Author's Note: I will spare you the tough cliffhangers for the last few chapters but they'll start again with the sequel that's in the works. I had to make sure you'd come back to read. Thank you for you kind reviews.
Chapter 33-Battle for Life
The most terrifying assumption that Lupin and Dumbledore had made was that both Wormtail and Voldemort were prone to extreme arrogance. Once they had Harry Potter in their sights, they would drop their guard to the possibility of a trap. Especially the kind of trap they had faced this evening.
Unknown to Charlie and Bill, Tonks and Shacklebolt had been there with another auror named Hellman. They had watched the area where the house might be since late Saturday night. They only needed to pop up in various previous search locations to establish a reasonable assumption that they were engaged in the search. One of the three would remain.
Monday night they caught two Death Eaters as they came out of the house. They knew that this was critical. Dumbledore and Snape had joined them to interrogate Lucius Malfoy and the elder Crabbe but had to return to Hogwarts to maintain the illusion. They were able to get the incantation for making the house appear. Shacklebolt and Hellman made ready to assume the identities of Malfoy and Crabbe using polyjuice. As aurors they'd been trained in Occlumency. These two were selected because of their proficiency and skill in battle. They would infiltrate the house to see Ron and ensure that their feint worked as planned.
Tonks had left to return word for Dumbledore and Snape when Charlie and Bill had lied down in the snow watching everything unfold. Everyone involved in the plan had no idea whether their assumption was correct. Shacklebolt's and Hellman's orders were to protect Hermione and Harry. They were to find a way to be their escorts whenever the Death Eaters took them. Voldemort and Wormtail were the targets. There would be enough members of the Order to handle the Death Eaters, but a concentrated attack would be the only way to take down Voldemort. If the danger to Hermione or Harry became imminent the attack would begin.
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At 2 PM, Shacklebolt and Hellman had taken their positions with four other Death Eaters on the road. They'd found a place to hide. It was a stroke of luck when the caravan had stopped in the road just as the feint was to occur. The plan for the Death Eaters was to draw attention ahead to give those behind the caravan time to move into position and attack the caravan. They concentrated on the center carriage. McDougall had given them the secret of the H, because he had been allowed to know by Dumbledore. Leaving enough guards alive was only to allow a credible explanation of an accident on the road. The others were killed and buried in the snow not far away.
From this point on Shacklebolt and Hellman would be under constant scrutiny by the other Death Eaters. To this point, they had been able to assume the identities without face to face contact with other Death Eaters. They remained silent to avoid voice recognition as much as possible. Once inside the events must happen within an hour or the last dose of polyjuice would wear off.
They were now standing in the upstairs room where Ron had been held. Watching as the horror of death swept over Pansy Parkinson, they could feel the next step coming. Shacklebolt and Hellman slowly moved their hands to be ready with their wands. Shacklebolt was closest to Harry and Hermione. Hellman was closest to Wormtail and Voldemort.
In an instant, the battle was on. Shacklebolt raised his wand and hit Wormtail with "Stupefy." Dumbledore, Snape, Charlie, Bill, Tonks and Arthur Weasley each took one Death Eater. Only Charlie had been grazed by a curse that had left him momentarily stunned. As the battle unfolded, Voldemort grazed Harry in the back with a curse that was partially blocked by Shacklebolt as he attempted to grasp Voldemort's arm and take him down. Voldemort was much stronger than he physically appeared. Voldemort took aim on the fallen Shacklebolt who was now attempting to bring him down at the legs. "Avada Kedavra!" Shacklebolt's face curled in pain as he slumped to the ground. Voldemort turned toward Harry again only to find Dumbledore and Snape in his path.
Voldemort apparated at the sight of Dumbledore and Snape. Snape turned to assist Harry, Hermione and Ron. The battle was over for now. The second most dangerous time had begun. Lord Voldemort had been stung. Many of his Death Eaters were dead or captured and Harry Potter was escaping again. Wormtail was rushed to Azkaban and put in a top-security cell after he had been prepared by Snape. He had charmed the shackles taken from the carriages and placed them on the Wormtails ankles and put an unbreakable charm on them. His wand was confiscated.
Arthur, Bill and a still dazed Charlie surrounded Ron. They untied his bindings. Arthur sat beside Ron, took him in his arms and hugged him. Bill and Charlie attempted to fashion some bandages for his ankles and wrists. Snape found a bruised Hermione under Harry. Harry was moaning in pain. The searing marks of the burn from the curse looked painful. Snape smiled. After all he didn't hate Potter as much as he liked to see him squirm and suffer. That's what know one knew. He carefully pulled out a potion from his pocket which he poured into a clean bit of cloth and wiped it across the angry burns on Harry's back. It temporarily eased the pain enough for Harry to move a little more freely.
