Chapter 34 : Voldemort enters the fray
[Author note : How did you like Ned killing Greyback last week ? I didn't want a Boy Scout hero like Superman, who has enough power to back up his 'no-killing' policy, nor a murder hobo MC like ones from cultivation fics and some fan-fictions... So, I tried to make it a bit more... realistic ? Not sure I managed... What do you guys think ?
Also, if you're interested in supporting me, just want to read more of what I write, you can visit the Patréon website (e instead of é) and search for Cathbel. Enjoy !]
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While the rest of the aurors were dispatched across the country to put out the fires the Death Eaters and sympathizers lit up in the name of the Dark Lord, Rufus Scrimgeour and a small unit of aurors and hit wizards were making their way to Hogwarts after they dealt with the situation at Hogsmeade. The attack on the village, too, had been a diversion and at this point, the head of the aurors was pissed !
They were two things the man hated more than anything : dark wizards, and someone who didn't care about his own people. Voldemort was both, he figured. Otherwise, he wouldn't have send them all over to attack randomly and get killed or captured by the Ministry's forces. It was obvious how these small cells of terrorists would fare against the trained forces of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement… As soon as they were faced with the tactical and skill superiority of hit wizards and aurors, they were dispatched pretty quickly, with only a handful having managed to escape.
« That's who the Wizarding world feared ? » Rufus muttered and scoffed.
At this point, even if the Dark Lord successfully captured the castle, he doubted he'd have enough forces to hold it. Much less take on the government… And with Amelia Bones having obtained the support of Harry Potter in the press, they had a decent increase in DMLE personnel, in addition to having the public opinion on their side. It was surprising too, since the Ministry had done its utmost best under Fudge's administration to discredit the young man…
Suddenly, a whooshing sound above brought him out of his musings…
* * * * *
Ned was still a little out of it from his last action… His first murder. Even though he was trying not to think about it, the fact that he found himself near Hogsmeade when the Battle of Hogwarts had probably started showed how lost he was. Still, when his HUD pinged the forces of the Ministry, he figured it was for the best… He stopped in place, hovering in the sky before he waved at the group of aurors and hit wizards.
« Hi, there ! Need a lift to the castle ? » He asked while simultaneously commanding the drone following him.
« You're that Stark kid, aren't you ? No offense, but I doubt you could carry us all… Even if you could, it'd probably faster for us to just walk. »
« Who said anything about carrying you guys ? »
As soon as his rhetorical question was uttered, a portal opened in front of the group. On the other side, they could see the castle, as well as flashes of spell fire exchanged in the distance. People were running, fighting… falling. Without another word, the group rushed to the opening, soon followed by Ned. Once they emerged, Silver Lad spoke up :
« You do your thing, but please don't shoot me, okay ? »
And then he was off, picking off stragglers and rescuing people who needed help. He didn't hear Rufus start to issue his forces their orders, nor did he pay anymore attention to them at the moment. They were trained for these kinds of things, after all… Unlike the handful of children and adults that were currently trying to defend the castle.
Ned saw a trio of girls, standing back to back facing off a group of Death Eaters : a mask-less Antonin Dolohov (according to the information provided by his HUD), as well as some unknown, wearing their trademark ugly masks and dark robes. Inwardly, Ned scoffed ; it was as if they were announcing to the world : 'Look at us ! We're the bad guys !'
He briefly recalled reading the original story that Dolohov was a powerful Wizard who killed Remus Lupin. As he was about to act, he heard an unpleasant and mad sounding voice of a woman. One of the unknown took off her mask and started taunting the girls.
« The Minister's own niece, what a delight ! How do you think your dear aunt would feel when she learns that I've killed you ? Oh ! But, it can't be too~ easy. Please, little girls, fight as if you life depended on it… 'cause it does ! » The last part was said in a grim, serious tone as the mad woman turned sharp and deadly
And then, the group started to throw spells back and forth. The three girls were students at Hogwarts : Ginny Weasley, Luna Lovegood and Susan Bones. From a distance, Ned materialized an electrified net that he manipulated into engulfing an unaware attacker from the back. The faceless man didn't even have time to turn back before the net was on him, electricity coursing through him and preventing him from using his wand, or even forming any coherent thought… The squib was far from finished however ! Aiming one of his armored finger at Bellatrix, a rock bullet formed and was instantly shot off into her direction, spinning as it went. The next moment, the female Death Eater, who thought her makeshift transfigured wall would be enough, was thrown backward, clutching her side in pain. Although the bullet was slowed, it wasn't stopped. It might just be a flesh wound, but at least, for the next few moments, she wouldn't be able to retaliate.
