Chapter 7 A Call to Arms
Thanks to alix33 and darrelldeam for looking this over. All mistakes are my own.
This is the last of my pre-written chapters, so updates will not be as fast. I'm glad you are enjoying my little story. Remember that they are all in the middle of a war, so emotions are going to run wild. They are scared, angry and some feel hopeless.
I don't really like this chapter. I feel there is something missing, but I've rewritten it three times and this was the best I could do. I hope you like it.
Hphphp
"That's it!" Harry shouted, turning on the two emotional men when the silence stretched for about five minutes. The teens surrounding him started at the noise. He felt useless and that was not a good feeling for him. He had always rushed to help, but these stupid adults were holding him back. He should've been there he could've helped. "I'm tired of hiding. I'm tired of you holding me back. People are dying. I need to do more. I can't just sit here and hope that Tom will just stop killing. I'm going to start training the students and whoever else wants to join. You can help me or don't. I'm done caring what you think. If you adults are going to do nothing, we kids are going to fight. Come on, guys," he snarled and stormed away, leaving two gobsmacked and angry men behind. The rest of the rescue team looked on in confusion, wondering what set the volatile teen off now.
"That was unfair of you, Harry. They've been working their arses off for days rescuing people. You shouldn't've said they were doing nothing," Fred chastised as he fell into step with Harry.
George nodded in agreement. "You need to get a hold of that temper of yours, Harrykins. You're taking it out on the wrong people."
Harry slumped his shoulders as he continued down the hall. "You're right, I'll apologize later. I'm just so frustrated. Every time we offer to help we're shunted aside. I'm seventeen years old, I should be going with them," he stated, running a hand through his hair, feeling a little guilty about snapping at Remus and Kingsley. What Fred said was true; they had been putting their lives on the line for days. Longer if you count all they've done for the Order in both wars with Tom.
"Okay, Harry, just don't alienate them, they'll be dead useful in a fight," Fred said, and then he fell back to talk to his twin.
"What are we going to do, Harry?" Neville asked as he moved up to where the twins had just vacated. He had left his parents in the care of the nurses. Seamus and Dean joined them, wanting to hear Harry's plans.
"Get the students or everyone who is not injured for that matter, and gather them in the courtyard. We're going to start training," Harry said as he made his way to the room they had stashed the treasures. "Send Patronuses or use the DA coin, if you still have it, call some house elves, but get them there soon. Tell them about the stuff we have here, so they can get warm clothes." He tore through the trunks, looking for the wands. He knew they would be needed.
"Alright, Harry, we'll get as many as we can," Neville said, and he jerked his head to the door and the rest of the group followed.
Harry found the wands and levitated the trunks behind him as he made his way to the sally. It was cold, and it was getting dark, but this was the largest place he could think of to give his speech and he wanted as many people as his friends could gather to hear him. If the others gathered everyone, they wouldn't fit in the dining room. He waved his wand and torches lit the area. He conjured a small platform near the low wall, stood and waited.
People started trickling in, bundled in whatever cold wear they could find, looking around the sally; with all the rescuing and moving about they had had little time to explore the keep. Many curious looks were thrown Harry's way, but he just stood silently, with his arms folded and waited. His face was set in a stony look, and he was ignoring the calls for information. This caused many to glare at him, but they didn't leave.
Remus, Tonks, Kingsley, Kyle and Arthur stood in the back to see what the teen would say. Harry flashed them a guilty look. They kept their faces stoic; well Kyle gave him a forgiving smile. Arthur just looked confused at the tension. Tonks glared at him, so Remus must have told her what was said. Harry just nodded, understanding they were upset and mouthed to them 'sorry'.
The professors stood by the Order's side, disapproval clear on their faces. Many of the ex-prisoners were also present; they all looked haggard and restless. Muggle-borns and half-bloods that hadn't been caught in the camps also were among the crowd. None of them looked happy, they didn't want to be standing in the cold and dark, listening to some kid, but they were prodded to join. The neutral pure-bloods stood to the side, but looked on with interest. Harry actually felt disappointed at the dividing of the people, but then again it had only been two days, damn, but it felt longer.