"Hurry! We must get the wounded back to St. Mungo's and Hogwarts as soon as possible." Dumbledore decreed. "There is plenty more to do. The second phase of the plan is yet to get underway."
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A horribly disfigured Pansy clung to life. Carl too was still breathing but there was bruising under his ears around his neck. It was probable that he would die from the burst veins in his neck. They would try to return him to St. Mungo's.
They now only used one carriage to carry Harry, Ron, Hermione, Snape and Arthur. Harry was not pleased to be with Snape but he was in too much pain to argue. Four thestrals were now tied to their carriage to bring their precious cargo back to Hogwarts as rapidly as possible. They wouldn't fly, but the speed they could make over ground kept the carriage just above the road to avoid the frozen snow, ice potholes and other road hazards.
Harry could barely speak, but he moved close to Hermione and held her hand. "Are you okay, sweet..," Harry winced in pain. Breathing deep enough to speak caused the skin around the burn to stretch causing pain. He spoke softer and more slowly. "I love you."
"I'm okay," she lied. Her ribs were sore where Harry had landed on her to cover her and the bruises on her legs and arms from being pushed to the floor were extremely painful. "Don't talk Harry. I can see it hurts to talk. I love you too. We'll be back to Hogwarts soon." Harry nodded in agreement.
The trip only took two hours now that the wheels of the carriage no longer had to labor through the snow-covered road. The thestrals seemed to understand the need for great haste.
"You all will be taken directly to Miss Lovegood's room. The privacy there will allow you to be taken care of until the cover story of your return and the commutation of your sentences is explained." Snape directed. "The plan has put the wizarding world in danger now from a cornered and beaten adversary. He will not take this lightly."
Once inside the grounds they would be safe from a sudden appearance of Voldemort in front of them. While McDougall had been killed in the battle, the other undercover wizards at Scotland Yard were now under suspicion. There were accounts of people sympathetic to the Death Eaters that had arisen from the interrogations but no more names. There still was a credible danger from infiltrators in Hogwarts.
As they approached the lake in near Hogwarts, Ron briefly raised his head to see out the windows. He saw what he'd imagined he'd never see again. He laid his head back into his father's shoulder.
There arrival had been forewarned. Madam Pomfrey, Molly, Luna and Ginny awaited them at the entrance to the infirmary. A makeshift stretcher was levitated by Snape holding Ron with his dad alongside. Harry was able to walk with considerable pain. Ron was the important one now. He needed the most attention.
Luna sat with tears in her eyes in disbelief. She knew it had been too cruel a turn to have thought that Harry and Hermione could be sent off to Azkaban. That's what she'd wanted to believe and it was true. Now her Ron was home. At least their home. She cried the first long cry she had permitted herself in a very long time. Ginny held her head to her breast. "Luna, he's home. They brought him home. Don't cry. He'll be fine." Ginny had to fight the tears too.
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The stealthy arrival of the rest of the party was met with great anticipation. As Hellman arrived with his dead partner Shacklebolt, the mood became somber. He had done his job and paid with his life. "Hellman, what did you do with the real Malfoy and Crabbe?"
"Well, let's just say they were left to play with the wolves in the forest to the south. My impression is that they proved to be quite a tasty meal for our friend Lupin." He smiled. No one knew whether he was telling the truth or not. But it seemed rather fitting. "I can assure you that neither of them will be a problem in the future."
Madam Pomfrey had put poultices on Ron's swollen bites and had given him a sedative. His muscles were atrophied from sitting so long without moving and he had sores on his bottom. Occasionally, he had spoken of the pain in his joint were the strain was greatest. His smaller, shortened muscles pulled excruciatingly on his joints feeling very similar to arthritis. It would take time for him to recover.
Harry was much better. There was no lingering effect from the curse itself. It was just the burn that needed healing. A poultice was also given to him with a much stronger version than Snape had carried. He was laid out on a mattress of blankets and cushions since there was only one bed in the room. All three were given sleeping drafts to keep them sedated until morning.
The door to the infirmary was closed and locked as Dumbledore arrived with Minister Fudge. There were no patients save Goyle at the other end of the floor. "Ladies and Gentleman, Minister Fudge and I have decided on the announcement for tomorrow morning's briefing. It is imperative that you know how this will be released since you have already seen the three of them here."
While Harry, Hermione, and Ron slept, everyone was briefed on the story that would be given to the press the next morning. The horrific attack on the caravan would be told in graphic detail. The deaths of the guards and Shacklebolt would be embellished to bring sympathy to the situation. The spin-doctoring had begun. While nothing was untrue in the final outcome, the events of their surveillance and deception were left out. In light of the tragedy and the new evidence that there had been a credible threat made toward Harry and Draco at the Yule Ball, the Wizengamot would convene to review the case. They also decided that the charges against Miss Granger were to be dropped based on the deadly intent of the Death Eaters.
