Chapter 11- Do Portals Work?
"Are we ready, Neville?" asked Hermione. She and Luna were in the command center above the big training room that they had built over the last few weeks, monitoring the portal that they had built. The portal followed the idea of the floo system, but someone had to use their magic to operate it, they had to open it with their magic and keep it open as long as it was needed for everyone to pass through.
"Ready," said Neville. He, Blaise, and Aurora stood ready with the defenses on the ground floor. Ron, Dean, Seamus, Ginny, and Draco moved towards the portal wands and the ready.
"On your mark Hermione," said Dean.
"Remember you have 15 minutes after the portal closes to get in and find our loved ones before the portal opens again. Dean, Seamus, Neville you're up. In three two one." The portal opened, and the three boys ran into the portal which closed behind them. "Ron, I'm sending you to your brothers shop." The portal opened again, and Ron and Blaise ran through. "Ginny, ready?"
"Ready Morgana." The portal opened, and she darted through.
"Be ready," said Hermione. Who knows what will follow them back through."
"How is it working?" asked Harry walking into the control both.
"The portal is stable. It's working exactly as we expected that it would," said Luna. "Hermione, are we going to gather the orphans now as well?"
"What do you mean?" asked Harry. Hermione took off the headset and turned around.
"A couple days ago we received work that more attacks had happened, and several kids had either died and are MIA, so we were going to send a team to go check it out."
"Who is it?"
"Most so far have been confirmed dead but the Creevys are missing."
"Dennis and Colin?"
"5 minutes till Neville, Dean, and Seamus come back," said Luna. Harry walked out onto the balcony and used a levitating charm to descend to the ground level.
"Harry?" asked Draco. "I thought you were watching the kids?"
"I was, now I'm going after Dennis and Colin."
"You aren't going," said Draco.
"You're right, Draco," said Luna floating down to stand next to Harry.
"You can't risk your safety," said Draco. Harry was starting to get annoyed.
"What I mean to say is that he isn't going alone," said Luna. Everyone turned to look at her. "Hermione, open the portal for Neville, Dean, and Seamus."
"Draco, go help Hermione with the portal," said Harry before turning to Luna. "Ready." She nodded. "Seamus and Neville will come with us." The portal opened, and Neville, Dean, and Seamus walked through. They each carried a bag of items and an older woman walked through with them right before the portal closed.
"Ron and Blaise will be coming in in five," said Draco.
"Go," said Aurora. "We need allies, and we need to keep magic alive."
"Do we have enough time to open a portal before it's time for Ron and Blaise come in?" asked Harry.
"No," said Hermione. "But I will attempt something. Hopefully it works. When I say go through the portal." Harry nodded.
"Alright Morgana," said Luna. "Let's go Seamus."
"What's going on?" asked Neville.
"I'll explain after we get there," said Harry. "You ready Seamus?" Both boys nodded, and Hermione opened a portal.
"Now," she said and the four of them ran through.
"Where are we?" asked Neville.
"The Creevys," said Harry. "Luna, start on some protections charms. Seamus come with me. Neville, help Luna." A portal opened up behind then and out tumbled Ron and Blaise.
"Where are we?" asked Blaise standing up.
"No clue. Where are Fred and George?"
"Ron," said Harry and the pair turned around to see the others standing there.
"Where are we Harry?"
"The Creevys' home."
"You mean Colin and Dennis?" Harry nodded. "Harry, they are just kids. We don't need them to fight in this war."
"I know they aren't going to fight."
"Then why…"
"Ron," said Blaise placing a hand on Ron's arm. "Enough." Harry nodded to him.
"Ron, do you remember any of the defensive spells that Hermione taught us?"
"Some…"
"Help Luna and Neville set up some spells around the house. Blaise you're with me and Seamus." Ron, Luna, and Neville started to set up some defensive spells around the house while Harry, Seamus, and Blaise headed into the house cautiously.
"There was definitely a fight," said Blaise. "Look, glass is broken, and the place was torn apart."
"Blood," said Seamus kneeling and placing a hand on the floor before bringing it to his face. "Someone was definitely injured here."
"Both of Colin and Dennis parents were killed."
"Was it?" started Blaise and Harry nodded.
"That's why we have come for Dennis and Colin. Spread out." Seamus and Harry searched the first floor while Blaise headed up the stairs.
"Harry!" yelled Ron from outside. "You have to come see this."
"Keep looking," said Harry to Seamus before heading back outside.
"What is it Ron."
"You have to see for yourself." Ron looked at a small building that somehow was still standing but the door was ajar and only hanging from one hinge. Harry looked at Ron and the pair walked forward and opening the door. What they saw inside made him take a step back and turn to Ron for conformation.
"Tell me that that's not what I think that it is."
"I'm afraid it is."
"Neville! Luna!" The pair came running quickly. "Luna, Ron help Blaise and Seamus. Neville, help me." Ron and Luna nodded and walked into the house.
"What is it Harry?" asked Neville.
"Look." Neville opened the door and looked inside.
"Is that?" Harry nodded.
"I'm afraid so. We need to get him back for Hermione and Hera to exam."
"How will you explain this to his brother?"
"I don't know Neville. I don't know. How do you explain to someone that your entire family was murdered?"
"Or that their parents were cursed into a gibberish mess." Harry laid a hand on Neville's arm.
"We survived, he will as well."
"Maybe, we have to get him back to Hermione." Harry nodded and handed Neville a bracelet.
"It's a way to communicate with the command center. Take him back, the rest of us will find his brother. Hopefully he does not share his family's fate." Neville nodded, and Harry turned back towards the house.
