"Well, we're back where we started," Ron said, taking a big swig of firewhisky. The interior of the Hog's Head was still small, dingy, dirty and smelled faintly of goats, but the place was much livelier than usual thanks to the many members of Dumbledore's Army.
Aberforth had placed a number of dusty bottles of butterbeer and Firewhisky on the bar, which he served whenever one of the people sitting at the various tables raised their hand. George, Angelina, Lee Jordan, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnegan were on their fifth bottle of whiskey, drunk and singing "Odo the Hero" in a corner. Leaky Cauldren's landlady, Hannah, did not look at all pleased with the state of the bar and had come over to it, pulling out her own handkerchief to wipe down the dirty glasses and bottles. Fawkes sat on a makeshift perch next to her, flapping his wings from time to time as if enjoying the bustle, and Faraday sat at the bar watching the phoenix with interest.
Everyone was downing glass after glass of butterbeer or whiskey, like they were trying to forget the previous day's betrayal and the deaths of Marietta and Cho, and more and more people were joining in, singing along to "Odo the Hero." But Harry didn't touch his glass, even though it was filled with the drink he craved so much, right in front of him. As Ron had said, this was the place where Dumbledore's Army had first formed decades ago. Was this also the place where it would end? Or would it give its last spark, like a phoenix burning brightly at the end of its life?
Ginny, Hermione, Neville and Teddy, who were sitting around the table with Harry and Ron, seemed to be thinking the same thing, their drinks untouched and deep in thought until someone pulled up a chair and sat down beside them, scraping at the filth that covered the floor thickly. Harry looked up to see Malfoy's serious face.
"So what's the plan, Potter?"
"Plan? It's all over, don't you see?" hiccuped Ron, slamming his glass down on the table. "Even if we had managed to sneak in under the best of circumstances, I'm not sure we would have succeeded. . . . And now all our plans have been blown up and our headquarters burned to the ground."
Ginny and Hermione pursed their lips as if to argue with his statement, but they were forced to admit it and just sipped their butterbeer in silence. Malfoy, seeing their dismissive reaction, turned his attention back to Harry.
"Ron's right, our original plan to infiltrate the factory is no longer viable," said Harry quietly. The bar was filled with singing, so the people around the table had to strain their ears to hear him. "Then we have to go head to head, and that happens today. Even Eisenbein wouldn't expect us to attack on this day, Christmas."
"And why would he, Harry?" said Ginny, narrowing her eyes. "Because it's flat out impossible! You don't have to be a reporter to figure that out."
"Ginny's right, it's too risky," said Neville gloomily. "We can't attack such a large facility from the front with only twenty people. . . "
"I agree," Teddy chimed in. "We were all lucky enough to escape just now, but next time we won't be."
"Who said we're the only ones going to attack it?" said Harry. "We're going to attack the Factory together — all of us. It doesn't matter what House you're from, if we get all the wizards and witches from all over Britain, we can do it."
"You've got to be kidding," Ron chuckled, downing the last of the firewhisky in his glass. "Two of our members just betrayed us and were killed, and now you expect others to risk their lives to save a bunch of kids from Slytherin House? Keep dreaming!"
"But you're here, Weasley. Everyone in this inn is here to risk their lives to save the children of Slytherin House," said Malfoy seriously.
"Certainly not to please you," Ron blurted out.
"Then why are you here? Aren't you here because you want to do the right thing?"
"Well, maybe," said Ron reluctantly.
"You see, Potter, you have a rare gift. The ability to convince even the most ordinary of people to take a risk and do the right thing," Malfoy drawled, his tone impatient. "It's why you were able to defeat the Dark Lord, why you got so many people to risk their lives to save Hogwarts . . . and I felt that power again just now as I watched you bring Cho Chang back to our side."
"I hate to admit it, but I agree with Malfoy," said Hermione quietly. "Harry, you have the power to bring us all together, and that's something I can't do, no matter how many books I read. You can bring about the harmony between all the Houses that I've only dreamed of and win this war."
"And you're going to do it in one day? You're going to end the conflict that's been going on for a thousand years, since the time of Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin?" Ron clicked his tongue. "Yeah, let's give it a try. . . . At least we won't have to watch Malfoy whine anymore."
"I'll call the others. Come on, everyone!" called Neville, getting up from his seat.
"Harry has something to tell you!" Teddy called after him, climbing onto his chair.
