Chapter Eleven

Halloween

It was two weeks later, and Hufflepuff had risen to second in the Inter-House Quidditch Cup after a narrow 170-120 win over Ravenclaw. Harry was just finishing off a large breakfast of porridge, eggs and sausages after another grueling practice session on the Quidditch field. When the empty plates and dishes disappeared, he looked up and saw to his surprise that most of the students, in fact pretty much everyone in third, fourth and fifth years and quite a few of the older students had disappeared.

Harry looked to his friends, he was puzzled. Usually on a Saturday most of the students hung around until the last moment to get as much food as possible. “Is there something happening that I should know about?”

Hermione rolled her eyes and Ron looked at him with a frown. “Harry, the first Hogsmeade visit is today.” he reminded him.

“Of course, I'd forgotten. Who's coming?” he asked the group.

“'Mione and I are.” said Ron.

“Me too.” replied Ginny and Tom answered the affirmative for himself and Peter.

The most of the other seventh years declined, as did the rest of the Quidditch team. Roger mentioned that he had promised to help Hagrid and Charlie with something.

“I'm going down with Hannah, Ernie and Justin.” mentioned Neville, naming three Hufflepuffs who were doing Advanced H & H with him. “I'll maybe see you in the Three Broomsticks.” he told them as they rose to return to their dormitories.

Half an hour later, wrapped up in their winter cloaks, they gathered in the Entrance Hall, waiting to be allowed to walk down to the village. Filch and Bill were checking their lists of authorised students and letting them out in small groups, warning them all not to go off alone under any circumstances. Harry glanced around, most of the sixth and seventh years had passed up the opportunity of a visit to the village, the novelty having worn off, only Harry's group, Neville and his friends, and Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson's gang had joined the throng of younger students around the main doors. <Malfoy's probably more concerned with avoiding Mad-Eye than visiting the village, eh guys?>

<Probably true, Lion.> observed Ginny. Ron and Tom chuckled, while Hermione scowled disapprovingly.

After a few minutes, they were able to leave. They walked down into the village, Harry nodded to the two Order members who were concealed near the gates. <Hi Orion. Hi, Patron.>

<Don't I always?>

<No,> replied Howlett. <From what I've heard you attract it.>

<I'll be careful, honest.>

Despite taking the old man's advice, Harry had fun in the village. Especially fun, was the scene between Hermione and the Weasleys in the joke shop, Fred and George were running it for Zonko in exchange for allowing them to sell their own line of jokes there. When they had entered the shop with Ron and Ginny, George was serving at the counter while Fred was apparently advising a group of Gryffindor third and fourth years on which WWW tricks to buy.

“You wouldn't be selling them anything illegal would you, George Weasley?” asked Hermione sternly.

George jumped and turned, “Hermione! You gave me a fright. I thought you were Professor McGonagall for a minute there.”

“George!” exclaimed Ron and Ginny, annoyed.

Hermione flushed red with embarrassment. “Are you?” she asked again, more insistently this time.

George sniggered. “Of course not Hermione, honest.”

Ginny sniggered at that, “Brother dear, the day you're honest, I'll lay Galleons that someone's been taking Polyjuice Potion.”

“You wound me sister.” said George, melodramatically.

“Don't tempt me.” said Ginny, throwing back her cloak so that George could see the sword hooked to her belt.

After another five minutes of verbal sparing between him, and Ron, Hermione and Ginny, which Harry refused to join in with, George finally persuaded them that he was being honest and despite Ginny's assertions, he was not an impostor. They picked up a bag of special effects bombs each, including smoke pellets and dung bombs and left the shop.

Eventually, they rejoined the cousins in the Three Broomsticks. As Harry and Ginny went up to the counter to buy a round of drinks, Harry scanned the pub, it was vacant of the usual adult clientele and not even any of the teachers or visitors to the school had come down, which was unusual. Most of the students were there though, including the Herbology group and most of the younger students. There was no sign of Malfoy's gang or any other Slytherins though, they had probably returned to the castle.

They stayed chatting in the bar until almost sunset; Hermione, Tom and Ron all brought rounds, Harry was about to buy everyone another one after that, when he heard shouts and screams outside. “What's wrong?” asked a third year Ravenclaw, clearly scared out of his wits by them.

Harry ran to the door, he looked out of the small glass panel set at the top, he could see flashes off green light in the glowing darkness. “Death Eaters.” A small group of them were heading towards them; Harry quickly put protective wards up across the front of the pub. There was a sizzling sound as several curses impacted on the invisible spell wall. “Rosmerta!”

“Yes Mr Potter?”

“Is there a back door outside?”

