Disclaimer: I own nothing of the Harry Potter characters.
A/N: Sorry for the wait, but I think you'll like. As promised, Harry catches a glimpse of Ginny Weasley.
Chapter twenty-two: Pre-Wedding Jitters
It was two days past the day when Hermione had delivered the news of Susan Bones' demise. It was also the day that she had preemptively planned for Ginny to arrive at the Foundation's seventh installation, having waited to give Harry a chance to come to terms with Susan's loss without the distraction of Ginny's presense.
No one could guess how he'd respond to yet another loss in his life, especially of someone to whom he'd once had a serious relationship with and might have committed to if not for another cruel twist of fate.
He'd handled it admirably, at least on the outside. Though not expected, Harry had joined his friend's for breakfast the next day and spent the majority of his time reconnecting with them and enjoying "playtime with his many surrogate nieces and nephews.
He smiled easily, and joked good naturedly though his smile did not quite reach his eyes and his jokes were half heartedly delivered, but he was trying and that's all that mattered to anyone.
He needed the human contact and everyone appreciated it as he genuinely seemed interested in their lives and welfare,.. and he was.
Hermione watched him closely during his many exchanges, watching for some crack in his veneer that could shatter, but it never came.
She did watch in concern as every once in awhile his eyes drifted out of focus, but he quickly reoriented himself and soldiered on. His maturity both intrigued and unsettled her, though she wondered if it was more that she felt threatened in that he did not need her to be his conscious now as he once did.
Every once in a great while he'd scan around family gatherings, absently searching and it was at these times that her heart went out to him the most. She knew he was searching for Ginny, whether he consciously knew it or not. It seemed cruel in the face of his current adversity to not reassure him that Ginny's arrival was imminent.
She consoled herself with the knowledge that it was only one more day and then they would see what they would see. Hopefully, Ginny could lift his flagging spirits more than even the children had been able to, though he valiantly did not betray himself to them and was sincerely enjoying his time and benefitting from it, albeit marginally.
It was eight a.m. when Ginny port keyed into what could only be described as... utter chaos! Her initial disappointment to find only Hermione present to receive her was quickly over looked by the scrambling uniformed personnel around her and the alarm claxons blaring throughout the facility.
"Come with me!" Hermione shouted over the din, dragging her along by her arm before Ginny could so much as ask her sister in-law what was going on, though she didn't need to as Hermione quickly explained.
"The facility's been on full alert for the past hour. They're responding to something called...?"
"This is a Dead Light Emergency. I repeat a Dead Light Emergency. Alpha and Omega teams report to Transport Bay one in full field armor- on the double. All available medical personal are to report to Trauma bays 1-3 expect incoming casualties within the hour. We will be going to live feed in ten minutes. I repeat ten minutes. This is not a drill."
"Oh no" Hermione moaned in concerned response to the announcement.
"What... what is it, what's happening,.. and what's a 'Dead Light' emergency?"Ginny managed to gasp out as Hermione continued dragging her along.
"I don't know what a "Dead Light" emergency is but I do know that Alpha and Omega teams are the twins' units. Your mum will be beside herself with worry." Hermione twisted her head back catching her sister's eyes worriedly.
"W-What... What else, 'Mione?" Ginny pulled back turning her sister in-law and best friend around to face her, knowing there was more than that worrying Hermione.
"Initially,...Harry went to investigate a report of a small village destroyed about a eighty kilometers south-southwest of Hawassa."
"Hawassa, where's that, and where are we for that matter? It's bloody sweltering in here." Ginny asked curiously, glad she taken Hermione's advice and dressed for a warm climate by wearing a short, but somewhat modest, pale blue sundress and sandals.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "The air conditioning was turned off when they transferred all non essential power to the emergency systems." She answered in part.
"Air conditioning?" Ginny asked puzzed.
"Honestly, Ginny,.. didn't you pay attention during muggle studies?" Hermione chuffed, going on to explain. "Air conditioning is how muggles cool down homes and buildings during extremely warm weather. It's unseasonably warm outside for us, but not for this country. The Foundation's seventh installation, that we now occupy, is located some eight kilometers southwest of Saka, Madagascar,.. and Hawassa, getting back on track, is in Ethiopia." She informed her young friend.
Ginny's eyes went wide in surprise. "You mean this is near the Marauders stadium?" she asked incredulously.
Hermione nodded. "Right next door in fact. It's under some specialized form of fidelus charm that Harry developed.
Ginny eyes took in the expanse of the building that they'd already trodden through for several minutes, to where Hermione was leading her she didn't know. "But it's huge! How could he possibly...?"
Hermion stopped briefly and fixed her friend and sister with an incredulous glare.
"Um, right, Harry Potter,.. er Magical Knight and all that." Ginny concluded sarcastically.
Hermione grabbed her hand and tugged her along again as she continued to explain previous events.
"As I was saying... Harry left early this morning after command received an emergency call from the national parks ranger service from Tama. All command level personal take turns manning Knight Watch's emergency com on the night shift and it was just dumb luck that it was Harry's turn in the rotation, though I don't actually believe that scenario? Anyway... Harry took the assignment himself rather than wake Gamma team..."
Three Hours Ago...
