Chapter 36
The Reaper the Stag and the Angel
Tuesday, 14 January 1997
Percy's face was stoic, but his eyes pleaded to him as he held his hand out to Bill. "Pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Mr. Weasley."
Bill had no idea what Percy was playing at, but keeping a low profile was rarely a bad thing. He accepted the hand with a polite smile. "Pleasure is all mine. Come back to my office. Let's talk."
Bill caught the flicker of relief in Percy's eyes. Leading the way, he kept up light conversation, the kind he used with every client, until they reached his office door and stopped inside. As the door clicked shut, Bill fell silent and took his seat, studying Percy's blonde hair.
"Just a glamour." Percy replied, pulling out a notepad and quill. He scribbled a word and held it up: 'Secure?'
Bill nodded. "I handle high profile accounts. Management insisted on a goblin-grade ward in my office."
"Thank you," Percy murmured, visibly uncomfortable.
"So, to what do I owe the pleasure? And what's with the subterfuge?"
"It's ….complicated." Percy began.
"You made the appointment - you have my time."
"I 've been thinking… about Christmas."
Bill leaned back in his chair, unimpressed. "Thinking about a certain raven-haired brother you pointed a wand at?"
Percy squinted at Bill through his horn rimmed glasses, "You really think of him like that, don't you?"
"Yes." Bill said without hesitation. He raised his hand, ticking off on his fingers. "Ginny, Ron, Dad, Gabrielle. How many lives does a man need to save to earn a place in the family, Percy?"
Percy nodded slowly, his gaze distant. "He's truly not afraid in a fight, is he?"
"HA!" Bill chuckled. "I don't think Harry's afraid of you, Perce! Don't feel bad- I doubt he's afraid of me. He's been fighting for his life for years now. I am certain he can tell when someone's about to hex him. And respectfully, Percy, you were never going to hex Harry." Bill rose and poured two highballs of fire whiskey, sliding one in front of his brother.
"No… no, I don't suppose I was," Percy admitted, looking away briefly. "He riled me up."
"Like a brother?" Bill grinned, holding up his glass.
"Shut up." Percy muttered.
Bill took a slow sip of his drink, letting the silence settle between them. He wasn't sure why Percy had come to him but he wasn't about to make things easy for the Weasley who walked away.
"There are two matters I want to discuss. Potter's the first."
"You'd think the best person to talk about Harry with is Harry himself. If you think he'd refuse to talk to you, I think you're misjudging him."
"No, I don't think that. But I do want your honest opinion."
"Of what?" Bill asked, genuinely curious..
"Of Potter. Is he… really as good as they say?"
"Percy, he's one of the kindest men I know, you just-"
Percy raised a hand. "That's not what I meant. Is he really as good in a fight as it sounds?"
"Why do you ask? Thinking of trying to hex him again?" Bill smirked.
Percy shook his head. "I'm being serious William. Ron threw his lot in with Potter long ago- and now Ginevra too. He is a man with a target on his back."
"I think you answered your own question. He's carried that target for years, and yet he still stands. In fact, his skill has only grown. I'll admit - two months ago, Fleur and I were on a patrol and needed backup. I sent my Patronus to Tonks. Harry and his team showed up and I am grateful they did." Bill sat back and remembered the night where he was injured to the point he couldn't cast. His sister, -no longer the little girl he taught broom flying to- two brothers, and their team charged into battle once more. He'd lost count of how many times these young teens had led the charge in a war they shouldn't even be a part of… and still managed to win.
"Percy, when they ride in... it's like hell itself follows. They don't just duel like we were taught in school. They know they're fighting for each other's lives—every single one of them. But Harry and Ginny? They know if they want any sort of life after this war, there's no choice but to win. They fight like something out of the old legends, raining fire and lightning. Is Harry really that good? Brother, they both are."
"Why… why did it have to be him?"
Bill smirked "Who else is good enough for her? You're suggesting Ginny deserves less than the Chosen One?
Percy hissed. "Don't start with me on that. I'll admit the Dark Lord -
"His name is Riddle." Bill interrupted sharply.. "For someone who values precision, I am surprised you let that one slide."
"I also value my life!" Percy snapped. "And… as much as you all may think otherwise, I do value all of yours. That includes Potter too. I'll admit the poor sod deserves better than what he gets. But he is a marked man and wrath often spills over. Aren't you concerned that Riddle's rage could catch Ginny, Ron - any of us- in the crossfire?"
"We're at war, Percy! If it were a day earlier, I'd have been sitting right here when Diagon Alley was attacked - right out those doors. Fred and George were in that fight. We were all involved during the Howling. Riddle doesn't want just Harry; he wants all of the wizarding world. There's no escaping that - only fighting that. And frankly, I think our youngest three siblings are stronger together. When they let loose, they are unstoppable."
Percy pressed his lips into a thin line, clearly deep in thought - and clearly not liking it. "I hope to gods you're right Bill."
"Why? Somehow I doubt all this is really about Harry. What is going on Percy?" Bill leaned forward, his voice low but firm.
"This is not easy, but I'll be man enough to admit it." Percy swallowed hard, taking a steadying breath. "I think I've made mistakes."
Bill leaned back, a wry going in his eyes. "Yeah, most would agree pointing a wand at Harry-"
"I'm not talking about that!" Percy snapped, frustration bubbling over. He stood abruptly pacing across the room to work off his nervous energy.
Bill watched Percy carefully, giving him the time and space to speak. Percy had always been so independant and cocksure of himself, it was best to let his younger brother speak at his own pace.
Finally Percy sat back down, his right knee bouncing with nervous energy as he pressed his fingers together. "I may have gotten too deep with the Ministry."
