THEN THE DRUMS FELL SILENT

Harry took off his glasses and wiped them on the corner of his shirt before putting them back on his nose.

- "... And that's how they got here", he concluded grimly. "We have to keep Albus here, even it's obviously out of the question to let him fight, but we have to find a way to send back the other three."

Hermione sucked in a deep breath, still in shock, her hands clasped in front of her mouth.

- "Oh God, Ginny... poor Ginny, it must be horrible..."

Her brown eyes automatically went to Ron who was standing on the platform, his back turned to them and his arms crossed, then she looked at her best friend.

- "I wish I could tell you there is a solution", she muttered. "But that's impossible, Harry. Not anymore. The airport was shut down this morning and the last ferry left a while ago. The doctor in Glenegedale was very worried. The Muggles really believe in the cover story of the arsonist and he wasn't sure he'd have enough supplies if a tragedy like that of Ballygrant was to happen again... "

Charlie propped his chin in his hand, absently watching the sunbeam playing in the table's wood creases.

- "Is that the village they burnt?" he asked in a neutral voice.

Hermione nodded.

- "Wiped out would be more accurate", corrected Ron from the platform without looking back. "Fifty-two muggles and a wizarding family of four, including a boy who had just received his Hogwarts letter."

- "The Daily Prophet spoke of three villages", Harry said slowly.

- "Why, was it not enough victims?" retorted the red-haired Auror, abruptly turning round. "Not glamorous enough for the press, I suppose!"

- "Ron..." Hermione pleaded softly.

Her ex-husband came down striding from the platform and slammed his hands on the table violently.

- "The ministry waited for almost a month before deciding to send someone to see what was happening in the Hebrides! Riots – as if!"

He broke into a sarcastic laugh.

- Since the beginning the muggles were suspecting something was wrong. They limited tourism long before the first Auror was sent. Farms in flames, lights on the ocean, several brawls in town, a drunk bloke who says he saw the devil on the coast and, as if that were not enough, our services had received letters telling them the old MacFusty was proclaiming the return of the Empire of Dragons!"

Hermione sighed.

- "So far, we could control the leaks, but it won't last forever. Each night, the magical defenses go down a little more and the risk that the battles are seen increases."

- "That's not the worst, Harry", Ron added. "There are three thousand muggles on this island and even if Bercelak MacFusty isn't the Dark Lord, he's clearly thinking of ruling them all. I'm sure he controls the mind of the Cal'mac's president. That would explain the troubles we get when restocking."

Harry's eyes were going back-and-forth between his two friends and it looked like if every new sentence was weighting more on his shoulders.

- "I thought I'd ship Teddy off to Scotland with the last ferry and that we could evacuate the children with him. I was hoping that once the Trace would be reactivated, the ministry would send someone to get them", Hermione explained. "But now it's impossible, and they won't be safe in a hostel on the island either, there are informers everywhere. The best would be for them to stay at the camp..."

- "Wait a minute", Charlie cut in. "Restocking?"

Ron made a pout.

- "What? We must eat and tend to our wounds - especially since the only healer we had is now pushing daisies. We buy from the muggles and Hermione occasionally raids the clinic to "borrow" what we need to make potions."

The woman winced apologetically.

- "I hate to perform Oblivate on the doctor, but we have no choice. We're lack lots of things. And with this kind of injuries... anyway, I don't think he would buy my story of a boiler accident every time..."

Harry frowned.

- "Wait a minute, Hermione. Go back. What did you say? The Trace is not active on this island? You mean we have three kids here and no one knows their location?"

Ron scratched his creaky beard and sat on the edge of the table.

- "Think of it as good news, Harry. At least, Malfoy won't barge in here, all mad and ready to curse your son for kidnapping his offspring."

Hermione rolled her eyes.

- "It's not funny, Ronald Weasley."

Harry chuckled.

Some things did not change.

The sun had glided down with time and was now playing in the tousled hair of the woman, haloing the wisps around her face.

- "I'm really glad you're here, Harry", she whispered. "We needed hope."

Ron snorted.

- "She's right, this time around. The men will take heart, now that the survivor is in control."

Harry stood up abruptly.

- "No way, Ron!" he protested. "You held the fort for days. I won't take your place. I know nothing of this war, that'd be reckless and more, this ... this is not fair."

His best friend looked at him in the eye.

- "Oh, but I want you to do it, Harry. You've no idea. You think the Battle of Hogwarts was awful? Wait until you see the flames of hell sweeping the camp. We need your tenacious ability to survive the end of the world.

Harry swallowed hard.

- "How much time do we have left?"

Ron pulled a watch from his jeans' pocket.

