Aurora's House
Venice, Italy
January 2nd
2023 A.D.
New Years hadn't been as joyous as in previous years. The fact that it only meant that Albus's birthday and what ever arrived with it was a few days away still loomed over everyone. But now they couldn't afford to be shaken by possibilities. They had a job to do.
James, Rose, Scorpius, Hugo, Lily, Lynx, Violet, The Bobs, Lincoln and Amelia were all suiting up into urban military uniforms and body armor. It was quite strange at that moment though. They seemed to have a relaxed but slightly excitable mood going on. Most of them were laughing and joking with each other while others remained quite professional.
Lincoln and Amelia had certainly done a good job of training them up. They new exactly how to clamp their armor to their bodies and how to check and safety weapons without thinking. They were performing radio checks with headsets while making sure that they hand all the equipment they needed.
Aurora, Albus, Athena and the adults were the only ones not getting ready.
Although she would be returning to Hogwarts with the rest of them, Albus didn't want to make Aurora's pregnant tum feel uncomfortable so she would be staying in plain clothes. She did have a headset and a pistol tucked into the back of her trousers though. He and Athena would be acting as a decoy for the others. This was the first time that they would all be going out in the open since the fight at Hogwarts and Albus's gut told him that the people that were against them would try to make a move. Since he also knew that they were after Athena, they would be going as far from King's Cross as possible in order to draw them away.
Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny would be returning to the Ministry to make sure that the wizarding world was indeed ready for anything that could happen while Draco would be going back to St. Mungo's to do the same. Sophia and the Cajun were laying low and would continue to do so until the threat had been neutralized.
Hermione still wasn't happy about them handling Muggle weapons claiming that they were too young. Albus had simply remarked about the fact that there were children in Africa and the Middle East that were handed weapons at ten years old and sent into war zones without any training what so ever. She had given up trying to argue but it was clear that she still wasn't happy about it.
Even though none of them knew what was going to happen, they were about as prepared as they could be.
Albus walked over to his friends and spoke loud enough for everyone to hear. "All right, here's the plot. Wells has informed the Muggle troops stationed around Hogwarts that you work for me and that you've been trained to carry live firearms, so have the teachers at school. You're not going to be going back there as students, you're going back as soldiers so you're expected to behave like soldiers," Albus scanned Hugo and the Bobs. "just because you're allowed to carry a rifle doesn't mean you have a license to kill."
Hugo grinned.
"I mean it Hugo. That is a dangerous weapon, not an extension of your penis so don't start waving it around."
Hugo chuckled. "Like I'd need an extension!" Rose clipped him around the back of the head.
"Now, only the students don't know about you lot. They'll be informed once you get to Hogwarts but since there's only about half of them coming back, the place is going to be pretty empty. Transport from the Ministry to King's Cross has already been arranged and will be waiting for you. Me and Athena will travel to Hogwarts once we know you got there safely. Any questions?"
Bob One raised his hand. "Are we getting paid for this?"
Everyone let out a little giggle.
"Yes, you are being paid with the knowledge and honor that you are being selfless and protecting others."
"Where can I spend that?" Bob Two asked with a smirk.
"Hurry up, we're leaving in ten minutes." Albus said ignoring him.
Albus left them to finish getting ready.
"Everyone done a comm's check?" Lincoln asked.
Everyone started saying "Check." into their headsets to see if they could hear each other in the ear pieces.
"I think this damn thing's too big for me!" Lily moaned tying to tie her body armor tighter.
"It's the smallest one they had," Lincoln said simply. "grow bigger."
"Or I could just shrink it for her." Amelia remarked.
"Right, do your wizard thing."
Amelia waved her wand at Lily's armor causing it to shrink around her body. Lily suddenly out a strangled squeal. "Too tight! Too tight!"
"Sorry!" Amelia quickly waved her wand again allowing Lily to breath again.
Violet was one of the only people getting ready in silence. She was carefully checking the straps on her armor when Lynx walked passed. They both gave each other a quick glance then turned away again.
Quite a few people had tried to encourage them to work their problems out but unfortunately their stubborn nature had refused to let up. They were both waiting for the other to apologize first. Of course, it didn't stop them from stealing glances at each other every once in a while. If they had a few more days, eventually one or the other would have caved and said sorry but now they didn't have time to sit down and work their problems out.
"All right, everybody ready?" Lincoln asked.
They all put their helmets on and while nodded that they were.