Registering the depth of that statement to his brother, Bill became serious. "Take your time, Percy," Bill said gently, "I'm listening."
"I'll admit, I don't know if it's always been like this, or things have only recently changed, but in the last few weeks the Ministry feels … different."
"Is it Scrimgeour? Has he done something?" Bill asked.
Percy shook his head. "No, he has remained stable. Likely why I've not noticed until recently. Others throughout the ministry. Resignations, transfers, the people keep shifting. Often with very different agendas. Then there were others, people I've worked under or with for years, their opinions are changing completely.
"Opinions changing how?" Bill asked earnestly. Percy was not one given to exaggerations or conspiracy theories.
"People are starting to turn against the war." Percy said, his tone grim.
Bill was confused. "War's never popular, Percy. What are they saying?"
"You miss my meaning. It is still the minority, but there already is talk, which is growing of … negotiating."
"Negotiate… with Riddle? He wants to be the Lord! How would the Ministry negotiate? What deal could they possibly seek to make?"
"No formal plans, but the question keeps coming up: is the war even winnable? And if not, when do we consider cutting our losses? Riddle has the Death Eaters, and the Dementors, now it seems he's brought the werewolves to bear."
"Cut its losses? Appeasement?" Bill pressed. "This isn't some business deal gone wrong! We're talking about people's lives - the fate of the entire world, Percy!"
"There's been no decisions on any of this. These are simply conversations being held now. But the point is that they weren't being had a few months ago! Things are changing!" Percy raised his voice in passionate belief of his convictions. "Now I don't agree with it. For the record neither does Scrimgeour. But I'm here to warn you this exists. And Harry is not universally appreciated. Scrimgeour likes him. Harry impressed him at Christmas."
"My understanding is Harry essentially told him off." Bill smiled while sipping his drink.
"Exactly." Scrimgeour came up through the D.M.L.E. and Aurors. He appreciates individuals with the backbone to speak their mind. So many in politics are sycophants." Percy let that comment hang in silent confession for a moment. "Scrimgeour does believe in fighting the good fight, but his supporters are slowly dwindling. In that environment, the sands are shifting and … none of us know who to trust. And when there is no trust, it is difficult to plan or do anything."
Bill looked at his brother trying to put the pieces together. "That explains several things."
"Like?" Percy asked.
"You know I keep in touch with my family; Ron, Ginny, Harry, Tonks, all of them. They've had what I would call grand success when in the field. Then I compare their actions to what I read in the papers…"
"I know Bill." Percy said, raising his hand and nodding in agreement. "It's coming from 'advisors' in high places, Scrimgeour can't act alone; he's a Minister, not a king. Actions have to have support. Even when they do, messages can be changed from the head to the field. Tonk's team working out of Hogwarts separates them and gives them more… efficient operation."
Percy looked down with the slightest appearance of … shame? Still something felt missing. A hole in the conversation being avoided. "I can … appreciate the uncertainty you are facing now Percy. Why are you here?"
"As I said, I will admit I've made mistakes. I want out. I came here looking for suggestions on how and where to go next."
"Jumping ship so early brother?"
Percy squirmed in discomfort. "I don't deny some jesting and ribbing are due, but I am attempting to have a proper conversation with you Bill."
Bill smiled but relented. "Alright, why do you think you should leave?"
Percy raised an eyebrow. "Because I can't stand being a part of it anymore. It's suffocating."
"And? Why is that reason enough to leave?" Bill asked curtly.
"Bill, forgive me, but I don't quite grasp your meaning."
""It means, Percy, you are once again chasing your comforts and desires. When things become uncomfortable, you look to escape to something new. Well, Percy, let me tell you, camping in Egypt loses its allure very quickly too. Charlie would tell you the same about Romania. And don't even discuss 'discomfort' with Harry," Bill said pointedly.
Percy sat, his expression a mixture of indignation and disbelief. This was not the conversation he had anticipated.
"If you seek my counsel, Percy, I would suggest you remain where you are and keep your eyes and ears open."
Percy's shock was evident, his eyebrows arching and his mouth falling agape. "Are you disowning me Bill? I admit I-"
"No!" Bill interrupted sharply, raising a hand for emphasis. "You're so self-centered sometimes, Percy." He stood, leaning over his desk with both hands pressed firmly against the ink blotter. "By your own admission, the Ministry is changing—dangerously. You say you value our lives? Then prove it. Protect us. Stay where you are. Watch. Listen. And tell us what you learn."
Percy's composed mask cracked for a moment, his eyes flashing with shock. "You want me to be a spy, brother?"
"If any Weasley could pull it off, it's you Percy." Bills tone softened, but his words cut deep. "Think of it as atonement – for walking away."
Percy fell silent again, the weight of his decision pressing down on him. "If I'm caught, my career is over."
"If your siblings are caught, Percy," Bill said bluntly, "it means we've been injured– or worse."
"How… " Percy hesitated, frowning. "If I do this… how would I pass along any information?"
Bill sat back down, a faint smile tugging a his lips. He already had a plan. "Stop your Ministry-directed deposits."
"What!? You want me to work for free?" Percy blurted, incredulous.
"No," Bill said, his smile widening. "Tell accounting you've lost faith in the goblins handling your finances—or make up any story you like. Request to be paid in coin directly. Plenty of employees do it, especially the older generation."
"Alright," Percy conceded, frowning. "But I don't see how I am paid helps me pass along information."
