Purpose

~ Chapter 42: Unwanted Distractions ~

Dumbledore's office...

A total of twenty-six people had been assigned to go into the Forbidden Forest, and had been divided into groups of five. It had been decided the night before that the group leaders would be Sirius, Snape, Remus, Jaheera and Aldren. Each of these groups held the respective sorcerer or sorceress that was responsible in creating the most complex anti-flammable spells about the Forest, starting from the trail that had been previously used by the deceased Golgomath and the rest of his giants.

The Headmaster had seen to the major task of blocking Voldemort from scrying on the castle and the surrounding environment-- especially the Forest-- with the help of Harry's crystal, his older brother that had returned earlier yesterday, the Elven Lord and some of the teaching staff of Hogwarts. They had been working on it nonstop ever since Dumbledore's elder brother had returned to the School and by the time they had finally succeeded in launching their newly-wrought spells, it was already close to midnight. It is with their advantage that the Dark Lord still had not gained any information relating to the Fair Ones since each time his spies nearly came close in ferreting out the truth, the Elementals unscrupulously tampered with their memories. As Aelwyn had informed them, Voldemort seemed to be delighting in throwing off more tantrums each time that happened.

The Headmaster was waiting patiently for the first signs of Voldemort's nonhuman followers, sitting comfortably in his armchair, fondly scratching Fawkes's crest as he stared blankly across his desk. His eyes rested on the emerald stone, where its heart flickered with magical energy. Aberforth was silent as he leaned against the wall, looking out of the window. There was a task that was in need of fulfillment but could not begin until Voldemort's creatures were fully engaged with those that had went out of the castle.

As the twenty-six people began trooping out to the castle grounds in silence, twelve people from various wizarding worlds came to Hogwarts via the lake. Eight of them were assorted Aurors or members of the Order, while four held the reputation of being the most talented and devious witches and wizards. They were severely inspected by Moody and the Elementals before they were given the green light to enter the castle of Hogwarts. They silently went straight to Dumbledore's office, oblivious to the surreptitious glances from the students. The students exchanged speculative looks, somehow getting the feeling that their Headmaster was up to something either important or mischief.

They finally reached the Headmaster's office and Moody gave the password and stepped aside to let the group in. Among the new company, there was one wizard who was far older and eccentric compared to the grim-faced Aberforth, who began smoking as soon as he was offered a seat. "She is out there, isn't she?" the white-haired wizard-- looking so much like a keeper of a bookstore, which he was-- spoke up as he exhaled. Dumbledore nodded gravely and the stranger's abrupt question seemed to puzzle the rest of the company that was with him. "I guess I just have to keep on breathing and sane if I want to meet her," he sighed.

"Does Cornelius know that you're here, Amelia?" Dumbledore inquired mildly and she snorted disdainfully as she shook her head.

"All of us are ready for action, Dumbledore," Reef informed him and the Headmaster nodded approvingly. A slight sound came from the entrance and Charlie slipped in, his eyes shining brightly with excitement.

"What do we do now, Wulf?" the oldest wizard inquired, politely declining a glass of wine that Aberforth had poured for him.

"We wait, Julian," Dumbledore answered calmly, "we will wait before we move out to the lake and Apparate from there."

"Zis is truly impossible, Dumbly-Dorr. I did not 'spect the students to take part in zis nonsensical war willingly," Madam Maxime rumbled deeply.

"But it is through our failure in stopping Voldemort that the youngsters are involving themselves in this," a balding wizard said softly.

"Too true," one Auror replied.

"You do know where to go, don't you?" Julian Mingleweeve asked Madam Maxime timidly and she gave a tight nod. He slowly let out a pensive sigh, then settled back in his armchair and waited patiently for Dumbledore to give the signal.

"I guess that the time has come to inform Voldemort that we seriously don't want to share our living space with him," a witch with completely white hair that ended up in a strict bun, spoke up.

"Don't sound so confident, Michelle," Aberforth advised.

"Huh!" She stared at him in an unfriendly manner. "Too bad for Voldemort, but I am in the mood to live for a few more decades before I go for a permanent vacation."

"Ambitious, are we?" Julian commented lightly.

