Incoming
While Halloween approached, the students became more restless. Rumors spread through the castle like wildfire. During meals more students were missing, parents escorted their youngsters away, all in hope of not being in the line of fire. The Patil twins had a loud argument with their parents about them staying with Potter when their father slapped them and disowned them for being stupid. The Creeveys had a similar discussion which ended in both being pulled out by their ears. Harry kept an eye on the remaining students. All Death Eater offspring was still there.
Harry was eyeing the students when suddenly a ghostly voice filled the hall.
"Staff and students of Hogwarts, the time has come to welcome back your rightful Lord Slytherin. Hogwarts will be cleansed of the unworthy. Help me in my crusade and be rewarded for your loyalty. Purebloods untainted for strong magic, Lord Voldemort is gracious. I'll give you until midnight to decide. And Harry Potter, I will have obliterated your existence after this is over. Surrender yourself and your Mudblood and blood-traitor friends might live as my slaves. IF you want to fight, I will leave you the same amount of time to prepare. You have my word on my magic. I will show everyone the true power."
Panic filled the Great Hall, and it only paused after Dumbledore sprayed sparks and shouted for silence.
"Prefects, escort the students to their common room and use the floo network to evacuate. Inform the ministry. Staff, we will hold…." suddenly a flapping filled the air. The staff ran out to the main gate.
Harry took the chance to call for his group together. Immediately he had Ginny, Hermione and Ron right next to him. Susan Bones from Hufflepuff as well as Luna from Ravenclaw joined him. In the second row was Neville, along with Daphne and Seamus.
At the Slytherin table Death Eater Sympathizers were bound and gagged by Draco's strike team recruited from first and second years.
In the courtyard, CV-22 delivered Tank destroyers, IFVs and soldiers along with further equipment. Single small scout tanks like Wiesels and VBLs were placed onto towers large enough to hold them. Students were ushered into the now empty transports.
Pioneer units dug trenches and created hull-down positions for the tanks. Main Battle Tanks got off larger CV-44 transports and spread along the small passage where the peninsula that held Hogwarts connected to the rest. The old bridges groaned under the weight of so many armored vehicles rolling towards the castle.
Inside the Great Hall, everybody could feel the ground rumbling as the Force arrived to defend the castle. Harry didn't let this deter him as he assigned orders: "Neville, get Sprout and your mortars up onto the towers!" There was no time for respect as Longbottom ran off to gather Hannah Abbott and his group. "Demolition!" Seamus lifted his hand out of reflex. "Traps on the side entrance. Defend it until you are outnumbered. Then collapse it if necessary." Finnigan and a group of thirty students raced towards the side door of the hall.
Ron, along with Hermione and three prefects, ran towards the Room of Requirement. They would be responsible for tactical coordination. Susan and her group were assigned to help the infirmary wing with everything. Daphne and Draco headed the actual battle groups along with Harry and Ginny. "Badger, you back up Demolition, if nothing happens there, you flank around. Raven, you provide overwatch from the higher floors. Support the soldiers as best as you can. Shield and supply. Snake, you know the dungeons best, guide the soldiers down there. Lions, you are the runners. Get the injured from the field to the infirmary. Actually, that is a standing order for all of you. You know the castle best of all. Not all soldiers here are from the platoon we know."
Dumbledore stared as a soldier introduced himself as Major Wiley. He thought for a second about confunding the man to get the military to leave. But in that moment a british woman joined them.
"Major, the Royal Air Force has been given the go from the Queen. They are dusting off the old incendiary bombs."
Time ran by. Windows were smashed as gun crews took positions. Dumbledore stood in the command center along with the Major. Additional Coordinators like Sharon O'Malley and Johanna Schmidt were on radios. On the far wall was a large version of the Marauder's map. This version showed the grounds as far as the border of the forbidden forest. Right next to it was a satellite image with grid coordinates and a UAV feed.
"We don't have many options. The fleet we requested for support got under attack from dementors when they got close to the remains of Askaban. They might not arrive before midnight. That's at least three hours we have to work on our own, and.."
They were interrupted as Voldemort's voice filled Hogwarts again. "Time has passed. I will be entering now."
And thus the battle for Hogwarts began…
Sergeant Thomas aimed his sniper rifle down towards the grounds. He knew that somewhere down there was his son. A son he was proud of. He would do everything in his power to protect him. He cycled his rifle and took aim. The enemy never knew what hit them when the storm was unleashed.