- "Just four hours before sunset."

oOoOoOo

Scorpius wolfed down his last handful of chips and crumpled the cardboard tray smeared with grease stains. On the other side of the table, Albus was licking his fingers like a child and Wendy was watching him, her throat tickled by a strong desire to laugh.

- "If I didn't know you, I'd say you like fish", Terrence commented, shaking his head.

- "I don't", corrected his best friend, now dutifully cleaning the foil in which the sea trout had been wrapped. "But my roommate does."

Scorpius giggled involuntarily.

- "Maybe you could open the Toothless' Chippy and make a living out of it", said Wendy. "You…"

She paused, realizing that all eyes were on them. A hush had settled in the dining tent.

- "Bloody kids."

- "Don't know not what they signed for."

- "... won't last two hours."

- "How can one be so foolish!"

Mumbled between high and low, in the rattle of spoons and glasses, the words were laden with weary disgusted animosity. The Auror with a ponytail, whose rolled up sleeves let people see his biceps seamed with scars, was finishing his jelly, one foot on the bench, an arm propped on his knee.

- "They won't be bragging and boasting, later on", he growled, grabbing his cup to drink a swig. "There's going to be whining and calling mummy."

Wendy wanted him to choke on his water and her wish was granted.

- "Come on, let's go", Albus muttered, getting up.

Spluttering, the Auror glared at him.

- "Babies!" he hissed. "That's all you can do? The secret weapon of the ministry is a hairball who's not passed intuitive magic! How can they expect us to win this war?"

Terrence stood up, very quiet. He flipped his wand on his fingers before sliding it in the back pocket of his jeans. He pushed up his glasses on his nose.

- "T'was me."

The man stared at him in disbelief. Then he set his cup down and went to him, slaloming in between the tables. The muddy ground was sticking to his boots.

- "You dare challenge me?"

Scorpius stood up and slicked back his bangs, lifting his icy gray eyes to face the Auror.

- "Surely the enemy would enjoy watching us fighting each other", he snapped impatiently.

Albus shivered at the hostile looks he did not understand. A cold draft was creeping under the tent, biting his ankles through his socks.

- "I'm sorry", he began. "We... uh. We didn't want to cause troubles..."

- "Why are you apologizing? You're here to help them!" Wendy protested in a high-pitched tone.

The man's dark eyes narrowed.

- "Help us ?" he repeated. "HELP us? Are you kidding me? Merlin's beard, mates, did you hear that?"

Nobody was laughing in the dining tent.

The Auror stepped closer to the teenagers and threateningly cracked his shoulder bones under his black linen shirt.

- "I don't know what you thought, but leaving your comfy school benches to come play heroes on this infernal island won't give any points to your houses! You're just going to grill like twigs."

- "Skyler", interjected a quiet but firm voice.

The Auror cleared his throat and sat down, looking sheepish like a student scolded by Mrs McGonagall.

In fact, the woman who had spoken was much like Hogwarts' current Headmaster. Her wrinkled skin was crinkled on the protruding bones of her face, small glasses were pinched above her nostrils and she was wearing a pointed hat made of felt.

- "I'm Lizzie", she told the teenagers. "Don't just stand there like moon-gobblers, come with me!"

Albus followed her and Wendy did the same. Before leaving the tent, Terrence glanced over his shoulder to the Auror with a ponytail who still fuming in silence, but Scorpius ignored the hostile crowd completely.

Outside, the sun had just gone down and was bathing the plain and the mountain in tawny light. Seagulls were crying above the hill that hid the sea.

- "We did something really wrong, didn't we?" Wendy whispered.

- "T'was not very smart, indeed", nodded the woman who was moving forward quickly, much more alert than one would have suspected given her age. "But you wanted to protect your friend and that's a laudable sentiment. Reckless, but admirable."

She stopped next to a tent and pulled the flap of cloth that served as a door.

- "You will do me the pleasure of keeping up with the beautiful optimism and lighten up Teddy Lupin's spirits for a moment."

Her clear blue eyes fell on Albus, like those of a bird of prey.

- "When I met your father, he was a young Auror. He and his friend Weasley were too ahead of the training program. They had already fought more than anyone should have... they had forgotten how to laugh."

She patted Wendy's cheek, smiled to Terrence and Scorpius.

- "Skyler's not a bad lad, he's afraid for you, that's all. Don't try to grow up too fast. It won't bring anything good."

Albus nodded.

- "All right. Now, go in there and behave! I'll come pick you up when it's time."

- "Time for what?" Scorpius whispered, raising a suspicious eyebrow as she left the tent.