Soon the singing stopped and the D.A. members all pulled up their chairs and sat down facing Harry. Harry thought he knew what he had to do, but strangely, his mouth felt dry and his head felt as white as it had been in his fifth year, when Dumbledore's Army had first formed in this very bar. Then he suddenly remembered how nervous and excited he had felt when he saw his former crush Cho Chang smiling at him from a nearby table, and his heart sank when he realized that she was no longer in this world. Of course, Cho had betrayed him and his friends, but in the end it was Eisenbein who had brought it all about. As his blood boiled with hatred and anger at Eisenbein for causing him all this pain, a cold sense of purpose suddenly filled him with the determination that he must win. He would kill Eisenbein, even if it would lead to his own death. . . .
Meanwhile, all the members of the D.A. sat in front of him, their earlier sense of defeat gone without a trace, their eyes focused on Harry with curious expressions.
"Before I say what I have to say, I just want to say that I'm proud of you," began Harry.
"Right, right!" shouted Anthony Goldstein, accompanied by the whistles of George and Lee Jordan.
"As you all well remember, our Dumbledore's Army began here as a study group," Harry continued. "But we soon had to do much more than that; we had to fight first against Umbridge and Fudge, then the Death Eaters, and finally Voldemort, and yet you all stood up so bravely, and in the end we won all those seemingly impossible battles."
"It's all because of you, Harry!" Seamus whistled and the others clapped in agreement. Harry waited patiently until the bar was quiet again, except for Aberforth's rumbling as he polished his empty glass, before he spoke again.
"None of this victory would have been possible without your help," said Harry earnestly, making eye contact with each of his friends. "And I'm asking you to join me in one last battle."
"We'll do anything, Harry!" shouted Lee Jordan, shaking his fist in the air. "I'll go to hell and back if you tell me!"
"Still, listen. Because maybe this fight I'm talking about will be harder than any fights you've ever had, even the one with Voldemort," said Harry. "I want you to help settle the disputes and grudges between the Houses, especially with the Slytherins."
A chilling silence swept through the pub like a blizzard, all the enthusiasm of moments before gone. George tugged at his one remaining ear as if he'd drunkenly heard something, and the bottle Seamus was holding fell to the floor, spilling butterbeer all over it. Padma and Parvati began to hiccup, no one sure who started first. Even Hermione, who only moments before had been loudly proclaiming the need for reconciliation between the Houses, ducked her head pretending she had nothing to do with the plan. Only Malfoy listened with a straight face.
"How is that even possible?" said George heatedly. "And now you want the rest of us to risk our lives to save Slytherins, when so many of us have lost our own families to Death Eaters? I mean — I mean, even I sometimes wonder why I'm here!"
Hearing these words, Harry's mind flashed back to Fred's lifeless, vacant face, eyes no longer focused, the ghost of his last laugh still hanging over it. And the faces of his parents, Sirius and Remus, followed, stabbing him in the heart like sharp daggers. But he could not falter. The success of what he was about to do was the last hope of the Wizarding world, his world, their world. . . .
"You still don't understand why Eisenbein only kidnapped Slytherins?" said Harry. "You saw last night how well he knows about us. . . . Eisenbein saw this coming, knew we wouldn't work together because of our long-standing animosity, and took advantage of it."
"That doesn't make the Slytherins suddenly loveable, Harry," said Dean. "The Death Eaters captured and tortured Muggle-borns like us, but that's not all. At the Battle of Hogwarts, when the other Houses were fighting for their lives, every single Slytherin ran away."
"Can you blame them? It's been months since the entire Slytherin House was kidnapped, and apart from us, no one from the other Houses really cares."
"Harry, that sounds so cruel!" Justin said, scowling. "Are you saying you see us as being in the same class as the Slytherins?"
"Now is not the time to play who's better and who's worse, and whether you agree with me or not, I am summoning all citizens of our world to the Grand Meeting Room at the Ministry of Magic," said Harry firmly. "And we're going to gather as many people as we can and attack the Wizarding Factory this very afternoon." Ignoring the murmur, he continued, his voice rising. "Even the Dawn Breakers will not expect us to attack today, on Christmas Day. We must strike swiftly to have a chance of winning, so tell me now who won't be following me."
Harry remained speechless and looked around at Dumbledore's Army sitting in front of him. Most of them were either gazing into the air or sighing heavily in disbelief at what they had just heard, but none of them voiced their opinions out loud.
"Very well, then, I'll call it a consensus. Now we need to gather all the wizards and witches from all over Britain. There's an owl post office right outside, so we can send them letters."
Soon after the bottles and glasses of firewhisky and butterbeer were cleared away, they sat down at their desks and began writing letters to all their contacts. Fortunately, the work was done in less than an hour, thanks to Ginny, a reporter for the Daily Prophet, who had enchanted their quills and taught them how to write quickly. Then, carrying sacks of letters, they emerged from the alley and stopped at the nearby post office, where they could hear the birds hooting and screeching, to mail them. It wasn't long before all two hundred owls were gone, letters dangling from their feet.
