HPNSA - BOOK ONE

CHAPTER NINETEEN
THE FORBIDDEN TOWER

TIMELINE: JANUARY 17, 1998

Martha had been enjoying the rather unusual early sunrise in the park benches that morning when suddenly the whole place turned cold. Thick dark clouds cut off the sun and Martha found herself fighting off what seemed to be a tempest. It was suddenly dark again, night had returned and here and there she could see lights of different colours spark in the distance followed by loud cries.

“Let’s go back home, shall we?” She said trying to sound cheerful.

When she turned a tall hooded person stood in front of her and she recognized the robe. She’s seen this kind of outfit before - it was white but inside the one who wore it had a dark heart, and a dark purpose. Reminded of the horror she was petrified from where she stood. Slowly a wand was pointed at her but before the figure could do anything else a light coming from behind hit the figure, sending the person flying across the park. Martha ducked covering the baby with her body as the white robes passed over her.

“STAY WHERE YOU ARE!” cried a voice. Martha’s mind fought an inner debate whether to follow the voice or run back home. Her feet decided for her and she ran back to her flat as fast as she could.

As she ran she found the whole of London was in chaos; here and there people cried and ran about in fear and some were hit with a strange green light and fell dead. Martha has seen this before and she could not believe that it was happening again.

Though tears blinded her eyes she kept on running making sure the baby was kept safe. When she got to her place it was destroyed, the windows were charred as though someone had blasted it with dynamite. Her flat was not the only one though; these wizards were massacring the whole building. Suddenly a pang of fear filled Martha – Candice was still inside.

“Candice! Candice!” Martha cried. She tried opening the door but it was hot – her flat was on fire. “CANDICE! CANDICE!” A streak of purple light hit alarmingly close to her head and Martha sat on the ground covering Archer with her body.

\"Aveda...\" The man behind the mask had a low booming voice and Martha could feel this was the end of the line for her. She shut her eyes tightly.

\"EVERTE STATUM!\" Hermione cried and the white robed wizard was thrown against the wall and fell unconsciously beside Martha.

“I told you to stay where you were!” Hermione said.

Martha turned around and saw a teenage girl wearing black robes and carrying a stick in her hand. “Don’t come any closer! I…I have a GUN!”

“I’m here to protect you, we need that child!” Hermione cried. “Look, my name is Hermione, and that child you’re carrying is my godson! Or will be once they ask me,”

Martha then realized this was help. She tried to calm down but then another white robed wizard came about and she screamed.

\"EXPELLIARMUS!\"

Hermione was flung towards the burning apartment.

\"Now, to end this.\" Said the voice. But he never conjured a spell for within the burning apartment a green light spewed forth and moments later, the wizard in white was dead.

Hermione came out of the burning apartment unscathed though her robes were burned to the waist. \"Dark times, call for dark magic.\" She said. Then she turned to Martha who was positively shocked and said, “Come on! We have to get you out of here!” she then grabbed Martha by the arm and they headed off.

“WAIT!” Martha cried. “My sister, she’s still inside!”

“She was attacked but Bill ran into her, and she’s with us. Come! Hurry!” Hermione said. Martha then realized it was time to follow orders and she dashed off with the strange teenage girl named Hermione who was taking her deep within downtown London.


***

Ron was swinging his sword once more, cleaving heads and limbs from demons that have flown out of the tower. “They’ve caught wind of us!” he cried as he cut off the head of the armless Incubus before him. All about him the Knights have engaged themselves in battle with one demon after another while members of the Order conjured spells to either stun them or send them flying across the waters. Some of the demons were easier to kill than some but when they got near the entrance of the tower the Incubi that welcomed them were a different kind; they were armed and skilled with weapons. Ron found it difficult to penetrate their ranks. There were times when he very nearly got sliced up.

“We need back up!” Rio cried and he took out a beacon and left it at the shores of the isle.

“Who are these demons, Rio?” Ron cried as he fended off a flying dagger.

“Aveddon’s soldiers. Uriel must have persuaded them to come.” Rio said.

“Let me help you with that Arthur!” Hagrid said, tearing a demon off Arthur and throwing it against the Tower walls.

“Thank you, Hagrid!” Arthur said rubbing his neck.

“Be careful. These demons aim for the neck, they do!” Hagrid said.

