turned to the Major. "set up your perimeter and begin patrols through Hogsmead but make announcements on your loud speakers. People down there are still pretty edgy about you lot."

Weatherspoon nodded and headed back to the Humvee.

"Well, you must be a master negotiator, Albus." Tannis remarked.

"I can be very persuasive."

"I take it that you'll tell us what exactly is going on now?"

"Yes but later. I'm afraid we're not here to see you Alex," his eyes suddenly turned dark. "we're here to see her!"

Albus flicked his wrist and Professor Arken was blasted against the wall and held there.

"Albus what are you -"

Tannis's objections were cut off by Athena who had raised a hand full of voltage towards him.

"You know it's a shame," Albus said with a smooth and menacing tone. "you were one of my favorite teachers." he flicked his fingers again causing her wand to fly out from her belt and into Athena's free hand.

Arken didn't seem afraid. More as if she knew this day would come eventually. "There's no need for your threats Albus, I'll tell you what I know."

With that, every single teacher, Tannis included looked absolutely shocked. Triennia Arken's name had been on piece of paper that Albus had been handed back at the White House and it seemed to be impossible for the others to take in. The Deputy headmistress and head of Gryffindor house was in fact, a traitor.

Albus took Arken all the way up to the Astronomy Tower before asking her any questions. He seemed to enjoy the irony that the greatest Headmaster Hogwarts had ever had was killed by a supposed traitor on that spot and now they had a real one in there presence. Only Albus, Athena and Tannis were there with her. Albus didn't want the other teachers to witness what he may have to do to her. He still needed them on his side.

"I don't know much I'm afraid." she said sounding as if she had already given up.

"Well, why don't you answer the obvious one first!" Tannis hissed. He was clearly hurt by her betrayal. "Why?!"

"It's not difficult when you don't have a choice." she said sadly. "the first time they approached me, they told me the real time locations of every single member of my family. You can imagine what kind of threats came next."

"So you were blackmailed?" Tannis asked.

"Not really. I submitted instantly. Not very Gryffindor of me."

"How many of them are there?" Albus asked.

"I don't know. Hundreds, maybe thousands. They have people everywhere. In truth, I only ever met three of them in the flesh." she admitted. "An American man and woman and another man who I never really saw the face of. He wore a big hood and cloak, sort of like the Death Eaters used to where. I never heard his name but he had this hard voice. Like gravel." she continued. "I know that he's the one that took down the submarine."

"How?" this time it was Athena asking.

Arken suddenly looked quite frightened. "They have...these things..."

"Things?"

"Monsters...creatures...I don't know what they are, they're not even from with world."

"What? Aliens?" Athena snorted.

"I told you, I don't know anything about they're main operation. Just what I heard when I was around them. Someone said that they'd somehow found a way to breach the barrier between dimensions." she said.

"This American man and woman, I think I met them in the White House." Albus remarked.

"They said they were close to someone powerful. I didn't know it was the White House."even Arken sounded somewhat impressed. "What did they tell you?"

"Not much, they're dead." Albus said simply. "But before I crushed the mans skull, he told me that they have an army. Is that what these things are?"

Arken nodded. "Yes."

"What are they?"

"I told you, I don't know!"

"How many are there?"

"Millions." she said.

That one hit them all pretty hard.

"Millions? You can't hide an army that big!"

"Well they found a way!" Arken cried.

"What are they planning?" Athena asked.

"Do you have hearing problems?!" Arken snapped.

Athena suddenly caused a blue string on lightning to appear inside her palm. "Do you want breathing problems?" she glared.

"I have no idea what they are planning! Only that it has something to do with you!" she looked at Albus. "you're important some how. That's why they got me, because they needed to know everything you were doing when you were here!"

"When did they get you?" Tannis asked.

Arken looked down at her own feet. "Two weeks before you first arrived at Hogwarts."

Albus, Athena and Tannis were stunned. She had been a spy for this unknown group of people before they had even known about the Cleric's.

"I'm sorry, Alex." she whimpered.

"Don't!" Tannis hissed back.

"They've had you spying on me since before I even arrived here?" Albus breathed.

