It's Monday again, and if your Monday was anything like mine, it's definitely time for another chapter! This time, we say goodbye to a hero.

My thanks, as always, to those of you who have read, and even more thanks to those of you who have reviewed:

To the ever faithful Hahukum Konn – Kara did not say that Katie would be responsible for the rise of the Fourth Age, only that her destiny was directly linked to Esdras'. As for what that means, we'll just have to see. And I'm glad things are getting more riveting. I've certainly enjoyed writing this one a lot more now that there are fewer plot points to intersect with.

To the ever faithful fireboltcrazed – Things to ponder? What are you pondering over there, my friend? And let's face it, any reference to Fred and George has to be funny or it would do them a disservice. Also, the story progresses quite well, I am in the lead up to the final battle.

To our first newcomer, Lioness – Welcome to the Guardian family! You are welcome here! I'm glad that you've enjoyed the stories so far, I've worked hard to make them believable and true to JKR's stories. I've also worked hard to make my own characters believable, and your compliments let me know I've done a good job, so for that I thank you. I add the flashes of humor to mix things up and I'm glad you enjoy it…and get it.

To our second newcomer, secret keeper – Welcome to the Guardian family! You are welcome here! That you have been reading my stories and enjoying them means so very much to me. And that you say you forget my work is not part of the main story is a great compliment to me, and I thank you for it. I am glad you have enjoyed my stories and I hope you continue to do so. As for your questions, yes, it was the three brothers that broke into Azkaban, so one can only imagine where Harry gets his boldness from. As for whom the Guardian is, I wouldn't dream of taking away the mystery.

All the rest of y'all should review, too. I like to hear your opinions, and your reviews help to make me a better writer. Plus, reviewing helps build good karma. So go ahead and press the little blue button.

And as always, text in italics is in Azkabaaner and I don't own HP.

Chapter 21 – The Battle of Malfoy Manor

Esdras sat idly in the magically soundproofed room that had been especially charmed only days ago for exactly this reason. He was not alone. Around the table sat many old friends. Finally it was time to start. The one at the head of the table cleared his throat and keyed up the microphone. "Ladies and gentlemen, this is Potterwatch! We'd like to apologize for our temporary absence from the airwaves, which was due to a number of house calls in our area by those charming Death Eaters. Thankfully, our good friends of the cloaked kind have really stepped up and we now have a secure location to broadcast from for the foreseeable future. So from all of us here at Potterwatch; thank you, Azkaban!"

The Dementor grinned and nodded to Lee Jordan, gesturing to him to get on with his broadcast. At his side Katie shook her head. She leaned in and whispered into Esdras' hood. "He's such a show off."

Esdras smirked before whispering into her ear. "You don't say. I never could have guessed from his Quidditch commentary when we were at school."

Katie merely smiled as the program continued. Smiles were short lived, however, as news of deaths, destruction, and chaos punctuated the broadcast. The presenters around the table took their turns, bouncing from Lee Jordan to Kingsley to Remus to Fred, or, as they were being called tonight, River, Royal, Romulus, and Rapier. Finally, Lee sighed and turned to the microphone. "Listeners, that brings us to the end of another Potterwatch. We'll be broadcasting on a regular schedule now, every Wednesday night at eight o'clock. We hope to see you then. The next password will be 'Mad-Eye.' Keep each other safe. Keep faith. Good night."

Esdras and Katie applauded politely as the group of presenters got up from the table. The Dementor grinned. "Great show, you guys. I never thought I'd get to see one live and in person."

Lee was all smiles as he rounded the table, shaking the Dementor's hand gratefully. "Well, I don't know how many more shows I'd have been able to do without all this. You have no idea how thankful I am for all the help you've provided."

Katie laughed. "You should be more thankful we managed to pull you out before the Death Eaters closed in. I doubt Azkaban has such comfortable broadcast facilities."

Esdras shook his head. "Not since last I checked." He excused himself from his fiancée and her old housemate before slipping across the room to another old Gryffindor. "Professor Lupin, may I have a moment?"

Remus Lupin nodded. "Of course, what can I do for you?"

The Dementor shook his head. "Well, it's more a matter of what I can do for you." At the mortal's confused look, Esdras continued. "Tonks is great with child now, is she not?"

The rugged werewolf nodded. "Yes, she has a little less than a month before she gives birth."

Esdras nodded. "If you would, please consider taking up residence here at Beta Site, even if it is only temporary. Our doctors are well trained in mortal medicine and are knowledgeable in mortal child birthing techniques. It would be safe, and wise."