"Harry, er I mean, Commander Potter," the young corporal manning the helpline amended nervously. "We just received a report of a village destroyed some eighty kilometers south- southwest of Hawassa, Ethiopia."
"Survivors?" harry asked pensively, though the pale expression on the young corporal's face already told the story.
"None reported thus far, sir. The rangers from the Tama Wildlife Reserve report that the village is a total loss, but they're still searching for survivors. Should I send the Gamma team in to investigate?"
"Negative, corporal,.. Klemen, is it?" Harry managed to remember, as evidenced by the young corporal's chin rising up proudly in response to his question. "I'll take this one myself." Harry decided. He was itching to get out and do something rather than brood over what might have been.
"Y-You sir?" The corporal questioned nervously. "B-But , sir, command protocol requires..."
Harry interuppted, "Wake Captain Chang and apprise him of the situation. He'll relieve me until day shift reports in. I'll maintain contact via com ling q 30 minute intervals."
"Affirmative, sir. Q-30 minutes." The young man verified. "Oh,.. and sir...?" he stammered out emboldened by Harry having known his name.
'Yes"
"Good Hunting, sir." The corporal wished him good luck.
Harry nodded, flashing the young man an appreciative grin that had the corporal puffing his chest out a tad more.
Harry reached out with his empathic senses, letting them surround and invade every fiber of his being until he got a fix on a primordial sense of terror and confusion some several hundred kilometers north-northwest of his present location. Deciding this was the most likely area of emergency, Harry disappeared from the command center in a concentrated burst of flame and smoke.
First dawn's light was just filtering over the horizon, casting its warm glow over the ruin of a once peaceful village. Shredded remains of clapboard building and thatch roof huts littered the area. Of the goat and cattle herds for which this region made its livelihood, few such animals remained, of people; nothing, but a severed limb here and there, and a crushed body or two. Most looked as if they were the grisly remains of a horrific meal.
At dawn, Harry and the Tama Rangers swept the area searching for tracks, with the vain hope that a survivor or two might be found as well, though he held little hope for this as Harry's senses discerned nothing of human life in the surrounding area. The terror and confusion he'd sensed prior to arrival, was moving northward about ten clicks out and moving faster than any human, save himself, and perhaps Draco. Whatever it was, it seemed to be searching for something, becoming more and more desperate and erratic as it failed to locate the object of its search.
They considered beginning their search that night, but that would have only served to make them vulnerable to whatever leveled the village, should it return, so they erred on the side of safety and waited the hour and some minute till sunrise to begin their search grid.
The tracks proved easy, all one had two was follow the trail of blood, which was what one such ranger did until he fell in a shallow hole and broke his ankle. The hole turned out to be the track of their quarry. Though Harry had never encountered one, he knew what the track was the moment he viewed it... Nundu.
It was an easy enough fix, Harry cast a bone knitting charm that readily returned the ranger to full mobility. That done, he assumed command and had the two rangers continue to search the area for survivors while he went on to track the party responsible for the village's destruction.
They were capable men, but this was over their heads as they were non-magicals and would prove only to serve as a distraction at the least, and collateral damage at worse, once they came up against their quarry.
Harry reported in that he was continuing the search, but withheld informing Knight Watch that he was pursuing a nundu. By the depth and distance of the tracks, it was obviously a young, perhaps even juvenile nundu of no more than twenty-twenty-five feet in length.
He felt confident that Ebon could effectively handle a nundu that size should he be unable to reason with the creature and glean a peaceful resolution.
Once out in the open, Harry made several small,( line of sight), apparition jumps to avoid splinching himself at the least, materializing in a tree or rock at worst; neither would be a good occurrence in this predatory clime. One wrong move and he was an appetizer, magic or no. There were more dangerous things than him out here.
The territory was mostly open grass land with sparse outcroppings of trees and even sparser areas of water or even denser forest cover that he took care in avoiding as the local wildlife didn't need any encouragement to enjoy a fresh platter of 'Harry Tar-Tar'. Besides, what he was tracking was too big to conceal itself in small forests, usually nundu's habituated desert areas tunneling underground during the hot sun and oppressive heat of day, emerging only to mate or hunt in the cool evenings and even then on rare occasions.
Why this one hadn't tunneled after consuming an entire village was a mystery as nundu's hibernated for months, years even, after gorging themselves.
Normally he'd let a nundu kill pass as it was a rare occurrence and usually only involved livestock or native animals to the region, never humans. This one, however, had killed humans. It was a man killer and once such creatures crossed that line they never went back.
Usually a nundu who preyed on humans did so out of confusion and desperation, such as an old animal who could not readily hunt anymore and humans proved too easy prey. Wounded animals sometimes struck out at humans in the confusion of their pain and terror, but those were more random and isolated attacks, usually just a person or few in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Neither, was the case for the young nundu he was tracking. This was a rogue that had deliberately struck down an entire village and consumed its inhabitants to a man, and now; rather than burrowing and entering into a state of hibernation, this one was moving on, seeking more prey.
No... he could not, dared not let this go, nor could he transfer the creature to a safe enclosure such as the one at Knight Watch Seven as this one was a man killer and would always seek human prey.
