Disclaimer: I don't own anything except the original character and the plot

Chapter 7: Attack on the Innocent

Avery's screams could be heard throughout the mansion. Alice didn't dare wince at the sound. This wasn't a minor punishment; Avery was waiting for whichever came first, death or insanity. Through Alice's guilt for framing and selling him out (which would pass as soon as the man died) she was even more curious about the snake, whose name had been Nagini. She was at a loss for what exactly was so special about this snake, besides its unusual size. There was no time to ponder that now; she had been instructed to return to her father when he had finished with Avery.

The screaming stopped after a long four hours. Alice went quickly to the main hall, not wanting to keep her father waiting. She found him sitting on the throne pensively with Avery's body resting motionless in a pool of blood. Death was the best thing for him. She knelt in front of the throne and bowed her head. The Dark Lord did not move at first.

After a long moment he spoke, "As a reward for your loyalty and honesty, I will include you in my next plan of action." Alice's head snapped up in surprise, but he was focused on a spot to her left, obviously deep in thought. "I will be sending a group of my most trusted Death Eaters back to Hogwarts soon after the school year begins. If you do not find him there, you are to bring in his friends and the new Headmaster for information. Also, kill as many as possible and destroy all you can: It will be the end of Hogwarts."

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Ginny dashed through the pouring rain up the steps into Hogwarts castle. It wasn't until she had reached the Great Hall that she realized just how many students were missing. Many parents were afraid to send their children back to where they had already been attacked by Death Eaters and where there was no Dumbledore to promise their safety. There was still no safer place than Hogwarts, but that was only in comparison- there was no truly safe place anymore. Ginny took a seat at the Gryffindor table, which contained the most students (no doubt the result of the pride, courage, and stubborn nature of Gryffindors).

Neville flopped into the seat next to her with a wet squish, looking like he'd just come out of the lake. Ginny reminded herself that she must look the same way. He looked up and down the table and asked Ginny, "Where're Harry, Ron and Hermione?"

"They aren't coming this year." She stated simply. Neville was taken aback

"Well, where are they?" Ginny paused, deciding what she should tell him. He is older and was part of the DA. It would be great to have someone help her gain information inside Hogwarts….. She threw caution to the winds and decided to tell him everything.

After looking up and down the table to make sure no one could be listening (there were so few people at the table, no one was even within earshot), she began. "Er, well… you know how You-Know-Who didn't die when he tried to kill Harry when Harry was a baby?..."

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A week had passed and Alice was becoming increasingly anxious. Draco was less than pleased to hear that Avery had been killed so that she could gain trust she would have gained over time anyway. Yaxley, of course, acted as though he had no opinion on the matter.

Finally, Draco came to her room to tell her it was time to leave for Hogwarts. "But first," he said, "You need to put on these." He held out a pile of what were obviously the black robes and mask worn by the Death Eaters. Alice reminded herself that she was one of them now. Draco left so she could change. The robes fit perfectly, billowing down from the waist, making it look more like a gown than a robe. After making sure she had her arm sash, dagger, and wand, she headed for the main hall.

All the Death Eaters were gathered there, shuffling anxiously in their own robes, all of which paled in comparison to the beauty of her own. Their collective rustling sounded like a pile of leaves in autumn and only served to increase her anxiety. There were no less than 100 of them in the main hall. A man at the centre of the group raised his hands to call attention to himself and the room immediately became silent.

"Death Eaters," The voice was unmistakable- Snape. "It is time for us to bring an end to Hogwarts. Our mission is to find Potter and destroy the school. We will have no more than ten minutes before the Order arrives. We will Apparate into the forest; with Dumbledore dead, there is no one capable of maintaining the wards around the school against me. Tonight, Death Eaters, we prove to the Dark Lord that he chose his followers well. We will show the wizarding community who holds the power." The restlessness and eagerness was palpable. "Now, we fight!" He disapparated, and the rest of the crowd followed suit. Draco grabbed my arm tightly and guided my apparition.

When Alice could breathe again, they were at the edge of a thick, dark forest. The air was full of popping sounds as the Death Eaters arrived. After a minute or so watching Snape mutter spells in the direction of the forests' edge, he declared that it was safe to continue. She emerged from the shadow of the trees into the clear starry night and was rendered breathless for a moment at the sight of Hogwarts castle. The clear sky behind the castle created a chilling silhouette of the great structure.

The Death Eaters marched toward the looming castle in a terrifying swarm. She followed them up the sweeping lawn and saw one of them blast through the door. With a quick check to make sure her mask was on, she followed them inside.

The Death Eaters had already destroyed half of what was obviously once a spectacular Entrance Hall. Those who were not occupied with the destruction of the Entrance Hall moved on to the Main Hall, which was even grander than the previous. A pillar crumbled at the other end from a spell by one of the Death Eaters. It was only a matter of time before teachers came to defend their school. Before this thought had finished crossing Alice's mind, she saw unmasked witches and wizards she did not recognize coming towards them, sending spell after spell at them. The Death Eater next to her was hit and fell to the floor in a heap. She ducked and ran out of the line of fire, but no sooner had she done this that more people came to fight. Only this time, they were students. A boy about Draco's age with protruding ears ran towards her and they began to duel. He was inexperienced, clumsy and weak, but Alice couldn't bring herself to beat him, not when he too was fighting her father. He threw spell after spell at her and she dodged and returned them easily, being careful that none of her spells actually hit him.

From behind the boy, a girl with flaming red hair shot a spell that hit her square in the chest and she slid across the floor and into the wall. There was a moment of confusion but, when she lifted her head, the red-haired girl was in a fight with another Death Eater and Draco had taken over the fight with the boy.

"You can't beat me, Longbottom, you never could!" Draco yelled to the boy over the raucous shouting and crashing sounds that were filling the hall. "Where's Potter? Shouldn't he be coming to your rescue?" A pillar crumbled at the other end of the hall, making dust billow out across the hall; they couldn't stay here. Alice saw clearly that Draco was purposely avoiding hurting the boy. She lifted herself off the marble floor, her body aching terribly, and ran to Draco as the boy he was fighting fell to the floor. No sooner had she reached him that another Death Eater appeared at their side.

"Hurry up and kill him! It's time to go!" Fear spread over the boy's face and he glanced at his wand lying only a few feet away.

"He's one of Potter's friends." Said Alice, "We should take him with us."

The Death Eater nodded, "Fine, but let's go!" Draco looked at Alice, but said nothing. He muttered a spell and Longbottom was instantly tied at the wrists and ankles. With another swish of his wand, the boy was lifted from the ground and floated behind him. When Draco and the Death Eater had turned, she snatched his wand from where it lay and followed them towards the door.

There were Death Eaters, students, and teachers strewn across the floor amidst rubble and pools of blood. Pillars had crumbled and there were holes in the magnificent ceiling and walls, and she wondered how much damage had been done to the rest of the castle. She followed Draco and the boy struggling in mid-air behind him out the door and onto the sweeping lawns where the air was not clouded with dust. A crowd of Death Eaters had already left, and many were following behind her, making their way back to the forest. There was suddenly an eerie light being cast on the forest from the direction of the castle, and all the Death Eaters turned to see one of the immense towers completely engulfed in flames.