“RON!” Fred cried. George was being carried away by a large demon.

Ron took out his Sai and threw it at the Incubus hitting the ridge between its wings. The demon let go of George and slowly descended screaming in pain. “Kill it!” Ron cried.

George turned around and cried, “EXPELLIARMUS!” The demon went flying towards Ron and when it was near enough Ron turned and his sword ran through it slicing the demon in half.

“Are you alright George?” Fred said.

“When I tell you to kill these creatures, I mean KILL it! Not send it to me in a bow!” Ron said running towards them.

“Not because you’ve embraced dark magic Ron means that we should too.” George said.

“Without dark magic we won’t survive this battle!” Ron snarled. “USE IT!”

Then he ran towards the entrance. Some evil force emanating from the Tower had cut off the sun. The whole Island was dark and a strong wind had erupted from its bowels. Lightning and thunder filled the skies. The darkness was not only covering their eyes but it was filling their hearts with dread and weariness and the Knights were almost overcome by it. Even Ron felt his sword had become very heavy, too heavy for him to lift. It was dark magic - Voldemort has prepared for their arrival.


From the top of the tower came shadows that moved and the Knights were faced with a different danger. One by one they fell to its deadly kiss and Ron could see they did not know how to fight them – they would all perish.

He took out his wand and placing aside his sword he cried, “EXPECTO PATRONUM!” A wild stallion emanated from his wand and charged the ranks of Dementors that were upon Rio. The Order of the Phoenix came into play – Remus, Severus, Arthur, George and Fred let loose their Patronuses and the Dementors retreated from their light - only to return when they’ve been extinguished.

“The magic is too weak!” Remus cried.

“It’s the Dark Lord, he is using all his power to prevent us from going inside the Tower.” Severus cried, holding his arm for it burned him.

“Rio!” Ron cried, going towards his fallen comrade.

“What was that, man?” Rio said weakly.

“Dementors.” Ron said.

“You’ve got some weird shit going on here.” Rio said.

“You should talk,” Ron said.

“We can’t penetrate the Tower!” cried Allen, one of the few Knights who were not rendered helpless by the Dementors. “The Incubi have regrouped!”

Ron turned around to see a second wave of fully armed demons come flying out of the tower. They rushed in full force towards them with the Dementors in tow. It was an ambush and they fell right into it.

***

“Stupefacio!” cried Hermione as another Death Eater came towards them.

“Oh my!” Martha cried.

“Keep the baby safe!” Hermione said. “Come on!”

They were now near the market place and just to the left was the Leaky Cauldron. In front of them Martha saw more teenagers dressed in black robes rushing inside what looked like a pub.

“What is this, attack of the teenage wizards?” Martha cried.

“More like attack ON the teenage wizards!” Hermione said. “IMPEDIMENTA!”

“Hurry! Get in!” Bill cried holding the door open for them.

When Hermione and Martha got in Bill shut the door of the Leaky Cauldron then Moody, Tonks, and Charlie conjured a locking spell then backed away from the door.

“Surround the muggle, she has Harry’s baby!” Hermione said. Moody, Tonks, Bill and Charlie were up front with their wands ready; the DA surrounded Martha and Archer and they too had their wands held in front of them. Everyone fell silent and waited, each one hoping the spell will hold.

The door was being pounded from the outside by powerful forces that it very nearly gave way. Hermione breathed hard expecting the worse. “Let it hold…please let it hold…” she whispered.

A loud explosion rendered a large dent on the door and they all gasped. One more will surely break it and the Death Eaters will run them over. But it never happened and after a while the sound outside died down, until all they could hear were cried of grief and wailing.


“Quick! To the floo channel!” Moody cried. Hurriedly they went out through the archway in the back and found themselves in Diagon Alley. “They will catch up with us, hurry!”

“Neville run faster!” Dean cried as Neville lagged behind.

“Where are we going?” Martha cried.

“To Hogwarts!” Hermione said.

“Hog-where?” Martha said.

Through the familiar streets they ran and when they got to Olivander’s wand shop they all headed upstairs where a floo channel straight to Dumbledore’s office was waiting for them.

“The muggle first!” Tonks said.

“Come on!” Hermione said. “This is Susan, she will go with you.”

“Where?” Martha cried.

“I told you, to Hogwarts!” Hermione yelled.

