King of Lightning [HP FANFIC]

Suddenly! A sharp alarm echoed through the house, tearing everyone away from their joyful gathering.

"Damn it, are you some kind of seer? It happens the moment you mention it." As soon as Anduin heard the alarm, he knew something was wrong.

The people inside the house reacted quickly, likely because they had been prepared for this. Without hesitation, they drew their wands. James raised his voice:

"Follow the plan. Lily, Alice, Augusta, stay inside, stay alert, and protect the children. The rest of us, let's go meet the enemy. Frank, warn Dumbledore and the Aurors."

James had barely finished speaking when a thunderous boom shook the house. The defensive magic around the cottage had been triggered. The Death Eaters were attacking.

Frank Longbottom flicked his wand, and from its tip shot a silver-white weasel glowing with ethereal light. He murmured a few words to the creature, which instantly darted forward, passing through the wall and vanishing from sight.

"Is that a Patronus? Can it even be used like that?" Anduin thought, still stunned.

The others wasted no time. All the men raised their wands and charged toward the exit. Through the windows, Anduin caught glimpses of red, yellow, blue, and green magical flashes lighting up the night.

Lily acted just as swiftly. She handed Harry in her arms to Anduin and called to the others:

"Follow me."

Anduin knew this wasn't the time to play the hero. He obeyed, staying close behind Lily as the group descended into the basement. Lily pushed open a door and ushered them inside. The room resembled a storage space, with shelves lined with assorted items.

Once inside, Lily strode directly to a section of the wall and tapped several bricks with her wand. Anduin felt a wave of magical energy ripple out from the bricks across the room.

"This is a safe house. Once the protective magic is activated, it's nearly impossible to open from the outside. Reinforcements should be here soon, so don't worry," Lily said calmly, her movements precise and practiced.

Holding little Harry close, Anduin felt a surge of relief at her words. Augusta, carrying Neville, appeared composed as ever and spoke reassuringly to Anduin:

"Don't worry, we've prepared for this. This time, we'll make sure those traitors don't return."

"So they really were ready for this." Despite his lingering unease, Anduin found some comfort in Lily's skillful actions.

The group fell silent, standing vigil in the small room. Above them, faint sounds drifted down—clashing spells, muffled explosions. No one knew how the battle upstairs was faring.

"What do you think the Death Eaters' faces will look like when they realize they're surrounded the moment they strike?" Augusta said with a wry smile.

Time passed, and Augusta even seemed relaxed enough to joke.

Then came an abrupt change. A faint rustling sounded outside the basement. The people inside exchanged tense glances, gripping their wands tightly. Were the ones outside allies . . . or enemies? Had the battle above already ended?

The answer came quickly.

The attackers unleashed a direct assault on the room. Inside, they heard the sharp bang, bang of powerful spells striking the walls and door. Waves of magic shimmered across the surfaces, clear signs the protective enchantments were under siege.

"What's happening? Didn't Frank and Potter manage to hold back the Death Eaters? Why haven't reinforcements arrived yet? Is the Dark Lord himself attacking?" Alice Longbottom asked, her voice tinged with nervousness.

Augusta stayed perfectly calm, holding Neville in one arm and her wand in the other:

"Don't lose your composure. No one knows what's happening outside. We have to stay collected."

A hint of worry shadowed Lily's features, but she nodded with steady resolve:

"Even though we don't know how the Death Eaters breached the defenses, we have only ourselves to rely on now. The key is to remain calm and prepare to counterattack."

Anduin nodded, though his eyes lingered on the protective spells, which were warping visibly under the continuous bombardment. He flicked his wand, dragging tables and boxes into position in front of them.

"First, let's build a barricade. If the door gives way, we'll hit them hard."

At first, the others didn't understand his intent, but once Anduin explained, they quickly joined in. Within minutes, they had stacked boxes, tables, and chairs into a semicircular barricade about waist-high in front of the door.

"If the defenses fail, my Shield Charm won't hold long. Lily, your protective spells are strongest. You'll handle defense. Alice and Augusta, you focus on attacking. I'll cover and support the assault," Anduin instructed.

The group agreed. Under his calm leadership, they took their positions: Lily and Alice in the center, Anduin and Augusta at the rear, each holding Harry and Neville. If a spell slipped through, they would duck behind the barricade.

Having a clear leader steadied the group. Tension ebbed slightly. People without a guiding presence are most prone to panic and casting mistakes.

Anduin studied the door's protections carefully and murmured:

"It looks like they're focusing their firepower on a single point. Judging by the way the wards are failing, they'll likely come through the door. When they do, I'll try to control the door panel to block their view. Use that moment to strike. If the door is blown apart or falls, I'll try to unbalance them. Be quick and decisive."

The others nodded without hesitation. Though Anduin was the youngest among them, they instinctively deferred to his direction.

Soon, the defensive magic cracked open an irregular gap. With a violent blast, an enemy spell struck the door, sending it flying inward with a deafening crash.

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