Author's note: Sorry it took me a while to write this chapter, but as you can see it was a really long one and alot happens, so pay attention. There will be a quiz at the end. Need to warn you though. This chapterhas a great deal of violence in it with some pretty nasty scenes and there is a bit of foul language and maybe even a suggestive theme or two mixed in. There I warned you and covered my own ass. Oh, as always, I do not own Final Fantasy VII or Harry Potter.
Enjoy and keep reviewing. The more I get, the faster the next chapter will roll out.
Chapter 11
"Deadly Reunion"
Two loud pops drew everyone's attention inside Gringrotts. Many cowered in terror, believing that Death Eaters were trying to enter. Several ran for the bank vaults in panic. Some went for their wands, refusing to go down without a fight. Ginny and Hermione stood in front of all, casting spells at the intruders the moment they arrived. The intruders jumped and danced in fright at the oncoming curses.
"Stop, stop! It's us! It's Fre-," one intruder shouted before being interrupted by Ginny's infamous bat bogey hex. Bat-winged snot flew around his head, entwining his hair.
"Please…HaHa…it's us…HaHaHa…Hermione…HAHAHA!" gasped another intruder in between bursts of laughter. Someone had hit him with a tickling curse; making him laugh uncontrollably and making him roll around on the bank floor.
At the sound of her name, Hermione looked at squirming intruder. She couldn't get a good look at him while his features were contorted in laughter and he was rolling around so much.
"How do you know my name?" she demanded.
"YAHAHA…It's Ron…HAHAHA!"
'Ron,' Hermione thought. 'Couldn't be.' Her eyes couldn't believe it. 'Ginny said they were lost, dead. Maybe it was a Death Eater in disguise. Yes, it had to be Death Eaters.' She was one of Harry Potter's best friends after all. Surely Voldemort would want to deceive and use her and Ron to get to Harry. She was about to blast the intruder when she caught a look at the boy's eyes. They were so familiar. 'Maybe it really is Ron,' she thought. 'I have to be sure.' She lifted the curse off the intruder, but kept her wand aimed at his chest, ready to condemn him to a fate much worse than a tickling curse.
"Prove it," she ordered harshly. The boy took a moment to catch his breath and raised himself to one knee.
"You've been the top student at Hogwarts in our class every year," he said.
"Everybody knows that," said Ginny as she walked over. She eyed up the Ron look-alike carefully. It looked a lot like her brother, but after Tonks' warning, she knew she couldn't be too careful.
"You have a birthmark on your right cheek," he said softly. Hermione instantly turned bright red. Ginny looked at her friend's face carefully.
"You don't have a mark on your face," she observed. Hermione's face grew even brighter. It suddenly dawned on Ginny.
"Ron!" she shouted as she spun around at her brother. He grinned sheepishly at the two girls, just before they both hexed him.
The twins, recovered from their own curses, approached and the family was reunited. Well, except for Ron. He was still fleeing from the army of bat bogies while dancing to Hermione's Jelly-legs curse. Thankful tears were shed and there were hugs all around. Eventually, Hermione released Ron from the curses. She smacked him once on the arm before pulling him in for a kiss that lasted a little too long for Ginny's taste.
"You two are disgusting," she smirked. The twins heard and they all started to laugh. Ron and Hermione, still in lip lock, flipped them the finger.
WHAM! Another blow struck the bank doors, sending the twins scrambling and finally breaking Ron and Hermione's kiss.
"What the hell was that?" cried Ron.
"The Giants that chased us, remember," explained Hermione. "They've been trying to get in for a while now."
"Where's Tonks?" asked Ron as he looked around at the terrified people crowding the back of the bank and then back at Hermione. "She didn't…" he gulped.
Hermione shook her head. "She went to alert the rest of the Order and get help. She should be back soon." A sudden volley of loud pops echoed through the bank lobby. "Speak of the devil," smiled Hermione. Tonks and over a dozen members of the Order of the Phoenix walked into the alley. Kingsley Shacklebolt led the way with her.
"Thought we lost you three," said Tonks, seeing Ron and the twins as they approached the teens.
"They're too stupid to die," mumbled Ginny. If the group heard her, they ignored her.
"What's the situation?" asked Kingsley, clearing trying to take charge.
WHAM!
The newcomers recoiled at the blow, clearly startled. Ginny rolled her eyes at the "brave" adults.
"That's the situation. There's a lot of Giants and Deatheaters out there wanting to get in here," she said with plenty of attitude.
"Why don't they just apparate inside like we did?" asked Dawlish. He was one of the recent additions to the Order after Dumbledore had basically jinxed him out of the Ministry last year.
"Because they know there's a lot of people in here, most of which are adult wizards of some sort, just waiting to blast whoever comes in," stated Hermione. "That's what we did to the boys when they popped in. We would have been able to hold them for awhile, at least until Tonks returned." Hermione frowned. "But I don't know how long we could have lasted if the Giants got in."
"Well, we're here now," said Tonks cheerfully, trying to lighten the mood of her friends. "And Dumbledore and the others are on their way. They should be here in a few minutes. After all, it's a long way from Hogwarts."
WHAM!
WHAM!
WHAM!
"They don't give up easily, do they?" wondered George.
"Not when they want something," replied Kingsley. He glimpsed past the huddled crowd at the entrance of the bank vaults. 'But I'm not sure it's us they want,' he thought darkly.