"Because, dear brother, when you come to deposit your pay each week, you'll have to come here—to Gringotts, where I work. Just slip one of the goblins a note with any news. I handle high-profile clients, so it won't seem unusual for me to receive messages. If we need to contact you, I'll leave word with them, and they'll notify you the next time you come by. Gringotts' wards and guards are top-notch—we might as well use them."
Percy sat in silence, his right leg bouncing nervously as he stared at the desk, lost in thought. At last, he looked up meeting his brother's gaze. "Alright Bill, I'll do it. If for no other reason than to help protect you lot… even Harry."
Friday 17 January 1997
Harry and Ginny brought Luna along, hot chocolates in hand, to a quiet alcove tucked away from the bustling corridors of Hogwarts. They wanted to bring Luna up to speed with some of the lesser known details of the last six months.
"So you've already destroyed two of those things?"
"Three." Ginny corrected. "The Journal from First year was the first."
"And you are working all of this around classes, and the auror deployments?" Luna clarified.
Harry and Ginny exchanged looks and chuckled. "We figured out early on we weren't going to have a normal relationship." Harry admitted.
"Early? Harry, I knew it wouldn't be normal before our first date."
"That much is true, I can vouch for that." Luna agreed.
Harry paused and looked at both of the ladies for a moment, then realized it wasn't even worth asking. Of course they'd talked about him.
Ginny with any doubt or guesswork smiled as she took Harry's hand. "What can I say? I knew who I wanted early."
"Well, thank you for your patience." Harry said, picking up and kissing the back of her hand.
Luna smiled, seemingly completely unphased by the show of affection. "Frankly I'm just surprised you two find the time."
"I don't deny it feels like an awful lot of non-stop." Harry laughed.
"But if something's worth-"
Ginny was interrupted by the feel of her link warming in her pocket. Harry reached for his feeling the same, and his reflexes were quicker to get Tonks in his head. "Marauders, Flight Team, we got one."
"Potter and Crimson on our way." Harry responded then he looked across to Luna. Ginny already grabbed her hand. "Lovegood too." As the three of them started running for the Training Hall.
"Miss Lovegood has my blessing." Remus welcomed. "She took a bite and pressed on with the fight at the Howling."
The three of them met up with Ron and Hermione as they dashed through the hall. "Not what I had planned for the night mate!" Ron greeted.
"Welcome to the war!" Harry greeted.
"Luna, good to see you!" Hermione said.
"This is so exciting!" the blonde said.
"Game faces on everyone!" Harry barked.
Luna and Ginny shared smiles.
They raced to the locker room and changed. As usual Harry was quickest in quickly still strapping his tactical belt on tying his shoes. He figured out he could get briefed and finish the odds and ends quickly. "What do we have?"
"Hollyhead, House Bones security getting overwhelmed by wolf attack at the first quidditch game after the holiday." Tonks replied, watching the illusion report emmitted from the crystal ball.
"Damn terror attack," Harry surmised.
Susan flared with anger at Riddle taking another swipe at her people. She looked at Remus. "Moon?"
"We're just past the First Quarter, this has to be a Triggered attack."
"Time?" Harry asked.
"First report, ten minutes ago." Tonks replied, as the rest of the Marauders fell in. "We're heading for Harpies Stadium. Everyone prep for flight."
"Katie, Dean, Seamus you're with me." Crimson yelled, "Strap up." as she started passing out the loaded quivers with the brushy broom ended pointing out and the featherfall bracelets loosely buckled on. They all nodded and did what they were told. Harry, Ron, Neville, and Susan grabbed their own gear and followed suit. Before Hermoine could even ask, Crimson looked up to her and Hannah. "You two fly with your guys."
"Dibs on Luna," Harry volunteered. "I'll be hitting the ground long before you will."
Crimson nodded. "Sarge?" she asked, holding a broom. Tonks nodded yes.
"Remus, you fly?" Harry asked.
"Not as well as you but yes." Harry grabbed a broom for Remus as Tonks reversed the fields and shields in the training room. Then they divided up and apparated, each teacher taking half.
They arrived on the greenway surrounding the stadium alive with the lights of what had started as the Friday night game. The green and yellow colors flapped in the wind. But what caught their attention most of all were the screams of the civilians in the pitch and the streams of the people running out of every entrance.
Tonks immediately took charge. "That's why we brought the brooms! Up, over, into the pitch." The flight team and teachers were off like rockets. Harry's focus was on his little sister as she saddled up in front of him. "Alright, you grab the broom, I'll fly and play safety belt." Luna nodded. Harry briefly looked over to see the other two team flyers doing the same. "See you on the other side." he greeted.
Ginny looked at the stadium standing on the island in the old harbor. She'd looked at pictures and read every article she could get her hands on her entire life. She knew the entire island was covered in a perception filter that had she not been a witch she wouldn't see anything more than the original forest land. With its North Wall against the water's edge, Harpie Stadium was picturesque and arguably one for the most grand stadiums. Leave it to the all witch team to make themselves one of the best pitches. It was a place that Ginny had dreamed about coming to… now the place of her dreams were covered in cries of the innocent.
Harry expected a scream, but happily Luna took to the flight, again still with a smile… until they made it up and over the pitch. There was no assemblance of order, there was only panic and pandemonium. With the sudden appearance and attack of a few dozen werewolves the audience's natural reaction was to run and escape. But being in a stadium, escape was only possible through limited areas, creating bottlenecks, which the wolves now turned into feeding frenzies.
"We need to clear the exits." Tonks ordered. "Give the civis a chance to escape."
"Flight, Give me a counter clockwise orbit, Shoot the furry shites!" Crimson clarified.
"We've got a lot of innocents here," Remus reminded. "Recommend stuns unless you have a clear shot."