Lives came first.
The only humane and safe course was to put the creature down now-hard and fast.
Knowing instinctively that he was closing in on his target, Harry transformed into Ebon and took to the air to reconnaissance the valley ahead.
It was Merlin's own luck that he had thought to do so as when he hovered over the bluff rim of the valley- the nundu struck!
Having to come in low over the ridgeline cost him dearly as planned to avoid the thermals that would launch him skyward and alert his quarry to the Obsidian dragon's position once the sun cast his shadow across the valley floor.
His fifty foot altitude was as nothing to the beast as it launched itself up from beneath the rocky ledge, he was passing over, with a feral howl of challenge. Wicked claws tore across his right flank grazing his ribs to the bone. Thankfully, the damn thing had missed his wings or he'd now be filling the creature's belly on the valley floor below.
He managed to twist himself away from the wickedly hooked feline claws and hit the nundu's flank with a blast of emerald fire that did little more than knock the nundu aside and scorch away its fur, leaving red scorched hide in its wake, but nothing debilitating as the creature's own superior reflexes allowed it to get out of the way.
Exceeding only in earning himself a moment's distraction, he beat his wings furiously gaining altitude as fast as possible.
The nundu immediately sprang back into the air to try and catch him before he was out of reach,... and nearly did! The same thermals, he was trying to avoid initially, pulled him aloft and the nundu's claws raked empty air, missing by little more than a scant meter or two.
Ebon glided on the thermals some two hundred meters up whilst the great cat tracked him with its yellow eyes, growling low in its throat, daring him to close the distance between them.
What little he'd read about the creatures and their immense size did not do it justice. It was obviously a juvenile some twenty-three feet in length by his estimate, (not including tail). Perhaps it was just weaned or somehow separated from its mother and forced to begin hunting on its own without a proper role model? That might account for the confusion and sense of desperate longing he sensed from the creature, despite the danger of the situation he was in.
It looked mostly like a large jungle cat, only the head was different. It had rich tan and spotted fur like that of a leopard with a long tail. Its head, though, was its most unsettling characteristic. Its head was flat and triangular in shape with yellow feral eyes set to either side and slathering jaws that dripped thick green venom that wafted out in a gaseous cloud whenever the thing exhaled.
Despite its immense size and speed, it was the nundu's poisonous breath that was its deadliest feature. It was a level six poison, second only to Basilisk venom. Only other nundus and dragons were immune to it: Dragons because their blood ran through their bodies like molten lava burning away any impurities or invading organisms before they could take hold and cause damage. Dragons were the only creatures alive that were immune to all forms of disease and infection because of this.
But even Dragons could be killed by other predators. Harry had proved the truth of this himself.
His lwounded side seared painfully with each beat of his wings and he knew he would not be able to maintain his animagus form much longer. He was just about to withdraw and call for reinforcements when his dragon sight caught the reflection of a distant roofline just beyond the western rim of the canyon they were in.
Another village lay not more than three or four kilometers away.
He couldn't risk withdrawing as the nundu was clearly making for the village ahead and many more lives would be lost before he could return with reinforcements.
Live Came First
He vainly wished he could at least use his ambient magic to heal his torn side, but he could only rely on his creature's own inherent abilities once in his animagus form.
He had at best one, possibly two gouts of flame left at his disposal before he ran dry and it was iffy at best that it would prove enough to seriously wound, let alone slay the beast below him. That was if he was even lucky enough to score a direct hit. Given the way the creature moved- he seriously doubted it.
The direct approach it is.
Ebon glided to the far side of the canyon, aware the nundu was predatorily tracking him. At the last possible second before he slammed into the western rim, he transformed back into Harry and apparated to the floor of the valley, all too aware that the nundu was heading his way at impossible speed, eager to make the kill.
Harry used his elemental abilities, summoning lightning from a clear blue sky. Lightning bolts rained down between himself and the rapidly approaching nundu, but the beast lithely avoided being hit by zigzagging as it came with acute feline grace. Earth and rock sprayed upward from each searing impact but did nothing to impede the creature's progress. In fact in only seemed to add to the thrill of the hunt and spur it on.
Harry launched a wandless spread of the most powerful reductors he'd ever conjured. Only one managed to connect; knocking the creature to its side, though its massive body twisted impossibly in the air avoiding most of the hit. Landing on all fours it roared a challenge and sprang forward once more.
He was about to apparate out of its path to regroup, before the thing crushed him against his rocky backdrop, when an idea struck.
Harry launched another spread only this time it was high powered, second year level- confundus charms .
One or two of the charms hit the mark as the creature was so close that it couldn't avoid all the lights streaking its way. Confused- it surged forward, slamming into the cliff wall and knocking itself silly, Harry having apparated behind the oncoming creature at the last possible instant.
Good Kitty!
Seizing the brief moment of opportunity, before the dazed creature could regain its senses, Harry struck hard and fast. He transformed into Ebon and hit the nundu's hindquarters with a full stream of searing dragon fire pouring on every last ounce he possessed.
The giant cat screamed and arched itself up, trying to get away from the flame.
Perfect
Ebon's wings beat furiously as he launched himself forward. Talons extended and gouged deeply into the nundu's flanks as his jaws came down and clamped on the back of the nundu's fur covered neck.
