The Rise of the God-Emperor

CH 42: Rising Shadows

A full month had passed since the students had rallied behind Harry's cause. In that time, Hogwarts had become a hub of activity and organization, where students, professors, and even some of the magical creatures in the Forbidden Forest were pulling together for a singular purpose: to prepare for the inevitable confrontation with the Muggle scientists. Hogsmeade was now fortified, secure behind powerful wards and physical barriers, and the Ben Nevis fort had been transformed into a fully functional outpost.

Harry sat in the War Room, staring at a map of the UK spread out before him. His gaze was focused on two areas marked in red: one deep within Northumberland's forest and another hidden among the peaks of the Cairngorm Mountains. These were the two most likely locations for the remaining Muggle labs, based on the information he had gathered from overheard conversations and intelligence reports.

The days had blurred together in a rush of activity, and now, the next phase of their plan was upon them. They needed to shut down those labs, but Harry knew they couldn't rush into it unprepared.

As he sat there, his mind buzzing with strategy, the door opened, and Luna and Neville walked in, both carrying thick binders filled with reports.

"It's been a month, Harry," Luna said, setting her binder down on the table. "Everyone's waiting to hear what our next move is."

Harry nodded, his brow furrowed. "I know. I've been going over the maps again. We have a pretty good idea of where the labs are, but we need to be absolutely certain before we make any moves."

Neville sat down across from him, his face set with determination. "The fort at Ben Nevis is ready. We've set up the watch rotation, and the students are more than prepared. If we need to use it as a base for the mission, we're good to go."

Harry leaned back in his chair, rubbing his chin. "We can't risk another capture like what happened with Ron and Hermione. We need to be sure the defenses around the labs aren't something we can't handle."

Luna tilted her head thoughtfully. "The students in the science wing have been working on a spell to detect Muggle technology. They think it could help us identify any hidden surveillance or traps around the labs. We could use it during the mission."

Harry's eyes lit up. "That could be exactly what we need. Have they tested it?"

"They're still refining it," Luna replied, her voice soft but assured. "But they're confident it'll work."

Neville flipped through his binder, pulling out a page filled with detailed diagrams. "The Ben Nevis fort can act as our fallback point. If something goes wrong, we regroup there. It's hidden well enough, and it's fortified. We'll have enough supplies and protection to hold out for weeks if necessary."

Harry nodded, glancing at the map again. "I'm thinking we go for the forest lab first. It's more isolated, and if we can neutralize it, we might be able to gather intelligence about the mountain lab. We'll need a small, skilled team for this—stealth is going to be key."

Neville and Luna exchanged a glance, then both nodded in agreement. "Who do you have in mind?" Neville asked.

"Luna, you're coming with me," Harry said, looking at her directly. "You've got a way of sensing things that we'll need in the field. Neville, I want you at Ben Nevis overseeing the fort and keeping the rest of the students coordinated. If something goes wrong, you're our backup."

Neville straightened, his face filled with resolve. "I won't let you down."

Harry turned to Luna, who was watching him with her usual calm expression. "Can you gather the intel team? We'll need to move soon."