Terrence shrugged. He was lost on thought and almost stepped on Wendy's foot.

The cold wind that had slipped inside with them billowed in the white curtains of the infirmary and dissipated a bit the strong smell of bitter herbs and Muggle disinfectant. The last sun of the day was lingering on the almost empty metal shelves. A strip of gauze was rolling itself on a silver platter and safety pins were playing hide and seek around a pot of ointment with an outdated label. A large cardboard box overflowing with sterile gauze and scissors lay on a trolley on wheels repaired with a Spello-tape and yellow police tape.

- "Hi, Teddy", Albus said, coming to the iron bed that was the only one occupied in the left row.

- "Yo, Al!" greeted the pale young man lying under the striped blue blankets, leaning on one elbow to straighten up. "So it was true, you really ca..."

He paused, and his dull blond hair suddenly turned a bright purple.

- "Oh. Bonjour mademoiselle", he said, flashing a flirtatious smile to Wendy.

Terrence saw the sly wink the patient was giving to Albus who blushed, and he felt like chuckling, despite the circumstances.

Albus introduced everyone quickly, explaining in a few words to his father's godson how his friends had come to the island. Teddy gave a whistle of admiration, even if they still had to hear a "you're downright mad!" that sounded much like the adults' blames.

Scorpius sat on the next bed, looking supremely bored.

- "Does it hurt ?" Wendy asked as if the question had burst out of her, her bulging eyes looking at the seeping bandage wrapped around the Auror's shoulder. The gauze badly hid the pierced blisters and the yellowish red liquid that dripped from them.

Teddy grinned.

- "Yep", he confessed with a light tone. "But I will survive, don't you worry, chérie."

Wendy's cheeks flushed and Albus glowered at Teddy.

- "A dragon did that to you, isn't it?" Scorpius asked casually (nobody was deceived, though).

The young man leaned back, helped by his godfather's son. He propped his head on the pillow, and his hair lost its bright color, as the the dark circles under his eyes seemed to dig deeper.

- "It was the Anghenfil, MacFusty's dragon", he explained. "They have four beasts. All monstrous, but this one, he's huge and he's not controlled by magic. Ron thinks that if we can knock him down, the three remaining scaly will return to their normal state and scatter off. They're not evil, just wild animals. Well, what I'm trying to say it's... well, it doesn't work, anyway."

Terrance and Scorpius exchanged a look behind the back of Albus who had dropped his head.

- "In short, if we get MacFusty and slay his dragon, everything will be fine. It's not complicated, innit?

Teddy's voice sounded suddenly very tired.

- "It's a simple mission. Too bad we don't have enough brute force to oppose them. Spells bounce rather well on dragon skin. And when you approach a little too close, well... that's what happens."

In the silence, Terrence munched the inside of his cheeks.

- "That's why the ministry needs Toothless", Wendy said bitterly, expressing aloud what her friend was thinking.

- "Who's Toothless?" asked Teddy.

Albus took a deep breath.

- "His name's not Toothless", he corrected. "He's c…"

He stopped talking abruptly. Scorpius had gotten up, seeking the source of the sound that was born in the distance - a muffled and regular sound.

- "What's that?" Wendy asked anxiously.

Terrence cocked his head to the side.

- "Sounds like... drums."

Teddy closed his eyes, then opened them again.

- "Help me get up, Al. I need to get ready."

He groaned as he straightened up. His face was drowned in sweat, and the teenagers stared at him, aghast.

- "Quit with the nonsense", said Hermione's stern voice from the entrance of the tent.

She quickly came to them, gently but firmly pushed back the young man, pulled the blanket over him and stroked his hair.

- "Teddy, you're in no shape to fight. Lizzie and Colchis will take you to the cave with the children. Stop trying to be a hero."

- "Harry..."

Something furious and infinitely sad glowed in the eyes of the woman.

- "Don't you dare think I'll let you ask Harry if you can die tonight."

Teddy rolled his eyes and stayed silent.

- "Excuse me?"

Hermione looked at Wendy and softened. She put a brown wisp of hair behind her ear and smiled gently.

- "What is it, love?"

Albus thought his aunt sounded a lot like his grandmother, Molly Weasley.

- "What... what do we hear?"

- "Drums", answered the woman, tightening her pink crochet vest around her shoulders. "The Rebels have begun their incantations to crack the magic wards surrounding the island. They will attack at nightfall."

She shivered, glanced worriedly at the sunlight fading on the shelf. It was a lot darker now and the dull beat of the drums was seeping into their bones like a cold.

- "Off you go. We have to hurry. Lizzie will equip you, then you'll go with her and Colchis to the cave."