As Neville was handling the flying the medic could focus on the people. Already Hannah could see the victims mounting. "This is not good, we have a lot of down already."
Hermione translated the statement. "Quidditch players, what's the best place for a triage station?"
"Clubhouse!" all of them said at once.
"Base of South tower!"" Crimson specified.
"How do you possibly know that sis?" Ron asked.
"I've always wanted to fly here… but never like this."
Tonks immediately headed for it. Longbottom, Potter, with me"
"Ron, you and 'Mione, secure East entrance. Susan and Remus, West." Harry delegated.
Susan laughed. "Potter, are you actually ordering the teacher?"
"Tonight I don't mind." Remus said as the flyers all broke off.
Tonks quickly hovered over the crowd. She flicked her wand to her throat, boosting her voice. "D.M.L.E. We're here to help. Move AWAY from the exit. WE will clear the path for you." But the paniced crowd's only instinct was to find a way out and out in the stadium could only be the exit. Tonks was ignored and she swore for it.
Harry saw the stalemate and knew it was costing lives. "Luna, hang on and trust me," he growled as the sparks fired in his eyes. He swooped in and close to Tonks side, growling 'Maga fulmen' throwing a witchbolt to stone work above the tunnel exit which exploded with a flash of light. The crowd turned to see a grumpy auror on a broom with electricity filled eyes and lightning arcing his body. He raised his wand to his throat, "Make a hole for the professionals!" Those who wouldn't move for Tonk's request opted to move from fear of the lightning mage raing bolts over their heads. Finally the civilians started to part away from the tunnel to see the vicious creatures of fur and rage, unfortunately with innocent spectators beneath and behind them.
Quickly the team landed and the pilots stowed their brooms. "Potter, Longbottom, with me. The rest of you, cover fire!" Tonks ordered as she led the charge. Stunners from the flight team fell between Harry and Neville as they shared a glance. Harry flashed up the McGonagall shield. Neville smiled and with a flick of his wand cast latrare scutum, creating a green vine he held that then wrapped around his forearm, then grew a thick shield of wooden bark.
"Copycat," Harry quipped.
"Quick study." Neville replied with a grin. Hannah just shook her head. The lads joined on either side of the Sergeant as they charged the stadium tunnel. Hannah held to the left side throwing stunners at every clear shot they could find. Luna on the right side flashing in bright light as she firing radiant bolts of stary wisp.
It was tight spaces with the wolves trying to feed on victims the three of them charged against with molts arcane fire shooting between them. With lads literally carrying the shields Tonks let them take the front with her close behind hexing the beasts swiping and chomping at them. As they charged forward it soon become apparent the half of Tonks duty wa to pull the victims out of claws way while the lads focused on the beasts. "Hannah!" she yelled.
The medic quickly fell in behind and began coming to the victims aid and moving them to the sides of the hall trying to create something of a clear path in the center. She worked with dispassionate focus. Stabilizing everyone she could first, mostly just trying to stop them from bleeding out. Judging from the red coating the floor, many weren't going to make it. Hannah knew it. But she knew now was not the time or place to think about that. She focused on one patient at a time. Over the flashes of light and din of casting she was mending bleeds, confirmed breathing, and hoped to Merlin to be able to do more later.
After what seemed like a painfully slow process three for them pushed the wolves back beyond a pair of double doors labeled Harpies Clubhouse. Harry yelled to his leader. "Sarge, Neville and I got this. Secure the room."
"Right." Tonks nodded as she turned and hit the door with an 'Alohomora'. She marched in, wand ready. "D.M.L.E!"
"Oh thank Merlin!" an athletic dark skin woman said as she popped her head over a table. She was wearing the gold and green uniform of the Harpies but had panic in eyes.
"I'm Auror Tonks, I'm with a tactical unit. Who else is here? How is everyone?" The auror kept her eyes focused on the quidditch player.
"Gwenog Jones," she introduced herself. "The rest of the team and some of the staff here. Most of us fared okay but we've got three that took some gashes… and I…"
Tonks nodded. "We've got a medic." Tonks said as she quickly walked around and surveyed. It was as Jones said, about fifteen people hiding in behind a wooden table on its side with the chairs thrown in front of it and a personal locker cubby area surrounding the walls, all in the Harpies colors. "I'm commandeering your clubhouse." Tonks reported, not asked, as she came back to the door and linked in. "All units, Clubhouse secure. Medic we need you."
No sooner had she broadcast that than Hannah burst through the door carrying the shoulders of a young brunette girl with a gash from sternum to her belt, but still was moaning in agony. Luna was carrying her feet as they barged in. Tonks stayed the hell out of the way. Hannah immediately laid this patient down and started casting. But called to her carry partner. "Luna, I can work here. Can you get victims here out of harm's way?"
"Remus, can werewolves apparate?" Tonks linked out.
"In wolf form, no!" he linked back. "Too much mental conflict between man and beast."
"Understood." Tonks replied. "Lovegood!" she yelled to the younger witch and she locked the clubhouse door. "Apparate!" Tonks ordered as she popped away herself.
"Got it!" Luna replied with a pop and flash of light and from her point of view she was back in the tunnel watching Harry, Tonks, and Neville further push back the wolves.
Neville held off a beast's attack with its claws in his shield and dropping a bombard into its belly, as Harry defected a swipe with his shield when he saw Luna pop in. Their gaze met for a fraction of a second. Beneath scratches on his forehead and right cheek he flashed a cocky grin of reassurance to his adoptive sis. "We got this. Help Hannah." With a nod and Luna took a knee near the victim and vanished. Moments later she returned and the cycle began.
