"Are you going to be alright?"
"I'll be fine mum." Lily said quietly. Lavender smiled and smoothed Lily's shoulders.
"You've been very good with the phone calls."
"I…I haven't felt a need to call you." Lily said quietly again.
"You don't want to go. Do you?" Lily huffed and looked away. Lavender smiled to herself. It was what Lily did when she was found out.
"It's ok Lily." Lavender said smiling, bring her youngest daughter's face to hers.
"I like it that you miss home."
"I should be over this though." Lily said. "I'm too old to be homesick."
"You'll never be too old to be over some things." Lavender said hugging Lily who hugged her back. "Just remember I'm only a phone call away."
"I love you mum."
"I love you to sweet pea." She whispered back. She kissed the crown of Lily's head. "You go and be the best witch you can be." Lily looked at her mum and smiled, she gingerly walked away towards the train where Dorcas was waiting for her.
In that moment Lavender still saw the scared little girl in Lily. She was getting there, but still had a long way to go. Lavender turned to John who placed his arm round her. Lily was now sitting in the compartment with Dorcas, laughing and joking with one another. Her gaze turned to her parents and waved. She stood up and pulled the window down.
"Bye Mum! Bye Dad!" She shouted waving her arm. Lavender waved back as the train pulled out of the station. Lily sat down on the chair and breathed out.
James was looking out the window of the common room towards the stadium. There was a light shower in the air and fog that just made the stadium seeable. James turned back and went to go for his run.
Who can stop the Gryffindor machine? They have suddenly become the team to beat and have overcome the two toughest tests in the race for the championship. When questioned about how his players would approach this game the Ravenclaw captain, John Adler was very wary about his team's tactics.
"We've studied there style of play, it's very good, very modern don't get me wrong. But we've come up with a game plan that we think can beat them."
James ran out into the mist, down towards the pitches. The wind was starting to pick up and the clouds in the distance were greyer than usual. It was going to be raining today. On que the thunder rolled in the distance. James jogged back to the castle.
Ravenclaw haven't always been the greatest attacking threat, true to their traits there greatest strength has always been defending. There draw against Slytherin, and loss against Hufflepuff have brought great plaudits. But how do they stop the attacking force of Gryffindor, in particular, James Potter, who's one man rampage against Hufflepuff was one of the great individual performances by a player in a generation. He's been a breath of fresh air to this almost side, a player without fear, one that will have the keys to unlock possibly the best tactically astute defence in Hogwarts.
James pulled out his Quidditch gear from under his bed and walked down towards the common room where the team had been waiting for him. The buzz around the game hadn't been at its usual levels. If anything, there was a sense of Gryffindor being the team to beat, and not the underdogs.
After breakfast they started to walk down to the pitch, the thin layer of rain was now showers that were coming down hard and thick. It was a reprieve to finally get to the changing rooms where the atmosphere was unusually quiet, no joking, and no banter. A very serious feel to a game that they should win.
James pulled his robes of and pulled his t-shirt over his head.
"You can be very distracting." Lily looked down at Horatio who was pawing away at her book.
Lily smiled and looked out the window at the crowd making their way to the stadium in the pouring rain. Lily couldn't think of anything worse.
"We don't want to go out in the rain do we?" Horatio turned back, he looked up at Lily and put his paws on Lily's chest. "But you do want cuddles." Lily scooped Horatio up and held him close to her. She rubbed behind his ears and looked out at the streams of people walking towards the stadium that was barely seeable in the rain.
"Why do you think they do it Horatio?" Lily asked. "What is it about Quidditch that gets people so rattled up?" The only answer Lily got was a purr that made her smile.
"You don't mind staying here with me do you?" Horatio didn't do anything. Lily took that as a yes.
James swept his hair back and started to get changed. The noise of the crowd was beginning to seep into the changing room.
"Beaters, aim for the tips of their brooms or body shots, when they go down, we don't want them back up feeling better. Got it."
"Yes Mike." Danielle said pulling her t-shirt on. "Aim for the body and tip."
"Good. Abbs, try and catch the snitch as quickly as possible, we don't want to toy with them like against Hufflepuff. If you see it, go for it."
"What about Mullins." Abby said.
"I know he's a dirty fucker but you can beat him. I don't know what Adler has planned but he's been pretty cocky this week, let's go out there and cane them." It wasn't a rousing pep talk, but then again the occasion didn't call for it." James put on his armour and then his trousers, boots, chest plate, arm guards.
He looked at his jersey, James smiled in the corner of his mouth and took it off the hanger and pulled it on. James took his wand out and placed a drying charm on his gloves. He banged them together and got his broom, he placed his goggles in his hair and followed his team mates out into the tunnel. He could hear the rain and the crowd above him. He jumped up and down on the spot.
"Mount."
James kicked off and hovered in the tunnel. Wood lowered his hand and then began to fly out.
The cold wind and rain hit James like nothing he'd ever experienced. He could barely see in the rain and the wind was cutting through him.
James looked to the Gryffindor end who were chanting away, but the rain and wind made it almost impossible to hear them. What he could see though was his banner fluttering in the wind.
James Potter: Boy Wonder!
