Harry Potter and the Forest of Shadows

Harry Potter and

the Forest of Shadows

Chapter 22: Attack

The Great Hall looked more magnificent than it ever had. Decorated for the holiday, there were skeletons lining the walls, bats and jack-o-lanterns floating above their heads, and cobwebs everywhere. Instead of the normal four house tables the hall was scattered with smaller ones that seated six or seven. On the side of the hall was a large stage with instruments and a large screen behind.

Harry, Hermione, and Ginny quickly sat down at a table, soon joined by Seamus and Lavender and Dean and Parvati. A conversation started and by the time the menus appeared the seven of them were laughing and joking. The procedure was much the same as it had been at the last ball: clearly, you stated what you wanted and within seconds it materialized in front of you.

Halfway through dinner, people began walking onto the stage. Once again, Dumbledore had been able to book the hottest bad. This year it was The Bewitching Warlocks. Just as everyone was finishing with eating, music started playing. Parvati and Dean and Seamus and Lavender immediately got up to dance leaving Harry, Hermione, and Ginny to talk together.

For the first time since Ginny had come into the entrance hall, worry began to creep back into Harry's mind when his scar burned as they sat there. He chose to ignore it and worry instead about dancing.

Hermione soon left the table when a seventh year Ravenclaw came and asked her to dance. Harry took the moment of just him and Ginny alone to present her the necklace.

"What is this?" she asked, grinning as she took the small box from him.

"It's for your birthday." As if she was handling glass, she carefully opened the box. Her eyes widened and she went literally breathless. "My father gave it to my mother on her birthday," he explained.

"Oh, Harry. It's wonderful," she whispered. "Thank you."

"Here," he said, gently taking it from her. "Let me put it on you."

She turned away from him and lifted her hair up to he would be able to connect the two ends of the chain. When he was done, he leaned forward and whispered in her ear, "A beautiful necklace for a beautiful girl." He softly kissed her ear and leaned back. She looked at him with a small grin.

"Would you care to dance?" she asked.

He smiled. "Why I would be honored."

They walked out onto the crowded dance floor just as a song ended. The lead singer of the band walked forward to speak. "This song is from the muggle world. It's for all you couples out there."

Harry awkwardly took one of Ginny's hands in his own and wrapped an arm around her back.

"Loosen up," she muttered.

He became a little less tense and allowed her to come into his embrace. She smiled at him and slowly they began to waltz across the floor.

Oh - thinkin' about all our younger years

There was only you and me

We were young and wild and free

Now nothin' can take you away from me

We've been down that road before

But that's over now

You keep me comin' back for more

Daisy looked up at Sirius when she heard the music start. They were standing in a shadowed corner in the entrance hall. He was showering her with soft kisses. She giggled and pushed him away. "I believe we would be in an immense amount of trouble if we were caught," she whispered.

"Once a rule breaker always a rule breaker," he replied, continuing with his previous administrations.

Laughing, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. "Love you," she said softly.

"Not as much as I love you."

"I like this song," she commented, pulling away from him and walking into the light of the entrance hall. She was wearing a plain, sleeveless black dress made of a delicate silk. "They played it at Lily and James' wedding."

"Happier times," Sirius commented.

A sad look came over Daisy's face. "Sir, are you saying you're not happy with me?"

"Course not, love."

"Well you'll have to prove it then," she said, smiling coyly and took off onto the grounds. Sirius grinned and ran after her into the night.

Baby you're all that I want

When you're lyin' here in my arms

I'm findin' it hard to believe

We're in heaven

Harry led Ginny around the great hall in circles. She had her head resting on his shoulder and he could feel her warm breath against his neck. As he listened to the words of the song, he found strangely enough they were true. This had to be what heaven was. Nothing could feel better than it.

And love is all that I need

And I found it there in your heart

It isn't too hard to see

We're in heaven

He felt a calm come over him that only the comfort of having Ginny with him brought. The whole world seemed to disappear around them. However, the whole peaceful façade crashed when the ground gave a terrible lurch.

A few people screamed and others looked around frightened. A roar of confusion rose and the music halted. With a surprised gasp, Harry's hands flew to his scar as it began to burn violently. The room started to spin and he groped for something to sit on before he collapsed.

"Harry?" Ginny asked worriedly. "What is it? Is it Voldemort?" Clenching his teeth together, he managed to nod. "Here sit down. I'll go get a teacher."

