Chapter 10: The Battle of Marshall

Harry and Dobby arrived to a scene of chaos. Harry could make out a beautiful magical campus with one giant building in the center and several smaller buildings placed in a circle around it. The school reminded Harry of Stonehenge.

But today the grounds were flooded with witches and wizards who were tearing it up creating defensive barricades and traps. Dobby joined the school house elves which were setting up a booby trap which would throw fruits and vegetables at unsuspecting intruders. Harry found Jacob Brown directing traffic.

"Mr. Potter, a welcome surprise," Brown said as Harry approached.

"The British Auror Department is on its way and Laveau is sending several students to help defend the school," Harry said.

"How did you know?" Brown asked.

"Didn't Rodriguez tell you?" Harry responded.

"No, Peverell did," Brown said.

"I was told by a dead house elf," Harry said.

"Reporting as requested, sir," a British wizard said to Harry.

"Thank you Parker. You're all under his command," he said, noticing that Hermione, Ginny and Neville had joined them. But before Brown could send them anywhere, the woods exploded with curses. Several American wizards along the front lines fell without a fight. The trees themselves seemed to be moving as hundreds of inferi moved onto the grounds.

Harry motioned for the British to spread out and do what they could, but the meager defenses which had been set up were no match for the advancing army. The Americans were sending curse after curse toward the silent mob. The inferi which were hit fell, but more were always behind them. Hermione arrived at the action first, but she just joined the Americans in retreating.

Harry and Ginny went for the one spot where the Americans seemed to be winning; at least they had only lost two lines of defense. "Impedimentia!" Harry yelled and an inferus fell back and knocked several over like bowling pins. "Imperio!" Ginny screamed. The inferus in front of her appeared dazed for a second and the man behind her ran into her. She then turned and began to curse the army. The wizard behind her waved his wand and a flash of green light hit the cursed inferus who promptly fell.

"Good idea," Harry said.

"No," Ginny said. "They'll just kill them. It does no better than any other curse and takes twice the energy."

The defenders fell back to the base of the outer buildings.

"It's no use," Parker said, pulling up behind Harry. "We have to split them up, get behind them."

"Any ideas?" Harry asked, a stunning spell zipping past his head.

"Yeah," Teddy Lupin said, joining the crowd. He pointed his wand at the ground and a small crack appeared, extending into the advancing army. Suddenly the crack exploded sending dirt and inferi flying and creating a path through the forces. The defenders around Harry rushed through it and headed for the woods. The inferi turned and followed. Harry arrived at the edge of the forest and slipped behind the nearest tree, Parker right next to him.

"Any ideas boss?" Parker asked.

"Stupefy!"Harry yelled and an inferus fell and tripped three behind him. Parker stepped out and sent his own stunning spell at the army. But he was too slow. An inferus in the front row sent a green jet at him, hitting him squarely in the chest and he fell on the spot. Harry moved further into the forest and arrived at a small meadow which had a tall, pale man standing in it.

"Good evening Mr. Potter," the man said. Harry approached him, his wand aimed at the man's chest. "Are you here to help us or hurt us?" Harry asked.

"Help you?" the man said. "I'm leading the army. But I think they can survive without me, they're doing so well."

Harry wasted no time, sending a stunning spell at the man, but it was deflected easily. The man laughed. "You think that is going to beat the great Gellert Grindelwald? And Albus said you were smart." he said, sending a stunning spell at Harry, which Harry deflected and countered, but Grindelwald was long gone. He appeared behind Harry who only just noticed him when a red jet slammed into his back, sending him flying one direction and his wand flying in another.

Harry scrambled for his wand, evading several stunning spells as he tried to get there. He finally grabbed the wand as Grindelwald turned to head toward the school. He turned at the edge of the forest. "My army needs me. But we don't need you. Good bye, Mr. Potter" he said as he waved his wand in the air. The woods erupted in a white hot flame which burned around Grindelwald as he walked slowly away twirling his wand.

"Ginny," Harry said, rising to his feet with amazing speed.

"She is safe," a voice said behind him. He turned to see Albus leading Lily, Ashley, Hugo, Rose, and John Wright through the flames and into the field.

"How?" Harry asked, stunned.

Albus smiled. "Magic," he said.

"I told you not to underestimate him," Ashley added.

"We need to find Ginny," Harry said.

Albus shook his head. "From what we saw from that hill, I don't think any of the others actually went all the way to the woods. We do need to get back to the school though."

"Anything you can think of?" Harry asked.

Albus smiled, "Leave it to me," he said, pointing his wand at the trees.