Harry stood in the Granger's entrance hall, waiting for Dumbledore's soldiers to make their way into the house. He wasn't sure if they would initially try to force their way in, or try to get the Granger's to come to the door as they had done for him. His anticipation continued to grow as more and more time seemed to go by. The Grangers could still be heard upstairs scurrying around to retrieve their things. He was hopeful that they could finish quickly so there was no reason to get into a skirmish. Unfortunately, his lack of luck continued as there was a large explosion that shook the foundation of the house. He heard the footsteps upstairs start to move faster as he looked for enemy soldiers. It sounded as if they had made their way in through the back, but not knowing the layout of the house, he didn't know where the back door was located. There were three different paths off of the entrance hall and he only knew the one to the right led to the sitting room and kitchen and the one in the middle led to the stairs.
He moved in a circle, not keeping his back to any of the passages for very long. The soldiers were moving through the house methodically, searching every single room and space for the Grangers. Harry heard them moving closer to his position and it sounded as if they were coming toward the left passage. He stood straight up against the left hand wall so that he wouldn't be visible when they came through. Using his wand, he conjured a long piece of rope and attached it towards the bottom of the passage into the entrance hall. He finished it off by placing a disillusionment charm on the rope and then waited. Just a second later, Harry watched a boot clad foot try to take a step into the entrance hall. The foot quickly met the invisible rope, and its owner came flying forwards landing on his face with a resounding crack. Unfortunately, the soldier who had been behind the one that fell somehow managed to step over the rope. He still hadn't noticed Harry who was pressed firmly against the wall.
The second soldier bent down to help his comrade out and that was when Harry struck. With a powerful stunner from his wand, the soldier was blown backwards into the far wall—as he hit, the wall cracked and a painting fell, landing on top of him. The first soldier was trying to get up while at the same time halt the flow of blood that was pouring down his face from his impact with the floor. Harry didn't give him time to gather himself and launched a vicious kick at the man's forehead. Harry didn't take much pleasure when he heard the soldier's neck snap, but it was one less thing to worry about for the time being. He looked back into the hallway from where the soldiers had entered, but didn't see anyone else. The sound of movement upstairs was still present and he wished that the Grangers would move a little bit faster. Just as he tied up the soldier who he had blown into the wall, another explosion rocked the house. This time the explosion was the front door being blown in and Harry was thrown forward towards the staircase, little pieces of debris embedding themselves into his back and neck.
Harry crawled on all fours to the base of the stairs and tried to gather himself. On the back of his neck, where the skin was exposed, he could feel where the blast had burned him and singed his hair. His back was also extremely uncomfortable, but his immediate concern for his survival made him push that to the back of his mind. He had been lucky that his back was towards the door or else his face would have been at risk. Pushing his body up quickly he turned around and looked at the ruin that was once the front of the house. Most of the wall had been destroyed and there wasn't any sign of remnants of the front door that could be seen through the smoke. The smoke was thick at first, but then started to dissipate revealing the forms of ten soldiers making their way into the house. Realizing that things couldn't get any worse, he turned around intent on yelling for the Grangers to leave the house immediately. It turned out that things could get worse because he was met with the sight of a flustered Hermione making her way down the stairs. He hurried to intercept her before she could make her way any further.
Harry grabbed her around the waist as she tried to continue down the stairs and forced her to face him. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" Harry whispered furiously. "There are twelve people on the other side of the wall who want you dead."
She looked extremely upset at being scolded. "I left one of my books downstairs—I just wanted to grab it quickly," she whispered back.
He had to fight himself not to scream in frustration. Instead he placed his hands on her shoulders and made her look at him. "I swear that I will search to the ends of the Earth and back for another copy of your book, but right now you need to get your parents and leave. I won't be able to stop them without bringing the entire house down. Grab whatever you have packed and leave now!" Harry turned her forcefully and gave her a shove up the stairs making her stumble slightly before she regained her balance. Harry turned back around and slowly made his way down the steps. He was going to go buy a little bit more time.
He stepped back into the entrance hall and watched as a few of the soldiers were untying the injured soldier, while a couple more checked on the dead one. The other ones were pushing aside some of the rubble from the explosion. Upon seeing Harry, they all shifted their attention and leveled their wands at him.
"Who the fuck are you boy? Nobody said anything about another kid being here besides the little bitch we're supposed to kill," growled a burly man in front with a bald head.
"Oh, my name isn't important. I just came to let you know that the Grangers have another engagement that they need to attend to and won't be able to meet with you," Harry said with a bright smile. "I'm sure that we can schedule another time for you to meet."
