Fall of the Legions

Deamon looked down the same table, not a week later. His plans had flourished. Unlike Lord Voldemort, The Pheonix never underestimated his enemies. Potter had been too powerful. As had the three others he'd had to kill. Ah, the expression on George Weasley's face when Hugo had struck him down. Priceless.

Now thier numbers stood roughly at ten. Joining himself, Scorpius, Hugo, Edward, Grogory, Marcus, and James were Albus, who'd taken his own skill to subdue, and Teddy Lupin, who was nearly impossible to find. And lastly, the very little known witch. She had been born almost fourty years ago, and was prodigeous with wandwork. Almost Deamon's equal. But he'd never have let her live if she were.

Known to only three people, of whom the girl was one, Lord Voldemort was not hierless. He'd had a child, a daughter. And that was the girl. The mother wasn't known, though Deamon suspected it had been Bellatrix Lestrange. And thier child, who they named Arca, had inherited her father's skill.

Deamon surveyed them all one by one, and then rose to his feet."My faithful friends. And yes, I say friends. Lord Voldemort attempted to blot all who cared for him out of this life. He was a fool. You are indeed my friends, for you stand with me. Tommorow, my friends, we strike. The Ministry searches for me, led by the insufferable Ginny Weasley. She'll have to be killed. And her daughter, Lily. And Rose, and a few others who pursued a career as Aurors. No Auror shall live past tommorow night. Collect your things, my friends. Tommorow, we march. Tommorow, we accomplish our ends. Tommorow, the Wizarding World shall rise above all others. Now, you are all dismissed for the night. Assemble in the entry hall tommorow morning at six. We leave then. Do not be late, or suffer my displeasure." He sat, and they all rose, and bowed. A symphony of "Master" rang through the room, and they all filed out.

Deamon put his face in hius hands, and tried with a sigh to erase his headache. His father had always told him that he must be strong, just like thier family had always been. And he would uphold that strength.

Deamon pushed to feet once again, this time allowing his aching muscles to show a tiny bit of weakness. He crossed to the door, and then followed the hall to his own quarters. He unlocked them with a complicated flick of his wand, and relocked them from the inside. Voldemort was right about one thing. You cannot trust those who seek power.

Deamon loved the rooms. They hadn't been changed since Godric Gryffindor had lived in this very room. Everything was decked out in red and gold. The bed was a magnificent four poster. Three doors led off the main bedroom, one to a lounge, another to a bathroom large enough to hold an indoor swimming pool, which it did. And the last led to a private study.

Deamon flicked his wand, and his robes shifted into more appropriate sleeping attire. He floppped on the bed, and then groaned as a knock came on the door. He rose, and with another flick, was again fully clothed. He opened the door with the same flick as before, and called out,"Enter!"

Scorpius bolted inside, and with a hasty bow, said,"The Aurors are attacking the borders!"

"What?" Deamon shouted. He pushed past Scorpius, and into the hall. He could hear the panicking people below, and he ran down the hall to the grand staircase that descended to the entry hall. Huge stained glass windows opened above the grand double doors, revieling flashes of light in the distance.

Deamon bolted down the stairs."To arms! The borders are threatened! The Auror's are here!" He dashed outside.

He could hear his followers behind him. Now he could discern figures in the night, thier wands raised. They were attempting to break his enchantments. Pity. None of them could. The only person who could have-

A huge golden flash lit the night, and Deamon swore. Granger. She was the only living person able to best his magic. He flicked a hand forward, and his followers ran forward with savage cries. He walked slowly forward, and observed the battle at first.

They were all there. Granger stood front and center, beating back all assualts by his men. Ginny Potter stood by her side. Lily Potter on her other side. He recognized various others, like Neville Longbottom. He could see Cho Chang, and Seamus Finnigan. He spotted a glimpse of Hagrid through the haze.

Deamon raised his wand. His men fell back, and an eirie silence descended. Then Hermione Granger stepped forward, and riased her wand. No one else moved.

Deamon smirked."Hermione. You think you can kill me?"

