Chapter Ten

Invasion

"Father! What's going on?" Draco called out as he looked towards the man with panic gleaming in his eyes. HE was tuned into the wards as well and so he knew that they had fallen.

"Someone has pulled down the wards. They are not friendly Draco, if they wanted to get in so badly that they would rip down our wards." Lucius stated as he appeared at the top of the stairs, his wife, son, and McGonagall standing at the base of them. "We must be prepared to fight."

"I will stay and fight as well." McGonagall said with a nod of her head. It was obvious that she was not leaving. "What of Harry though? I thought he was in with you."

Lucius scowled at the mention of the boy before sighing. "It seems that Severus has deem it fit to take control of the boy's treatment, by force if necessary." He explained as he walked down the stairs, wand drawn and ready to fight. "We must make sure that whoever attacks doesn't make it to him and Severus."

"I shall call to the Order." McGonagall stated as she swished her wand and a glowing white cat appeared in front of her. "Malfoy Manor is being attacked. Harry, Severus, and I are all here. Severus and Harry are occupied and defenseless. We need all the help that we can get!" She waved her wand once more and the cat disappeared with bounding leaps. "Now we can only hold them off for as long as we can."
Draco gulped before stealing his features and ran up the stairs and passing his father. "I'm going to get a few things! I'll be right back!"

Lucius nodded as he walked down the stairs and walked over to the front doors. "Narcissa, will you go and speak with the house elves and see if they are willing to defend the mansion with us?" He questioned as he began to wave his wand around intricately.

"Of course my love." She replied and took off down to the kitchens where she hoped their servants would be willing to fight with them. Both Malfoys had seen how the house elves at Hogwarts had fought and how much damage they had caused. They hoped to use that same ferocity to defend their home now.

McGonagall looked around the mansion and spotted several little figures of snakes, gargoyles, chimeras, and Pegasi littering the place. She concentrated and soon all the little stone figures were detaching from the walls and marching into places protect the people within the mansion. She waved her wand at them once more and soon they were the same size and humans, if only just towering over them an inch or two. "That should lend some more protection. Do you have any clue on who is attacking the Mansion?"

Lucius nodded his head. "Nott, Mulciber, Avery, and the Lestrange Brothers. They attacked the Mansion earlier this year and we informed the Aurors then as well. Hopefully your Patronus will inform them quickly."

"Right, then we should get into a better position to protect from them before they really start attacking." McGonagall stated sternly as she turned to move into a better position.

Only to stumble as the door exploded behind them, the debris hitting an invisible shield, and protecting them from damage. "It seems that those alarms of yours is still working then." Rodolphus said as he smirked at the Malfoy Patriarch. "Though it won't keep you alive for much longer. Rabastan, tear through these wards." He ordered his brother as he pointed his wand at an attacking chimera statue and blasted it to pieces. "I'll hold off these statues with the others."

"Got it." Rabastan said as he began to move his wand in patterns. Rodolphus quickly moved his own wand and soon several bulky Earth Golems rose from the ground and began pounding against the wards as well.

Lucius gritted his teeth as he forced more magic into the wards, hoping to hold off the Death Eaters for as long as possible. He was unsure of how long he could hold it though and hoped the Narcissa and Draco were safe somewhere with a plan of their own.

GUR2

Draco gritted his teeth as he sprinted to his room where his supplies of pranks were hidden. Things he had gotten from Zonko's and Weasley Wizard Wheezes under polyjuice potions. The Weasley still wasn't allowing him into his store and Zonko's had placed a ban on him after his sixth year so he had to resort to creative methods to get what he wanted.

Now he was happy that he had taken the time to do so. He could use all the prank products to his advantage since most are great distractions or obstacles. The instant Swamp, the Peruvian Darkness Powder, and so much more. He still had his hand of glory and his broomstick could come in handy as well. Then there was his own knowledge of spells and potions he could use. He'd be able to provide some safety to Snape and Harry and help his father as well.

