Chapter 6: The Lion Shall Fall...
Albus Potter reluctantly followed his dad back to Diagon Alley where his army from school was already waiting for him. His dad was letting him fight, but he wasn't consulting him on defense. He was very angry at Harry before he realized that it was Hermione who was in control of the defense. Hermione turned to Albus.
"What should I expect with this army?" she asked.
"They are numerous but slow. Their reaction time is not quite fast enough. They can't block anything. But they can attack and they have no conscience. They go for the kill first. There is no mercy, they will kill you even if you're unarmed and down. The Death Eaters will be a bigger problem though."
"We've tried setting them on each other using the Imperious Curse," Ginny Potter said, walking up to join them. "That might work if the castor is protected and able to focus on just the spell. It certainly would create the chaos we are looking for."
Hermione looked up in thought and her face darkened. "I'm afraid we might be too late," she said. Albus turned and looked where she was looking and his heart skipped a beat. A blood-red storm was hovering over the Eye of London. But it wasn't dropping any people or spells. It was just hovering over the Eye. Suddenly, the cloud erupted. A large lightning bolt ripped across the cloud and shot down, out of sight at Diagon Alley. The sound of several large explosions ripped across the sky as lightning and fire continued to erupt in all directions from the cloud.
"Shouldn't we go help?" Albus asked Hermione.
Hermione shook her head. "No. They haven't asked us for it and I have a feeling we'd be too late anyway. Hopefully they will just come here and not all die over there."
As if on cue, sixty people appeared in the middle of the Leaky Cauldron. The back wall had been magically demolished to improve defense of the Alley. But as they formed it became clear that it wasn't the French.
"Headmistress?" Albus asked as the shape closest to him finished apparating.
"Surprised?" Headmistress Canon asked as at least a hundred more people joined behind her. Harry approached the commotion.
"What's going on?" he asked, Percy Weasley joining him.
"Minister Weasley," a tall, elegant man said, holding out his hand for Percy. "The Americans are here reporting for duty."
"President Canon, why aren't you protecting your own country?" Percy said in a grateful tone.
"Well, I can if you don't want the help," President Canon said. "But my wife here heard Albus say that Travers was coming to London. After what she saw at Naumkeag, she was convinced he wouldn't rest until he killed Travers. So if he was going to London, then Travers was too. And since I created the army to fight Travers, I figured that if Travers was here, I should bring our army here too."
"How many do you have?" Hermione asked.
"A couple hundred," President Canon said. "Most of the people defending Naumkeag decided to join us here and finish of the man who destroyed their school. Plus we have all the ministry officials. Secretaries Zimmerman and Chesser speak very highly of your family."
At that point the French did appear, wearied and battered, behind the cheerful group.
"You were supposed to call for help," Hermione said.
"There wasn't time," Bill said. "We weren't sure that the storm was anything to worry about until it hovered over us. I sent Neville up to the gate to get you, but before he could get there a huge lightning bolt and fire ripped apart the Eye and sent the whole thing crashing into the river. I'm sorry, but the gate is gone."
"It's ok," Hermione said. "I knew he would get the first one anyway. I was hoping he would attack here though. How many did you lose?"
"That's the weird part," Neville said, coming up to join them. "They never attacked any of us. They just went for the eye. Once it was destroyed they kept going. They went for the museum, which should buy us some time."
"I'm glad you are all safe," Hermione said. She started to say something else, but her voice was drowned out an eerie, snakelike voice which emanated from the walls. Albus couldn't place the voice, but he knew it was evil.
"Albus Potter. I know you're there. I know you have reinforcements."
Albus looked at his father who looked back, wide eyed. "Voldemort," he mouthed as the voice continued.
"Look around you, Albus Potter. Look into the eyes of your friends and family. Now realize who is not there. I have Ashley right here. Unfortunately, you have enough people to cause problems. I would win, of course, but the battle would be so bloody. Look around. Those friends and family would die, Albus Potter. But that doesn't need to happen. I do not care about the Ministry; I care about what is in the ministry. Albus, get me the body of Nicolas Flamel and there will be no bloodshed. I'll be waiting with Travers, I'm sure you can find the way. You have one hour. Otherwise, the bloodshed will begin, starting with Ashley."
The voice trailed away. Harry turned and started to say something, but Albus couldn't hear it. His head was imploding, his vision was turning red. And then he passed out again.
He was standing in a building he recognized immediately as a local bookstore that he and Ashley frequented. It was about three blocks from the Leaky Cauldron. Of course, with the muggle evacuation in effect, it was supposed to be empty, but instead it was buzzing with inferi and Death Eaters: the enemy command post. Voldemort was standing in front of him, Ashley Wright, paralyzed, lay at his feet.
"Do it," Voldemort told Albus.
"But you said to wait an hour. The Potter boy might show up," a voice said. Albus recognized the voice as that of Adam Travers.
"No," Voldemort said. "That is not the Potter's way. Harry might show up, and I will kill him, but not Albus. If he can escape Harry, he might come to fight, but they will never give up Flamel."
"Why even send the message then," Travers asked.
Voldemort turned, annoyed. "You told me Albus was powerful. I'm hoping he comes to fight so I can kill him one on one and don't have to deal with him when I attack the group." Ashley stirred at his feet. He turned and looked at her. "She is no longer needed. Kill her," Voldemort commanded.
Obediently, Travers raised his wand, pointed it at Ashley and said "Avada Kedavra!" A bright green spell shot from his wand and hit Ashley in the chest. A mournful, almost reluctant, roar ran across the store and then there was silence.