Ebon had just barely managed to pull his wings back to his body when the cat threw itself over, twisting and turning in its agony as it tried to dislodge the dragon before it's powerful jaws could finish their work.
The great cat rolled over and over, twisting and undulating as its claws scrabbled uselessly trying in futile to reach the dragon clamped on its back. Once the damn thing actually was able to twist far enough around that its poisonous jaws actually grazed his flank.
Though immune from the full effect, it still burned like the devil as the poison lanced through his body, setting his nerves on fire.
Ebon growled through the pain, biting down in renewed fury. Finally it's razor sharp teeth found bone and with a last horrific –Crack, the nundu mewled piteously and went limp lifelessly beneath his talons.
He held on a few more agonizing minutes until the last beats of its tail finally ended and a last breath escaped its maw.
Ebon wearily pulled itself back and away, transforming back into Harry, who lost his footing and fell unceremoniously to his backside in exhaustion, his hand instinctively bracing his torn ribcage.
"Whew! That was one mean pussy."
It was many minute before he found the strength to pull himself to his feet and many more before he regained his breath to report in.
One Hour Ago...
Captain Chang and Knight Watch's day staff waited pensively for Harry's update as he was already fifteen minutes over due to report in.
Captain Chang was just about to send Gamma team in to his last reported location when the com crackled to life and Harry's welcome voice sounded over the com speaker.
"Knight Watch Seven this is Phoenix- over"
"This is Seven, Phoenix- Chang here, go ahead-over" Captain Chang acknowledge in obvious relief at hearing Harry's voice
"Chang...This is Phoenix. Report juvenile nundu destroyed. Please send harvest and cleanup crew to my location- over."
Gasps of both wonder and alarm filled the command center before Captain Chang growled his staff to silence and activated the com.
"Acknowledged-Phoenix. Report on status-Over." Chang asked in concern, knowing Harry, all too well.
"K-Knight Watch..." Chang became more concerned at hearing the catch in Harry's voice and his labored breathing over the com link before he continued..."Report...w-wound to right flank...ribs exposed...blood loss..marginal..-Holy shite!"
Harry sudden swear of alarm was drowned out by a titanic roar that blasted over the com system, hands immediately covered ears lest the sound burst their eardrums.
The staff barely recovered when Harry's frenzied voice came over the comlink. The extreme alarm in his voice was something that none of them had ever heard before. It moved some of them to instant action, others it froze in dread as they momentarily considered what could possibly cause Harry Potter to panic.
"Second nundu! Adult Female... Dead... Lights?...D-Dead Light Emergency!- my location. Send all available- Ungh!..."
Alarm claxons sounded throughout Phoenix Foundation's seventh installation as command announced the emergency while pale sweating faces sat in impotent horror listening to the sound of the battle raging over the still active com-link.
Hardened staff members actually shuddered at the sound of thunder as lighning strikes pelted the ground causing the com-link to crackle ominously with every strike. A dragon's roar split the air and the staff hoped that Harry had successfully transformed to Ebon and had reached the safety of air.
Their hopes were dashed when phoenix song followed the roar and they knew he'd drawn his fabled sword.
"Christ.. he's taking that on with a sword?" Chang growled in shocked dread.
"Here Kitty-Kitty..." Harry's voice echoed with dubious intent over the com, eliciting a few snickers despite the dire circumstances.
Another horrific roar peeled over the air followed by an unsettling, rumbling of the earth.
"Awe, the kitty's buried itself in its sandbox." Harry grumbled disappointedly, causing several staff members to laugh out loud and shake their heads ironically. Only Harry could joke facing something like that.
"Get Draco and the rest of the knights up here-now!" Chang demanded, his people jumping to obey as he barked out orders. "Notify all Knight Watch facilities of situation. Route every available agent to this location-Priority-One! Full battle gear and broom sticks. Get Potter's team down to the refuge, I want the entire wing airborne in ten minutes. Move people!"
Present Time...
"Come on, Ginny, quit dawdling." Hermione complained tugging her sister in-law by the wrist down yet another long hallway with people ducking in and out of doors in various states of undress.
To the casual observer all this activity would appear utter chaos, but to the practiced eye, these people were moving with military precision. They knew what they were about.
"Where are we going?" Ginny asked in exasperation as her head swiveled back and forth trying to take everything in, knowing that she would be lucky just too remember the location of that last loo they'd passed.
"To see your brothers off." Hermione explained, tugging Ginny along. "I thought you might like to see them in their true element, besides we need a quick word with Draco before he leaves and I don't think we have more than a minute to spare?"
They entered a room at the end of the hall that for all intents and purposes appeared to be an oversized sports locker.
Before they rounded the corner, Ginny could hear a familiar voice worriedly mothering over the din around them.
"Oh, you will be careful now won't you boys?" Molly whined.
Ginny rounded the locker that opened up into what appeared to be some form of briefing room. Her twin brothers were already garbed in what appeared to be Basilisk hide armor. To Ginny's startled eyes, her brother George quided his sword into its scabbard, over his right shoulder, that spoke of a deadly practiced ease, while her brother Fred rolled his eyes and answered his mother in a condescending tone...
