Chapter 103: Headstrong
"You all ready?" Harry asked his group.
"We are," Daphne tightened the grip on her wand. Next to her, Neville, Hannah and Susan formed up.
"Once we go through this door, we're in combat," Harry said. "I want us all to come out alive. Got it?"
"We've been over this before," Lavender said as she, Parvati, Padma and Millie did their last checks.
A klaxon sounded and the door behind them opened. Hermione cast a shield through it and the squad filed through. The room was wide and open with a catwalk running around the outside In the center stood a long figure.
"Homenum Revlio," Daphne cast with no results. "It's clear."
"Neville, Daphne, Luna to the center," Harry directed. "The rest spread out. Don't give them any reason to take us all out in one shot. Hermione, Lavender, Millie, keep your wands on them. Susan, Hannah you're on general defense."
Neville edged toward the figure in the center as the other two scanned the area, sending out random locating spells. As Neville reached the center, the hairs on Harry's arms stood on end.
"Hermione, walls!" Harry shouted as lights flipped on overhead and doors opened above them. 10 figures dropped from the ceiling on ropes as Hermione erected walls on the three walkways leading to Neville's location.
"Protego maxima," Padma cast from Harry's right hip.
"Impedimenta," Parvati and Lavender hit two of the forms with slowing hexes.
"Diffindo," Harry cut the ropes of the two figures. As they fell, Harry trained his wand on one of them. "Incarcerous, Duro, ferrum gravis."
Harry finished with an arresto momento and a cushioning charm.
"Exprimendum," Harry finished and the iron slab he conjured squeezed around the figure. Hermione's walls held as an onslaught of spells headed toward Neville and she turned toward two of the other figures.
"Ventus maxima," she conjured a gust of wind that spun two of the figures around. The smaller one winding his way around the bigger one. "Ligare Duo."
The figures found themselves bound to one another and stuck together with a sticking charm. Before she could finish them, a brace of stunners pushed her back. Looking around, she found Lavender and Parvati slumped over.
"Renneverate," Hermione cast but they wouldn't stir. She felt a pulse and breathed a sigh of relief.
"Hermione!" Padma rushed and pushed her out of the way as a black spell landed right above her head. Around them, the walkway began to melt.
"Drop!" Susan shouted as she threw herself over the banister and arrested her momentum just above the floor. Hannah and Millie dropped next to them and Padma dropped Parvati and Lavender's motionless forms down.
Harry put up a cushioning charm for Neville, Daphne and Luna to drop down. The cloaked figures formed up between them, cutting one side off from the others.
"You're mine, Potter," the closest figure said.
"Come and get it," Harry cast a shield on his wrist and readied for the next attack.
The figure launched a brace of bludgeoning attacks which Harry dodged and Hermione deflected away from the others. They were outnumbered by the attackers seven to five, even with the one who was pinned to the ground and the two hanging above them. Neville, Daphne and Luna were holding their own against two. Daphne was keeping one busy with some conjured birds while Luna used her light whip to deflect spells in a colorful ballet of grace and speed while Neville used his power to hammer home attacks.
"Been waiting for this chance, Potter," the figure moved closer so it felt more like a fistfight than a duel. Harry defended himself against a number of cutting curses and a few confrigos, taking care to keep them from getting through to the group behind him. When the cloaked fighter got a shot in, Harry winced in pain as a deep cut hit his thigh. Harry launched his next attack, a gust of wind, followed by a spout of water that Harry turned into a wall of ice that he pushed toward the figure. Behind him, Hermione was turning the tide. One of their attackers kept her off balance long enough to free the two Hermione bound earlier to even their numbers but Hermione's precision and speed pushed the attackers into a corner.
"Locus Aureum," Hermione shouted and a golden dome wrapped around the fighters.
"Ater Nebula," A voice Hermione vaguely recognized shouted and a black mist covered the inside of the dome. "Dilato."
The dome burst outward.
"Ossum Revolvo," the main attacker dodged Susan's spell but the two behind her weren't so lucky. They collapsed to the ground as their leg bones rolled back toward their pelvises, making them look like a rolled-up tube of toothpaste. The lead attacker turned toward Susan and turned her shoes to lead.
"Magnete," the leader said, her voice barely above a whisper. Susan's legs stuck to the now-magnetized floor before the floor sank, trapping both Susan and Hannah.
