Chapter 8: Turn the Fan on

Harry flamed in green entered he Lair to be greeted by his five companions.

'Good morning everyone, ready for the days trials?' Harry asked.

They all nodded, as he went to his room, not mine, ours, Ginnys and mine He grabbed his cloak and put it on. He looked at the others.

'No side arms?'

'Not today Green, here is your death eater mask, don't think of the team colours, and no using the call signs. You are one, Red is two, Blue is three, Yellow is four, White is five and I am six.' Neville instructed.

Harry nodded his head, it made sense, if they were to use their colour code now and their cloaks, then someone would remember that later and it would get them all in trouble.

'Ok, when we are running away, how do we flame out with out being seen?'

Yellow answered, 'I create a wall to block their vision.'

'How do we kill the death eaters?'

White answered, 'I will administer the poison, it's my responsibility.' The truth of the matter showed in her eyes, and Neville comforted her. She would be loved and would find solace in his arms later that day, and he in hers after St. Mungos.

'How do we get the prisoners out?'

Red answered amused that Harry was ensuring they all knew the plan. 'We stun them, transfigure them and pocket them, we flame at the end, we get to London and deposit them outside the ministry building, turn them back to normal and un stun them, then we disappear.'

'Ok, since we all know the plan in general, lets do this, use a varied lot of spells, some dark and some light. We need to show them the weakness's of this prison. I love you guys.' Harry trailed of. 'I'll see you on the other side.'

'It will be alright Green,' Black spoke, 'we are here. Everyone ready to flame on my mark, three ..two….one…mark.' In a blaze of light the six were gone.

The six appeared silently near to a dock. They muffled their steps and disillusioned themselves as they reached the docks. Two boats were waiting, Blue, stopped everyone before they went any further and he started work on the various trip alarms. Red started working on the bobby traps and the others knelt around waiting and guarding, the work was in total silence. Soon the various wards were down and the team moved forwards, knocking the guards unconscious, tying them up, ruffling them up a bit and giving them a few cuts then depositing their bodies around in the shrubbery, so not to arouse suspicion of no deaths. They all lept into the two boats and started off towards the island, the only sound came from the splashing water on the bow. Ten minutes later the boats pulled up onto an empty jetty, the team all slid out, yellow got to work on a safe location to pull back to whilst the rest moved on. Blue halted the advance once again after getting fifty paces from Yellows position, again he started his work and the others fanned out around him and they all knelt down, with wands at the ready. Quarter of an hour had passed as Blue had been constantly working at the wards, in that time Yellow having completed her task of building a safe house moved up and took up a position in the defence. 'William Shakespear,' Blue intoned, 'let loose the dogs of war and..' A piercing scream erupted from his lungs 'CRY HAVOC,' he matched words with actions as did the rest of the team, all firing a multitude of spells at windows, blowing them in and raining glass inside, shooting at the parapets and the spells chucking stone everywhere and the door, which was quickly turning red with over load.

BOOM

The noise vibrated through their beings, the energy washing over them as the continued forward, but soon they were on the defensive as twenty wands were brought to bear on them and all release a cacophony of spells, that torn asunder the earth they stood on. A member would fall back then cover the others slow retreat as one by one they moved back orderly.

'Six, this is too ordely, break formation and everyone scatter, criss cross. Move.' Harrys words were only loud enough for the others to hear, but he had to shout them to over come the shear volume of the battle raging around them.

The six moved all of a sudden if very different directions, the aurors believing they had them on the run moved up quickly, soon other aurors were starting to appear at the parapets, obviously fresh from the ministry. The six got back to the so called safe house.

'Nice work 4, very pretty and very defensive.' Ron commented to his girlfriend. The safe house was not as mush a house as it was a series of ditches and angled walls.

'Show me how much you appreciate me later 2.' She replied.

Harry tapped Neville and Luna on the shoulders, 'Ok 5 and 6 go in and neutralise the problem. We will leave here in five minutes, so be quick. Once we leave here, 1 and 2 will be in to help you with the prisoners.' Harry turned back to the spectacle of spells speeding past left right and centre.

