Tales of a Spiritual Warrior

Chapter Fourteen: Attack

Over the next week, Luna was sometimes able to forget about the future, because the present was so pleasant. She had never doubted Harry's love or loyalty, but the new physical bond between them had made him even more solicitous. Whether they were eating breakfast together, doing homework in the library, or just walking hand in hand, he devoted himself to her whenever he could.

They were walking together after dinner one night, and Harry smiled at Luna. "Have I told you yet today that I love you?"

"I don't think you have. That's a pretty amazing thing to hear, though, Harry. I never get tired of it," said Luna airily.

"I never expected to love anyone as much as I love you. I never even expected to have a girlfriend, actually."

"A lot of us lost galleons on that bet, Potter," said a nasty voice behind them. They turned to see the familiar smirk of Draco Malfoy.

"Bugger off, Malfoy," Harry answered.

Malfoy smiled again, shrugged, and headed down a side corridor.

At the beginning of March, Malfoy had many reasons to smile. The Death Eaters that had been in Azkaban since the crisis at the Ministry of Magic, including Lucius Malfoy, all escaped. This was bad news, but had good results. Practically every witch and wizard in Britain turned against Cornelius Fudge for allowing two major escapes during his tenure as Minister of Magic. This was good for Dumbledore, and by extension, Harry. It cemented Dumbledore's popularity and practically assured that anything that needed be done to recapture the escaped prisoners would obviously be condoned, if not encouraged out right. Fudge was hanging to his office by a thread, and would not have the time or inclination to question anything that was going on at Hogwarts, such as Harry's intensive secret training in obscure killing curses.

Things were now considered more dangerous for Harry, however. Dumbledore kept him under closer watch than Harry would have liked, although he still allowed Harry to go to Hogsmeade to attend to Quibbler business when necessary. Fearing for Luna's safety, Dumbledore arranged for her finish training for her apparation test soon after the prison break.

When Luna passed the apparition test, Harry was waiting to congratulate her. Dumbledore had been extremely relieved. "Now if they run into trouble in Hogsmeade," he told Snape and Pomfrey over lunch, "I know they'll at least be able to get back to the gates."

Luna was much more sympathetic to Dumbledore that spring. She could see the reasoning behind at times withholding certain information from Harry. It was, she found, possible to love Harry, but still be concerned over how he would react and respond to certain developments.

Trouble finally came. Snape went to the headmaster's office early one morning to inform him that several of his seventh year students were missing from Slytherin house. "They have either gone to indulge in some mischief with some of their elders," Snape told Dumbledore grimly, "or they have been told to leave the castle for their own safety. I've known for some time something was coming, but I had no details. I suspect if there is mischief afoot, it is more likely it will be in Hogsmeade. It's been discussed often enough."

"That would be most logical," Dumbledore agreed. "We must prepare. You know what you have to do?"

"I do," Snape answered grimly.

Dumbledore quickly sent for Professor Lupin. "Go to headquarters," Dumbledore told him quietly. "Tell any members of the order you find there to come with you and meet me in Hogsmeade." Lupin nodded and went to fetch his coat. Along with Professor McGonagall, Madam Sinistra, Hagrid, and Madam Pomfrey, Dumbledore then prepared to go check out the situation. Just to be safe, he ordered Professor Flitwick, Madam Hooch and Professor Vector to move all of the students fourth year and below into one of the deeper dungeons, where they were to wait for news, and sent Argus Filch to the tallest tower to keep a lookout. As their preparations were going on, a column of smoke was seen coming from the south end of Hogsmeade. Dumbledore asked Harry, Ron, Hermione, and some of the other seventh year DA members to come with him into town.

After they left the castle, they met several residents of the town coming up the road who had been driven from their homes. They learned from these people that a small band of Death Eaters, along with their goblin allies, led by Macnair, Wormtail and Lucius Malfoy, had attacked shortly after dawn. Though the residents had tried to defend their neighborhood, they had quickly been driven out. The Death Eaters had cursed everyone who had crossed their path.