She nodded. "They've been planning this for years. They knew about you before you did! Long before you ever became the Colossus." she continued. "They told me to watch you, to report anything about you to them."

Albus walked over and got into Arkens face, almost close enough to kiss. "Who's behind this?"

"Your brother." she whispered. "That's what they call him...like he doesn't even have a name."

"Where do I find him?"

"I don't know. I never met him. They just said that your brother have given them orders. That's it."

"The Prophecy said that you'd create your Twin...how can you do that if he's already here?!" Athena demanded, obviously getting confused.

"I don't know."

"Albus..." Arken looked at him with sadness in her eyes and asked in a very quiet tone. "you have to kill me."

Albus knew exactly why she was saying that but it didn't convince him.

"No."

"You have to! Otherwise my family is dead!" she pleaded.

"I can protect them!"

"No, no you can't! Not from him!" tears had actually formed in her eyes now. "please!"

"Do they have anyone else at this school?" Tannis asked unsympathetically.

Arken shook her head. "If they do I don't know about them. Albus, please..." she was actually begging him to kill her.

"You have information, you've seen their faces, your useful. I'm not going to kill you." Albus stated.

"If you don't, they will. And kill my family just out of principle!"

"That won't happen!" Albus stated.

"It will! You can't stop them! Look up in the sky Albus...everyday it gets a little darker. When the sun no longer shines...it'll begin. I don't want to be here for that...I don't want my family to suffer for my sins...please!" Arken cried.

Albus coldly ignored her plea and walked over to Tannis. He came close and whispered in his ear. "We'll take her back to Aurora's. I may need some Veritaserum to get all the answers out of her." Athena walked over a joined in the huddle.

"Well, I'm sure Professor Parkinson has some. The Potions stores weren't damaged during the WAIT!" Tannis suddenly cried.

Albus and Athena spun around ready for an attack but it never came. The Moment they noticed that Arken was gone was the same moment that they heard a horrible emthud/em in the distance.

They rushed to the edge of the Astronomy Tower and looked over. Professor Arken had actually thrown herself off of the balcony and slammed into the ground in the same spot that Dumbledore had. Her body lay broken and dead on the grass below. She had killed herself to make sure that her family lived.

Tannis looked away in horror. Albus suddenly realized that there may have been something more than just friendship between the two of them and that is why her betrayal had wounded him so much. He looked like he was about to be sick.

Triennia Arken was a Gryffindor. It was take a lot to scare her so much that she'd be willing to beg someone to kill her or take her own life. Whoever these people were, they were not to be underestimated.

"Who the hell are these people?!" Athena blurted. "how can they be everywhere and nobody has even heard of them?!"

No one answered because they didn't have an answer to give. This organization had succeeded in keeping their existence secret from everyone. It was almost too daunting a fact to contemplate.

"Alex...don't tell anyone about this. At least not until we can come up with some kind of plan." Albus said.

Tannis nodded but didn't say anything. He wouldn't even look at them.

"The army will protect the school. I'll contact you as soon as I have more information." he felt like he should talk to him or something. Try and comfort him in some way but he had no idea of what to do. Tannis was much older and wiser than him so how could he offer any kind of sound advice or tales of experience? He decided it would just be best to let him deal with this on his own. "Athena, we're leaving."

Athena didn't seem sullied by what had just happened but was looking at Tannis with concern. "Are you all right?" she asked.

"I'll be fine. You two should go." Tannis said quietly, still not looking at them.

Albus and Athena left the Astronomy Tower. Tannis would probably stay up there for quite a while.

Outside Bourgues

France

November 14th

2022 A.D.

Arken had been right about one thing. Something they had all overlook. The skies over Britain were indeed getting darker and darker. The mean looking clouds hadn't gotten any smaller since they'd first arrives. In fact, they were getting bigger.

Because of the storm clouds that were still lingering over the British Isles, Athena was able to get to the middle of France by riding Lightning strikes without Albus assistance but he would have to meet her there and take her the rest of the way. Although he'd hate to admit it, Athena was a hell of a lot faster than him when traveling with Lightning.