The bald soldier yelled again, "Stop fucking around boy!" He shot a spell at Harry whom simply batted it away. The soldier fired two more in quick succession, but Harry again shielded himself with little effort. The soldier kept firing, increasing the strength and potency of his spells as he went. Harry was forced to move a bit, but his shields still held. The soldier was beginning to tire and with one last desperate killing curse that was off the mark he dropped his wand hand to his side in exhaustion, his magic depleted.
Harry straightened his jacket then looked back at the soldier. "Well, I guess you've had your shot, so it's my turn now." Harry raised his wand and reared back before waving it an arc and sending a silver curse at his opponent. The curse sailed through the air, crashing right through the soldier's hastily erected shield and straight into his chest. He staggered backwards when it hit, but other than that,there wasn't any immediate reaction. The soldier looked smug for a second thinking that the spell was lacking any significant power, but then he suddenly dropped his wand and both his hands gripped his head as he began to wail in agony. All of the other soldiers looked confused, not knowing what was happening to him. Harry concluded that they probably had no idea what the spell was because it wasn't that well known and wasn't exactly considered dark, although it teetered right on the edge. Right now the screaming soldier had what was the equivalent to a stadium full of people cheering inside of his head. The noise was so painful that he was starting to claw at his scalp and opening up thick gashes that were bleeding profusely. Some of his fellow soldiers tried to grab him, but he simply swung his arms at them in a craze. Seeing that the man was completely out of it, Harry released the spell and watched as the man passed out cold in a heap onto the floor.
After Harry released the spell, he heard the signature whoosh of someone taking a portkey from upstairs and knew it was time to make his exit. He looked at the other soldiers who were starting to advance towards him. "I'm sorry, but I'm afraid I won't be able to stay and talk with the rest of you. If you get the chance could you give Dumbledore a message for me? Tell him to go fuck himself. I'll see you all later." Harry waved and turned on the spot, Apparating away and just missing nine more spells intent on ending his life.
When Harry reappeared he was standing on the bank of the river that ran along Warwick Castle. He was still about a mile out, right where the Apparation wards came to an end. His father had taken down the anti-portkey wards just for the day so that the muggleborn families could be brought directly into the castle. He had anticipated that everyone would be able to take the portkeys back including Harry and the other members of the resistance—unfortunately Harry was never one to do the expected. Unfortunately, now he was forced to walk back—the cool wind was whipping against him, causing the burns on his neck and back to sting—and there was a small, annoying, pessimistic voice in the back of his head telling him that he had been mistaken and that the Grangers hadn't actually used the portkey yet, or not all of them touched it. There wasn't anything he could do about it now—surely the place was still crawling with Dumbledore's men—but that didn't mean that he would have a peaceful thought until he made it back to the castle.
Some of his apprehension left him when he was finally in sight of the castle's gatehouse. The guard quickly opened the magical gate when he realized that it was Harry's ruffled form that was approaching. The guard waved at Harry, but seeing as his mind was only on one thing, making sure that the Grangers had made it back and that his mission had been a success, he walked past without acknowledging it. However, his progress was stopped at the sight of one of their resistance's top generals and one of his father's advisors, Edward Bailey. He was a tall, intimidating man with long dark hair that fell over his shoulders. An auror at the time that Dumbledore had seized power, Bailey was now one of the wizards in charge of training their fighters. Harry had no doubt that Bailey was waiting for him because he wasn't the type of man to be just standing around and wasting the day away—he was always on the move. Bailey pulled his cloak tighter around himself and looked at Harry grimly.
"Why weren't you attached to the portkey when it came back?" Bailey asked sternly.
Harry looked at the man like he was crazy. "I would think it was obvious," Harry commented, casually turning around so that Bailey could get a view at his damaged back. "I didn't do this to myself."
"How many soldiers were there?" Bailey inquired, ignoring Harry's tone.
Harry thought for a moment, "I don't know an exact number because I think they may have brought in more at some point, but there were at least a dozen."
"Any taken out?"
"I'm pretty sure I killed one, and incapacitated another two."
"You're lucky little Potter," Harry groaned at that name that Bailey took pleasure in calling him, "because you're the only one to make it back."
Harry quickly sobered at hearing those words. What did he mean that Harry was the only one back? "What the hell are you talking about?"
Bailey stared at him with a steeled expression. "I'm saying that you and that family you went after are the only ones to make it back. None of the other four men we sent have shown up and they're way past due. From what you just told me, I don't think we should get our hopes up that they will be returning." That last statement hung in the air for a few moments and Harry was hit hard with its implication. Four of their fighters and four muggle families were all dead. "Come on, your father's waiting and we need to get your back looked at." Harry slowly followed Bailey as he started off towards the main part of the castle. He watched as the people who called the castle their home moved around and took part in their daily affairs. Watching the kids and the families reminded Harry that four families would soon be getting the news that their loved ones wouldn't ever be returning.
