Chapter 291
"Black's left the boy's side for the first time today." Rufus pointed out withsuccinct blunt logic. "Twilight's upon us. Portkey and apparition are down. Perfect time for an attempt on…"
"Moor! Tyler! With me now!" Amelia shouted, spinning around and headingout
of the tent at a clip. She knew Rufus would send word to Sirius. Damn it. She'd seen RichardwithSirius but her sister-in-law and Susan were in the Potter alliance tent. Why hadn't they considered it was a ploy earlier? She should have sent Blackback to the tent or sent Remus there rather than after the source of the ward. The communication mirror in her pocket buzzed as she hurried through themaze of tents and dodged people gawking at the smoke and flames at her
back. She yanked it out of her pocket without losing stride.
"Bones." Rufus's visage swam into focus. "Rat Squad have confirmed we have targetsin costume on the move."
"Bugger."
It never rained but it poured.
"You and the two men with you are the only free pair of hands I have and…" Rufus trailed off unhappily. "It's your decision, Amelia, you outrank me." How was she supposed to make this decision? Did she rendezvous withtheRat Squad and bring in the Death Eaters they knew were going to commit acrime or did she head to the Potter alliance tent where she had family andloved ones to protect on the off-chance Rufus's gut instinct about an actual
assassination attempt was on the money?
Amelia knew there was no choice. She couldn't choose a maybe over a
definite. She changed direction.
"Understood. Tell Rat Squad we're on our way to support. Is Black on his wayto the tent?"
"I sent a patronus to him but…the fire's gotten worse fromthe last updateI
had." Which meant Sirius might delay leaving until it was safe to do so especially if
Rufus hadn't conveyed any urgency in his message (and she knewRufus
probably hadn't – he'd probably simply informed Sirius that they'd surmisedapossibility that the fire was a diversion). She tapped the mirror off and conjured her own patronus. "Go to Harry Potter. Harry, I believe there is a potential imminent and real threat to your life. ThePotter alliance should evacuate in an orderly fashion to the portkey site
outside of the muggle camping grounds. Now." She just hoped she'd made the right decision, Amelia thought as she tappedher mirror to ask Rat Squad for their latest coordinates. And she prayed to Merlin her warning to Harry wasn't necessary. o-O-o
The atmosphere inside the Potter alliance tent was strange, Harry musedashis eyes drifted over everything again. Neville had constructed a square ring of chairs in the middle of the tent, twodeep. The outer ring was filled with adults and Heirs capable of defensivemagic. The inner ring was filled with younger children such as Connor
Sapworthy – old enough for a wand but not to actually take part in a fight. Theinside of the ring had babies and infants including their mothers, and Wallaceand Miriam Granger who as muggles had no magic to assist if there was
trouble. Everyone was within touching distance of someone with a portkey;
everyone knew who they needed to go with.
Harry, Neville and Hermione had taken positions on the outer ring oppositethedoor with Augusta and Narcissa beside them. Bill stood on door duty alongwith Minerva in front of them. There was a spirit of camaraderie in the tent, an underlying thrill of excitement
and drama that offset the worry, fear and anticipation on the surface. Andthere was worry and fear for loved ones – all the adult men except for Bill andWallace had disappeared to fight the fire. They'd had one short patronus
message from Sirius confirming that they were helping to contain the firetothe stadium and were all OK. But Harry couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Maybe theyshould have all portkeyed out as soon as they'd been notified about the
stadium fire, Harry mused. If he was a Death Eater he'd use the fire as a
distraction even if they hadn't planned it that way – and they couldn't knowfor
certain it wasn't a distraction.
"You alright, mate?" Ron asked, picking up on his unease.
"I just want to know what's happening." Harry admitted.
"We have to be patient, Harry." Hermione remonstrated with himgently. "I'msure everybody in charge is very busy dealing with the fire. We were lucky toget an update from Sirius. They'll send word when they can."
Harry shrugged, unwilling to argue with her. He let the quiet backgroundchatter distract him. Miriam and Wallace were discussing the muggle PrimeMinister with Karen Abbott; Narcissa was exchanging hair colour charms of
all things with Felicity Bones; Connor Sapworthy was playing exploding snapwith his younger brother; Jeremy was talking with Nott about OWLs; Terry waschatting with Michael about the Quidditch match…
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Apart from the fire, it had been a good day, Harry thought idly. The Quidditchmatch had been brilliant. Seeing the professionals in action had given Harryagood glimpse of the standard he would have to achieve to gain a place onateam. Sure the teams were national and the best of the best but even a lower
league team would expect some of the same qualities. Harry knewhe hadrawtalent but he hadn't considered how the Seeker could help the Chasers andthe Beaters before rather than simply flying around and catch the Snitch. Some of the plays Ron had pointed out couldn't have worked without Lynchor
Krum helping their teams. Maybe the Gryffindor team could try somethingsimilar when they were all back at Hogwarts. A sound outside the tent disturbed his planning and he stood up, aware that
Ron and Neville followed his example. Bill moved to place himself between the visitor and the rest of the tent. Minerva stood off to the side, playing back-up. The tell-tale flash of red robes as the man entered had Bill lowering his wandalthough he kept hold of it just in case.