Attendance 5,245
Gryffindor Vs Ravenclaw
1. M. Wood 1. B. Holmes
2. J. Drummond 2. K. Green
3. D. Davis 3. R. Castle
4. R. Williams 4. K. Beckket
5. P. O'Riely 5. J. Adler
6. J. Potter 6. F. Underhill
7. A. Richards 7. H. Mullins
Madam Hooch walked into the centre of the pitch and released the snitch and bludgers. She got the quaffle out and threw it high into the air. Before Adler could react Pat stormed in and took away the quaffle and went on the attack. James on one side, Rhys on the other.
Pat threw it out to James who went in for the attack. He checked back on his right hand only for a bludgers to smack the quaffle out of his hand.
In a flash the quaffle was set upon by Kate Beckket who sped through on goal. James couldn't get back in time and she slipped the quaffle in.
0-10
James swore and got dropped deep to receive the quaffle. It surely wouldn't get any worse.
Lily sipped from her mug and looked at the rain sweeping the grounds and up to the Quidditch pitch. She looked back at the common where her book lay abandoned. Lily looked down at her feet and saw Horatio looking up at her.
"Come here, let me show you the grounds." She placed her mug on the table next to the window and scooped Horatio into her arms.
"See, there's the Quidditch pitch and the grounds. Obviously it's much nicer in the sun than the rain." Horatio placed his paw on the window.
"When you're older you can explore it a bit more, how does that sound?" Horatio squirmed. Lily rolled her eyes and placed him back on the floor.
"Can't decide can you." Lily said. She thought back to last year when Potter came back from the rain and he told her that it helped him think. She looked back at Horatio who was now snoozing on the floor by the fire.
She looked back out the window at the rain, remembering how Potter said that he thought in it to help him relax.
"I'm going out Horatio, don't wait up for me." Lily went to her room, got her rain coat and walked back to the portrait hole. She looked back at Horatio who hadn't moved from the fire.
"Don't get up." Lily Said closing the door behind her.
James hated himself sometimes. How much worse could it guess he thought to himself. Well, a hundred and seventy points behind was how bad it had gotten.
Ravenclaw where playing a counter attacking game plan. Soak up the pressure and then hit Gryffindor when they were vulnerable at the back. And it had worked, every damn time. Wood had no idea how to combat it, they tried a change in system but it only seemed to make things worse.
The only reason they hadn't lost was that Abby was playing the game of her life protecting that snitch from Mullins who had been fowling her all game. James half whished one of them caught it so this seemingly willing torture would be over with.
And as another goal went in for Ravenclaw. James swore loudly and punched his broom in frustration. He looked at where the seekers where hovering. They both suddenly went into a dive.
Abby and Mullins where head to head going for the snitch, Abby started to pull away, Mullins then pulled her back and kicked her away. Abby fell off her broom, he tried to get a hand on it but just missed and hit the floor with a sickening crunch.
James jumped off his broom onto the muddy grass. He ran over to her and skidded on the surface and went over to Abby who was withering in pain on the pitch.
"Abbs!" James skidded to his knees by her knees. "Abbs! You ok?" Abby turned round and James could see the damage. She had broken her arm, her ulna had pierced her skin and her Quidditch shirt. James lost his breath, it was like the whole world was getting closer yet zooming out at the same time. Before he knew what was happening he had been pushed away by Wood and Madam Hooch who were tending to her. Madam Pomfrey was now on the pitch.
Wood came over to the team.
"Abby's broken her arm." Woods looked back at the stretcher taking her of the stadium. "It's too badly broken to fix here so she has to go to the hospital wing." He looked around his team. "We need to re think tactics."
"Who do we put in as seeker?" Asked Danielle. "We can't win without a seeker."
"But we need to get some more points on the board first." Wood pointed out. "Even if we catch the snitch now where still not going to win." James looked up at scoreboard. 200-30, there was still time.
"We can switch Joe to a chaser."
"We've barely been able to defend as it is." Danielle said. "If we let Joe go in there then who's going to help defence?"
"We need to be more conservative with the quaffle." Wood mused. "We just need to find a seeker."
"I will." Everyone looked at James.
"You?"
"Yeah, I've played seeker before, I know what I'm looking for. And Woods right, we need to go more attacking, attack is going to be the best form of defence. They've sat back and hit us on the counter, they need to go out and attack now. Let's go and beat them!" Wood nodded.
"Joe, you go left mid, Danielle, you and me on defence. Potter, seeker." Wood looked round at his team mates.
"Great teams are defined by how they deal with adversity." He said. "We can be a great team. This is one more challenge. Let's go give the fuckers a game."
James saw the snitch, it was fluttering not so far in front of him. James kicked into gear and sped off after it. Mullins saw him go and went off after him.
It was almost impossible to see with the thick rain, but James could just make out the small flutters of the snitch's wings. He dodged under a flying broom and saw the flutter veer off to the right only for it to disappear in almost pitch black of the pitch.
The thick rain now throwing itself down made it almost impossible to see in front of it. He looked down below him and saw Gryffindor showing a little more structure on the pitch, even scoring a couple of goals in the process. If he caught the snitch now, they'd win. But seeing the snitch was almost as difficult as catching it. He thought he'd seen it a couple of times but to no avail.
But then, just by woods goal he could see the unmistakeable shimmer of wings.
James turned sharply and went off in pursuit while Mullins, who had followed him had gone wide with the turn. The snitch was now going up towards the spires of the stands. James shot up and tried to narrow the ground. The Snitch then dived down out of the ground towards the plains. James stopped and looked at it fly towards the plains.
