The First Strike
Chapter 44: The First Strike
A piercing scream cut through the crisp autumn air, shattering the peaceful atmosphere of Hogsmeade. Harry’s heart lurched as the village erupted into chaos. Students and villagers scattered in every direction, hexes and curses lighting up the sky. The peaceful morning had turned into a battleground.
"It’s happening," Harry muttered, gripping his wand tightly.
Ron and Hermione stood beside him, faces tense. "We need to find the others!" Hermione urged, her voice barely audible over the growing noise.
Another explosion boomed, this one near Zonko’s Joke Shop, sending debris flying through the air. Harry’s stomach twisted. His vision had shown him this moment, but knowing hadn’t made it any easier.
Without hesitation, the three of them darted through the crowd, dodging panicked villagers and students as spells flew overhead. The air crackled with magic, dark clouds rolling in to cast an eerie gloom over the village.
As they rounded a corner, Fred, George came into view, guiding a group of younger students away from the chaos. "Death Eaters!" Fred shouted over the noise, his face set with grim determination.
"We’ll get the younger students to safety!" George called, taking charge as Ginny waved them on. "You three, do what you need to do!"
Harry nodded and turned to Ron and Hermione, his heart racing. The silver coin in his pocket pulsed with warmth, feeding his growing sense of danger. Time was running out.
"Ron, Hermione, Zonko’s is going to be a target, but the real danger is at the Shrieking Shack," Harry said quickly. "I’ll go there. You two, cover Zonko’s and protect the people."
Hermione hesitated, worry flashing in her eyes, but she nodded. "Be careful, Harry."
Without another word, they split up—Harry heading toward the Shrieking Shack while Ron and Hermione dashed toward Zonko’s. As Harry ran, the coin pulsed faster, urging him forward. His Seer instincts hummed with a sense of urgency, every step bringing him closer to danger.
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At the Shrieking Shack
The path to the Shrieking Shack was eerily quiet, the usually bustling village street now deserted. Dark clouds gathered overhead, and the air felt thick with the weight of magic. Harry’s wand was raised, his senses heightened as he approached the old, crumbling building.
Suddenly, a Death Eater stepped out from the shadows, his silver mask glinting in the dim light. Before Harry could react, the Death Eater slashed his wand, sending a jet of red light straight at him.
"Protego!" Harry shouted, conjuring a shimmering shield just in time. The curse ricocheted off, hitting the side of the Shack with a sharp crack.
Without missing a beat, Harry countered, "Stupefy!" The Stunning Spell hit the Death Eater, sending him crumpling to the ground.
But something wasn’t right. The silver coin in Harry’s pocket pulsed rapidly—this was just a distraction. The real danger was elsewhere.
Ron and Hermione.
Fear gripped Harry’s chest as he realised where the true threat lay. Without hesitation, he turned and sprinted back toward Zonko’s, his feet pounding against the cobblestones. The silver coin burned hot against his leg, urging him to hurry.
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The Attack at Zonko’s
Zonko’s was in ruins. Smoke billowed from the collapsed roof, flames licking the edges of the building. Harry’s heart sank as he spotted Ron and Hermione, engaged in a fierce battle with three masked Death Eaters. Spells shot through the air like fireworks, casting bursts of light over the destruction.
Hermione was the first to act. "Lumos Maxima!" she cried, thrusting her wand into the air.
A blinding flash of light erupted from her wand, momentarily blinding the Death Eaters. They staggered, their hands covering their eyes as the brilliant light filled the street.
Ron didn’t miss the opportunity. "Sonorus!" he cast, amplifying his voice into a deafening roar. The sound wave distorted the air around them, disorienting the Death Eaters further. They clutched at their ears, unable to concentrate.
Harry rushed forward, raising his wand. "Expelliarmus!" he shouted, disarming the nearest Death Eater. The man’s wand flew from his hand, and before he could react, Harry followed up with, "Petrificus Totalus!" The Death Eater froze, his body stiffening as he collapsed to the ground, motionless.
