Chapter 7

Hell have no fury

Hogwarts Great Hall, November 28th 1995, 7:30am

Alliance in mourning

By Peter Box

The Alliance are in mourning today after laying to rest one of their own in a moving ceremony yesterday at the private church that is situated on the Alliance grounds. The church was filled with family, friends and representatives from the Ministry including the Minister of Magic all there to pay their respects. A guard of honour surrounded the coffin which was draped in the flag of the Alliance, as well as a guard of honour at the entrance to the church.

The Alliance has been rocked by tragedy over the past month with an attack on the Manor itself on the 1st of November, those whom had attacked were detained by the Alliance's elite guard and all are awaiting trails as this paper goes to print. Though yesterday the sole focus was on the passing of one of their own. Anne Wright spokesperson for the Alliance had this to say after the service yesterday, "The Alliance is a close knit family, we are all in shock over the sudden passing of one of our own family, we ask that during this time we are left to mourn though we swear that those responsible will be punished to the full extent of the law."

For the first time in hundreds of years a ceremonial funeral was given, the guards themselves brought to tears as they carried the coffin from the church after the service, the guard of honour at the door raising their swords in salute for their fallen member.

More on the attack on page 2

Tributes page 3

The majority of the 7th years were left with shaking hands as they read the front page of the paper before reading through the tribute section at the Head Table Severus had his own paper closed unable to read it, his eyes scanning the hall taking in the pale expressions on some faces, while other had silent tears running down their own cheeks. Not a single member of the Alliance bar himself was within the hall not that he could blame them, pushing his breakfast away he stalked out of the hall knowing half the 7th years were watching him along with some on the head table. Entering his classroom he picked up the closest thing throwing it at the wall listening and watching it shatter before he picked up another jar, his classroom soon filled with flying objects that hit and shattered against the wall.

"Severus…"

"Not now Kingsley!" Severus hissed throwing another jar.

"This was not your fault," the man spoke ducking as a jar went flying over his head only to shatter against the door.

"They killed her!"

Kingsley sighed moving across the room grabbing hold of the man's arm forcing it down as he went to throw another jar this one filled with a potion, "I know, but it was not your fault."

Severus lowered his head, "They killed her…" he spoke softly hissing as his mark suddenly flared in pain, "I've got to…"

"I will watch over them all," Kingsley nodded letting go of the arm, "Do not do anything stupid Severus, they need you especially now."

Standing stonily within the inner circle Severus hid all of his emotions as the mission was laid out before them, they were to attack the prison and take back their own, they were to also release those the Dark Lord wished to praise for attacking the Alliance earlier that month. Each word had made Severus' blood boil, each word had made him want to strike out at the man before him, yet he did nothing he stood silently with his shields raised to full capacity hiding down his emotions, his desires to lash out to kill. As the group was dismissed to round up their teams Severus stayed put as he was required once again allowing the dark Lord into his mind showing him what he wanted to see, "Have you brought me any new information on the Alliance Severus?" the hissed.

"My Lord," Severus bit down bile the rose in this throat, "They are in mourning My Lord, I managed to attend the funeral they held yesterday, they are weak compared to you upset by the simplest of deaths."

The Dark Lord nodded pacing around his spy, "Keep close to them Severus as close as you can."

"I shall My Lord," Severus nodded going to leave.

"Stay Severus you are not needed for this mission."


Riddle Manor 12:30pm.

Screams issued up from those who were laid prone on the floor as they delivered the news that none of the faithful had been there, that none of the ones who had been caught by the Alliance had been there, "Where are they?" The dark Lord flung another curse at the withering man on the floor.

"My Lord…" a voice stuttered crawling forward and kissing the hem of his robes, "A Auror who was there said they had been removed My lord in July…"

Another curse hit the man who screamed out in agony as Voldemort kicked him away, "Severus!" he hissed turning his gaze on the man, "Find out where they are!"

"Yes My Lord," Severus bowed leaving the room which filled with screams once more of those being punished.


Minister of Magic's office, 1:00pm.

Amelia looked at the man who was slumped in the seat before her, "We managed to detain some but not all," she spoke her voice resigned.

"He knows they were removed," Severus nodded, "We tasked me with the job of finding them."

"The call is yours Severus, we made the right decision."

"He plans on attacking the Alliance…"

"Then we make sure that you are prepared for an attack."

Severus growled standing up, "They are not prepared not now!"

"Severus it pains me to say this but we are at war they have no choice but to try and move past this, you need to move past this as well otherwise they will crumble and fall and Riddle will win."


Riddle Manor 8:45pm.

Pain was coursing through Severus' body as he twisted and arched on the floor, Voldemort standing above him his face contorted in rage as he held the curse before finally lifting it Severus crawling forward and kissing the hem of the robes, "My Lord my sources tell me that the Goblin nation and the Alliance formed an alliance of their own, they can overrule the Ministry which they did," Severus lied, "They removed the prisoners to the Goblin nation before they were executed…"

"CRUCIO!"

Severus' back arched again as he could not help but scream out in pain, though in the dark recesses of his own mind it was pain he started to believe he deserved, as the spell lifted he crawled forward again, "I was able to learn that those who attacked the Alliance are being held by the Ministry in the cells under the court room."

Voldemort paced the room, "Rise," he hissed at his spy who did as directed, "They will pay for this act with their lives along with the Goblins shall pay, return to the school Severus."

"Yes My Lord," Severus bowed leaving the room trying to control his breathing and body.


Hogwarts, 9:00pm.

Kingsley was pacing the room of requirement as the floo flared Severus stumbling in and falling slightly his arm grabbing hold of Kingsley's robe to keep himself up right as he looked around the room seeing it empty, "Where…"

"All within their dorms Poppy gave them a dose of dreamless sleep ," Kingsley answered helping him into a chair before summoning a vial of pain relief, "Amelia contacted me."

