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. And there was worry and fear for loved ones – all the adult men except for Bill and Wallace had disappeared to fight the fire. They'd had one short patronus message from Sirius confirming that they were helping to contain the fire to the stadium and were all OK.
But Harry couldn't shake the feeling that something was wrong. Maybe they should 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 know for 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 him gently. "I'm sure everybody in charge is very busy dealing with the fire. We were lucky to get an update from Sirius. They'll send word when they can."
Harry shrugged, unwilling to argue with her. He let the quiet background chatter distract him. Miriam and Wallace were discussing the muggle Prime Minister with Karen Abbott; Narcissa was exchanging hair colour charms of all things with Felicity Bones; Connor Sapworthy was playing exploding snap with his younger brother; Jeremy was talking with Nott about OWLs; Terry was chatting with Michael about the Quidditch match…
Apart from the fire, it had been a good day, Harry thought idly. The Quidditch match had been brilliant. Seeing the professionals in action had given Harry a good glimpse of the standard he would have to achieve to gain a place on a team. 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 knew he had raw talent but he hadn't considered how the Seeker could help the Chasers and the Beaters before rather than simply flying around and catch the Snitch. Some of the plays Ron had pointed out couldn't have worked without Lynch or Krum helping their teams. Maybe the Gryffindor team could try something similar 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 wand although 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 the Auror.
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. The Potter alliance should evacuate in an orderly fashion to the portkey site outside of the muggle camping grounds. Now." Amelia's voice echoed loudly in the tent.
Harry's eyes snapped to the Auror in front of him and he noticed Bill raised his wand. "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 in front of him, "Protego!"
The shield snapped into place and the purple coloured curse splashed across it…
"Protego!" Bill yelled even as he dodged the grey spell, diving and rolling, rising to shoot off his own spell. "Harry, get a shield up around everyone!"
Harry immediately cast the duelling shield that protected audiences from stray curses that Professor Flitwick had taught him – it was the only one large enough 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 to help the combatants on the other side, leaving Bill and Minerva exposed at the front of the tent.
Bill dodged another spell and Minerva hurriedly shielded herself against a curse.
He could hear a child wail and someone else sobbing…
Minerva was casting as Bill engaged the rogue Auror in a fierce duel – the spare 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. He sent them back towards Minerva who was caught off guard; she hastily put up a 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. "You have to shield us, Harry!" She reminded him, her voice choked with tears.
Bill seemed to be gaining ground but he'd been hit a few times – cutting hexes that 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, deflected the third and shielded the fourth before he growled and sent back a chain of 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 him backwards…
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 smirked at 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!
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