"You've gotta be kidding me?" James looked behind him and saw Mullins coming to him. He didn't have a choice now. James sped down towards the flutter of gold that made its way towards the castle. James sped low towards the grass and was able to pull up so he was just hovering above the ground. He was swerving past a tree when he felt a barge to his side. He looked over and saw Mullins neck and neck with him.
They sped across the ground, the water from the wet grass shooting up with as they flew across the plains.
They both swerved out of the way of a tree and sped along the wet grass. The snitch took a sharp right round a tree. James took the right to. The braking charms on his broom doing the trick as he was able to effortlessly turn on the spot and go round the tree an carry on along the path.
In his vision he saw someone walking along the grounds.
Shit.
Mullins must have saw them to. He looked over at James. He must have known he'd never win the race for speed. Mullins swerved out and smashed into James. His broom shook and dipped down. With the force of the barge he was sent straight towards the bystander. The tip of his broom hit the ground sending him flying over the top.
"Move out the way!" Whoever it was scampered out of the way.
He narrowly avoided the bystander in mid-air. He though painfully hit the grass and bounced to a stop.
James groaned, that was some hit, but thankfully his armour absorbed most of the impact. He could hear the quick footsteps of someone come to his aid.
"Oh god." He knew that voice. He opened his eyes and looked up. All he saw at first was a blur, they reached down and shook him.
"Potter!" They shook him harder. "Potter, get up." James blinked and they came into focus.
"Evans?" She was looking down at him, her red hair slightly damp from the rain underneath her hood and her green eyes looking at him with concern.
"What are you doing here?" James asked sitting up abruptly. The sudden movement made Lily backtrack.
"I was going for a walk and suddenly walked into a Quidditch match." She said walking back over to him. "What happened to you?" She kneeled down again to see if he was hurt.
"Mullins." James gritted out. He turned to Lily. "How close was I to hitting you?"
"Quite close. I'm trying not to think about it." She said. James felt a surge of anger, that cheating bastard. James brushed her off and got to his feet. His gaze fixed on the stadium that was barely seeable through the rain.
"Are you sure you're ok?"
"Fine." James gritted out, his red robes fluttering in the wind, his stare fixated on the stadium before him, and the spec that was Mullins heading back.
"UP! James's broom snapped to his hand.
"Potter?" James mounted his broom. The anger flowing through him as if it was in his own blood.
"Potter!" James looked back Lily who nodded at him.
"Go get him." James mounted the broom and kicked off the ground towards the stadium. Lily looked over at the stadium and then back at the castle. She ran towards the ground.
James tore through the rain back towards the ground. All he knew was that he had to get Mullins. He didn't know where they'd gone, but if he got the stadium it would be a start. When he got to the stadium he looked over to see if Mullins had returned.
He had.
He was floating above the game, presumably losing the snitch after barging him off the broom. James floated behind him trying to see another flicker. His gaze flickered angrily towards him and then at the score board. They were still within a snitch catch of victory.
There was a flicker of gold that caught his vision. Without thinking he flew off towards it. Mullins saw it to and went off.
"Not this time." James muttered under his breath. Mullins had the head start and James was playing catch up. His broom though was able to eat up the distance so they were head to head. The snitch dived down. They swooped down towards the turf, breaking through the game at break neck speed.
The snitch pulled up, they did to. Mullins's exit was cleaner though and had James to make up the ground again.
The rain was hitting him hard in the face as he rose up towards Mullins. HE pushed his broom to the limit to try and catch up with him, he was just about there….
WHAK
Mullins's elbow connected with the side of James's head. James fell back, blood now seeping into his vision with the rain water battering him and the mud. James sped off, Mullins and the snitch in his sights. James got back head to head with Mullins who looked to his left to see James speeding alongside him. James's gaze though was ahead on the fluttering ball ahead of them. James made his move and went to fly ahead. Mullins put his arm across him to stop him. James punched Mullins in the ribs causing him to cry out. His arm pushed him back. Mullins then pulled James's broom back.
The snitch was just in front of him, put his broom was going further away. If he wanted it he'd have to jump or Mullins was going to get it.
The fall was going to hurt.
But losing would hurt more. It seemed like a lifetime to make the decision, but in reality it only took him less than second.
James jumped off the broom.
The stadium gasped in unison. James pushed off his broom with his hand outstretched.
Lily took the steps two at a time to try and get seating area. She finally got to the top and saw Potter and Mullins going for the snitch. Potter suddenly lagged behind, holding his face.
"Foul!" Lily shouted. But Potter went back for it. The two of them neck and neck for the snitch that Lily couldn't see for the life of her. Lily held her breath, fear, nerves, and anticipation all rolled into her watching the game behind her hands.
Still neck and neck, Potter jumped.
"NO!" Lily watched James swing his arm out and then fall through the air. He almost looked a cat on decent, getting ready to land on his feet. He then turned in mid-air and landed hard on the wet grass that made the whole stadium gasp and wince.
Lily breathed deeply, she reacted quickest and raced through the crowd of people to the front of her stand. She gripped the hand rail pushed herself over it to get a better view. The rain falling on her anorak the only sound filling her ears. Her attention though was entranced on Potter's seemingly lifeless body on the muddy pitch. His fist then twitched.
Lily breathed in sharply. Potter pushed himself up on his knees and shook his head. He got onto one knee and pushed himself up. The whole stadium still silent to see what had happened. Potter looked down at his fist. He gripped it more.
"Oh no." Lily whispered.
