Disclaimer: A number Death Eaters were gravely injured during the writing of this story. I seriously doubt Ms. Rowling would mind.
Chapter 12: Aftermath
As suddenly as it had begun, the battle was over. The street grew still and the spells stopped their destructive mayhem. A northerly wind swept down the street, swirling the smoke rising from the burning embers and craters caused by the more destructive of the spells. Breathing a collective sigh of relief, one-by-one the tattered and yet triumphant people began emerging from behind doorways and whatever other cover they had been able to find.
Tonks, along with the other Aurors whose arrival had brought an end to the battle, started organizing aid for the injured and wounded.
"Mr. Longbottom!" ordered Tonks from the street, "Gather the rest of the DA and check out everyone you can find. If they look serious, bring them over to the Three Broomsticks. Otherwise, have them gather in front of the bookshop." Her voice hardened. "If the person you come across is a Death Eater, bind them, confiscate their wand, and let one of the Aurors know."
As Neville began to search for the rest of the DA members, Tonks called to him again. "And Mr… Neville, good work! You and all the rest of the DA members made a great difference here today." She shook her head. "I don't care to think how many more would have been seriously hurt or killed if it hadn't been for the lot of you. You all should be very proud."
Blushing at the praise, Neville managed a nod and quickly gathered the rest of the DA. Together, they set to their task of helping the Aurors with the wounded.
After a short time, a clearer picture of the level of devastation caused by the battle had begun to form. Seven dead, twenty three injured. Of the dead, all but one was a Death Eater. The lone exception was a very old and grizzled wizard who had been too frail to make it out of the street in time. Fortunately, none of the students had received serious injury. Mainly only minor cuts, bruises, or burns acquired while maneuvering for cover.
As Tonks and the rest of the Aurors were gathering the remaining five captured Death Eaters for transport to the Ministry, a very worried and slightly panicked Neville came and pulled her aside.
"P - P - Professor, please come quick, it's Harry!" he said urgently.
Shouting her intended actions to Kingsley, the head Auror, she and the lanky teenager ran for the back alley. There, amidst the shattered casks and scorched walls, she found Harry, sitting as still as a castle gargoyle.
Slowly kneeling down in front of him, Tonks waited for some clue that Harry had acknowledged her presence. After a few minutes of painful silence, Tonks felt she had to try and reach out to him before he went further into shock. Speaking in a slow and calming manner, she asked "Harry? Can you tell me what happened? Where are Ron and Hermione?" Still seeing no response, she was about to try again when Neville approached and informed her that they had found Ron under some debris, unconscious but alive, and were taking him to the Medi-Witches. They were still searching for Hermione.
Neville was about to rejoin the search when the ashen faced Harry mumbled, "They took her." They watched as focus returned to his green eyes and the rage that had previously consumed him began to return, "The filthy bastards took her! I… I couldn't stop them in time. If I had been quicker… you've got to find her. Somehow, you've got to follow them and rescue her… it's all-my-fault!"
Placing her hand over his, Tonks watched as the tide of fury ebbed and despair took its place. "No, Harry." Tonks said firmly. "It wasn't your fault. Don't you ever think that. Stop beating yourself up over things you, or any of us for that matter, cannot control. Okay?" Harry gave a barely perceptible nod. "Now, I want you to go with Neville here and have the Medi Witches check you over. All right? Can you do that for me, Harry?"
She watched as Neville helped Harry to his feet and silently lead him out of the alleyway. Looking with exasperation towards the now overcast sky, Tonks shook her head, "Merlin on stilts! Those dumb bastards have really gone and done it now."
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The hospital wing of Hogwarts was filled to overflowing with Medi-Witches, students, and the injured with Madam Pomfrey all the while flitting from bed to bed like a hummingbird. During the trip back, Harry had recovered from his initial shock and had demanded to start the search for Hermione. Neville, more than a bit scared of a furious Harry, drew from his newfound courage and stuck to his charge of escorting him to Hogwarts. As Neville was pleading with him for what must have been the hundredth time to sit down on the bed, Harry suddenly became very silent as Ron was carried in on a floating stretcher to the bed next to him.
Soon it was their turn, for Madam Pomfrey arrived and began checking over Ron for any signs of trauma. "Did you see the color of the spell that hit him, Mr. Potter?" Seeing the sharp shake of his head, she continued, "I see no physical injuries and he doesn't seem to be in any further danger at the moment, so I'll be back to you two shortly. I have some burns I need to attend to first."
"But Madam Pomfrey, there's nothing wrong with me. I wasn't hit by any spells and I'm not hurt. I don't need to be here, I need to help find Hermione," Harry argued.
Seeing the look of near panic in his eyes and knowing that it would take a full body-binding spell to keep Harry from running off in search of his other friend, she performed a quick check of Harry. Turning back to them both and with a look of indecision she ordered, "Mr. Longbottom, I'm depending on you to make sure that Mr. Potter here goes directly to Professor Dumbledore's office. No side trips, is that clear you two?"