She smiled sadly."I knew you, you know. When you first started at Hogwarts. I knew who you were, and why you were so talented. I was one of only two who knew."

Deamon glared at her."I am what I have become. So what if you knew? It makes no difference now."

Hermoine shook her head."I can't kill you. I would be ending one of the most well known familes ever to live."

Deamon gritted his teeth, incensed that she actually knew."And that would be?"

Hermione smiled again."The noble house of Godric Gryffindor."

Deamon gasped. Other startled exclamations sounded behind him. She actually did know. And so few had known that Voldemort was hier to Slytherin. Deamon had hidden his lineage much better."How?"

Granger shrugged."How did I know? You look like him. And your family, the one's who pretend to be the Gedric family, have a few clues. If not for them, you would have always been hidden. But I knew."

Deamon didn't waste any more time. He knew Granger was trying to onfuse him. And he was the most accomplished legilimens of the century. She wasn't lying. He knew she didn't really want to kill him. But he wasn't going to Azkaban either. With a slash of his wand, chaos erupted.

Spells flew everywhere as his followers attacked the Aurors. But Hermione and Deamon stood in an isle of peace, apart from thier own furious duel.

Hermione was easily the most skilled person there. When thier duel was over, he would end it all with a flick of his wand. But she was skilled. And not the least bit taken by suprise, as Potter had been. They danced, thier wands twirling and slashing too fast to see. He attempted the same spell that had been Harry's undoing, but she managed to negate it. He growled at her, and then dueled harder than ever. She lost ground, taking a few steps back. He pressed his advantage.

Granger made one mistake, then two. But he didn't act on them. Then she made her last mistake.

She didn't look where she was stepping, and a wave of his wand, Deamon caused the ground behind her to turn to water. With a cry, she fell in.

Deamon ended the duel with a simple flick of his wand. Hermione's wand flew from her hand, and into his. He looked down at her, and for the first time since he'd openly declared himself, he felt a stirring of remorse. He fought it down, and riased the wand.

"Mum!" The cry came from the left. With a cry of shock, Deamon jabbed his wand at the woman who'd made the sound, and Rose Weasley fell to the ground in a heap. She was alive, but unconcious. Deamon turned back to Granger. Actually, she was a Weasley now too.

Deamon readied himself to kill her. Then a thought struck him. He lowered the wand, and said,"Who was the other?"

Hermione looked suprised that he'd put off killing her to ask a question. She licked her parched lips, and then answered,"Your brother."

Deamon laughed, raising the wand again."I have no brother." He opened his mouth to say the two words that would snuff out her life, then he lowered his wand again."Do I?"

Hermoine nodded."He was in a different family, because Voldemort would have killed you all. He hated Griffindor, and actually, it was he who discovered who you were. I found it in his papers. He was planning on killing you as soon as he was done with Harry." At the mention of Potter, her eyes filled with tears.

Deamon ignored them."Who. Is. My. BROTHER?" He shouted. Gold sparks shot out of his wand, which was still pointed at her. She flinched, and started sobbing."He- He's two years younger than you. He was . . . an Auror. Before you started your uprising. He's afriad of you, he thinks you'll kill him."

Deamon started at this revelation."Where is he?"

Hermione shook her head."I don't know. He vanished."

"No. He's here." A voice said.

The battle stopped abruptly. Most of the Auror's were dead, all but a few. They stood in a clump, with Hagrid in the center. Of his own people, only Gregory Rookwood was dead. James and Scorpius stood forefront, wands raised.

A new figure had appeared. He faced Deamon, and Deamon gasped. It was him. The newcomer looked exactly like he did. They could have been twins. Hermoine shouted at him, but Deamon silenced her with a flick of his wand. She lay there, utterly mute.

Deamon approuched his brother, wand at his side."Is it true?"

The younger nodded."Deamon."

Deamon swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry."And you are?"

His brother smiled."Valent."

Deamon turned to his followers."Get inside. Take them with you. Do not harm them."

They hurried to obey him, forcing the Aurors into the great entry hall. Deamon turned back to Valent, who stood there without moving. He opened his mouth to speak, but Deamon beat him to it."Why did you come here?"

