The Art of Peace

Chapter 23

Alliances

Northern England, exact location unknown:

The scouts had moved quickly all day, scouting out remote locations that could be havens for Death Eaters. Almost eight hours had passed when they apparated into the last area before heading back to the castle. The sun was just starting to drop to the tree line, sending shadows playing out across the tall grass. The scouts moved forward in skirmish formation, wands out, as they swept the area. Just as they reached the edge and started to move into the surrounding forest, one of the scouts let out a scream as she tripped a defensive ward. Swiftly Harry and the other scouts turned to the sound just in time to see her fly through the air and land against a tree with a sickening crunch.

A quick command by Rinchen had the scouts sink into their current position until the rest of the wards could be discovered. Seeing spells were quickly sent out as the scouts slowly mapped out the warded area. It started just inside the trees and extended along the border of the forest for almost a kilometer before turning inwards in an elongated circle. By this time it was almost pitch black, and not wanting to advertise their presence more, Rinchen left four men under invisibility cloaks on watch across the field from the wards, and picking up the dead scout's body, apparated back to the camp.

Hogwarts:

The next morning saw yet another burial at the edge of the forest even as the camp was getting ready to move. Warriors strapped weapons to their back and checked wands and staffs as they prepared for battle. Meanwhile, inside the castle, Severus was trying to convince the Headmaster to move the Order of the Phoenix out as well.

"But, Headmaster, it is obvious that there is something there! Surely you must at least check it out!" he cried.

"I need do no such thing. If our allies see fit to investigate these wards, let them. One person died already, even if it was one of theirs, and I don't plan on allowing my people to die."

Severus snorted in disgust. He was a Slytherin at heart, true, but there were times that he just had to be out in the fray, and this was one of those times.

"Fine, then, do as you wish. I will go myself."

"I forbid you to leave, Severus. If you walk out that castle gate to join them do not plan on coming back. The only way we will survive is if we stay together, and if you do this you betray everyone else."

"You know, of course, that I disagree. We are not here merely to save the lives of those around us, but to destroy Voldemort. Therefore, I must go. Good day, Headmaster."

With that Severus walked out the door and down the winding stairs feeling like an immense burden had been lifted from his chest. Now he just had to convince Potter and his friends to allow him to stay with them.

When he arrived at the camp, Severus was not surprised to see the majority of its inhabitants geared for war. What did surprise him, however, was the variety of weapons that the Tibetan warriors carried. Having grown up in a society based around wands, the decidedly deadly nature of these weapons took him aback. Here were weapons for war and no other purpose, and unless he had read them wrong, they were carried by people who knew how to use them. If he did not already hate his former comrades as he did, the sight would almost make him feel sorry for them. As it was, however, he only felt satisfaction. Finally the multitude of innocent lives would be avenged.

Moving through the camp proved to be a learning experience in itself. Severus watched as men and women loaded for war moved through complex routines involving movements of the hands and feet as if they were weightless. The beauty and inherent deadliness of their motions were astounding and Severus felt himself longing for the control it was so obvious that they possessed.

When he finally found Harry and the boy who seemed to be his constant companion - had he really called him his brother? - he was not surprised to find them armed as well. Harry was wearing what looked like a dragonhide tunic that extended almost to the knees, being slit along the sides from the waist down for freedom of movement. Under the dragonhide baggy pants flowed over feet encased in leather shoes. A helmet obviously belonging to Harry stood off to the side. His... brother? stood facing him clad in similar apparel, both carrying staffs that extended almost a foot taller than they themselves were. Severus watched as they settled into stances facing each other, both of the boys reaching out as one with their hands to the helmets on the table nearby. Without incantations or wands the helmets flew over, settled on their heads, and fastened themselves of their own accord. It was almost too much to remain quiet at the unconscious display of strength that their actions had revealed. To see two young men who needed no wands was incredible. It had been bad enough to face a fifteen year old Harry when he carried no wand, although the presence of Sifu had certainly helped. Now there were two, both obvious masters of wandless magic. On top of that, they were the picture of danger facing each other in their armor. It was enough to strike fear in Severus' soul, and he knew they were all on the same side.

Before he could ruminate further, both boys moved as one, bringing their staffs together with a resounding crash. Harry jumped into the fray and swung his up from above like a club as the younger boy brought his staff up with both hands to meet it. Almost before Harry had landed, the other boy spun with his staff inches off the ground to sweep Harry off his feet. Before the staff reached him, however, Harry had buried his own staff in the earth, blocking the blow. This continued for several minutes, neither boy able to gain the advantage over the other. Finally they parted, and with a final bow, set themselves to analyzing the spar for weak points.