Harry stepped into the castle's main hall and walked down to his father's office maintaining his pace so that he remained behind the General. Bailey stepped in first which drew James Potter's attention. Harry barely noticed the Grangers seated in a few chairs before his father got up looking extremely relieved and came over to embrace him. He gritted his teeth when his father placed his arms around him, but didn't move as his father hugged him.
"You have no idea how glad I am to see you son," James said, clearly conflicted with the happiness of seeing his son and the fact that four of their resistance's members were likely dead. "You had me worried when you didn't come back with the portkey. We'll discuss why you didn't come back that way later," James said looking sternly at his son. Harry just nodded knowing that he was going to be lectured at for something once again. James turned to the Grangers and pointed them towards Bailey who was still standing in the doorway to the office. "I know that everything that's happened this morning is a lot to take in. You said that Harry explained the general situation, so why don't you follow Mr. Bailey here to a private room where you can get some rest and some food. Take as much time as you need to discuss everything, and if you want to stay with us that would be great, but if not we'll get you safely out of the country."
The Grangers nodded and stood up from their seats and headed towards Bailey who was waiting patiently for them. Before she reached the door, Hermione came over to Harry and pulled him into a hug, causing him to wince again in pain. He carefully put his arms around her and patted her on the back.
"Thank you so much for coming for us and getting us out," Hermione said as she took a step back, looking extremely grateful.
Harry simply shrugged at her thanks. "I'm glad that you're all ok—and I hope you choose to stay." Hermione smiled and turned to leave, but before she could Harry stopped her. "Don't forget, I owe you a book."
Hermione laughed, "I'll write down the title for you." She turned around and followed her parents back out of the door. Harry watched her all the way out before he turned and realized his father was back seated at his desk. He pulled up one of the seats that the Grangers had just vacated and took a seat as well.
"Who did we lose?" Harry asked his father quietly.
James ran a hand through his dark hair before answering. "Jenkins, Miller, Clayton, and Cole," he answered miserably. Harry just nodded, only recognizing the names not really knowing the people. "There's no guarantee their actually dead, but they should have been back by now—and if they've been captured then they are as good as."
"Did Dumbledore come back? Is that why he sent soldiers, because he found out that the book was missing?"
James shrugged, "According to our spies, he's back, but we don't actually have any idea if he knew about the book. Chances are that today was the day that it was scheduled for the soldiers to come after the muggleborns. He had obviously already given out the orders because they knew the locations to attack."
Harry agreed with his father. Either there was another copy of the book, which he doubted, or else Dumbledore had preselected the date. How else did the soldiers know where to go? "When are you going to tell the families?" Harry inquired.
"Not yet," James responded. "Only two of them had any living family. I'm going to do it tonight—just in case, by some miracle, they make it back." They fell into silence, and just as Harry was getting ready to go get some medical attention for his back his father spoke. "I need you to tell me what happened, Harry. Why did you need to Apparate back? You had orders to come back on the portkey with the family."
Harry sighed, he knew this was coming. "After I explained to the Grangers what was going on, I told them to go get changed and packed so that we could go. Unfortunately, that was when we realized Dumbledore's men had shown. I had them go to the upstairs of the house and gather their things. I activated the portkey so they could use it when they were ready—then I went to hold the soldiers off until they left."
James shook his head and rubbed his eyes, then looked at Harry with a frustrated expression. "Harry what did we just have a discussion about? You promised me you wouldn't take any more unnecessary risks. Going and trying to fight off Death Eaters, soldiers, or whatever the hell was there, just so the Grangers could grab some luggage sounds like an unnecessary risk. You're lucky that Moody isn't here because he would hex you until you couldn't stand."
Harry looked away, not willing to look his father in the eyes. "I know it was stupid, but I had just told this family that there were people coming to kill them and they had to leave their home. I can't even imagine what it's like to be uprooted like that, completely ignorant of what's going on. It probably doesn't mean much, but at least they would be able to have some of their personal things with them—and I didn't realize that there were that many soldiers at first."
James stared at his son, "Harry, you've got such a great heart—I can respect that you wanted to let the Grangers bring their things—but sometimes you've got to think with your head and not your heart. What would've happened if they had put anit-Apparation wards up around the house? You wouldn't have had any way out and right now, instead of sitting here speaking to you, I would be telling your mother and sister that you were dead."
"I'm sorry," Harry whispered with his head down.
"I know you are Harry," James stated calmly. "But I'm not going to send you out on anymore missions for a while—not until I'm sure you're ready. Now go to the medical building and get yourself looked at—I've been watching you grimace for the past ten minutes."