Remus and Susan landed on opposite sides of the west tunnel. It was immediately this was the least populated, by escapees at least. The wolves, though, were plentiful. Susan immediately fell silent and her eyes charged in black smoke as she watched the beast tear the bodies of the dead apart, the blood splattering along the walls and floor. There were no cries, no wails of agony, no begging for mercy. This tunnel was simply a serving plate. The civilians had been reduced to meat or even worse entertainment for the pack.
"Miss Bones?" Remus called as he fired shots to the beasts around the corner of the tunnel wall. "Susan. Susan!"
Something clicked inside of the Lady of House Bones. The depravity of it, the senseless slaughter. These weren't soldiers who volunteered to be there. They had no training or skills. These were just… people … innocent people who just wanted to watch a damn game. Now their lives cut short all because they just happen to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Harpie Stadium wasn't important. It wasn't strategic. All of this was for a god damn terror attack. And Susan wasn't fucking afraid.
She snapped her head to Remus as the necrotic black energy cover her eyes. She quickly spat out. "Call me Reaper!" Then turned her head to the tunnel. 'Banshee plorate' she said to cast a Banshee Wail. She called out a mournful shrill cry that echoed out and could be heard throughout the whole stadium. From her wand black waves of necrotic energy washed outward and against the monsters before her. For a moment the beasts all turned to her, but in the next moment they all howled. But this was the howl of their transformation or celebration of a kill… this was a howl of pain as it seemed bits of their lifeforce was being blown away like the wisps of smoke from a blown out candle. Remus watched the sight with a mix of shock and horror, then his reasoned mind finally corrected. As Susan's cry raked away at the creatures. Remus cast 'Deprehendre bonem et malum' to scry for humans and monsters nearby. It was as he feared, they were already too late for this tunnel.
Remus kept his wand at the ready but quickly stepped over to try to shake Susan out of … whatever this state was. "Susan! There's no one left to save here!"
"I know!" she roared.
Remus lowered his wand to grab Susan by both shoulders and looked square in the eye, trying desperately to reach her. "Then let's focus on who we can save."
The reasoning reached her. The thought of others still to save, of making a positive difference, pulled Susan, the Reaper, back from her blood lust. With great struggle she released the spell and nodded her head in silent agreement. Remus linked in, "All units, West Tunnel lost. No civilians, repeat no civilians but heavy wolf presence."
"South tunnel managed. Redeploy to East." Tonks ordered.
"Flight, I need fire in the West hole!" Harry added.
"Understood." Crimson replied. "Flight team, take hover positions over West Tunnel. Wait for my call, then send these fleabags to hell!" She took the lead in a slow bank and broke into a hover. The rest of the broom riders followed. They only need to pause a moment before they saw Remus apparate away with Susan. "Open fire!"
Dean rained bombardas onto the wolf pack as Katie dropped a thunderous 'shatter' spell throwing the wolves in all directions outward from the grenade-like explosion. Seamus burned the wolves furthest from the tunnel with a fiery dragon's breath from his wand. But there was still a core pack of snarling fur inside the tunnel. This wasn't how Ginny wanted her first visit to the stadium to be. This wasn't what she wanted to be doing. She wanted her time here to be playing quidditch and scoring goals, not saving civilians and torching werewolves. Another dream ruined by that bastard Riddle. 'Confrigo!' Crimson shouted filling the tunnel with a fireball so powerful it lit the night sky better than the stadium's lighting. The Flight team had to cover their eyes. The stadiums shook under the explosive force of the rage fueled fiery spell.
Holyhead, was a coastal city of Wales. It was winter. There was snow, ice, and melted water in the tunnel that the wolves were attacking. And Ron Weasley was a Water Wizard. With a frozen shield on one hand and wand in the other he was gashing and casting. Forming spikes of whenever and beast stepped in range of something the Iceman could control. Hermione could tell Ron was more focused than ever keeping two or even three spells up at time so she took the lead with getting the civilian out of harm's way. "Move, move, move!" she shouted as she fired bluebell flame cover fire. It felt touch and go but they seem to be holding the line.
The waves of ferocity seemed to come without end then finally a pair apparated between the two of them. Ron looked to see Remus and smoke eyed Susan appear… directly in the path of a pouncing direwolf. Ron reacted swiftly with a reverse spin use his shield to cover Remus… and as he did a black haired beast reached around digging claws into Ron's throat. His blood poured outward and Hermione could see the shock in his eyes. "R-O-O-O-O-O-N!" She screamed out to the stadium. The flame she cast erupted ten fold in her despair.
Reaper didn't hesitate. She didn't think. She didn't care and she certainly didn't ask. Unafraid and undaunted, she charged the attacking wolf. With her wand sheathed in black necrotic energy she screamed as she plunged the wand deep into the beast's chest just below its sternum, stopping the monster dead in its tracks. 'Succo Siphon' she growled defiantly at the beast as she ripped the life force out of him in a mix of black and green energy snaked around her right arm to her chest. When the lifeforce reached her heart, her eyes flashed with a touch of green in the black smoke and looked down to Ron, gasping for air and life watching the scene. Her right hand still buried in the monster, she reached for his injury and poured the same black and green energy into his wounds. The flesh healed, Ron's breath returned, and the expression of the new life in his eyes showed he was just as shocked as Hermione was watching. "What the bloody hell?!"
"Stand back up and fight!" Reaper roared.
Luna was accelerating her rating of apparating. She flashed in, grabbed another victim, flashed both of them away. Then returned, again and again. Clouds of Radiant white light popped along the hall in time with Harry's heart beat. Finally Luna stopped and looked around. "That's everyone!" she shouted.