Rather than approach them Severus faded into the shadows as was his wont, analyzing the two for their risks as a possible threat. He was only just beginning to be afraid when a voice came out of seemingly nowhere from behind him.

"Frightening, aren't they? I feel it myself, and I had the honor of undertaking most of their training."

Severus turned to find Sifu sitting behind him on the ground. Settling himself down beside his former opponent, Severus replied.

"Yes, they are. Having been on the receiving end of that training I would have to say that you did quite well."

"I thank you. Why did you come after Harry, anyways? I never got much more from Harry than something about a mutual animosity."

"There was that, of course, but the young Potter was very easy to hate. I knew his father, and here was the living picture of my worst enemy come back to life. When he ran away I thought it was just his fear finally showing its face. It may have been, I don't know, but that is a moot point now anyways. He is back, and victory is all that matters now."

"Why is Harry so important?" Sifu asked, his brow crinkling in puzzlement.

"There are reasons, not the least of which being his survival of a curse that should have killed him when he was only a baby. There is also the matter of a prophecy, but it is not my place to talk about that. Dumbledore is the one to ask, although I doubt he will tell you anything. I just came from him as a matter of fact, and he was quite recalcitrant with his support. This is almost a reenactment of the last war, only attacking when under attack, and if I can be of direct help, that is where I will be. Waiting will not win the war, and Dumbledore and his Gryffindor pride refuse to admit that."

"Your opinion of your leader leaves much to be desired, but I believe I see your point. We came to end this. Harry has gained much respect, and the wizarding community had heard of Voldemort's last reign, so to allow him victory here is unacceptable. I, of course, have only heard secondary accounts, but they are more than enough to convince me of the necessity of our involvement here."

Severus nodded by way of response, and the two of them settled into a surprisingly companionable silence. They understood each other perfectly, and both knew the other was willing to sacrifice his life for the greater good. It was almost enough to make Severus shudder as he realized he was displaying the Gryffindor bravery he had mocked for so long. That particularly annoying character trait could be addressed later once its usefulness had expired.

Unknown Location, England:

Meanwhile, preparations were underway for a course of events that would change their lives forever. The Death Eater camp was in a frenzy following the failed assault on the Tibetan camp. The Dark Lord's legendary anger had resulted in the death of two of his lieutenants, and their replacements were edgy to say the least. Things had only gotten worse with the news that the southern wards had been tripped. The blood stains left on the tress had shown that they had done their job well, but the fact that they were tripped at all was bad news. Only a wizard could have gotten that far, and only one of their enemies would be wandering this far from civilization. In response, the Dark Lord had ordered what could very well make or break their cause: a full scale battle with the new entrants into the fray.

Shields were prepared and wands cleaned as the Death Eaters prepared for war. Two corps of Death Eaters from a five corps total in the army were being sent out with the remainder to be held in reserve. Because any commander worth his salt would leave scouts at the first point of incursion, three squads were sent out to draw their attention. Sure enough, as the squads entered the clearing they heard the telltale pop of apparation. Their job complete, the squads apparated off to join the main force inside the Forbidden Forest.

The Camp, outside of Hogwarts:

The scout was almost out of breath as he ran up to the commanders' tent, but he managed to give his information.

"Enemy in the clearing, sir!" he addressed Lobsang.

Turning to his own lieutenants, Lobsang started issuing orders.

"Rinchen, take four squads of twenty men apiece and secure the perimeter. Kwai Chang, alert the rest of the troops for immediate movement if this proves to be what we have been waiting for."

The men sprang into action and within five minutes the camp was in an uproar. Rinchen apparated out with his troops, leaving the remaining four fifths to prepare for action, many of them meditating as they waited.

Severus found himself with Sifu once more as he joined the rest in their preparations. Once more he found himself impressed with the professionalism displayed before him. The wizarding armies he was used to were generally disorganized at best, and based on pairs or small groups of witches and wizards working together independently, not in a smoothly functioning army as was the case here.

If anything the commotion grew at the first report from Rinchen. The Death Eaters were gone, of course, but they had left something behind. Some sort of hybrid creature had erupted from the fortress emitting some kind of anti-apparation field. The messenger had had to mount one of the scout's borrowed brooms to make it out, and he still had had to travel a significant distance. All attempts to kill the beast, both magically and physically, had so far failed, and it followed any groups that attempted to leave, effectively pinning a fifth of the force away from the camp. This latest news drew Lobsang's heart plummeting in his stomach, although his face showed none of his concern. It was obvious that an attack somewhere was imminent, and with troops trapped with no way in or out, they were at a serious disadvantage. Orders rang out as troops arranged themselves in a perimeter around the camp, their backs to the castle.

It was a scant five minutes later when the first green splash of magical light left the forest, illuminating the faces of the defenders with its sickly glow. The attack had begun.