Coyote Tricks: A Coyote at Hogwarts

The story is up to three or more scenes of action and balancing the action, suspense and the time line is proving difficult and the time line is the loser. So the different scenes are not synchronized in time and to degree that is deliberate.

Final Angelic Requirum thanks again for the review. Sorry if the prison bit seemed repetitive but thats just something bad guys have in common. I agree with you about the magic in Harry Potter but that actually plays well in this story universe where Human magic is really a pale imitation of the magics of Underhill (aka, the Spirit Realm, the Demon Realm, etc.) Human magic in this universe is really residual magic that 'leaks' into the mortal world from Underhill through the nexus points. Talented individuals can tap that energy but will never be as strong as the source. The difference should tell in this chapter and the next as well as show why Hogwarts is a center of magic.

This chapter is rated R for violence and language.

The Battle I

Kit and Goodbody stepped out of a stone archway into a dark gloomy mist broken up with scatter stone ruins. Kit felt a bit of magical backlash as, with a flash, the gate collapsed behind them. The gateway he had linked to wasn’t stable to begin with and his tampering had caused it to fail, fortunately after they left it.
“We won’t be going back that way,” he said, leaving how close they had come to non-existence unsaid.

“Where are we?” Goodbody asked.
Kit sensed the magical energies swirling around them.
“Underhill certainly and judging from the décor, probably in Unseelie territory. We need to proceed cautiously.”
She started to ask more but was silenced by Kit’s upraised hand. He smelt fresh blood nearby. They quietly moved to look over a stone wall. Ahead was a small goblin-like figure in metal boots was stooped over a body on the ground. As they watched it removed the red cap from its head and soaked it in the blood covering the body.

“A Red Cap,” Kit whispered. “They are devilishly fast; we’ll only get one chance at him.”
His silver tipped spear appeared in his hand and with the cry ‘Silver Fang’ he threw it. The spear flew true striking the spot just as the Red Cap leapt up. The explosion of spirit energies sent it flying into a nearby wall. It leapt up and started to flee.
“Stop it!” Kit cried.
Goodbody muttered spell under her breath and gestured in the Red Cap’s direction. The creature suddenly stopped clutching its head and screamed. The cap it wore changed from bright red to dull and the red started flaking off. With a last rasping cry the Red Cap collapsed and lay still.

“What did you do?” Kit asked impressed.
“I used a cleaning spell I know. It’s particularly good at drying up and lifting blood stains.”
“A cleaning spell?”
“I thought it would work, the Red Cap gets its life and power through the blood it soaks up in its cap. If that blood suddenly was gone…”
“Impressive.”

He gathered up the spear and sent it back to etherspace. "
That attack should have killed him, I've lost too much energy." Kit said walking over to the body.
“It’s Talgar,” he said. “Never trust the Unseelie. We are definitely in Unseelie territory; we will have to watch our backs.”
“So where to?
Kit sniffed the air.
“After that Elf.”

~~~

With a massive 'boom' the main door of the castle shut behind them followed by a series of clicks and grindings of the locks sealing it shut.
"Are you sure we should not guard the other entrances?" Dumbledore asked.
"No," Dannon replied. "I sensed this spot is the point where the magical shields have been deliberately weakened. Assuming the saboteur is working with our enemy then this is where they will attack. Besides, if they split their attack we can't possibly defend more than one front. Don't worry; I know this is where they will come."
"How do you know that?" Snape said with a doubtful tone.
"Because I'm here." Dannon said with a smile.
Snape looked dubious as Dannon continued more seriously.
"Look, the Dark Court looks down on Human Mages as inferior and at most a dangerous animal to be defeated. A Knight of the Bright Court is another matter. They will think that the key to this battle is to defeat me and will throw everything to that purpose. It is up to you to teach them the folly of their logic."

"Alright," Shippo said stepping in. "The Baron, Dannon and I have the most experience as war leaders. We've worked out our strategy and it’s pretty simple. The Baron will circle the suits of armor as the first defense. The iron will disrupt most of the spells they try to cast, a liability that except for Dannon we don't share. So we should be able to get some good licks in before the armor is physically defeated."
The others nodded at this.
"Our next line of defense, at the bottom of the stairs, is our fighters: Toshiro, Hagrid, Dannon and I. Then, above them, on the landing are our spell casters, Dumbledore and Snape."
"Be careful of arrows," Dannon added. "They probably brought elfshot but they will hopefully waste it on the armor before they realize that the suits are empty."

The group took up their positions and awaited their opponents’ arrival. They didn't have to wait long.

~~~

"I give up," Hermione said. "I've managed to release all the binding spells on the door but there is still something holding it closed."
Ron was about to say something when they heard footsteps running down the passage towards the chamber. Running to the door, they saw Kit running full tilt towards them. Just as he reached the threshold, they could see Ms. Goodbody coming down the corridor.

"Quick Harry, seal the door!" Kit yelled.
Harry mumbled in Parseltounge and the door quickly ground shut and locked itself.
"What's going on?" Ron asked.
"Papa!" Hanako said throwing her arms around Kit.
"Ms. Goodbody is a Skinwalker. A shapeshifter. She was the one doing the things they accused me of."