Several members of the Order approached the massive doors, as the Giants continued their increased assault. Their blows rained down harder and faster upon the doors, but the enchanted gates held strong. Kingsley carefully gazed over the doors. The Giants blows has left a small indention in the great bronze doors, but had caused no other visible damage. Confident that the doors would hold, Kingsley started to walk back to Tonks and the teens.
Outside, the blows stopped. It wasn't a pause between attacks; they ceased all together. Kingsley stopped and walked back to the doors. He faintly heard shouting on the other side. He held his ear to the door and listened carefully.
The amassed Deatheaters were cheering a name Kingsley didn't recognize over and over very loudly. Soon the Giants began shouting the name too. The shouting reached a frenzying pace, the Deatheaters chanting in unison and the Giants roaring as loud as their mass lungs could muster. A sudden white light erupted on the outside, its own roar drowning out the Deatheaters and Giants. The light pierced through the seams of the bank doors. Kingsley and the others had to shield their eyes from the intense glare. The light and its roar faded and the shouting began again, with new and increased fervor. The Deatheaters and Giants shouted louder than ever, chanting for this name, this thing with unreal fury. Kingsley stepped away from the door, drawing his wand. The other Order members near him did the same.
Suddenly, a silver blade pierced through the doors, showering sparks over the Auror. The blade sliced through the door, not sawing, just cutting through the massive doors like they were made of paper. Doors that withstood the thunderous blows of Giants. Doors enchanted with the oldest of magic. Kingsley stood in awe as the thin blade of silver continued to dissect the doors.
"That's impossible," Kingsley muttered. The other members of the Order of the Phoenix stood shocked besides him. Great chucks of bronze and mithril flew from the door and Kingsley could see glimpses of Deatheaters and Giants waving their weapons and cheering. And he caught glimpses of black leather and silvery hair.
The doors groaned under their own weight and rattled against their frames. Kingsley looked at the remaining door and then back at the sword butchering them. 'No force on Earth, magic or not, can do that,' thought the astonished and frightened Kingsley. He knew the exact spells and enchantments on those doors. Anti-intruder charms, anti-dark magic, strengthening charms, durability charms, sealing spells, everything and anything you could think of. He knew that no mortal weapon, even one enchanted with the darkest and most potent magic's could cut through that door. Utter hopelessness fell upon him and he realized that whatever it was outside working for Voldemort, whatever or whomever it was, that they couldn't stop it. Perhaps not even with the full strength of the Order. Kingsley turned away from the doors and ran to the confused and frightened Tonks.
"Kingsley, what's out there?" she asked, her eyes wide with fear. "What's doing that?"
Kingsley looked away from her, refused to look into her eyes. He was afraid that seeing her fears would increase his own. And he couldn't show fear now. "How deep do those vaults go?" he asked roughly.
"Um, pretty deep I think," Tonks stammered.
"You take these people and you go as deep as you can. You hide and you stay there as long as have air," he ordered.
"No, I can help you guys. I'm in the Order…" started Tonks.
"NO!" bellowed Kingsley, startling Tonks and everyone nearby. He didn't pause when Tonks eyes widened in fear of him. He grabbed her roughly by the shoulders and shook her. "GET THEM INSIDE THE VAULTS!" he ordered again. He released Tonks, pushing her in the direction of the vaults. Tonks stared at Kingsley, her mouth open in silent protest. But the look from Kingsley's dark eyes ended any argument before it began. Tonks, accepting her orders, turned away from Kingsley.
"Everyone!" she called out. "Follow the Goblins into the mine vaults!" The already scared crowd grew more frightened at the announcement, milled towards the vaults. They followed a younger Goblin named Tumahab into the darkness. Tonks watched from the lobby, making sure everyone stayed together. Then she turned to her younger friends.
"Alright. Into the vaults," she said dryly. Instantly, moans of protest emerged from the teens. "Shut up!" Tonks said harshly. "If I don't get to fight, then there's no way in hell that you all will. Now get your asses into the vaults." Ginny and the twins issued one more murmur of protest before they joined the crowd and hurried down the stone stairs into the mines.
Tonks gave Kingsley and the other members of the Order of the Phoenix a small smile before shutting the door to the vaults. A tear crawled down her heart-shaped face as she sealed the stone door behind her and walked down the torch-lit stairwell.
-VII-
Kingsley watched Tonks lead the Weasley children and Hermione away into the mines and a part of him wanted to go with them. He didn't know what was cutting up the ancient entrance to Gringrotts, but he was scared of it. He was an Auror before joining the Order and he knew the score.
But he was the oldest and most experienced member of the Order of the Phoenix here and he was one of its leaders. He was here to lead the witches and wizards under his command. He bottled up his fears and suppressed them deep within his heart. He put on the bravest face he could muster and walked back towards the doorway.
"Alright," he barked at his small squad of witches and wizards. "We got incoming! Form up!" he ordered like a drill sergeant. The frightened faces of the Order hardened and each witch and wizard snapped into ranks and stood stiffly at attention. Kingsley paced in front of them, looking each member fiercely in the eye.
"We are the first and last line of defense here people. Now they," Kingsley pointed dramatically pointed at the crumbling door, "want in. And by the looks of things, they're comin' in any minute." He looked at his squad at their reactions. Some were frightened at the thought of a battle, others excited. Kingsley stepped his speech up a notch. "Now, we are going to make a stand right here and WE ARE NOT GOING TO LET THEM INTO THOSE VAULTS!" Some of the younger members of the Order flinched at the sound of Kingsley's raised voice, while others nodded in agreement. "We get behind some cover and we hold. If these sons of bitches want it, they are going to have to walk over my cold dead corpse to do it!" Shouts of determination rose from the squad. "They started a war here today," Kingsley said grimly. "They attacked us first, caught us with our pants down. The cowards attacked our people, our families. They will not get away with this. They started the war, and, as God as my witness, I mean to finish it right here, RIGHT NOW!" The entire lobby echoed with Kingsley's booming voice and with the shouts of rage from the members of the Order.
