The Long Road

Snow had fallen heavily all over the grounds by the following morning. What had been a few inches the night before was now three feet deep in some places. Neville had awoken quite early, no longer able to sleep because of an itch in his mind. Something bad was happening somewhere but he couldn't figure out who or what was behind it. He wrapped himself in his robes and walked to the window and watched the snowflakes pelt against the glass. "I wish I was as good as Harry at seeing through the Force," Neville said quietly as he stood before the window. Harry's deep, rhythmic breathing was the only sound in the dormitory at the time as the others were oddly quiet. He looked out over the grounds in silence until the sun began to rise.

Neville wasn't the only person to wake up earlier than normal. After a few hours of completely restless sleep, Messina had woken up to the same itch as Neville. She pulled her robes on and walked to the window, seeing the same snow as Neville a few floors away. She reached out around the school with the Force, finding most students still asleep. She felt Neville in her mind, his power radiating like a powerful searchlight. He seemed to be trying to concentrate, just as she had been, but having as little success as well. Taking a deep breath, she tried again. Nothing. Whatever was going on in the Force was making someone as powerful as she completely blind. Messina fingered her wand gently inside her robes.

The air inside the castle that day seemed quite oppressive. Even those first year students who had no firm grasp of what was going on felt it. Harry and the other students sat through Professor Binn's lesson as normal, but it seemed even less important than it ever had. He sat staring through the blackboard, as if behind it lay some secret to unraveling what was dancing just outside his Force vision. Even Hermione, usually riveted by the lecture, was staring into space, her quill not moving.

"We'll be making history soon, I think," Harry absently thought. The seeming randomness of the thought surprised him. As he thought about it further, he decided it was true. Whatever was going to happen was going to involve him and the others. He didn't know how he knew it, but he did as surely as he knew his own name. Harry pushed his hair back out of his eyes and tried to concentrate on the lesson.

History of Magic finally ended and the students filed into the hallways. Next was Professor Jade's class. "Maybe she has some idea of what was going on," Harry thought to himself as the students began spilling into her classroom.

"How many of you have felt it today?" Messina asked as the last student sat down. All raised their hands. Jade looked over her class, grown larger in the last week by adding the more promising of the students from the other two houses, and nodded. "I wish I could tell you what it is, but I don't know. Something powerful is obscuring my vision." Neville nodded in agreement.

It was Hogsmeade that first bore the brunt of the assault. Creatures and humans appeared from thin air and began to ravage the town. What looked like a huge, dark maroon sabre tooth tiger leapt across the distance between itself and the nearest witch and proceeded to slash her to pieces. Before her screams had died completely a dozen other stunned witches and wizards had already been killed. The hum of a blade of energy could be heard, followed by another scream. Within minutes the majority of the village was ablaze, its inhabitants either fleeing for their lives or laying in puddles on the snowy ground.

A few observers from a Care of Magical Creatures class took notice of the thick black smoke on the horizon and pointed it out to Hagrid. He was at first unsure what to make of it but quickly decided once he saw the approaching army.

Standing shoulder to shoulder with the tallest Death Eater, the huge cats began racing across the snow-covered ground with their riders, the rest of the army of death quick on their heels. Hagrid quickly gathered his students and had them hurrying back to the castle, picking up those that struggled in the snow and tossing them upon his huge shoulders.

"Destroy them all," a black robed figure shouted as he tossed back his cowl, revealing a face that was a hideous parody of a human's. "Our time is now!!" His gaze followed the beasts as they approached the school. "Lucius, bring Harry Potter and your traitorous son to me, I command it."

"As you wish, my Lord," Lucius Malfoy said as the approached the gates of the castle. He raised his hand and a bolt of black and blue lightning raced toward the great wooden door, exploding it into thousands of splinters.

Harry was trying to follow the Professor's lesson, but he was having difficulty. Images kept swirling in his mind, making him unable to concentrate. "They're coming!" Harry said suddenly as the kaleidoscope of colors stopped mixing long enough for him to get a quick glimpse of what was to come.

"What Harry?" Hermione asked. "Who's coming?"

"Voldemort," Harry said and the class shuddered.

Messina's eyes zoned out and she put everything she had into trying to see what was behind the veil. She was successful and saw a blur of images and then the first of the creatures begin running across the grounds the second they appeared. "No, he's here," she said softly and pulled her wand out, blocking what she saw out of her mind for the time being.

"Then it's time," Seamus said in his thick accent while standing up.

"No. I must get you out of here," the professor said as she calmly walked to her door. A chorus of 'what?' erupted around her. "We must get you students out of this school. If you were to fall here along with the rest of us all hope is lost."

"That's crazy, Professor," Seamus said as he drew his wand, "I want to help defend my school." a few murmurs of assent were beginning to form when Lupin walked into the classroom.

