A Cord of Three Strands

A Cord of Three Strands

By Cindale

Chapter 9

"The Battle of Hogsmeade"

"Though one may be overpowered,

two can defend themselves.

A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

Ecclesiastes 4:12

Hundreds of dark shapes were approaching the outskirts of Hogsmeade. It was too far away to make out exactly what they were, but their movements seemed too smooth for walking. It was as if they were gliding ...

"Dementors!" Harry shouted. "Go get help, Ginny!"

He didn't wait to see if Ginny followed his command; instead, he flew toward Hogsmeade at top speed. He tried to make his broom go even faster, but what should have been a very short flight seemed to be taking forever. Harry knew things seemed to take longer when a person was in a hurry, but this was ridiculous; after almost five minutes of flying, he had cleared the Quidditch pitch, but still wasn't getting any closer to Hogsmeade. He looked down and was surprised to see that the ground did not appear to be moving backward as it should, even though he could feel the motion of his broomstick and the wind whipping through his hair.

"What's wrong, Harry? You're not moving!" Harry whipped around to see Ron hovering behind him, alone on his broom. Harry hoped Hermione had gone for help.

"I'm not sure," Harry answered. He stopped trying to fly forward and hovered next to Ron.

"Must be the wards," said Ginny, stopping on the other side of Harry.

"What do you think you're doing?" Ron yelled, leaning across Harry to glare at Ginny.

"I'm going," Ginny answered, her face set in a determined expression. "I can produce a Patronus."

Ron opened his mouth to protest, but Harry said, "She's right, Ron - we need her. A lot of adults can't produce a Patronus. But it doesn't matter if we can't get through the wards."

"Maybe if we all try together," suggested Ginny.

"Okay," Harry said with a shrug. "On the count of three..."

Harry counted to three and flew forward as forcefully as he could, concentrating on how much he needed to get to Hogsmeade. At first, it seemed as though they weren't moving, but then Harry felt an odd sensation, as if flying through a sheet of water.

"Yes!" shouted Ron, punching the air, as the ground below them started to move again.

The clear blue sky and sunshine seemed to mock the chilling darkness of the scene below. Hundreds of Dementors were gliding down from the mountains and advancing steadily toward the resisting humans like a grass fire consuming a field. Some dodged the buildings to attack the people in the street, while others went inside, eliciting screams from the occupants. On the main street, the black-cloaked figures were being held back by a small group of silvery animals, but many were still advancing around the Patronuses. There simply weren't enough.

The three friends arrived in Hogsmeade within minutes and landed as close as they dared to the Dementors. There was no time to panic or lament the lack of resistance. Harry glanced at Ron as he aimed his wand at the closest Dementors. He thought of the time Ron had told him he was like a brother to him and shouted, "Expecto Patronum!" The same incantation rang out from either side of him, and a giraffe and a unicorn joined his stag in charging the Dementors.

The three silvery shapes drove back some of the advancing Dementors, but more kept coming forward. Harry guided his stag to a Dementor that was about to grab a fourth year girl. Her companions were trying to throw hexes at the tall, black shape, but to no avail. Harry screamed at the students to run and was relieved to see them sprint in the other direction while his stag held back the Dementors that were stalking them.

Students and adults alike were screaming and throwing hexes at the Dementors; the scene was utter chaos. "We've got to get these people out of here!" he shouted in Ron's general direction.

Just then, he heard a familiar voice, amplified over the noise, oddly calm as if only calling a Quidditch match. "If you can produce a Patronus, please come forward and help. If you cannot cast a Patronus, please make your way quickly to Hogwarts. You'll be safe there. Hexes and curses are no good against Dementors." Harry caught a glimpse of Tonks pointing her wand at her throat to quiet her voice before turning it toward the Dementors and producing a silvery dolphin. There was no trace of clumsiness in her steps as she held up her wand to control her Patronus with one hand while helping to shuffle students in the other direction with the other.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry saw his stag flicker and fade. He raised his wand to cast again, this time remembering when Gryffindor had won the Quidditch Cup in his third year. As the silvery stag ran towards the Dementors, putting its head down to butt them with its antlers, Harry ran down the street toward a group of the black-cloaked figures that were advancing on some younger students in a sickening game of tag. He was trying to hold up his wand and watch his Patronus while he ran, so it shouldn't have surprised him when he tripped and fell to his knees.