"Ginny, I need to talk to you," said Harry quietly, grabbing his wife as the others left the post office. "I want you to stay home."
Ginny raised her eyebrows as if she had just heard the most outrageous thing in her life. "What do you mean, I should go home alone in the middle of this?"
"For your own safety, but also for the sake of our children. It's Christmas time and they'll be home, right?" Ginny nodded slightly, still frowning. "If they realize there's going to be a battle, they'll try to sneak in; James can't stay out of trouble, Albus is best friends with Scorpius, and Lily seems to have taken an interest in him. That's why so one of us needs to stay home and keep an eye on them."
"You've found a good excuse to leave me out of this," Ginny sighed, shaking her head. She looked at Harry with her light brown eyes, then hugged him tightly and whispered in his ear. "You have to make sure you come back safely. Do you understand?"
"Of course, Ginny." Harry smiled. "Staying alive has been my specialty since I was a little boy, hasn't it?" Even as he said this, Harry desperately hoped that this would be his last mission before death, that he would be remembered as a hero by his family, and that he would take the secret that he was no longer a wizard to his grave. . . .
After Ginny had left for Grimmauld Place, Harry changed into his robes and traveled with Ron, Hermione and Malfoy to the Ministry of Magic via the Floo Network. They passed through the deserted Atrium, with only the sound of water from the fountains, and finally took the lift to the empty Grand Meeting Room.
As Harry stepped onto the raised stage at the top of the spiral staircase and waited patiently with Ron, Hermione and Malfoy, the recipients of the letter began to pour into the hall. They were all milling around with curious looks on their faces, since the letter hadn't revealed the purpose of the meeting. After a few more minutes, a group of Slytherin parents broke through the crowd and entered the room, casting suspicious glances in Harry's direction, apparently guessing what they were up to. Remembering the harsh words he'd spoken to them on the day of the Ministry's dissolution, Harry realized that he was going to need more luck than he thought to pull off what he had planned.
As the vast hall finally filled with over a thousand wizards and witches, Harry made his way to the lectern and stood. Fortunately, this time he didn't have to force himself to raise his voice, as Hermione was quick enough to point her wand at his neck and mutter "Sonorus." Harry stood at the podium and looked down at the citizens of the Wizarding world who had filled the entire auditorium below. It seemed that the D.A. members were not the only ones who were wary of the Dawn Breakers, considering it was Christmas and they had gathered in such large numbers.
"Good morning, my fellow wizards and witches of England. I am honored to see so many of you here, especially in the middle of the holidays." Harry's magically amplified voice echoed through the room. "As you all know, it's been almost half a year since an entire House of Hogwarts was kidnapped. In the interest of security, we have not been able to tell you this, but we have managed to locate the place where they are being held, known as the Wizarding Factory. We will be launching a rescue operation later this afternoon, with the help of some of your volunteers."
The crowd of citizens who had listened to Harry in silence began to stir. A barrage of camera flashes from the Daily Prophet and other press shot toward the podium, partially blinding him, but Harry patiently maintained a calm expression.
"You're asking us to save the Slytherins and risk our lives to do it?" shouted Zacharias Smith, his head poking out over the crowd, and there was a chorus of agreement.
"That's right, they fled the last battle!" a witch shouted. "Not only that, they tried to capture and kill us Muggle-borns!"
Harry waited a moment for the excitement to die down, then cleared his throat and spoke. "Let's start by setting a couple of things straight. It's true that there were few Slytherins who fled, but they weren't the only ones — I remember Mr. Zacharias Smith over there using his large frame to trip over a bunch of first years to get to the front of the line." Zacharias's face flushed red with anger and embarrassment, and many people, including Dumbledore's Army in the front row, burst out laughing.
"And it is true that many purebloods from Slytherin, including the Death Eaters, have done great harm to others, and no one knows this better than I, who lost both my parents to them and have the scar on my forehead that constantly reminds me of that night." A heavy mood settled over the room and faces darkened as people thought of friends and family they had lost in the last war. Harry continued, "But we must move on. Eisenbein has exploited the divisions between the Houses in our own world: first he robbed Gringotts Bank under Muggle guise, then he incapacitated the Auror office, and now he's kidnapped Slytherin children and is bleeding them like cattle. Who will be next? I've heard that some Muggle-borns and Sqiubs are glorifying Eisenbein and his followers, but the man is driven by a single-minded desire to destroy our world, and there can be no negotiation or compromise with him."