"Serpensortia," Padma conjured three snakes to engage the others behind the leader.
"Fumos maxima," Millie used smoke to hide the snake's approach while she also brought part of the walkway down on top of the attackers. Two of them caught it and sent it toward Millie and Padma, pinning both of them to the wall next to Lavender and Parvati.
"Avis," Hermione launched birds from her wand as she worked her way back to Harry.
Harry was starting to wear down under the cloaked man's relentless assault.
"I've got you now," the man said as he readied the next assault.
"Do it now!" Hermione shouted.
"Solar Flare!" Harry shouted. "Fulmen."
The attackers all fought between covering their eyes from the solar flare or their ears from the thunderbolt. Hermione used the opportunity to bind the attackers around Susan and Hannah.
"Nebula," Hermione whispered. Colorful fog enveloped the rest of the arena. Hermione formed it into a solid form, trapping three more attackers. A flurry of spells flew from her wand and the three found themselves stuck to the wall with their wands glued to the ground.
Beyond them, Luna finally went down. Neville was tired from his attacks which the biggest attacker was adept at countering and dissipating while Daphne's attempted defense faltered. The big cloaked figure stunned Neville and bound the three fighters together. That left Susan, Hannah, Hermione and Harry standing.
"Depulso," Hermione's opponent pushed her back. Hermione's heels hit something and she fell backward. "Ovile."
The platform Hermione didn't even know was there folded around her. The top and the bottom folded inward and transfigured into an iron slab. Hermione panicked as gas started to mist inside. Calming herself, Hermione took a deep breath and cast a quick bubble head charm on herself.
Harry spotted their dwindling numbers and knew it was time for him to act. He cast his lightning whip. Harry flicked his wrist and the tendrils wrapped around his attacker. He heaved his arm around and the man went spinning into those surrounding Daphne and Neville. With the distraction, Harry revived Neville and Daphne. He tried Luna but she wouldn't stir.
The man rose with his singed robes as Neville and Daphne formed up next to him. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Susan and Hannah guarding the box in which Hermione currently found herself trapped. Susan hammered the two with bludgeoning curses while Hannah tried to free Hermione. Harry knew he had to use their advantage while it lasted. He summoned one of the downed wands, Luna's it felt like and ignited his lightsaber. In concert with the lightning whip and the lightsaber, he beat back the attacks. At the same time, he heard another snap-hiss as Hermione's blue blade extended from the box.
"Now Daphne!" Harry shouted. Daphne stepped into action and tentacles rose from the ground, grabbing each one of the attackers in a death grip. Only Hermione's attacker remained but Hermione cast a featherlight charm on the woman, following up with a levitation charm. The girl used the advantage to push herself toward Hermione. She launched a flurry of piercing hexes that Neville shielded. He followed up his shield by transfiguring the snakes Padma conjured into vines which he used to bind the woman's legs.
"Expelliarmus," Susan shouted. The wand was ripped from the woman and Susan snagged it out of midair.
"Time!" Another voice echoed across the dark chamber. Lights snapped on and the two groups started to put one another back together.
"Well done all of you," Sirius beamed. "The New Marauders take this match. Well done all of you. Fire Squad, you can drop your cloaks and meet your opponents eye-to-eye."
One by one the cloaked figures removed the cloaks obscuring their faces. The last one, Hermione would recognize anywhere.
"I thought that was you," Hermione said to Penny. "Your transfiguration is as great as ever. That box was ingenious."
"Not as clever as that blade you two used," Penelope said. "I thought I had you."
"You almost did," Hermione said. "Can you explain why I can't revive Lavender and Parvati?"
"Oh that's my specialty," Doris said as she flexed her now-fixed legs. "I hit them with a sleeping jinx, one that can only be reversed by me. I tried it with the rest of you but your shields were too strong. That spell that red cast was no joke. I felt my legs but they felt… wrong."
"As was that lightning whip," Jeremiah said. "Potter, I was looking forward to facing you. I knew Diggory; he talked a lot about you and I have to say he wasn't even close to adequately praising you."
"Thanks," Harry said before quickly changing the subject. "Who is the big guy?"
"Checker?" Jeremiah said. "Hey, Chubby! Potter wants to talk to you!"