To say Tom Riddle was shocked would be an understatement. Within seconds his scouts and curse breakers had fallen to killing curses. He wouldn't have thought that the light wizards would even be able to use that spell and at that range. His cause was successful. He would gain many followers after this battle, willing or not, to replenish his forces. "ATTACK!" he shouted. Howls filled the air as the werewolves charged first, followed by vampires and slower giants.
Johanna was watching the grounds through the UAV feeds. "The attack has begun, launch the Christmas Trees. Attack coordinates Alpha are valid. Fire for effect."
Captain Hendriks got the order and turned to her group of SPGs. "Let's light them up." Concealment fell away as the Artillery lifted their barrels.
Thinking the night was a sufficient enough cover for the approach of his army, Voldemort suddenly found himself illuminated by giant hovering Lumos balls. Then the earth shook as the majority of his giants disappeared in Confringo curses falling from the sky. More hits, and a bulk of his forces was wiped out even before they crossed the grounds. In rage he erected a shield over his forces himself. "Kill them all!"
His success was short-lived when Blasting curses from the towers took his gargoyles down before they could attack the threat in the skies.
B1 Dracos dumped their first drums of ammunition and reloaded before filling the sky with explosions again.
Three Main Battle tanks, Leopard 2-1, 2-2 and 2-3, were ready to engage anything that came over the bridge. The secondary gunner and the commander were in their hatches, manning the two MG3Ls on top.
The trolls charged over the bridge. Voldemort smiled as they punched though the stone knights before they disappeared in a Bombarda Maxima. His death eaters were falling left and right. "Enough!" He dove into the dark arts to dismantle the wards over Hogwarts.
Neville stood at the bridge while Seamus poured a potion over the wooden planks. The battle sounds from the main gate were carried to them but still they had to focus on their sector.
Hordes of Inferi stormed over the bridge. Russian Terminator tanks fired their autocannons, tearing through the horde with incendiary rounds. While the fire burned the zombies and the over penetration caused rifts several meters deep into the charging ranks, the mass still came flowing. When the first began to pound onto Leo 2-1's armor, it's crew dropped back and sealed the hatches. The commander made the choice. "Call it!" he shouted towards the radio operator. Said soldier immediately hit the open frequency. "BROKEN ARROW! I REPEAT: BROKEN ARROW!"
On the tower Luna stared in disbelief as the Inferi over run the tanks. Although they were picked off by the snipers and machine gunners before they could enter the castle, more were coming over the bridges. Suddenly she felt the backblast from the launcher on the light tank right next to her. From all towers the same happened. Smoke streaked towards the bridges, before turning the night into day for a short moment. Hogwarts was now magically and physically isolated.
Soldiers fired their small arms at the own tanks to rid them of the surviving Inferi. Shield Generators powered up, getting all forces the needed cover to asses the damages caused and for injured to be brought to the hospital wing. Fresh soldiers from less attacked places like the water front were moved towards the main entrance.
Voldemort looked at the new wards in fury. He knew that they were powerful. So powerful that they were visible. His Inner Circle was throwing curses after curses at the new defense. Waves of power radiated from the impact point and dissipated the magic assault. He sincerely hoped that his recruited shark-people had more success infiltrating the castle through the sewers. The chamber was warded so only a parseltongue may open it from the outside, but from the inside anyone could open it. He didn't deem it necessary as no one would escape his basilisk.
The swedish Cobra Coastal Rangers had blown all sewage access pipes apart from one. And this one was heavily guarded with a demolitions expert with his LMG on the front and two pairs of designated marksmen on two high points behind them. Below the sniper team the medic and the communications specialist were rigging a radio for transmitting to lure in the attackers. "Remember, draw them in first before blowing the pipe. We want to take out as many as we can." the team leader explained the last time. A Fire support team had reinforced a small Y-crossing in the back so they could use their heavy machine guns to create a death zone. "Contact!" The Minimi lit the first wave up. "Fall back!" the sniper teams were the first to drop back towards the next alcove. When the specialist drew back a spell hit his radio equipment and caused it to catch fire. When he threw it off, a spear hit his arm. Crying out in pain he went down. "COVERING FIRE!" the medic shouted as he dropped flat and pulled his comrade into cover. "This is Skoll 2-1, we're taking heavy fire. Need support ASAP!" "FRAGS OUT!" the spotters threw the explosives down the sewage before taking cover again. The LMG was propped onto a fallen pillar and fired in short bursts to conserve ammo and stop over heating. "Last Belt!" its gunner shouted. The team leader took cover in the alcove with his injured team mate and medic. Together they hosted the specialist onto their shoulders. "Smoke them!" While the smoke took the sight of the attackers away, the demoman tied the trigger of his gun down with a zip tie. When he retreated on of the snipers threw him his back-up weapon, an MP5 submachine gun. The marksmen themselves switched from their sniper scopes to the on-top-attached red-dots. The machine gun bought them a few precious minutes as they approached the fire teams position. They were half way there when another spell took down the team leader.