Lupin considered the Dementor for a moment. Finally, he tapped his fingers to his mouth and spoke. "Molly put you up to this, didn't she?"

The Dementor nodded and shifted uncomfortably. "She kept going on and on about it, how dangerous it could be and how she knew all the risks. And then she described it!" Esdras went chalk white at the memory. "She went on and on about how I was the king here and I should do something about it." Finally, he shook his head. "I agreed just so she would leave me alone."

The mortal laughed and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry, I was thinking about making the move soon, myself. It'll be good to have Nymphadora near a doctor if something comes up. I'll tell Molly I've taken you up on your offer."

Esdras sighed in relief. "Thank you, professor." He looked to the other side of the room, Katie was ready to go. "If you'll excuse me?"

With a nod and a wave they separated and soon, Esdras and Katie were out the door and on their way home. Katie smirked at Esdras' relief. "I take it Professor Lupin agreed?"

The Dementor nodded. "Thank the gods."

Katie looked relieved as well. "Indeed. The last thing I want is to hear any more of Mrs. Weasley's stories."

Esdras shivered at the thought and lifted himself up into the air, Katie at his side. This, however, was before he was promptly and totally blinded. He screamed and covered his now bloodshot eyes. "What the hell?!"

The voice was familiar. "King Esdras, Lady Katherine, please, you must help. Harry Potter is in trouble."

The Dementor dimmed his eyes, relying only on his mortal vision to finally identify the visitor. "Dobby..."

Esdras, clad in an assault cloak with all power inhibition spells shut off, stood next to Katie. He wanted an armor cloak, but that would draw too much attention to him. Aaron and the rest of the senior ministers were there with him, and none looked happy. The prime minister spoke. "Esdras, this is crazy. You can't just go waltzing in there alone. It's Malfoy Manor! It's their headquarters!"

The king ignored his friend. "Kira, is it ready?"

The research minister nodded. In her hands she held a vial of potion that looked like sticky, black tar. "It's ready, Divine Majesty. We prepared it with the blood sample recovered from the Battle of the Seven Potters, but the potion has not been tested. We have no way of knowing if the blood sample is still viable after all these months. I cannot guarantee this will work."

Katie took the vial from the Dementress. "There's only one way to find out, then."

She downed the potion and gagged, nearly retching at the revolting taste, a combination of coal tar and bile. For a second, nothing happened. Then, the young mortal was wracked by a horrible pain that coursed through her entire body. She collapsed to her knees and choked slightly as the potion began to take effect. The gathered Dementors looked on anxiously for almost a minute before she finally staggered back to her feet. Kira sighed in relief. "Are you alright, Admiral Bell?"

The mortal lowered her hood and looked up. Katie was gone. In her place were the pale skin, bald head, red eyes, and serpentine features of the Dark Lord Voldemort. The only difference between her and the real item were the pitch black sclera behind the red irises of her eyes. Her voice, high and cold, was calm and reassuring. "I am fine, Admiral Kirin. The Polyjuice Potion seems to be working just fine."

Esdras let out a breath he didn't know he was holding and began casting disguise spells, intent on turning himself into an entirely different Dementor. Once satisfied that he no longer looked like the King of Azkaban, he tapped the rank insignia on his shoulders, turning himself from a flag admiral into a lowly captain. He nodded and turned to his colleagues. "Alright, you all know the plan. Dobby has gone ahead and will begin evacuating Harry, Ron, and Hermione to a suitable location. Katie and I will provide a diversion for him, just in case. I want ten fleets and a hospital division waiting on standby for my signal, or any allied signal that indicates that they have Harry. I don't know where Dobby will be taking them if this works, and I don't know what shape they'll be in when they get there. I don't want to take any chances."

Aaron growled slightly. "I don't like this, Esdras. I don't like you and Katie running off half cocked like this into the middle of a heavily fortified enemy position."

The king shook his hood. "Neither do I, Aaron, believe me. But you've seen the reconnaissance reports just like I have. There are almost two hundred renegade fleets surrounding Malfoy Manor. Even with Katie's Patronus, we can't launch an offensive against a force of that size and expect to breach their defenses in time to make an effective rescue. This is the only way."

The prime minister sighed and cuffed his friend on the shoulder. "Go. Stay safe."