Moody was having the time of his life, a battle which involved life or death, and for once he was on the side that had more people. The reports of twenty death eaters attacking the place had quickly got the majority of the aurors there. Who ever these guys were, they were good, he was being kept on his toes, constant jinxs, hexs, charms and dark curses, he hadn't felt this young and free in ages.

'Alastor, any chance of seeing what they are up to behind that blastered wall, we don't seem to be making a dint.' Called a flustered Kingsley, he had a variety of cuts over him.

'Nope boy, they got a good team behind there, see how they stop any one concentration to move forward, whilst keeping the rest of us busy to stop us from thinking about it. Must be a good twenty plus behind there to keep this rate up.'

Kingsley just stared at the auror and earned himself a laceration to his thigh, 'your commenting on their team work and tactics, can't that wait till later? Like the debriefing?'

'Well their team work and tactics may kill you now, if you don't stop to notice it Lad.'

Mad eye wished he had Potter and his gang here now to see what they would do in this situation. He knew they would over come the problem somehow.

One commented to two, 'I think Alastor is enjoying this. Tickling charms on him.' The four fired a barrage of tickling charms at Alastor that ended up with him on the floor in tears of laughter and joy.

'Yup, definitely a sick puppy that one,' three commented.

'Ok, times up, 3,4? Get out as soon as its too hot ok. See you back at the Lair.'

Both Harry and Ginny flamed out of the mini fort and into the cold dark and very damp prison. They met up with Luna. 'Yo 5, how is it going?'

'Well they are definitely dead now. 6 is keeping some of the guards busy whilst I collected the innocent one's. She walked them into a room and there were twenty prisoners, all looking none the better.

Harry brought his wand to bear and stunned them all and miniaturised them. Then Ginny and Luna put them in their pockets. 'You two go now, I'll grab 6. See you in a bit.' He saw them flame out and he heard the noise outside die down. The only noise left was one from up ahead. Harry ran down the corridor, turned a corner and threw himself over Neville as he poured wand fire down at the aurors. They seeing this sudden increase in fire power bearing on them quickly left to reorganise.

As soon as the aurors were out of sight, Neville and Harry looked at each other, nodded and then were gone.

Alastor once recovering from his amusing situation looked over the mini fort. Damn this thing is brilliant he called to one of the guards. 'Captain I would suggest using this building and housing some members in here, after all, another layer of defence wouldn't hurt.'

'Whats the point, he who must not be named wont come here now.' The Captain spat, he faced loosing his job over this.

'They didn't get in, did they?' Kingsley inquired.

'Well by the sounds of it Malfoy and the team that you helped capture last time are all dead, and whats worse is a load of prisoners are missing. Including one Diggle and one Shunpike.'

'whats the butchers bill for our side?' Alastor inquired off handley

'Zero, but we lost so many prisoners.'

Alastors mind was awhirl. Is this the boy? Well there were six in his group, what they faced here was more like twenty. 'Did any one see how many there were when they were retreating?' he called to the guards in general.

'Sir, there were six of them sir.'

The rest of the aurors looked shocked, six individuals had caused them all that chaos and they were death eaters.

'Man we are so fucked. Six versus twenty and we were still out done.' A corporal of the aurors foolishly voiced.

'Look here lad, you think being an auror was easy, take a good long look, cos maybe you might see this when you look in the mirror. It aint pretty and it aint nice, that's why its called war.' Alastor was fuming at the lad, that was a mock battle to introduce the aurors into some fighting. Good God alive it was the boy and his group, well he would leave them alone and act along. Well least they made everyones life easier, Malfoy and co were no longer a possible threat.

Ginny and Luna appeared in Diagon alley in plain black robes with no death eater masks on, they quickly walked out the front of the pub and apperated to the ministry building, outside. Unpocketing all the prisoners and resizing them.

'Remember we cannot be seen.' Ginny whispered to Luna, and so they disappeared from view, then all twenty prisoners were brought back to councious.