Potter then thrust his fist into the air in victory and let out a long roar. Fluttering in his grasp was the Snitch. The Gryffindor end erupted. The whole team thundering down to the Potter.
"YES!" Lily punched the air, jumping up and down, her whole body swamped with a feeling of pure joy that she had never felt before. "YES! YES! YES!" She looked back at the muddy pitch where the team where huddled, celebrating their win. That feeling of euphoria slowly subsiding away from her. She clapped her hands and turned back to walk out. She couldn't help but smile and looked around at all the other Gryffindor's who were too busy celebrating in the driving rain.
"I should be upstairs celebrating." James said.
He was in the hospital wing while Madam Pomfrey stitched the wound on the side of his head. James was looking bored out of the window at the rain lashing down on the window.
"The fact you were wondering the halls with this wound is beyond me." Madam Pomfrey rolled her eyes. "Wood said you were coming straight here."
"I only came because it wouldn't stop bleeding."
"No need to be a martyr James." Abby Richards was sitting on the bed next to him. "Just get it stitched up."
"Isn't there a spell for this sort of thing?" James asked.
"No unless you want your eye sewed up to." James smirked and looked away. "You were lucky getting a charm." He said to Abby.
"You weren't the one thrown from your broom and actually breaking a bone." Was Abby's retort. Madam Pomfrey cut the thread off and placed it back in the dish. She placed a plaster over his eye.
"Don't pick at it and report back here on Monday so I can check the stitching."
"Got it." James said jumping off the bed, wincing at the sudden movement. Madam Pomfrey narrowed her eyes at him.
"Anything else you wish to tell me about?"
"Impact Injury." James said picking up his bag. "See you on Monday." James and Abby walked out of the hospital while Madam Pomfrey shook her head.
They could hear the noise before they turned round the corner to the tower. It was almost like the sound was vibrating through the hall. James and Abby walked up to the portrait who's faced dropped.
"Nice to see you to." James said standing before the door.
"There all waiting for you both in there." The Fat lady said looking back. "It's already fever pitch, I don't want to even think what it's going to be like when you two go in."
"One way to find out." James said a little impatiently. The portrait opened Abby went in first while James closed it. When Abby walked into the main common room there was a huge cheer and a swarm of people walking towards her they hadn't noticed him yet.
When James walked in the roar was nothing that he had ever heard before, people where now coming to swarm round him, congratulating him and patting him on the back. The house hero once again.
Lily was upstairs reading her book cross legged on her bed when the already loud party went up another decibel, Potter probably came back from the pitch. Lily looked over at Horatio who was snoozing on the end of her bed.
She found herself being distracted to easily from the book with everything that was going on, she was hoping to avoid this. She reached over and scratched Horatio behind his ears.
"I'm going downstairs, are you going to be ok?" Horatio didn't move. Lily got off the bed and made her way downstairs, bypassing a girl crying on the stairs being comforted by her friends. Lily wanted to say something but gave one of the friends who clocked her a sympathetic look. She walked into the common room where her radio was being played a full blast.
Lily made her way over to the snack and drinks table, helping herself to food and walked over to Dorcas, Mary and Sarah who were talking to Potter. Lily suddenly felt the need to go back upstairs.
"Lily! There you are!" Dorcas swept over Just as Lily placed a whole brownie in her mouth and pulled her over."
"Finally got her out." Dorcas said. "Have you even got out of your room at all today?" Lily looked over at Potter who had looked away.
"I was happy staying dry." Lily said looking back at Dorcas.
"We interrupt this broadcast to bring you an important announcement." Everyone in the common room stopped dancing and looked at the radio. Lily blinked, the last time this happened it spelt trouble.
"The Sons of Salazar have stormed Malfoy Manor." The room went into a synchronised gasp. "They've kidnapped Maria Malfoy and are holding her hostage. Defence Secretary Gamine is already on the scene with the Enforcers, Captain of the Auror's Stanford Parks is already on the scene which might mean that we see the Auror's at some point although this hasn't been confirmed. But that still isn't the question on everyone's lips."
"Where is Alec Potter?"
"Hello?" Katherine smiled in confusion at the nervous looking enforcer who was standing at the door in the pouring rain. "Can I help you at all?"
"I'm here to see Alec Potter Ma'am. It's an emergency." Alec heard enough. He got to his feet and walked to the door.
"Why don't you come in?" Katherine offered.
"No time ma'am, I need to take Mr Potter right now."
"On who's orders!" Katherine asked in an annoyed tone.
"Easy Kath." Alec said limping to the door. He looked at the enforcer up and down.
"What's the emergency?" Asked Alec.
"There's been a kidnapping Sir." Katherine turned to Alec. "The Sons of Salazar have taken Maria Malfoy and are holding her Hostage at Malfoy Manor." Alec looked over at Katherine and then back at the enforcer.
"Have they issued any demands?" Alec asked, knowing this could all go south like Sally Travers.
"None as yet Sir. Captain Parks has ordered me to get you." Alec looked to Katherine.
"Go." She said.
"If you don't want me to."
"Go." Katherine said. "They need you." Alec turned to the enforcer.
"Wait there. I need to get some things."
"Of course Sir." Alec hobbled to his study and pulled the book back to his Armoury. He walked down the stone steps to the main room. He flicked the lights on and walked to the circular tube in the middle of the room. He placed his hand on it. The tube covering rose up.