"And you expect us to trust you instead, Potter?" shouted Pansy Parkinson sharply from the crowd. "You certainly don't look kindly on us Slytherins."
"Exactly. How do we know you're not trying to use our children for political purposes?" shouted Blaise Zabini this time. Having lost a lot of weight, his prominent cheekbones seemed to stand out more, perhaps out of concern for his kidnapped son.
"I can vouch for that, Zabini," Malfoy said, coming to Harry's side unannounced. "I have spent the last few months working with Harry Potter and Dumbledore's Army to get my son back. . . . I know many Slytherins are not on my side, but I hope you will believe me for once. Dumbledore's Army did more to save the children of Slytherin than anyone else, even losing three members in the middle of fierce battles. There was no political agenda, only a belief in doing the right thing." At Malfoy's confession, the crowd began to murmur, and even the parents of the Slytherin children, whose faces had been filled with disbelief, relaxed in embarrassment and quickly whispered to each other.
"Mr. Malfoy here is right," said Harry. "We may have recently lost Romilda, Marietta and Cho to the Dawn Breakers, but that hasn't diminished our resolve to save the children one bit, just as the losses of the last war didn't make us give in." The other members of the D.A. standing in the front row nodded and clenched their fists with determination, showing their agreement with his words. Harry turned to them and nodded, then turned back to the rest of the citizens. "I can't promise that there won't be casualties. . . . But if you trust me and go on the offensive today, you will go down in history as those who fought for our world, so I ask that only those who are willing to fight alongside we Dumbledore's Army."
Harry stood at the podium, ready for the worst, for everyone in the room to leave. Soon, several wizards and witches from Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw began to leave, including Zacharias. But to Harry's surprise, they looked embarrassed, and even Zacharias could barely keep a straight face as he walked away. Harry felt his whole body heat up as he saw Arthur, Molly, Bill and the rest of the Weasley family looking up at him with beaming smiles on their faces, and even Percy gave him a thumbs up. Relieved to see that most of the Gryffindors were still there, including the Weasleys, Harry turned his attention to the Slytherins. To his surprise, all the Slytherins remained in their seats, despite their attempts to pretend Harry wasn't there.
"Well then, I take it that those of you here will be participating in today's operation with us." Ten minutes had passed, and when it was clear that no one had any intention of leaving, Harry finally spoke. "After we have set up our plan, we will go to the Wizarding Factory and for this one day, no matter what House you are from, you will do as you are told by the members of Dumbledore's Army."
As Harry stepped away from the podium and turned to leave, Hermione rushed over with a bright smile on her face, pointed her wand at his neck and muttered, "Quietus," turning off the Amplifying Charm.
"That was a great speech, Harry!" exclaimed Hermione.
"Honestly, you were amazing back there, mate." Ron grinned in agreement. "I can't believe the Slytherins were persuaded to follow you. . . . Of course, they must be staying for their children, but still!"
"Let's put our grudges aside for today and fight together," said Harry seriously. "Dying or being hurt doesn't discriminate between Houses. . . It can happen to anyone."
"So, Harry, how exactly are we going to attack the Factory?" said Hermione, her expression darkening a little. "The Dawn Breakers will be shooting at us with their guns and wands, and how do you think we're going to be able to protect that many people?"
As she said this, the image of Hagrid's flowery pink umbrella suddenly flashed before Harry's eyes. It was as if he had been preparing an answer to this question all along.
"Bullets and other curses can be stopped by protective charms," said Harry.
"But what about the Killing Curse? No spell can stop that. . . " said Ron worriedly.
"Magic can't stop it, but physical means can," said Harry. "Especially if you open an umbrella and hold it in front of you, you can use it as a makeshift shield. I found that out the night I went into the forest to save Hagrid."
"Harry, that's . . . that's a great idea!" exclaimed Hermione brightly. "If the umbrellas are destroyed, we can just make new ones with magic, and if we form a barrier with them as a group, they won't be able to touch us!"
"Right. Then you two will go down and tell them my plan. And if anyone doesn't know, teach them how to make umbrellas with magic. I think we can go in groups of two, with one person blocking the front with an umbrella and the other helping to make new umbrellas or cast other defensive spells."
From then on, everything was in order. Dumbledore's Army dispersed, explaining the plan to their respective Houses and organizing groups, while Malfoy went to Slytherins to lead the parents there. Those with excellent O.W.L. grades in Transfiguration were assigned the task of magically creating a new umbrella for each one that was destroyed, while those without were to stand in front of them with their own umbrellas spread out. Everyone was so eager to defend the Wizarding world that the reading of the emails to break the Fidelius Charm and the brief drills were completed in three hours, and the group dispersed in the afternoon, agreeing to meet again in the town of Mould-on-the-Wold.