Albus could fly at over four thousand miles per hour (when he was a safe distance from anything that could be damaged by his wake) but using Lightning meant that she could move at ninety three thousand miles an hour. In a storm, she was the fastest thing alive. Albus had been the one to tell her to travel by her own means, despite the fact that she wanted to go with him.

In truth, she just wanted to have his arms around her again. She had been waiting for a good solid fifteen minutes by the time he finally touched down next to her.

"What took you?" she grinned.

"Traffic." Albus remarked sarcastically.

She laughed. "All right lover, take me to the mile high club."

"I wish you would say things like that." Albus growled.

"Why not?" she smiled sweetly. "you know, it's strange. Even after everything that's just happened, all I can think about is kissing you again."

"It meant nothing and it'll never happen again! I only did it to get you to come with me!" Albus growled.

"Keep telling your self that." she giggled, knowing that she was getting to him.

Albus grabbed her by the arm and none to gently either. Before she could say another word, he blasted them into the air, heading for Venice.

Aurora's house

Venice, Italy

November 14th

2022 A.D.

They landed on the Balcony of Aurora's apartment and stepped inside where they were instantly met by everyone inside. The looks on their faces made it obvious that they were begging for answers.

"We may have a very serious problem." Albus admitted right off the bat. He walked through the group and kissed his girl. "Got anything to drink?"

Aurora gave her wand a flick and a bottle of fire whiskey flew out of the kitchen. He grabbed the bottle out of mid air and took a swig while everyone sat down or waited for him to explain.

"Arken's dead." he said simply.

Their faces dropped..

"She was working for them all along." he said before taking another swig.

"Them? Who's them?" Ginny asked instantly.

"The people behind all this shit! The ones that wanted the Muggles to go to war with the wizarding world!" Athena shot back. "The Vice President and the Secretary of Defense were theirs as well. Two of their people using Polyjuice."

"That's why I got you back here." Albus said looking at Hermione. "They seem to have people everywhere. They've almost certainly got people at the Ministry."

"Who are they?" Violet asked.

"We don't know. But from what we've heard...they're planning some kind of invasion."

The last word hit them all hard. A mix of shock and worry fell over everyones faces.

"An Invasion? Of where?" Hermione blurted.

"Everywhere." Albus warned.

"Arken told us that they have some kind of army. An otherworldly non-human army."

Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny seemed to remember this. It was just like hearing that Hogwarts was about to come under siege by Voldemort and his forces. Even though they had experienced it before, it didn't make it any less terrifying.

"Non-human?"

Albus sighed. "I'm going to be honest and tell you somethings that I probably should have said a while ago." he took another swig of Whiskey. "While I was away, I wasn't just looking for Athena...I was investigating some very strange deaths. They had been caused by some kind of parasite and attaches itself to a human host and then takes control of them completely."

Everyone continued to listen vividly.

"These 'infected' people traveled around the world before the infection eventually killed them. This parasite seems to literally feed on life. It drains the bone marrow, organs, blood, skin and anything else of all nutrients and healthy chemicals. In other words, it literally eats you from the inside out."

"Nothing like that exists!" Hermione objected.

"Hence the otherworldly part!" Athena hissed shutting her up.

"I don't know what this thing is but it's defiantly here and I think it's part of this 'army'. They used something to destroy the sub that kick started this whole mess between Wizards, Anomalies and Muggles, my guess is that thing is part of it as well."

"Why don't you tell them your other little secret Albus?" Athena remarked angrily. She had been saving this. Albus glared at her.

Aurora looked at Albus with a mixture of shock and pain. She was expecting the worst. The fears about Albus's loyalty to her were running through her mind.

"He's Precognitive!" Athena said loudly.

Everyone looked at Albus in astonishment. Aurora's shock didn't leave her but she was partly relieved.

"You see the future?" Scorpius breathed.

"Sometimes. I didn't say anything because I wasn't sure how accurate it was. Sometime I...I dream it."

"Well, what have you seen?" Hugo demanded.

"What's going to happen to us?!" Lily asked.

"Are we gonna die?" The Bobs asked together.

Seconds later everyone was asking those sort of question. They all wanted to know if he had seen something good or bad happening. They wanted to know if he'd seen their deaths, loves or any other major developments of their lives.