The Order of the Phoenix quickly took positions throughout the lobby. They hid behind wall columns and overturned desks for cover. And they waited, with their wands drawn, for the door to fall. Tension filled the air and the seconds seemed to drag on for eons. They didn't have to wait long…
-VII-
'This is too easy,' thought George as he waited. In all the chaos and confusion inside the vaults, it had been child's play to duck away from his brother and Tonks. He simply stayed in the middle of the crowd, where it was hardest to pink out a single person, and when he saw Tonks turn her back, George slid into a dark alcove and cast another Disillusionment Charm on himself. Perfectly hidden in the alcove, he waited until the group of survivors and his friends and family moved deeper into the vaults. Once the coast was clear, he ran back up the tunnel to the massive stone door. Looking quickly over his shoulder to make sure no one was following, George lifted the Disillusionment Charm and threw his shoulder into the door. The door didn't budge and George was left with a very painful shoulder.
"Sure could use Fred right now," muttered George as he rubbed his shoulder. He did feel a little bad leaving his twin partner in crime behind. He didn't tell Fred he was going back up to the surface. Fred had just as much right to fight as George thought he did, but if anyone had seen them whispering to each other then Tonks would have dragged them down into the vaults by their ears. George didn't feel bad about disobeying Tonks, though. He knew she'd understand. After all, Kingsley made her go down into the vaults too. George was tired of this kid's table shit. He was of age and a damn good wizard, even though he and Fred used their talent for jokes and gags instead of practical uses, much to the eternal disappointment of their mother. Well, now George was going to show them all that he wasn't an immature little kid anymore and that he deserved to be in the Order. And once he was in, they would have to let Fred join too. Maybe he'd even put in a good word for Ron. Maybe.
Determined to prove himself, George lowered his shoulder into the door and began to push against the door. The door slowly began to grind open until it was open enough for George to wedge his lanky frame through and he popped back into the bank lobby.
-VII-
With a final, anguished groan, the great doors of Gringrotts collapsed with a tremendous thud. A great cloud of dust erupted into the air. Kingsley squinted through the dust, searching for a target. As the dust settled he could make out a single figure, standing in the ruined doorway. Even as the dust cleared, Kingsley could barely make out the figure's shadow.
"FIRE!" roared Kingsley. Red, green, and violet bolts spewed from the wands of the Order. The magic hurtled through the clearing dust at the shadowy figure. Many blasts of magic found their mark and Kingsley saw the figure jolt and buckle, but the figure didn't fall as the magic struck. Several bolts missed, ricocheting off the doorframe or ripping long gashes in the floor. More dust and smoke rose into the air, hiding the figure once more.
Kingsley held up his hand, signaling a cease-fire. With simple hand gestures he ordered Dawlish, Willy Widdershins, and Elphias Doge to investigate. The three wizards hesitantly moved forward towards the cloud of dust.
"Did you get him?" a voice asked from behind Kingsley. Kingsley spun around and came face to face with George. The young man had snuck up behind the Auror and had seen everything.
"Damnit George! What the hell are you doing up here? You're supposed to be in the vaults with the rest," cursed Kingsley. George just looked at him innocently, a look that was well practiced on the boy's mother. Kingsley glared at the boy. "Get your ass back in the vaults before I…" Kingsley never got to finish.
A white-haired man, clad in black leather, burst through the cloud of dust. With a flash of steel, the man drew an enormous sword; one so large it was difficult to believe a single man could wield it. Kingsley looked on in horror as the man leapt at Dawlish, Widdershins, and Doge. Before anyone could react, the massive blade flashed through the air. There was a spurt of blood and three heads flew across the bank lobby, and Kingsley saw with his own eyes the heads struck the ground before the bodies. One of the witches screamed at the gruesome sight and one of the other wizards lost his lunch. Kingsley, overcome with horror and rage, began cursing indiscriminately at the man in black. The curse struck the man in the chest and slid off his body like water splashing against a stone. The rest of the Order followed suit and resumed their attack, but their magic had as little effect as Kingsley's. The man in black flicked the wet blood off his blade and slowly walked towards the Order.
George watched, frozen in horror. His wand found its way into his hand, though he never remembered taking it out of his pocket. The man in black dashed across the lobby, becoming nothing but a black and white blur as he attacked a group of witches taking cover behind a row of desks. He cut through them like they were tissue paper. The man in black disappeared into a blur again, this time appearing in front of George. With a fierce shout, George began to cast spell after spell at the man in black, using everything he had ever learned or had invented. They all just washed off the man's chest like they were party favors. George continued to cast spells anyway. No matter how in vain it was, he refused to go down without a fight. The man in black strode forward and raised his lengthy sword.
Kingsley stood besides George, also fruitlessly casting spells at the man in black. Despite the situation, the Auror couldn't help but be impressed by the boy's resolve. As the man in black loomed closer, Kingsley pulled his trump card. "INCENDIO CIRCUMMUNIO!" he bellowed and a wall of fire erupted in between George and the man in black. The orange flames quickly encircled the man in black, trapping him inside the ring of fire. George lowered his wand and stepped back from the intense blaze. He joined Kingsley in a sigh of relief.
