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Changing My Life

Chapter 35: Hell Breaks Loose

Harry arrived at the interview room and knocked on the door. A few seconds later, the reporter opened the door.

"Great you're here. We are all set, please come on in." The reporter moved out of the way allowing Harry in before closing the door and taking a seat at the chair across from another. Getting the message, Harry made his way to the chair opposite the reporter and sat. Next to the two chairs was a accent table with held papers, a quill and a a magical transmitter for the wireless. "Okay, we'll begin whenever you're ready."

Nodding Harry took a breathe before gesturing for the reporter to begin. He turned on the transmitter and the quill. "Hello Wizarding World! This is Stephen Aston from the Daily Prophet and we are on the air with Lord Potter. Welcome Lord Potter."

"Thank you Stephen but please just Harry. It's great to be here."

"Now in all actuality, it was Harry that requested this exclusive to give us all the chance to hear his tell all. I for one am very excited and can't wait to begin. So let's jump on in yeah?"

"Sounds perfect. I guess I'll start with my early life…

Everyone from the group was in the Room and was listening to the wireless that was sitting on the coffee table in the living room section of it.

"Your saying, that Albus Dumbledore, is the one who sent you there?"

"That's correct Stephen."

Everyone around the room shared looks. It was out there now and it couldn't be taken back. Most of the British magical world was listening and even more would be reading the paper tomorrow.

The interview continued on as Harry depicted his life to the young reporter, how he was raised, what he had to endure only to reveal it was all at the hands of Dumbledore.

Dumbledore's Office

As the interview continued on, Dumbledore became increasingly angry. Objects at random would begin to smoke around the room until even the wireless itself exploded. Dumbledore stood and strode out of the room.

Room

They had just talked about how Dumbledore was manipulating when there was a loud bang that resonated around the room and it wasn't coming from the wireless. The entire room shook drawing the groups attention from the wireless. They all shared looks before looking up and around the room. There was another room shaking blow followed by a loud clash and an explosion. Shooting up from the couch, Hayden shot around to stand at the base of the short set of stairs. The wall had a gaping hole in, smoke surrounded the area. A figure could be seen in the smoke, approaching. Hermione stood and moved to stand just behind and to the left of Hayden, while Draco moved to stand on the other side.

Stepping through the smoke and debris, the figure came into focus and the smoke began to disperse slowly. Dumbledore entered the room further. His hands were intertwined behind his back holding his wand.

Hayden saw a slight twitch in his arm and instantly brought her hands up creating a wall of fire between them perfect timing just as a spell flew through the air and crashed right into it. This was all that was needed to kick the battle off. The wall of fire came down and spells were flying from both sides as members of the Order of the Phoenix entered alongside Dumbledore and began fighting.

Hermione and Daphne fought side by side as Neville and Luna fought together and Hayden fought Dumbledore. When the fighting began Draco dove out of the path of a spell and grabbed the closest fallen wand from the floor before rolling out of the way of a stunner and standing quickly retaliating with a stunner to the shooter. The person dropped to the ground stunned, Draco panted catching his breathe before jumping into the battle.

Spell fire and blasts resounded around the room, some of the blasts shaking it. A few people were sent flying into the book shelves or through the tables. Dumbledore was throwing spell after spell but none came within reach of actually hitting Hayden. While the others were holding there own fairly well until Auror's stormed the room.

Noticing the Auror's enter the room, Hayden and Dumbledore both stopped and looked each other in the eye before they teleported their own groups out and away.

Shortly After

"Everyone that was in this room is now wanted. That includes the students that were fighting, Dumbledore and his vigilante club!" Robards shouted to all of the Aurors that were shifting through the debris that was once a library, living room and research center. Bookshelves were smashed as a result of people being flung into them. Tables broken from being landed through, and walls being into pieces of cracked from spells, and blasts.

Amelia stepped through the demolished wall that was once the entrance to the room of requirement. "Robards!" She barked as she approached. "What the hell happened here?" She demanded loudly as she took in the state of the room.