"What you want, red?" the large man said between swigs of water.
"Your defense is incredible," Harry said. "You took on three people with ease."
"Thanks," Checker said. "Hopefully Hogsmeade thinks the same."
"Hogsmeade?" Neville cocked his head to the side.
"Yeah," Jeremiah said. "We've been assigned to protect the town and castle grounds. That's why Moody's been working us so hard."
"Yeah and you all are ready if the worst should happen," Moody clomped down the stairs with Kingsley and Tonks flanking him. "Voldie will want that town to use as a staging area for an attack on the castle. You will all need to be on alert."
"Can someone get this off of me!" A muffled voice shouted.
"Oh right!" Harry undid his spells and the iron slab unfurled around the unknown attacker. A lithe figure stood up and pulled off her cloak while Sirius lowered the two Hermione bound from their suspended prison.
"Chelsea?" Lavender and Parvati shouted.
"Hey guys," she waved sheepishly. "I hope the battle was fun, I didn't get to see a lot of it."
"Same," Lavender and Parvati echoed.
"Well done all of you," Sirius called attention to him again. "You worked as a team, you helped free one another to keep the others from overwhelming you with numbers. Your tactics were good. If not for Greengrass' last attack- very impressive by the way- you would have overwhelmed the kids. Fire Squad, I appreciate your restraint as Moody's been working on your lethality. Same with you Marauders. Even with your more sophisticated spells, you could have killed one another and you didn't. Just don't hold back when it comes to facing anyone with a skull mask. You know what they do. Now everyone hit the showers, you all stink."
"You would know, mutt," Daphne said.
After a short shower, the three groups, Fire Squad and the larger group Sirius named the New Marauders, arrived back in the DMLE offices where they met with Madam Bones and, surprisingly, Percy Weasley. Ginny, Fred and George ran to greet their brother while the others filed into the room. Once Madam Bones secured it, they began to talk.
"I watched you take on Fire Squad," Bones addressed the New Marauders. "You did really well. I have to commend the second part of your team. I know the first part with the Weasleys, Crabbe and Goyle got overwhelmed but the second squad really held their own. Your communication is great and while I know you held back, your spellwork was great."
"Thank you, Madam Bones," Hermione spoke for the group. "I just hope we won't have to use it while at school."
"You were incredible," Percy said. "I heard about the exercise and I had to come see for myself. The battle between you and Penny was spectacular, Hermione."
"Thanks," Hermione said as she dug into her bag and extracted a coin.
"This is a communication coin," Hermione explained. "They are all tied to one another. All of us already have one but I wanted to give one to each of the heads of the Great Alliance. Since you'll be targeted, this is a way to communicate if something is happening at Hogwarts or elsewhere. Just tap the coin with your wand and think about the message you want to send."
"Excellent work, Miss Granger," Bones said as she held the coin up to the light. "Mind if I get an extra? I would love my little spy to be in contact a little more."
"You getting anything from Rita?" Harry caught who she was talking about.
"Oh loads but nothing actionable yet," Madam Bones said. "She has information that the Death Eaters are trying to recruit but apparently it is slower going than usual. We know they're bringing in giants but it's going to take them a while thanks to our friends in France. Wanted to commend you as well, Miss Granger. Your tip has worked and we caught a few Death Eaters going after muggleborns after their first burst of accidental magic. After the first three, it seems they gave up that avenue. One of the new hires in that department just randomly showed up dead in Knockturn this morning. He had been tortured."
"At least we stopped them from doing that," Daphne said. "There are still too many rumblings in the old pureblood ranks. They're growing there the most, it seems."
"Then you'll have to keep an eye out at school," Madam Bones replied. "If they're recruiting, they love the young and impressionable."
"Alright that's enough," Sirius said. "These kids have to get ready for school tomorrow. Well done all of you. I'll be popping in at random times, as will Moody, to keep training you all. I know we're asking a lot of you but you all keep impressing us. Fire Squad, you have your assignments. Until tomorrow."
Fire Squad departed from the room but as Harry made to follow, Lavender held him back.
"Harry?" Lavender asked. "Would it be okay if Parvati, Padma and I stayed at Potter Manor tonight? My mum has a date and the Patils are heading back to India for a while."