Valent gestured towards Hermoine, who was still lying in the pool of water."She was telling you the truth. I'm your brother, and when I found out, I tried to find you. I did. But you had already started killing people. I was afriad. I'm not now. You can kill me."

Deamon stared tat him, and then laughed."Kill you? Why the hell would I kill you?" He stepped forward, and embraced Valent, who let out a suprised yelp. After a minute, he gingerly return the hug. Deamon pulled back, and flicked his wand at Hermoine, who sprang to her feet. She looked at him fearfully, and he stunned her by throwing her wand to her. She caught it on a reflex, and just stood there. He pointed his wand at Rose, and she too got slowly to her feet.

Deamon adressed Hermione, but looked only at Valent."I call for a truce. Get your people out of here. I'll call off my attack. Let's talk." Raising his voice, he called,"Scorpius!"

The man walked out, and bowed. Deamon didn't look at him."Release the Aurors, Scorpius."

Scorpius stood there, shocked. Deamon turned to him, and nodded."Release the Aurors."

Scorpius shook off his suprise, andwent back into the house. Soon the Aurors and thier allies filed out, and Hermoine told them to go to the ministry. They all stared at her, but then she ordered them to. They Disapparated.

Deamon walked into the house, and told his followers to go upstairs, and stay there. They went.

The four of them, Hermione, Deamon, Valent, and Rose, sat in the drawing room, and Deamon said,"I want to end this war. It was short, but you've lost loved ones. And if it goes on, I'll lose loved ones as well. I say we end it."

Hermoine frowned."But you've commited too many crimes."

Deamon growled, and Valent put a hand on his arm. They exchanged a glance, and Deamon controllled his anger."I will not go to Azkaban. Nor did I say I will give myself to the Ministry. I will end the war. There will be no more killing. And if any happens, I will be there to stop it. You Aurors were flawed. I was only waging this war for that reason. The Ministry is corrupt, and it's killing itself. In your purity, in Potter's purity, he believed that you can have a Ministry ruled by weakness. But you just let the corrupt grow stronger, because you believed that to step in, you would be considered just as bad a Lord Voldemort." Here, Valent winced. Deamon threw him a comforting look, whci he'd never done for anyone since he'd left Hogwarts.

Deamon went on."I request to be made head of the Auror office. With me there, your corrupt Ministry will not fall farther."

Rose laughed hollowly, but Hermione frowned."You actually mean what you say." She mused."You aren't lying. You really just want to help? But no. This isn't my decision. You killed almost forty people in your rise. We can't ignore that."

Deamon shook his head."I don't ask you to forget it. I can easily destroy your Ministry. I was going to, then rebuild it. But I have something to lose now. I'm asking to be allowed to use my skill for your benefit now. Not my own. Will you allow me to do so?"

Hermione sighed."It's not my decision. But I will step down. I was never head of the Aurors anyway. That was Harry. You can take his place. You truly show remorse for your crimes. I am also a skilled legilimens, you know."

Deamon nodded, and smiled. Valent clapped him on the back. With a wave of his wand, he released James, Albus, Hugo, and Teddy from his enchantments. He heard a scuffle above, and he ordered his men into the room. He told them all the news, and after the initial shock, most of them approved.

But not Arca. She threw him a furious look, and stormed out of the house, disapparating as son as she could.

Deamon got up, and so did Valent, Hermione, and rose. They left the house, and vanished into the crushing darkness, a new future awaiting them.

Sooo sorry! I was so sure this wouldn't have had a happy ending! Oh well. This might be the last Harry Potter fic I write, so if anyone wants to use my characters, just tell me first. I don't mind. And yes. I did leave it open. So have fun, if you want. Anyone who liked this story might also like my others, though they're not HP. Hope you all liked it, even if I didn't think it was so good. R/R!

"A story is not a story in this world unless someone complains about it. If it is a friend, cherish thier idea and share it. That is Art." -Arciadrian

Hoping to see you all again! Arciadrian