When Harry saw what he had tripped over, he almost retched. It was Michael Corner, his dead, soulless eyes gazing up at Harry, frozen forever in a terrified expression. Harry forced himself to look away, but that did no good since his eyes fell on Cho, lying on her back with the same look on her face.

If he had only reached Hogsmeade sooner ... if he had only taught them more thoroughly in the DA ... if he had already killed Voldemort ... The regrets churned in his stomach and began to rise in his throat, threatening to choke him. He remembered Cho's eyes looking up at him in admiration in the Hog's Head. She had believed in him, and he had failed her.

Harry struggled to his feet, trying desperately to force the images of his dead classmates from his mind. A group of third years was running toward him, but the dozen Dementors pursuing them were moving faster. Harry kept telling himself that he couldn't help Cho and Michael, but he could help the third years, if only he could focus. He closed his eyes for a moment to clear his mind and tried to think about winning the Quidditch Cup. "Expecto Patronum!" A silvery mist drifted from his wand, but quickly faded. "EXPECTO PATRONUM!" he screamed in desperation. This time, nothing happened. The Dementors were getting closer, and Harry was beginning to hear the familiar screams in his head. One of the dead hands reached out to grab the nearest student. Harry closed his eyes and bowed his head, trying frantically to focus on the happy memory, but his mother's screams only grew louder.

"EXPECTO PATRONUM!" screamed a familiar voice near him. Harry looked up to see a silvery bear driving the Dementors away from the clearly panicked third years. He realized with relief that they were all alive and had a clear path to Hogwarts.

Harry nodded his thanks to Neville, who gave him a thumbs-up and disappeared back into the fray. Harry started to follow him, but noticed five Dementors going into the Three Broomsticks. He hesitated; surely everyone had abandoned the pub and run for Hogwarts by now. He ran a few steps toward the battle, but then turned suddenly and doubled back to the Three Broomsticks, ducking down the alley behind the building and using the kitchen door.

Madam Rosmerta and several students were cowering behind the bar with the black-cloaked figures almost upon them. Zacharias Smith was the only one on his feet, screaming the incantation at the top of his lungs, but only wisps of grey mist drifted from his wand. Harry quickly cast a Patronus. The Dementors scuttled from the pub like anxious spiders, but he knew they would be back.

"You've got to get out of here," he said to Rosmerta. "Get up to Hogwarts!"

"I'm not leaving!" said Madam Rosmerta.

Harry growled in frustration. "I don't have time to stay here and protect you - people are dying out there! You're keeping me from saving lives! Now GET OUT OF HERE!"

The barkeep's eyes widened in fear, and she turned and headed for the back door. Harry felt uncomfortable that she was fearful of him, especially after facing five Dementors, but he forced the feeling away. The important thing was that he had convinced her to leave the pub.

The students trailed behind her as she left. Zacharias was last, and he sent Harry a glance that was a combination of mortification and resentment as he brushed by him. Harry had seen the Hufflepuff produce a Patronus many times, but unfortunately he had been unable to do it in a life-threatening situation. Harry knew from experience that there was an immense difference between casting a Patronus in a roomful of classmates and casting a Patronus with genuine Dementors closing in on you.

Shaking his head to clear it, Harry exited the building. He headed back out into the street to rejoin the main battle, his steps hastened by visions of Ron and Ginny lying in the street as he had found Cho and Michael.