"East Tunnel!" Tonks ordered. Luna ran out to her next assignment. Tonks quickly looked to Harry. "Pot-"
She couldn't even finish his name before a beast got a lucky swipe along Harry's backside. He fell to knee and roared in pain, but then he looked up … enraged. From the claw marks themselves and from Harry's eyes the lightning arced. He threw his armed forward and bellowed 'Fulgur fulmenso'. Reflexively Tonks grabbed Neville by his shoulder and pulled both of them back to the ground out of the way as the lightning bolt. It was the perfect setup. The civilians were out of the way. The tunnel was a long straight corridor, filled with fanged monsters standing in front of pissed off lightning mage. Harry filled the corridor with arcing electricity and trembled as he held it until every… damn… dog… fell … dead.
When the last fell he let the spell go and rested his arm on his knee. "All units, South tunnel clear." he reported.
Neville looked at him with shock and surprise, Tonks with a cocky grin of pride.
"What?" Harry asked, "We still got work to do." He gritted his teeth as he rose and threw a quick spell to the door to open up. "I'm Potter, I'm with Sergeant Tonks." He announced himself for simplicity as the others followed along. "Hannah, what's our status?"
"Busy but managing," she replied shortly as she cast as fast as magic would let her. "Right now you either help or stay out of the way."
Tonks smiled seeing how directly Hannah was handling, furthermore Harry didn't even waste her time with a verbal response, just nodded his head and turned away.
"Potter?" one of the Harpies repeated out of surprise. Harry turned around to see Gwenog Jones approaching him in shock. "You're the tactical unit?
"Yes ma'am." he replied.
"Merlin, Harry" Tonks replied, finally getting a look and the bloody mess his back was. The wolf's gash slashing along the edge of the broom quiver.
"I'm fine, Sarge." he protested.
"Bullshit. I know you barely register pain. But you will pass out if you bleed out you cocky idiot." She corrected as she started healing the wounds. "You are no good to us unconscious."
"Sarge has your number, Harry." Neville laughed as he helped with a patient, despite his clearly black eye and gash to his own scalp
"Harry, If you don't let Sarge heal you, I'll sic Ginny on you." Hannah sternly warned as her hands never stopped casting.
"Gods… fine." Harry relented. "How are you and your people, Gwenog?"
The quidditch star was in a daze. "I don't know if I'm happy you've been the one's sent her or scared that we nee-"
Their conversations were cut short as they heard the explosion and felt the tremor in the stadium. "What the bloody hell?" Hannah asked.
Harry didn't bother asking questions, He apparated to the tunnel gate in time to see a fireball exploding from the West Tunnel. He didn't hesitate to cheer as he knew exactly where the blast came from. Tonks, Nevill, and even Gwenog soon followed.
"What the hell was that?" Gwenog asked in shocked disbelief.
"That is Crimson Witch!" Harry proudly explained.
"Flight Team," Tonks ordered, "Get the civis to evac through South tunnel. Spread the word." Tonks held her wand up. 'Tripudium lux' she cast and launched four four green flairs from her wand, which soon started to orbit in a vertical circle over the South tunnel gate. She took the wand to her throat to boost her voice. "All spectators, please evacuate through the South gate!"
Crimson took off like a shot holding a green flair on her wand.
"Merlin!" Gwenog gasped as she flew by. "She really can make that broom go, can't she?"
"She can make that broom sing if you need it to." Harry said. "But for right now Gwenog, I'm sorry, but you are a civilian. I need you to get out and get to safety."
The quidditch player looked at the cadet kicking her out of her own stadium… and understood. "Thank you."
"Go!" Harry said, this time with more force and confidence Gwenog nodded and left. Harry caught sight of Tonks who nodded in approval. But they only had the moment before they heard Hermione's blood curdling cry, "R-O-O-O-O-O-N!"
"Shite," both Neville and Harry said in unison and they turned to the scream. Then all three of them started running.
Harry boosted his voice. "Passing on the left! Make a hole! D.M.L.E.!" about a quarter of the way around the stadium they finally came out of the crowd and were able to sprint toward the gate in time to see a shadow cover Reaper wail a second time, but this time at the opposite tunnel. Tonks Harry and Neville all turned in to see the life force from the wolves being literally blown away like leaves from the ground on windy day.
Ron's chest was covered in blood but blessedly he looked none the worse for wear. His concentration was continuing to grow the ice spikes from any water or ice source the pour sods stepped within range.
Harry saw it again, the straight shot tunnel, clear for civilians but filled with Harry bastards. This time he gave a warning. "Everyone clear!" he waited a moment, then he fired another lightening bolt. Again it filled the tunnel. The wolves shuttered for moments but eventually all fell down. All of them paused to take a breath as several of them fell against the tunnel walls and slid down. They all just looked at each other with expressions of disbelief they they survived. Tonks kept her head on the mission. "Crimson, ground secured. Give me an aerial scout."
"Yes ma'am." Crimson didn't need a second request. "Flight team. Keep guiding the civilians out. I'm on recon." She shot up an extra hundred feet over the stadium. She took out binoculars to review as she watched. "Team we look to be okay. Crowd seems to be running out beyond the anti apparition field and popping out. I'm not seeing any trouble out here."
A sigh of relief came to Marauders. "Maintain watch Crimson. All Marauders, well done." Tonks replied.
Far above Harpies Stadium Crimson hovered looking at the civilians leave, surviving, living, alive. She smiled to herself. Riddle could go to hell. Even if she never got a chance to fly as Harpy, being able to save the crowd when they needed it, that wasn't too bad. With a little pressure to her stirrup she lazily circled to review the perimeter of the stadium.