Students moved to the front and waited. Hermione, Ginny, Luna and surprisingly the Greengrass sisters, were also there. Susan Bones and the Creevey brothers stood with the rest of the DA. Ron was standing behind Hermione sneering at Harry.
"Thank you for coming, I know most of you had a long night last night, and today wasn't much better," Harry started as he gazed on the people before him. A lot of them looked to be in sad shape, it had been a long couple of days, and Harry had hoped to let them rest, but he just couldn't stand by any more. "I said some things earlier which were out of line, and I'm sorry about that," he nodded once again to the Order and then turned to the crowd. "I want to thank you for all the help you've given the healers and injured, but now that we have so many people it is time to get serious about this war."
He stood taller and put on a commanding air. "We cannot just hide here and hope the war goes away. We have to fight back. No more cowering in our homes or school or even Halstead. No more letting a small group of wizards run all over us. Each of you know how to use a deadly weapon." He held up his wand. "There is no excuse for not protecting yourself. No more, I say. Now is the time to fight back!" he shouted the last words and raised his wand in the air.
Some of the students and some adults cheered, but many of the adults and some of the teens looked leery. They had spent the last few months being tortured or in hiding, a lot of them were too worn out for them join a battle.
"What the hell do you know about war?" a scarred man demanded. "You have no idea what it's like being tortured, or losing a loved one," he stated, voicing the thoughts of many. They nodded their heads, while many people gasped in shock that anyone would say that to Harry Potter. After all, everyone knew his story.
"Are you bloody blind? I've lost my whole family to that vile snake!" Harry yelled back, his face red with anger, his body radiated power, making a wind kick up around him. "How many fucking times have you faced Vol… Tom? How many of you fell to his Crucio? Don't you bloody well tell me I don't know, arsehole!" he shouted, and those that knew Harry came to his defense, yelling at the man and making the teen feel a bit better.
Many of the doubters hung their heads in shame, sometimes it was easy to forget that the boy in front of them had faced the Dark Lord many times and come away mostly uninjured. It was so easy to believe what the Daily Prophet wrote about him.
"Look, I get it's been hard on a lot of you," Harry said, running a hand through his hair and trying to calm down, "but that should make you want to get revenge on those that hurt you or took your loved ones. You've called me your Chosen One, yet here I am ready to fight and you're not listening. You can't have it both ways, either I'm just some kid looking for attention or I'm the one who will win this war. You need to decide, but I can't win a war on my own, you must stand with me or we will lose. I've been the target of Tom's since I was fifteen months old. You know my story, or at least I thought you did. I have to do this. I plan on taking the war to them, or bringing them to us. I plan on getting back at those animals for taking my family and hurting my friends. Who will join me?" he called out.
"I'm with you, Harry," yelled Neville and many took up the cheer. Susan, the Creevey brothers and most of the DA, raised their wands. Kyle and a few in the back also called their support.
"Some of us don't have wands," a woman yelled from the middle.
Harry waved his hand to the trunks. "We found these on the eighth floor, there may be more up there, but you can go through these and see if they are a match, or close enough. Later. Right now we need to get organized; I have a plan to bring the Death Eaters to us. If we do it correctly and work together we can decimate Tom's forces. It won't work for long, but it will help in the end."
"How are you proposing to do that?" Remus called, not sure what the boy had planned. He didn't want the kids to fight, but looking at the assembled people it might just come to that and it would be better if they had support.
"We're going to show Tom why it's a stupid idea to put a taboo on your name. But first we have to figure out how to get the prisoners to the dungeons. I'm going to talk with Ashliegh and I would like as many of you who can raise a wand to start planning skirmishes. This area here is a good place to train, yeah it's a bit cold, but so will the battle be." He waved his arm around indicating the torch lit sally.
Many people grumbled and started whispering to their neighbors.