"To be honest, I'm starting to think this might work," George said, looking at Malfoy and Slytherin parents who were the first to leave the room. "They've been practicing like crazy. I guess it's different when their family is on the line."
"Come on, George. Let's not take sides today, let's fight as one," Neville said earnestly, then looked back at Harry. "Harry, you said the four Houses would form a square and surround the factory?"
"That's my plan, and we've already agreed to make umbrellas in the colors that represent each House," said Harry. "That way it'll be easier to recognize their respective areas, and they'll feel more responsible for their parts. If I'm right, the Dawn Breakers will try to break the siege somehow and get the children out, because wizard blood is their most valuable weapon."
"At least the Gryffindor side won't be breached," said George determinedly. "We can't embarrass ourselves in front of the Slytherins. . . So let's get started, shall we?"
"Wait a minute. There's probably an advance guard from the Ministry of Magical Accidents and Disasters out there right now, moving the entire town's Muggles elsewhere," Harry said as he looked at his watch. "I'm sure the residents there will suddenly want to take a trip to another part of the country, or visit a relative they haven't seen in a while. . . . In about half an hour, the area around the Factory will be completely empty. Well, the Muggles won't be able to see what we're doing anyway because of the Fidelius Charm on the hill, but it can't hurt to be careful."
After a few more minutes of the D.A. members nervously practicing offensive and defensive spells and how to make an umbrella, an old wizard finally appeared with a bang in the nearly empty Grand Meeting Room. The gray-haired but still agile man was Arnold Peasegood, an Obliviator of the Accidental Magic Reversal Squad.
"Mr. Potter, we've done all the work, and there's not a single soul left in the village."
"Thank you, Mr. Peasegood," Harry said, this time pulling out his cell phone and calling Faraday in the Ministry's operations room. "Faraday, they've completed the evacuation — can we start the operation now?"
"One moment, please . . . I'm hacking into Mould-on-the-Wold's communications station to check for nearby smartphone signals." Faraday paused for a moment before continuing, "Okay, the town is deserted, not a single signal left."
"Okay, thanks. Then we'll leave."
Harry hung up the phone and looked back at his friends. "The others must be heading that way by now, we should join them." Hermione imperceptibly grabbed Harry's arm and the two of them spun through the air, plunging into the dense darkness like the rest of the vanishing members of Dumbledore's Army. Apparition was always an unpleasant experience, with strong forces pressing on his body from all sides, but this time the rumbling sensation seemed more intense, perhaps due to the nervousness before a great battle.
When the seemingly endless journey through the darkness finally came to an end, with bright lights streaming in from all directions, Harry found himself standing on the main street of a quiet town with a crowd of people. The small brick houses, old shops and smooth streets of Mould-on-the-Wold were so familiar to him that he had visited them many times before. Harry looked up and saw the Wizarding Factory standing majestically on top of the hill. Red smoke rose from the cylindrical chimneys, which were as tall as ever.
"Come on, we need to hit them fast before they react," Harry said to Dumbledore's Army surrounding him. "Take your respective Houses and surround the Factory from east to west and north to south. Hermione, along with the rest of the Ministry, will cast an Anti-Disapparition Jinx over the entire hill."
"We're counting on you, Harry," Ron said with a grin and quickly left with Neville, George and the other Gryffindor D.A. members.
Luna, staring blankly into the blue sky, took Anthony, Michael and the other Ravenclaws and headed off in another direction, while Teddy went over to where Ernie, Hannah, Justin and the Hufflepuffs had gathered, and the hundreds of wizards and witches who had filled the main street quickly disappeared into the alleys and other streets, leaving only the Slytherins in their green robes. Their looks were never kind to Harry, but still, about half of them clutched their folded umbrellas like wands at his command.
"We'll take the front and save our children, Potter," said Malfoy. "The Slytherins will break through the main gate while the rest of you hold the perimeter. It'll be easy once we get over the barbed wire — I've been there before, so I can lead the way."
"All right, though Ron and George might not like you leading the way."
Harry grinned as he said this, and Malfoy gave him a small smile before turning and leading the Slytherins forward. As Harry approached the hill to take command, he heard two men arguing in a nearby alley, and Teddy grabbed someone and dragged them over to him.
"Let go of me Teddy, I'm a Slytherin, I have a right to be with them!" cried Albus. He struggled and tried to shake off Teddy's grip on him.
"I caught him trying to sneak in, Harry." Teddy pulled Albus until he was standing right in front of his father, then let go.
"Albus! You should be at home," said Harry, trying to calm his alarmed heart.