When the party from Hogwarts arrived in town, several buildings the Death Eaters had set afire for their amusement still smoldered, reduced to rubble. Harry's stomach clenched. Was this what his parent's house had looked like after Voldemort had finished with it?

They moved north and to Harry's relief, the Quibbler office and the other buildings on that end of town had not been damaged, but there were a few bodies scattered about, people who had not fled quickly enough. They found Albert Braddock still alive, and he was badly shaken by the behavior of the Death Eaters, people he had known since childhood.

"This is senseless waste, "Braddock cried. "There was no point to this. They weren't after anyone in particular, and they were not after loot. It was simple destruction."

Dumbledore's scowl darkened as he paced about and it was terrible to behold. Finally, he spoke. "They could not apparate without leaving the goblins behind, and I do not think they would do that. They would not trust such creatures on their own. They don't mind using them, but wouldn't want to give up control of them. I think they must have a camp in the forest. We must search for them. Poppy, you stay here and try to help anyone you can. Madam Sinistra can assist you. If we need you later, we will send for you. Everyone else, stay together. Harry, Hagrid, and Minerva, you bring up the rear. I will lead the way."

Back at the castle, some of the older students, who had been ordered to remain in the main hall with Professor Snape and Professor Trelawney, were getting restless. Pansy Parkinson, one of the few seventh year Slytherins still present, was complaining loudly.

"What about us? Do I have to wait with my wand in my hand, ready to defend myself?"

"Never mind your wand," Trelawney snapped with uncharacteristic clarity. "Use your mouth instead. It's much more powerful. Since you've had so much practice using it against your defenders, I'm sure it could destroy any enemy." Luna, Neville and Ginny smiled. Pansy glared daggers at them all.

"Why did your boyfriend leave you behind, Pansy?" Ginny taunted her. "Draco talks big, but if he stumbles into a real battle, he's probably going to get himself killed. Then what will you do?"

"Draco is not going to die," Pansy replied firmly.

"You think he has a chance against Dumbledore and Harry in a real fight? You're mental!" Neville said with confidence.

"Draco will not die," Pansy repeated, sounding very sure of herself.

Luna suddenly looked up sharply. "Draco will not die...because he is not in Hogsmeade! He is coming back here!"

Pansy looked triumphant, and Snape and Trelawney looked alarmed. The possibility of a double attack had not occurred to anyone. Trelawney rushed to cast a spell to seal the great doors, and Snape sent the Creevey brothers to the tower. "Stay with Filch. Let us know the moment you see anything."

He turned to face those assembled in the hall. "The Death Eaters believe I am sympathetic to them. Let me speak to them when they come. Perhaps I can make the best of things."

Understanding crossed Pansy's face. "You are a traitor!"

"I am a teacher," Snape snapped. "I don't believe in unnecessary murders. We do not have to slaughter innocents to achieve our goals. It only turns others against us."

Pansy looked at him suspiciously, but retreated under his stern glare. They all sat down to wait.

Dumbledore's group walked carefully into the dark forest, until only spots of sunlight broke through to light their way. The forest was strangely empty. Not even a single bird sang. It was as if everyone and everything were waiting for something unknown. They found breaks in the brush, and went stealthily forward until they could hear the sound of whispering voices ahead. They crept carefully toward the sound, wands extended, and found an open glade.

Holding up his wand, Dumbledore stepped out. A group of Death Eaters and goblins sat around a fire, including Lucius Malfoy. Draco, Harry noticed, was not with them, nor was Voldemort.

"End this now," Dumbledore thundered. "You cannot win."

Malfoy jumped to his feet. "No! I would rather die than yield to you. You disgrace the name of wizard!"

He drew his wand and chaos erupted. A shower of spells shot in all directions. Malfoy fell, as did Seamus Finnegan, Mandy Brocklehurst, and several goblins. The remaining goblins took advantage of the disarray to desert. In a sudden flash of light, which startled the Death Eaters and gave Dumbledore an advantage, Lupin, Tonks, Diggle and Fletcher all appeared and threw themselves into the fray.