"Oh, of course, we'll be careful mother, it's only a bloody nundu!"
"A can of tuna or two and a nice squishy toy for good measure and it'll be eating out of our hands." George added sarcastically, while his brother added with a chuckle.
"Works like a charm every time. I was thinking of getting one for Katie as a wedding gift. They're good protectors and great with kids."
Ginny snorted at that.
Just then Katie came by and threw in her own comment. "I'd like a male cub. They're more easily manipulated , but a little slow to house train, just like the rest of the gender."
Alicia and Angelina followed in her wake chuckling at Fred's expense.
"What?" Molly Weasley shrieked at seeing their partners in armored uniforms, "But the ladies aren't going into.. I mean.. you're.. you're not.. er, fighting?" she stammered worriedly.
"Course not. We're just going along to keep the boys out of mischief." Angelina threw in with a chuckle.
Arthur pulled his panicking wife aside to calm her while team members finished outfitting themselves and Draco entered from a side room with his wife/second, following close on his heels.
Draco's armor was much the same as the rest of the team members assembling, ecept that he wore a night black breast plate with silver accents that depicted scenes of battles he'd distinguished himself in.
Even though she knew better from seeing the changes in his personality over the years, Ginny was still surprised that Draco didn't display even the slightest hint of his former arrogance, despite his current distinguished rank.
"Lt. Weasley?"
"Sir" George steeped forward smartly coming to attention, taking a heartbeat to throw a sympathetic look at his twin's lesser rank insignia.
Fred grumbled under his breath, keeping his comments to himself.
"George, with Phoenix already engaged on site, you're in command. You you've got Fiona and the wing. I want Omega team in the air as of two minutes ago."
"Sir, yes, sir" George confirmed before turning to several others and barking out. " All right you lot, you heard the man. I'll take Fi, Alli you're on Thrasher, Gary..."
George finished his instructions while Draco ordered Alpha team to collect their brooms and meet at apparition point-Charlie.
George and seven others passed a gapping Ginny and her escort on their way to the refuge. George having stopped for a second to pat his sister's surprised head and offer "Bout time you showed up, squirt."
Ginny swatted at his hand, but he continued by undaunted, laughing over his shoulder as he and his team hurried off.
Fred and and Katie took a moment to give Molly a kiss on the cheek, then threw a wave toward Ginny and took off in the direction that the rest of their team had gone.
Draco held back for a brief moment to address Hermione and Ginny.
"Sorry, for the reception, but duty calls." He offered unapologetically as he was just stating a fact of their life.
Before Ginny could reply. "I hope you feel like getting your hands dirty, cause we're going to need all the help we can get. Hermione, would you take our guest up to medical-one, please."
"Yes, sir." Hermione answered, which also surprised Ginny by the respectful tone that she addressed Draco in.
Draco nodded and hurried off, throwing over his shoulder, "Welcome aboard."
"All teams apparate on my mark... Three...Two... One...GO!" Captain Chang's voice came over a nearby loud speaker as Ginny and Hermione hurried down another one of Knight Watch's endless corridors.
"Alright... we're live people. "Knight Two-report"
Draco's voice came back over the com in a hushed tone.... "We're elevating to 1-5-0 meters per Phoenix's order via hand signal. Bubble head charms everyone- Remember-Poisonous breath! Command...Will report back once have reached indicated altitude...
Several moments later...
"Command we are above a canyon like area, some fourteen to fifteen kilometers in diameter Sandy terrain with sparse foliage and many rocky outcroppings. Phoenix is on the ground near what appears to be a sink hole some two hundred meters in diameter. I think target has gone subterranean? Having all teams flank edges of Canyon, setting sentries out ten clicks in case target has breached containment area. Awaiting further instructions..? "
"Command here. Report on Phoenix's status?"
Ginny pulled up needlessly at that, as Hermione too stopped to hear what would obviously be Draco's assessment of Harry's condition.
Both held their breath waiting.
... "He relays that he's grounded... link is disabled- needs to relay via hand signals. Says we should maintain radio silence between each other as target is just below the surface and he thinks it's waiting for us to breach target area so that it can intercept. Says it's twenty plus meters in length, not including tail. Can jump vertical approximately one hundred meters, with length that gives approximately 120 meters in reach. I repeat, 1-2-0. Speed and strength not affected by Dead Light status. In fact... is more resilient. Phoenix reports that Reductors- no effect? " They could hear Draco's surprise at that as he whistled ominously beteen his teeth.
... "Carcass of dead nundu near western rim, appears juvenile, approx ten meters, non Dead Light. He relays that he thinks the adult was the real perpetrator of the village's destruction and the juvenile was merely the cub searching for/trailing its mother. He thinks it was used to...Bait him?
There was a long pause as the command center personnel shared worried looks at that, before Chang re-asked..."Understood, two,... but was is Phoenix's present condition?"
"Affirmative base, but he's not cooperating, switching to field glasses. ...
Hermione and Ginny rolled their eyes- typical Harry Potter, some things never change.