"Harry," Hermione called, getting everyone's attention, "we haven't been idle, those of us researching, we've come across some pretty nasty spells you can use. There are some old ones, which hopefully Tom doesn't know. There are rituals that will help increase ones magic core a bit and heal the exhausted. They won't make you super strong, or heal the injured, but they will give you an energy boost. According to the book I read they were used in times of war for warriors, right before a battle. The core spell only lasts a day or two, but it should help. We've taken note of all of them. Anyone who wants to learn them needs to get with us. I'm hoping some of the professors will teach them to the students and the healers," she said, looking at the adults in the back, who all had disapproving looks on their faces.
"I am not sure we should let a bunch…" that's as a far as McGonagall got before Harry interrupted her.
"I don't think you understand, Professor, there is no 'letting'. Those who stand with me are going to fight, with or without your help. You either join us or stay out of our way," Harry stated firmly, his arms folded and a very decisive look was on his face.
"Mr. Potter, I will have you know that just because you found this fortress does not mean you are in charge. Let the adults handle this," she said sternly, looking down her nose.
"Look around you, Professor. Take a good look at the students. We have trained together before, without you knowing, and we can and will do it again. There is nothing, nothing, you can say that will stop us." The DA all turned and looked at her defiantly.
McGonagall regarded the teens, their firm and determined faces and body stances confirmed that they would indeed just sneak about doing what they will. She shared a look of defeat with her fellow workers. "Alright, Mr. Potter, we will do what we can to help."
"Thanks," he nodded his head to her, and then looked over the crowd. "The rest of you do the same. Look around, there are about two hundred people here, four hundred if you count the injured, and most of you know how to use a wand. There are only about fifty to one hundred Death Eaters, and yeah they have some creature support, but we still outnumber them. Maybe Hagrid and a few others can see what resides in the woods, we might be able to get our own creature support," he looked at the half-giant, who nodded his head, then turned to talk to Charlie.
"I'll never understand why most of you never fought back before," Harry continued with a shake of his head, "but it doesn't matter right now, because now is the time to raise arms. We mean to fight dirty and hard, to kill as many as we can. This is not a duel, this will be a battle. If you can't kill then figure out a way to disable them enough that they can't fight back. Like I said, there are dungeons and we will find a way to get them there. This is war damn it, your friends and family are dying. You and your children were tortured. That vile snake can be killed, and we will find a way to do it. It is time we take back our world and show them that we are not cowards!" the teen yelled to the air, and he once more started pouring off power, making him look like a leader.
More people cheered, anger rushing over the crowd, making them want revenge for their lost loved ones and months of torture.
"You have my wand," Kyle repeated last night's statement. He would always fight by the lad's side.
"Mine too," Neville shouted, raising his wand in the air.
The call went out and most of those gathered took up the cheer.
"Okay, here are the wands, if you can't find one that fits check out the eighth floor and see if there are more. Hermione, you're going to have to tell the researchers about the Horcruxes," Harry called, making a few in the crowd gasp in horror, others just looked confused. The time for silence was over, bugger what Dumbledore said. "That's right; we believe Tom made about six of them. Two have been destroyed, one we have with us, and we need to find the rest. If you know anything about these monstrosities then get with Hermione, she has all the details. We need to either get a group together to hunt them or find another way to rid ourselves of them. But, it must be done before we take out Tom."
Hermione glared at him for not telling her he was going to do that, but turned away when Bill, Professor Flitwick and a few other people gathered to her side. That group split off and left for the library.
"We need to check out the towers, as far as I know no one has done that. A schedule needs to be set for patrol, think of it as a training exercise. There has to be a training schedule set up, so we can get back into shape. Learn and use the rituals the researchers have found. Everyone who will not fight should be trying to find things we can use, like a safe room for the children and injured, tunnels we can use to hide them, or see if there are any weapons for the muggles among us. Just do something helpful is all I ask. I'm going to talk with Ashliegh." And with that he stepped off the platform and made his way through the crowd.
