Tales of a Spiritual Warrior

Chapter Fifteen: Planning the Rescue Mission

Voldemort and his followers, dragging Luna along, headed for the gates of Hogwarts. There they met some of the goblins fleeing the battle in the forest. The goblins insisted on going along with the Dark Lord, who was not pleased, but agreed, fearing they would turn against him and cause trouble if he abandoned them. Draco was instructed to take Luna's wand away from her, and Luna surrendered it without a fight, seeing no point in arguing. In spite of the fact that Voldmort put a magical tether on her, that he ordered held by Draco or one of the Death Eaters at all times, Luna breathed a sigh of relief. If they had to travel with the goblins, apparation would be impossible. If Draco, who was clutching the rope that bound her, had tried to apparate with her, her necklace would have held her down, and Voldemort might well have killed her out of frustration, if nothing else. It would have broken her heart to have to leave her pendant behind. Now they would have to move more slowly, and they would certainly leave a trail behind them that others could follow.

They skirted around the forest, heading for the lowlands of the rivers. Voldemort marched quickly, and raged at the smallest delay. They pressed on through the barren land through the afternoon and into the night, resting only as the morning sun returned and grew bright. Even Voldemort would not risk traveling in broad daylight through less barren areas with goblins. He had made too many enemies. They would have to wait until later in the day to move again. Though it gave her little respite, Luna was grateful for the brief rest, as uncomfortable as it was to be literally tied to Draco Malfoy. Draco whispered comments several times about how terrible the battle in the forest must have been. He was certain his father had killed Harry for Voldemort, and seemed to enjoy describing the various ways this could have been accomplished. Luna's greatest hope was that Harry had survived the battle in the woods. As the group occupied itself by choking down a little cold food, she slid her pendant out from underneath her robe, and turned it so that the smooth flat side of the disc faced up. Harry's face appeared, and to her relief, this was not a Harry sprawled on the ground with sightless eyes. This was a Harry looking up with green eyes blazing as bright as an Avada Kedavra death curse.

When Dumbledore and his followers returned to the castle, his blood ran cold at the shambles he found. The front doors were shattered and hanging off the hinges. Trelawney was still unconscious, and Snape was trying to revive her. Colin was slumped against the stairs, and Neville and Ginny were trying to support him. Pansy's body was still lying in a pool of blood by the wall where it had fallen.

"Merlin's beard! What has happened here?" Dumbledore asked, as everyone else stood staring.

"It was Voldemort," Ginny sobbed. "He came with Bellatrix Lestrange and some of the other Death Eaters. Draco and some of the other Slytherins were with him."

"Pansy was the traitor that let them in," Neville added sadly, "but when they were leaving and she tried to go with them, Draco just pushed her aside. She fell and hit her head on the wall."

"It's true, headmaster," Snape said heavily. "I had no warning of a double attack. The fault is mine and mine alone."

Dumbledore sighed. "You did the best you could, Severus. Of that I am sure. If there were no other injuries than these, we got off lucky."

"Harry," Colin whispered, his face white and bloodless, "they took Luna. I tried to stop them but I couldn't. They took her with them."

Harry was calm, indeed quiet, as he surveyed his friend, but his face grew pale and his eyes flashed. Everyone who saw him read death in those eyes. "Don't worry, Colin. That's twice you've been struck down by Voldemort when he was really aiming at me. I am in your debt forever."

Dumbledore looked around. "We must see to the injured, and bury the dead. We will then try to locate Miss Lovegood. We have some survivors from the battle in the woods who may have some idea of where Voldemort is going." He turned to Harry, Ron, Hermione, and the others who had returned with him from the forest. "Clean up and get something to eat. We will all meet in my office in an hour."

Harry stepped aside and drew Hermione and Ron with him, then beckoned to Neville and Ginny to join them. "Do you trust me?"

"Of course, Harry," Hermione said, bewildered.

"Then come with me, I know how to find Luna, but I will need your help."

"What should we do?" Ginny asked.

"Get heavy cloaks, and all of the food and water you can carry. I don't know how long it will take to catch up to them."

"Harry," Neville said timidly, "they could be anywhere."

"No," Harry said firmly. "They can't have gone far. Luna and I both wear enchanted chains that prevent us from being apparated against our will. They will have to be traveling on foot. We can track her. I know we can. Will you help me?"