Luna forced a harsh growl out, 'go to the ministry and demand a trial, a fair one.'

The twenty prisoners were scared a voice from no where was ordering them. One was brave enough to ask, 'why are you doing this?'

There was no reply for Ginny and Luna had already left.

Just as Aurors were wondering what to do now or should they be portkeying back the alarm was raised. The ministry needed everyone back now! Alastor called out, 'Ok kids, wands out were going in get ready for anything, don't get spell happy if no one is firing any spells when we arrive, assess the situation first. Ok move out.'

When they arrived they found a panicing flunky, 'they're all outside' he cried as he ran away.

Alastor didn't like the sound of that, but the lift was moving down. 'Spread out, find cover, MOVE' he screamed as everyone seemed riveted to the floor. The feeling the dark lord was here yet again scared them all. Some moved, most didn't, the doors opened.

'Er excuse me, we surrender and we would like a trial this time please.' A young voice called out from the lift. He stepped forward to show the stress of time spent in Azkaban on his face, 'Yeah we would like to give our selves up, with out restraint, all we ask for is that we be offered a trial this time as is our right.' Stan offered again, he was leading the group, he had met Harry Potter and if that kid could stand up for himself, then so could he.

Alastor seizing the opertunity before someone did something wrong spoke. 'Stan Shunpike and other former detainees of Azkaban prison, I here by place you under arrest. You have the right to remain silent, anything you say may be taken down and used in a court of law. Now ladies and gentlemen, if you please step forward and we will try and do this as quickly as possible.' I got those words out, used in a court of law, so they have to be judged by a court now and that means a trial. Well done lad.

Scrigmour stormed in, 'men take these things to Azkaban at once.'

Alastor put himself before Scrigmour, and Alastor had a lot more in terms of years and experience on Rufus. 'Sorry Sir', he bit out the hourery. 'I have placed these people under arrest. Therefore we will be needing the courts time to process them all.'

A dread could be seen in Rufus face, if all of the detainees were found innocent he would be in for a rough ride, but he submitted, it was the right thing to do, not to add to the long list of wrongs done by the ministry.

'Very well Mad-eye, to your duty, and thank you, sometimes we need a helping hand and don't realise we need it.' Rufus spoke softly so only Alastor could hear, Alastor took the compliment as it was meant, Scrigmour knew he had strayed, but now he was back on the correct path.

'Hermione, where did you get the idea for that mini fort, that was just brilliant!' exclaimed a jubilant Ron.

'Well I got it from my travels, it's a fort design used from long ago, I cant remember who designed it, but there were some made to that design in Spain. It's a bastard to assault and easy to defend as we proved today.' Hermione answered Ron.

Ron walked up to her, 'Well I said I would show how much I appreciate you.' He then kissed her, then flung her over his shoulders and ran to their room, kicking the door closed.

Harrys only random thought whilst he was in shock was 'I hope they remember were going out in three hours time.'

The others laughed, Luna and Neville retired to the sofa to cuddle and have a glass of wine each. Ginny forced Harry to sit down, she laid down on the sofa wit her head in his lap. He absently played with her hair.

'Harry,' Luna stired harrys thoughts back to the present.

'Yeah Luna?'

'How do you cope with the deaths at your hands? You have at least got Quirrells, then there is the Basilisk, after all you could talk to it therefore you would treat is as a house elf or goblin, with humanity.'

'I don't Luna, one of the hardest things I find is living with my actions, and the consequences. For example Cedric, Sirius, Dumbledore and countless who we know nothing about. I know I did not kill them, but in one way or another my actions have lead to this point. Letting Pettigew go that one night, not listening to Hermione about the visions and a few others. The only way I get through them these days is knowing Ginny is there for me and loves me as much as I love her. With out her, I believe I would turn.' Tears formed at his eyes. 'That's what scares me the most, that Tom and I are so similar and every now and then I feel the pull of the dark. It frightens me that I might turn and make peoples lives a living misery as mine was all those years ago.' He wipe a tear away. 'Killing Quirell was easy to cope with compared to the rest.'