"Appears to have several deep lacerations with possible multiple rib fractures on right flank. He's got that wrapped up pretty well and says he's already gone through his field issued blood replenishers and healing draughts. The bleeding's slowed, but by condition of bandages, I'd say it hasn't stopped altogether. His armor is torn out near left knee and he's favoring that leg, but he claims he's still field operational. Of course he thinks so." Draco groused sarcastically at that.
A few snorted at that before Chang returned, "Two...Can he evac?"
... "Negative, base, Can't risk transforming to Ebon either, says the..er...'Dead Kitty'.. is waiting for him to make just such a move He''ll never clear the distance he needs before the cat strikes."
Hermione and Ginny looked at each other and both mouthed a puzzled..'Dead Kitty'?
"Two.. be advised Omega is five minutes out and closing. If they come in hot, can one of your flyers pull Phoenix out of there?"
After several moments of static, Draco's voice came back pensively as he relayed Harry's signals.
"Phoenix says he's got an idea... Have Omega hit on his mark... He wants them to...You want them to what?" Draco's voice echoed disbelievingly.
Ginny and Hermione , along with the rest of the Knight Watch facility broadcasting the encounter were sharing amused glances if not outright snorting their amusement at Draco's one sided relayed conversation with Harry and the jeering laughter from the other Team members they could hear nearby him over the com. Whatever Harry had wanted had them in stitches.
... "What'll that do? ...Piss it off? Well, of course that'll piss it off!...Idiot" they could hear Draco grumble under his breath, not meaning to broadcast that last remark.
After a few more exchanged hand signals, Draco broadcasted. "Say,.. that's not a bad idea. A bit disgusting, but yeah,.. I think that just might work!"
"Base,... Phoenix says he thinks the , er,..Dead Kitty, is targeting him specifically. If we all leave, he thinks it'll continue on to the next village and the next and so on,.. until we're forced to intervene, but by then it will have added a lot of mass and power from all those poor souls.."
Hermione came up short at that. "Dead...Kitty... mass... power... and 'poor souls'?" her eyes went out of focus and Ginny could see the wheels turning as she put the pieces together from their vague relays over the com.
"OMIGOD!"
"W-What is it... what's going on, 'Mione?" Ginny asked nearly panicked by Hermione alarmed expression.
Before Hermione could answer, Chang returned over the com... "Under stood- two.. continue..."
"Phoenix thinks if the rest of us just leave, the thing will wait him out and when he either succumbs to his wounds and/or exhaustion, or risks trying to flee by air... the thing will have him and he can't draw on his elemental abilities because he's nearly tapped out and he can't recgarge as the only other sources nearby are us and the Dead Kitty. It being already dead makes it unviable as an energy source and he won't risk weakening us..."
"Agreed" Chang returned, his voice resolved. "What's Phoenix suggest?"
"He suggests first and foremost leaving him?" Draco returned pensively.
Hermione and Ginny both whimpered in dismay at that, sharing foreboding looks with one another.
They both sighed in relief when command returned..."That's not an option. Are we clear?"
"Crystal, and that's what I already told him." Draco returned; one could hear the sigh of relief in his tone.
"Second option?" Chang asked.
"We don't have enough personnel to drive it to the surface and frankly I don't really know what that would take, but Phoenix has a rather,.. ah,.. unique idea about that. He thinks it's waiting just under the surface of the sink hole that marks where it went under, so he suggests we, er, encourage it to want to leave."
"How?" Chang pressed, sounding puzzled.
More guffaws of laughter could be heard around Draco as he continued..."He's going to use what remaining elemental energy he's got left to crumble the sink hole inward. At that moment he wants to have the entire wing ..er... defecate and urinate down the hole,... to er... flush the thing out."
Despite the dire circumstances, the whole of Knight Watch could hear the entire command center chortling at that. Hermione and Ginny too, were propped against the wall, with their arms supportively wrapped around their middles to brace the ache from side splitting laughter.
"P-Proceed" came Chang's reply. You could just hear the slight catch in his voice as the man struggled not breach decorum by laughing outright, but it was a near thing.
"Affirmative" Draco confirmed with a long suffering drawal in his voice.
Draco immediately started barking out orders, all pretense aside at remaining silent now that it was decided to try and lure the beast out.
"Alpha and Gamma; blasting hexes on my mark. Aim for the legs people and give it everything you have. Beta and Kappa-piercing hexes- go for the eyes...I repeat- concentrate your fire on the eyes.
Knight Two to Knight Five..."
"Knight Five here-over"
"Jimmy, once the beast is clear, you make a run at Harry's position. I want him out of there and evac'd A.S.A.P. Do not engage. I repeat-Do not engage-Phoenix is highest priority."
"You've got it- two"
"Three and Four hang back two kilometers between our present location and next village. If 'Dead Kitty' breaches containment zone then you and our sentries are last line of defense. Delaying tactics only until reinforced-copy?"
"Three here- copy that two. Four and I are on the way. Good hunting two."
"Weasley...?"
"Here –two. ETA one minute, coming in from south, south-east rim."
Proceed immediately to target, and again... have the wing give it all they've got and then apparate to safe location and reengage on broom stick-copy?"
"R-Roger that." Returned George with a chuckle.
"Phoenix- one minute to delivery."
