บท 27: Ambush
Moving quietly across the rooftops, Harry crouched down as he looked over the edge of the building. Down below he could see and hear the bustling streets of Diagon Alley, and even as a shimmering barrier formed over the rooftop they stood on, he could still hear the crowds below.
"The barriers set," Valkyrie spoke and Harry turned around, looking to the squad assembled.
Nodding his head, he rose to his feet and turned to them. "Eagle." The man in question stepped forwards, everyone looking to him for the report.
"As you're already aware, thanks to the actions of Dragon, the Werewolves have split into cells no larger than a dozen or so in each. However, the recent hunting and elimination of these cells," here Eagle looked pointedly at Dragon. "They've once again been gathering in larger numbers. We suspect that they're preparing to do one large, final push, a last-ditch effort to gain a victory."
Harry looked to Derek here who released a sigh. "It doesn't seem like Peter, but I wouldn't be surprised if that was his plan. Conquering Britain was his mission, it was believed to be easy because of you just coming out of a war against Voldemort. They were planning to use Britain as a staging ground to invade Europe from the rear. Peter doesn't really have the option to fail otherwise it looks bad on him for losing what was considered, an easy assignment."
"Right then." Harry took control. "Are recent scout report suggests that the Werewolves are planning a final assault on Diagon Alley. We don't know if it's true, but from the information we've gathered, it's the only consistent piece of evidence we've found. So prepare yourselves, it could be today, tomorrow or a weak from now. Either way, we'll be camping out here until it happens, or we find out more information."
And with that last piece, Harry turned back to look across the Diagon Alley, eyes peeled as he studied each and every person. Behind him, he could hear the movements of his squad, some sitting down, others laying down.
It didn't matter to him, he had one job and he'd do it.
They were so close now to ending it all and that's all that matters. Once it's over, he could sleep easier, knowing that his friends and loved ones would be safe. That's all that mattered to him at this point.
-X- Line Break -X-
The reports had been right, the Werewolves were planning to attack Diagon Alley. They came around midday a week after they arrived, they had disguised themselves amongst the common people on the streets, in stores and even in Gringotts. Then they had drawn their wands, guns and accessed their partial transformation before attacking wildly.
Dozens of civilians were killed in the opening moments and that's when Harry and his squad made their move. Bear jumped down by the Leaky Cauldron dealing with those there and pushing further u. Valkyrie had gone down Knockturn Alley. Dog had covered the centre of Diagon Alley while Dragon and Eagle had made their way towards Gringotts.
Despite this assault being sudden and shocking too many, Harry and his squad were able to easily dispatch them. They weren't overly powerful, a handful of Betas and a few newly turned Werewolves unsure and unused to using their powers. No more than two dozen in total.
As soon as it began, it came to an end nought but a few moments later. And as they finished off the last Werewolves, Harry and his squad quickly Apparated away from the scene, appearing on the same rooftop they had arrived at earlier this week.
"That was easier than I expected," Bear noted.
"That's because they were made up mostly of Omegas and only a handful of Betas." Dog said, crossing his arms over his chest. "Hardly what I'd call an attack force. As much as a plan like this doesn't fit Peters memo, a force like this is even less so."
Harry couldn't help but agree with that, a force like this was perhaps one of the weakest he'd faced in a long time.
"Wait, I thought Omega's were the prisoners?" Valkyrie questioned.
"Most of them are." Dog replied. "But the Werewolves don't refer to them as Omegas, only you Wizards do. Werewolves don't even give them a name; Omegas in the Werewolf Pack refers to the weakest of the Pack. The untrained and newly turned."
"It was in the dossier provided to you all." Harry reprimanded. "But that's beside the point, Dog's right, a force like this was too weak and too small to be a final attack force. Which only leaves one option…"
"A misdirection." Bear finished.
It was at that moment that Harry felt the Two-Way Mirror in his pocket grow warmer and he quickly pulled it out. On the other end, Croaker's face appeared, a look of urgency clear to see. "Dragon, Ravenstown has come under assault."
-X- Line Break -X-
Ravenstown was a small, yet newly built town in the countryside of England. With the changes in Magical Laws more and more Muggleborns were coming back, especially those who hadn't been able to achieve much in the way of stability in the Muggle world. The changes Kingsley brought not only offered jobs and equal rights to the Muggleborns for the first time but also offered them a stable job.
The creation of Ravenstown was one of many initiatives Kingsley had put into place to expand Magical Britain and also boost its economy. Thanks to the money taken from the Purebloods and the dissolving of numerous useless branches of the Ministry of Magic, it enabled them to have a large influx of money.
