High above Hogwarts, Minerva and her small group waited, hovering just within the anti-apparition line. This was the first time she had witnessed the wanton devastation that had been unleashed on her beloved school. Her home. It was heartbreaking. With a grim expression, she glanced unhappily at the contents of the leather satchel slung over her shoulders, and wondered if there would be anything at all left salvageable after their morning's work. Best not to think to hard about that. It was almost time.
There were no words; not even for Susan Bones who'd seldom found herself lost for comment.
Hogwarts was grim, in Susan's opinion practically laid to waste. The once-friendly outline of the castle seemed to have shrugged off its comforting mantle and where it had stood proudly, now it skulked in its own vast shadow. No lights shone from the windows. No longer did the colourful banners flap in the chill wind.
She cast a glance over at Minerva, who was grim-faced and silent. It was like hovering amidst statues. A pang of loneliness gripped her. Had she told Ernie she loved him enough times? There hadn't been time. She'd have been there forever. She hoped he was all right...
Her fingers crept to her sleeve where the floo-stick had been strapped to her wand-sheathe. Then she snatched her hand back, planting it firmly beside the other, gripping the broom shaft firmly.
No, Suse. Ernie'll be all right. He's ever so clever.
Susan bit her lip and swallowed the lump in her throat. Nearly time.
Cho glanced around at the other fliers, biting her lip. There had been plenty of volunteers - other than Harry, Hermione and Ron, every Gryffindor capable of getting on a broom and old enough to be allowed to put themselves forward had done so, although not all had been chosen. None seemed willing to allow their Head of House into the fray unguarded. Cho was one of several Ravenclaws who had taken up the cause, and Hufflepuff, and even Slytherin, had their representatives here. The brooms, in addition to their passengers, were laden with an assortment of flasks, vials and small caskets, some slung across the broomhandles in makeshift slings, some carried in satchels or clutched in hands damp with nervous perspiration.
She wiped her own against her thighs, feeling them slick with sweat, and gripped the handle of her broom more tightly, leaning a little to the right to balance the weight of the bag she wore across her shoulder.
Far far in the distance right on the edge of hearing, there was an odd low hum. It seemed to be coming from high above, and it echoed all around the valley. It went something like this:
Re: Lyonesse to HQtartan_tabbyDecember 8 2007, 22:44:33 UTC
"Thank you, Ir... HQ. We may need it."
Minerva reached into her satchel, pulled out one of the flasks of explosive potion, and clutched it tightly to her chest. Now for the tricky bit. It was important to get as close to Hogwarts castle as possible before letting it drop. She glanced across to the rest of her team, raised her hand, and waved them forward. It was time. "You've long outstayed your welcome here, laddie." She said with a sniff. "What's more, if anyone is going to destroy Hogwarts, it's going to be me!"
Skies above Hogwarts Castle.anwesuDecember 11 2007, 10:54:14 UTC
Pulling her satchel around a little, Susan followed the Headmistress' lead. One hand on the broom, steering, dipping slightly. One hand inside the satchel, ready to grab and lob the first missile her fingers touched.
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This was the first time she had witnessed the wanton devastation that had been unleashed on her beloved school.
Her home.
It was heartbreaking.
With a grim expression, she glanced unhappily at the contents of the leather satchel slung over her shoulders, and wondered if there would be anything at all left salvageable after their morning's work.
Best not to think to hard about that. It was almost time.
Reply
Hogwarts was grim, in Susan's opinion practically laid to waste. The once-friendly outline of the castle seemed to have shrugged off its comforting mantle and where it had stood proudly, now it skulked in its own vast shadow. No lights shone from the windows. No longer did the colourful banners flap in the chill wind.
She cast a glance over at Minerva, who was grim-faced and silent. It was like hovering amidst statues. A pang of loneliness gripped her. Had she told Ernie she loved him enough times? There hadn't been time. She'd have been there forever. She hoped he was all right...
Her fingers crept to her sleeve where the floo-stick had been strapped to her wand-sheathe. Then she snatched her hand back, planting it firmly beside the other, gripping the broom shaft firmly.
No, Suse. Ernie'll be all right. He's ever so clever.
Susan bit her lip and swallowed the lump in her throat. Nearly time.
Reply
She wiped her own against her thighs, feeling them slick with sweat, and gripped the handle of her broom more tightly, leaning a little to the right to balance the weight of the bag she wore across her shoulder.
Reply
It went something like this:
Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrroooooooooooooooooooooooooooooommmmmmmm
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Minerva reached into her satchel, pulled out one of the flasks of explosive potion, and clutched it tightly to her chest.
Now for the tricky bit. It was important to get as close to Hogwarts castle as possible before letting it drop. She glanced across to the rest of her team, raised her hand, and waved them forward.
It was time.
"You've long outstayed your welcome here, laddie." She said with a sniff. "What's more, if anyone is going to destroy Hogwarts, it's going to be me!"
Reply
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