"He knows," Severus nodded downing the potion.

"we knew it would happen that this would break."

"I had hoped for more time though."

"we are lucky we have had this much time Severus," Kingsley sighed taking his own chair.


Alliance Manor, 30th of November 1995.

"I know that now is not the correct time," Sirius spoke addressing the group who sat around the table.

"People are still holding balls aren't they?" Eike muttered, "Even in war Merlin forbid society is not seen."

Sirius sighed, "Correct, though this year apart from the ball you shall hold…"

"We hold… Sirius with what…"

"I know but if you do not they will think they have won, I know how hard this is for you but unfortunately appearances must be made. The staff Christmas party could be cancelled if you wish…"

"No," Michael spoke shaking his head, "They need that especially now."

"Then it shall stay," Sirius spoke softly, "The Alliance Christmas ball is the only one I believe you should attend together."

"But we should attend a few others but maybe only one or two of us?" Natalie asked softly.

"yes though with a larger guard, I will not take any chances on this."

The days that followed had more notices of death's in the paper, it seemed the Dark Lord had stepped up his act completely. Reports and rumours were heard that the man had attacked the prison only to find those he sought were no longer there, before wild rumours circulated that they had been executed by the Goblins. An attempted attack had also happened against the Ministry of Magic though those who had attacked were now currently being held in a secure location waiting trial, the Ministry had lost two people in the attack an investigation being held led surprisingly by Remus Lupin into how the death Eaters had gotten into the ministry to begin with. The Alliance were also seen walking the halls of the Ministry after the attack though they were surrounded by a heavy guard no one able to get within ten feet of the group. The IWC supporting the investigation though they had launched their own with the rumours circulating about the executions that had taken place the Goblin Nation being requested to sit down for a meeting which they agreed to only on the condition that the Alliance would be present along with the Minister of Magic a request which left many with more questions.

It was the second of December when the alliance sat down with Ted who looked pale as it was explained to him that the treaty they had signed had come into effect and also that the 12 missing prisoners had also been executed in accordance to Goblin law and the Alliance law itself, "What we need to know Ted," Severus spoke softly, "Is will this treaty hold up under questioning?"

"Yes," Ted answered sighing, "Between the laws of the Goblin Nation and the laws of the Alliance it holds strong, before each execution was the case gone back over by Alliance law and Goblin law?"

"It was."

"Was someone present from the Alliance who had signed the document when the sentence was carried out and was the sentenced explained?"

Glances passed around the table, "Yes Beatrice was present for each," Mark answered softly.

"I was there for all bar two," Severus answered.

"I was there as well," Sirius answered.

"Was there anyone else present?"

"No," Eike answered.

"Actually yes," Severus corrected the answer, "Madam Augusta Longbottom was present for the execution of Bellatrix Lestrange, she took a vow not to repeat it."

"Then that information will also need to be passed onto the IWC investigation though Severus whoever was there when the vow was made will also need to be present so as Madam Longbottom shall be able to speak," ted made a note before him, "I will also need to be present, I will contact the Goblin Nation and IWC to set up the meeting that suits everyone and also coordinate with the Minsters office, my recommendation at the moment is if you are asked about this you give no comment."

"We shall not speak about it," Severus nodded, "if you would excuse us." Severus turned his gaze to the others in the room the moment they were left alone again not surprised to see the glares directed at him, "Augusta Longbottom had every right to be present."

"how could you not tell us!"

"It was a need to know basis, it was not prudent for you to know," Severus growled, "before you all argue I made the decision by myself to have her there."

"Are there going to be any more surprised Sir?"

Severus sighed, "I do know how hard this time is for you all…"

"It's just… making decisions without…"

"I know,' Severus nodded, "And yet you all use to bitch and complain when she made decisions without you or did things without you before."

A small smile passed around the table at the words, "That was different though sir, she was at least here for us to bitch and complain to."

"What do we do about the IWC?" Samantha asked.

"We answer their questions like Ted suggested offer full disclosure by our own laws and by the common laws that the community falls under we have the rites to do what we did," Severus answered, "Offer full disclosure to them proves that we have nothing to hide, when we speak with them we make sure that Ted is present and that the topic remains only on the subject of the prisoners. Those we speak with within the muggle government know what we have done and though they are not happy with it they understand the reasoning why we did it. We do fall under muggle laws but our laws and our standings do raise us above it on conditions like this, this is war and there will be casualties on both sides it was within the best interests of all of this realm that these people did not get out into the public."

"Do you think they will question us all?" Michael asked glancing around the table, "We weren't there when they…"

"They will everyone in this room will no doubt be questioned, you will be asked if you were present before being asked I would assume how the decision was made no one and I mean that no one is to lie to them, if you voted against it you say so," Severus sighed, "When we speak to them try and keep it to the facts and as hard as I know that it is try and not get personal."


December 3rd 1995.

Severus was standing within the defence classroom demonstrating alongside Kingsley new duelling techniques when the door flew open, "Severus come quickly!" an out of breath medi-witch shouted before dashing back out of the door leaving the room partly confused, though the 7th years all looked once at their professors before racing after the medi-witch Severus and Kingsley following them.

The first thing Severus saw when he entered the room was the 7th years had stopped, it was then he heard the soft voice speak, "What did I miss?" If it was not for Kingsley who grabbed hold of his arm Severus knew he would have fallen to the floor as the 7th years made a walkway each stepping to the side for his eyes to fall on one person who was standing up, their frame skinny though their eyes sparkled with life, "Anyone going to answer the question?"


AN: Short chapter I know I am swapping it seems between long and short chapters, but this seemed like the best place to end this chapter and also not to bombard you all with information.