Esdras nodded and together he and the Dark Lord doppelganger took off. They rocketed through the surface gates and into the night before Apparating easily to the skies above Malfoy Manor. There, they were met by the outer defense perimeter of the renegade navy. A young Marine floated up to them, intent on checkpoint security, but once he caught sight of the red eyes under the hood, he snapped to attention. "Welcome back, Dark Lord. We did not know you would be joining us this evening."

Katie waved the ensign aside. "I do not need to tell you my plans, ensign. Now be gone, and spread the word that I do not want to be interrupted with security checks."

The ensign cocked his hood to the side. "But sir, protocol dictates…"

The false Dark Lord exploded, drawing her wand and casting a spell that took the Dementor's arm off at the shoulder. Katie's cold voice carried maliciously in the wind. "I do not care what protocol dictates, ensign. Make my wishes known or it will be your head next!"

The terrified young marine flew off at top speed, leaving Katie and Esdras alone as they floated rapidly down to the manor below. Katie let out a shaky sigh. "Do you think it worked?"

Esdras could already see Dementor patrols parting for them as they descended. "Oh, it worked alright. But that was just the beginning."

Malfoy Manor had been set up with a Fidelius Charm, but that was now broken thanks to Dobby. As the freed house elf of Malfoy Manor, he was magically exempt from the charm, always knowing the exact location of the manor house regardless of the defenses placed upon it. Thus, he was able to act as Secret Keeper and had passed the location on to Esdras and Katie, allowing them a quick and easy descent through the guard patrols to the house below.

Once there, they found the house well lit and obviously occupied. Esdras opened the door and together the pair infiltrated the darkest realm of the Death Eaters. Esdras kept one hand near his wand at all times. They silently debated which way to go before a voice came from the room ahead of them. "Stop or she dies!" There was a pause. "Drop your wands. Drop them or we'll see exactly how filthy her blood is!"

The clamor continued as they rushed forward, Katie in the lead. They halted at the sill of the open doorway and Esdras turned her to face him. "Arrogance, anger, hatred. Everything you are not."

Katie nodded and smiled softly, giving his hand a soft squeeze. "Everything we are not." And with that, they turned the corner and entered the drawing room without hesitation. Esdras' uninhibited powers filled the room with cold and darkness while Katie's clear and cold voice pierced the tense silence. "And what is the meaning of this, Bella?"

Bellatrix Lestrange spun wildly. She had Hermione with a knife to her throat and nearly speared her as she went from vengeful to sycophantic in no time at all. "My lord! I had just summoned you. How did you arrive so quickly?"

Katie shared a tense glance with Esdras before looking around, feigning disinterest at the scene before her. Lucius, Narcissa, and Draco Malfoy had fought along with Fenrir Greyback and obviously had lost since they were slowly redistributing their wands amongst themselves. Ron and Harry, still defiant, stood in the middle of the room near an unconscious goblin. "You would do well not to doubt or question my skill." She turned her attention from Bellatrix to Harry. "But no matter, I see we have a distinguished guest. Welcome, my old friend."

Harry glared at the Dark Lord with contempt. He enunciated each word. "I…am…not…" And then he took a closer look at the person before him. Red eyes were rimmed not with white sclera, but with inky black. The ring finger of his wand hand bore a platinum ring with diamonds and a glowing green stone. A part of Harry's brain wondered why Voldemort would be wearing a fire emerald ring. Only one person he knew had a ring like that. His voice took on a hint of confusion. "…your friend?"

Katie laughed. "Of course you are, Harry Potter. But come, if we are to fight, it is not fair for you to be unarmed." She turned. "Captain Ticonda, give him back his wand."

Esdras nodded sharply and floated towards Draco. The terrified Malfoy child hurriedly handed over the blackthorn wand that Harry had taken to using. As Esdras returned the wand to Harry, he lightly hummed the first line of 'Weasley Is Our King', earning a startled glance from the scarred mortal. Esdras spoke with a gruff, thickly accented whisper. "He is armed, my lord. The fight is fair."

Bellatrix looked on with confusion. "But, my lord, what are you doing?"

Turning to face the malevolent witch, Katie glared. "I am the only one who can kill Harry Potter, and kill him I shall. But what good is a hollow victory? I wish watch him try to defend himself, to hear him cry for mercy before he dies."

Bellatrix's face lit up. "Of course, my lord. I understand completely."

Nodding slightly, Katie turned to face Harry. "Do you understand, my friend?"

Harry held the Dark Lord's eyes for a second, tensely gripping his wand. Even after what he had seen and heard, he still had some reservations. And then, Voldemort winked at him, and all his doubts disappeared. He smiled determinedly. "I understand completely."