The five Dementors that had been in the Three Broomsticks had turned on a small group of students running toward Hogwarts. Harry quickly assessed the situation, calculating whether the students had time to make it to the school before they were caught. While he hesitated, one of the students stopped and pulled out his wand, turning to face his pursuers. "Expecto Patronum!" he shouted, but nothing happened. As Malfoy tried again, Harry focused on winning the Quidditch Cup and cast his own Patronus.

"Malfoy," Harry shouted as the stag forced the Dementors in the other direction, "have you ever cast a Patronus before?"

Malfoy looked at the stag and then at Harry with a mixture of admiration and jealousy. He shrugged and said, "How hard can it be? Even Longbottom can do it!"

Harry ignored the jab at his friend and said, "Get out of here! You're only in the way!" The Slytherin gave Harry a look of intense loathing before turning and running down the street towards the castle. Harry ran in the opposite direction, toward the sound of shouting voices.

There were only about a dozen students and four Aurors fighting the Dementors. About twenty people were lying on the ground. Harry swallowed and hoped they were only unconscious, then he cast his Patronus and ran to join the battle.

There were too many Dementors, and Harry's silvery stag grew weaker each time it was cast. The humans were gathered in a tight circle, and the Dementors were pressing toward them from every side, tightening like a fist. The weak, silvery animals were now only making the demons hesitate for brief moments.

Ron was still on his feet, trying desperately to cast his Patronus with a look of horror on his face. Ginny was crouched on the ground in tears, her red hair flying haphazardly all around her as though she were engulfed in the flames of her own fears. Harry hated to imagine the terror she was reliving, presumably from her first year at Hogwarts. Neville was nearby, obviously concentrating on controlling his silvery bear with tears streaming down his face.

The Dementors drew closer. The screaming began quietly in Harry's head, slowly growing louder. He tried to force the images of his parents out of his mind and cast another Patronus, moving toward the closest group of Dementors.

The stag flickered and faded away after only a few seconds. Harry tried again, but his mother's screams were too loud. One of the Dementors reached an unconscious Seamus Finnegan and reached a skeletal hand almost lovingly toward his face. Harry desperately shouted the incantation over and over as his father's shouts joined his mother's voice. He fell to his knees, dropping his wand as he covered his ears to try to block out the voices. The edges of his vision started going black and nausea filled his stomach. He whispered the words of the charm one last time as the darkness began to overcome him.

An unearthly music suddenly filled the air, bringing Harry back to full consciousness. The sick feeling remained, but the music forced the voices from Harry's mind. He looked around and saw the Dementors raising their hands to cover the sides of their hoods; they appeared to be covering their ears, if they even had them. Fawkes landed on Harry's shoulder and continued to sing.

Harry picked up his wand, stood shakily, and cast a Patronus. The phoenix song seemed to be having a similar effect on all the humans; all the conscious ones were casting again, and the Dementors were retreating.

Suddenly, Harry remembered Seamus, and rushed over to the still unconscious boy, praying Fawkes had been in time. "Seamus!" he shouted, leaning over his head. He crouched down beside him and shouted into his face, "Wake up!" The Irish boy didn't move. Harry shook his shoulder desperately. "Wake up, Seamus!"

"Ennervate!" shouted Ginny's voice, and Harry wondered why he hadn't thought of that. But it did no good; Seamus remained deathly still.

"I think he might have been 'kissed'," he said, bowing his head. "I wasn't able to cast ... the voices ..." He didn't bother to check the tears of shame and grief that trickled down his face.

Ginny laid a hand on his shoulder. "Let's try again - together this time."

Harry nodded once and readied his wand as Ginny counted them down. They cast the spell together, and Seamus' head turned slightly as a small moan escaped his lips. "He'll be okay," Ginny said. She turned and started to run toward the retreating Dementors, casting a silvery giraffe as she went.

"Wha happen?" Seamus mumbled.

Harry sighed with relief and wiped impatiently at his wet face. "You need to get back up to the castle, mate."

