-Chapter Nineteen-

Infestation

The final day of Hogwarts began as a pleasant summers day, with every student waking up gracefully to the sound of birdsong (1). So peaceful was the day that when Harry woke up couldn't think why this day was so important. It all came rushing back to him in secedes, however, and he frantically sprang from his bed and started to get dressed. There was movement from Ron's bed and then he emerged from behind the curtains. "Wazzup?" he said sleepily.

"Come on, get up!" said Harry frantically. "We need to see the Aurors and find out what happened!"

"Right!" cried Ron, awake in an instant and struggling into his robes. Their actions woke up Neville, Seamus and Dean, who looked on in bemusement at their apparent eagerness for breakfast.

Suddenly the voice of McGonagall boomed around the room. "Attention, attention! All students will remain in their common rooms until collected by an Auror! Walking within the corridors unaccompanied is strictly forbidden!"

"Blimey," said Ron after a few moments of silence. "Wonder what's happened?"

The Gryffindors were escorted to the Great Hall shortly afterwards by several Aurors. Harry, Ron and Hermione tried asking them what had happened during the night but received no answer.

The Great Hall was buzzing with what could possibly warrant the presence of the Aurors and what could have happened. Harry overheard several theories, such as Death Eaters and Voldemort hiding in the dungeons, which wasn't too far off, or that the House Elves were revolting, which was just ridiculous (2).

Several things immediately caught Harry's eye as he sat at the Gryffindor Table. Firstly several Aurors were positioned against each wall, all looking nervous as if expecting something to happen. Secondly Malfoy was sitting alone at the Slytherin table, the rest of the slytherins giving him a wide berth. Malfoy looked a lot paler than usual and had a haunted look in his eyes, staring at his breakfast without really taking it in. What had happened to him?

Thirdly and most tellingly, Dumbledore's seat was empty. This was one of the main talking points amongst the students, discussing where he could be. The other teachers were silent, focussing entirely on their breakfasts and not looking at anything else. Snape in particular looked a lot worse for wear and his eyes never left the Slytherin table. Harry's eyes wandered over to Hagrid and Willows empty chairs and his heart sank. No one seemed to have noticed that they were missing…

"So what d'you think's going on?" asked Ron, bringing Harry back out of his depression.

"The Aurors are probably still searching for the Master," said Hermione. "Given the size of Hogwarts it's probably taken them all night."

"Can't take that long, surely?" scoffed Ron.

"Of course it can!" snapped Hermione. "If you ever get round to reading Hogwarts - A History then you'll find out how big this place actually is, not to mention how much it can change!"

"They won't find him," said Harry grimly. "The Master's too smart for them. He could be anywh-" Harry broke off in surprise as the door leading to the small room located near the Staff Table opened and Dumbledore emerged.

The entire Hall went silent in an instant, everybody was staring at Dumbledore, some in surprise and others in relief. Harry could feel sweat on his brow. What was happening? He had a quick look around. Malfoy had shrunk back in his seat, shaking slightly, his eyes fixated on Dumbledore. The Aurors looked extremely on edge, yet unsure what to do, which was understandable. Even after being told that Dumbledore is now a threat it was still hard to see the kindly old man in front of them who had fought Lord Voldemort himself as a danger. Harry couldn't help but feel that it was like a powder keg waiting to go off. Where was Diggory? He could see Dawlish fidgeting nervously at the far corner but no sign of Diggory.

"Good morning," said Dumbledore solemnly. "As you are all undoubtedly aware, there have been some major disturbances over the last day or two."

That's putting it mildly, thought Harry. What was the Master up to? Was he covering things up, trying to diver attention away from himself? Were the Aurors going to arrest him?

"There is a man hidden within the school," continued Dumbledore "He is a dangerous man who has dangerous powers - including impersonating myself. I have personally confronted and defeated him. Although he escaped me I give you my word that no one will invade this school as long as I am Headmaster."

So smooth and persuasive was his voice that Harry almost believed him. And he wasn't the only one. All around him the students began to relax, while some of the Aurors looked relieved and started to put their wands away. If Harry still didn't have the strong image of the Master in Dumbledores office and behind Dumbledore's desk then he would have been totally convinced that it was simply a case of mistaken identity. Harry shook his head, trying to keep his thoughts straight.

"These are difficult times," said Dumbledore. "And it is important to remember hat Lord Voldemort is not the only threat (3). "We must all-"

But whatever else Dumbledore was going to say was cut off as part of the far wall suddenly exploded inwards. As everyone cried out more explosions rang around the room, sending everyone ducking for cover. Harry heard several students scream hysterically and looked up in alarm.

The wall at the far end of the room had been blown open in several places.

In each new opening was a Dalek.

"What is the meaning of this?" cried out Dumbledore as the Daleks glided into the Great Hall.

"Silence!" ordered one of the Daleks loudly. "Recalibration of computers is complete, power source has been located! You are no longer useful to us. You will be exterminated with the humans!"

"Exterminate all humans! Exterminate all humans!" chorused the rest of the Daleks.

While all of this was happening one of the Aurors had managed to get behind one of the Daleks unnoticed. Raising his wand he cried out "Impedimenta!".

The spell had no effect on the Dalek and only served to alert it to his presence. Spinning round at the midsection it shot the Auror on the spot. The Auror cried out as he was flung backwards by the deadly ray.

Then all hell broke loose. Half of the students panicked and immediately made a run for it, flooding out of the Great Hall. The Daleks glided forwards, firing on their retreating backs mercilessly. Several students were killed instantly. Some of the Aurors fired spell after spell at the advancing Daleks to no avail and were promptly shot down, while several others lost their nerve and ran out with the students.