It was more or less happenstance when she noticed what seemed to be flashing light from the Breakwater Lighthouse. She looked over and again, yes, the lighthouse seemed to flash. But from what she'd read Crimson didn't remember anything about the lighthouse flashing before. She took a closer look with her binoculars.
The breath was ripped from her throat. On either side of the lighthouse, in fact swarming around it and then flying in front of the light, causing the flashing were tall, hooded, and cloaked figures with slimy, grey, and scabbed skin. They had no brooms, yet with outstretched boney hands they were flying straight for the stadium, an entire swarm of them. "Dementors! I need reinforcements! We have a swarm of dementors in flight from the northwest!"
An icy chill went through everyone's veins as Crimson's voice came to all their minds.
"Werewolves and Dementors?" Remus questioned. "In separate waves?"
"That makes no sense." Tonk tried to figure it out. "The wolves scared the civilians away. What the hell does this get them?"
It was the brightest witch who did the calculations the fastest. "Oh gods… us!" The Marauders all looked at Hermione. "Dementors fly… better than us! It's a trap! They want Flight Team!"
"One of the biggest differences and assets we've had this war!" Remus agreed.
Memories of his third year quidditch game and his own encounter on broom with the wraithlike creatures rushed to Harry's mind. "Flight Team ground NOW!"
"I'm better in the air!" Crimson ordered.
"You are the target, Crimson!" Harry yelled. "This whole damn war you've been poking the bear from above. This is them swatting back. Get your arse on the down here, NOW!"
"Shite," Crimson whispered to herself as she realized that the cloud of evil, despair, and pain… all had their sights set on her. She was used to armies being sent after the Chosen One, this was the first ever sent for her. She immediately spun and maxed the broomspeed into a dive back to the stadium.
"I've got an idea!" Ron said. "Everyone back to the South Tunnel. Protect the injured!"
"Move!" Tonks ordered.
The Flight team landed first as the Marauders quickly met them. "Ron?" Crimson asked, with her eyes on his blood covered chest.
"I'm fine, later." He waived off. "Okay, the tunnel gives us a ceiling and two walls of cover."
"I can make that three." Neville said as he drew his wand and ran past the clubhouse doors and raised the stone floor to seal the exit. "Rear covered." he yelled as he returned.
"Okay," Ron explained. "Real simple, this is a shield wall with patronuses. If you can make it corporeal you're on the offense. Everyone else you're making a fog wall for defense."
"Corporeal casters to the front and take a knee. Defense to the second row." Harry clarified. "Cast over your partner's shoulder." Remus fell to the rear while he and Tonks exchanged a knowing look. Katie, Seamus, and Dean, fell back with him. Tonks, Luna, Ginny, Harry, Ron, Hermione, Neville and Susan all stepped to the front.
"This is the reason I taught you this. Patornus is an emotion based spell. Dig deep. Remember," he finished with a grin. "It's only our lives on the line." Then realizing, this wasn't Diagon Alley again he did look over to his actaul commanding officer and smiled sheepishly.
Tonks smiled with pride, "Like the man said. It's only our lives. Keep the lead Potter."
The Dementors flowed in like a tidal wave. They looked like a slick black batch of oil pouring over the north edge of the stadium like a biblical flood.
"We can't swap rows this time." Harry reminded. "So this is where your stamina comes from. This is why we train. This is why we fight. This is how we send Riddle to hell."
The cloud of dementor despair settled a little over the ground of the stadium. A foul mist grew from the slick and spread out to fill the stadium and the temperature plummeted. "Hold." Harry timed as he watched their impending foe approach.
They could see their breath fog out as the dementors soon came close enough to see the individual definition of each of them.
"Merlin have mercy." Hermione said.
"Because we bloody won't." Susan growled.
"Now!" Harry ordered.
"EXPECTO PATRONUS!" They all cast in unison. From the ever darkening stadium the South tunnel burst with a brilliant white that cut through dreariness of the night like the lighthouse the dementors had flown by. Quickest on the draw, Harry's stag formed first charging into the fight. Quickly next to it was Tonks's white wolf which howled its birth cry. Ginny's mare galloped with a force between the two. Luna's hare pounded outward and quickly hopped to the front Hermione's Otter quickly leapt into existence and quickly reached out to ride Ron's Jack Russell Terrier boldly to the fight. Forming the right guard was Neville's brown bear roared as it bounded into the fight. Finally, Susan's vulture soared out over the other letting out a raspy drawn out hiss as it took formation over the herd.
The magical menagerie charged forward as unafraid as their casters. The stampede of the light crashed into the dementor cloud of despair. It turned into an amalgam black and white, good and evil, energy that quickly became its own whirlwind storm of arcane energy. Ginny's mare quickly ran the perimeter of the storm leaving a wave of white flame encapsulating the fight. The terrior leaping and grounding creature after creature. The otter and hare quickly leapt from dementor to demeanor landing shocks of white radiant energy to each. The vulture orbited the top half of the fight pecking and scratching at what wraiths beneath it. The bear and the wolf seemed to be in competitions for most damage as they ripped and bit and tore through nightmares surrounding them.
But the dementor's oldest foe, the stag took the brunt of the attack though it gouged and bucked, the sheer numbers of the invasion took its toll on the stag… and its caster. Harry was stubborn… but he was also clever. He could feel the wear and tear on his patronus, but he could also hear the Siris sounding voice in the back of head. 'Trust your gut, Pup. You can't live in the past forever.' After the tenth or twelfth dementor, Harry finally listened. He let the stag go which faded away.