“No, the only way in or out is through the front.” Harry thought hard, they had to get the younger students to safety, third and fourth years wouldn't stand a chance against Death Eaters. <Owl. Go out one of the upstairs windows and see if there's any chance we could break through and get back to Hogwarts.>

<I'm on it.> confirmed Hermione and she ran for the stairs.

<Phoenix, Hogsmeade is under attack.>

<I know Lion,> Dumbledore told him. <Help is on its way. Mad-Eye, Orion and Patron will secure the main path. The others are coming down the Honeydukes passage. Who is with you?>

<Mare, Fox, Bird, Nymph. Neville, three seventh year Hufflepuffs: Ernie, Justin and Hannah, plus fifteen other students, all third and fourth years.>

<Agreed, can we use the Floo Network?>

<Probably. If not, stay where you are until help arrives. There are six members of the Order are in the village now, and more help is on the way. May Merlin protect you.>

<Lion?> asked Hermione tentatively.

<There's no way we can get the younger students back to Hogwarts on foot. There are about a dozen Death Eaters and vampires trying to break through your wards, about another four dozen around the village and another ten guarding the path.>

<Okay, come back. Can you see any other students?>

<He is Harry, my eyes are better than a normal owl's.> she reminded him patiently.

<I can't tell if any of the people under cover are hurt,> she admitted. <But I can see two dead students near where Pegasus is, and another one in the street outside Honeydukes. She looks like she almost made it to safety.>

Harry could feel his wards weakening under the relentless attacks of the Death Eaters. <Owl, get back here quick. The wards won't last much longer.>

<I'll be with you in about thirty seconds.> she told him.

Harry turned to Rosmerta, who had taken a wand out from under the counter. “Do you have any Floo Powder?” she nodded. “Can we use your fireplace?”

“Certainly.” she said and handed over a small clay pot. Harry walked over to the fireplace; Ginny, Ron and most of the students gathered around him, the cousins kept an eye on the front door and window.

Harry tossed some of the powder into the fire, it turned blue-green. He handed the pot to Ernie, he was a Prefect and Harry knew he could trust him. “Get everyone to safety, including yourself, don't be a hero, that's my job.”

The other boy nodded. Harry indicated to Neville that he should stay with his friends, Neville nodded, clearly grateful not to have to fight. Harry turned to his own friends, including Hermione, who had rejoined them. <If any of you want to join them, I'll understand.>

<Are you?> asked Ginny bluntly, Harry shook his head, she went up to him and hooked her arm in his. <Then I'm staying with you.>

Ron and Hermione looked at each other for a second, then went to stand beside them, <We're staying.> said Ron for both of them.

<The Crown Prince of the Mako Mermen, does not abandon his friends in their hour of need.> Tom told them.

<Nor do I.> said Peter.

At that moment, Harry could feel his wards collapsing, “Here they come!” he yelled. The window exploded as four vampires crashed through it. <Bird, Nymph. Stop them!> ordered Harry. He pointed his own wand at one of them, “Iaculari!” Deep, red-orange flames enveloped one of the vampires and he exploded. The cousins drew their swords and ran towards the broken window, Tom caught the staff of one of the vampires on the cross guards of his sword and kicked him in the chest.

<Owl, Fox, Mare. Form a defensive barrier between the fireplace and the door.> Harry told his friends, then using a Summoner Spell, he teleported the Gryffindor Blade to his free hand. The door flew off its hinges taking half the wall with it. Six Death Eaters and another four vampires poured in through the gap. The door flew towards Harry, he Banished it back at them, knocking down one of the vampires. “Pellere!”

<Shields.> ordered Harry. “Clipeus.”

The Death Eaters raised their own wands, “Avada Kedavra!” The green light washed against the shield wall put up by the four Bestia.

Harry pointed his wand, “Stupefy!” The Stunner roared through the Wall but was deflected by one of the Death Eaters, who then raised his wand again. “Avada Kedavra!”

This went on for a minute or two, the four Animagi held their Wall of Power up and the Death Eaters tried to punch through it, Harry managed to Stun one, and Hermione used the Banishing Spell to knock out a second. Soon though the vampires made their way around the fighting wizards and attacked them, Harry winced as his wand arm was hit hard with a staff. <Break formation. Pursue individual action!> he ordered.

He kicked out at the offending vampire and then twisted around to slice at him with the Gryffindor Blade. The vampire deflected the first parry with his sword, Harry swung the sword around at the same time pointing his wand at his opponent. “Expelliarmus!” The staff jumped out of the vampire's grasp just long enough to open a gap in his guard, Harry lunged for the vampire's chest. The sword bit deep and the vampire exploded. Harry ducked another Killing Curse, it left a burn on the wall. “Glaciare!”