"Of course," Harry said. "I'll have Dobby get three bedrooms ready."
"Two is fine," Lavender said with a blush.
"Two far away from one another," Padma requested. "There are some things I don't need to hear my sister doing."
"Well don't be too loud," Harry knew he didn't have any room to talk, considering how close he and Hermione were. "Crabbe and Goyle are staying at the house as well."
"It'll be a real slumber party," Susan joked. "Hannah is staying with me tonight, though I think she'd prefer to be staying with Neville."
"You're all disgusting," Daphne scoffed.
"Only cause you're not with anyone," Luna said from in between Tracey's arms.
"Yeah," Vinny said after kissing Ginny. "Most beautiful woman in the castle is still the most single."
"Don't worry, Daph," Tracey said. As cold as Daphne could be, she knew she was also feeling lonely. "It'll come."
"Maybe more than once," Luna said. "That was a fun night."
"ANYWAYS," Hermione shouted. "We'll see you on the train tomorrow. Lavender, Parvati and Padma, just ask for Dobby and Winky. They'll take you to the Manor. We'll be staying with mum and dad but we'll pick you up tomorrow at nine."
The group broke up and exited the meeting room. Harry barely made it ten feet into the Grand Atrium before someone stopped him.
"Harry," Dumbledore's voice caught Harry's attention.
"Headmaster," Harry said, his voice cold. From his shoulder, both Sirius and Hermione scowled.
"I heard you would be here today and hoped I might have a word," Dumbledore said.
"Does everyone know?" Harry asked incredulously, looking around for more people looking for him. "Is Lucius Malfoy going to pop in for a conversation next!?"
"Might I have a minute of your time?" the headmaster repeated his request.
"60 seconds," Harry looked at his watch. "Go."
"Thank you," Dumbledore bowed slightly. That's when Harry noticed his emaciated arm. "I have found a new teacher, Horace Slughorn. He used to teach at Hogwarts a while back; in fact, he taught your mother."
"Slughorn?" Sirius said with disdain. "You got that fat walrus to return to the castle?"
When Harry looked at him, Sirius blushed.
"He, uh, didn't like me," Sirius admitted. "Or James. I cast out my family ties and James… well James didn't like the way he looked at Lily…"
"Nice," Harry said without any emotion. "So Slughorn is to be our new teacher."
"Well, he also taught at Hogwarts 50 years ago," Dumbledore said. "He's got information over that stretch that he's accumulated, and I think would be useful."
"So, he's hiding something," Harry cottoned on.
"Indeed," Dumbledore said. "Horace is a good teacher but he's also very connected and loves his connections. He loves finding important people and putting them in a place wherein he can keep building more connections. One of those people was your mother. He was a fan but she was not a huge fan of him outside of the classroom."
"So you want Harry to use his mother to weasel out information," Hermione stated with a look of disgust.
"As perceptive as ever, Miss Granger," Dumbledore said. "Yes, that is exactly what I am hoping for. Thought I must say Horace might find you as interesting as he once found Lily."
"Thanks," Hermione said sarcastically, suddenly feeling the need to shower again.
"Oh, and when you get to school, I hope you'll be able to carve out time in your busy schedules," Dumbledore extracted two small books from what looked like thin air. "I have spent a lot of time thinking about what you said to me, Harry, and you are correct. It is time I started treating you as what you are: a skilled and powerful duo. This year, I hope to leave you with a little of the wisdom I have gathered in my years."
"I won't deny anything that will help us take down Tom," Harry said.
"But the first time you leave something out, we're out. Got it?" Hermione pointed fiercely at the headmaster.
"Of course," Dumbledore smiled and handed them the books with his withered hand. "You will need these. They are rare books, two of the last ones in circulation."
Hermione looked at the title. Manipulating Your Magic by Thurman Wilson.
"Until next time," Dumbledore said. "Anytime you need to reach me, just call my familiar. He's finicky but he should answer your call."
"See you later," Harry couldn't think of a better way to end this awkward encounter.
"Alright let's get you two home," Sirius said.
After making sure they weren't being followed, Sirius apparated the three of them into the Granger backyard.
"Well that was interesting," Sirius said. "If Dumbledore tries anything…"
"We will let you know," Hermione said. "We already have our mirrors stowed in our pockets. Everything else is packed but on your advice, we kept the mirrors, Harry's cloak and our daggers on us at all times. We got this, Padfoot. Now go, you're keeping your date waiting."