- "Me too?" Albus asked, lifting his big emerald eyes.

Hermione cupped his chin in her hands.

- "You too, Al", she confirmed softly. "You will not go to battle. Your father would never allow it. The ministry has no way of knowing what you're doing on this island, the Trace is turned off in the Hebrides. Don't worry, Harry won't get into trouble. Now, run along."

She sighed once they were out and turned to the injured young man who was pulling a face.

- "What?"

- "It's not like you to disobey the regulation and encourage others to do so", he chuckled. "I thought you were an exemplar bureaucrat."

- "If only you knew", replied the woman humorously. She rolled her eyes in a theatrical discouraged pause. "It's the influence of Harry and Ron. I should move to another country..."

She smiled sadly and Teddy said nothing more.

oOoOoOo

Terrence walked to the edge to get a better view of the plain, leaning against the rock at the entrance of the cave.

The drums were still beating in the distance, at the same pace as his heart.

The sun had completely disappeared. The mountain was casting a grayish glow on the deserted camp. The sky had darkened and, beyond the hill, mist was rising over the sea.

- "Al, you okay?" Wendy's voice asked behind him.

He turned around.

Albus was rubbing his ear with a frown.

- "Um", he replied absently.

Teddy Lupin shot him a look of sympathy from the cot on which he was lying at the back of the cave. Lizzie was pounding something in a clay bowl. Colchis, the giant who had accompanied them, was sitting on the floor cross-legged, with his back very straight as if he was meditating. The torch was glinting on the ebony skin of his skull, his lustrous muscles and the golden tattoo on his forehead.

Both Aurors wore the same black breastplate as the teenagers, with steel pauldrons and a wand holder at their belt. They wore thick dragon skin gloves and high boots that protected their knees.

Terrence had loved when Lizzie had adjusted the leather suits on them and brought out belts and shoulder protections from simple metal buckles. He had struggled to recognize himself in the mirror that Teddy had handed him with a grin.

Different. Impressive. Handsome ?

He no longer felt like a child.

Scorpius' blond hair, slicked back, made him look a manga prince, dressed like that. Wendy could have been a warrior princess, she seemed even more fierce and beautiful in this than in her Quidditch gear. Albus resembled his father in a slender and more delicate fashion, like a fine knight.

Lt. Col. Ron Weasley was even more frightening in his armor than in jeans, with his red bushy beard and his pale face, and his ex-wife had been hardly recognizable, when she had reappeared without her skirt and wool vest - the fitted and severe black bodice gave credibility to her title of negotiator (though her chestnut hair was as unruly as Harry's and Albus').

They all looked dreadfully serious. Ready for battle.

- "D'you think they'll come soon?" Scorpius muttered as he came to join Terrence at the entrance of the cave. "Waiting like that, it's just ... tiring."

- "Are we going to sit here all night?" Wendy asked Lizzie.

- "Yes, love. Holding ground, that's all we can do until morning. At dawn, the dragons go back to their nests and MacFusty is forced to withdraw. With sunlight, the magic wards are much stronger, we can restore them."

Scorpius glanced toward Colchis.

- "I'm sure he would rather be with the others than babysitting us", he whispered.

Terrence nodded.

It was growing darker on the plain and the drums were still beating dully. He could almost hear the slow litany breaking the spells one by one.

- "Oh", Scorpius said, pointing to the dark gray sky. "The first star."

Terrence looked up and suddenly his heart halted.

The drums had stopped.

A figure appeared on the hill in front of him. Then another, then dozens, then hundreds.

- "Al?" cried Wendy behind the two boys. "Al, you okay? Your ear… it's bleeding."

Scorpius turned and Terrence was about to do the same, when a golden arrow ran over the sea on the other side of the hill. In a second, the waves swelled and blazed, casting a fiery glow in the dark sky.

- "It's starting", Teddy breathed, clutching his wand on the cover, his face turned towards the entrance of the cave.

- "Al..."

Wendy's voice was pleading. She was hovering over the boy who was looking absently at his blood-stained hand.

Colchis opened his eyes and slowly stood up, pulling out his wand, staring at Albus.

- "Swanson, we have a problem..."

Scorpius was pulling on his sleeve and Terrence tore his gaze away from the flames dancing on the horizon and the hundreds of silhouettes standing on the ridge. He turned and blinked.

A golden swarm filled the cave and before Colchis could lift his wand, the black dragon had stood up, his fur bristling, his green eyes gleaming. He opened his mouth and hissed furiously, then jumped out, unfolded his dark wings and disappeared into the night caught in fire.

TBC

Next chapter: UNTIL DAWN