Their rest and reprieve didn't last long. The man in black calmly strode through the wall of fire, completely unscathed by the furious flames. He just passed through like they weren't even there at all. Not even his long white hair was harmed. He raised his sword and leveled its razor sharp tip at George's chest.
George stared into the glowing green eyes of the man in black and saw nothing. The man in black's eyes were empty, devoid of all life and emotion. Then the man in black speared forward and the sword whistled through the air as it sped towards George and all George could do was pray that it wouldn't hurt…
-VII-
Kingsley watched in horror as the man in black bore down on George and reacted without thinking. He dashed in front of George, right in the path of the man in black's sword. An awful, stabbing pain exploded in his chest and reached all the way to his back…
…And then he felt no more.
-VII-
George screamed in pain as the sword pierced through Kingsley's back and sank into his right elbow. The blade cleaved through the joint and George watched as his right hand fell to the floor in a spray of blood. He fell to the floor, lying next to his own hand, clutching his bloody stump of an arm.
The man in black slowly retracted his sword out of Kingsley. The Auror twitched grotesquely and blood splayed from his wounds, covering the man in black from head to toe, his white hair stained. Once the blade was fully out of Kingsley's prone body, he flicked his wrist and shed the excess blood off the sword.
George stared up at the man in black and for a long moment, George thought the man in black was going to finish him off. The man in black stared at George. A small flash of feeling sparked in the man in black's otherwise emotionless eyes and then he walked away. George remained on the lobby floor, in a puddle of his own blood, and watched the man in black tear into the rest of the Order (who were now all cowering in fear after seeing what happened to their leader Kingsley), before the world went black and the last thing George heard were the screams…
-VII-
She never saw it coming. Cho had been shopping with her friend Marietta, whose face was heavily caked in makeup. The SNEAK acne was still etched prominently across her face, a testament to Hermione's magical skills. They were leaving the Apothecary when the attack began. Death Eaters swooped in from the clouds on black broomsticks and fires exploded all around Diagon Alley. Cho and Marietta ran through the alley in a panic, dodging and ducking under spells and fires.
A massive fireball exploded in the girls' path, forcing them into a side alleyway. There, the two girls tried to catch their breath and figure out what was happening all around them.
While they were resting, the girls were too scared and out of breath to notice a black cloaked figure on an equally black broom fly out of the clouds and land at the entrance of the alley. The figure eyed the girls lustfully and announced his presence in a low laugh. When Cho heard it, it sent chills up and down her spine. She spun around and finally saw the dark figure.
"Well, well. Now here's two tasty treats for me to snack on," sneered the Death Eater at the two girls. He pulled his hood back and grinned lecherously at the girls, his bald head gleamed in the fractured light in the alley and his dark eyes shown with a sinister desire. A large scar on his right cheek blemished his otherwise clean, middle-aged face. He drew a bone wand from the folds of his cloak and began walking towards the two scared teenagers.
Cho frantically looked for a way out, but the only way out of the alleyway was cut off by the Death Eater. With no way out, she fumbled into her pocket and drew her wand. She pointed at the Death Eater, her hands shaking fiercely with fear. The Death Eater laughed loudly, sounding like a horse, at her attempts to defend herself. With a flick of his wrist, he sent Cho's wand out of her hand and skittering across the alley floor. Marietta tried to draw her own wand, but was so scared she fumbled about and dropped it herself. The Death Eater laughed even harder. He resumed his stalking-like pace towards the girls, fingering the tip of his wand.
"Well now, lets have some fun," the Death Eater said as he licked his lips. He waved his wand about in the air and a large, frightful axe materialized in midair and fell into his waiting hand. Made of some sort of stone or dark metal, the axe was massive. Its blade was nearly as large as the petite Marietta and looked razor sharp. The Death Eater clasped the long wooden handle and deftly spun the weapon over his head dramatically. Cho looked at the axe with dread and Marietta's face grew ghostly pale. The Death Eater smiled at their reaction and tucked his wand into the folds of his cloak.
"So who wants to go first?" the Death Eater asked grimly, pointing his axe at Cho then Marietta. His gaze lingered on Marietta and his sadistic smile grew wider and more fearsome. Terrified, Marietta wavered and fainted dead away into Cho's arms. Cho barely managed to catch her friend before she hit the ground. The Death Eater's smile vanished and was replaced by an angry scowl.
"How dare you faint before the fun even begins!" he yelled at the girls. His furious gaze landed onto Cho. "Now you shall suffer for you both!" he bellowed at her. He raised his axe and took a step towards Cho.
Cho struggled to move with Marietta in her arms. She looked around for something, anything she could use as a weapon, but a few trashcans and a broken mop stood little chance against the monstrous axe. As the Death Eater stepped closer and closer, Cho began to despair. Finally, there was only one thing left.
Cho tilted her head back and screamed…
-VII-
Harry raced over the rooftops, weaving through think clouds of smoke. With every scream he heard, Harry willed the Firebolt II faster and faster until the wind pushed back his cheeks and made his eyes water.
The screams grew louder and closer. Harry pulled back on the nose of the broom, slowing his breakneck pace. He swooped down, underneath the smoke, and began to look in every nook and cranny for Cho.