The Death Eater deflected the Freezing Charm. “Crucio!”

Harry winced in pain, “Relashio!” The Death Eater was surprised at Harry's resistance and was too slow to block it. The sparks hit him square in the chest, he howled in pain. Harry took advance of the opportunity. “Stupefy!” This time the Death Eater crumpled to the ground, unconscious.

Another vampire and a Death Eater attacked him immediately, the Death Eater fired a Killing Curse at him, Harry ducked and the Curse hit the vampire instead, killing him. Harry swept his foot around, knocking the Death Eater's feet from under him, “Pellere!”

The Death Eater flew through the air and smashed against the wall, there was a crack and the man slipped limply to the ground. Harry didn't bother to mourn his passing. He looked around, Ginny was protecting Peter, who was nursing a badly bleeding arm, from two brawny vampires. It was only Ginny's quick reflexes, born of two years playing Quidditch, months of battle training and her Animagi gift, that was keeping them alive. Harry pointed his wand at the vampires. <Need a hand Mare?>

“Iaculari!” As before the red-orange flames easily dispensed with the vampires. Harry went over to them. <Will you be okay?> he asked Peter.

<I'll be fine Lion.>

Harry glanced over at the fireplace, most of the students had made it out. Only Neville and Ernie were left, Rosmerta was dueling with a Death Eater who was trying to get to them. “Neville, get over here! Ernie go, now!” Neville hurried over to Harry, trying to keep out of the way of the fighting.

Ernie took a pinch of the Floo Powder, looked around reluctant to go, however a Killing Curse hitting the mantelpiece above his head made up his mind, and he hopped into the flames. “Hogwarts!”

Neville was at Harry's side in a moment. “Is there anything you can do?” Harry asked.

Neville checked Peter's arm. He shook his head. “Not here Harry.” he said, conjuring bandages around the wound. “We need to get her back to school. I didn't bring a healer's bag with me and I can't do Medjai healing spells like Professor Bey.”

“Can you take her back?”

“Of course.” replied Neville.

<Mare, can you cover Neville?> Ginny nodded. “Neville, go. We'll cover you.” Harry told the chubby youth. He pointed his wand at an approaching Death Eater. Ginny raised her wand at the same time.

“Expelliarmus!”

“Stupefy!”

The Death Eater hit the ground unconscious, his wand flew through the air and Harry put down the Gryffindor Blade so he could grab it and put it in the pocket of his jeans.

Neville pointed his wand at Peter, “Mobilicorpus!” Peter's body rose off the ground. He hurried to the fireplace and he guided Peter into it, Rosmerta helped him by throwing a pinch of Floo Powder in the fire. “Hogwarts!”

Harry glanced around looking for his other friends, Ron and Hermione were fighting back to back against the last three Death Eaters, and Tom was running a vampire through the heart with his sword as Harry watched, the vampire exploded.

Harry, Tom, Ginny and Rosmerta walked over to the fighting group. Harry cleared his throat, the Death Eaters looked in his direction. “Bad luck, you lose.” declared Harry as they all raised their wands.

The room was filled with one huge, bright flash as the six of them fired off Stunners.

When the flash died away, the last three Death Eaters lay unconscious on the floor of the pub. Harry turned to Rosmerta. “We're going to go out and see what we can do to help on the street. You can come with us or take the fireplace to Hogwarts.”

“I'm staying here,” declared the older woman. “This bar is all I've got and I'm going to protect it. Besides…” she added. “Someone's got to make sure You-Know-Who's people don't use this fireplace to get to Hogwarts.”

Harry nodded in agreement. “Will you be okay on your own?”

She nodded. “I'm not exactly a prime target, Mr Potter.”

<Okay guys, let's go.> Hermione, Ron and Ginny sheathed their swords, Tom kept his raised in a two-handed guard position. <Nymph, take point. Don't use your elemental powers unless you have to okay?>

The brawny blond-haired youth nodded and walked towards the gap in the wall where the door used to be. <The street's fairly clear. I think we could make it to the joke shop. Most of the fighting is in and around Honeydukes and the Post Office and I can see a big group of Death Eaters near the main path back to school, we're not getting past them, we'd be wide open. The path up the hill looks clear though, that any good?>

Harry thought for a moment. <We could hide up by the Shrieking Shack, and maybe get over the wall there into the Forest.>

<That's against the rules Harry.>

<Let's just get up there, shall we?> asked Hermione. <We can decide what to do next then.>

<Agreed.> said Harry firmly. <Fox and I will take flank; Owl, Mare you bring up the rear.>

The five students walked out into the street. As predicted, they had little opposition getting to the joke shop. Fred and George were there, helping Iolaus Herkalos -- an Order member who was often known as Chiron -- guard four unconscious Death Eaters and three very scared third years: Nicholas Anderson of Gryffindor and Sarah and Frank Cobalt of Ravenclaw.

