Freedom's Not So Free
Chapter Nine: Don't Tread On Me
by Batsutousai/Katmon
Beta: MagickMaker17
Summary: Defeating the Dark Lord was supposed to free the wizarding world. Defeating the Dark Lord was supposed to free the saviour. There's always a price, and someone's got to pay.
Disclaim Her: I know this might shock you, but I really don't own Harry Potter. The songs aren't mine. Don't really own this idea, either, as I've read other fics akin to it…
Warnings: Yup. Still two guys who love each other. Keep your eyes covered.
LET THE FINAL BATTLE BEGIN!!!
§§§§§
"So be it
Threaten no more
To secure peace is to prepare for war
So be it
Settle the score
Touch me again for the words that you'll hear evermore…
Don't tread on me"
- from "Don't Tread On Me" by Metallica
§§§§§
"Albus?" Ginevra pushed the oak door open slowly and frowned at the sight of the older Headmaster sleeping in his office chair. "Really, Albus. This has to stop." She stalked over to him and had rested a hand on his shoulder to shake him awake before realizing he was no longer breathing.
With a sob, Ginevra Malfoy fled from the office.
§§§§§
"I have some bad news." Ginevra offered to the Great Hall of students, teachers, and the three guests. "And this, I fear, is coming at the worst of times, since, as many of you have heard, Lord Voldemort has returned."
The Hall filled with shouts and cries as the students realized that the rumours had been true.
"Silence!" Lucius shouted to bring the group under control once again. He'd stood next to his daughter-in-law, wondering what other bad new she had to lay upon them all. As the Hall quieted, he sat back down again with a nod.
Ginevra took a deep breath. "Headmaster Dumbledore is dead."
The Hall froze with her words for an eternity before there was a wail from the Hufflepuff Table. Other cries followed and Ginevra let her shaking legs force her back into her seat, setting his face in her hands and crying softly.
Lucius wrapped an arm around the witch, his eyes shooting along the Head Table where other teachers were breaking down in tears. Even Nixie had tears of shock in her eyes.
Lysander stood quietly and came to stand behind Ginevra, settling a hand on her back gently. "His will?"
"I-I d-didn't get it-it." Ginevra hiccuped.
"And we can't call Amelia here to read it anyway, Evans." Lucius hissed sharply. "We're in lock-down."
"I'm aware of that, Malfoy." Lysander scowled at the man, rubbing at his arm, which was bothering him slightly. "Waldo can read it. She has next to no ties here, and she's a government official in America."
"Are you as well?" Lucius asked in a cold voice.
"Would it matter if I was?" The green-eyed wizard cocked an eyebrow at the grey-eyed wizard before sweeping from the Hall out a side door.
§§§§§
"Where's Lysander going?" Nixie murmured, looking after her partner's back.
"Get Albus' will, I suppose." Remus replied, wiping at his eyes with his napkin. "Although, I don't know who can read it. It's normally the Minister of Magic, but, due to the school's current situation, we can't call her in."
"Do you need the British Minister, or will an American official do it?" The young witch had to ask.
"I…" Remus glanced at the woman with a frown. "I have no idea. You'll have to ask Ginevra, I'm afraid." He admitted.
Nixie nodded and snuck over to where Ginevra had dried her tears. "Ginevra?"
The red-haired woman glanced over at the visiting witch. "Nixie, perfect timing. Would you mind reading Albus' will when Ly returns with it?"
Nixie blinked a few times. "That's, uh, what I was going to ask you, actually…"
Lysander stepped back into the Hall, Fawkes clinging to his left shoulder, and walked over to the two women as Ginevra smiled at Nixie. "Good."
Lysander handed a bit of parchment to the American and nodded at her. "Albus' will. Gin, if you could recollect their attention?"
"Why don't you." Ginevra dared, scowling.
Lysander cocked an eyebrow at her before turning to the students, who had moved among their tables and were finding comfort in each other. "Please return to your seats!" He called, using the slightest slip of wandless magic to calm the air of the room. "Once everyone is seated, we will read Professor Dumbledore's will!"
As the students quietly returned to their seats, Lysander turned to smirk at Ginevra. "Cheater." The Deputy Headmistress claimed, smiling sadly. "And you called me Gin, didn't you?"
Lysander shrugged. "Your father yelled some sense into me."
"He was desperately in need of it, too." Lucius offered, smirking at the dark-haired wizard.
"You two are so strange." Nixie offered, leaning on Lysander's free shoulder. "They're quiet, by the way. Whatever you did, Lysander, it's worked."
"Ly's just good with children." Ginevra said fondly, placing a quick kiss on Lysander's cheek before recatching the attention of all of the students. "Due to the lock-down, we cannot call Minister Bones in to read the Headmaster's will. As we have an official from America staying with us, Nixie Waldo, we have requested she read it instead." She turned to Nixie formally. "Ms. Waldo?"