Neville, Dean, Seamus, the twins, Ginny and Luna fell into step with him as they pushed their way through the people, who were either clapping him on the back or sneering at him. He didn't care anymore.
"That was some speech, Harry," Luna said as she skipped beside him. "You have to be careful when you try and raise mob mentality, it can turn on you," was her serious warning.
"I will, Luna, I don't expect to make many more speeches like that."
"Okay, Harry, just heed my warning," she nodded her head and then moved off to join the researchers.
Harry looked around to see what actions were being taken. McGonagall and some of the professors were talking with the Order and they were waving hands around as if they were talking about what was needed in the training area. He turned on his heel and made his way to them.
"Remus, Kingsley, can I talk to you a minute?" Harry asked the two men he insulted.
"Sure, Harry," Remus answered as they broke off from the group. Kyle winked and Tonks glared.
When they got far enough away, Harry turned to them sheepishly. "I am very sorry for what I said. It was completely out of line. I know you're brave and that you've risked your lives to save others. I am deeply ashamed of the way I acted." He hung his head and glanced at them through his fringe.
"You are right, you were completely out of line," Remus said, folding his arms across his chest with a look of grave disappointment. "Look, Harry, I do understand that you are frustrated, but tantrums like the one in the portal room, is one of the reasons we held you back from joining the rescue parties. We will help you kids train and we will try your plan to get the Death Eaters, but until you control your temper, we will do everything we can to keep you out of the fight," he stated firmly. This was not the gentle teacher from Harry's third year, this was a man who had seen battle and death and come away stronger for it.
"I get you're angry, but you can't keep me out of this. Tom is after me and he will come for me. There will be a battle between us, no matter what you do. The damn prophecy confirms that. I'm sorry for what I said, but I am serious about facing Tom," Harry stated as he lifted his head, determination etched his features.
"You know the prophecy?" Kingsley asked, putting his hand on the angry werewolf's shoulder.
"Yeah, Dumbledore told me right after Sirius died," Harry answered, cutting a look to Remus, whose face took on a look of sorrow. "It says something along the lines that I have some power the Dark Lord knows not and that we're the only ones that can kill each other. Well, that's what Dumbledore thought it meant." He shrugged his shoulders, he wasn't sure that that is what it meant, but he wasn't going to ignore it. If he could find this elusive power then he might stand a better chance.
"Do you know what this power is?" the dark-skinned Auror asked.
"Dumbledore said it is love, but I'm not sure about that," Harry said, rubbing the back of his head.
"Okay, well, like Remus said, we'll help you train, but you do need to get a hold of your temper," Kingsley warned and then led the other man away.
"Well, that didn't go as well as I hoped," the teen mumbled to himself as he rejoined the group. He looked around again and noted that all the adults seemed busy. The rescued people were milling around the trunks to see if there were any wands they could use, then they would wander and gather in groups to talk about what spells they knew. The DA was talking with them, letting them know what they learned from Harry. Hagrid was making his way to Harry, so the group stopped to hear what he had to say.
"'Arry, it's good ter see ya," the gentle half-giant said, clapping Harry on the back, causing the teen to stagger. "Listen, I'm goin' ter need ter go and get Grawp. 'E's got to be lonely right about now."
"How are you going to get back?" the dark-haired teen asked, worried about his first friend. "You can't bring Grawp through the portal." That would be a disaster waiting to happen.
"Ah, don't you worry about us. We'll find a way. We should be back in time to 'elp," Hagrid said with a big smile, which was mostly hidden by his bushy beard.
"Alright, Hagrid, just be careful, okay?" Harry said, knowing that there would be no talking him out of this. He had no idea where they were in relation to Hogwarts, so he was confused as to how Hagrid would make it back in time, but he wished his friend the best.
"Yer a good lad, 'arry." And with that Hagrid made his way to the gate to go and rescue his brother.
"Wait, what about the woods?" Harry called, making the large man turn.
"I talked ter Charlie and 'e's goin' go and see what beasties be lurking in them woods," Hagrid said, and then he turned back around and started his journey once again.
