When the Roses Bloom Again by TheBlack'sResurgence

Chapter 43

The Wilting of a Rose (Part Two)

With Harry's arrival having caused quite the stir, William and the rest of his group had managed to retreat back to where another gathering of ICW fighters were defending the entrance to the Belgian Ministry of Magic.

Even so, the battle was edging ever further in Grindelwald's forces favour.

During the tactical withdrawal, they had erected large barriers from the fallen debris of the buildings and taken up positions behind them.

Worse still, the other building that a group consisting of Spanish and French fighters had been was brought down completely, and not a single person had emerged from the pile of rubble.

They were dead.

William would not fool himself by thinking otherwise.

"We won't be able to keep this up," Harry called to him.

The young man had been kept occupied by defending against onslaught after onslaught of spells sent his way. So much so that he was unable to mount any offense.

William reluctantly conceded that it was a brilliant tactic by their enemies.

If Harry was kept busy defending himself then he posed little threat.

No, something would have to be done.

"Gabriel, we need to free him up."

Moody shook his head.

"It won't do any good, Potter," he growled, sending a flurry of spells towards where Perseus Black had been seen last. "There's more of the coming."

William looked towards where Gabriel had pointed, and his heart sunk to his stomach.

From the street on the left, another wave of men was sprinting towards them, screaming their battle cries with their wands already in hand.

William could not count how many there were, but having already been considerably outnumbered, the situation was about to take a much worse turn.

"IF YOU'VE GOT ANY BRIGHT IDEAS, LAD, NOW WOULD BE A GOOD TIME FOR ONE," Gabriel shouted over the din.

"I think its time to think about leaving," Harry replied. "If we don't, we'll be overrun. We have to live to fight another day."

After a moment of hesitation, Moody nodded.

"Aye, but how? The portkey wards are up, and the Ministry won't shut them down. The ICW will have a bloody fit as it is."

"No, they won't," William broke in. "I have an idea, but you'll have to keep them occupied for a while. Can you do that?"

"Whatever it is, make it quick!" Gabriel commanded.

With a nod, William hurried towards the Ministry building, pulling his cloak over himself before entering, grateful that Charlus had insisted he bring it along.

Hurrying through the empty reception area, he consulted one of the signs that would point him in the direction he needed to go and rushed up a nearby staircase.