"Has anyone found anything?" asked Harry as he entered the house.
"Nothing, said Seamus as he and Ron emerged from a room.
"Just a mess," said Luna. "This is a nightmare to come home to."
"Where is Blaise?" asked Ron looking around. Everyone looked around and didn't see Blaise.
"Up here," yelled Blaise. They walked carefully up the stairs watching where they stepped. They walked into the room where his voice had come from and found him. He was holding a young man's head in his lap. They were both covered in blood. "It's not mine," said Blaise when he saw Ron's face.
"Colin?" asked Harry kneeling by Blaise's side. "Can you hear me?"
"I don't think he can," said Blaise. "His breath is shallow. We can't move him by magic I think."
"Maybe not," said Luna. "Maybe a healing spell or plant."
"Hermione would be best for this," said Ron. "But perhaps… Blaise?"
"It's doubtful but I think that Neville should have a look." Harry nodded.
"Luna, contact Morgana," said Harry. "Seamus, Ron help me and Blaise with Colin." Luna pulled out a handheld mirror and cast a spell on it while Harry, Seamus, Ron, and Blaise pulled out their wands and cast a stretcher around Colin, binding the boy to it.
"Done," said Luna. "We have 7 minutes till the portal opens."
"Ok, Ron go see if Neville is ready. If he isn't help him. Luna undo the spells that we have placed." Ron nodded, and he and Luna left.
"How do you think he is?" asked Seamus.
"I don't know," said Blaise. "He is in critical condition."
"Do you think he is able to go through the portal?" asked Harry.
"I'm not entirely sure, but he will likely die either way, unless we get back to home base."
"Maybe Luna can do a spell or something to temporarily help," said Seamus.
"It couldn't hurt," said Blaise. "It's your call." Blaise and Seamus looked at Harry who turned and looked at Colin.
"Go get her, you two work on taking down the spells around us." They nodded to him and left, and Luna came back in. "Luna, do you think you can help Colin?"
"Harry… I'm not a trained healer."
"But you are a Ravenclaw, you care about people, and you have healed me before."
"But, Harry. That was a minor wound and we were near Madame Pomphrey if anything did go wrong.
"Please Luna. At least try." Luna was about to say something but stopped and nodded instead.
"Very well. I will do my best."
"Thank you. I will help you in any way that you need. Just tell me what to do." Luna nodded and thought for a moment.
"First of all, I'm going to bind the wound on his head. Ferula." A cloth shot out and bound Colin's head. "Remember that I'm not skilled in this art Harry."
"You're doing fine."
"Now we need a way to transport him." Harry summoned up several pillows and a stretcher. "Never mind." The pair worked quickly to secure the 16-year-old to the stretcher.
"I think he is good to move," said Harry.
"We just need to get him back to your home. Then he will be fine," said Luna.
"The portal is open," said Ron walking into the room. "Neville and Seamus have Dennis' body also. How is he?"
"Stable for now. We need to move," said Harry. "On three. One, two, three." The trio flicked their wands and the stretcher lifted into the air and they moved down the stairs to the portal.
"Hurry," said Seamus as the walked outside and he added his magic to the trio's making it easier on them.
"Proceed with caution," said Luna. "We have no long how long Hermione can keep the portal open." After what seemed like forever they made it to the portal and worked their way through. Ron and Harry let their spells drop and walked through while Seamus and Luna bore Colin's weight before starting to send Colin through.
"Draco, Dean get levitation spells ready," said Harry as he walked through the portal with Ron. Just then Colin's body started to come through and the four of them cast levitation spells on him. Finally, Seamus and Luna came through the portal and Morgana shut it behind them.
"How is he?" asked Morgana/ Hermione as she descended from the control center.
"Morgana, you need to rest, you have exenterated a lot of energy."
"Ginny came back with Bill, Fleur, and Mrs. Weasley. And Fred and George came through also. Aurora and Ginny took them to the lounge to wait for your return."
"Thank you, Morgana. Now, Dean, Ron, and Seamus. Take Colin to the yellow room. And Luna, you and Neville take Dennis to the red room on the first floor." The five of them nodded and left, leaving Harry, Draco, and Morgana/Hermione alone in the training room.
"What are you going to say to Mrs. Longbottom, Fleur, and the Weasleys?" asked Hermione/Mogana.
"I don't know. But you need to let them know who you are, Morgana. And you should start going by your given name."
"She needs to go rest is what she needs to do," said Draco.
"I'm fine Malfoy," said Morgana/ Hermione. "And for now, I'm going to go by Hermione not Morgana."
"What ever you say, nerd," muttered Draco. Hermione just rolled her eyes.
"Enough. Can you go get our children, Draco." Harry left no room for argument and Draco sighed and left the room.
"You really do need to be nicer to him," said Hermione looping her arm through Harry's and the pair walked out.
"I left England to avoid this war, so my children would be safe. But look at us now. Growing up faster than we wanted. Colin is near death, Dennis like so many others is already dead. Who knows where the Hogwarts students are now anyway."
"It won't be easy, believe me, I know. But we are doing this for your children and for the generations to come."
"When Colin is strong enough I want you to help Hera monitor him." The pair stopped outside the main house and turned to face each other. "Go tell her of the Creevy's situation and show her to Colin. Draco will be fine with the kids for now. I don't know if it's best that they Weasley's see him right now. Especially with his father being Lucius."
"That's wise. Good luck Harry," said Hermione planting a kiss on his check and walking off.