Chapter 29 : Infiltrating the Warty Hog

[Author note : The start of the end of the HP arc... At least the Hogwarts one. I'd like some feedback by the end of it, guys. Personally, I'm pretty satisfied with what I've written but I'd still like to hear if you have other opinions. Just a head's up : Ned won't take Harry's place in the story !

If you're interested in reading more than 10 more chapters of my stories, look up Cathbel on the Patréon website (replace the é by e)

KoSP : 8 chapters

Iron lad squib : 7 chapters

Enjoy !]

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A few months later, Ned was wearing a new prototype of armor designed for infiltration and silent neutralization. Its usual silver sheen was replaced by a much darker gray, between steel and coal. The blue, too, was a deep, dark color like the ocean. However, at the moment, it couldn't be seen by anybody since he had applied an invisibility enchantment based on the Disillusionment charm, but improved through his understanding of its theory, his own insights on magic, as well as the scientific method.

Sure, magic and science were much different… For example, accidental magic : if you put a child through the same ordeal a number of times, the way magic manifested to extricate said child were almost always different (when they manifested). Thankfully, with the development of wands as well as the systematic schooling of children in institution like Hogwarts, magic had been… for lack of a better word, tamed. It was still far from understood, especially by wizarding kind who simply didn't bother to research all that much about its origin. Or, if they did, their researches remained a secret from the general population as well as Ned. Damn Unspeakables and their secrecy !

Then again, perhaps it was a good thing, Ned thought, not for the first time. He basically had no formal magical education, which meant that he had to work for it on his own by reading books and asking questions. However, as he did his own research, he considered the books and answers to his questions as works of reference, but not irrefutable truths. Often times, when a teacher taught his subject, his lessons were tainted by his own education, ideas and philosophies, passing them on to the next generation, even if unwittingly sometimes. Ned didn't face this problem, as he decided to simply revolutionize the way people thought about magic. Before him, it was believed that only a select few could use magic or minor manifestations of it. But with the creation of his batteries and reactors, as well as the interface to operate and use the energy, anyone could use it now ! Of course, like all revolution, there was push back from the minority who stood the most to lose (witches and wizards) since that meant their superiority, their advantages were bound to disappear in the near future.

Ned was more than okay with that. Wizarding society needed a… kick in the balls ! Pardon my french. The supremacists ideology was nothing new : in every society, country and social group, there was bound to be a minority thinking themselves superior to others because they looked or were born different. The problem, however, was that with the much too low population of witches and wizards, this minority had obtained a rather significant voice, wealth and influence… Especially in the UK. And it stemmed from the fact that these old families had a much older magical history, from which they drew pride that slowly festered and turned into misplaced arrogance and haughtiness. At least, that's how Ned saw it !

With his Technomancy, it showed them that all their history, their hidden family magic, their wealth… It could all disappear or become pointless. Hopefully, in time, it would change their entitlement into something a little… better. It was something he hoped even more so with the next generation, who was more prone to learning to use and live with new technologies (technomancies, whatever !).

And that's also why he was conducting the operation 'Infiltrating the Warty Hog'… A name he now realize to have a double and rather disturbing meaning. He muttered :

« Should have called it 'school infiltration' or something simple like that… »

His partners, currently hiding in the forbidden forest, reacted to his words :

« Indeed ! I did advise you against this name… » Winston commented and as he did, Ned could see him adjusting his glasses with his big, gorilla hands.

« Mon pauvre père ! Brilliant and still stupid sometimes » Mel whispered with sass.

Ned decided not to grace them with an answer… Mostly because he couldn't find a witty retort right about now. Instead, he decided to get his attention back on the matter of the infiltration. Mel and Winston had already managed to sneak in the forbidden forest, which he found to be a feat with the number of dark creatures supposed to be living there, in addition to the unwelcoming centaurs and the no doubt dangerous flora. Then again, maybe the creatures could tell there was nothing to eat on their bodies…

As for him, he'd flown over the castle and deactivated his anti-grav enchantments, opting to free-fall for the heck of it. In a few seconds, he would know if the enchantment to bypass the wards worked. Hopefully it did, but if it didn't, he could only cross his finger that Dumbledore had deactivated the more nasty wards, and that nobody had reactivated them since his passing.

« 3… 2… 1… » He closed his eyes in fear. After nothing happened, he opened one of them to peek and saw the ground fast approaching. Panicking just a little, he sent a thought-command to restart the flight functions and decelerated his fall in silence. At the moment, no one could see or hear him. At least, he thought so.