"I snuck out — I used an Inflating Charm on my bed to pretend I was there." Albus lifted his downcast eyes to meet Harry's. "Can't I join the attack, Dad? I mean, I got an 'Outstanding' in Defense Against the Dark Arts!"
"This is a grown-up thing, Albus. You should go home," said Harry sternly, and Albus's eyes lit up with defiance.
"But you were told the same thing when you were my age! You went off to fight Voldemort yourself anyway. So please let me go, Scorpius was taken instead of me." Albus's eyes watered a little. "If he gets hurt, I won't bear it. . . . Please, Dad!" Harry looked over to Teddy for an opinion, but his godson just shrugged, as if to say that he should be his own judge. Harry sighed and looked back at his son. Albus took another step forward, a pleading look on his face. "You once told me, Dad — I was named after the bravest man you had ever known! And you're going to let me be a coward? To just stay home, not knowing if my best friend is alive or dead?"
"This is not about courage — this is about survival. Think about how I or the rest of my family would feel if something happened to you," said Harry quietly, then looked in the direction of the hill. A large group of people had already formed a tight formation around it, preparing to move forward.
"Here's the deal, Albus. You will stay in the area, but never venture out into harm's way. Once the area is safe, I will allow you to meet your rescued friends." Albus remained silent, still looking angry, but finally gave a short nod. "Alright, Teddy, you take Albus to that empty café over there and join the Hufflepuff side of the line, it's time to start the attack."
Once they were gone, Harry approached the wizards and witches who had formed a line on the lawn surrounding the hill. On the side facing the entrance to the Factory, a group of Slytherin parents, looking like overgrown weeds in their green robes, chattered in low tones, then fell silent at the sight of Harry. He pushed his way through the group of Slytherins making way for him and approached Draco Malfoy at the head of the line.
"Malfoy, what do you make of the situation?"
"Well, it's more guarded than the last time we went in there," said Malfoy. To the side he pointed, behind a barbed wire fence, Dawn Breakers armed with rifles and wands were crouched on the ground or hiding in pits they had dug. And in the sky, dozens of drones buzzed like angry hornets, ready to strike at a moment's notice. "Still, we outnumber them, unlike back then. . . . All in all, I think it's worth a try."
"Potter, I'm going to kill her every chance I get, and you can't stop me, even if you're in charge," said Zabini harshly.
"I know I can't stop you, but can you stop them? What if the Dawn Breakers try to harm the hostages?" said Harry, and the Slytherin parents began to stir uneasily. Zabini looked angry but remained silent. "Zabini, let's not provoke them and just concentrate on saving the children, it's better for everyone."
"But Potter, what if they try to kill someone, which I'm sure they will?" said Malfoy worriedly.
"Then we'll have to do what's necessary," replied Harry. "But remember, we're here to save lives, not take them."
Harry made his way across the lawn this time to where the Gryffindors had gathered, some of them, including George and Angelina, wearing their crimson Quidditch robes from their school days, and nearly half of the people in front of them with similarly colored crimson umbrellas folded and held tightly like spears. A tall, lanky old man stepped through the crowd when Harry approached.
"Aberforth, are you going into battle too?" asked Harry, his tone a mixture of welcome and concern.
"Of course I am. After all the free booze I just gave you, you're going to keep me in the back and not let me have any fun?" said Aberforth grumpily, causing the nearby D.A. members to chuckle. "Besides, I have a debt to repay to Eisenbein. I'm sure he's hiding in that Factory like a rat . . . "
Harry suddenly remembered the brutal violence of the three Muggle boys he had seen in Eisenbein's memory, the one that had left bright and cheerful Ariana with an incurable wound and brought grief to the entire Dumbledore family. Aberforth, then a child and now an old man with graying hair, clenched his fists and grimaced in anger, still unable to forget that tragic day. When Harry finally turned to face the hill, Ron and Hermione stepped forward to stand on either side of him.
"Let us begin. Give the signal," said Harry solemnly.
With that, Hermione shot red sparks into the sky, followed by yellow ones from the Hufflepuffs and blue ones from the Ravenclaws. Finally, Malfoy fired green sparks from the Slytherin side, and hundreds of umbrellas unfolded down the slopes of the hill, each one like a large flower. Small circles of red, yellow, blue, and green, representing each House, colored the ground to match the sparks that had just been fired. Then the umbrella bearers came forward and spread them out in front of their companions, and the Factory on the hill now seemed to be surrounded by a colorful wall.
"Now, are you ready?" shouted Harry, "everybody in step!