With an arrogant smirk, the false Voldemort again turned to Bellatrix. "Release Hermione."

The Dark Lord referring to a Mudblood by name was enough to bring blank looks to the faces of the assembled Death Eaters. Bellatrix blinked in confusion. "But why would I do that, my lord?"

Turning to face the witch, the false Voldemort gave an amused smirk, something that rarely graced the face of the real Dark Lord. Katie spoke slowly to Bellatrix, like she would to a petulant child. "Because I told you to." She brought her wand to bear against the witch. "Imperio!"

Her spell triggered action. Harry acted in concert with Esdras, once again disarming Greyback and the Malfoy family as Ron looked on in utter and abject confusion. Harry had just finished disarming Draco by force by the time Katie had Bellatrix remove the knife from Hermione's throat. As she released her, Harry called out over the fray, tossing a wand to him. "Ron, catch…and go! Get Hermione out of here!"

Ron acted quickly, rushing forward just as a great grinding noise came from above. The battle slowed momentarily as everyone looked up to see the great crystal chandelier tremble and then fall to the ground, landing with a crash atop the goblin and Draco Malfoy. The redhead lifted Hermione from her place on the ground, throwing an arm around her and stabilizing her. Esdras took human form, dimming his eyes as he called out into the fray. "Any time now, Dobby!"

On cue, the tiny elf appeared at the drawing room doorway, intent on rescuing his greatest friend from his old masters. Trembling with rage and fear, he spoke. "You must not hurt Harry Potter!"

Bellatrix, disarmed of wand but still bearing her silver knife, turned to her sister. "That little rodent! Kill him, Cissy!"

A loud crack and a wand arcing through the air indicated that the Malfoy matriarch had been unsuccessful in her attempt. Esdras caught the wand from the air before grabbing the elf by the shirt on his back and Katie by her hand. He rushed them to where Harry was pulling the semi-conscious goblin from the wreckage of the chandelier. "Less talking, more escaping!"

Setting Dobby down, Ron with Hermione grabbed one hand and Harry with the goblin took the other before spinning to Disapparate. Esdras had a split second to see what was happening around him as they were all pulled into the darkness. Narcissa was huddled protectively over her wounded son. Bellatrix, furious, was in mid-throw, her silver knife spinning effortlessly thorough the air. And there, turning the corner into the doorway, a pair of red eyes set in a serpentine face curiously regarding his own image as it Disapparated away.

They landed hard on the ground. Esdras immediately rolled onto Katie, shielding her as he looked around. He recognized the small cottage nearby and keyed up the communication charm in his cloak. "All troops, we are at Shell Cottage. Repeat, Shell Cottage. Proceed immediately!" The response was, indeed, immediate. Able to Apparate through the wards surrounding the cottage, ten fleets of Dementors filled the air, blocking out the moon and stars. Esdras looked to those around him and gasped. In the cool grass, held in the arms of the Boy Who Lived, lay Dobby, the silver knife buried deep in his chest. The Dementor shouted into his cloak. "Man down! Hospital Division to my position! Priority Status!"

A series of pops surrounded them as the Hospital Division immediately Apparated directly to their side. A series of screams followed as the Dementors were blinded by magic of the house elf. At the lead of the division, Admiral Michaelis Transom called out, desperate to help. "Where are you, young prince?"

Esdras jetted forward, grabbing his friend by the shoulders and pulling him to the wounded house elf. He spoke quickly. "Patient is a house elf, object penetrating chest wound. There is no time for triage spells."

Harry knelt at the dying elf's side. "Dobby, no, don't die, don't die…"

The Dementor hurriedly guided the doctor's wand over the house elf's blood soaked chest where the blinded doctor began to recite spells in Azkabaaner so rapidly that Esdras wondered how his wand could keep up. The Dementor watched the dark bloodstain spread across Dobby's shirt. "Faster, Michaelis. We're losing him."

The doctor nodded sharply and called out to the only person he knew would be able to help. "Katie, quickly, I need blood replenishing potions! As many as you can find!"

Katie ripped the medical pack from the shoulders of the nearest doctor and began frantically digging through it for the necessary potion. But as she did this, the house elf looked one last time to Harry, his lips trembling with the effort of speaking. "Harry…Potter…"

Esdras well knew the shudder that the elf gave as life left his body. He had seen it many times before. He silently stilled the doctor's wand and his blinded friend understood. Wordlessly, they gathered Katie and the medical division and left Harry to be alone with his fallen friend, the fallen hero.