He wasn't going to tell them that he'd seen a horrible battle taking place in the middle of London.

"Now you see why the Cajun doesn't like his gift very much." Sophia remarked.

She was right. If he had t endure this kind of thing everyday, he would probably become an alcoholic reclusive as well.

"What do we do?" Ron asked loud enough to be heard over everyone else. They instantly fell silent and looked to Albus for answers.

"We're going to coordinate a defense plan. The worlds leaders are going to be meeting soon and we'll come up with strategy then. Hermione, I need you to inform all the other Wizarding governments about this, they need to be there as well." Albus commanded. "The location of the meeting hasn't be decided yet, we're going to wait until the last possible minute to announce that. A meeting of the world leaders would be a prime target for these people, we can't afford to give them the chance."

"So we've just got to wait around here until then?" Draco asked looking like he didn't want to know the answer.

"I'm not sending anyone back to Hogwarts. That place has been compromised. It might not be safe for you to go back to St. Mungo's either. I suggest you contact your wife, either bring her here or send her someplace safe." he turned to his uncle. "Ron, contact your brothers, tell them to get the family back to the Burrow or to Bill and Fleur's. If possible, get them all out to Romania to stay with Charlie."

"And what if it comes to war?" Hugo asked suddenly.

Albus looked around at their faces. They still seemed to demand answers and information that he couldn't give.

"Then we fight."

"Too fucking right mate!" the Bobs cheered.

"That's what we've been training for!" Hugo joined in on their enthusiasm.

"Absolutely not!" Hermione objected.

"Al my cousin! If he's going to war, so am I! There's no flagging way I'm going to run!" Hugo stated.

"Flagging?" Ron asked with raised eyebrows before turning to Hermione. "you put the swearing jinx on him?" he almost couldn't believe it but then some part of him was the slightest bit surprised.

"She hit you with that too?" Hugo asked.

Ron nodded. "Right after our honeymoon."

"I will not have my son talking in such a way! And I certianly will not allow him to ride into battle like some kind of crazed -"

"Gryffindor?" Hugo cut her off. "How old were you lot when you fought Death Eaters at the Ministry? Went into the Chamber of Secrets? Took on Dragons? Age has got nothing to do with it!"

"Hugo, your mother's right. There is no way that we are letting you get anywhere near this!" Ron said sternly.

"Well then maybe you should have set a better example!" Hugo shouted causing Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny's jaws to drop. "We've all grown up hearing about how amazing the Golden trio were and how many daring situations you got yourselves in and out of...well now it's our turn!"

"Not a chance!" Ron and Hermione yelled at the same time.

"He's right dad!" Rose jumped to the defense of her brother. "If this is even half as big as Albus says, then it's going to find us no matter where we run! He needs as much help as he can get and I'm not going to sit back and do nothing!"

"Don't even think about it!" Ginny warned as she saw Lily looking as rebellious as the others.

Lily looked intimidated by her mothers glare but it didn't stop her from walking over and standing with Hugo and Rose. "I'm a soldier. He's the general." she nodded towards Albus. "If he's going to war, so am I."

James was the next one to walk over to the group. He didn't have to make any kind of defense. He was of age and they couldn't stop him. Lynx and Violet followed shortly after.

Then it was Scorpius who went to join them while his father looked half angry, half saddened. "Don't ask me to run while my best friends fight." he said simply.

Albus felt himself swell with pride.

"You have no idea what's going on! You think this is some sort of game?!" Hermione shrieked.

"We know the risks. We know the dangers and that's why it's all the more important that we fight." Scorpius said firmly taking Rose's hand.

"You think I'm just going to sit back and watch you run off to battle?!" Draco snarled. Then he did something that no one could have expected.

He walked over and joined them.

"Draco?!" Hermione couldn't believe what she was seeing. The save-your-own-skin Syltherin was going to deliberately put himself in harms way for the sake of his family and friends.

"It doesn't matter what you say Weasley. They aren't going to listen. You can either sit there and look shocked or you can lend a hand." Draco said simply.

Albus looked around at them trying desperately hard to keep the grin off his face. They didn't know what was coming and they didn't know what was going to happen but they sure as hell weren't going down without a fight.