"I hope his makes it okay," Ginny fretted as the teens started once more to the fortress.
"I'm sure he will," Fred reassured her, putting his arm around her shoulders. George took the other side, and the teens went in search of the elusive ghost.
They got to the library and noted he wasn't there. Hermione, seeing them come in, stood and stalked to Harry, and she jammed a finger into his chest. "Why did you tell them about the Horcruxes?" she demanded in a hiss. "We were supposed to keep it a secret."
"Hermione, you are the bravest, brightest witch I know," Harry said sincerely, running a hand down her arm, "but even you can't do the work of dozens in just a few days. You have all these people to help, but they can't if they don't know what they're looking for. I'm sorry I sprung it on you, but I didn't want to get into an argument. 'It's better to ask for forgiveness, than to beg for permission', or something like that." He gave her a gentle smile and tucked one of her curls behind her ear.
"Merlin, you are horrible at quotes," she said, smacking his chest. "Fine, you're right, I do need the help. We're scouring the books in the Dark Magic sections. Bill knows ever so much about Horcruxes. He said they ran across many in Egypt. I think it'll help," she conceded, finding it hard to stay mad at him.
"Good to know. Hey, have you seen Ashliegh?"
"He was here a minute ago, but then he just drifted away."
"Damn. Tippy," Harry called.
"Master Harry is calling for Tippy," the elf squeaked as she popped into the room.
"Do you know where Ashliegh is?" the teen asked kindly.
She got a thoughtful look on her face and then smiled. "Master Ashliegh is being in the basement."
"Thanks. Are you glad for all the help now?" he asked a bit worried that she might not be, since she had been in control of the keep for so many years.
"Tippy is more happy than she has been in all her years," Tippy beamed, bouncing on her toes.
"Good, I'm glad. Thanks, Tippy." And the elf popped away. Harry turned to the group that had been following him. "I'm going to the basement, why don't you guys either get the spells Hermione found or talk to the teachers."
"We're going to go to the potions lab and see what we can conjure up," Fred said, pointing between him and his brother.
"Yeah, we did bring some stuff that'll help, but we're thinking on other things as well," George added.
"That's great," Harry exclaimed, knowing these two could come up with some pretty wicked stuff.
And with a nod of their heads the twins left.
"I think I'm going to go and talk to the researchers and see what they've come up with," Neville stated as he linked arms with Hermione and they turned to do just that. Dean and Seamus followed, waving to Harry as they left.
Ginny looked at Harry and said, "Do you mind if I join you? I'm a bit tired of researching."
"Not at all," the dark-haired teen answered and held out his arm in a gentlemanly fashion. "This way, my lady."
She giggled and took that arm, and the two of them set off to find Ashliegh. After wandering around the basement for a while, they found him near the dungeons. He was in the office that held the keys.
"Hey, Ashliegh, I haven't seen much of you lately," Harry greeted as he took one of the chairs that sat in front of a small wooden desk. There wasn't much to the office; a desk, three chairs, some cubby holes, and a wall of pegs that hung the keys. "This is Ginny," he added, waving to the redheaded girl beside him.
"We've met," Ginny stated, smiling at the ghost, who smiled back.
"Oh, well, anyway, I was wondering if you knew a way to get those with evil intent through the wards," Harry said, turning his attention to the spirit.
"I have been pondering on that since you first brought it to my attention. With the battle wards raised it will be difficult. However, I have come up with a solution that I believe will work. Do you recall how your bag had difficulty getting through the judgement archway?" Ashliegh asked as he drifted in place on the other side of the desk.
"Yeah, we had to tug it to get it through," the male teen answered, remembering that incident.
"I believe that if you can somehow turn these Death Eaters into objects then you should be able to get them through the wards."
"That is bloody brilliant," Harry said, excitedly as plans formed in his head. He'd have to talk to McGonagall, but it should work. "Come on, Ginny, we should get to dinner. I hope the house elves made some ham tonight."