"Alright." Draco said as he got to his room and started pulling things out and throwing into a bag to carry. He climbed onto his broom and took off down the hall to his father's study, dropping different pranks along the way to create a course that would be difficult to traverse on most days and even worse when one was hopped up on adrenaline. "I won't let them get you." He muttered to himself as he flew back towards the entrance, ready to assist his father.

GUR2

"Do you understand what is happening?" Narcissa questioned the house elves as she looked at them all. All the elves had been gathered into the kitchen and she had explained the situation. She had explained what had happened at Hogwarts with the School house elves and what she wanted them to do. "With them attacking the manor, we need all the help we can get."

"Sissy understands but she does not know if we House Elves are capable of such a thing." The House elf admitted with a shrug. "We do not fight."

"But you serve us as well." Narcissa added on smoothly. "To serve is to protect and that is what I am asking of you. To protect the mansion that houses all of us. We live here together after all." She stated with a smile and held a hand out towards her own little house elf. "Come Sissy, I am only asking you to do what you are capable of."

Sissy looked at her mistress with awe, never had she done something like this for the little elf. She looked behind her to the other stunned elves before turning back towards the mistress and taking the hand tentatively. "We's do what we can to protect our family." She agreed before she and the other elves disappeared with determination written all over their faces.

Narcissa smiled at the thought of having such loyal elves despite all of the trouble and hardship her family had put them through. It was definitely time for the Malfoys to change their attitudes and the way they handle things.

"But it can wait until those no good brother in laws are taken care of." She muttered as she pulled out her wand and marched out of the kitchen, ready to help her husband and son in protecting the manor.

GUR2

"This is the first Quidditch match you participated in." Snape said as he looked around and took in the screams of cries of horror, the boy-who-lived bouncing on his broomstick told him exactly what part of the match they were in.

"That's right." Harry agreed as he nudged at the barrier holding him firmly in place, trying to loosen it even a little bit. It budged a little but he groaned as it was tightened right back up. "Let me go you bastard." He hissed at the professor angrily.

"No." Snape said as he watched the Granger girl set his rob on fire but because of that Quirrell's eye contact was broken and the broom stopped moving. "Why would you bring this memory to the front? Why was this so traumatizing?" He questioned with a raised brow.

Harry sneered as he glared at the memory. "Because you did the one thing that was unforgivable." He stated and closed his eyes as pain lanced through his mind. It was obvious that the strain of fighting Snape and trying to stop his memories were starting to affect him. He wasn't sure how much longer he could last like this. "You saved my life."

Snape blinked in surprise as he took in the information before scoffing. 'Who would have thought we'd have that in common.' He thought as he watched the scene change to the night of Lupin's transformation and he jumping in front of them to protect them. "It seems that you simply hated me saving your life." He stated as the scene changed from that terrific end to Potter's third year and then they were left in darkness. Snape was giving a boy a break. "But you know the reason behind my protecting you."

"Of course I do!" Harry snarled as he looked at the man. "But that doesn't change the fact that I hated it! I hate you! All of the crap you put me through because you hated me! Hated my father! But you loved my mother and all she was!" Tears sprung up in Harry's eyes as he fought harder against Snape. He didn't want this! He didn't want this man's help anymore! Why couldn't he leave him alone? "Why can't you just see that I want you to leave me alone?" he sobbed out as closed his eyes. His chest and mind were burning fiercely at this point.

"Because you need help." Snape said to the crying form with little pity for him. "You refuse to take it and even though Lucius has helped you somewhat, you still have not accepted what you need." He stated as the scenery changed to a graveyard and a high pitched laugh echoed around them, making Harry gasp in horror. "If you do not face what scares you the most, you will always be a terrified little boy, no matter your appearance."

Harry screamed as his memory self-screamed under the torture curse. He screamed as hard and long as possible, magic pulsing around his small form.

Snape grunted as what felt like a hand grabbed him around the middle and soon it felt like he was being thrown. He had no chance at fighting it as it came too fast and too hard.

He was thrown out of Harry's mind.

"Damn brat." He grumbled as he pushed himself up off of the floor and glared at the passed out form of Potter across from him. "Still unable to control himself and his emotions." He growled in anger as he stood up and dusted himself off, looking around the office.

