The Calm before the Storm

Well here’s another chapter.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Harry Potter or any of its corresponding paraphernalia.

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Chapter 10 - Moonlight Battle

Harry walked into his Advanced Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom and took a seat at the front and got out his notebook and quill.
Looking at the teacher’s desk he couldn’t help but let out a low growl.
Tempest, like Remus, had been unable to teach for the past six days for some reason. The teacher they’d brought in to substitute for Tempest had come in on the first day and said that all while she was there they would be doing theory work since Tempest seemed incompetent to do so.
She had continued to insult Tempest and had even started in on Remus. She’d also thrown out the partner system saying that it was the worst idea ever.
Thankfully Severus had escorted Draco to class and had overheard what she had been saying. Severus had given her a good chewing out before heading off to his own class.

Just thinking about what she had said made him growl again.

“Settle down Potter she’ll be gone by tomorrow,” a familiar voice said from behind him.
“Good riddance,” Harry spat.
“Now, now Potter. Be nice. It doesn’t look like she’s had a good day today,” Draco said smirking.

Harry took a closer look at their teacher and saw that she looked almost murderous.
The reason for this entered the classroom in his usual dramatic show of flowing robes and sneers.

“Professor Snape will be joining us for this class. Today you shall be filling out a questionnaire that your normal teacher has prepared,” the substitute said, “The paper is enchanted so you can only write true answers.”

When she’d finished handing out a pile of parchment she went and sat at her temporary desk.
Harry looked at the parchment and saw that it had questions like favourite colour and also had several scenarios where they had to write what they’d do in that situation.

“Professor why would she want to know things like this?” Pansy asked.
“I haven’t the faintest clue,” the substitute replied snootily.
“She has her reasons,” Severus said sending a glare at the substitute.

Harry answered all the questions truthfully and had finished it by halfway through class.
Severus came over, took the parchment form Harry and dismissed him.
Packing up his stuff Harry exited the classroom and headed for the dorms to dispose of his book bag.
Because it was Halloween it was only a half school day.
As he walked round the corner he slammed into someone knocking them to the ground.
Looking down at the person he gasped.

“Tempest. Oh Merlin, I’m so sorry,” Harry exclaimed helping her up.
“It’s alright Harry. It’s my fault. I wasn’t watching where I was going,” Tempest said smiling at him.
“Are you felling better?” Harry asked.
“Very much,” Tempest said, “Look Harry I need to go see Dumbledore. I’ll talk to you later okay?”
“Sure,” Harry said, “See you.”
“Oh Harry before I forget I want you to have this,” Tempest said pulling something from her pocket.

Harry took it before holding it up to examine it.

“It’s beautiful,” Harry said looking at the black crystal cross on a leather necklace
“It’s obsidian. Its hollow center has been stuffed with ground up Angelica, Carnation, Garlic and Nettle,” Tempest said, “Wearing it will bring you some added protection.”
“Thanks,” Harry said hugging her.
“You’re welcome Harry. Well I’ll see you later,” Tempest said walking off.

Harry put the cross around his neck and continued on his way.

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Harry didn’t see Tempest until the Halloween feast that night.
As per usual the great hall was decorated to the max. Floating pumpkin lanterns, streamers, food galore and more.
As soon as the food appeared Ron began stuffing his face causing Harry to cringe in disgust at the red head’s lack of table manners.
Something was off, Harry could sense it in every fiber of his being.
Looking around Harry tried to figure out what was so wrong. All the teachers were there, even Professor Trelawney had made an unexpected appearance, but they all seemed jittery. Some more than others.
Even Dumbledore seemed to be lacking his usual twinkle, his eyes held a serious note to them that made Harry feel all the more off.
Nothing actually happened until the feast was nearing its end, but when it did it happened, big time.
Hogwarts itself seem to shake on its foundations as the school was attacked head on.
Harry stood up but collapsed back onto his seat as Hogwarts shook again.
Students were screaming as dust and even bits of the ceiling fell around them. Some were running and stumbling towards the door to try and get away. Looking up at the head table he saw that Severus was supporting Remus, who was clutching his shoulder.
A small piece of stone, from the ceiling, sat on the table in front of them.
Catching movement by the doors he turned in time to see Tempest walk out drawing her wand, with a flick the doors started to close, obviously to trap them all inside.
Harry ran for the doors slipping through just as they closed.

“Harry what on earth do you think you’re doing,” Tempest yelled as she stuffed her wand back in her robes.
“I could ask the same of you,” Harry retorted.

The two stared at each other before Tempest nodded.

“Alright Harry but please don’t do anything stupid,” Tempest said and started to walk for the front door.

Reaching it Tempest turned to Harry stopping him with a hand on his arm.

“Now listen to me. As soon as I step outside that door I’m locking it behind me. You have a choice. You can either stay in here and be safe? Or you can follow me out and help?” Tempest said looking Harry in the eye.

The castle trembling, as it was attacked again, made up his mind.
“I’m with you,” Harry said adamantly.

Tempest nodded at him and opened the doors.
Harry followed Tempest out and watched as she turned and closed the door.
Waving her hand at the door Harry heard the unmistakable sounds of the door locking and sealing itself.

Running around the perimeter of the castle they neared one of the causes of the school’s tremors. Also the closer they got the colder the air seemed to become.
Peaking around the corner, Harry above Tempest, they took in the scene.
Several trolls were beating their wooden clubs against the back walls of the Great Hall in an effort to get in.
Behind them three Dementors hovered waiting for the wall to come crashing down.
Suddenly the moonlight disappeared for a few seconds as four large shadows flew overhead.
Looking around Harry and Tempest watched as four large dragons landed a short way off.