Harry was growing more and more frustrated. He could hear Cho's screams again and again, but he still hadn't been able to find her at all. As her screams had become more frantic and high-pitched, Harry knew he was running out of time. He flew even lower, until he was only inches off the ground. He swept past rubble and a black broom leaning against an alley wall. He was going so fast he nearly looked over it. 'Nott was on a black broom,' Harry suddenly remembered and pulled back hard on his borrowed broom, bringing it to a grinding halt. Harry quickly backtracked to the alley and black broom. Harry peered into the alley, but couldn't see anything but black inside the dark alleyway. Pulling up on his broomstick, Harry sped back to the rooftops and slowly flew over the alley. As Harry looked down into the alley, he didn't see anything until he reached the end of the alley. Harry saw Cho cowered against the dead end of the alley, holding another limp girl in her arms. Harry saw a Death Eater towering over the defenseless girls and the gleam of the rising axe and bald head…
Blood boiled in Harry's head, his knuckles turning white as he clutched the Firebolt II. Hot rage consumed him as he watched the axe stop high above the Death Eater's head.
Without realizing he was doing it, Harry pointed the Firebolt II downwards and hurtled at the Death Eater, heedless of the danger, until the world became a speeding blur whizzing by his face. An inhuman roar of rage escaped his lips as he closed in.
The Death Eater turned seconds before the collision, his dark eyes wide in surprise. The broom and boy crashed into his chest, knocking the wind out of him and sending him sprawling to the alley floor. Harry flew off the broom and into the alley wall. Either Death Eater or boy moved afterwards.
-VII-
Cho couldn't believe her eyes. For a long moment she stood in shock, unable to move to help her savior or even call for help. It all happened so fast; she didn't even see the face of the boy who had flown in like some guardian angel. It wasn't until the thin frame of the boy began to stir that Cho snapped out of it. Gently laying Marietta against the wall, she ran to the side of the face down boy. A pair of round glasses lay on the ground next to him. Cho picked them up before hovering over the boy. With a groan the boy started to rise up, only to fall back down. Cho bent down and wrapped her arms around his right arm and shoulder.
"Here, let me help you," she said softly as he tried to sit up again. This time, with her help, he was able to make it to his hands and knees. With more support and encouragement from Cho, the pair limped over to the alley wall, where the boy leaned heavily against before sliding down into a sitting position. His long hair was completely askew, covering his face. Cho knelt down in front of him and gently pushed back a lock of hair away from his face, revealing an unmistakable lightning bolt scar upon the boy's forehead. Cho fell back wards in sheer shock.
"Harry!" she exclaimed. The boy coughed loudly before looking up her, his green eyes very familiar to Cho.
"Hi Cho," Harry said softly with a light smile.
Cho could only stare at Harry, speechless. 'Of all people to fly in and save me, it had to be Harry Potter,' she thought. She was surprised that he was still alive after a stunt like that. Or that he would even do something like that after everything that happened between the two of them last year.
"Where did you come from? What were you thinking? Why did you do that? Are you OK?" Her questions came at Harry a mile a minute. He laughed lightly, until it brought up a searing pain in his side.
"Nice to see you too, Cho," Harry said to the young witch, wincing. She didn't reply but looked carefully at him clutching his ribs.
"I think you broke some ribs. What did you think you were doing? You could have been killed," she scolded him. "Besides, I could have handled him," said Cho in false arrogance.
"You're welcome," muttered Harry as he slowly stood up. "Don't expect me do to it again. That bloody hurt." Cho smiled at his attempt to lighten the mood. She stood up with him. Being a year older, Cho had always been a little taller than Harry. Now they stood eye to eye. An awkward moment passed as they looked at each other, the events of the last year replaying in their minds. Ghosts of feelings began to crawl their way back from wherever they had been buried. Neither Cho nor Harry could say anything; words became caught in their throats. Neither knew what to say anyway.
"You little bastard!" shouted a voice. The Death Eater staggered around behind them, using his massive axe as a crutch. Blood gushed from a broken nose and his breathing was ragged. But he still had his wand out and pointed at Harry's head. "Harry Potter. The Dark Lord will greatly reward me for bringing him your head."
Harry stepped forward, placing himself between Cho and the Death Eater. "Avery," Harry recognized the Death Eater. "It's been a while. What's the matter? No innocent hippogriffs for you to kill around," taunted Harry.
Avery sneered back at Harry. "After you resurrected the Dark Lord, Potter, he has given me and my axe much tastier necks to enjoy. Like your little friend back there," Avery gestured to Cho, who shuddered behind Harry. Harry's fists clenched tightly. Avery continued. "And after I get you out of the way, she and I are going to have some fun." Harry couldn't take it anymore and he lunged at Avery. He caught Avery off guard and tackled the bigger man. Harry straddled his chest and started raining punch after punch down on Avery's already broken nose. Harry beat the Death Eater for several seconds until Avery was able to free one of his arms. Using his greater strength and weight, Avery pushed Harry off of him. Harry rolled across the alley floor and into a crouched position, ready to spring again.
"Crucio!" Searing pain flowed from Avery's wand and swept through Harry's already weak and weary body. He screamed as he hit the ground. Avery continued to hold the curse, angrily snarling at the boy. He refused to end the curse, relishing in Harry's pain.
Cho stood by helpless, tears straining her cheeks as she shouted, "Stop! Stop it!" at Avery. He ignored her and continued to sadistically enjoy Harry's pain. Her cries unheeded, desperate anger swelled up inside Cho, and she ran behind Avery and leapt onto his back, biting and scratching and hitting the much larger man. The Cruciatus Curse on Harry broke as Avery struggled to get remove the crazed teenager off his back.