"What can we do for you, Auror?" asked Bill shortly.
"Hollins, isn't it?" Minerva said from her position, as she got a good look at theAuror. Harry frowned and shifted his weight uncertainly. Why had they sent an Auror?The chatter behind him faded into silence.
"I've got orders to take Lord Potter to the evacuation site." Hollins said tersely.
"Lord Potter has a portkey." Bill countered. "If we're to evacuate…"
"There're wards up." Hollins said. Bill exchanged an alarmed look with Minerva. "If Harry goes, we should all
evacuate."
"My orders are just for Lord Potter." Hollins argued.
"I don't particularly care, Auror Hollins." Minerva said sharply. "If Harry is
leaving we all are." A patronus entered – a small terrier who headed straight for Harry.
"Harry, I believe there is a potential imminent and real threat to your life. ThePotter alliance should evacuate in an orderly fashion to the portkey site
outside of the muggle camping grounds. Now." Amelia's voice echoed loudlyin the tent. Harry's eyes snapped to the Auror in front of him and he noticed Bill raisedhiswand. "Why would Amelia send a patronus if she'd already sent you?" He
wondered out loud. The Auror's features twisted sharply into a sneer and suddenly – He moved, casting one spell towards Harry and another towards Bill. Someone screamed. Harry responded instinctively dropping to his haunches, his wand thrust out infront of him, "Protego!" The shield snapped into place and the purple coloured curse splashed acrossit…
"Protego!" Bill yelled even as he dodged the grey spell, diving and rolling, risingto shoot off his own spell. "Harry, get a shield up around everyone!"
Harry immediately cast the duelling shield that protected audiences fromstray curses that Professor Flitwick had taught him – it was the only onelargeenough that he could think of. The silvery dome wobbled a bit as it rose but
eventually it snapped into place. It didn't allow anyone inside the shield tohelpthe combatants on the other side, leaving Bill and Minerva exposed at thefront of the tent. Bill dodged another spell and Minerva hurriedly shielded herself against acurse. He could hear a child wail and someone else sobbing… Minerva was casting as Bill engaged the rogue Auror in a fierce duel –thespare chairs beside her became animated and ran for the intruder…Hollins – or whoever he was – used one to shield himself against Bill's latest
spell before he cast an incendio and the wooden chairs burst into flames. Hesent them back towards Minerva who was caught off guard; she hastily put upa gush of water but the chairs impacted her with a smack and she was sent
flying…
"NO!" Harry yelled as he watched Minerva crumple in a heap. Hermione's hand on his shoulder prevented him from rushing forward. "Youhave to shield us, Harry!" She reminded him, her voice choked with tears.
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Bill seemed to be gaining ground but he'd been hit a few times – cuttinghexesthat had his arm, leg and cheek bleeding…he cast a chain of spells…The fake Auror dodged the first two in a strong show of acrobatics, deflectedthe third and shielded the fourth before he growled and sent back a chainof
his own offensive spells…
Bill deflected the first… He dived to the left to avoid the second… He shielded the third but it crashed against the shield and sent himbackwards… He slipped and lost his balance…
The fourth impacted him and he dropped to the floor unconscious…"BILL!" Ron moved to go to him and both Harry and Hermione grabbed him.
"You can't leave the shield!" Hermione shouted.
Harry's heart was pounding as the fake Auror got to his feet and smirkedat
him.
"You think you're so safe behind your shield?" The man taunted mockingly. "You can't save them all, Potter!" He raised his wand and pointed it at Neville. "Crucio!" The shield wouldn't stop an Unforgiveable but Neville had nowhere to go!
Before Harry could react, Augusta conjured a slab of rock in front of her
grandson. The rock shattered sending chips everywhere and one nickedNeville's forehead despite his hastily flinging his arms up in front of his face. The Auror snarled and gestured towards Bill. "One Weasley down! Tick-tock, tick-tock." He wagged his finger. "Time's running out for the rest of them!" Helaughed and ran out. For a second, there was silence.
"Drop the bloody shield!" demanded Ron, heatedly. Harry dropped the shield hastily.
Ron ran to his brother along with Alicia Doge. Harry glanced across the tent but went to check on Minerva. Narcissa hurriedover with him.
"She's breathing." Narcissa said with relief. "She's just knocked out." Harry swallowed hard. He noticed Jeremy hovering and gestured at him. "Someone needs to go and find a real Auror."