"Auror's are trying to work it out now. Looks like a fight broke out. Dumbledore's Order of Birds were involved." Robards turned to face her as he responded. "Auror's responded to the scene as a result of one Draco Malfoy using magic. When he was released, he was warned no magic and a tracked went onto his core. Lit up like a damn Christmas tree." Robards continued as he walked through the room with Amelia on his heels. "What they found was not what was expected."

"Explain." Amelia ordered, Robards stopped and turned to face her before gesturing to one of the first responding Aurors.

"It looked like an all out war, Ma'am. There were students crowded around standing outside the room watching. Inside was Dumbledore's group fighting students but Dumbledore. Dumbledore, he was fighting a woman, and she was actually holding her own against him." The Auror recalled.

"Held her own, no she was pushing him back. She was overpowering him, there was lightning and flames swirling around and not one of his spells came near her. She was there and gone, reappearing and disappearing in the blink of an eye." Another Auror stepped in.

Amelia looked between the two and then Robards.

Sighing, she pursued her lips. "Alright, do we have any id's on the students that were fighting." She questioned, looking to the two Aurors for an answer.

"No Ma'am, as soon as we arrived and started breaking up the fighting the students all vanished." The first auror answered quietly.

"Vanished? That's not possible. You can't apparate inside of Hogwarts." Robards interjected. Amelia looked at him and nodded before looking back to the other two.

"I don't know how they did it but they vanished. Then Dumbledore's group all flocked and held hands before grabbing onto him and a bird appeared in flames, Dumbledore grabbed it and all of the vanished." The second Auror answered. Robards and Amelia shared a look, Amelia nodded. While she had an idea as to who the students were she couldn't allow them to get away without a warrant for arrest or Robards would endlessly question her.

"Okay, warrants for all of them. Use a globe to recount the events of the fight, it should give us the ID's on them." Amelia ordered the two Aurors before they jogged off to do it. After they left, Amelia put her hand to her forehead and rubbed her temples shaking her head. Dragging her hand down her face she let it drop before walking away to make a statement. As she was the Minister, she had to address what was going on and what had occurred. Some bit of damage control. Though, after that the first thing she was doing was finding Harry and asking him who the hell the mystery woman was and what the hell had happened.

At the first site of the Auror's Hayden teleported everyone out and to safety. The group looked around surprised by the change of surroundings before looking to her at the front standing next to a gate.

"Slytherin Manor." Hermione muttered recognizing the gate. Everyone but Draco and Hayden was surprised at the revelation.

"How'd you know where it is? Potter sai-" Draco began before Hayden cut in.

"I'm a Potter, I've been here before. I have access, even here in the past." Hayden interrupted and answered as she turned and faced the gate. The snakes eyes glowed as did Hayden's and then the gate opened.

Entering the house everyone that hadn't been there before looked around in amazement. "Alright, study. Follow then was can listen to the wireless."

Next Morning

"Guys! We all just got burned." Hayden called looking at the paper.

"Burned?" Daphne repeated confused as she and the rest of the group entered the study where Hayden was standing on the opposite of the research table facing them.

"Wanted." Hermione supplied as she moved to stand next to Hayden looking at the paper. "This isn't good." She stated grimly after reading the page. They weren't front page news but they were on the second page.

"Why would Amelia let this happen?" Neville questioned frowning as the group all took places standing around the table. Hayden looked at him incredulously.

"Think about it. What do you expect her to do? She has to show that she's a capable Minister. It doesn't matter who we are, we were seen having an all out fight in a part of the castle most don't even know exists." Hayden remarked.

"Either way, we aren't the only ones on the list. Dumbledore and the Order members that were there are also wanted." Hermione intervened. Neville looked around the group before his eyes stopped on Draco, who was standing next to Hermione with his arms crossed.

"If you hadn't fired a spell we wouldn't be in this mess." Neville snapped at him. Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Oh and what did you expect me to do? Stand there and get hit?" Draco shot back sarcastically.