The whole of Knight Watch went eerily quiet as everyone waited anxiously for the battle to begin. Some could be observed offering a quick prayer for their friends, others checked and re-checkied their instrument panels to give nervous hands something to do. Chang paced anxiously back and forth with his hands clasped behind his back so as not to let anyone see them tremble worriedly.
A deep rumbling sounded over the com growing ominously as the second hand approached the indicated minute mark.
"Christ, Harry? " Draco's voice shouted over the din created by Harry's mini earthquake.
"Now,George!"
"It's away!" George's voice announced over the com.
"Good, God,... what a stench!... Check.. delivery,.. Look out down there..."
"Sorry, Harry..." Came Alicia's somewhat unapologetic reply followed by another round of guffaws that didn't last long as the rumbling grew to horrific proportions followed by an ear splitting roar of rage.
"Holy mother,.. get clear- Omega! Reductors and Piercers- now!"
All of Knight Watch sat stunned as they listened to the raging battle. Reductors boomed liked muggle bombs going off, each accompanied by snarls and shrieks of rage and pain from the nundu as they impacted.
"It's working...its working..." Draco shouted over the battle."Jimmy, start your run..check fire people...Kappa join Gamma and pour everything into its left flank. Keep driving it away from Phoenix ...Jimmy- look out!"
...
Jimmy Collins was almost to Harry's position when the nundu's tail lashed out knocking him from his broom,(which shattered on impact), and sent him skidding across the harsh sand and tearing stones.
"Christ, no!" Draco swore out in horror, reporting. "Knight five is down. I repeat - five is down."
"I-Is he still alive?" came Chang's urgent question.
"Unknown?"
"Phoenix is still priority one. Acknowledge?"
"Understood... Weasley have the wing drop its flame between nundu and Harry's position. Keep it off Phoenix until we can get him out of there." Draco ordered "Kappa and Gamma try to, no.. it's going for Five!" Draco shrieked in alarm.
The entire base could hear the unmistakable snarls of predatory delight as the giant cat pounced.
The battle roar of dragon split the air, followed by titanic feline scream of pain as Harry's sword was rammed into the beast's tail, pinning it to the valley floor, before it could pounce on Jimmy Collins undefended form.
Phoenix song echoed from the mystic blade as the enraged beast turned on Harry. This nundu was a gigantic copy of the juvenile, only its fur was lank and lifeless and its eyes cast an eerie 'dead light' glow that could only be described as twin portals into hell.
The beast pivoted toward its impaled appendage hissing and snarling. The dead glow of its eyes caught and held a now defenseless, Harry Potter, in its gaze.
"H-Harry... Harry ...no..." Draco's distraught voice begged over the com.
The nundu loomed up over Harry, its fangs dripping venom intending to rend him asunder. If the initial strike didn't kill him, the venom surely would.
It's slathering jaws extended as they struck, only Harry transformed into Ebon and launched himself into the oncoming feline's fury.
Night Black talons impaled themselves over the creature's face, scrabbling and clawing for purchase.
The cat shrieked and howled as it twisted itself over and clawed with its back feet, trying to dislodge its assailant.
Ebon's right wing was caught against the ground and snapped at the joint. A roar split the air as he raged against the pain and redoubled his efforts, managing to tear out the beast's left eye with his hind legs while his fore limbs tore at the creature's face and his fangs sunk in again and again at the back of the creature's neck trying in fervor to reach its spine.
The nundu growled low in its throat, more in fear than defiance, at this point. It lurched to the left, its legs buckling as its strength failed on that side, but it hit the ground with such force that Ebon was dislodged and tumbled away. When he came to a rest at the edge of the sinkhole, he transformed back into Harry, who had been unable to hold the form of his animagus any longer, his magical reserves waning.
Too drained to even apparate away, his back to the edge of the sinkhole; Harry rose unsteadily, intending to meet his fate on his feet.
Though severely weakened himself; the cat clawed its way forward intending to avenge itself before it succumbed as curses rained down on its hind quarters, the rest of the Knight Watch battle group trying desperately to destroy or drive the cat off its intended target.
Harry stared up into the fading 'dead light' of the beast's right eye and spit his last, vowing that: "In the end you will lose." Talking to the perpetrator of this madness.
With a last snarl, the Nundu's fangs descended, lacing his left shoulder as he tried unsuccessfully to twist out of the way at the last second.
Leathern wings and roars of rage shattered the valley air as an entire Dragon Wing hit and tore into the creature before it could turn and finish the job, not that it mattered; the nundu venom was already burning its way thru Harry's veins.
Though severely weakened the enormous cat gave as good as it got. One dragon; A Ukrainian ironbelly, was torn asunder by one swipe of the beast claws. Another, a Swedish short snout, was thrown from the nundu's back and tumbled into the sinkhole, sucked under to its doom.
Enraged by the loss of their comrades, the remaining five tore into the cat with a vengeance. Great gouts of fur and flesh went flying through the dust filled air.
...
Draco and his companions watched with horror filled eyes, trying to see thru the dust cloud to hopefully retrieve Harry, before he was crushed, in the melee filled with titanic thrashing limbs and roars of primal fury. Finally, blessedly, the thrashing stopped and the dust began to settle.