"Get off you bitch!" roared Avery as he swung his arms back and forth. His blind swinging loosened Cho enough for him to grab onto her long hair. "Gotcha!" he exclaimed and pulled roughly on the hair. Cho screamed in pain and lost her grip on Avery's back. Avery pulled harder and yanked Cho off his back and she stumbled in front of him. Avery quickly released Cho's hair and grabbed her by the throat instead. Using his great strength, he lifted her up off her feet. His grip tightened as he brought up his other hand to strangle the girl. She desperately clawed at Avery's face and tried to break his grip, but Avery proved too strong for her. Cho's vision began to grow hazy as Avery licked his lips, watching her slowly die. Her struggles lessened as her limbs began to grow limp.
Harry lay motionless on the ground as the aftereffects of the Cruciatus Curse slowly passed. He finally managed to lift his head to see Cho being choked by Avery and rage returned to his weak body. Summoning strength he didn't think he still possessed after such a long and trying day, Harry managed to get to his feet. Reaching into his pocket, he drew his wand and limped towards Avery.
"Hey Baldy!" shouted Harry. "You think you're a big tough guy? You're a real evil dark wizard huh, picking on a girl not even half your size. Voldemort must be so proud," taunted Harry. Avery turned his head towards Harry at the mention of the Dark Lord's name. He slowly lowered Cho, but didn't remove his hands quite yet.
"What do you know of the Dark Lord, Potter?" questioned Avery. He threw Cho to the ground. She took a harsh breath and rubbing her bruised throat, but managed to roll away from Avery. Avery began to walk towards Harry. "The Dark Lord is powerful beyond your most horrible nightmares, Potter, and soon you will see them for yourself."
"Yeah, Yeah," mocked Harry. "I heard that all before. I've been hearing that since I was a first year. And I never believed a word of it." He kept his wand trained on Avery's face the entire time.
Avery glared at Harry then dove into his pocket for his bone wand. He managed to free the wand when Harry shouted; "Expelliarmus!" and Avery's wand flew out of his hand and into a pile of garbage. Avery roared as he lost his wand and, using both hands, grabbed on to his axe. He charged at Harry like a madman, swinging the massive axe wildly. The swing missed Harry by a mile. Avery wound up to swing again, but Harry was already upon him. With no time to even think of a spell, let alone cast one, Harry lunged blindly at the Death Eater. Brandishing his wand like a knife, he stabbed at Avery's face. With a disgusting squish, the wand tip sank into Avery's left eye. Blood and eyeball and stuff that Harry didn't want to know what it really was sprayed out of the wound as Avery shrieked. Harry suddenly had a strange flashback to Halloween his first year at Hogwarts when he stabbed a troll in the nose with his wand. Harry grimly smiled at the irony while Avery clutched his ruined eye and staggered away, Harry and Cho forgotten. Harry picks Cho off the ground and pulls her away from the screaming and cursing Avery. He stumbled into the alley wall and fell over into a pile of trashcans. He staggered to his feet and ran out of the alley, running into everything littering the street. Harry and Cho watched as Avery disappeared with a loud pop and the two teens finally gave a sigh of relief.
"I hate that guy," muttered Cho. Harry nodded in agreement. The two teens looked at each other and shared another awkward moment before Cho's eyes suddenly lit up. "Marietta!"
She ran back to her best friend, who was still lying unconscious in the corner of the alley's dead end. Cho wrapped her arms around the smaller girl and sat her upright. She gently shook Marietta, trying to wake her. Harry stood aside, leaning against the wall, his own injuries taking their toll on his body.
"Come on, come on. Wake up," pleaded Cho until Marietta finally began to stir. Harry turned away and limped down the alley. He retrieved his own borrowed broom and Avery's black one as well. Avery's broom was one that Harry never saw before. It wasn't a Nimbus or a Firebolt; it wasn't even a Comet or a Cleansweep. Harry continued to inspect the broom until a high-pitched scream shook the alleyway. It was Marietta, still sitting on the ground, and she was pointing into the sky. Harry followed her finger and turned his gaze upwards and despaired.
The Dark Mark gazed back down at him…
-VII-
Meanwhile, on the other side of Diagon Alley,
Cloud and Tifa were enjoying themselves very much as they battled a troop of Death Eaters and 3 disgusting Giants. Their bold charge had surprised the Death Eaters and Giants and Cloud and Tifa were taking full advantage.
Upon leaping out from behind the ruined wall, red fire burst around Cloud and fierce green lightning danced along the edge of his sword.
"Blade Beam!" he shouted as he swung his blade down at the Death Eaters. A crescent-shaped blast of pure energy swept from the sword's edge and crashed into a very overweight Death Eater. The blast incinerated him and the following shockwaves killed and knocked out dozens of Death Eaters around him. Cloud followed up on his own attack and quickly hacked and slashed through the remaining Death Eaters without trouble. The Dark Wizards never got a single spell off.
While Cloud dealt with the Death Eaters, Tifa ran straight for the Giants. With incredible speed and agility, Tifa dodged the massive clubs and feet. She jumped back as the giant with matted black hair and stained coverings smashed his tree trunk club down upon the street. Tifa leapt up onto the tree truck and ran up the Giant's arm. The Giant swatted at her and waved his arm to throw the girl off, but Tifa was too fast to be hit and too strong to be thrown off. She ran across the Giant's broad shoulders, bracing herself at the back of the Giant's neck. Still ducking underneath the Giant's swatting hands, Tifa raised both her gloved fists and slammed them down in a vicious hammer blow to the Giant's neck. The Giant groaned in pain and tried harder to knock Tifa off. She ignored the Giant's frantic swatting; Tifa slammed her fists into the neck again, even harder this time. And again. And again. Tifa's fists of steel pounded on the Giant's neck, driving the massive head of bone and very little brains towards its barrel chest. The Giant fell to one knee under Tifa's assault. Tifa crouched down and leapt into the air, higher than any human should be able to go. She positively soared. And when she came back down to earth she came down feet first, driving her heavy boats into the Giant's neck with rock-crushing force. The Giant roared in pain and collapsed to the ground with a great thud. Tifa rode the Giant all the way down to the street, using its matted black hair for reins. She hopped off its back just before he crashed. She calmly brushed the hair out of her face and watched Cloud pick apart the last one or two Death Eaters.