Alec looked at Gilgamesh, this was an emergency, and now was the time. He touched the armour. It folded up into small circle in Alec's hand. He placed it into his pocket and went about collecting the other things he would need.
A few minutes later he reappeared by the front door where the enforcer was waiting for him. "Right, let's go." Katherine tugged on his arm. She wasn't looking up at him, a sad vacant look on her face.
"Be careful." She said finally. "Just…just be careful."
"I will." Alec kissed her on the forehead and then walked out the door.
"The details are sketchy."
"It's all happened so fast."
"Twenty people stormed the building."
"Maria Malfoy the youngest sibling."
"Has been taken hostage by the Sons of Salazar, the group responsible for the Boulevard bombing along with the brutal murder of Sally Travers."
"The Ministry say that they have the situation under control."
"They have reiterated that they don't negotiate with terrorist."
"There is no sign of Alec Potter as ye- Wait! There he is!"
Alec wanted to avoid a fanfare as he walked towards the gate. The Press where being held back by Enforcers. The walked up to the gate. Alec swiped his hand and walked through the black smoke he created, the black gate solidifying as he went past.
The Malfoy house was another stance of Pureblood family's grandeur. A three story manor house that was a brilliant white in the clear sky. But on this dark, rainy night, it was lit up by the yellow garden light charms around the immaculately kept gardens. The lights where still on in the house but there was something off about it all. He walked past a perimeter of enforcers to the tent where Parks and Gamine where having a discussion.
"So, what's the play?" Alec walked towards the command station. The rain was lashing down on the flimsy tent with the water droplets reflecting on the sirens. Gamine frowned, the tension set as the two men set it down.
"The Malfoy girl is being held on the third floor." He explained. "The Sons of Salazar have her hostage in the west wing of the house in her bedroom.
Alec walked round and studied the floor plan. He looked over at the photo of Maria Malfoy, ten years old, the signature blonde Malfoy hair, a pretty face and blue eyes.
"The whole third floor is being stripped out and being renovated." Parks Explained. "From what we can see they have men stationed on the windows as well as the stair well."
"How many do we know are up there?"
"Twenty." Gamine said looking over his shoulder. "They said unless there demands are met, she dies."
"Your enforcer said they hadn't issued any."
"They want an audience with the minister of magic." Parks explained. "Probably to discuss pureblood rule."
"Well they're going to have to make do with an audience with me." Alec said still studying the plans.
Are you really going to try that with her life on the line?" Gamine asked.
"They always say they die." Alec said closing studying the plans. "She won't."
"What makes you so sure?" Gamine asked.
"Look at the fanfare." Alec said pointing around. "If they wanted to just kill her, they would off, if they wanted to kill her for an audience, they've got one, why wait?" Gamine and Parks looked at one another. That was something they hadn't thought off.
"So what's the plan?"
"Rescue." Alec said looking down at the plans.
"And who is going to rescue her? A cripple like you." Gamine said with a shallow look. "I'd be surprised if you could get up those stairs." Alec narrowed his eyes.
"Who did you have in mind?" Gamine smiled smugly.
"I've assembled a crack team of enforcers to storm the building." Gamine said proudly. "They'll be here within the half hour."
"Right." Alec said looking round. "On tea break are they?" Gamine's nostril flared. Alec laughed.
"Watch and learn Gamine." He said walking away. "Watch and learn."
"Where is he going?" Gamine asked. Parks looked back.
"He's probably going to get that girl back." He replied untroubled. Gamine laughed. "Alec Potter is a relic gentlemen. When the enforcers are ready there going storm that place and take them one by one. The world won't need, Alec Potter!"
Alec pulled his sleeve down and looked down at Gilgamesh. Time to see if this really worked or not. He took off his boot and pulled his trouser leg up. His knee looked saw and bruised from the continuous strain being placed upon it. One more time Alec told himself…
There was always going to be a next time.
Alec took the small square and placed it on his foot. The armour spread across his body instantly Alec grunted in pain, his hand fisting into the earth. The pain was quick and blinding but the effect was almost instantaneous. His knee felt light, like it hadn't felt in years. Alec pulled his trouser leg down, reapplied his boot got to his foot. He jumped up and down on the spot, testing the armour to make sure there was no lingering pain.
Nothing. Good.
Alec walked toward the moat surrounding the property. He pulled out his sonar goggles and flipped them on.
"What have we got here?" The pulse shot out across the house. The pulse mapped out the stately house. The first floor was abandoned, as was the second, but on the third floor there was two dozen people patrolling in patterns. The Malfoy girl was being held in a room at the back of the house being guarded by three men.
Alec shut down the sonar. It was time to think tactics. There was way too many of them to take on in a head on attack, that would be suicide. Two dozen men armed with wands ready to kill anyone who came close. He couldn't be seen.
Alec ran to the moat and dived in. Gilgamesh formed around him as he swam down further into the drain pipe. He came up to a metal grate. Alec pulled out his wand. The tip glowed red and he brought it down on the metal. In no time it fell onto the drainpipe and Alec continued on to the surface point. Alec got out, water dripping from his coat. Gilgamesh, absolved into his skin. Alec touched his ear.
"Parks. It's me?"
"Alec?" He could hear Parks walking away from the commotion. "Alec, where are you?"
"I'm in the manor." Alec whispered placing the goggles back on, seeing if he had alerted anyone to his presence.