"No, Mr. Finnegan, that is not crazy. You lot are leaving and leaving now. We will do our best to defend the school, but you will not be here."

"Lupin is right," Messina said. "If we fall, and you with us, there will be no one to continue the fight against Voldemort and the Dark Side." Seamus looked cowed and seemed to reluctantly agree. "Come on then," she said as she walked to the door.

"Where to, Professor?" Colin asked as he stood up.

"To my quarters. It has the closest portkeys."

"Portkeys? To where?" Ron asked.

"To an ancient stronghold to the north and west of here. You'll be safe there for the time being. Hurry! They'll be inside the school before long."

The group of students began to file out and walked quickly down the halls. Harry felt fear in the air of the school. He felt cries of pain and then people passing into the Force. It was all he could do to not turn and run back the other way and help fight. "What about the other students?" Harry asked with a more than a bit of bitterness in his voice.

"They are being evacuated as we speak, Harry," Lupin told him. "Portkeys have been set up around the school and they'll take the students to safe places around the country.

"Will they all make it?" He asked, unsure.

"We'll do our best, Harry," Lupin said as he stopped at a crossing corridor. "You have them from here, Messina?"

"Aye. Go aid the others."

"I'm coming with you," Harry told Lupin as he drew his wand.

"No, you're not. Harry, you and the others in this hallway are the key to Voldemort's defeat. You aren't ready to face him yet. If you were to try now you will very likely fail. You might save a few of your friends, but you will likely perish and hope for the future would go with you." Harry looked blankly at Lupin. "I know it doesn't sound very palatable, but you must not stay here. Professor Jade and Dumbledore believe you have a special destiny ahead of you and I believe them. I don't have the ability to see what they've seen, but I believe them."

The group had stopped in the hallway and many of the students were waiting for Harry's decision. Nearly all of them were ready to fight with Harry and die with him if it became necessary. Harry and Lupin stared at each other silently for a ten count and the rest of the students held their breath.

"Alright," Harry finally said. "Let's go." Lupin nodded and began running down the hallway while the rest of the group followed Messina toward her quarters. Harry seemed quite unhappy with the decision and he put his wand back in his pocket as they continued on. They had nearly reached the Professor's quarters when a roar and a gigantic explosion shook the castle, sending small rocks and dust sifting down on their heads from the ceiling.

"What on earth was that?" Ron asked as he wiped the mess from his hair.

"I don't think I want to know," Colin said as he looked back nervously.

"No, you probably don't," Messina said. "Dark Side beasts make many of your common magical animals seem like house pets in comparison. Hurry now, we're almost there."

Feelings of pain and death were freely swirling in the Force around him now as Harry fought the urge to go back. Hogwarts was quickly emptying, either by portkey or by death and it made Harry's heart heavy. As they reached Professor Jade's quarters Harry stepped aside and let the other students pass through while he stood with her outside the door.

"Come on, Harry. We've got to get you and the others out of here."

"They're coming up here, fast," Harry told her.

"I know. That's why we have little time." She gently pushed Harry into the room with the other students. "The murals on the far walls are portkeys," she told the students quickly. "After you touch it, you'll be transported to a small island off the northern Irish Coast. In old times, it was Royal Navy base, and in even older times the area was a stronghold for the Jedi. You'll find shelter and supplies there, though I can't guarantee for how long. If all goes well, we will be coming to get you in short order." She nodded toward the murals. The students made their way over to the paintings and got ready to touch them on her word.

"Come on, Harry," Hermione said as she put a hand on his shoulder. He seemed to absently hear her and let himself be moved over that way. All the students had gathered and Messina pointed her wand at the paintings and uttered a small charm, effectively 'arming' the murals for use.

"Get ready. It's time. Once they glow, touch it and you all will be out of here." She looked as if she were about to say more but she turned toward the door and held her wand out a split second before a black robed figure appeared.

"Messina Jade. The Dark Lord speaks rather highly of you. Give me my son and Potter, woman," the booming voice of Lucius Malfoy yelled, his green blade lighting his face unnaturally.

"Never!" Messina shouted defiantly and a vivid purple beam of energy leapt from the wand.

"Then I shall take them and you shall die," Lucius said as he charged forth. The two engaged in a fierce dual.

Sparks flew all over the room. Harry and the others watched in horror for a few seconds until the portraits began to hum. "I've got to help her," Harry said as he pulled his wand out. He had gotten a step away from the group when Messina called out to him.

"No! Harry! You must leave. Stop him!" Ron and Seamus moved and grabbed Harry by his shoulders and pulled him back to the wall.

"No!" Harry yelled as the murals glowed brightly. He was still struggling to get away from the two boys when he felt the peculiar feeling in his stomach. "No!" he yelled one final time.