His intel said the Death Eater were gearing up for an all-out attack against the castle. The difference in this situation compared to the one Ned knew from the book was rather obvious, however. In the books, the Death Eaters basically ran the magical government. When they heard of Harry Potter coming back to Hogwarts, they assaulted from a position of strength. Here, on the other hand, their movement was frankly quite desperate. Under Amelia Bones, the Ministry had cracked down hard against the family of suspected Death Eaters, cutting not only at their numbers, but also their fundings and resources. Plus, in his mad vengeful rage to get back at Ned, he lost even more of his people in the US.

So, now, he was left with… the werewolves, people Riddle considered and often treated as a subspecies, a frazzled and dwindled group of followers, and a number of dark creatures like giants, acromentulas and dementors. Oh… And they also were a few sympathizers who had come from other countries (mostly the US) as well, but Ned didn't know much about them. Still, he doubted anyone noteworthy bolstered their strengths.

About the Nut-job in charge… It seemed the Golden Trio had taken a few leave of absence from school during the year to go on a horcruxe hunt. McGonagall had approved of it, of course and Snape, being the great double agent he was, had helped them find clues and gave them the tools to destroy them when it was needed. So now, all that remained of Voldemort's insurances against death was Nagini, his pet snake, that weirdly shared the name of a witch from Grindelwald's time, and… Harry, himself.

Ned was curious how the events would unfold. Unlike the Harry from the books who had experienced so much loss he was almost ready to end it, this one still had his godfather. His relationship with the ginger Ginny was going strong, and his friends supported him much more than they did originally. In fact, here, not only Hermione and Ron, Ginny, Neville, Luna and other members of the former Dumbledore's Army came to his aid.

The reason behind this seemingly desperate attack against Hogwarts ? Ned's guess was that there were several… First, and probably foremost, the castle was fortified and protected by ancient wards, powered by Ley-lines. It would make a remarkable defensive position for their fights against… Everyone. Secondly, wealth and resources. As a school, there wasn't much money, except maybe for the pocket money of students. However, the students themselves could prove to be lucrative. Ransoming them to their parents, that is… Plus, they'd be able to kill whatever 'mudblood' and 'halfbreed' they would like. Moreover, with the House elves and their full kitchen, their forces would find sustenance for a while to come. The library, too, might be another objective, or the room of lost things where Voldemort hid his horcruxe…

As the grass covered ground grew closer, Ned dropped into a three-point landing. He had to thank his armor and the anti-grav enchantment, otherwise he would have to say goodbye to his knee and fist. He smirked behind his face plate before looking up at the towering castle in front of him.

« Show time… Or, wait, maybe not right away. »

* * * * *

Silver Lad, along with his partners had to wait a while more before the Death Eaters' attack. The fact was that he had come as soon as he heard about it from his spy drones, rushing to come here even before he got all the information.

By now, he learned how and where the attack would start : Hogsmeade. It was logical in Ned's opinion, if a little foolish. Another foolish thing was… Hogwarts location was supposed to be secret, but people knew of the Wizarding village next to it. What was the point ? If it had been up to Ned, he would have raided the castle without making himself known by popping up in the village, as that would alert the ministry's forces as well.

But, well… Voldemort had lost his marbles a loooo~ng time ago. Now the snake faced bastard's brilliance was all but gone, as was his charisma. All that was left was the fear people had of him, and his rage.

A sudden thought caused a shiver up Ned's spine : a red ring falling from the heavens and presenting itself to the madman… Now, that would be terrifying ! He really hoped Atrocitus' rightful vengeance ideas would discard someone like Tom Riddle from its potential recruits. 'Cause if it didn't, even Harry's plot armor wouldn't hold.

The rings of the Red Lanterns were part alien technology and part blood magic… They gave their wielders numerous powers like flight, a strengthened physique, blood like acid or lava and… the ability to vomit it. If Rancor had joined the corps, they would even have access to constructs, something they didn't possess before. In the hands of someone like Voldemort, he dreaded the havoc they could unleash !

He shook his head to chase the frightening thought away and focus on the situation at hand.

Despite his preparations, it seemed his arrival hadn't gone unnoticed as the headmistress, Minerva McGonagall came out of the castle, wand in hand and at the ready. She swept the grounds with her gaze before waving it and casting what Ned thought was a revealing spell. For a second, Ned thought to wait in order to see if his armor could stay hidden from it, like it did (or at least supposedly did) the wards. In the end, he decided to reveal himself before the witch blasted him with a spell. Even if she wasn't on Dumbledore's level, she still was a powerful witch in her own way.

« Hello, Headmistress. I apologize for the intrusion… » Ned greeted as his figure, like a ghost taking corporeal form, reappeared near her.

The witch tensed and raised her wand, before relaxing slightly. With a no-nonsense expression, she nodded and spoke :

« Silver Lad… Or should I say Edgar Stark ? What are you doing here ? »

« I'm touched that you know who I am ! » Ned said perkily. Then, his voice took on a more somber note : « Voldy and his cohorts are coming… »