That was when a scream caught his attention.

The door blasted apart a moment later and Snape was glaring at a familiar face a moment later.

"Lestrange."

"Snape."

GUR2

"They're almost through my barrier." Lucius groaned in annoyance. He had put up his strongest barrier but the youngest Lestrange brother had always been handy at dismantling them and putting them up. HE wasn't surprise that he was having a hard time keeping them up.

"They have destroyed most of my warriors as well." McGonagall stated as she looked at the few stone statues still moving were chipped away at by Nott and Avery. Mulciber was standing at the very back, waiting for his chance to attack. Rodolphus stood at the very front, just in front of his brother, waiting to strike as soon as the shield was down. He wasn't going to wait behind like Mulciber, he wanted his first kicks before the others. "Their area is much too concentrated and easily attacked. Though its funneled, with how they've positioned themselves…they'll win at this rate."

"I know." Lucius said as sweat fell down his face. "I can't hold this up much longer."
"Then don't dear." Narcissa said as she appeared and Draco came flying on his broom only moments later. "We've got a plan that should work. Let them into the manor and we'll retreat."

Lucius grunted just as Draco landed in front of him and held out a disfigured hand. "Gather round me!" The boy shouted at the two women. "Father, when I say to, let go of your spell and we'll run." He said as he pulled out two little black balls from a pouch tied to his hip.

"Got it." Lucius muttered and prepared to break the spell.

"Grab a hold of me and don't let go, no matter what." The blonde teen said as he dropped the two little balls onto the floor and darkness surrounded them completely. "Now father!"

Lucius instantly dropped the barrier, leaning heavily on his son as the boy led the three adults through the darkness with his Hand of Glory, taking up the stairs. "Where are you taking us?"

"Up the stairs. I've got some traps laid out for the Death Eaters." Draco explained as he moved erratically through the hall, apparently avoiding traps even as he dropped more Peruvian darkness Power behind him. "We're heading towards your office to set up a barricade. We'll have to keep Severus and Harry safe until their out of that spell."

"Yes, we must protect the two." McGonagall agreed as she cast alarms, to let them know as the group got closer to them. "We won't have a lot of time but we'll have the manor at our advantage, seeing as you three should know this place better than anyone."

"You would think that." Lucius said as he gasped in another breath. His stores were low and he was unable to tell how much he'd be able to do before he collapsed. "Unfortunately we were detained in our rooms most of the war while the Dark Lord and the other minions were allowed to roam freely." He grunted as his head throbbed. "The price of failing the Dark Lord so many times before."

The Gryffindor's lips thinned but she nodded her head in understanding. "So be on guard no matter what." Draco said as he turned to the right sharply and then left and then a full hundred eighty degrees before right and then back another hundred eighty degrees. "Despite all of the traps and what not, there's an area up ahead that's clear. It'll be just a ways down from Father's office and perfect for a last stand."

"There will be no last stand." Narcissa cut in sharply. "We have other avenues we can rely on other than ourselves."

"We's have started mistress!" A tiny voice said from beside the troop suddenly, startling them horrifically.

"House elves." McGonagall gasped as she looked at the little creatures surrounding them.

"That is good. Be ready for these men are not friends. They will kill you before they show any mercy." Narcissa warned before nudging Draco. "Come my son. We must continue."
"Yes mother." With that Draco continued forward. His steps were sure and calculated. He wasn't about to lead anyone into a trap that he had set. "We have a little more to go." He said as he ducked down underneath something. The others mimicked him quickly and carefully and only stood up when he did.

IT was another bunch of turns and twists but soon Draco released his mother's hand and looked around the area just a couple of doors down from Lucius's office. "Have any of your proximity alarms gone off yet?" He turned to McGonagall with a frown.

"Not a one." She admitted with her own frown and she knew something was up. "Is there any passages near here we should be worried about?"
"I hit that one too, so the closest one would be just down the hall before the Swamp." Draco explained as he looked that way with a narrowed gaze.

"So they'll hit that before they can get here." He explained.

"And we did." A voice stated from just beside Draco.