Kneeling down he looked at Hanako.
"Hanako, do you still have that coin I gave you?"
"Yes," Hanako said fishing the coin out.

She started to hand it to him but paused looking at him closely.
"You're not my Papa."
Kit grabbed the coin from her.
"No Bitch I'm not"
Before anyone could react, the fake Kit grabbed a screaming Hanako and threw her at the others then ran for the other end of the chamber.

Harry, Ron and Hermione caught Hanako, falling into a pile of flailing arms, legs and tail. By the time they had sorted themselves out and assured themselves that no one was hurt the fake Kit had disappeared round the corner.
"After him!" Harry yelled.
With wands at the ready, three Humans and a Kitsune chased after the imposter.

They found the door was open, the coin fitted in a groove near the door's center. Beyond was a round chamber lined with a circle of rectangular stone pillars around the outer walls and two stone pillars in the center. The whole room glowed with a pale blue light that radiated magical energy. Hovering in mid-air between the center pillars was an intricately carved rod with a glowing crystal set at one end.

As the kids ran into the room, the fake Kit seized hold of the floating rod. There was a bright flash and the imposter and the rod were thrown across the room to land at the kids’ feet.
He shook his head and looked up to three wands in his face.

"Freeze," Harry said. "Whoever you are, your game is finished."
"Wrong Mortals," a voice echoed across the chamber. "It is you who are finished."
Harry and the others looked up to see Valdune step from the dark shadow that had formed between the stone pillars.

~~~

The attack came swiftly with a pack of hell hounds tearing across the grounds and throwing themselves against the armor. They tore at the neck joints even as their bodies burst into flame from the direct contact with Cold Iron. They were quickly followed by a flurry of green glowing arrows.
"Elfshot!" Dannon warned but as he hoped they almost all went into the armor, the life sucking energy wasted on the lifeless suits of armor. The few that came over the armor were deflected by Dumbledore and Snape.

"I wish I had more than this wee stick." Hagrid muttered.
Toshiro grinned at him looking at the massive iron spiked mace Hagrid was holding.
"Dannon assures me that thing you're carrying is made of solid iron. It’s why you're over here with me instead of next to him and Swift Wind. He said even an Elven Knight like him would be hard pressed to deal with a direct hit by that thing. You're probably one the most dangerous things out here."
"Thanks," Hagrid said but still looked dubious.

The main assault struck as a collection of horrors out nightmares bowled into the armor. For a few moments it looked between the iron and the Wizard's spells that the line would hold but a giant troll smashed his way through the middle breaking the ranks.
Dannon and Toshiro drew their swords. Shippo stepped up and cried out.
"Fox Magic: Battleoid Attack!"
He tossed a small toy into the air that slowly grew into a giant robot that locked arms with the troll.
Other monsters came charging around them. Dannon on Swift Wind charged into the horde on one side while Toshiro and Hagrid met the ones on the other side with sword and mace. They held their own but looked to be overrun until Dumbledore hit the Troll with a blindness spell. Confused and berserk, the monster tore into his own ranks breaking the charge and sending them fleeing with the Troll charging after them.

The castle defenders, bloodied but still standing, breathed a sigh at relief at the break but it was short lived.
A horrifying wail cut across the courtyard as the Bane Sidhe riding on a black Nightmare wielding a great blacked battle mace started across the field followed by a small group of Unseelie creatures.
The Baron started rallying his remaining suits of armor to meet them when a spell flashed out from the Bane Sidhe's hand and the Baron disappeared with a shriek. Unguided the armor fell to the ground. At that same moment, they all sensed the magical shield around the castle fail.

"Well that's that," Dannon said. "The Bane Sidhe is mine, cover my back."
He rode out sword blazing with magical energy and the Bane Sidhe rode to meet him. The other creatures ignored them and charged the Kitsunes and Hagrid.

Dumbledore and Snape poured spell after spell into the growing ranks of horrors as the defenders were slowly being over run. And then Dannon fell.

~~~

"Imobilious!"
Harry's spell stopped as if it hit an invisible wall in front of the Sidhe.
"Your pitiful Human magics can't hurt me."
With a wave of his arm, Harry, Ron and Hermione's wands flew out of their hands.
He strode over to group and the fake Kit rose and changed in shifting of shadows to an Amerind man. He handed the rod to Valdune.
"At last," Valdune said. "The Rod of Oberon is mine again."
He turned to the children.
"Now, what to do with these vermin?"
"Please Master, let me have them. I owe them for the trouble they have given me. If I can’t take the Son of Coyote’s life, it will be a pleasure to take the life of one so precious to him." The Skinwalker said looking at Hanako.
Valdune smiled and nodded.

The shadows shifted around the Skinwalker as he transformed into coyote form. He snarled as he slowly approached the kids as Valdune blocked their exit. Hermione gathered Hanako into her arms as Harry and Ron stepped in front of them.