"You tell me. You're reaching your hundred and sixty-six years soon, so why can't I at least aspire to live that long?" she asked almost sullenly.

The oldest wizard winced as Aberforth chuckled. "You didn't have to really specify that," he said as he looked at the witch named Michelle with a pained expression.

"Too late." Dumbledore's lips quivered with amusement. "But you should not really think about that that way," he said, gazing solemnly at the witch.

"I knew you would find something wrong with that sentence, but I assure you, Wulf, that I certainly don't really want to achieve immortality. I think by the time I hit hundred and twenty, there would be at least twenty percent of you suggesting that I go for face-lifts or something like that."

Light chuckles filled the room and they fell into a comfortable silence, waiting for their enemy to make his first move.

**********

Deep in the Dark Forest...

The five groups had Translocated themselves to their respective checkpoints. Sirius's group was given the center point since Harry was the only suitable choice in creating the core of the anti-flammable spell, due to his newfound ability that allowed him to cast spells over a fairly large area. Yesterday however, Harry argued about his inexperience and self-doubts and requested the Fire Master to handle it. Fenix just looked at him quizzically and Draco took it upon himself to enlighten his oathbrother.

: Don't you have any common sense? You can't really expect us to fight fire with fire, don't you? : His oathbrother looked at him impatiently and Harry flushed with embarrassment. : Glad that you understand the situation. :

Aldren's group made up of Fenix, Aelwen, Neville and Seamus, found themselves overlooking an area of the Forest where trees had been felled or trampled while Remus's group Translocated several meters ahead of them. This particular group separated and while the humans began to deftly climb the trees that had been assigned to them to keep watch, Sieghart, an Elven mage and his counterpart stayed on the ground to initialize the spellcasting.

All the other groups were in position except for the groups led by Sirius and Snape. They had found themselves Translocated to their places and it just happened that the band of centaurs was also there. Naturally, the centaurs thought they were under attack and loosed their ever-ready arrows at the humans. Thanks to advanced planning, the group had gone in with their shields and the arrows clattered uselessly onto the ground. The centaurs growled menacingly and Sirius spoke to them firmly that it was not their intention to pick a fight with them but Bane ignored his words, advancing threateningly toward where Harry was standing. The rest of the centaurs milled about aimlessly, kicking up their hooves. Tempers flared as the vibrations of the centaurs' movement began to react with the trappings that had been set five days ago.

"Leave," Horien, an Elven warrior commanded firmly.

: Sir, : Harry sent a thought to the elf, : I think the trappings are about to go off. :

: Damn it! Green-Eyes! Don't just stand there! : A ray of sunlight pierced through the canopy of the Forest and lit Draco's silver eyes directly.

: The situation can't be helped. : Snape's eyes narrowed and a centaur went down when it tried to ram against a shield that was protecting the Potions Master's group. : Do what you have to-- I'll inform the rest, : he said to Harry and Snape withdrew the mind-link from the boy to inform the other three groups of the minor setback.

**********

: Blast it! : Fenix cursed and she exchanged a look with Aldren. She snapped her head up suddenly and sniffed at the air. Her suspicions were confirmed when Remus sent a frantic thought. : Dear Gods! Hellhound coming your way, bro! Sieghart! Nigel! Abort now! :

The elves in her group were the first to hear the three-headed giant dog maneuver its way through the ancient trees and undergrowth. As practiced in a drill, the elves snatched Neville and Seamus quickly and immediately transformed themselves into inconspicuous trees among others that had not been damaged by Voldemort's giants. By doing so, they had successfully eliminated their trail and scent.

Taking full advantage of her gifts, she turned into a wolf and loped forward to the area where she had scented the three-headed dog. She was also communicating with the groups that were under Remus and Jaheera, and gave a tremendous sigh when they were well out of harm's way for now, both from the centaurs and the Hellhound. She slowed down her paces and began slinking on the ground quietly.

Back to the area where her oathbrother and Snape unwittingly cornered the centaurs, they were trying hard to get the hoofed-ones and themselves out of the trap-spells before it gets activated. Harry and Cyfel were sweating profusely as they began to take down the spells at a disastrous pace.

: Do you need our help, Severus? : Remus's mindvoice echoed dimly in the Potions Master's mind.