The three girls focused on Dolohov, while Ned picked off the other two masked assailants. Soon, only Bellatrix, Dolohov, the three students and Ned were left of this little brawl. A short silence set in, before the loud mouth of the group, the one who's sanity was the most in question, couldn't help but speak :
« You… filthy squib ! » She hissed. « You dared oppose our master… »
« And I still do~ ! » Ned interrupted in a sing-song tone. « I mean… You're stupid and shortsighted, the lot of you ! If you don't want Wizardkind to die out, you need no-majs and no-majs-born… Otherwise, you'll continue your inbreeding and other half-finished monsters like your master will be born. But… I guess you wouldn't mind that, since you're probably half-finished yourself. »
« Die, mudblood ! Avada Kedavra ! »
Ned dodged by dropping to the ground, and said before rushing the witch :
« I'm born of pureblood parents, though… Not that my blood has any relevance, here ! »
Almost instantly as if he had apparated, Ned stood a few inches from Bellatrix, her wand arm over his shoulder and his own hand in front of her face. Her expression changed as the magical focus in his hand lit up… In a powerful burst of air, her head was thrown back, soon followed by the rest of her body. She rolled lifelessly backward and finally stopped at the feet of her own niece, who had been rushing here when she saw her.
Ned wasn't sure if she was alive or not… But at the moment, he didn't have the luxury of checking. The three Hogwarts girls were still dueling Voldemort's lieutenant. Although they were holding their own, it was apparent that they were getting tired. The young Bones was already breathing heavily while Luna's hair was disheveled and her expression rather… disturbing. Bloodshot eyes, her usual dreamy expression replaced by a maddened one. Only Ginny seemed to be able to continue for a little while longer. However, if either of the girls fell from exhaustion or a stray spell, things would change quickly.
Ned didn't wait for auror Tonks to finish making her way here and, instead joined the 3vs1 to make it a 4vs1. With a burst of his boots' thrusters, Ned jumped up and over the fighting, orienting himself with one knee raise and a hand extended toward the Death Eater, sending a burst of hot and hard light. It was one of his modification on the lumos spells he designed while working on the lightsaber. It was perhaps, one of the most powerful spell in Ned's arsenal, but also the most costly. The reason why he seldom used it in a fight…
As for why he did ? Ginny had faltered and none of the other girls were able to pick up her slack at the moment ; Dolohov was just about to send a curse to the ginger, either to take her out of the fight, or rob her life… He didn't know since his sensors hadn't had time analyze the spell structure. Then again, if they had, that would have meant the spell would be on its way toward the Weasley girl…
The Death Eater saw a flash of light coming from above him, and jumped back to avoid it. After he did, he noticed the rather deep and burnt gouge in the dirt. If he had been hit… Dolohov looked up sharply, furrowing his brows as he saw the figure clad in metal. Unlike the Lestrange girl, Dolohov would rather end his enemies than exchanging threats, insults and taunts… So, in silence, the wizard raised his hand and wordlessly shot a fast spell at the new opponent. On the ground, the three girls finally had time to recuperate as the super-hero and the dark wizard started to fight.
Ginny approached her two friends :
« Luna, you good ? » The blonde nodded wordlessly, her fighting expression returning to her usual dreamy one. « Susan ? » No answer. The Hufflepuff was looking intently at Ned Stark, flying form, a gleam of excitement in her eyes, as her lips started to stretch upwards.
« That's him… » She breathed out.
« Who ? Silver Lad ? Luna and I met him during the Ministry battle two years ago… He's… Alright, I guess. »
« He saved my aunt's life ! And now, he saved ours ! » For some reason, she seemed to tremble in excitement. Is she a fan ? Ginny thought. The Hufflepuff hadn't finished speaking however. « I've read his interview and then I went back and read and listened to everything he had done before revealing his identity… Not only is he extremely handsome, he's brilliant ! And noble ! And… »
The girl started to ramble about as the ginger finally understood that, the girl had a crush on the hero…
* * * * *
In order to test his new wand, Voldemort had decided to attack the Ministry's forces as soon as they showed up. Seeing the squib who opposed him a few times flying off into the distance, the familiar rage had threatened to burst out, demanding that he ended the eyesore right this second ! But he quashed it, preferring to savor his vengeance at a later time, once the Potter brat had finally been dealt with, and his victory assured.
Instead, he decided that, confronting the time of aurors and hit wizards was the perfect test for the rumored strongest wand of all times ! And he was fighting, right now, a duel as beautiful and deadly as the one who opposed him to Dumbledore two years ago, only with more participants. But… he was not winning ! In fact, the way things were going, he felt he might as well use his own wand, as it seemed to be more potents and responsive.
The elder wand was a good wand for sure. However, it felt like… She wasn't listening to him. Or perhaps, she wasn't as dedicated to him as she was for the old headmaster. Inwardly, the Dark Lord was raging again, asking to no one why this was. Outwardly, on the other hand, be it his opponents or the people watching the battle from a distance, they could only marvel at how impressive and dangerous the Dark Lord looked right now.
Although the Ministry's team was small, it was still a complete unit. Meaning 9 people, plus their leader. In this case, Rufus Scrimgeour. And he was not a pushover either ! Yet, he and the other fighters couldn't seem to push back Voldemort.
« It seemed his magical reputation, at least, is deserved… » Rufus muttered to himself as he took a step back for one of his teammate to attack. The fight continued for a while until, in a burst of raw magic, Voldemort sent his opponents flying. Before they got up, he gave everyone in the castle and its grounds an ultimatum :
« I'll give you all one hour to deliver Harry Potter and Edgar Stark to me, in the Forbidden Forest. If you don't… I will come back with the full brunt of my forces and decimate you all ! »
The Dark Lord's figure turned into a cloud of black smoke, before it flew at high speed in the direction of the aforementioned forest.