"Don't do anything I wouldn't," Harry said.
"Oh don't limit me so much, Bolt," Sirius said.
"Bolt?" Hermione cocked her head to the side.
"It was time you all got Marauder names," Sirius said. "Harry's Bolt."
"Oh?" Hermione's eyebrow inched toward her hairline. "And what would mine be?"
"Let's see," Sirius tapped his chin in thought. "You've got to be Lanugo. In honor of your Patronus and the Otter pup's soft fur."
"And the rest?" Harry asked.
"We will figure that out later," Hermione then pushed Sirius with both hands. "You're wasting time. Go!"
"Mischief Managed," Sirius winked and popped out.
"Sometimes that man…" Hermione held her face in her left hand.
"Yeah but he's a good guy," Harry said. "We have a few hours until your parents are due back. What would you like to do?"
Harry gave Hermione a saucy wink but Hermione had one thought on her mind.
"Honestly, I want to read this," Hermione hefted the book in her right hand.
"Should have known," Harry said. "Never could compete with books."
Harry dodged a swat from Hermione as they both ventured inside the house. Hermione quickly made herself comfortable in the study, settling down in an armchair with her legs pulled underneath her. Harry thought ahead and made tea for the both of them. By the time he brought it to her, she was already 10 pages in. Since Harry couldn't think of anything else to do, he opened his book as well, finding it a quick read. Mostly it was about manipulating your magic so you could stack spells upon one another, blending some together and cutting others off at the right point. It only took an hour for them both to finish the small book.
"What did you think?" Hermione asked.
"It's an interesting concept," Harry said. "Feels like you can make your magic more flexible without losing any of its power."
"Actually, it seems like if you do the arithmancy right," Hermione stood up and began to pace as she did when her brain was working overdrive. "You can actually make each individual spell more powerful. For instance, in that graveyard, Dumbledore conjured a flame whip that he plucked from his wand and transfigured into chains. As soon as they came into contact with the person, they hardened but the flame never diminished until that point. Cut off escape and bind those your spell comes in contact with."
"I wonder what Dumbledore will teach us," Harry said. "It has to be difficult to do and we're nowhere near Dumbledore's power."
"Don't sell yourself short, Harry," Hermione said. "Your power has grown since that thing is out of your head. I don't think you're the academic that Dumbledore is but then again that's where I'm strongest. Maybe it's something we'll have to master together."
"That would be nice," Harry said with as genuine a smile as he could muster. "I just hope it's enough. I'm tired of Tom hanging over my head like some gigantic guillotine."
"Probably how he feels," Hermione said. "You've survived him four times now. Killing you was supposed to be his ultimate victory- or so he thought. Since then, it's been setback after setback."
"So it's all coming down to it," Harry let his head drop. "Neither can live while the other survives."
"Well Tom can't live," Hermione grabbed his head and pulled it up to look at her. "He never had much of a life to live and that was before he mangled his soul. No friends, no real allies. Just a maniac trying to warp the world to match his own twisted view. You have friends. You have a family. You have love. Tom can't live whether you survive or not and you will live until it is finally your time."
"Right as always, dear," Harry tried to look away but Hermione wouldn't let him.
"And you're not going anywhere near Tom without me by your side," Hermione said. "Wherever you go, I'll follow. Now perk yourself up. The new year starts tomorrow and we get to be prefects!"
"I can't wait to see you with the little firsties," Harry said. "They're going to love you, Hermione."
"And they won't love you?" Hermione looked at him skeptically. "I wouldn't be shocked if you don't have a whole new flock of members to the Harry Potter fan club."
"Oh joy," Harry said sarcastically.
"Oh don't try to play that," Hermione said. "You know you're actually a big softy when it comes to kids. By the end of the week, I guarantee those kids will love Prefect Potter."
Hermione slapped his leg and stood.
"Now let's go pack our trunks. Tomorrow, our fifth year begins."
"I've got a better idea," Harry smiled rakishly as he pulled Hermione backward onto his lap. "We still have some time along.
As he lost himself in Hermione's lips, Harry smiled. Even with everything looming, he would always have her and he decided then and there that that would be enough.