"You're in the manor!" He could hear parks pacing around. "I won't even ask." The pulse didn't show any deviation to the patrol pattern. "I count over twenty people patrolling with another three guarding her." Alec monologued.
"That's too many to take head on." Parks replied.
"In the light, yes." Alec said checking his equipment. "This is stealth. I need you to cut the power and put those floodlights on the third floor."
"What's that going to do?" Alec smirked.
"There's two dozen of them on the third floor." Alec checked his bo-staff and smirked. He brought it down swiftly and began to walk to the manor itself. "I'm going to surprise them from the second." He cut the line.
"Parks! Parks." Gamine came over to him, the rain lashing down on him. "You can't just wander of like that in the middle of this!" he bellowed. "What was so damn important?"
"It's Alec!" Parks shouted back. "He's found a way into the manor and is making his way up to them!"
"What!" Gamine strode over. "How!"
"Because it's what he's trained to do!" Parks replied. "We have a plan, where going to implement it, now!" He went to walk away put was held back by Gamine by his arm.
"NO! I'm in charge! You tell me what the plan is! For all we know it could be dangerous! It might put the Malfoy girl at risk!"
"There's no time, Gamine. Me and Alec have done this before! He knows what he's doing and I trust him!" Parks shrugged his arm free. "Stand here and see how the professional's handle it!" Parks walked over to the Enforcers.
"Cut the power!" He ordered. "And get those floodlights on the third floor!" The enforcers went about it. Gamine walked over with a look the mixed anger and helplessness, like a child who couldn't have it all his own way.
Parks looked up at the manor, his eyes squinting up at it from the rain. Slowly, all the lights began to go out. Everyone watched transfixed at what was going on, soon all the lights where off.
"Power's off sir." One of the enforcers said.
"Get those beams up on the third floor!" There was a huge clunking metal sound as the flood lights turned on. The huge beams rose up into the rainy night sky onto the dark house.
"You're on your own Alec." Parks muttered under his breath.
"What is it?" Randall Le-Strange walked into the deserted third floor were everyone was priming there wands. "Why are the lights off?" A flood light passed past the large letting the bright light in. Le Strange's gaze followed it on its run. He looked round at his Sub-ordinates.
They were dressed in all black cloaks with hoods up wearing masks that resembled snakes.
"The Powers been cut." One of them replied. "There up to something." Le Strange's brown eyes looked back at the Maria Malfoy who was looking around with fear. Le-Strange's harsh features narrowed more.
"They're trying to lure one of us out." Le Strange said. "Keep up the patrols, if anything happens, knock and she dies." Le strange pointed to one of the other men in a snake mask and pointed outside. "You stay out there to." The man nodded and walked out the small chamber as the floodlight made another pass.
"Be careful…" Le Strange looked down at the floor. "There's something odd going on here…"
Below them Alec walked onto the ground floor. The whole house was dark with the furniture of the main hall he walked into barely visible. The only light coming in was the waste light form the floodlights which lit up the rain streaked windows. Alec flipped on the Auror link.
"Parks." He whispered.
"Alec, what is it?"
"I need to know the plan for the third floor renovations. How far where they into construction?" There was a small commotion.
"Malfoy says that they had just finished building the shell for the main bedroom on the floor that was going to be for Maria."
"That's where there holding her." Alec mused. "Are there any magical barriers here I should know about?"
"They've set up a magic frequency barrier, anything not connected to a registered wand will alert them." Alec looked down at his wand. That was useless.
"Right, nothing I can't work around." Alec said. "Right, I'm going dark, see you when it's done."
"Good luck." Alec cut him off. There was a laundry shoot that ran right up the flour floors, Alec walked over the shoot and pushed the shoot door open. He looked down to the basement and then up. Alec pulled his wand out and looked at it. It was a risk. But he hadn't brought a grapple with him, and they would hear him if he walked up. Alec pointed his wand up the shoot. A Rope shot out disappeared up the shoot. When Alec heard it snatch at the top he retracted it straight away. Alec flew up past the first floor, he jumped off on the second floor. He jumped through the shoot door and somersaulted onto the floor. He rose up slowly. His leg didn't hurt. Gilgamesh was doing its job.
Alec looked up at the roof and put on the sonar goggles.
"Unauthorised wand used!" One of the snake men shouted. "Shall we kill her?"
"No." Le Strange said with a smirk. "They're coming up here to save her. Let them come, when they do, we'll defeat them, and then show off their corpses to everyone." The rest of them nodded.
"Get by the doors, kill anything that comes through." He said. He walked back into the chamber and closed the door and looked down at Maria.
"They're fools." He told her. "But you already knew that. But now the whole world will now." Outside the men readied there wands at the main staircase door leading up to the door.
Below them Alec couldn't believe his luck. He smirked, they had gathered in a semi-circle around the door. From his coat he pulled out timer bombs and set them up. He threw them up to the celling, four in a small cluster and another four around the edge.
Five seconds to breach.
Alec crouched, he closed his eyes and Gilgamesh formed around him with the mouth guard in tow that matched the style of the armour.
Two Seconds to breach.
Alec smirked.
"Boom."
BOOOOOOOOOM
The grapple blasted into the ceiling and out to the third floor. Alec jumped up through the floor onto the third floor. Everyone had scattered, scared and confused at what had happened. Alec though, when he had passed through had thrown some magic disrupters onto some of the wands.