Money that they used to not only train up their Auror force but also rebuild Britain after the damages dealt with it during the Second Blood War. However, the purchasing of Gringotts on top of paying the staff to work it (with numerous Muggleborn bankers from the Muggle world more than happy to work there for a higher salary), the paying of dozens of more Aurors, more workers and construction materials had certainly not been cheap and had taken a vast majority of their funds to do so.
But, pretty soon, the money paid out to these workers was funnelled back into the Ministries coffers when they spent it on foods, books, wands, etc. it was a cycle that while initially costing the Ministry a great deal, was serving to reap some rewards.
So good in fact that Kingsley had decided to continue down the current direction and start expanding on current towns. The expansion of Diagon Alley and Knockturn Alley as well as the renovations of Knockturn Alley were well underway and nearly completed, they expanding from small villages to large towns. And now they were starting plans to build new villages to accommodate the influx of Muggleborns from the Muggle world.
Ravenstown was the first of the new villages being built and no expense was being spared. 'This can't fall.' Harry thought to himself as he appeared on a nearby hill, overlooking the construction site below. A few houses had been erected, with numerous others still in various states of construction. '
As soon as Croaker had told him of the Werewolves attacking Ravenstown, they had not even hesitated. They couldn't afford to, not only was their dozens of workers still here, but Ravenstown was as Kingsley had described it to the people of Britain, a symbol.
A symbol of a new age for Magical Britain.
'Which is why the Werewolves must have chosen to target this place.' He realised, and as his squad appeared behind him, they rushed down the hill towards the village. They could see the Aurors that had been stationed here still fighting, or a few were, those that still lived. "Valkyrie, Dog, assist the Aurors in evacuation the workers. Bear, protect Eagle, don't leave his side. Keep destruction to a minimum."
Harry didn't hear the affirmatives and as soon as he closed in on the location of the Werewolves, fired off dozens of powerful cutting and piercing spells. He didn't bother with explosive spells, they were good at sowing confusion and discord amongst the ranks and as their description dictated, causing mass destruction. Harry not only recognised that using them was unnecessary, but also that it would be damaging to the surroundings.
Within a few moments, five Werewolves dropped down dead, their partial transformation may provide enhanced durability, but it wasn't much.
And as Harry threw him fully into the fight, he didn't focus on what his team were doing but purely focused on the Werewolves. His mind whirled with spells and tactics, gaze flickering every which way as he identified targets and his body moved upon instinct in line with his thoughts.
But one thing that stood out to Harry despite this, was how easy it was. 'Again, there's only a handful of Betas. Most of them are Omegas.' Wand slashed and stabbed through the air, powerful spells firing out in the direction of Werewolves who attempted to dodge his strikes while attacking him at the same time. 'This doesn't make any sense, first Diagon Alley and now Ravenstown? What's Peter aiming to accomplish with these small raids.'
That was what confused Harry the most.
The locations of the attacks made sense, Diagon Alley was a popular shopping centre filled with hundreds and Wizards and Witches daily. Ravenstown on the other hand while still mostly a construction site, was Britain's symbol of a new age.
Yet what didn't make sense was the size and make-up of each raiding party.
They were just too weak.
And just like with Diagon Alley, Harry and his squad along with the aid of the Aurors easily managed to clean up the rest of the Werewolves. In the aftermath, just over fifteen Aurors and workers were severely injured, a further ten killed. However, the Werewolves suffered complete annihilation, with over twenty dead except for a single prisoner.
"Eagle, take him back to the HQ." Eagle nodded his head, activating his Portkey and disappearing with the prisoner. Meanwhile, Harry turned to face the Aurors who were using Portkeys to help evacuate the workers. "Captain."
One man looked up, a gold badge of the Auror department emblazoned upon his robes. "You asked for me, son. I have to say, I don't know who you are or who you work for but thank you." He looked around at the dead bodies of the Werewolves and while a frown was upon his face at the sight of the bodies of his compatriots, he was pleased to see the Werewolves amongst them.
"It's our job," Harry told him simply, looking around at the gathered Aurors. "I want you to send a message to Gawain Robbars. Tell him to increase security in all the towns and cities, especially in Hogsmeade. I suspect the Werewolves aren't done with these raids."
"There's been more?"
Harry nodded his head. "Diagon Alley was attacked less than half an hour ago. Considering the nature of their raids, I believe Hogsmeade is their next and final target."
"I'll do…" The Auror Captain didn't get to finish that sentence as a howl cut through the air.
"▄▅▄▅▂▂▃▃▄▄▅!"
"What is that?"
"Get out of the town now!" Harry ordered urgently, but by that point, it was too late as they could feel Wards being placed over them all. And as soon as one many pulled out his Portkey, it didn't work. 'Shit, they've cornered us!'
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