Merlin how I loathe that damn toad! How dare she use blood quills on children! Nothing would give me more pleasure than to rip out her putrid heart. It would be easy to reach forward and-

"Hem, hem. Regina dearest, are you alright?"

"Of course, I am (you bitch)? Forgive me, my mind was elsewhere."

"It's alright, dear not everyone can comprehend the vigorous amounts work I do every day here at this school, with these horrid children."

Regina desperately wanted to roll her eyes. "It must be challenging and tiring."

Dolores preened. "Oh, yes, very hard. I don't know how I manage to do it all."

"Funny how Professor McGonagall made it look easy."

Her pink cardigan clashed horribly with her now red face.

"Yes if you excuse me."

Regina bit her lip to keep in her laughter and made her down the hall. A loud crashing noise caught her attention.

The toad's tattle squad had just collided noisily against a now doorless wall.

Idiots! She hoped Harry Potter and his friends were fast learners.

She left the moaning morons behind and continued on her way to the front of the school where the second and third years were waiting.

Five dark hooded figures bowed to their powerful dark lord.

"Go and kill everyone in your path. Let their blood paint the streets, and their screams fill the air. "

Severus bowed low. "Where are they going, my lord?"

Piercing red eyes turned towards him. "Thanks to the information you have brought me over the days I was able to plan a perfect attack. This will be the first of many deaths of Hogwarts students."

Severus felt his blood run cold. "Where are they going, my lord?"

Severus lowered his head under the glare of the dark lord.

"I only wish to understand the genius of your plan, my lord fully."

"They, my trusted servant, are going to Hogshead."

Severus felt dread consume him; he needed to warn her. "Brilliant plan, my lord."

Something was dreadfully wrong; the air felt thick with tension. Regina scanned her surroundings; a dark figure hid in the shadows. A surge of magic tingled the hairs on the back of her neck.

She ran as a spell was yelled out. Shielding a small group of second years she blocked off the cutting curse.

"Run to the school!"

Several of the older third years stepped toward Regina's side wands in hand.

The dark figures began to emerge from the shadows, masks covering their faces.

"Protect the younger students! Go now! "

They hesitated before rushing away into the woods. Regina threw a fireball in the enemy's direction as they stepped forward.

Spells flew over her head as she ducked and weaved. More cloaked figures appeared as she crushed the beating heart in her hand. She created a wall of fire between the escaping students and enemies. They would have to kill her to get to them.

A nasty spell clipped her side as she flung a man into a wall.

They were appearing faster than she could kill them. With a flick of her hand, the figures flew against a building giving her time to run for the woods. She hoped the students had made it to safety. A sharp cry caught her attention as she ran past a shop. Turning around, she saw a small frightened girl crying, pulling her into her arms, she carried the little child into the woods.

She was almost there. The school was so close. She gasped as she ran; the cut on her side made breathing difficult. The group of children she had escorted was close to entering the grounds. She heard branches breaking behind her, putting the girl down she made her decision.

"I need you to run as fast as you can.''

The small girl cried as she hesitated. Regina could hear yells getting closer.

"Run, now!"

The girl hugged her before running away from her savior. Regina braced herself and centered her weakening magic. Bringing up a surge of power, she shot a ball of fire and hit the first dark figure who broke through the trees. As the figure fell, more came rushing toward her before she could muster up another ball of fire. In a matter of seconds, a mass of hooded figures surrounded her. The Cruciatus Curse caught her by surprise, withering in pain she fell to the ground. Before she blacked out, shining lights erupted around her attackers.

The Auroras had finally arrived.