The shark leader Riff was sure of his victory. He had pushed the land-walkers back and now his forces were advancing. His mages were pushing the defenders back. He spotted a dynamite pack with a fuse. "Stupid humans." He said as his forces laughed. He shot a ball of water and extinguished the burning rope.
"Enemy in my sights." The gunners of Hati 4-1 were equipped with heavy M2 Machine guns. Like the artillery unit they belonged to the terran defense force, which hasn't yet been equipped with laser weapons. However the incendiary rounds in their guns were enough to deal with the rather domestic threat. "Light them up." the section leader ordered.
"Damn it!" the defense team had problems coordinating their suppressing fire. The magical output from the battle was strong enough to interfere with communications. Even the short range radios had a lot of static in them. "What's with our artillery?" Wiley demanded. Johanna was first to answer. "Contact lost. Last they reported to be under attack by acromantulas. They were caught by surprise and barely could take shelter inside their vehicles. However apparently the spiders undermined them." Wiley slammed a fist onto the table. "We need a way to get reinforcements."
Machinegun nest 3 reloaded their MG3s. The shields were strongest and blocked anything from breaking through. They had been briefed to use the gap in assaults caused by them to resupply and reposition. A siren sounded to announce the next drop. The five gunners got ready to pour lead downrange.
Voldemort grinned as the ward dropped. "Charge!" He commanded. A large mass of his reinforcement moved towards the castle. He wove his wand and resurrected the bridges. He then placed crude wards on them to protect them from being destroyed again.
He could feel the despair radiating from the retreating soldiers. His remaining giants threw boulders at the fortifications.
Defenders positions were given up as the dark forces pushed over the resurrected bridges. However still traps were left behind as the soldiers ran. Dallen left and right were being carried by their fellow fighters. Captain Winters and his legion of shield carriers ran forward to cover their retreat. "THE CAPTAIN IS HERE!" a soldier shouted. Roars from the others followed as the defense regained morale.
Winters immediately took operational control. "All elements close your profile." His shields broke up to cover the endangered soldiers. While they held the line, it was clear, that without support, they would loose the battle. The tanks reversed with the soldiers until it was only them and the shields in between to cover the injured. "Tactical withdrawal!" The last line of soldiers collapsed into the front courtyard, followed by the remaining tanks. The captain held the line until the gates were closed and reinforced.
Wing Commander Reid led his bombers in a tight formation. Bombing his own home ground was something he had not expected when joining the air force. The Harrier V squadron had old napalm bombs loaded... Not exactly a humane choice of weapon but nothing else was available at the short notice. "Hogwarts, please respond." On the infrared the leading Tornado had difficulties identifying the targets. The old equipment was one only one left capable of dealing with this situation. Normally a drone would have been active, however all drones in this area had been brought down by monsters. Eurofighters had their hands full fighting them off. "Hogwarts this is Vulture One, where do you need us?" A pressure wave threw his plan slightly off course as a fighter exploded. "Vulture One, we lost Condor lead."
Another Eurofighter went down with gargoyles clogging up the air intake. "All units, form up and engage afterburners." The jets rushed out of the combat zone. "High Speed passes only."
Private Wyatt lied in a crater under a pile of zombies and the dead body of the Forward Air Combat Controller. He couldn't feel his legs anymore and blood was soaking his uniform. His personal radio was busted, and the radio of the controller was only giving static. "Gr...O..." Wyatt grabbed the radio with his remaining strength. "Can you hear me?" He bashed the side of the pack. "We cannot distinguish friend and foe! Ground One, do you copy?" "This is Private Wyatt. Anything outside the castle is fair game."
Reid looked at his monitor again. The signal came from the middle of the combat zone. "Ground One, that's on your position." "JUST DO IT!" He heard the desperation in the voice. "Copy. Danger Close." "May God have mercy on you." The last sentence eased the guilt in his soul as the wing commander turned into the attack vector.