Chapter 15: Hogwarts at Stake
Date: Saturday, 16th October 2010
Time: 3am, Burrow
Hermione took a bite of the proffered cake. It was her suggestion that fresh cool winds gracing the Burrow would calm all of them to prepare for the night ahead. The entire Magic Circle followed her here and she communicated the change in venue in real time to Luna/Narcissa, Fred/George and Pansy/Neville. Their role in the mission this night depended on Fred/George feedback, on whom they eagerly awaited for the past 30 minutes.
Fred was the first person to bow before Hermione followed by George. She hurried them towards an explanation. By that time Luna and Narcissa also came back.
Fred spoke up, "Your book had 70 more spells and I listed them all and took them to Adena and Jack. The only issue we are facing that all of them are incredibly complex and difficult to cast. With the combined skills of all four of us, we managed to cast just 20. All of us have now realized that this is beyond our combined skills. It requires intelligence, skilled wand movements at specific angles and knowledge of runes. We expect Jack and Adena to cast 7 more by the time we get there but we now need Athena, Penelope, Luna, Pansy and You to complete the task within 20 minutes. Jack's sources tell him that we have no more than 30 minutes remaining. Before coming here, I updated Professor McGonagall and she has secured the common rooms against fiendfyre, so that the memory situation of 2006 is not enacted out. Pansy and Neville are done with their respective children squads and are on the way back here. We await your instructions, Hermione."
Hermione laughed as she looked at the expectant faces, "We used to look like this at Harry earlier."
Harry gave a wry smile, "That was because they were simple violent Missions. Bellatrix was pretty dumb, so it was easy to predict her moves. The current mission requires far more intelligence and I have no qualms in declaring that you are our undisputed leader."
"Ok, so here goes. Lucas and Ron teams up with Adena and Jack as they try to secure the front area outside Hogwarts. I along with Draco/Fred/George would secure the back area. Pansy/Neville/Penelope will work on the East even as Athena/Luna/Harry will secure the West. We will all cast the same spell simultaneously and we will stop when each spell has secured the entire property in a perfect circle enclosing a square. That way 45 spells can be cast in next 10 minutes which an individual took 6-7 minutes to secure the entire circle with one spell. Fred, please provide us a list of spells still required to be cast. The sub teams each decide a leader to take initiative in casting the spell in which he/she is most confident and others would follow his/her instructions. For example, Ron has a strategic bend of mind and he would be ideal in casting spells that confuse the opponent on the steps they need to take next. Others who are not casting spells would work with the students and Hogwarts teachers to ensure their safety. Fleur/Ginny are to lead in this initiative. Follow their instruction on who is to help which house. Among student members, Aurey/Teddy can use your confidence and help out their Head Boy and Head Girl. Katie/Zabini, all of us need your information network real time to provide us the countdown till the forces show up. We leave now with a neutral frame of mind and an assured confidence that with our combined intelligence, Hogwarts is safe."
Time: 3-30am, Hogwarts Grounds
Hogwarts now looked like a battlefield with Hogwarts own personnel forming the inner ring, Hermione and Group (including Jack, Adena and Lucas) forming the middle ring and 800 specialized personnel of Lucas and Malcom forming the outer ring. They had finished securing the last of the 70 special spells just moments back and now Hogwarts were protected by 10,570 spells. On their left was Giants army led by Grawp. On their right was Centaurs and giant spiders. Hagrid was guiding the Dragons, House-elves and Thestrals. Luna was leading Hippogriffs. All of them were tense but also calm and ready. Arthur/Charlie/Bill/Percy and Molly were indoors with the children. Teddy/Aurey were calming down the first years even as the 7th years joined the adults to form Hogwarts own innermost ring.
Even with maximum tension fraying her nerves, Hermione felt transported back in time to the battle that killed Voldemort. She laughed at the tricks of fate because she could have never imagined Draco to be her husband then. Yet, here he was, at this moment, standing shoulder to shoulder with her to defend his beloved school and her in the process. When no one was looking, she squeezed hard on Draco's arm and that one look which Hermione gave Draco was enough to revitalize him to the core. At that moment, they were one in 2 bodies, oblivious to the situation around them. All the couples similarly strengthened and reassured each other.
Malcom, Katie, Jack and Fred brought them back to reality however. Their combined sources indicated that they had no more than one minute. Hermione had made clear her strategy and everyone defending Hogwarts agreed with her. She was so clear and calm that all others, including her normal time arch rivals, felt a sense of confidence.
The moment of truth was now upon them.
A dazzling blue light filled up the atmosphere and the earth below them shook violently. The ground cracked open like a deep chasm, trying to suck in all of them like a magnet attracting iron. Every person and living being were now scared, including Hermione. No one had foreseen an underground attack. They assumed even the darkest people would come and face them in war instead of dropping all of them underground. None of Hogwarts defensive spells covered the height aspect and Hermione felt like a fool. Even the most advanced official spells covered attacks from above, front, back, left or right but none from below. Hermione sent a mental message to everyone so that they maintain calm. The location of the warzone might change but the strategy remained same.
