Killer Asteroid (HP bk5)
@prophecyflame let’s back track to when Hermione tells the boys what’s happening. (Takes place Jan 18)
Harry takes over, sends off everyone like he did early except he sends Seamus to tell Dumbledore, because Harry is not pleased about being ignored, about what’s going on while he stays and packs.
And Harry does, but he remembers the gift that Sirius gave him and that his godfather hinted would be able to contact him and pulls it out. That’s how he finds out about the mirror, and how he talks to Sirius.
“Harry! I didn’t think you were going to-” Sirius answers excitedly then cuts off abruptly after seeing Harry’s expression. “What’s wrong?”
“Hermione says there’s an asteroid about to hit Earth.” Harry tells him, worried and terrified but relieved at being able to talk to his godfather.
“.. asteroid..?” Sirius asks then says, “You mean those space rock things? Lily said they’re mostly harmless, why’re you worried?”
“My mom-” Harry wants to ask but focuses, “Small ones are fine, they don’t really hit since they burn up before hand. But Hermione said this one is huge – killed off the dinosaurs huge – which is… really bad.”
And maybe Sirius doesn’t think it’s that big of a deal, maybe he also has faith in the paranoia of his family and the wards they put up – it did survive the Bombing of London after all – but he does promise Harry that he’ll be careful and that he’ll tell the Order members to hunker down, tell Remus to get supplies and get the Weasleys over also because he sees how worried Harry is.
Then Harry is frantically stuffing anything that had been taken from their trunks back into them, even adding pillows and blankets just in case.
And then, Harry calls an urgent DA meeting.
The meeting is rushed, frantic because by the time they meet up everyone has heard about the asteroid and have been informed about how bad it can be.
“Dumbledore says the wards will hold, not to worry.” Seamus tells them, he may not be DA officially but nobody cared that Dean dragged him to the meeting.
“He can’t know that!” Hermione hisses, “Hogwarts is out of the way, so we don’t even know if it can stand against bombs! And this is something that cause a mass extinction before!”
“Then what are we supposed to do!?” Cho snaps back, nerves strained from terror and helplessness and looking after her distressed friend.
“Neville,” Harry cuts in before anyone can start fighting. “The House-elves are packing food, right? Tell them to store it down in the Chamber of Secrets.” A thought hit him then. “After, ask for Dobby and ask him if he knows where Hogwarts gets food – where are the animals we get meat from? where are the crops grown? – and if he can get some down in the Chamber in case we’re down there long enough to run out of packed food.”
“R-right!” Neville nodded, standing with the obvious intention to dart off.
“Then see if you can’t get Professor Sprout to help pack up some plants needed for potion ingredients – particularly used in healing potions – but if you can’t…just get what you can.” Harry hurried to add, “Remember! We’re going to meet at Moaning Myrtle’s bathroom! It’s the entrance!”
“Right!” Neville called before darting away.
“We’ll help him.” Ginny said firmly, taking Luna with her. “We’ll also owls Hogsmeade to warn people just in case!”
Cho’s friend darted to her feet, “I’ll owl my mum, she can tell her friends at the Ministry.” She said before hurrying away.
“Katie, Angelina.” Harry said, getting the two players’ attention. “Can you please get Gryffindor house packed and ready?”
“Sure thing.” Katie said, answering for the both of them.
“We’ll handle Hufflepuff.” Ernie said, tugging Justin to his feet.
“I’ll write my aunt then help them,” Susan said and the three, turned to four when Hannah followed, departed.
Cho went next, taking the other Ravenclaws with her and saying she’d tell the Slytherin prefects.
Harry was just glad it wasn’t him.
“I’ll start getting brooms!” Lee said, jumping to his feet. Adding at the looks, “We might want to an arial view!” He said defensively, “Besides, not everyone can Apparate and we may need transportation later.”
“Right.” Harry agreed, “… Seamus,” he decided, “Can you help him? I think we’ll need all the brooms.”
“George, Fred…” Harry thought, “Can you go to Hogsmeade, it might convince people more in person.”
Hermione bit her lip then blurted, “Can you tell my parents?”
George was the one who answered, “Sure, we’ve been before so we can Apparate there.”
“You do that,” Fred disagreed as the left, “I’ll go to Bill, he knows how to make a Portkey and can go get Charlie-..”
Harry looked at the few remaining members, “Who wants to raid the Hospital Wing?”
Harry feels kind of bad about the raid, not enough to put everything back because they might need it and no one knows if the castle will survive, but he doesn’t say anything as they go to the meeting point.
He’s not surprised to see Umbridge there, though it feels like a part of him wilts at her gleefully expression as she sees their gathered group with everything they got.
“Stealing school property – medical supplies even! – this calls for expulsion.” She says the word with relish.
The others halt, wary but still willing to follow his lead.
The bellowed “STUPIFY!” that hits her from behind is unexpected but not unwelcomed.
Ginny is there, wand still raised, with her group – now including Hagrid and Professor Sprout along with what seems the entirety of Hufflepuff – behind her, all carrying something or another. She shrugs at the semi-scolding look Sprout sends, “I really don’t think we have time for her…disruptions.”
“Be that as it may, Miss Weasley,” If Sprout is a surprise, then Professor Flitwick is doubly so. He also has what seems like his entire House with him, “I must take ten points for attacking a staff member….and grant twenty for a superbly casted Stunning Charm.”
Then the small professor turned to him, eyes shining, “Miss Chang informs me that you’re giving a tour of the Chamber of Secrets?”
“I-…” Harry notices that the Ravenclaws seemed to, unlike the Hufflepuffs, be carrying nothing save for a few clustered near Cho who shot him a look that seemed to say go along with it. “Yes. We’re going into the Chamber.”
Flitwick eyes his load, Harry doesn’t look away but he does flush slightly, but says nothing and Harry enters the bathroom.
He opens the Chamber, squished enough that he goes in with relief and with enough whispers to sound like a loud roar.
Published
Cheloneuniverse 