"You look so hot in that uniform." Violet whispered under her breath without looking.
"I'll leave it on." Lynx whispered back with a tiny smile.
They all walked into the living room and stood by at the fire place that had been given a temporary Floo connection. They could have just used the Vanishing Cabinet to return to Hogsmead but there main purpose today was to help protect the other returning students.
Lincoln went first, disappearing into a flash of green flames. One by one they all stepped through and appeared inside the Ministry Atrium. As expected, the wizards and witches inside gave them looks that ranged from completely puzzled to extremely worried, most of which turned to shock once Albus arrived.
Draco and Scorpius were quite surprised to see that Astoria was waiting for them.
"Mum." Scorpius grinned wildly and hugged his mother.
"Merlin! Who said you could grow up so fast." she said lovingly while looking at his military uniform.
"Hi Angel," Draco smiled giving his wife a kiss. "didn't expect to see you here."
"My son's going back to Hogwarts, I have to see him off." she smiled at her son with pride before looking up at Albus. "The Colossus."
Albus nodded. "Mrs Malfoy."
"Astoria." she corrected.
"Don't worry, Astoria. Albus is going to take good care of our son." Draco stated.
"He better." she smiled but sounded a little threatening.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to say your goodbyes now," Lincoln said checking his watch. "our transport is waiting for us."
That wasn't what any of them wanted to hear. Although the kids had been training for months now and had already proven their strength when fighting against the Muggles, they were still just kids. They loved their parents and they, just like everyone else, were afraid of what was coming.
Unfortunately, this was the way things were. This was how it worked for anyone that had chosen to protect others. They would have to say their goodbyes and just hope and pray that they would see each other again. There was no other way of doing it. The parents had their jobs to do just like the kids had theirs.
Everyone shared hugs with one another that turned into back breaking embraces. Even Scorpius received hugs and encouragement from Ron, Harry, Hermione and Ginny. It was only a few seconds before tears began pouring down Hermione and Astoria's faces. Ginny didn't seem far away from doing the same.
Albus held Aurora tightly and pressed his forehead against hers. "I'll see you in a little while baby." he then keeled down and kissed her stomach. He gave her one last passionate kiss on the lips before stepping back and standing next to Athena.
"You...you two take care of yourselves." Aurora strained.
"Wow, that must have been painful." Athena grinned.
"You have no idea," Aurora admitted. "keep your hands off my man." she warned.
Athena laughed. "That's more like it."
Albus looked at the others. "Good luck."
He and Athena turned and headed towards the staff entrance to the Ministry while the others walked over to the visitors entrance. With the armor and weapons that they were carrying they were only able to fit four in at a time.
The parents watched, teary eyes and holding each other as their children disappeared out of the Ministry, wondering when and if they would ever see them again.
Charring Cross
London, England
January 2nd
2023 A.D.
Outside it was hard to believe that it was ten thirty in the morning. The skies were so dark from cloud cover it felt more like the last afternoon. Across the street, police and army personnel were patrolling everywhere. Road blocks and barriers were guiding civilians, many of which were carrying suitcases and bags. A lot of people were eager to leave the country sooner as apposed to later.
Most of the cars that were on the streets were either military or packed full of personal possessions that they were trying to take with them.
"That's our transport?" Lily asked with wide eyes.
"Yeah. Did you forget? We have priority clearance." Amelia smiled.
In front of them was a 'Bulldog' FV432 Armored Personnel Carrier. It was painted in the urban white, gray and black camouflage, held twelve people and weighed about fifteen tonnes. It was a wonder that the huge tank tracks that it ran on hadn't torn up the street.
The back door opened up, turning into a ramp. Lincoln led the way as they all climbed inside and shut the door behind them. When the engine started it sounded as if some one were holding a working chainsaw next to their heads. There was a heavy jolt as it began to move down the street. The passengers used the tiny port holes along the sides to see out.
Any traffic that was near them was stopped by police to allow the armored monster the right of way. That allowed them to reach King's Cross in only a few minutes where as it would have usually taken the better part of an hour to get through London traffic.
The APC stopped right outside the entrance to St. Pancras. St. Pancras was the international station that connected to King's Cross and made trips through the Euro Tunnel and into France. The queue of people outside went all the way around the block. People were leaving the country by any means necessary. Even though the train stations were packed solid, they knew that the ports were even worse.