Seamus sat up, grabbing his head and groaning, and looked around. "No," he said slowly, "I can fight." Harry helped him to his feet, and they made for the battle together. He noticed that several more adults had joined the students and Aurors fighting the Dementors; as he got closer he recognized Remus and several teachers from Hogwarts.

"Remus!" Harry shouted, running toward him. He raised his wand to cast a Patronus, but suddenly someone Apparated at his side and grabbed his left hand, forcing him to touch a gold coin.

"Noooo!" Harry screamed as he felt the tugging behind his navel. He landed on the floor in Dumbledore's office and immediately scrambled to his feet and made for the door, even as he heard Snape casting a locking charm from behind him. He turned to face the Potions Master and yelled, "Let me go!"

"My instructions were to bring you back to the castle and ensure you stay here," Snape answered with a sneer, "and I can assure you that I will use any means necessary to comply."

Harry knew Snape's locking charm would be much too strong for his own magic, and the idea of swaying the professor by begging was ludicrous. So he tried another tactic. "Won't your Dark Lord get suspicious when he finds out you're protecting me?"

An unpleasant smile teased at Snape's lips. "How do you know the Dark Lord doesn't want me to keep you alive so he can kill you himself?"

It took a moment for the impact of his words to sink into Harry's mind. "Whose side are you on, anyway?" he shouted recklessly, anger building to a dangerous level in his chest.

Snape's smile disappeared and his eyes glittered dangerously. "I do nothing that is not in my own best interests," he said in a low voice.

Harry gave a growl of rage and frustration, brandished his wand at Snape, and began to advance menacingly. He had only taken a few steps when Snape waved his own wand. "Petrificus Totalus!" It hurt when Harry hit the floor, but he was so angry he didn't even notice the pain. He felt he would explode with fury, but he couldn't move at all, even to speak.

"Now listen carefully," Snape said, pocketing his wand as he stood over him. "It was very foolish of you to leave the school, and I am taking one hundred points from Gryffindor for your recklessness. In putting yourself in danger, you also put the entire wizarding world at risk. I also want you to contemplate the number of people who are being kissed because I am forced to baby sit you instead of fighting the Dementors. You are an idiot, Potter, and at some point I hope you will begin to consider the effects of your actions on others, instead of selfishly playing the hero."

Harry managed a growl of rage even though he couldn't move. Snape's words were completely unjust. Harry knew he had probably saved many lives, and Snape's absence from the battle wouldn't have made any difference since it was almost over, thanks to Fawkes.

He had no idea how long he lay there, seething. Snape had moved out of his line of vision and was silent, but Harry could feel his presence in the room even though he couldn't turn his head to confirm it. Finally, someone entered the room and clicked his tongue with apparent annoyance.

"Well, Severus," said Dumbledore, "you succeeded in complying with my orders, but was this method really necessary?"

"The boy was losing control, Headmaster," Snape said without a hint of apology in his voice. Harry felt the spell lifting and slowly pushed himself into a sitting position, his muscles protesting with every movement.

"Surely you could handle one underage wizard, Severus," said the headmaster, fury smouldering in his eyes. Snape's expression was unreadable, and he made no reply. Dumbledore sighed and said, "I believe Madam Pomfrey has need of your services in the hospital wing - there are several injuries."

The Potions Master bowed his head slightly to acknowledge the dismissal and left the office. The headmaster reached down to help Harry rise to his feet and then indicated one of the chairs in front of his desk. He waited until Harry was settled until seating himself behind the desk.

"I know," Harry said, refusing to meet Dumbledore's eyes, "I shouldn't have left the school."

"True," acknowledged the older man, "but I am sure Professor Snape has already been most enthusiastic in chastising you on that point. What I am most concerned about," he leaned forward and rested his chin on a triangle made from his hands, "is the fact that you were able to leave. The wards should have prevented you. Please tell me exactly how you managed to defeat the wards around the school. Leave nothing out."