Amulet of Time 2: Two Worlds, Two Wars

Chapter 12: Picking Up The Pieces

As soon as the rumbling stopped and the dust had settled a little, the six students got a good look at what had happened. The entire far end of the tunnel had collapsed inwards, right where the Potters had been standing. Eustace was in shock for a moment, but soon came out of it when he realised what had happened.

" NOOOO! MUM! DAD! NO!"

He started to run over to the pile of rubble, but Ron grabbed him around the waist. A rather dazed Harry started to inconspicuously wave his hand, muttering under his breath. He was wandlessly reinforcing the ceiling to stop any more of it collapsing. Each of the children had tears running down their faces, but Eustace was still screaming his head off, trying to reach his parents. Ron kept a good hold on him, though.

As soon as the ceiling was secure, Harry made his way over to the pile of stone and tile. An arm of one of the children was hanging out of a hole, but there was no pulse at the wrist. Some of the Muggle men were trying to clear the debris as quickly as possible without putting undue pressure on the pile. If there was anyone alive under there, they could be crushed if a stone fell on the wrong place. Harry stood and watched for a minute, unsure what to do. He had to find out if there were any survivors, but he couldn't use magic to move the rocks out of way. The Muggles would not take too well to levitating stones. The sheer number of Muggles present made it impractical to try anything. He could have Obliviated any number of them, but with the exit so close and people milling around, he was almost sure to miss a few. If they spread the word of floating rubble, there could be a panic, and the people had enough to worry about at the time. Just as he was pondering what to do, he felt a shifting on his left wrist that gave him an idea.

*Simbi? Nirah? I need a favour*

*What would you like from us, little master?*

*I need you to go into that pile of debris and see if there is anyone alive in there*

*Very well, Harry*

The two snakes slithered off his wrists and made for the cave in. Harry cast a quick concealing charm so that the Muggles wouldn't notice. He had come to a decision about using magic. If anyone was alive under there, he would clear the ceiling out of the way, and sort out the consequences when the survivors were safe. If there was no-one alive, then he would help to move the stones the Muggle way. Looking back to where the group was sitting, he saw Eustace had calmed down a bit, in as much as he wasn't screaming and thrashing anymore. He was sitting in Hermione's embrace, sobbing. Minh was not much better. Although, like the others, she had only known the Potters for a few days, she was in shock. She had never expected to come to the human world and see such atrocities. Unlike Eustace, who had been living with the war for four years already, she was unprepared for any of this. The air raid had been bad enough, but this had tipped her over the edge of despair. Ginny was hugging her to her chest, rocking her backwards and forwards, but it seemed to be doing little good. As Harry's gaze reached Ron, the red headed boy stood and made his way over to his best friend.

" What's going on, Harry? Are there any survivors? Why don't you move it all with magic?"

" Ron, I can't move it with magic, the Muggles will see."

" So? Use a memory charm."

" I can't guarantee I'll get them all."

" True, I'd never thought of that. So, what's happening?"

" The Muggles are clearing it, but we don't know if there are any survivors. I've sent Simbi and Nirah in to look around, as they will be able to fit in the gaps. They haven't come back yet, so until they do, I have no news."

Just as he said this, a hissing could be heard from the floor by his feet. Kneeling down, he scooped up his familiars and placed them back around his wrists before asking for their report.