Alec landed on a beam on the ceiling. One of them began to fire killing curses into the floor he had made. Alec activated the disrupters, there was a small explosions from the wands, causing some of them the fall to the floor. Alec pointed his wand at one of them, the lasso snared around one of their legs. Alec attached the rope to beam and jumped off the beam onto the floor, causing the man to scream as he was heaved off the floor, dangling by his ankle. Everyone turned round. The flood light passed over as Alec got to his feet. A few of them back peddled. The mouth guard formed round Alec's mouth and he sprang into action. The suit giving him the extra second advantage that he had lost recently.
He grabbed one of the Snake men with a wand that still worked and grabbed hold of his arm.
"Stupefy!" Alec shouted. The red shots fired out, Alec swivelled the man so the blasts came out in a circle. Everyone hit the deck straight away to avoid the bursts. Alec then dislocated the snake man's arm and threw him to the floor.
Alec looked up and saw another one of the snake men was aiming his wand at Alec in the middle of a curse.
"Avada-"
Alec pointed his wand and the lasso shot out again. The rope snared around the man's shoulder. Alec tugged it back sharply and the snake man came flying over.
"Stupefy!" It was a point blank range attack that knocked him straight out. His lifeless body skidding along to the floor and into the huge hole in the floor that Alec had made earlier. He swivelled and threw a wingding at a snake man who was readying his wand for an attack. The wingding smacked against his wrist that made him scream out in pain. Alec checked his back again and saw another man mid curse.
Alec swivelled kicked the body he had hung up earlier. The body flew off the line and hit the man who was mid-curse with one his companions. The room was filled with a green light that couldn't distract Alec who smacked another one's wand out of the way while another went for an attack. He brought the fist down and then sprang it back sharply into the man's face.
Alec ducked to avoid a pipe that someone had swung at him with. The pipe hit one of the other snake men. Alec sprang up quickly.
"Expelliarmus!"
The Pipe flew across the room, Alec grabbed him, placed him in an arm lock. He forced him up over his head and brought him down, smashing the snake man into the wooden floor boards. He looked up at the rest of the snake men who all took a step back while the floodlight made another round. Alec sprang forward.
Inside the chamber Maria Malfoy looked around fearfully at the commotion outside the room. Le Strange though looked slightly more scared at the sounds of his men being thrown around by one man. He looked down at the Maria who was now looked relieved.
Outside Alec Jumped through the air, avoiding two killing curses. He landed on the floor and somersaulted towards the two men. Alec swivelled kicked them to the floor. Alec got on one knee and pushed himself up with the two men and threw them across the room into the wall.
"Expelliarmus!" Alec disarmed another snake man who was about to fire a killing curse at him.
"Expelliarmus!" Alec saw his wand fly out of his hand. He looked up at a group of four who were now walking towards him. Alec slipped a magic disrupter into his hand.
"Right, old fashioned way it is." Alec muttered. He threw the disrupter along the floor. He set off a huge bang, causing their wands to let off sparks. They dropped them to the floor. They looked at Alec and pulled out knives.
"Didn't expect that."
Alec ran towards them. One of them swung for Alec with their blades. Alec ducked underneath the blade, thrusted himself upwards. Alec caught his wrist and with one sharp motion dislocated his shoulder. Alec caught the dropped knife and threw it into the shoulder of an oncoming attacker. He cried out mid run and fell to the floor.
"Stupefy!" The stunning spell sent Alec flying back, smashing into one of the walls. The Flood lights focused onto the spot where Alec had hit the wall. Alec fell down onto one knee.
"That's Impossible!" He shouted. "That should have been knocked you out!"
"Ha." Alec wiped his mouth. "You have to try better than that." Alec got to his feet, his black silhouette blinding behind the bright flood light.
"So, who wants to try that again?" The five remaining snake men took a step back. Alec shrugged. "Shame." Alec ran towards the four that where left. One of them came at Alec with a knife, Alec caught it and hyperextended his arm. Out of the corner of his eye he saw another one bringing his knife down. Alec moved the hyperextended arm in the way of the knife. The knife passed through the flesh, eliciting a sharp scream. Alec through the man to the ground, grabbed the assailant and punched him hard in the face.
Alec dodged another knife, blocked another with his elbow.
"Stupefy!" Alec saw the red sparks just in time. He moved one of the snake men into the path of the curse which sent him flying across the room. Alec turned round to see the reflective shine of a knife. He dodged, grabbed his wrist, disarmed him and brought it down into his knee. Alec let out a roar and punched hard into the floorboards.
"Stupe-!" Alec grabbed the wand and brought it down sharply and then again the other way. Alec was able to bring the wand over his shoulder, flip him over, and break his arm. Alec was then kicked him in the face. He fell to the floor and saw another knife coming down towards him. Alec blocked with his forearm. The blade skimming off Gilgamesh, Alec blocked again. He pushed himself up, kneeing his assailant in the face.
He turned to his other attacker. Alec disarmed him, winded him and then upper cutted him. Alec then rounded on the last one. The floodlight making one last move around the deserted room.
"N-no." The Snake man placed his hand out, motioning to Alec to keep away. "Stay, stay away from me!"
Alec walked slowly towards him, his steps echoing on the wooden floorboards. The floodlight passing behind him slowly as he bared down on his prey.
"No-no! NOOOOOO!"
Inside the chamber Le strange was breathing nervously while looking at the door. He heard one of his men begging for mercy. He looked at the other man in the chamber. He looked scared stiff, and Le Strange couldn't blame him, his wand fixed on the door along with his fearful eyes.