“Do you have a fireplace here?” Harry asked Fred.

“If we had, we'd have sent the kids back to school as soon as these tried get in.” he said, kicking one of the unconscious Death Eaters.

“Harry, I've been thinking…” Hermione said.

“Now there's a surprise!” said Ron sarcastically.

“Ron, shut up.” said Harry. “What is it, Hermione?!”

“Professor Lupin told us that Peeves found him in the Shrieking Shack once, didn't he?”

“Yeah, he did.” admitted Harry. “So…?”

“So ghosts can enter the Shrieking Shack.”

“Seems like it. Why?”

“Harry, sometimes you're so dense!” said Hermione, the adults turned to look at her, “If ghosts can get in, then we can use the Ghost Charm to get in.”

“That's a good idea, I check it with Dumbledore.” said Harry, <Phoenix?>

<We've in the joke shop. Are the students from the Three Broomsticks okay?>

<Good. We'll see you soon.>

Harry passed on the message about Peter, Tom especially was happy that his cousin would be fine. “What's the plan?”

“Dumbledore says we can make into the Shrieking Shack using the Ghost Charm. Apparently it was one of the reasons they taught us it.”

“He doesn't miss a trick, does he?”

“Not often,” admitted Harry. “He's only been outflanked twice that I now of: once almost 18 years ago, and again during my fourth year.”

“We're going into the Sh-sh-shack?” said Nicholas.

“Yep.”

“But it's haunted. By b-bad ghosts.”

Harry sighed. “Which would you rather deal with… ghosts, or Death Eaters?”

“Ghosts. They can't kill me.”

“Correct. And there aren't any ghosts in the Shrieking Shack anyway, it's been empty for decades.”

“B-but there were ghosts there once?”

“Nope.”

“Then what...?”

“Do you know that Professor Lupin used to be a werewolf?”

Nicholas nodded, “He mentioned it when we were doing them last week.”

“When he was a student at Hogwarts, he had no control over himself as a werewolf, the howls were made by him. Dumbledore encouraged the rumours that they were made by ghosts so that people would stay away. But don't tell everyone.”

“We won't.”

“Can you stop all the chit-chat and get going?” growled Herkalos.

“Are you coming with us?” asked Harry.

“No. I'll go and help Aquila and Khan at… Stupefy!” he threw a Stunner at a Death Eater that was just about to shoot Harry in the back. “… The Post Office.”

Harry looked over his shoulder, “Thanks.”

“Don't mention it, Potter.” he said walking to the door, he threw a few Stunners and curses into the street. “All clear. Run… fast.”

They took his suggestion and a minute later, they were standing beside the Shack. Unfortunately a troll; ten Lupi, werewolf-like demons with near-human intelligence; and a Death Eater were waiting for them.

<Stink bombs. Now.> ordered Harry.

Seconds later, Voldemort's minions were surrounded in thick clouds of choking sulphur gas, so Harry and his friends made short work of them while Tom subdued the twelve-foot mountain troll. The Death Eater turned out to be Zack Avery, one of Voldemort's inner circle. “We take him with us.” decided Harry.

Using the Ghost Charm, they easily phased through the walls of the castle and were soon standing under the Whomping Willow. Hermione transformed and dodged through the whirling branches to touch the knot of wood, which would allow the others to come up. McGonagall and Evelyn were waiting for them and took custody of Avery. Evelyn pronounced them in full health and McGonagall told them all to go to the Great Hall where the Halloween Feast was taking place.

Harry went reluctantly, preoccupied with his own thoughts. Ginny, Ron and Hermione understood his mood and said nothing, persuading the others to leave him alone. He had no enthusiasm for the Halloween celebrations and picked his way through the meal, ignoring the dancing skeletons that Dumbledore had booked as an entertainment, it was a relief when the Feast was over and he could head to the Tower and rest.

Ginny tried to follow him up to his room, “Leave me alone Ginny.” he said sharply, then spotted the hurt look on his girlfriend's face. “Sorry Ginny, I shouldn't have snapped at you. I'm just tired that's all.” he kissed her on the cheek. “Forgive me?”

She smiled slightly, “Of course I will Harry, see you at breakfast.”

“Bye.” Harry walked up his room shutting the door behind him, he then unlocked his trunk and put the Gryffindor Blade inside, and collapsed into bed, just about managing to undress first.

Despite, or perhaps because of his tiredness, it was almost two hours before his thoughts stopped whirling around his head long enough for him to get to sleep.

Ch.12 Possibilities