At his word, the umbrellas of the four colors began to march forward. Harry, already prepared for death, led the way up the hill, not hiding behind them, but looking around at the wall of umbrellas when he suddenly realized something. Since Godric Gryffindor and Salazar Slytherin had fought, when had the four Houses of Hogwarts ever been so united? Not to his knowledge, despite his failing grade in History of Magic. Now that he was a Muggle, his heart swelled with hope as he realized that he had done something greater than any magic he had ever used. Yes, no matter what the centaurs said, he still had time to do something worthwhile. Wizard or not . . . if only he could leave the people with a little hope before he died. . . .
A sudden movement in the sky snapped Harry out of his thoughts and made him look up. Dozens of drones were closing in on them, swooping down furiously on the attackers.
"Look up there!" cried Harry, and wizards and witches standing behind a wall of umbrellas pointed to the sky and cast defensive spells. The drones fired guns and threw bombs, but they were blocked by invisible barriers, sending sparks and explosions into the air in vain.
"Ha ha, look at you, you piece of junk!" Ron laughed, waving his fist above his head.
"We'd better get rid of them when we have the chance — tell them to shoot them down every chance they get!" Harry instructed, and Hermione, hearing this, sent three Patronuses to alert the other Houses. Flashes of red light shot out from between the umbrellas, disabling some of the nearest drones and causing them to fall, while the others retreated into the distance.
Slowly but surely, they climbed the hill, the distance between the Factory and the four-colored barrier of umbrellas closing in on them. . . . Finally, when they could just make out the shadowy figures of the Dawn Breakers behind the barbed wire, their counterattack began: A loud crackle of gunfire cut through the still air, assaulting everyone's eardrums. The countless small machine gun bullets that flew by were deflected by the protective charms they had created and hung in the air, but the roar of the weaponry was enough to scare some back.
"Stay in formation, or we won't be protected!" shouted Harry, and the wall of umbrellas that had been disrupted by the different speeds of their steps straightened again.
Harry looked around and saw that the members of the D.A. had mingled with those of the other Houses, giving similar instructions from their respective sides. Realizing that the weapons known in the Wizarding world as Muggle's wands were merely noisy and incapable of penetrating even basic defenses, the emboldened witches and wizards let out cheerful shouts and began to slowly advance again. Then several blinding flashes of green light appeared between the muzzles of the guns, closing in with sharp whistling sounds.
"Killing Curses! Everybody behind the umbrellas!" Harry shouted, and the wall of umbrellas in front of them grew denser, completely obscuring the faces behind them. Unlike bullets, the dozens of Killing Curses penetrated the protective charms intact, but their speed was relatively slow, so Harry ducked to avoid a few and looked back. Flashes of green light struck some of the red umbrellas, burning them to a crisp, leaving nothing but blackened, charred wire.
"Hurry up and pass the new umbrellas forward!" Harry ordered, and those behind him quickly waved their wands to produce new ones and send them forward, while those who had lost theirs spread them out to fill the gaps in the barrier left by the burnt ones. The Gryffindors who had successfully repelled the first attack cheered, but there was no time to catch their breath. From the top of the hill, more Killing Curses approached. . . .
Realizing he couldn't dodge them this time, Harry backed away and quickly ducked behind Ron's open umbrella. Next to him, Hermione nervously pointed her wand and whispered a spell to cast a defensive spell over the sky as the line moved forward a few steps. Now the Killing Curses had burned through an equal number of umbrellas in their crimson shield wall, leaving a gaping hole in front of them. The people behind them quickly passed new umbrellas they had already made forward, reinforcing the broken parts of the barrier, and Ron took the one he was holding from Hermione and unfolded it.
"You're a genius, mate! How did you even come up with this?" exclaimed Ron. "I guess a Killing Curse is nothing if we have these umbrellas, huh?"
"Only if you hold your wand straight!" shouted Hermione sharply. "You're keeping it crooked, Ron, get a grip!"
By the time they had blocked the third barrage in a series of Killing Curses, they were close enough to see the panicked faces of the Dawn Breakers clearly. As they gained confidence, the wizards and witches, now far more skilled than they had been at the beginning, walked steadily forward, unafraid of whatever came flying at them and reacting calmly.
"It's time for us to fight back! Everyone in the back, raise your wands!" At Harry's command, those standing behind the umbrellas, including Hermione, drew their wands in unison and pointed them forward. Harry looked ahead through a small gap in the umbrellas and saw the Dawn Breakers stop firing and reload their weapons. "Now, everyone, attack!"
"Expelliarmus!"
"Stupefy!"
"Reducto!"
"Petrificus Totalus!"