"I'll go." Jeremy agreed instantly.
"I'll go with him," Susan offered, "Uncle Rufus will listen to me because of myAunt." Harry nodded and the pair left quickly.
"I'll take care of Minerva, Harry." Narcissa promised, shooing himaway. He went over to Ron who stood over his brother as Alicia's wand workedtosave him. "How is he?"
"Bad. Alicia says…says it's really bad." Ron grabbed Harry's arm; his blue eyeswide with horror and fear. "Harry, that maniac said time was running out for
the rest of my family! I have to go and check on them! Warn them!"
"Ron, we should wait for the Aurors! They'll check everyone's OK! We can't just
run out…it's not safe." Hermione countered. Harry knew Hermione was right. Following after their attacker to check ontheWeasleys was probably what the guy wanted. But he was torn. He didn't want
any more of the Weasleys to be hurt and didn't he owe it to Bill and Ron tomake sure they were OK?
"Please, Harry!" Ron begged him. Harry took a look around the tent; most people, surprisingly Nott and Zabini
among them, were focused on comforting the younger children; NarcissaandKaren were taking care of Minerva; Alicia was healing Bill; Augusta was
handling Neville's cut face…
"OK, Ron," Harry said, beginning to move towards the exit.
"Wait!" ordered Hermione desperately, grabbing hold of his and Ron's arms. "You can't just leave!"
"Either come with us or get out of the way!" Ron snapped. He tore out of her
grip and ran out
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Harry gave her an apologetic look, slipped out of her hold, and followed after
Ron. The smell of smoke hit him as he ran out into the fresh air. He wrinkled hisnose and charged after Ron, his best friend's signature hair allowing himtotrack him as they ran through the rows of tents to get to the Weasleys. Theydodged around people leaving, people staring at the alight stadiumwhichblazed like a beacon as the sun went down. Ron stopped abruptly at the outer edge of the campsite and when Harry
caught up with him, Ron tugged him towards the trees.
"We can cut through here!" Ron said.
"Ron…" panted Harry, wanting to protest but Ron was already off and runningagain. Harry ran. His breaths sounded harshly in his ears; the trees seemed
foreboding in the fading light. He raised his hands against the backslapof
branches that flew into his face; he leaped over fallen logs and stumps, felt
the brush of nettles and blackberry bushes grab at his jeans; felt the windagainst his face.
Ron curved to the left and Harry followed him, wand in his hand and almost
barrelled into Ron who'd come to a complete stop. Harry was about to ask why the flash of a spell had him ducking and yankingRon down and to the side. He peeped over the bush he'd flung thembehindand stared in horror at the two figures in black, their faces obscured withwhite masks, dangling a muggle family in the air…
o-O-o
Sirius swore under his breath as another flame shot out of the stadiumwall
and sent debris flying towards the team of volunteers. Bugger, bugger, bugger, thought Sirius madly. Why couldn't the damn firegoout? No matter how much water they threw at it, the fire continued to rage. They needed a Magical Fire Unit and Sirius was furious that there wasn't oneon hand. How stupid was Bagman to authorise the building of a stadiumwithout ensuring fire safety? The man was an idiot. An idiot who would be fired if Sirius got his way.
"Send more water over the top!" Sirius ordered. He shook off his dismay that
he was the only one of the volunteers who'd experienced a magical fire beforeand so had landed himself with being put in charge.
Rufus had pointed out that Sirius was the only one with the proper training–he had been a Hit Wizard and knew the protocols. The Aurors were busy tryingto handle the main fire at the East stand and Sirius hadn't been able to refuse. He should never have left the bloody tent, Sirius sighed as he directed RichardBones and Carl Branstone to take a step back. Another small explosion sounded to his left and Sirius yelled for everyonetoshield. The stadium wall cracked ominously as the magical fire raced alongit, sparking yellow and red flames that danced in Sirius's vision.
"Where the hell is that bloody Fire Unit?" asked Richard wearily. His face wasdamp with sweat and streaked with soot. Sirius knew he must look the same.
"There are anti-transport wards up." Sirius said shortly. Remus had gone totrack down the source and disable them; Sirius missed Remus's stalwart
presence beside him. "They should be here soon. Keep the water above thecrack in the wall." Rufus's last patronus had indicated that the stadium fire was probably adiversion for other activities. Sirius knew setting fires had been the
LeStranges diversionary tactic during the war. Maybe the Death Eaters haddecided to copy or imitate them as a sign of their anger at their former
colleagues' deaths.