There was a collective sigh of relief from the Weasley's and Draco. He felt better now that there was an excellent chance that his friend Harry would not be prosecuted for saving his life. "Ginny…Mrs. Weasley…that's the best news, isn't it? Ron will have his best friend around when he recovers." Draco had not lost sight of the fact that he was second-fiddle as far as his friendship with Harry went. He had yet to confront Ron with the idea of Ginny and he being a couple.
Dumbledore turned to Madam Pomfrey. "I believe we have a better idea of the curse used to incapacitate Mr. Goyle. I believe it was the same curse used on Harry tonight, but Harry had the good fortune of not getting hit full-on." Dumbledore described the effects of the curse and Madam Pomfrey went to work with Snape to work out a possible potion to restore Goyle to health as much as possible. He would face the same physical therapy problems as Ron from the lack of movement and the loss of muscularity.
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The next few days brought both sadness and joy. The joy far outweighed the sadness for the Weasley's and Luna. But Harry again found no solace in the fact that another good man had died protecting him. It had been the second time that Shacklebolt had run interference for him. The first had been last year in Dumbledore's chambers. Harry was sad for Shacklebolt, but he was comforted by the fact his best friend was making a relatively speedy recovery.
By the end of the third day the bites on Ron's face and arms had healed using the poultices and the angry abrasions around his wrists and ankles had begun to heal. Ron could twist his hands and ankles with pain, but he could move them now to begin walking.
Harry would never forget the morning Ron awoke to find Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Luna at his bedside.
Ron's eyes fluttered as he tried to focus on the room around him. The light burned his eyes as he woke. "I love you, Ronnie." Harry supported Luna so she could get close enough to give Ron a kiss on the cheek. Ron's arms were so weak that he couldn't reach to touch her, but he smiled.
After a few minutes of gathering his thoughts and trying to clear his throat to talk Ron said, "I never thought I'd see you again. I dreamed of you every day. You were both my reason to live and the greatest sorrow. I was tormented with the memory and vision of you falling in that corridor. My god, do I love you!" Ron teared and smiled at the same time. "How are you, sweetie?"
"I'm better than I would have been without these three." She purposefully left Draco out for the moment. One thing at a time.
"Harry, you crazy son-of-a-bitch, what the hell were you thinking? You too Hermione? You could have been killed." Ron protested.
"Oh, let's just say it wasn't the save someone thing this time. The decision was pretty much out of my hands." Harry acknowledged. "I'll explain the whole thing later. We'll be back after you've had time with Luna." Ginny smiled and kissed her brother on the cheek.
Harry popped back to reality. He looked at Ron walking between the bars with braces on his arms to help steady his grip. He couldn't hold his weight on the bars yet, but Madam Pomfrey said it would only be a few days more.
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When Lupin returned on the Friday before classes recommenced, Harry had a few choice words for him. "Why did you put Hermione in such a predicament? You could have gotten her killed. I didn't think the plan was for any more than getting Ron back."
"I thought that there was little chance of that. If Shacklebolt or Hellman thought that the threat to your lives was real at any point prior to Voldemort, they were to get you out." Lupin said.
"That is ridiculous, Lupin. I have been under the threat of death when I was on Privet Drive. What did you think would happen if I got within ten feet of Wormtail or Voldemort. Tea and crumpets for everyone maybe." Harry was incensed that they had been pawns.
"That was why it would work. There was no way Voldemort would suspect we'd let allow you to be taken. Never. I am sorry you and Hermione suffered, but there was nothing short of your presence that would bring out Voldemort." Lupin looked truly sad that he had used Harry and Hermione, but he had done what he thought would ultimately save them. The fact that Voldemort might escape was a risk. If he did, it meant that Ron probably would be safe. If he stayed to fight, the firepower brought to bear on him would be enough to kill him.
The decree releasing Harry and Hermione to the custody of the Ministry aurors at Hogwarts was printed in the morning editions of the Quibbler and the Daily Prophet that day. The entire story as outlined had been delivered to the public along with the message that Lord Voldemort still had considerable resources. The hearing in front of the Wizengamot would be held on
February 9th at 10 AM in the Great Hall of Hogwarts so as not to expose Harry to outside dangers and to hear from student witnesses.
Harry and Hermione sat in the little sofa that was in the corner of Luna's room talking for the first time since they'd first kissed without the burden of fear. All fear wasn't gone, but the oppressive fear of death was lightened. They smiled and held each others hand. Hermione had hugged Harry once that day and almost made Harry pass out from the pain in his back. She'd learned her lesson. There'd be little goofing off or fooling around for a couple of days until Harry healed more.