The group realized that they were now deep below earth but the room they were in was comfortably air conditioned. The transparent glass enclosing the room told them that surrounding them was molten rock. The scene was both fascinating and scary from the science viewpoint of Hermione, Athena and Lucas.
A booming cruel laughter greeted the group. "Did you like our show: electro-magnetism, gravity, strong and weak forces-all of them displayed in a single instance? This must have particularly impressed Hermione, Athena and Lucas as followers of Science." Hoping against hope, Athena called out, "Tom, by some miracle, are you back?"
Chills went through Harry, Hermione and other wizards and witches of the first 3 wars hearing this. The laughter now became interlaced with genuine mirth and got even more solid.
"Do you think that Tom Riddle/Voldemort had the sole patent on laughing this way? We taught Tom to laugh this way. It is the trademark of our Cartel. We also take credit for transforming Tom as Lucas's mentee to the megalomaniac that he eventually became. Things were going great for us and he was the shining example of Darkest Magic till he became obsessed with death and went after Harry. His once act of foolishness caused all that misery on the Darkest World and was sufficient to send Lucas to hunt us down. Lucas being the perfect gentleman, he recognized our power and did not kill us but yoked us severely. You are our saving grace, Hermione. His lust for world domination shifted his focus out to you to include you in a partnership and we managed to free ourselves partially after great difficulty."
Lucas called out, despite Hermione insisting his silence, "I can't recognize this voice despite having a near perfect memory. That offers me hope because it means you are a new player. Howsoever powerful you may be, our battle if half won because our experience counts. All of us have been involved in Wars since past 2 centuries and we always won individually. Now we are together, so nothing can break us down."
"Your massive ego has always been your downfall. You confidently went as yourself when talking with Athena or Hermione. We are no fools. We have no intention of revealing our identity because mystery adds to a sense of uncertainty and desolation. We are the voice of your deepest fears: we are THE cartel and please do not delude yourself with that crap about experience. It has taught the defeated as well because the darkest allies are now together, sufficient to take over the Magical Universe."
Lucas was about to give a reply but Hermione yanked him back sharply. Hermione hissed, "Stick to the plan, Lucas. You agreed and now you must live up to your promise."
Lucas made an apologetic gesture and Hermione accepted it with a kind smile.
Hermione now stepped forward confidently towards the voice, "What do you want from us and Hogwarts?"
"We want nothing from you. We will replace all of you and create our own brand of Dark World that Tom was the first to start out. We want to show you how powerful we are. Hogwarts was always safe because starting from Earth's crust, the founders secured the area till the mantle which is about 2900 Km with 3000 best spells. They were true visionaries. You all can thank your lucky stars that Athena and Lucas are also true visionaries. If they were not, we would not be having this calm conversation right now. Silently, Athena and Lucas reached an agreement whereby all evil forces were protected by Athena and all good forces including your Muggle friends are protected by Lucas. At this part of Earth, strong Electro-magnetic currents stall the offensive capability of Lucas and Athena but their defensive capability is at their peak. Because all of you are protected by these two, we can't do anything else at this moment. We will be back however, prepare for the worst chaos in the Magical Universe. The good forces have to die and the not so evil like Lucas will be subjugated in a reversal of role play. We did wish to destroy Hogwarts but a battle above ground with 10,570 spells and more than 3000 living creatures would cost us a lot at this juncture, so we did not bother but at any moment of vulnerability or lapse, we will attack and crush all representatives of good, whether it be schools, healing centers or sports venues. We are not here to take any prisoners."
Another cruel laugh was the last thing they heard and in the next moment, all wizards and witches found themselves back outside Hogwarts. The first rays of the morning sun was casting its light on Hogwarts bringing a sense of hope to all present but equally filling their hearts with a foreboding warning about how many more such rising suns will Hogwarts get to see: 2 months, 2 years, and 2 decades? Lucas had started the chess game but the players were now far more sinister and powerful. Even a combined effort by Lucas and Hermione was just enough to fend evil off, not to end it.
Lucas looked at Hermione, "All my apologies are hollow because by commission or omission, I brought this on you, Muggles and ourselves. I am the one to blame, completely. I also vow before you and Athena that I will dedicate the rest of my existence to permanently pluck out these weeds. We may or may not need your assistance but that is immaterial. Go home and try to relax, Hermione. We have got your back."
Hermione smiled inwardly. She was entrusted the mantle in the most critical juncture in Magical History. With Athena and Lucas as partners and her own group of followers, she was sure their boat would sail over this rouge wave.