A Dangerous Plan

Chapter 7

Harry P.O.V

The battle was horrible from the beginning, and I was separated from my friends and allies almost immediately. We had all of an hour to plan our attack, our final battle plans and positions. Over the last few months, my little group of friends (Hermione and Malfoy) had suggested that I decide my plan of attack and defense and thank Merlin, I listened for once.

I was supposed to be in the shadows, but just as Malfoy had predicted (and I hated that Malfoy knew me well enough to predict my moves), I had almost spontaneously rushed out into the grounds when I heard one of the students fighting scream. Luckily, we had planned for this outcome, and almost everyone else adjusted their positions in response to my change in plans.

Hermione was fighting to my left, leading an entire group of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw Hogwarts students towards the Lake. The dementors were attacking from there, we knew that for a fact, and Hermione was the most accomplished in leading this group.

On my other side, Ron lead a second group of Gryffindor and Ravenclaw students. They were headed towards the Forbidden Forest. This was merely a precaution, to hold the line around Hogwarts. The Forbidden Forest was the best place to launch a sneak attack from, and we needed to ensure that no one could enter Hogwarts from there.

Fanned out, facing the front gates and Hogsmeade – the front of the battle and Voldie's forces, were the full-fledged adult members of the Order and the teachers. Mad-eye Moody was right in front, at the centre – the leader of the Order, it seemed. Near the Quidditch pitch, Tonks was in front and Shacklebolt was on the right. McGonagall had remained behind in the Great Hall, along with Madam Pomfrey.

The top floors and towers were the twins and Remus' domain. In the hour they had been given, the transformed the previously secure towers into a land of pitfalls and traps. It was a deadly, dangerous place and the three of them were planning to hold the top by themselves. I never would have considered them sane for offering that, but one look at the once-funny pranks turned lethal, and I vowed to avoid the seventh floor (and the tempers of any of the three).

Malfoy, surprisingly was leading the Slytherins from the shadows in the middle floors of the castles, stationed at almost every secret passage. None of them held any love for me, or for any of the muggleborn students at Hogwarts. But they had all lost enough to Voldemort's ideas in the past year, and they would protect their school till their last breath.

The Hufflepuffs were being led by Bill and Charlie Weasley, the oldest Weasley siblings. And I had no clue where they went or what they did, but Hogwarts was now a complete maze for even those most familiar to the school. And they were scattered in the most absurd places (for which I would be eternally grateful later on).

But as soon as the wards around the school fell, all the planning that was done was in vain. People scattered at the sight of the giants, and the dementors almost overwhelmed Hermione's forces. I was too busy fighting a troll (and what a throwback to first year this was) with Luna Lovegood, to notice the cold that stole into my lungs. At least, I was busy until the troll fell down dead, and the chilling temperature froze the blood in my veins, quite literally. Shivering, I turned around to see dementors, right in front of me.

Paralyzed with fear and despair, I was unable to do anything but stare in horror.

And the dementors advanced.

And there was a ringing in my ears.

The last thought that entered my head, was 'I hope Hermione's okay!'

Hermione was struggling. The Gryffindors and Ravenclaws had produced a patronus with not much trouble, but holding off all the dementors of Azkaban was difficult. Especially with the horrifying memories they had collected over the past year. And it wasn't long before the dementors swarmed past them. Quite a few were held back, behind shields of pure white happiness, a joy that couldn't be replicated by the evil creatures. But there were some that broke free of the group, and disappeared past them. And Hermione screamed, because if the dementors surprised someone, they could be too frozen with fear, to collect themselves and produce a patronus. And their souls would be on her, their death, that guilt. It would all be on her!