Meanwhile, the two remaining Giants had seen what happened to their brethren and were quickly bearing down on Tifa. The massive, ugly men blocked out the sun as they towered over the girl. Tifa watched them approach calmly and then cracked her knuckles, a small smile forming on her face.
Cloud appeared at her side, finished with the Death Eaters. He held his sword loosely on his shoulder he grinned at her. She flashed a smile back, knowing exactly what the smile meant. It was almost like fighting monsters back home.
"Two of them and two of us. Which one do you want?" asked Cloud.
"I don't know. Neither looks like much of a challenge. Which one do you want?" replied Tifa.
Cloud studied the two approaching man-like monsters. "I'll take the ugly one," he decided. Tifa looked at the two Giants, then back at Cloud, and then back at the Giants.
"Which one's the ugly one?" she asked laughing lightly. Cloud laughed as well.
The Giants interrupted the comical moment between the two and a tree truck crashed down in between the pair. Cloud dashed to the left and circled around the Giants while Tifa harassed them in front, distracting them.
Behind the greasy blonde Giant, Cloud vaulted off a nearby wall and lunged at the Giant's legs. Using all his strength, Cloud slashed through the tendons and sinew on the back of the Giant's legs. The Ultima Weapon tore through the muscular hamstrings and Achilles' Tendons like they were mere paper. Unable to support his own weight, the Giant pitched forward. Tifa was waiting.
As the Giant collapsed, red fire erupted at Tifa's feet and she leapt at the Giant's falling head. She met it in midair and, just before they collided, Tifa threw her weight backwards and spun in the air. She lashed out with a powerful Somersault kick, shattering the Giant's nose. Blood gushed from the Giant's nostrils as Tifa used them as a springboard to jump away. The Giant crashed into the ground and lost consciousness.
Cloud quickly turned to face the last remaining Giant, the big, bald one. The Giant swung his tree trunk club at Cloud, trying to smash him into a greasy spot on the street. Cloud ducked underneath the first blow and brought his sword up as the second closed in. Cloud jumped towards the Giant, right in the path of the club, with his sword raised in front of him. The club hit the sword dead on. The enchanted crystal split the tree truck in two, turning the massive club into measly splinters and wood chips.
On the street below, Tifa pulled a small green orb from her Materia bag and equipped it into her left glove. She focused on the orb for a moment and a burst of searing flames ignited in the air. It traveled up the two halves of tree trunk Cloud just cleaved and leapt onto the Giant's waist. The magic fire burned at the mangy furs that just barely covered the Giant. Forgetting all about Cloud and Tifa, the Giant jumped up and down, trying to put out the flames with his huge hands. The fires didn't smother under his hands and spread to the hair on the back of the Giant's hands, quickly sweeping up the hairy arm. Screaming, the Giant tore out of Diagon Alley, leaving his brethren behind. Cloud and Tifa watched as the living fireball leave.
"Well that was fun," said Tifa cheerfully. Cloud didn't reply. He was staring up into the sky. "Cloud, what is it?" Tifa asked as she tried to figure out what he saw.
Cloud pointed at a dark wisp of cloud swirling about in the sky. The haze continued to swirl and darken until it turned putrid green. Chills swept down Tifa's back as the green cloud began to form a colossal skull with a writhing serpent protruding from its mouth like a tongue. As they watched, the skull rose higher and higher until it stopped. Cloud could just make out the top of the building beneath the skull. It was Gringrotts.
"Let's go," said Cloud grimly.
-VII-
It didn't take long for Cloud and Tifa to reach Gringrotts. The road to the bank was heavily trampled from Giant footsteps and littered with the broken and bloody bodies of witches and wizards. Cloud and Tifa saw no sign of the Giants and Death Eaters that must have caused all the destruction.
They ran up the front stairs and stood in the ruined doorway, the gilded doors they had seen just that morning whole and beautiful were now nothing but crumbling rubble. And there were bodies. Dozens of bodies: stretched out on the floor, faces frozen in silent screams, their flesh torn and mutilated. Ribbons of blood decorated the walls and carpeted the floors. And there was one man still alive, standing over the piles of people. He held a massive, thin sword, its metal stained red and its tip still embedded in the chest of a gray haired wizard. The man removed the sword and slowly, robotically turned towards Cloud and Tifa. Cloud's eyes' widened and Tifa's face grew pale at the sight.
From head to toe, the man was covered in blood. It was as if he had bathed in it. His handsome features and snow-white hair were stained red, his black leather clothing slick with blood. His weapon was smeared with the still warm blood of his victims. But it was his eyes that were the worst. They were totally vacant, not a shred of emotion remained in the glowing orbs.
"No…it can't be…" Cloud muttered. "Sephiroth!" he shouted as he drew the Ultima Weapon from its sheath.