Luna and Neville felt for him, they knew the cost now of killing the enemy and it tore at their souls, but the thought of, They would have killed you in a second always comes back and self preservation kicks in. They pulled each other in tighter, wanting that bit more contact, a bit more comfort.

Luna and Neville were not the only ones to hear that monologue from Harry.

Three hours later Ginny stood up, 'Harry I will always love you and you are my compass as much as I seem to be yours.' She hugged him and he kissed back.

'I know, but there are times were I'm so scared of what if.'

'We can deal with the what ifs when they happen,' she smirked 'time for me to get those 2 love birds out.' She went to Rons and Hermiones door and banged on it loudly. 'Stop shagging and get out here now, we got a job to do for Petes sake!'

Neville smiled, 'you know I like to see Ginny all diplomatic, it makes me glad I'm on her side.'

Harry coughed as Ginny glared then swapped to smiling at Neville. This made him feel very nervous.

Ron and Hermione stepped out of their bedroom with smiles like Cheshire cats.

'No prizes for what you two were doing then.' Luna commented leaving a flustered Hermione and a beet red Ron.

'Ok kids, play times up, St. Mungos, same as before. How do we get in?'

'Polyjuice, each persons vial is on the table.' Luna replied not really fussed.

'What's the aim?'

'To cease peoples suffering.' Neville put in.

'To kill or capture Nurse Shards' Hermione inputted. This was new but hey they let it flow, after all one less was one less.

'Anyone else?' Harry asked. No one answered so he continued. 'Since 4 has a target for us, 3 and 4 will deal with that, 1 and 2 will deal with security and 5 and 6 will deal with the compassion side of things.'

The team all drunk the polyjuice content, as they morphed into different people the all lay on the ground.

'Ok let me resize them or change them all together' Ginny said refereeing to the split clothing or in Hermiones case the sex change.

'Luna you are so in trouble when we get back.' Hermione threatened.

'Well next time sex drive can wait and you can make your preference known.' Luna grinned.

'Well whats stopping you two?' Hermione asked.

'Neville, being the gentleman he is, bloody frustrating.' Luna answered.

'Hey least you two get to spend time with your partners, I get what, raging battles a brief interlude, planning sessions and a kiss.' Ginny voiced.

Harry whispered in her ear, 'You know I have no clue about what to do, but when you're ready so am I.'

Ginny whirled around. 'Now you tell me that! Damn you. Neville!'

Neville taking his cue, 'Ready to flame in three….two….one….flame.'

St. Mungos false front as seen by the muggle populace was non descript par it looked like a run down store. The six members split up into ones and twos and slowly entered the hospital one at a time. 5 and 6 went in fisrt to get to the main wards where the terminal patients were kept, like soulless or tortured into insanity. Neville knew the route off by heart. 3 and 4 followed in later by five minutes and separately at that, 4 had a plan. 1 and 2 waked in ten minutes later only to raise hell, that is one hell of a distraction. They walked in and waltzed up to the reception desk to ask the question, 'Where is Lord Voldermort staying whilst at St. Mungos?' Of course this caused half the crowd to scream at the mention of his name and cower. Ginny acting all upset 'Well answer then!' The receptionist like half the crowd in fearing his name hid behind the desk.

Upstairs Luna and Neville were slowly but surely going through the patients that were a lost cause with the poison. A nurse was quietly asleep in the corner of the room, a forced sleep but she was asleep and not in any danger of discovering the assassins.

Hermione was walking with the Nurse, whilst Ron trailed ten paces behind. The Nurse led them along a series of corridors and down a set of stair. Upon entering the room the door was closed and Hermione was spun around.

'You must think I'm fucking stupid or something, do I look stupid? I think not, so a nice memory charm wont do you any harm as soon as I find out how you found out.' There was the promise of pain in the undertones of her voice. Hermione with her wand lying across the floor from her, she knew she was in for in. She sat up and crossed her arms, touching her tattoo and thinking of Ron.