Several of the students, including Harry, Ron and Hermione had ducked under the tables in a vain attempt to protect themselves. "Lie still, lie still!" hissed Harry. Ron and Hermione followed his instructions, lying down pretending to be bodies of recently exterminated students. In front of them they saw another student twist and fall dead to the floor as he was hit. Harry winced as he heard Hermione nearly cry out. It was Justin Finch-Fletchley.

The teachers sprang into action. In one deft movement McGonagall leapt to her feet and waved her wand. Instantly the four house tables suddenly reared upwards and shot through the air towards the Daleks, who opened fire. Although damaged the tables kept coming and smashed into the Daleks, sending them backwards. "Get the students out of here!" shouted McGonagall. Instantly the Aurors who had remained to fight began grabbing students close to them and pushing them towards the door. "Out! Everybody out!"

Harry, Ron and Hermione needed no further prompting. They ran for the doors, beams of energy zapping past them. Behind them they heard screams as several people were hit but didn't look back. They charged through the door and ran for their lives.

Hoping to take advantage of the distraction caused by the tables, the Master looked around and saw the teachers heading for the small chamber he himself had emerged from and headed after them. He was the last in and shut the door, locking it behind him. "Well done, Minerva." he gasped, his mind a whirl at the recent developments.

He suddenly realised that everybody was staring at him. "Who are you?" hissed McGonagall, her eyes wide in surprise. She pointed her wand threateningly at him and the Master suddenly realised that in the stress of the moment he had reverted back to his original form. "The Master, I presume?"

"Where's Dumbledore?" squeaked Flitwick.

"My friends, my friends." said the Master soothingly, playing for time. "I am sorry for my small deception. Minerva, well done on your prompt reaction against the Daleks. Thankyou."

"What do you mean?" asked McGonagall suspiciously.

"For being such a useful distraction!" sneered the Master triumphantly. Instantly a short tube was in his hand. Before anybody could stop him the Master twisted both ends in different directions.

Instantly McGonagall screamed as her whole body shuddered. Before the teacher's horrified gaze, McGonagall began to change.

Her waist twisted 180 degrees and she fell forwards, stooping herself with her hands. The fingers stretched into claws and her legs extended and stretched upwards. Her face bulged and her teeth grew and sharpened. From her back the strange black substance that the Master had been collecting began to erupt, spreading over her body as tentacles of the same substance appeared on as well.

With a high pitched roar the creature McGonagall had become vaulted forwards onto Professor Burbage, who screamed as she was flung on to the ground. Reacting quickly Professor Sprout leapt forward, raising her wand. But before she could cast a spell one of the tentacles wrapped around her wrist. Instantly the black liquid spread across Sprout's body and before the eyes of the horrified teachers she was soon nothing more a puddle which was quickly absorbed into the McGonagall creature.

At least Draco didn't mess up on that little mission, thought the Master. "Attack!" he shouted commandingly, pointing at the rest of the teachers. "Kill them all!" The McGonagall creature snarled and leapt towards the Teachers.

It was the quick thinking of Snape and Flitwick that saved them (4). Flitwick successfully knocked the creature out of the air with a blast, while a quick "Explosivo!" from Snape blasted the one of the walls down, leading to the corridor. The Teachers needed no second bidding and fled. The McGonagall Creature leapt into the corridor and headed after them.

Now alone, the Master was able to think clearly. How could he have not realised that the Daleks were going to betray him? It was so obvious! For the briefest of scones the Master was full of self doubt. He was supposed to know everything, yet he had forgotten this blindingly obvious fact! But it was soon gone and replaced by frantic thinking as the Master quickly altered his plans. Activating a small watch-sized computer on his wrist he accessed the machinery in the chamber. Too risky to go back there, he'd be exterminated on sight…. Working quickly, the Master used the watch to hack into the Dalek's computer. If he could not go back he would use a simple remote link.

The watch bleeped and the Master's eyes widened at the results. This was it! Power was at his fingertips! All he had to do was to get there first. He pressed a few more buttons on the watch and grinned. Fortunately he had set up several distractions to help grant him safe passage to his destination…

Appendix

(1) As opposed to the first ever day of Hogwarts, where it rained.

(2) Although improbable there was in fact a brief House Elf revolt in the past, started by a freed Elf who wanted to have equal rights established. It quickly floundered when the Elves realised that thy didn't know what they actually wanted and were in fact perfectly happy with their current lot, thankyou.

(3) One such undocumented incident during the First Wizarding War involved a strange group of Wizards proclaiming themselves to be the First Frontier of Sorcerers, lead by the dangerous Draxneterer. Their reign of havoc lasted for an entire week and included such despicable acts as hiding the keys of old Mrs. Muggins so that she couldn't get into her house after returning from her trip to the shops and buying a lot of Butterbeer from the Three Broomsticks and not giving the correct change. They were also known to attack people, such as the elderly Mr. Greenwald (who soundly trounced them). Eventually the Ministry got round to the problem after dealing with some minor matters such as Voldemort and a squad of Aurors were sent in. After a spectacular yet very short battle (said to be the shortest battle ever fought in a war) it was discovered that the entire gang were in fact brainwashed muggles, and the only wizard, Draxneterer, was in fact a former pupil from Hogwarts who had been expelled for using memory charms on people to trick them into thinking had done better than he really did, and had in fact been doing the same thing on the local residents to make them think his gang was carrying out these nefarious deeds. In a controversial-yet-funny-in-an-ironic-kind-of-way decision, the Aurors used altered Draxneterer's memory so that he thought he had always been a model citizen, thus leaving him as just that.

(4) Although Septima Vector would later claim to have contributed heavily into their escape as well. Well, she would have done anyway...