“Oh no,” Harry gasped.

Trolls and Dementors he could handle but Dragons.

“Hungarian Horntail Dragons,” Tempest said, “Let me deal with them. Try and stay over fifty feet away.”
“Are you sure? With you being sick, can you handle it? And why fifty feet?” Harry asked quickly pulling out his wand from his robes.
“That’s how far their fire reaches and don’t worry about me,” Tempest said, her own wand drawn, “You think you can handle the Dementors?”
“No problems. What are we going to do about the trolls?” Harry asked
“Nothing right now. The Dementors and the Horntails are the most dangerous,” Tempest replied.
“Alright let’s do it,” Harry said.

Taking one last look at Tempest he rounded the edge of the building and pointed his wand at the Dementors .
“Expecto Patronum,” Harry yelled.

The white stag exploded from his wand and started to chase the Dementors away.
Harry could faintly hear his parents screaming but it wasn’t as bad as it had been before.
Looking at the trolls he saw that their banging was slowly breaking the wall.

‘If they get through someone is going to get hurt,’ Harry thought

Looking towards Tempest he saw that she was driving two of the Dragons off with a large beam of purple light.
The third, from what Harry could tell, was now a stone statue. The fourth was nowhere to be seen.
Turning back to the trolls he spotted the largest troll which had cased the most damage so far and aimed his wand at its club.

“Wingardium Leviosa,” Harry said.

The trolls club levitated in its spot, making the troll look around for it confused. With a flick of his wand, Harry catapulted the club a fair distance away.
Unfortunately this made the trolls turn their attention towards him.

‘Well at least the school is safe for now,’ Harry thought as he slowly backed away from them.

The trolls kept coming towards him most of them with their clubs raised.
When his back hit something he swung around wand raised and came face to face with Tempest and her wand.
Looking over her shoulder he gulped, the two dragons that she had been driving off were now heading their way and they didn’t look too happy.
Harry looked at Tempest and noticed she was pale and breathing hard. Tempest caught sight of the advancing trolls and looked at Harry

“Well at least they’re not attacking the school anymore,” Tempest said taking in a deep breath and letting it out in a rush.
“Doesn’t help us much,” Harry said turning back to look at the trolls, “You look almost ready to drop.”
“Would it make you feel better if I lied and said I was fine,” Tempest replied grinning slightly.
“No not really,” Harry replied chuckling, “So any ideas on how to get us out of this?”
“Yes. If the dragons attack they’ll take out the trolls,” Tempest said.
“As well as us,” Harry yelled.
“Yes, well we’ll just have to get out of the way then won’t we,” Tempest replied.

Looking at the Dragons, Tempest saw them pull their heads back so she grabbed Harry’s arm and dived to the side.
The heat that passed over them was intense, making them immediately break out in a heavy sweat and the awful yelling sound and smell confirmed for them the fact that the trolls had been hit by the Dragons attacks head on.
When it stopped Tempest rolled on to her back and aimed the wand at one of the Dragons.

“Statua di Pietra,” Tempest yelled.

Harry lifted his head in time to see a beam of purple light shoot from her wand and hit the Dragon which started to turn to stone, starting from its feet and moving up. The dragon roared out in rage and tried to thrash.
The other dragon went to attack again so Harry grabbed his wand and cast the spell Tempest just had and watched in fascination as it too started to turn to stone. His progress wasn’t as fast as Tempest’s but it was working.
When both Dragons had been turned to stone Tempest slumped onto the ground with a sigh.

“You pick up spells pretty quick,” Tempest said looking at Harry and smiling.
“Thanks,” Harry said grinning at the praise, “By the way where did the fourth Dragon go?”

Harry’s question was answered when the breath was knocked out of him as something solid, scaly and strong enveloped him, squeezing his body hard.
He tried to struggle and felt Tempest struggling beside him.
Suddenly he felt himself flying through the air, before crashing through the large window of the Great Hall, that was above the head table, colliding with the ground then sliding along the ground and coming to a stop against the door.
He tried to push himself up but his arms collapsed underneath him. Lifting his head he saw the Dragon land on the sill and breath fire into the great hall.
Out of the corner of his eyes he could see his fellow students diving under tables and to the floor to avoid the fire.
Harry watched as the Dragon flew into the hall, it wings touching each side of the hall, and headed straight for him. The air currents it created knocked student and teachers down. He watched as it pulled its head back but the rest was blocked as a figure stood in front of him.

Harry recognized it as Tempest immediately. He felt the heat of the attack approach but could only stare as it seemed to hit a barrier in front of Tempest that shimmered purple with lightning bolts of black that streaked through it.
The heat ceased soon after and Tempest collapsed to her knees.
Harry tried again to get up the only things going through his head was to help Tempest and protect the others in the school.
Finally sitting up he dragged his body towards Tempest. He reached her just in time to see the Dragon pull its head back for another attack.
He reacted immediately raising his arm, seeing Tempest’s raise as well, so his palm faced the Dragon.

“Statua di Pietra,” Harry and Tempest yelled in unison.

A red beam erupted from his hand while a purple one came from Tempest’s. The two beams shot towards the Dragon meeting and twisting together before hitting the Dragon in the chest.
The dragon immediately turned to stone, falling from the air to crash and break into pieces on the floor.
Neither Harry nor Tempest saw this as they had passed out, Harry lying behind Tempest, his arm thrown over Tempest’s waist.

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Well what do you think. It was really hard to write. I could see it in my head but trying to put it on paper, so to speak, was a little difficult.