B-Base... this is two... prepare Med Bay One to receive casualties" Draco's voice ghosted emotionlessly over the com.
Several shared worried looks, having been able to follow much of the battle by Draco's narration.
A low keening wail filled the com link. Draco's voice could be heard in the back ground soothingly trying to calm and reassure the others.
"Be careful there,... careful..." Then to another, "It'll be alright. Everything's going to be alright." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself more than the others.
"Two.. this is base .. What's that background noise?" Chang ground out irately in his concern, referring to the keening that seemed to be worsening.
"T-That's Fiona...Phoenix is down... I repeat... Phoenix is down."
Hermione choked back on the scream that threatened to tear from her throat, protesting as a nurse compassionately escorted her to a waiting area that her family was already gathering in with worried expressions.
Ginny was visibly shaking, but was busying herself with helping her colleagues prepare the Med-Bay for incoming wounded.
She wanted to fall apart. She wanted to scream to the heavens over the injustice of it all... but she had a job to do now. She was a fully qualified and licensed healer in the probationary employ of the Phoenix Foundation's Knight Watch group. Besides, Draco said he was down-not dead. There was still hope.
Her first and primary concern was for her teammates injuries... there would be time for grieving, if necessary, later.
Lt. Abigail Malfoy knocked the double doors of Med-Bay One open, holding them as two armored knights carried in a third knight between them. He was a young blonde man about twenty four or five by the look of him. He appeared quite handsome, though it was hard to tell with all the lacerations and abrasions that riddled his face. His left arm hung at an odd angle and his leg on that side looked in even worse shape. He was moaning in pain as they lifted him up onto the indicated table.
Ginny looked anxiously toward Lead Healer- Marcus Pomfrey ,who nodded for her to take over and she immediately started scanning the knight with her wand to assess his injuries.
Ginny was so intent on her client that she never registered the second wounded man brought into the Med Bay.
Draco and George each had a shoulder under Harry's arms, who, despite an obviously broken right shoulder, a deep festering wound in his left shoulder, numerous lacerations and contusions; was insisting he was "fine".
His protesting form was heaved up onto the next table and Marcus Pomfrey came out of his shocked stupor, at seeing a man who should by all accounts be dead, berate Draco for worrying everyone. "I thought you said he was bitten by a nundu?"
"He was." Draco verified shrugging at his own surprise, though obviously relieved.
"I'm alright. I tell you. Just take care of Jimmy, my shoulder can wait." Harry complained.
Abigail stepped up to Harry's protesting side and begged him to let the healers do their work and he eventually quieted to an impatient grumbling as she rubbed soothing circles on his back.
Healer Pomfrey ran his wand over Harry and checked his findings. His eyes bulged in disbelief at the display, so he hastily rescanned his patient.
"I'll be damed?" Pomfrey chortled.
"What?" Abby blurted worriedly.
"I've found the cure to nundu poisoning: Basilisk Venom." The man pronounced happily.
"Y-You mean he's... he's not going to..." Draco gasped out too stunned to hope.
"He is going to be fine." Pomfrey chortled as he began casting a bone knitting charm on Harry right shoulder.
"He'll probably have a few side effects, like: flushing, shortness of breath, hallucinations, palpitations, and general fatique, but it looks like the nundu poison is losing its battle with the basilisk venom that was already in his system."
"You arsehole!" Draco spat as he swacked Harry across his wounded left arm.
"Owe-Hey?" Harry growled, biting down on the pain. "What'd you do that for?"
"We thought you we're going to die, you idiot." Draco barked half in outrage, half in relief.
"Well I'm sorry to disappoint you." Harry shot back sarcastically.
"Of all the asinine ideas... 'have the dragons dump down the hole'!" Draco raged at his friend.
"Well it worked didn't it." Harry countered.
"Aw shut up already... my head's killing me." Jimmy Collins complained nearby having regained consciousness.
"Jimmy!" Draco cheered happily. "At least the new healer was able to save someone worth saving, you arse." With that Draco snickered and smacked Harry's wounded shoulder again.
"Ugh!" he groaned.
"Draco!" Abby spat angrily, but Draco just shrugged unapologetically and left to check on the Med-Bay's other wounded occupant.
"Git" Harry growled biting down on the pain. "He'll get what's...coming... to...him..."
Harry words trailed off as he tracked the apparent new healer that hurried by with a several capped potions in her hand as she headed toward Jimmy Collins gurney.
The lady healer swore when she stumbled and dropped one of the flasks, bent over to retrieve it, (in her shortened sun dress), and continued on her way to her groaning client.
"I'm h-hallucinating." Harry moaned dejectedly.
'It's alright, Harry. Just concentrate on us. It wasn't real, whatever it was." Pomfrey reassured him as he finished up on Harry's right shoulder.
"Too bad." Harry grumbled. "I thought I just saw Ginny Weasley bending over... she was wearing green knickers with little yellow snitches on 'em...flying around... nice...that..." he complemented, finally succumbing to his exhaustion and falling asleep oblivious to the rest of the Med-Bay's laughter and a flaming faced, Healer Weasley, sputtering embarressedly.
Next chapter: A Marauder Wedding!