The Blonde whipped around to look at who had spoken but stopped as a fist slammed into his face, sending him wheeling to the ground. "Did you really think a bunch of little pranks and tricks would stop us?" Rodolphus said as he appeared in front of them.

Narcissa snickered while McGonagall and Lucius tried to keep serious faces. Draco could only smirk at this uncle in victory. "It seems that the swamp did do a number on you brother." The Malfoy Matriarch said with a tilt of her head.

Rodolphus snarled but didn't say anything as mud dripped from his hair and face and slid down his body. The others were all in the same shape, covered in mud and gunk from the swamp. None looked impressed or happy. "Let's show them what happens when you mess with the Dark Lord's finest and most loyal warriors." The elder stated as he shot off a spell, only to growl as it bounced off of a shield.

"You'll have to get through me." McGonagall stated as she shot off a body bind spell.

Rodolphus snarled as he side stepped and the others behind him began to move as well. Swerving and ducking spells and they fired them off. The Malfoys and McGonagall mimicked the movments as well, avoiding spells that could kill in one shot and blocking others that would have knocked them out cold.

"Any clue when your reinforcements are supposed to show up?" Lucius asked as he twirled out of the way of a purple spell. He'd rather not get hit by that one as it was rather nasty.

"No idea." The teacher replied as she shot off an Expelliarmus before ducking a cutting hex that took off her hat and bun, hair flying everywhere. "Do you have any idea how long that took to grow!?" She screeched as she shot off her own cutting hex, hitting Rabastan's wrist and taking the entire hand off.

Unfortunately it was his left hand and not his right, his wand hand.

"Damn you bitch! Die already!" Rabastan screamed as he hit his stump with a blood clotting spell, stopping the bleeding before it got too out of hand.

"Don't you know cats have nine lives?" She spat back, dodging to the right of a Cruciatus from the younger's brother. "And I still have all nine of mine!" She announced as she pointed her spell at the ground and watched in delight as the carpet shot up from under the Death Eater's feet and sent them flying onto their backs. "Now Draco!"

Draco nodded as he spat out a spell and sent two of the Death Eaters hurtling down the hall with all of the traps but then gasped as he was hit with a Cruciatus, screaming all the way to the ground as his body spasm.

"Draco!" Narcissa screamed and pointed her want at Rodolphus and screamed the first spell she could think of.

Only to stop and stare in amazement as the man's hair turned a brilliant blonde that shorted into a bob. "Well…that's one way to distract someone." Lucius muttered as he blinked in surprise at his wife's choice of spell.

"I didn't do it on purpose!" She yelled but then screamed as a spell slammed into her midsection, slamming her against the wall and out cold.

"Dumb bitch, nothing like her sister." Rodolphus spat before blocking a spell from Lucius with a snarl. "Go to hell you damned traitor!"

"Not before you." Lucius shot off a spell, grunting as he felt what little energy he had disappear. "Elves! Now!" He called out and watched as the five house elves he had under his employment appeared and grabbed a hold of Rabastan and Mulciber each and began to tear into them.

Rodolphus ignored the pained screams and instead slammed his spell into the ground and summoned two more golems and sent them at McGonagall, effectively cutting her off from attacking him again. "You know, I should just kill you all and be done with it." He stated as he walked over to Lucius, kicking Draco in the head and knocking the boy out on the way. "It would make my life so much easier."

"Then why don't you?" Lucius asked as he backed away, hoping his wife and son would be alright. "You could kill us here and now, just like you said. I am out of energy and you have effectively disabled my family. What is stopping you?"

"Because." The Death Eater said as he put his face directly in the Patriarch's own, rancid breath fanning over the other's face as a wand appeared against his throat. "I know the Dark Lord will want to deal with you personally, so I will leave you to him."

"The Dark Lord is dead. Potter made sure of that." Lucius stated with confidence in at least that bit. "He destroyed anyway for him to come back. It's not possible anymore."

Rodolphus smirked evilly though as he tilted his head. "Oh is it? I think not actually." He said easily. "There are more than one way to bring someone back from the dead and we plan on doing so." He stated before he slammed his fist into the Malfoy's face, breaking his nose and knocking him out cold. "Now to get the Potter brat." He said as he bypassed a struggling McGonagall and the two struggling Death Eaters.