: Don't get yourself into trouble, werewolf. Fenix gave you specific instructions to remain where you are. : Snape struggled to keep his temper when the centaurs began firing off arrows.

: He's right, : Sirius sent his opinion. : Shoot! : The last descendant of the Black family was totally caught by surprise when three of the centaurs turned around and their hooves gave off sparks when they hit his shield. Although he was physically unharmed, the same could not be said of his mind. Bells were ringing inside his head, and he was momentarily dazed by the impact. Draco saw Harry's godfather sank to his knees, clutching his aching head. He bit at his lower lip, and thought deeply, then nodded to himself in resolution. He vanished.

: Draco! : Snape shouted, abandoning his attempt to drive Magorian away and signaled Warrington and Montague to guard Harry and Cyfel from interruptions. He and Rendierr warded off the three centaurs away from Sirius, since the Black's own members: Hermione and Aderyn were dueling with Bane and two others intensely. At least the two of them managed to back the centaurs toward the safe area. Snape pulled Sirius up to his feet, relieved when the man began to pull away from his hold.

: Do you see that lone yew tree at Sirius's left? : Draco's thought penetrated through their minds. Hermione's eyes went wide when she heard his voice; it sounded nearly as ticklish when Snape first communicated in their minds.

: What are you up to? : his oathbrother managed to ask while concentrating to release the trap-spells.

: Trust me. Herd the centaurs there, : was all the Slytherin said before releasing the mind-link.

: If we could before we get trapped. : Harry's godfather scoffed. : I wonder what your godson is thinking, Severus. There's at least-- : he paused to count the herd members, : eighteen of them. And we only have what... eight people free to take them on? : He looked penetratingly at the Potions Master.

**********

Fluffy had paused, sniffing the ground. One head lifted and it seemed to stare right through the foliage where Fenix skulked. Then two more pairs of eyes stared at her. "Fluffy!" a deep booming voice suddenly ripped the wary silence. Heavy footsteps followed and Fenix's wolfish eyes stared in surprise when a giant, approximately sixteen feet in length, holding a huge club in one hand carefully emerged into the clearing. The Hellhound made an inquiring noise at the back of its throats and the giant answered by making a few gutturals. Three snouts then pointed at the dense foliage where Fenix lay hidden and the giant stared stupidly at it. The giant and the Hellhound communicated again and finally, the three-headed dog got to its feet and walked off slowly. Miraculously, it was heading to an area that was so inaccessible that Fenix and the rest did not bother to scout.

"Soorrry. Dog not bother anymore..." the giant spoke haltingly, staring timidly at the green foliage before he followed the immense dog. Fenix blinked her eyes in surprise. Aelwen and Aldren returned and both boys that had been turned into trees suddenly exploded, muttering off curses. The Fire Master crept out of hiding and ran off to where her group was.

: Fenix, remind me to give Hagrid a few strangles when we return to peaceful times, : said Remus, and to no one's surprise, Ron was thinking along the same lines.

: We have to delay in the spellcasting, : Sieghart spoke. : The centaurs would only pose as serious distractions if we do not remove them and relocate them into another area. :

: It seems that Draco has a plan. Why don't we regroup then start all over again? : Remus suggested and she sighed.

: Let's go then, : she said tiredly, and the two boys controlled their tongues as she began their Translocation.

**********

: I wish they would hurry! : Sirius said impatiently. "Impedimenta!" he shouted and quickly moved away from a centaur's lunge. Warrington and Montague left the two casters to help the rest lead the centaurs to the general area of the yew tree. Finally, their backup arrived. Snape left Fenix to handle Magorian and concentrated on the others.

"I sincerely apologize," Fenix spoke to a nonplussed Magorian who had suddenly found himself floating several feet from the ground toward the area that Draco had pointed out. The rest paused to watch the struggling centaur and Hermione narrowed her eyes in speculation.

"Ron," she called out dreamily and her partner hurried to her side, with Luna close behind him. "At the count of three," she tapped her wand on her palm and after the second tap, the three of them shouted. "Wingardium leviosa!"

: Better hurry up! : Harry's mindvoice sounded a little strained. Dragon's teeth! : Cyfel! : He sent a panicked thought.

