The Cupboard Series 5: United We Stand ...

Chapter 26

After FLOOing to the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade, Harry made a beeline for the exit, being careful not to run or to look suspicious. Once outside, he glanced around and, not seeing anyone, quickly ducked into the nearest alley between two of the shops.

There, he cancelled the transfiguration on his clothes, turning the auror uniform back into a pair of jeans and multiple layers of jumpers. His features also changed, his brown hair, brown eyes and new facial structure, morphing back into its normal configuration and the added height, weight and muscle dropping away.

After one last look to see that no one was looking, he softly called for the next part of his plan.

"Dobby!"

A pop announced the arrival of his excitable friend.

"What can Dobby do for Master Harry Sir?" Dobby asked after looking around quizzically at the unusual surroundings.

"Dobby, do you remember a couple of years ago when we were out finding all of the animals and plants for Potter Haven?" Harry asked, having dropped to one knee to look the house elf in the eye.

"Yes, Master Harry," Dobby replied.

"Do you remember where all of those places were that you took me to?" Harry asked next.

"Yes, Master Harry," Dobby replied again, this time with eager accompanying nods.

"Good," Harry stated, standing up. "Dobby, take me to where we saw the Welsh Dragons."

Dobby stared up at him, his head cocked slightly to the side in obvious confusion, but, being the good house elf that he was, he quickly grabbed Harry's hand and popped the two of them away.

High up in the Welsh mountains was bitterly cold. The wind that whistled through the cracks and crannies didn't help in the slightest. The instant that they arrived, Harry dropped Dobby's hand in favour of wrapping his arms about himself. Hunching his back against the wind, he quickly looked around, not only for what they'd come for but also some shelter from the elements.

The dragons were the first thing that he saw. There were four of them – two adults and two adolescents. They were protected from the cold, tucked away as they were in a small valley, a valley that had high, nearly shear sides that stopped the wind from entering.

Despite his chattering teeth, Harry smiled. Perfect.

Hunkering down, Harry pulled his wand and conjured a length of rope. Then, taking the small string that he'd pilfered from the aurors, he wrapped it around the rope until it was secure.

Now came the fun part: getting the rope in contact with one of the dragons, preferably one of the two adults.

-oOoOo-

There were four of them stationed around the portkey arrival point. Their wands were in the hands, just as they'd been ordered. But they were bored. In the very depths of their minds, they were each wondering about the sanity of the ones that had ordered them there, not that they'd ever voice those thought, they liked their lives free of pain, thank you very much.

But really, guarding the manor from intrusion seemed redundant. Who in their right mind was going to portkey into the depths of the main Death Eater place of operations? Not to mention the fact that the only way to do so would be if one of the pre-made portkeys had fallen into enemy hands. And that was not something that they considered possible, not to mention the fact that aurors had no stomach for getting their hands dirty.

As the third hour of their watch began, the four men shuffled about a bit, trying to relieve the aches that had begun in their legs from standing in the one place for so long. One even dared to lean backwards until his back and head were resting on the old wood.