"You would've done everyone a favor." Daphne muttered, but it was still loud enough that everyone heard it.

"Enough." Hayden ordered. She may not have shouted but everyone could hear the warning in her voice. "The Auror's still would've came." Neville went to say something and she continued cutting him off. "They still would've come eventually but all it did was cut the fight short and potentially stopping somebody from being killed. Which need I remind is something you prefer." Hayden countered effectively ending Neville's argument.

"How did we get id'd anyway?" Daphne interjected.

"Globes." Luna answered. At everyone's but Hayden's blank look she continued, "Globes can show events that happened within the past four hours in a place. They would be able to rewind and watch the fight as many times as needed to ID all of us. Only name they wouldn't be able to match is Hayden's. See that's why it's just a picture of her, it's from the rewind. They don't know her name. They just know right now she's extremely dangerous being the only person capable of beating Dumbledore." Luna explained leaving most of the group shocked and wide eyed. Luna was always quiet, barely even knew she was there. Hermione looked at Hayden who wore an unreadable expression.

"What're you thinking?" She questioned watching her. Her words drew everyone's attention and they were all looking at Hayden, who was standing arms crossed looking at the paper sitting on the paper.

"Dumbledore always believed Harry had to die. Not because of the horcrux, that could've been removed. It was removed. It wasn't a full one to begin with. He believed it because he was afraid of Harry." She answered not moving her gaze from the paper.

"Of his power." Draco commented. Hayden nodded slowly.

"Dumbledore believed that Harry would be the only one that could one day be the cause of his fall. He didn't want to risk that, he was afraid of losing his power. That's how his plan all began." Hayden revealed. "But now, he's seen someone that can be above his par without breaking much of a sweat." She waited for it to sink in.

"He's not going to be after Harry anymore. But rather you." Daphne gasped realizing as the pieces came together. Hayden nodded in response but her expression didn't change, it was still unreadable.

"This war isn't about Voldemort anymore. It probably hasn't been in a long time. He may have hordes of followers but once he falls they're easy enough to find by the signature. Dumbledore, well he is another case. He won't settle, nor give up. His goal isn't to kill all of the muggleborns or any of that bullsh*t. It's to take down anyone that can possible match or out power him." Hayden explained.

"So just kill him." Draco stated nonchalantly. "As you said, you're more powerful. You can do it." His words received a look from Neville but he didn't say anything.

"You can only kill someone if you can find them. Dumbledore, his plans by be a wreck but his smart. He's been waiting and he won't let it slip through his fingers for anything. This isn't just a power battle, but a mental one as well. We have to outsmart him. And it's proving to be nearly impossible." Hayden sighed.

"We can't outsmart him. You're right, he's been planning, he's had more time to do all of this than all of us have been born. We can't outsmart him and we can't hope to." Hermione commented sadly. This was the first time none of them had an idea.

"So what do we do?" Neville wondered aloud and nobody could give him answer. None of them had an answer. They were all truly at a loss. They were all wanted, having gone to ground in Slytherin Manor. They were up against an enemy that was a manipulative ass that was never without some sort of plan even if t was wrecked. Even Hayden was at a loss. She's fought in wars before, always at the frontline. One of the three may have been emotional warfare, but it was never against an enemy that was like Dumbledore. Everyone enemy has had their own way of fighting, their tactics, and she's had to adapt to all of them. But this one, fighting a war that has essentially been planned out for nearly two decades? It wasn't the same, none of them were.

Everyone stood around the table deep in thought feeling more lost than ever.

Wow, so I think this is the first time that our group has ever been at a complete loss as to what to do. No amount of experience would prepare you to face someone that has spent nearly two decades of planning. Also, what did you think of the effect of the wireless interview? When the idea came to me, I just knew I had to write it. With how Harry was asking Hayden to protect them last chapter, it felt sort of foreboding so this felt right. And not a lot of Harry here but we'll see him more next chapter.

Anyway, hope you enjoyed! Thank you for all of the support on this story and since my return! See ya next week! -DS