Arggghh

The scream was heard across the entire building then the building itself started to shake. All because Harry threw a reducto at the stairs. Well it should keep people busy on what ever floor they are on. Limits movement as well..hehe He was the one that cried out as a lashing curse hit him in the back, soon the waiting patients were all firing hexes at the two and it seemed like the fire place was disgorging Aurors. Without a word, both Harry and Ginny moved towards cover that could hide them when they flamed. They took civilian and Auror down, most times using a minor pain curse, nothing too serious. Some times a simple sleeping charm seemed to work and the aurors were confused how to reverse it.

Alastor and Kingsley were in the office at Auror command when the alarms for St. Mungos went off. Alastors thoughts were this should be interesting to say the least, lets see if I push myself how close I can get. 'Common Kingsley, we don't have all day.' Alastor informed him as they strode out the office into the flooing chamber. Another fifteen aurors were all waiting ready to go, Alastor not bothering to get an order pushed to the front and just went. When he arrived it was only two people sticking up a fight and one was Lucius Malfoy, but he's dead, unless that was a polyjuice body, or is Potter polyjuiced? Alastor lept right into it,even though the civilians were doing a good job, it was dangerous to encourage it. Alastor concentrated on one and one only, whilst his ally, kingsley targeted the other, the fire power was raw, soon the air was crackling with the energy being sent through the air. Air discharging showering the room in lightning bolts and thunder and crackling as the energy levels increased. These two are great, next chance I'm guarding him I'll tell him. But I wont help, I dontthink I could help anyway...Jesus! Alastor rarely swore in muggle, he came from muggle catholic parents and he rarely swore using his Gods name out of respect. This was one of those times he chose to waver his own strictness.

Ron felt Hermione calling for him, he touched his tattoo and saw the situation. Now just a case of waiting for the right chance.

Luna and Neville both stumbled as the building shook, they were nearly done, just the last two, the most difficult, Neville prayed to any god to forgive him. He poured the remainder of the vial into his parents mouths and watched as they died, silently, peacefully. Two white clouds appeared above them and formed into ghosts, his parents were ghosts. He couldn't take it, he grabbed Lunas hand and flamed away since the job was done.

Hermione still with her arms crossed, 'Well come on then, I havn't got all day, do your worst, I hope your better than Aunt Bella, she is pathetic don't you think?'

The nurse looking douptful stepped forward to get a closer inspection of Hermiones polyjuiced face. It was all the time they needed.

Ron flamed in right behind the nurse, waiting, wand drawn. The nurse took a step back to find a body behind her.

'Don't move bitch' Ron whispered into her ear, as Hermione stood up and retrieved her wand.

'Snatch!' Hermione stated.

'Ok' Ron replied as he stunned and bound the nurse. They flamed away to the prison cells they had at the Lair.

Ginny looked at Harry, 'they should be done by now, lets go.' She mouthed to him from behind an upturned patient trolley.

Harry nodded, three fingers up, then two, then one. They both flamed out.

'Arrhhhhh they escaped!' Kingsley roared.

Alastor was sweating, and a lot of the younger aurors were puffing as well.

'Butchers' he called out to anyone who cared.

'Zero sir, but 30 of the patients are dead and a nurse is reported missing.' A young auror informed him.

'Which ward did they assassinate?' Kingsley spat.

'The terminal and irreversible spell damage ward sir.'

'You mean the one were Frank and Alice Longbottom are, as well as those who are soulless?'

'Yes sir.'

Poor Neville, it's a mercy killing really, makes a weird kind of sence, but why a nurse missing….unless.

'Who is the nurse that's missing?' Kingsley asked, beating Alastor.

'The name of nurse Shards, Emma Shards sir. She is a senior nurse here at St. Mungos.'

Well ok, he got some good intelligence then, we suspected her from the last war, but no proof or evidence .It could be amusing at the wedding then. Might down size the operations from our perspective to wind Potter up. Alastor found a smile on his face, then he quickly wipe it off. 'Well lad since you know the information, you are in charge of this investigation, understood?' Alastor took the time to survey the aurors, it was just as well they were in St. Mungos, most needed it.