Before he could say anything to stop her she ran off. He found his way to a table and sat in one of the chairs. It was not long until his right arm started tingling. Trying to ignore his arm, the burning of his scar, and the pandemonium around him caused his head to pound mercilessly. And suddenly, his scar was fine. His vision cleared and he looked at the horrible seen in front of him.

Teachers were yelling at students to evacuate down into the dungeons. Some first and second years were in tears, some were screaming. The older students were insisting to help. And he was stuck in the middle of it.

"Harry! Harry!" Melany ran towards him and roughly shook him as if to snap him out of confusion. "Come on, we have to go to Dumbledore's office." She grabbed his hand; he willingly allowed her to lead him to the headmaster's office.

"Licorice wands," she said breathlessly and practically dragged Harry up the stairs. Inside the room was all the Hogwarts staff, Daisy, Kammy and Kyle, Tonks, Moody, Mundungus Fletcher, and Kingsley.

They all looked when Harry and Melany walked in. "Would you like a lemon drop Harry?" he heard the headmaster ask kindly.

He took the piece of candy and popped it in his mouth, allowing Sirius to lead him to a chair.

"What's happened?" asked Harry.

"Voldemort disabled the wards around the school. Me and Daisy were out there when the Death Eaters started coming. Soon they'll be inside the castle," Sirius answered.

"We need to fight," Dumbledore said. "All of you go down to the entrance hall and prepare yourselves. Severus, you know what you must do. Harry, Melany, I need you to go and join the rest of the school in the dungeons. I have the head boy and girl in charge. I do not doubt you will be able to help."

Within a matter of seconds the office was empty except for Harry and Dumbledore. "Professor, I can fight," he said.

"I know, Harry. Now I need you to go to the dungeons though. I daresay we will need the help of students sooner or later."

Harry trudged out of the room. There was only one reason Hogwarts was being attacked and that was because of him. If the Voldemort was ever going to back off was if he had what he wanted. Deciding quickly, he raced the opposite way of the dungeons and up to the Gryffindor common room.

The castle gave another lurch and he felt his scar twinge. Shouts from the entrance hall were heard. Fear took him in an icy grip. He hurried to his dormitory. Once entering though he could not move. Sitting on his bed was Ron. Obeying his first instinct he did the only thing that seemed reasonable. He screamed.

Ron's eyes widened in terror as he jumped to his feet and slapped a hand over Harry's mouth. "Do you want to get us caught?" he hissed. Harry immediately stopped, realizing that screaming was probably the most unreasonable thing.

Realizing that Harry was most likely not going to scream again, he removed his hand and went back to sit on the bed.

"What are you doing here?" Harry asked, keeping as far away from his former friend as possible.

"There's something we need to talk about. I know you don't trust me. But hear me out. Oh, and get that amulet out. You're going to need it."

~~~

The Order members quickly made their way down to the entrance hall. It was hard to believe the dead room had just been filled with skittish teenagers, their only worry tripping and embarrassing themselves. Now the fight for life would begin.

A dull noise was coming from the other side of the giant oak doors as if inviting them to fight.

"Any special moves you going to pull?" Sirius asked his friend.

Remus gave a breath of laughter. "Getting a little too old for that, Sir."

"So? You're too old to fight also but I don't see that stopping you." Remus shoved him.

"Shut up. You're older than I am."

Sirius suddenly turned somber. "You better be careful out there. Marauders go down together and I'm not going anywhere for a while."

"Ditto."

There was a total of twenty-five people standing there.

"No way we can do this," Sirius muttered.

"Losing hope?" Remus said, glancing at his friend.

"I was out there. I saw what they have. These... things. They're like freaking zombies. What Snape has been telling us about. And they're connected to Voldemort. Only way to get rid of them is to get rid of him."

Remus snorted. "Fat chance of that. You know what the prophecy says."

Sirius nodded and changed the subject. "There are dementors. And of course the ever loyal Death Eaters."

"Oh, joy," Remus remarked sarcastically. "So, are you ready?"

"As I'll ever be." To be truthful Sirius had been itching to get back out in the middle of fighting since he was out of Azkaban three years ago. He got a better grip on his wand and braced himself.

Moving at the pace they had been, the Dark army would be halfway across the open grounds by now. The doors swung open and the cold night air hit their faces.

"Hey, Moony," Sirius said as they walked out into the night, the monstrous army just ahead of them. Remus looked at his friend. "If something does happen to me, make sure Harry gets my gift."

Remus smiled. He knew what Sirius was talking about. "Will do, Padfoot, will do."