Sephiroth didn't respond to Cloud, only tightened his grip on his blade. A single drop of blood dripped off its edge. It splatters like a pin drop onto the floor, echoing in the silence of the lobby. Sephiroth charged at Cloud, swinging his sword like a butcher's cleaver, trying to cut Cloud in half. Cloud managed to get his own sword in front of him just in time to parry. The two warriors wrestled for advantage, their swords grinding against one another. Cloud managed to push Sephiroth back and assumed his fighting stance, waiting for Sephiroth to attack again.
Sephiroth quickly recovered and a gloved hand shot out at Cloud. An invisible wave of power sprang from his hand and struck Cloud in the chest. The wave picked him up and threw him against the lobby wall. Sephiroth held his hand up, pinning Cloud against the wall with his power. He began to close and squeeze his hand and Cloud's eyes bulged and his throat began to contort as if a hand was choking him. Cloud gasped for air as he turned a vibrant shade of blue.
Tifa watched in horror and rushed to Cloud's aid. She ran at Sephiroth, leaping into a powerful jump kick. Her attack caught him off guard and he lost his concentration on Cloud. Cloud fell to the ground, holding his throat and gasping for breath. He saw Tifa fighting Sephiroth and quickly jumped to his feet to help her.
Tifa was in trouble. In her haste to help Cloud, she forgot who she was attacking. Her jump kick hadn't hurt Sephiroth at all; it merely surprised him into dropping Cloud. Sephiroth lashed out in retaliation. Too close to properly use his long sword, Sephiroth grabbed Tifa with lightning speed and threw her across the room. She crashed hard into a far wall, so hard that it left a large spider web indention, and slumped to the floor. She lay on the floor, unable to get back up.
Cloud was up and running at Sephiroth when two Death Eaters ran out of the vault door. One Death Eater was carrying a small leather pouch, obviously stolen out of the vaults, with a triumphant look on its face. Cloud recognized the other one from The Northern Crater back home. The rat-faced, balding one called Wormtail. He had a new silver arm to replace the one Cloud cut. He was holding a glowing medallion and nearly shit himself when he saw Cloud.
"What are you doing here?" he shrieked in a high-pitched voice. He immediately cowered behind Sephiroth and looked for an escape route. Cloud growled at him as he launched his attack. The Death Eater with the leather pouch saw Cloud coming and pulled his wand out. A red bolt flew from the tip of the wand and struck Cloud in the chest. It felt like a small truck had hit him. Cloud crashed to the ground, unable to move, and lost consciousness…
-VII-
Wormtail was delighted when the Stunning Spell hit Cloud in the chest. 'He deserves worse for taking off my hand,' he thought. He looked at the defenseless Cloud with rat-like curiosity. 'Maybe I should return the favor and take his hand as well.' He put the glowing medallion in his cloak pocket and withdrew his wand. He raised it over his head and prepared to recite the spell when a hand grabbed his wrist and stopped him.
"The Dark Lord awaits his prize," said the other Death Eater. "Our task is done. Let's get out of here before Dumbledore gets here."
"Oh come on Bellatrix. It will only take a moment," whined Wormtail. He raised his wand again only to have Bellatrix slap him hard in the face.
"No," she hissed. "We leave now." She turned away and walked towards the center of the lobby. "Unless you want to explain to the Dark Lord that we were late because you had a soft spot for a blonde," she warned.
Wormtail stiffened at her implication and fear of the Dark Lord's wrath. His nose twitched nervously as he joined Bellatrix in the center of the lobby.
"Fine," he grumbled. He fished the glowing medallion out of his pocket and held it in front of Sephiroth, who had been standing quite still since Wormtail and Bellatrix returned from the vaults. "Get over here you," he ordered and Sephiroth obediently walked over.
Wormtail looked him up and down, disgusted at the large amounts of blood smeared all over Sephiroth's front. "Look at you, you're a mess," he chastised. He waved the medallion in front of Sephiroth's face and said, "Home. Fly home." He pronounced the words clearly and slowly, like he was addressing a small child instead of a very bloodstained man. He stared into Sephiroth's face, waiting for some kind of response, but Sephiroth just stood there unblinking. Wormtail just shook his head. "Stupid, bloody zombie," he muttered under his breath. He nodded to Bellatrix and the pair of Death Eaters disappeared with two loud pops.
Sephiroth stood in the lobby for a moment after Wormtail and Bellatrix left and looked down at his blood-covered form. He slowly tried to wipe some off with his hands, but only smeared it more. He slowly looked around the bank lobby, taking in his handiwork. He stared at the broken front doors and at the piles of cooling bodies littered about. He stared at Tifa, still unable to get to her feet after he threw her against the wall. And then he looked at Cloud and didn't look away. He just stared at Cloud. After a moment, Cloud began to stir and slowly opened his eyes to see Sephiroth staring down at him. Cloud slowly rose up, using his sword as a crutch to pull himself upright. He remained hunched over and was still breathing heavily. He looked into Sephiroth's eyes and saw a small flash of confusion.
'He doesn't know who I am,' Cloud realized as the two old enemies continued their staring contest. 'He recognizes me, but he doesn't know me anymore.' Cloud opened his mouth to speak, but Sephiroth quickly broke away. Strapping his sword to his side, he closed his eyes and concentrated for a second. Then he flew into the air like a rocket and smashed through Gringrott's roof, raining plaster, stone, and timber down onto the floor. Cloud quickly ran to spot, dodging debris, but Sephiroth was too fast. He was gone, leaving only a hole in the roof, dead bodies, and a frustrated and angry Cloud behind.