The sporadic shouts came around them as flashes of red and blue shot from their direction, through the gap between the umbrellas and into the barbed wire. Several of the Dawn Breakers were caught off guard by the spell, sent flying backwards or knocked unconscious to the ground. The Gryffindors cheered in unison, and judging by the similar shouts from the other Houses, the plan seemed to be working well.
"Okay, let's pick up the pace!" shouted Harry.
"Exactly, we can't be losing to the Slytherins!" cried George after him, and then a loud chorus of agreement erupted as they charged forward as one, crimson umbrellas in hand, and each time more Dawn Breakers behind the barbed wire were knocked down by Stunning Spells.
Looking ahead, Harry saw a man in black robes with a red armband on his arm, magically awakening his unconscious companions. Judging by the thick glasses and the pimples, it was a Dawn Breaker named Warren he had seen back at Gringotts. He nudged Hermione and pointed at him.
"Hermione, do you think you can get him to us?"
"No problem, Incarcerous!" A thick rope shot out of the end of Hermione's wand, binding the arms of the man Harry had pointed at. Hermione flicked her wand back toward them and the trapped Warren was dragged helplessly to them.
"Good idea, Harry!" Ron called from the front. "We'll have the advantage if we reduce their numbers."
Just then, another black-clad Dawn Breaker poked his head out of the pit behind the barbed wire.
"Careful Ron, it's a Killing Curse," Harry said as he watched the man point his wand at them.
But instead of them, the soldier in the pit pointed his wand at his comrade, who was being dragged to the ground, and shouted, "Avada Kedavra!"
There was an intense flash of green light, and Warren, who had been struck by it, immediately stopped his fierce struggle, unable even to close his eyes.
"D-did you s-see that, Harry?" stammered Hermione in shock. "He killed one of his own!"
Harry was also at a loss for words and could only stare at Warren's dead body. The Dawn Breaker in the pit ducked again, and Harry was forced to hide behind Ron's umbrella again as more Killing Curses came. The Gryffindors looked somewhat intimidated, their former bravery gone, as they watched their enemies fight with a determination to kill rather than have their friend taken prisoner. Then Teddy's stag Patronus appeared in front of them, passing right through the flying bullets and curses and coming to a stop.
"Harry, they never stop coming and the Hufflepuffs are getting tired."
The silver stag opened his mouth and spoke in Teddy's voice. Harry looked at his fellow Gryffindors at these words. No matter how much they Stunned and Disarmed the Dawn Breakers on their side, the number of defenders hiding in the pit was not diminishing, and so they stood, exhausted, barely holding on to their umbrellas to shield themselves from the relentless Killing Curses. At that moment, there was a commotion to their right. There were screams and urgent cries, mixed with gunfire and the sound of something exploding. Harry raised his head to look in that direction, but he could see nothing, blocked by a dense barrier of umbrellas.
"The sound is coming from the Slytherin side," whispered Hermione worriedly. "Something must have happened."
"Take over for me, Hermione. I'll go take a look."
Harry pushed his way through the other Gryffindors and out the side of the barrier. The Slytherin side was in chaos, the barrier of green umbrellas crumbling in places and several parents charging forward with wands, umbrellas abandoned. On the side where the main entrance to the Wizarding Factory was located, the barbed wire fence was scorched or broken, and there were several craters of fire in front of it. The smoke made it difficult to see the direction of the Factory, except for the occasional movement of black shapes. Scanning the formation of confused Slytherin parents, he spotted Malfoy at the head of the pack and ran toward him.
"Malfoy, what's going on? Why has your formation collapsed?"
"We tried to restore it," panted Malfoy. "They just tied up some of the kidnapped children and tried to take them out, so the excited parents ran out. . . Zabini — Goyle, get back to your places!"
Gregory Goyle, who had been staggering ahead armed with his wand, looked back with a dumbfounded expression on his face, only to be sent sprawling backwards by a friendly Stunning Spell. Zabini, who had made it to the edge of the barbed wire, barely managed to roll out of the way of the sudden burst of Killing Curses that came out of the smoke and back toward the umbrella barrier. Malfoy cast a protective enchantment to protect his retreating companions, squinting at the Dawn Breakers hiding in the smoke.
"We've taken out quite a few of them, and several of them have killed their own comrades captured by us . . . and yet they seem to have no end of reinforcements," said Malfoy. "Are there really that many in the Factory?"
"I'm sure there are more than we think," said Harry. "The other houses are being pushed back as well. . . . At this rate, they'll break the siege and try to take the children somewhere else."
Malfoy stared in the direction of the Factory for a moment, then looked back at Harry with a look of determination on his face.
"There's no other way, Potter. We have to go in there, both of us."