“How?” Martha said.

“By Floo Powder.” Susan said.

“What?” Martha said.

“Just go inside the fireplace and stand straight!” Hermione cried. “Oh and hold on to the Baby tightly.”

“But I…I…” Martha said holding onto Archer very tightly.

“Hogwarts!” Susan cried and threw the floo powder at their feet and Martha felt like she was being pulled and moments later she was inside a large oval office with three ladies waiting for her.

“Oh thank goodness, Poppy, Rolanda they’re here!” Molly cried.

“Mrs. Weasley, your grandson is here.” Susan said.

Martha then looked at the baby in her arms who was now wide-awake and seemed to have been observing things.

“My grandson!” Molly said tearfully. “Thank you! Thank you so much for keeping him safe.”

“Oh, it was nothing.” Martha said sarcastically giving Archer over to Molly.


The fireplace spewed DA members shortly after until all of them were now gathered in Dumbledore’s office. The last to arrive was Moody and Tonks and when they came out, they destroyed the fireplace sealing the channel from any who would attempt to follow.

“You all here?” Bill asked. The teenage wizards all nodded their heads though Seamus complained about his ear. Madam Pomfrey took him at once and checked the gash near his left ear.

“Are you alright?” Charlie asked Martha.

“I’m not sure. I think this is a bad dream.” Martha said.

“Don’t worry, once everything is cleared we will modify your memory so you can return to your life as usual.” Charlie said.

“There’s no need for that, Charlie.” Moody said.

Martha recognized the face of the wizard though one of his eyes kept moving and freaked her somewhat, and his nose was missing a chunk, which distorted his appearance. But there was something about this wizard that was so familiar.

“Hello, Martha. Do you still remember me?” Moody said smiling at her.

When Moody’s magical eye stopped moving Martha found the name that matched the face and she cried, “Alastor?”

***

“There’s too many of them!” Ron cried as his sword hacked one demon after another. He was nearing exhaustion and still the Incubi relentlessly came forth as if some force drove them out of the tower.

“And they’re armed!” George said. “CRUCIO!” The demon before him writhed in pain and George felt a weird sensation run through him. The spell turned and Ron ran towards the fallen beast to cut it’s top and down it fell. George was shaking.

“That’s a start!” Ron said.

“We’re running out of Knights!” Rio cried as one by one the Knights that came with them have been sucked dead by the Dementors.

Ron was now loosing hope; they were all about to be slaughtered here at the shores of this accursed Isle and inside Harry was suffering the final day of the ritual. He could no longer see the hope of things getting better when finally from behind came a cry. It was Skyhawk and with him came an army of Knights they were on flying carpets.

“Skyhawk!” Rio cried.

The knights cut through the demon horde and soon the Incubi found themselves outnumbered four to one. Ron found new strength in their arrival that though his sword weighed a ton he was able to lift it up and swing it hard though it went wide still it was able to accurately slice the Incubus before him in irreparable places until it knelt before him and he severed its foul head off.

But soon even they grew weary for the darkness that now grew thicker and the Dementors still posed a threat. They fell not knowing how to fight this enemy and soon, Ron knew they would dwindle.

Exhausted and weary, Ron took out his wand and was about to conjure a Patronus when Dumbledore cried aloud. “DO NOT LET THE DARKNESS BIND YOUR HEARTS! NOW IS THE HOUR WHEN GOOD SHALL PREVAIL!” Dumbledore’s wand had extended into a staff, his voice towering above the loud clap of thunder and wild sounds of war he cried, “ADVEHO DIVINUS LUX LUCIS!” a blinding light coming from his staff cut through the thick darkness that seemed to have enveloped the Island and paved a way for the Knights to kill those demons who stood between them and the huge doors. Within the light, Ron felt his strength return ten times and he and Knights were now able to stand and fight once more. The Dementors were thrown back and those that dared to enter the light were scourged by it and faded into nothingness.

“STAY WITHIN THE LIGHT!” Ron cried. All the Knights then fought harder to keep within the power that Dumbledore now sustained with great effort for them to use.

When at last the pathway was cleared of Incubi, Remus, Severus, and Arthur stood before the huge doors, pointed their wands and all at once cried, “BOMBARDA!” Shattering it into a million pieces.

The Tower has been breached.