Nixie nodded and took the place Ginevra had been standing in, untying and unrolling the parchment. "As follows is the will of Headmaster of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Albus Dumbledore.
' I, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, being of sound mind and judgement, do hereby state this to be my last will and testament. I do bequeath all of the capital in my Gringotts' vault to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for whatever uses it may find for it. I do bequeath the place of Head of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, as well as whatever belonging to me remains on said school's grounds, to one Lysander Harry James Evans Malfoy.' "
Nixie turned to stare at Lysander in shock, as did the members of staff who knew his name. The students looked at him in confusion.
"How did he find out about that?" We all Lysander murmured, refering to his secret marriage to Lucius.
Fawkes let out a trill.
Lysander scowled at the bird. "I hope you like roast turkey."
"Ly, stop." Ginevra scolded, frowning. "Why would Albus make you Headmaster?"
"To prove he trusts him." Neville suggested.
"To tie him down, for once." Lucius added with a cold smile.
"At any rate…" Ginevra grabbed Lysander's right hand and pulled him forward. "Do you, Lysander Harry James Evans Malfoy, agree to serve Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry fairly and firmly until it is your time to pass it on to another?" She intoned.
The room had filled with an opressive silence and Lysander had to fight for a breath. "I swear it on those who have died for me." He replied in a whisper.
"So it is witnessed, so it shall be." Came the reply from the Hogwarts staff, including those who didn't trust Lysander.
A student in the back of the hall, the Head Girl, stood and started clapping. The Head Boy, on the other side of the room, followed her example. Soon, the whole of the school was standing, clapping for their new Headmaster.
"So, the coot finally lost it?" A cold voice called from the Hall's doors. "And died, by the looks of things. Damn."
Students turned to look to the doors, then quickly backed up against the Head Table.
"Riddle!" Lysander vaulted over the Table to get between the students and the Dark Lord. "How in Merlin's name did you get in my school?" He called as the staff, Nixie, and Remus lined up behind him, guarding the students.
"Oh, we don't need all this bloodshed, my friends. I only want one thing." The Dark Lord offered pleasently as his Death Eaters fanned out behind him. "Well, two…" His eyes locked on to Lucius.
"I don't deal with slime." Was Lysander's firm reply.
"Now, now, Harry. That's no way to talk to your elders and betters." The Dark Lord hissed above the gasps from much of his opposition who put the pieces of the puzzle together and figured out who the new Headmaster really was.
"I hardly think slime is better than myself, Tom, unless I've been missing something for all these years." Came the sweet reply.
"Hand over Hogwarts, Potter, and I'll let your precious students live."
"What did I tell you last time you asked?"
"Then I'll kill you and take it that way."
Lysander narrowed his eyes. "Ginevra will be the next Head!" He called to the group behind him.
"So it is witnessed, so it shall be!" Called the mass of students, staff, and the two guests as Ginevra was pushed back into the group of students by her father-in-law. The students formed a protective circle around the young woman, who was scowling at both of her fathers-in-law.
"Try me, Tom." Lysander suggested softly, crossing his arms over his chest.
The Dark Lord started across the Hall, as did Lysander. The two met in the middle, glaring holes into one another's head.
"You're dying tonight, Potter."
"Then, I will not go down alone, Riddle."
"You don't have your wand."
"I don't need it."
"Very well…" The Drak Lord smiled coldly. "Bow to death, Harry."
Lysander let out a humourless laugh that made those watching on shudder. "You never change, Tom. It's no wonder you always lose."
"Detegere!"
Lysander let out a hiss as his scar appeared on his forehead. "Had to make sure, eh, Tommy-boy?"
The Dark Lord smirked. "I just like seeing my handywork."
"Ah, yes. The failed handywork."
"Cruc-"
"Finite!"
The Dark Lord narrowed his eyes as the spell gathering on the end of his wand puffed out. "We're playing this game again, then?"
"Hardly." Lysander brought his hands together grimly as the Dark Lord rose his wand again.
As Lysander shouted "Mortalis et Corpus Destruere!" his opponent cried "Avada Kedavra!"
There was a flash of light and a billow of smoke.
When the smoke cleared, only one wizard remained standing.
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A/N: Short and with a cliffy. -grimaces and ducks more fruit-
Only one more chapter to go!!
It amused me that about half of you were happy Dumbles was dead, and the other half weren't.
Latin:
Mortalis et Corpus Destruere - Soul and Body to Destroy(literally)
Detegre - Unveil
Thank to EVERYONE!!!(I'd write 'em all, but I'm exhausted!!)
Batsutousai