Cupid Wings

25. The Storm

Harry peered in through the window, sending a non-verbal spell to clear a little of the steamed-up glass so he could see in. The pub was packed. He scanned the crowds, counting as he went. The majority of patrons were his sixth and seventh years, a large number of his duelling club. A few younger ones too. He picked out Anthony Rothsburgh. And Saskia Heatherington with Rudyard Morlinton too. He saw Guinevere Blanchett and her cohort of fifth-year Hufflepuffs giggling around a table in the corner, no doubt plotting how they could get him and Dray together. He could see Neville sitting at a table in the corner and Luna at the bar talking to Madame Rosmerta. And there he was, next to Luna, watching her closely. He looked like a villain from a 1980s muscle movie, his blond sharp flat-top and square jaw, his thick neck and over-developed torso and arms clad in a black tight roll-neck sweater and high-waisted pale jeans. It all accentuated his physique and made Harry swallow hard with worry. Dolohov had always been big but he seemed to have bulked out even more since they last met.

What he needed to do was get the students out of there. He knew a mass exodus would be suspicious but he needed to keep them safe. Harry put his finger to his throat, then whispered 'Saskia Heatherington, Rudyard Morlinton, vox translatio.' He took a deep breath and whispered, 'It's Professor Potter. Don't look around, don't draw attention to yourselves. Do as I say without reacting. Leave your things and both go to the toilet now. The ladies' toilet. Lock the door. Open the window. Wait for me there.'

He watched Saskia pale. Rudyard was quicker off the mark but he held his arm out for her, as if escorting her like a true gentleman. Their half-finished glasses left on the table with their shopping.

He waited, watching; though he saw, in his peripheral vision, the little window open further up the alleyway. Still he lingered by the steamed-up window, waiting. He knew it wouldn't be long. He hoped Luna wouldn't try anything brave. This wasn't her battle.

He nodded and put his finger to his lips when he saw Saskia stick her head through the window, peering out into the thick snow, trying to spot Harry.

It was then it happened. Dolohov had Luna in a headlock quicker than downing a shot of Firewhiskey. His muscular arm around her throat, he didn't need to his other arm to lock her in hold, their height difference meant she was pressed against his chest, unable to break away or fight or retaliate. Neville was straight out of his seat but Dolohov had his wand trained on him before he could draw his own wand. Harry rolled his eyes. It was belated on Nev's part; he was out of practice.

'SIT DOWN!' Dolohov shouted, his Eastern European accent deep and harsh. 'ALL OF YOU! AND SHUT UP! NOBODY MOVES! WE ARE WAITING HERE UNTIL POTTER COMES. I WANT HARRY POTTER! YOU, PROFESSOR!' He pointed at Neville. 'SEND HIM YOUR PATRONUS. GET HIM HERE. TELL HIM I WILL START KILLING HIS PRECIOUS MUDBLOOD CHILDREN. TRY ANYTHING OTHER THAN CASTING A PATRONUS AND I KILL YOU!'

Harry drew back against the opposite wall immediately and, as Nev's Patronus appeared, he silenced it with his fist, crushing the non-corporeal Patronus before a sound erupted and it drew attention to his presence.

'Saskia,' he whispered as he peered in through the small toilet window into an equally small cubicle, taking in the details. 'I'm coming in. Step back and leave the cubicle door open.'

He Apparated into the small space, clutching Pads to his side. There wasn't quite enough space but Pads immediately pushed out into the washstand area and Harry followed behind. He flicked a finger at the door, casting another locking spell and a silencing charm.

'We have a hostage situation in there. An old nemesis,' he tapped his boot with his cane. 'Saskia, I want you out of here. But I need you to do something for me and time is of the essence. I'm going to help you out of this window. I need you to run to the Hogshead. Take my Floo powder, it's enchanted to take you directly to my rooms at Hogwarts, you don't need to say where you want to go. It's all set up.' He handed her a small jar of Floo powder. 'I need you to find Professor Snape, his rooms are joined to mine by a door. Find him and tell him four things: "Dolohov is in the Three Broomsticks. Twenty-three hostages. Two Aurors incapacitated. The Hunter is on hand." Can you do that?'