"Of course," Harry's friends agreed, although they secretly feared finding Luna dead outside the gates of Hogwarts. They got their heaviest cloaks and met by the kitchens. Harry made sure that his enchanted knife was safe in his pocket. It was another link to Luna for him. Dobby helped them pack their backpacks, and slipped them out of the castle, all the while lamenting.

"Harry Potter must be careful, Sir! Harry Potter must get Miss Luna back, yes, Dobby understands, but Harry Potter must be careful."

"Don't worry, Dobby. I can do this," Harry assured him sounding braver than he felt. Dobby had argued a bit, but when he saw Harry's determination, he could do nothing but assist him. When they were outside the castle, Ron, who was still a bit shaky on his feet from his stunning in the forest, looked at Harry nervously. "Which way do we go?"

Harry took the rune necklace out from under his shirt and said, "I've lost my heart. Show me the way." And to his relief, the small arrow spun in his hand. He marched off resolutely, his friends behind him. Just past the gate they saw a spot where the grass had been trampled by many feet, and saw a trail that headed away from the forest. "This is not the way we came back. This must be right. And look! Goblin tracks! They were joined by some of the goblins! What good luck! Now they CAN'T apparate! Let's go!"

The five friends vanished into the coming night.

Dumbledore and Snape had just gotten the younger students out of the dungeon and settled back into their common rooms, when Madam Pomfrey and Madam Sinistra returned from the woods guiding stretchers carrying the injured survivors of the battle in the forest. They were horrified to hear of Voldemort's visit, Pansy's death and Luna's abduction. Madam Pomfrey put Colin Creevey and the other injured students to bed in the hospital wing, and then rejoined the staff. Dumbledore had just finished briefing them when Dobby crept up to the headmaster, clearly terrified.

"What is wrong?" Dumbledore asked the elf. Dobby's eyes went wide, but he could not speak. "Dobby please," Dumbledore tried again, "tell me what has happened."

"I fear Harry Potter has gone, Sir!"

"Gone? But where has he gone? Alone?"

"No. Sir!" Dobby squeaked. "Mister and Miss Weasley, Miss Granger and Mr. Longbottom has gone with him. They wants Miss Lovegood back, Sir. They left shortly after you returned, Sir. Dobby owes Harry
Potter everything, Sir. Harry Potter must not be lost, but Dobby does not know what to do!"

"Never fear, Dobby," Dumbledore assured him. "You have done well, and have earned a place at Hogwarts this night for a hundred years to come."

"Damn!" Snape swore. "Why couldn't he have waited until we formed a plan?"

Dumbledore sighed. "Harry is following his heart. We must trust him. We have raised him and taught him and trained him. He is the only one who can do this now. He has all the support he needs, I think, and certainly all the motivation."

Snape drew Madam Pomfrey, who was standing next to him, aside. "It's my fault the girl is gone. I must follow."

"Severus! No!" Madam Pomfey whispered heatedly. "It is likely that Voldemort already suspects you. He will certainly kill you if you try to aid Potter."

Snape's face grew dark with rage and shame. "If there is going to be a last stand, I must be there." And soon he too had left Hogwarts.

Harry and his friends had marched until they were exhausted and it was too dark to see clearly, then stopped to rest.

"Are you sure well be able to catch up to them, Harry?" Hermione asked tiredly.

"Yes. We can travel anywhere and everywhere, day or night. They can't. At least they can't if they have goblins with them. Goblins for the most part dislike muggles. They will have to stay out of sight of muggles and steer clear of muggle towns if they don't want unnecessary problems." Harry sank down to the ground and drank some water.

"Harry," Neville asked, "can you please tell me one thing? How did you know which direction they went?"

"Luna and I both wear enchanted pendants. They prevent anyone from apparating with us against our will, and she can see me in hers. Mine is supposed to show me the way if I'm lost. I took a chance that the pendant would be able to tell that Luna and I are emotionally, mentally and physically one, and would point the way to her, too."

Neville blushed, and Ron and Hermione looked embarrassed, too, but they were all too tired to speculate on Harry's love life. Neville, whose only thought was about catching up to Bellatrix Lestrange, agreed to take the first watchman's shift, and the rest of them rolled up in their cloaks and prepared to sleep on the ground.

"When you think you can't stay awake any longer, Neville," Ron said, "wake me and I'll take the next turn."

"We must be on our way again by the time the sun comes up," Harry told them before dozing off.

The first light of dawn found the teenagers on their way, and not long after that Severus Snape found the remains of their camp. The teens had left an easy trail to follow. Snape could only hope that they were going in the right direction.