But another Death Eater recovered quickly, his mask glinting as he aimed a dark curse at Hermione. Harry’s stomach lurched as he saw the deadly spell forming.
"Hermione, watch out!" Harry screamed, but he was too far to stop it.
At the last second, Hermione raised her wand. "Protego!" she cried, conjuring a shimmering shield. The curse collided with her barrier, but the force sent her flying backward, crashing into the rubble of Zonko’s.
"NO!" Harry’s voice cracked as he sprinted toward her, his heart hammering in his chest.
Ron, seeing Hermione fall, turned on the remaining Death Eater. "Rictusempra!" he shouted, sending the man into fits of uncontrollable laughter, allowing Ron to rush to Hermione’s side.
Harry reached her first, his chest heaving with panic. "Hermione, are you okay?"
Hermione winced, pushing herself up slowly. "I’m fine," she said weakly. "The shield took most of it."
Relief washed over Harry, but the silver coin pulsed again—faster and more urgent. There was still danger closing in.
"Ron, we need to move," Harry said, his voice firm. "This isn’t over."
Another Death Eater emerged from the smoke, wand raised. He aimed at Harry. "Diffindo!" the Death Eater yelled, sending a slashing spell through the air.
Harry ducked just in time, the spell slicing through a nearby sign. "Flipendo!" Harry countered, sending the Death Eater flying backward into a stack of crates with a powerful Knockback Jinx.
Ron saw another Death Eater approaching from behind and quickly reacted. "Tarantallegra!" he cast, causing the attacker’s legs to jerk uncontrollably, forcing him into a ridiculous dance as he tried to maintain balance.
Hermione, still recovering but determined, raised her wand again. "Wingardium Leviosa!" she shouted, levitating a large piece of debris and sending it crashing down on the struggling Death Eater.
"Stupefy!" Harry called, hitting another masked figure who tried to ambush them. The Stunning Spell dropped him instantly.
But just as they thought they were gaining control, a powerful curse detonated near them, sending them all tumbling to the ground. Harry’s ears rang as he struggled to get back to his feet, his vision swimming.
Through the smoke, a tall figure emerged—an advanced Death Eater, his wand crackling with dark energy. He raised it, a cruel smirk playing on his lips. "Reducto!"
"Protego Maxima!" Harry shouted, summoning a powerful shield. The Blasting Curse collided with the barrier, and though it held, the force of the spell sent a shockwave through the air, knocking Harry backward.
Ron groaned as he pulled himself up. "We need backup!"
Hermione, her face pale but determined, cast a quick spell. "Accio!" she called, summoning a discarded wand from the ground. "We can’t hold them off much longer!"
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The Headmaster's Meeting
Meanwhile, back at Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore sat in his office, watching the flickering fire. The room was tense, filled with the weight of the battle outside. Surrounding him were Remus Lupin, Minerva McGonagall, and Alastor Moody.
"The attack has begun," Dumbledore said quietly. "As Harry foresaw."
McGonagall frowned, her hands clenched. "Are the students safe?"
"We have people on the ground," Lupin replied, pacing. "Tonks, Kingsley, and I are in Hogsmeade, blending in. We’ll signal when we need reinforcements."
Moody’s magical eye spun wildly. "Let’s hope the Death Eaters don’t realize we were expecting them."
Dumbledore turned to Snape, who stood silently in the corner. "Severus, keep an eye on your Slytherins. We can’t afford any surprises."
Snape gave a curt nod. "I am watching them closely, Headmaster."
Before more could be said, Lupin’s silver wolf Patronus appeared, glowing urgently in the room. His voice echoed, "The battle is escalating. We need backup."
Dumbledore rose immediately, his eyes sharp. "It’s time."
With a flick of his wand, the doors opened, and the Order of the Phoenix moved out, ready to join the fight in Hogsmeade.