He hoped to Merlin that the fire hadn't been set by whoever was threateningHarry. Another frisson of unease and wrongness snaked down his spine. He wanted to leave. He wanted to get back to the tent and check on his son. He wanted to havenever have left in the first place. Why had he left? Right, civic duty and the thought that Harry was safe inthetent. Harry was safe in the tent. Bill was there. Minerva was there. Narcissa wasacomplete bitch when riled and she was sworn to protect Harry. Harry wouldbefine. Harry was safe. Maybe if he thought it another hundred times, he might start to believe it, Sirius mused irritably. Richard gestured up at the wall. "It's all going to come down if they don't get
here in the next ten…"
Pounding footsteps had them all turning to look behind themand Sirius felt arush of relief at the sight of the Magical Fire Unit device carried by membersof the Magical Catastrophe team at the DOM. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chapter 295
A large blond man approached him. "Lord Black? I'm Hector Flint. Thanks for
your help. We're here to take over."
"All yours!" exclaimed Sirius happily. "We've tried to keep the fire drenchedwith water from above but…"
"Don't worry," Hector waved him away, "we've got this. You lot should headtheinfirmary tent and get checked out." He immediately turned to his teamandstarted shouting orders. Charming, Sirius thought momentarily amused but he was too happy for thecurtness to bother him and in truth he'd rather Hector focus on the fire thanthe niceties of social interaction. He took a couple of steps back, lowering his wand. Richard grinned at him and gestured towards a green tent that had beenerected a safe distance away; a make-shift infirmary. Sirius wanted to headstraight back to the Potter alliance tent but he felt a responsibility to the menhe had led to ensure they got examined for cuts, abrasions and smoke
damage.
"Sirius!" Andromeda leaped at him as he entered and he accepted a quick hugas she ushered him and the rest of the volunteers through to an examinationarea. She and Ted had been visiting his partner at the healing clinic whenthefire had broken out and they'd all made their way to the infirmary tent tovolunteer their services. Ted was conferring with another Healer over a young boy but he lookedupand nodded at their arrival.
"The poor thing got trampled on by his older cousins when they clearedthetents closest to the East stand." Andromeda informed Sirius in a quiet voice. "I
heard you were containing the North stand. Is Harry back at the tent?"
"Bill stayed back to guard him." Sirius confirmed. He plucked at his dampsoot-marked shirt. "I'd like to get back there as soon as possible."
"Understandable." Andromeda said. "I'll get someone to come and see you. Inthe meantime, you can all drink some water and clean-up through there." The porta-bathroom was a welcome sight. The band of volunteers made quickuse of the facilities and the chance to wash the worst of the sweat and grimeof the fire away. Sirius was the first out. He had made minimal use of thebathroom, simply wanting to get back to Harry.
Ted was waiting for him when he exited. He was pushed to sit on a bed. "Everyone owes you and the men who helped a huge thank you." He saidashebegan the diagnostic. Sirius shrugged. "We wouldn't have been needed if Bagman had actually
followed the fire regulations for a stadium." Ted sighed. "You should see the state of the infirmary stores! It's like he
hoped nobody would have anything worse than a paper cut!" Sirius nodded, impatient.
"You're fine," Ted said, "some smoke inhalation so here." He handed him a potion which Sirius drank down with a grimace. The vaguetightness in his chest and the slight rawness at the back of his throat
disappeared and Sirius found he could breathe easier.
"Thanks." Sirius jumped off the bed, eager to get back to Harry. He hadn't
taken a step when Jeremy burst through the tent opening and into the
examination area, followed by a worried looking Susan Bones.
"Lord Black!" Jeremy sketched a bow and waved frantically towards the exit. "Thank Merlin we've found you! There's been an attack!"
Sirius's heart leaped into his throat. "Harry?"
"He's OK but Bill Weasley and Professor McGonagall are hurt." Susan
confirmed, breathlessly.
"Are you alright, Susan?" Richard hurried to her, pulling her into a hug.
"I'm fine; Harry protected us all with a shield." Susan said clearly awed. Ted was already packing up a bag, calling to other Healers to come withhimto an emergency, and he shooed Sirius away. "Go!" he said. "We'll be right
behind you!"
"I'll alert Rufus and get some Aurors out!" Richard confirmed. Sirius didn't need any further encouragement. He raced out of the entranceand within a few strides had changed into Padfoot; his animagus formcouldmake better time. The Grim also had the advantage of sending people
stumbling out of his path shrieking in fear, leaving the way clear. He raced through the rows to get to the Potter alliance tent, skidding aroundcorners and almost tripping up one Irish supporter who came out of his tent at
the wrong time.
He entered the Potter alliance tent at a run and changed back at the sceneof
mild chaos; most of the children had been gathered into the centre of a ringof
chairs and were being comforted; Bill Weasley was on the floor to the side, Alicia healing him with help from a couple of others but she looked tiredandpale. Minerva sat on a chair to the other side of the room, with Augusta andthe Grangers tending to her. He couldn't see Harry and his panic began torise.