He walked straight to the office door and blasted it open.

GUR2

"I believe that hairstyle suits you well Rodolphus." Snape drawled as he raised a brow at the blonde bob the other now sported.

The Death Eater Glared at the Potions Master furiously. "Snape! You should be dead you bastard!"

"Ah, but I am not. The benefits of being a Potions Master with several backup plans." He explained as he trained his wand on the other and kept his stance ready. The other was here for a reason and he was not about to let him get what he wanted.

Not to mention Potter was still unconscious just a few feet away from the Death Eater and in great danger of being killed in his sleep.

Rodolphus snarled as he shot a Cruciatus at the bastard and then dove to the side as a Sectumsempra was aimed at his head. He watched with wide eyes as a small body then flew at Snape, which the Potions Master caught and settle down behind him quickly. "So Potter is here then. And it seems he's even more of a runt than he was before." He smirked happily at this bit as it would all go according to his plans then.

"It has nothing to do with you Lestrange. Leave the boy out of this and fight me like the no good bastard you are." Snape snarled as he shot off another Sectumsempra, growling when it was dodged.

"No, you see, I need the boy. He's the key I need to bring the Dark Lord back to life." Lestrange stated with a smirk before shooting off a killing curse. Snape could do nothing but dodge out of the way, putting Potter away from him.

"All of the Dark Lord's Horcruxes were destroyed Lestrange. You can't bring him back, it's impossible to raise the dead!" Snape stated as he threw out a blasting curse followed by an entrails expelling curse.

"But there is!" Rodolphus shouted as he ducked underneath the curses and proceeded to fire off an Incendio, blocking Snape from Potter and forcing him to move further away from the boy. "I've found a way and I can do it! It will be me the Dark Lord Praises when he has arisen again!" He stated as he ran forward towards the body of the child.

"NO!" Snape snarled as he whipped his wand around and whipped up an icy cold wind that force Lestrange to stumble backwards and for the fire to recede slightly. "I will not allow you to harm that boy."

The Death Eater snarled before stabbing his wand at the ground and watched with a wide grin as a wooden Golem appeared in front of him and waddled towards the Potions Master. "You aren't getting a say in this matter you traitor!" He growled as he sprinted towards the body of Potter and quickly scooped the child up in his arms.

"Put him down!" Snape snarled as he slashed the Golem in half and set it on fire, turning it into ash. "Now Lestrange! I won't say it again!"

Rodolphus smirked at the snake before tilting his head. "You haven't noticed yet, have you?" He questioned with a sinister smirked, adjusting Harry in his grip so that his wand hand was free. "There are no wards here Snape, nothing to stop me from doing this." With that he disappeared with a pop.

"No!" Snape snarled as he looked at the area in disbelief. 'The wards have been taken down, even the anti-apparition wards.' He thought frantically before running to the door and looking out just in time to see two more Death Eaters disappear with four dead bodies of house elves and a twitching one left where they had been.

All three Malfoys were down while McGonagall was struggling with the golems that were left behind.

Snape snarled before he slashed his wand and destroyed the golems and looked at McGonagall. "Where are the reinforcements?"

"They haven't shown up." She spat as she brushed her now much shorter and ragged hair out of her face. "I sent that Patronus twenty minutes ago and they have not shown head nor tails of themselves." She growled just as loud pops began to sound in the mansion. "Until now." She muttered as Kingsley Shacklebolt and Arthur Weasley appeared with several other Aurors behind them.

"We came as soon as we could. What happened? Why are the wards down around the mansion?" Kingsley questioned hurriedly.

Snape snarled at the Minister for a long moment until he dined to answer. "Harry Potter has been taken by Death Eaters to resurrect the Dark Lord."

GUR2

A.N. Haha! I got another chapter done! Can you believe it! Took forever but I got it! So what do you think of it now? I thought this chapter was a lot more jam packed with action than the others. What do you think? Review and tell me what you think about it! Okay! Until next time then you guys!