: Don't panic! : the elf advised, his brow damp with sweat. Being so close to the boy, he was able to hear Harry clench his jaw tightly. : This is it! On my mark! : Both of them raised their hands slowly.

Bane's eyes widened when he saw Magorian suddenly disappeared when he reached the area that Draco had suggested. "Retreat!" he shouted, but saw Snape shaking his head.

"We can't let you do that."

Bane and several of his warriors found themselves entangled in the Levitation spell. They heard a loud crack as Cyfel and Harry managed to stop the trap spells in time. Thirty-minutes passed and the students collapsed against each other when they finally saw the last of the centaur warriors disappear. Draco materialized out of the thin air, startling his godfather and got slapped with a spell.

: It's only me! : his godson yelled and Snape cursed at his godson's impudence. The Slytherin blanched at the Potions Master's strong words and gulped, keeping mute until his godfather ran out of expletives.

"I think your godfather had summed up your casualness pretty well," Aelwen spoke calmly.

"Drake," his oathbrother spoke up in a worried voice, "where on earth have you sent the centaurs to?"

"Where the rest of their herd is," the Slytherin shrugged. "There's nothing wrong in sending them there, right?" He gave a hard look at the Potions Master.

"Now we would have to deal with the rest of the herd... maybe all of them later!" his godfather answered angrily.

: Do I look that stupid? : Draco asked Snape privately. Although his face and eyes showed unruffled calm, his godfather managed to sense that he had gravely hurt the boy from the thought that Draco shared with him. "I gave the centaurs careful instructions to stay and not go out to wander in the Forest today and to ignore what the young centaurs had to say about their brief encounter with us. They were sorely surprised when they found that the words actually came from a dragon," he explained in a quiet voice.

"But how can you really confirm that the centaurs will stay out of our hair?" Ron argued.

"Surely you did not threaten them?" Hermione gasped, and Draco gave a long sigh.

"There's at least three other dominant centaurs within the herd who understand what we're trying to do. They will keep Bane and his followers within their protective enclosure. If they can't do it, that's just too bad," he shrugged, totally ignoring the Potions Master and followed Rendierr to check up on a good spot where they could begin casting their spells. Snape looked at his godson, regret clearly showing on his face.

Sirius was just about to remark on Snape's blunder when Fenix and Harry gave him warning looks. He sighed then examined his godson. : Do you think you can continue? You have used your powers extensively. :

: I don't think I've used that much power, Sirius, : he replied, then turned to his friends. "If you have rested enough, I think it's wise for us to get moving." He looked inquisitively at the Fire Master who seemed to be discussing something with someone.

"It's eleven forty-eight now, and we've got less than two hours to work on the spell. Dumbledore's very worried about the Heliopaths, and he thinks that we would not be seeing any Death Eaters or Voldemort today," she informed them of the news that was being reported by Krill.

"The giants can't really move that fast!" Neville frowned and most nodded their heads in agreement.

"Hard to believe, isn't it? But the truth is, they certainly will reach the edge of the Forest in approximately ninety minutes," she concurred and pursed her lips. "Time doesn't seem to help us..."

"Then we've got no time to lose," Ginny said, as Dean helped her up.

**********

At Dumbledore's office...

The setting had changed from a functional office to a more mundane environment. The house-elves were busily sending up dishes from the kitchen and placing them laboriously on the huge dining table.

Dumbledore and several others were fretting over their cups of wine. His elder brother and Julian were trying to reassure him the groups inside the Forest would complete their task on time, and probably will also have time to get a rest before they plunge head on into the giants and the still-evasive army of Heliopaths.

"You can't really expect things to go your way all the time," Julian said sagaciously.

"Don't worry too much about them," Aberforth spoke. "They know what they absolutely have to do."

"'Zis would be really a miracle if ze kids manage to get out of ze Forest alive."

"Stop that, Olly," Michelle spoke in a disapproving tone. "We should have faith in those brave kids." She leaned forward. "You do want them to come out alive and well, don't you?" The Headmistress of Beauxbaton Academy gave a heavy sigh, her eyes suddenly misting over. "Oh dear..." Michelle looked guiltily around the table.

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