Dover Docks was a mess at that moment because so many people were trying to take cars packed with belongings with them as they left. Some people had been queuing for over two days just for a chance to get onto a ferry. However, if the evacuation was started, cars would no longer be allowed on board and people would only be able to take hand luggage with them. They would cram people into every available spot on every available transport out of England.
King's Cross
London, England
January 2nd
2023 A.D.
Lincoln and the other exited the APC and grouped together outside the entrance. They received a similar response from the people outside as they had in the Ministry, everyone wondering just how old some of them were. They nevertheless stood aside of the armed troops though.
Lincoln again led the way through the crowd of people and into the walk way tunnels that connected the two stations. Eventually they arrived at the familiar sight of King's Cross station, that was equally packed with people but many of them were obviously wizards.
There were a group of police officers guarding the invisible entrance to Platform nine and three quarters making sure that the magical passengers went through in an orderly fashion. They simple nodded at Lincoln as he approached and stopped others from going through the portal until they had gotten through.
Platform nine and three quarters was a very welcome change from outside. Although it was still packed with people, it didn't have any of the eerie gloom that the outside world had. The scarlet steam engine was waiting where it always did as families said worried goodbyes to their children while helping them board.
This was where they received the most shocked looks from people. Most of the students on the platform knew who they were and so to suddenly seem them return carrying Muggle weapons and wearing Military uniforms was the last thing they ever expected. They walked down the track ignoring the stares and whispered comments.
"I'm getting some interference on my headset." Scorpius said.
"It's the enchantments. It shouldn't get any worse but if it does, communicate using Patronus's." Lincoln said. "All right, lets split up and patrol. James, Hugo and the Bobs, you take the front. Amelia, Lynx, Violet and Aurora, take the back. The rest are with me, will stay right here."
They headed off towards there patrol points. Rose actually spotted Henry Hammings and Neil Bogdon looking incredibly surprised. She simply smiled and gave a little wave.
Once they were further apart, Hugo tried his headset again. "Lincoln, can you hear me?"
"Yeah, I got ya Hugo. Remember to say 'over'"
"Sorry, over."
The platform slowly began to clear. It was manly parents left on the platforms now with only a few stragglers yet to board the train. Lincoln checked his watch. They still had five minutes before the train left the station and they would have to be the last ones on board.
They watched Henry and Niel head towards the train and got ready to board. That was when all hell broke loose.
"GUN!" Amelia's voice screamed down the comm.
Firing erupted at the rear of the train and people on board the platform screamed and hit the deck. Flashes of light burst through the air and spells were shot. The sound of bullets colliding with glass echoed around and then someone yelled out.
James, Hugo and the Bobs were about to bolt down the platform when the wall behind them exploded as bullets collided with it. They hit the deck and crawled to cover behind a pillar. James peaked out to try and spot where the gunfire was coming from.
It was the Police! The ones they had passed on the way in!
James clicked the safety off his Pulse Rifle, took aim and fired. The kick was immense. It felt like some one had punched him in the shoulder but he kept the gun steady, popping off bullets in three round bursts. The returned fire as James ducked back around the pillar.
"It's the police!" he yelled down his headset.
"Those aren't police!" Aurora's voice replied.
Hugo jumped out from behind the pillar and bolted over to another one that was next to the locomotive of the Hogwarts Express. Behind the gun fire, he could hear the students on board the train screaming in terror.
"GET THE TRAIN OUT OF HERE!" he yelled. After a second or two a terrified looking old man peaked through the window of the locomotive. "GO NOW!"
The old man nodded and the engine suddenly gave out a huge whistle of smoke. The train started creeping down the track and bullets bounced off the iron walls.
Hugo span around and without even thinking, opened fire. The man dressed in a police uniform gave a wriggled jolt as he fell to the floor with blood coming out of his chest. Hugo's face went white and bug eyed.
He had just killed a man.
Bullets ricocheted off the pillar next to him, snapping him out of his horrified trance. He checked his ammo, took a breath then turned and returned fire.
A bullet suddenly bounced off the shoulder of his armor. One of the gunmen had managed to come around behind him and he was now surrounded. He his the deck returning fire until his rifle clicked empty. He didn't have time to think, he rolled across the open platform and hugged the wall right next to the entrance portal.
He ejected his empty clip and was about to slap a new one in when suddenly a pair of hands came through the portal and grabbed him, dragging him through. A second later his rifle was thrown back into the platform.
They had taken Hugo.