When the forest lay quiet once more, Dumbledore still stood. Three of the other Death Eaters were also dead, including Wormtail, and three were seriously wounded. Ron had been stunned, but to Hermione's relief he was still breathing. The only other serious injury was to Lavender Brown, but Lupin was able to bind up her injured arm with a quick "Ferula!" until they could get back to the castle. There were many minor injuries, but all in all, it could have been worse. Tonks, who had been aiming a stunning spell at a fleeing goblin had completely missed and hit Macnair, which was of great satisfaction to Harry, who had never forgiven Macnair for the Buckbeak affair.

With a heavy heart, Dumbledore made arrangements with the members of the Order to take charge of the prisoners. He also told them to summon Madam Pomfrey from Hogsmeade to help tend to the fallen. He motioned for the remaining students to return to Hogwarts.

Colin Creevey had just come hurtling into the hall to announce that a large group of the enemy had just been spotted near the gates of Hogwarts. Snape and Trewlawney were discussing the best way of getting a message to Dumbledore when the castle doors began to shake. Pansy Parkinson leaped up and before anyone could silence her, cast the spell to required to open them. Professor Trelawney tried to cast the spell to reseal them, but fainted from the strain of pushing against the opening doors. The heavy doors swung wide and three strange men entered, followed by Bellatrix Lestrange, Draco Malfoy, some of the other missing Slytherin boys, and Voldemort himself.

Voldemort strode up to Snape who went forward to greet him. "Where is Potter?"

"Have care, my Lord," Snape said cooly. "Dumbledore took Potter to Hogsmeade with him, along with some of the other brats."

"He took them along? I didn't think he would. He coddles his students so I didn't expect him to endanger them." Voldemort lost himself in thought for a moment. "That bodes ill for us. I had hoped to kill Potter while Dumbledore was busy in Hogsmeade. If I know the luck of those bastards, they will survive this day." He looked up and saw Luna Lovegood watching him calmly. "Bring the little blonde girl," Voldemort commanded Draco. "She'll make a worthwhile hostage."

"Why do you need to bother dragging a hostage along, my Lord?" Snape asked casually. "I know Potter's been dating her, but I can't imagine it's serious enough between them for him to risk his life over her."

"Draco tells me differently," Voldemort answered. "He tells me that Potter fancies himself in love with the girl. He will not let her go so easily. You were never very perceptive when it came to romance, Severus."

As Voldemort turned to confer with his followers, Draco stepped over and grabbed Luna by the arm. Colin, ever loyal to Harry, tried to stop him, but was quickly stunned. Pansy ran forward, and took Draco's other hand.

"Don't leave me here. What will be left for me when they return? Take me with you!"

"We have no use for you right now, Pansy," said Draco coldly.

"I've done everything you've ever told me to do! I've been loyal! You can't leave me here!" Pansy cried hysterically.

Draco sighed. "Pansy, you were the choice of my father, and I would have honored that choice as long as I lived, but I have to do what the master wills now." Her face sagged in despair, and when she tried to hang onto him, he pushed her away. Pansy stumbled back, hitting her head on the stone wall. Draco didn't even look back as he followed the other Death Eaters out of the hall, dragging Luna behind him.

Pansy's head had struck with a sickening thud, and Ginny ran to her as she slid down the wall, leaving a darkening stain behind her. Flowing blood was matting her hair. Ginny took Pansy's hand. The older girl was sobbing, as blood began dripping from her nose and mouth. "I loved him so much. He said he loved me. He promised me the world! He took everything I had to give! How could he leave me? How...could...he..." The girl went silent and slumped over, as everyone in the hall watched in horror. Tears running down her face, Ginny whispered, "Pansy, I'm so sorry," as she carefully wiped the blood off Pansy's face with the edge of her robe.