"Yes, ma'am," they echoed
"Yes, Harry," chimed a familiar voice from behind them, "if you and Mr. Longbottom would be so kind as to wait for me in my office. I would first like to check on the rest of your fellow students and will be there shortly. Oh, and Harry, the password is 'skiving snack boxes'."
The two made one last check on Ron, hoping to see him with eyes open and listening in on the conversation, but he was as he was when they brought him in. Turning to Neville with a look of determination, Harry said, "Come on. Let's go before Madam Pomfrey changes her mind about me."
They were quick to reach the spiral staircase that led into Dumbledore's office. Giving the needed password, they entered stood next to statue as it began its lazy ascent to the upper chamber. As they neared the top, Harry noticed Neville's face grow pale while his posture took on the look of someone who wanted to be anywhere but here.
"Don't worry, Neville. You're not in any trouble," Harry said, attempting to comfort his friend as he stepped into the entry room.
"Easy for you to say. You've been here lots of times before. Me, I've never been sent to the Headmasters office before," Neville responded, looking more worried than ever.
Harry opened the inner door into the Headmaster's office and walked in, "I'm sure Dumbledore just wants to talk to us about what happened," Harry began, before being interrupted by that same familiar voice.
"You're quite right, Harry. Neither of you is in any sort of trouble. Quite the contrary as I understand it, Mr. Longbottom. I would take this opportunity to thank you and the rest of the DA for the magnificent job I have been told was performed today. You both should know, the village folk of Hogsmeade express their sincerest gratitude. Now then, if I may, I would like to ask you to describe to me the events of this afternoon as you saw them."
"But, Professor," barked Harry, cutting off Neville, "What about Hermione? Shouldn't we be out searching for her or rounding up every known Death Eater until they tell us where she is?"
"Rest assured Harry, we have alerted every available person and they are currently taking every step possible to locate Miss Granger. We must be patient. It may take some time…"
Harry was up out of his seat now, wearing a groove into the carpet as he paced back and forth across the office. Dumbledore could see that he would have to discuss the day's events with Neville later. "Mr. Longbottom, would you mind terribly waiting in the outer chamber?" Neville gave Harry a worried glance before nodding. Dumbledore gave him a reassuring smile. "Thank you, it won't be but a moment."
Although he was still rather thunderstruck by the courage he had shown himself capable of and all the accolades he had received since the battle, Neville didn't hesitate to distance himself from Harry, who appeared as if he could explode any moment. As Neville closed the door behind him, Dumbledore placed a silencing charm on the room.
"Now then, Harry. Would you care to describe the events that took place at Hogsmeade?" Dumbledore asked the agitated youth while pointing to a large overstuffed chair that had appeared.
Harry glanced over to the chair but continued his trek across the office; "We had just arrived at the Three Broomsticks when my scar started to hurt. When I went out to the front of the shop to check, someone fired a spell and hit Tonks. I revived her, went back inside, and had Neville take over while Ron, Hermione, and I went out the back to try and flank them. We took out the Death Eaters that were in the alley, but Ron had been hit with something and… I never should have left her! I shouldn't have listened; I should have stayed with her. She'd be here now if I hadn't left!" Turning to the headmaster, Harry practically leapt over the desk, "WHAT AM I DOING HERE? I SHOULD BE OUT FINDING HERMIONE, NOT SITTING HERE DOING NOTHING!"
Dumbledore sat back in his large high backed chair, placed his hands together, and placed his steepled fingers against his chin. Looking deeply into Harry's nearly fluorescent green eyes, he answered in a calm but deliberate voice, " Very well, Harry. Where do you intend to look first? We've searched every building in Hogsmeade and the surrounding area and discovered nothing. I seriously doubt that they are anywhere nearby. Do you know of any other places where Miss Granger might be?"
"I…I don't know," Harry answered, slumping back into the chair, anger still burning in his eyes. "I just feel as I should be doing something, not just… waiting!"
"But, it seems as that is all we can do at the moment," the aging wizard finished calmly. "Please promise me, Harry, that you won't attempt anything without first informing me. This could be an attempt to provoke you into doing something rash. Therefore, doing so would play right into their plan." As Harry's mind flashed back to the Department of Mysteries, the headmaster continued. "So, I ask you again, do I have your word, Harry?" Dumbledore's gaze searched Harry's face as he waited for a response.
"Yes, sir," was the simple reply.
"Then I suggest you go and check on Mr. Weasley before trying to get some rest… and Harry, remember to clear your mind of all thoughts before retiring." Harry nodded. "Off with you, then." As Harry crossed the room, feeling like he had recently been stomped by Grawp, Dumbledore said, "Oh, Harry, please tell Mr. Longbottom he can come back inside. I am sure that he would like to know what all went on today."
When Harry reached the office door, he threw it open, causing Neville to jump at least a foot and nearly soil himself. "Sorry," Harry said quickly. "Dumbledore says you can go back in." Turning, Harry left a bewildered Neville behind as he stormed down the steps and headed for the infirmary.