A Bend in Time - Chapter 682

With a wand firmly gripped in hand, the polyjuiced Damocles Belby peers around the tree stump that he had to take cover behind. The night is brightly lit by the ferocious clashing sparks of spells being flung across the sky. In the distance, the familiar roar of Alastor Moody can be heard directing the Auror's to properly use the cover of the trees especially the fledging Auror's. The more seasoned Auror's and Senior Auror's cover each other smoothly with ease as they steadily advanced further and further up the hill slope towards the cottage of Master Damocles Belby situated on top of the steep hill.

A practically loud explosion rattles the surrounding trees causing the polyjuiced Damocles Belby to glance up and see a mushroom-like cloud emerge from the location where the cottage of the potion master Damocles Belby, once stood. "Belby," he hissed, before grinding his teeth together and moving towards the Aurors covered within the woods. He needed to tell Alastor that he was Percius Clements and that the polyjuiced form of Percius Clements on the hill was that of the actual potions master, Damocles Belby.

Tripping over a root in the dark, the polyjuiced Damocles Belby falls painfully onto his knees with a loud grunt. He would cast a light spell, but that would only serve to draw attention to himself. Feeling that his knees were painfully scr.a.p.ed, he hurried back up as he darted among the trees and returned fire at the Death Eaters attacking the woods. "Stupefy Duo!" Red sparks burst from the tip of his wand and shoot towards a nearby Death Eater.

A Death Eater curses as they dodge and return fire with a sizzling cutting charm. The polyjuiced Damocles Belby takes cover, but the cutting curse singes his hair and trims locks hair causing them to fall onto his shoulders. Rather than panicking as most wizards would have, Percius Clements was a seasoned Auror and knew what to do. An Auror who froze was a sitting duck and became prey. He recalled the grizzled voice of his trainer back at the Auror Academy in his youth. "Never run in a straight line, boy, the spell will hit you every time. Zigzag, boy, zig-zag!"

Ducking down, the polyjuiced Damocles Belby stuck his wand out from behind the tree and shouted, "Confringo!" Nearby Death Eater's shriek as their robes burst into flames, while they quickly douse their robes, he begins to run in a zig-zag pattern.

By the time the Death Eaters have put out the flames, the polyjuiced Damocles Belby has made his way to the nearest Auror, Strugis Podmore. Auror Podmore was square-jawed with thick straw-colored hair that appeared as though thatched. Immediately Strugis Podmore recognizes the face of Damocles Belby despite the dim lighting provided by the cover of spells.

"Sir!" Strugis Podmore shouted over the bombardment of spells as a large tree nearby was felled falling to the forest ground with a loud crash. "This way, sir!" He said as he took Damocles Belby by the elbow and retreated further into the woods, before shouting, "Cover me," to the nearby Aurors of Kingsley Shacklebolt and Marlene Stein.

The dark wizard with broad shoulders nods his shaved head causing the single gold hoop earring to glint in the night. "Cover!" Auror Kingsley Shackelbolt roared. "Civilian!"

The married Auror Marlene Stein was nearest to Auror Strugis Podmore and instantly spots Damocles Belby as he dragged past. The auburn-haired witch paled before her brown eyes glinted with determination. Turning to the newly partnered Aurors nearby, she sharply snaps, "Proudfoot, Savage, Dawlish, escort Podmore and our civilian here! Meadows, you stay here with me!"

"Yes, Auror Stein!" The four Auror's chorused as the pretty, petite witch with tan skin, curly hair frowns as her eyes glint rather coldly. However, the coldness quickly fades away as her eyes sparkle with her usual warmth and she begins to provide cover as instructed.

The three male Auror's Proudfoot, Savage, and Dawlish move forward in a practiced triangle fashion, before spreading out to provide rapid cover. One of the Auror's has rather very short, wiry hair glints in the darkness making it appear rather tough-looking. It was Auror John Dawlish, who had become a lot more capable and self-assured since being partnered with the older Auror Percius Clements. He would still at times blink and look rather foolish, but most of his terrible old habit was gone having been forcefully broken by Auror Clements.

The three Auror's stick close to Auror Podmore and the civilian in question. Auror Podmore makes his way to the center of the attack being led by the senior Auror in charge, Alastor Moody. The middle-aged, rugged Auror's wavy brown hair was in disarray. The collection of scars on his body glint including the one on the bridge of his nose, where someone had once tried to remove his head.

"Auror Podmore, what are you doing here?!" Alastor Moody snapped at the much younger Auror.

"Sir, we were escorting Damocles Belby, sir," Auror Podmore swiftly replied as he gestured to his companion.

Alastor Moody narrows his eyes as Damocles Belby steps out from behind Auror Podmore. "I'm not Damocles Belby, Alastor. It's me, Percius." the polyjuiced figure of Damocles Belby urgently said. That he had even failed to notice his slip of the tongue having called Alastor Moody by his first given name rather than his surname.

"What!" Alastor bellowed as the blood drained from his face, before whirling his head to gaze at the burning cottage in the distance. "If you're here-." Alastor dies down for a moment, before barking out new orders. "Auror's Prewett! Fabian and Gideon, you are to surprise charge the hill. We'll provide sufficient cover for you to retrieve the polyjuiced figure of Auror Percius Clements. Now!"

"Yes, Auror Moody!" The two red-headed brothers chimed as they moved forward as instructed. The handsome-faced, Gideon led the charge, while the longer-nosed Fabian was a step behind him.

"Wait, let me go with them, Moody!" The polyjuiced Damocles Belby suggested. "I can at least serve to confuse the Death Eaters and gain them more time."

"We will speak about this later, Clements," Alastor Moody warned, before roughly dismissing him. "Now, go!"

The polyjuiced Damocles Belby hurries after them as the grim-faced Alastor Moody proceeds to give out orders as the more cunning Death Eaters have at last begun to set the woods on fire. The Auror's would either have to retreat or emerge from the woods into the open. There was no other choice.