"Harry!" Ginny quickly asked in concern, surprised to see his be the first to fall.
"I'm fine," said, which frankly meant little to her, but what did mean everything to Ginny, was when Harry grinned as he looked down at her. "I have an idea." Harry took a deep breath, turned his eyes to the battlefield again, this time with lightning in his eyes. "Expecto patronus." This time with a crack of lightning a second stag galloped forward. This one was faster than normal and seemed to have an extra 200 pounds of muscle. Moreover it shared the same lightning arc over its body and eyes as its master.
"Harry?" Remus asked
"Things change." Harry responded in grim determination as the new lightning stag charged the battlefield. As it approached it lowered its head as a massive arc of electricity started building up amongst its antlers. Bolts of electricity leapt from his spirit animal and to dissipate any of the loose dementors not in the core storm. The stag picked up speed and soon was a t top galop. In its last six feet it leapt into the air and dove head first and antlers full of lightning. Instantly the storm reacted with charged arcs of electricity leaping from dementor to dementor. With each one, the bolts of lightning seemed to grow in power and speed. Soon the smell of ozone started to overcome the dank smell of the dementors. A hum started to fill the stadium as the whole storm started to build up a charge.
"Potter?" Tonks asked.
"I got this!" Harry said resolutely as he started to slowly walk forward.
The arcs of energy grew stronger as Harry marched for starting to arc between the storm and the stadium.
"Harry," Remus warned. "It's building up a charge!"
"Then prep a shield!" Harry replied. "I'm a lightning mage," he reminded him. Harry turned back to the storm. Now properly pissed off Harry growled "You bastards. You send a whole damn squadron after my girl. Go to hell! Fulgur fulmenso!" Harry dropped his largest lightning bolt yet into the storm which was enough to bring the storm to critical mass and blow.
Tonks and Remus both quickly threw shields up to protect the Marauders as a shock wave erupted outward in a blinding flash of white.
When it cleared they all looked up and out to the center of the stadium the storm patroness and dementors were gone. A few straggling wraiths flead, the way they came. But there in the center of the field about about gift feet from them Harry. He was on the ground, blown back a good hundred feet. He quickly raised his hand to flag a thumbs-up. Then he roll over and stood up. With a spin in his hand he holstered his wand, then with a determined expression on his face he started walking back to the south gate, still with remnants of electricity arc over his body. The Marauders with speechless. The teachers dropped the shield.
The moment arrived and in front of her, Ginny grabbed her locket and took the second picture of Harry. He saw her do it. When he made it back to speaking rangee he just looked at her. "Seriously, that is the second picture?"
"You, fresh from the fight victorious, damn right." she replied. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine."
The entire team looked at him sourly.
"Okay, I'm tired, sore, and bleeding. But I'm alive, able to be patched up. Close enough."
"Close enough?" Hermione repeated with a giggle. "Harry Potter everyone."
Harry chuckled a little and as the lightning, and his adrenaline, faded felt the familar pain in his chest.. "And I think I have another cracked rib." That made the group actually laugh. "Sarge, Med evac?"
Tonks nodded. "You get them home. I'll handle Central."
Harry nodded. "C'mon guys report to Hannah, help stabilize everyone for apparition." The Marauders departed with nods. Tonks headed out to take care of the clean up.
Remus stood smiling and leaning up against the wall. "Harry," he began. Harry walked over to the other side of the hall.
"Yeah, Remus."
"I'm the one that taught you the patronus charm, and you were never anywhere near that. What changed?"
"Oh, well sir, correct me where I'm wrong, but patronus is a memory and emotion based spell."
"Yes," Remus said with a wry grin.
Harry shot a look down to the clubhouse door to catch and share a smile with Ginny. "It's been three years. I've got better memories now."
The Marauders followed Hannah's direction getting patients ready to move. Ginny fell quickly into assisting with basic injuries starting with stopping Harry's bleeding. Luna, even without a gift in healing also proved to be quite useful as her cheerful nature and smile seemed to be infectious and help ease the injured. A young boy reached out to her as she walked by. "Excuse me, miss."
Luna happily stopped and took a knee near him. He had taken two bites to his left arm and one to his right. But the bleeding had already been stopped. Luna kindly brushed away the loose sandy brown hair out of his face. He couldn't be older than nine. "Hi, how can I help?" She said warmly.
He looked around as if embarrassed to say. Finally, he asked barely above a whisper. "Are-are you real?"
Luna patted his chest reassuringly. "Of course I'm real." She smiled with a kind pat to his chest. "My name's Luna. What's yours?"
"Bastian, Bastian Cole. It's just… you saved me."
"Well I just helped my friends." she said with a smile over to Ginny and Harry who nodded. "But you are very welcome."
"You flashed out of nowhere, then flashed me here."
"Magic," Luna explained. "Have you ever apparated with your parents before?"
Bastion nodded. "With my dad, yes. My mom's a muggle. It's just…" he stopped clearly with a smile of embarrassment.
"Just what?" Luna asked with a look of comfort and curiosity.
"Mum used to tell me stories. And with how pretty you are and the way you flashed and flashed me away… I thought you might be an angel."
Luna shook her head. "No, I'm just a student at Hogwarts, like you will be soon,"
"Actually Bastion," Harry said, then he lowered his voice in a mock whisper. "I think you're right." Then Harry pretended to look around. "But don't tell anyone."
Ginny bit her bottom lip to keep from laughing but her cheeks felt the strain of smiling.
"Harry, I'm not an angel." Luna protested with a warm expression.
"Maybe not, but I think that's what we're calling you from now on."