He looked down at Maria Malfoy, she looked relieved, she closed her eyes, muttering to herself that someone was here to save her. Maybe he should just kill her right now.
BANG
Everyone looked to a piece of wall that now had dust falling from a piece of masonry being pushed back. Le Strange looked up at the door and then to his henchman and nodded to it. He nodded and walked gingerly towards it, hiding halfway behind a piece of wall. They waited, waited for Alec to be brazen and stroll through the front door.
BANG
Alec smashed his way through the wall and grabbed him the henchman from behind, wrapping his bicep around his neck. He pointed his wand at Le Strange who was now standing behind Maria with his own wand by her ear.
"Drop it!" He shouted. No one moved.
"I said drop it!" he shouted. He looked at Maria and then back up at Alec whose face remained passive.
"I'll kill her!" He shouted jabbing Maria with his wand. "Believe me I'll do it!" Alec breathed out.
"Do you know what the sad thing is?" Le Strange shook his head, his features quirked in bemusement.
"I believe you." Alec fired a stunning spell that hit Le Strange in the face. The force sent him flying back through the window behind them shattering the glass. Alec choked out the henchman and walked to the window.
"Up there!" The floodlight beamed onto Alec. He put his arm to stop the glare, his coat fluttering in the rain and the wind. He turned back and walked towards Maria who was laughing softly to herself.
"Are you ok?" Alec asked as he cut her free. When he did she hugged him fiercely, crying into his shoulder, muttering that she knew someone would come for her. Alec was taken aback. He looked had never imagined himself as someone's saviour, no matter how many times he had done something like this. Alec breathed out and returned the gesture.
"It's ok." He said softly. "It's ok, you're safe." Maria hugged him tighter. Alec looked at the driving rain outside, the floodlight still on the shattered pane of glass.
"Come on." He picked her up. "We need to get you back to your family."
"He just threw a suspect out a window!" Gamine shouted. "We can't wait." He turned to the assembled enforcers.
"Storm that place, bring her out, alive!" Gamine spat. "Alec Potter, either way! Where going to show the world we don't need-"
"Look!" Everyone turned to the front door that had opened.
"Get a light on there!" Parks shouted. They moved the floodlight to the front doors that had opened fully. They waited, waited to see what had happened, what was coming through. Then, out of the darkness of the house outstepped Alec with Maria Malfoy. The surrounding crowd cheered. Maria had moved her face into Alec's shoulder to avoid the glare of the floodlight.
Alec walked through the applause to the healers who were waiting with a gurney, along with her parents. Alec lowered Maria onto it. She clutched onto his arm.
"Don't go."
"You're safe." Alec reassured her. He looked over at her parents. It was the same look the Evans's had when he saved their daughter, relief. They hugged her, kissed her, made a fuss over her. Alec looked down at the floor and then turned round to walk away.
"Potter." Alec looked over his shoulder at Abraxas Malfoy who ran a hand through his long blonde hair.
"I know we've never really seen eye to eye, but." He looked back at his Daughter who was looking back at them.
"But I'm glad you were here." He held his hand out to shake it. "Thank you." Alec looked down at it, and then slightly over his shoulder at the assembled press.
"No problem." Alec said shaking his hand. "Excuse me."
"Wait, Mr Potter!" Alec walked over towards Parks while the enforcers fought to keep them back. Under the tent to was Gamine, scowling at Alec's mere presence.
"Well done." Parks said patting Alec on the shoulder. "That was a bit nervy but I knew you'd get through."
"Well at least you did." Alec replied nodding over to Gamine. Parks smirked.
"Don't mind him, you remember it's head on the line if it all goes wrong. So, what did we learn?"
"This was an inside job." Alec said sitting on the table and folding his arms. "Someone wanted this to happen."
"A Son of Salazar working for the Malfoy's?" Gamine interjected.
"There family has been known to be in Slytherin for decades." Alec said. "I need a word with one of the henchmen." He pushed himself off the table.
"Ah, no!" Gamine said going after him. "You are still on medical leave, you are not to go anywhere near them!" Alec stopped, he smirked and turned back round.
"Sure. Threaten the guy who just took out a whole room of armed guards and got you one unharmed, alive, hostage." He looked at Gamine up and down.
"I thought not." Alec said walking back towards the house. Parks looked at Gamine.
"I'll go with him." Parks said. "Just to make sure." He too hastily followed, he caught up with Alec who was walking inside.
"You could try and not antagonise him."
"It's funnier that way." Alec said making his way up the stairs. "They're getting more brazen Stanford. Attacking a stray from the pack is one thing. But attacking a major player means they're breeding confidence. They are getting more dangerous."
"We still have no real leads on their leader, this…Riddle." Parks replied. "I've had every person shake down there sources to find out something. Do you reckon Queen might know anything?"
"She might, but with her everything comes at a price, I don't think I need to go to her just yet. Besides, I have my own lead."
"So why are we interrogating one of them?"
"To find out who got them the intel for this." Alec said as the got to the third floor where they were all tied up. Parks let out a low whistle.
"Ok, how did you do this?" Alec pulled up his coat sleeve.
"Gilgamesh?" Alec nodded.
"You should know better, bonding with demon weapons is dangerous."
"It was her life on the line, Stanford." Alec said pulling his sleeve down. "I didn't know what else to do."
"So, who do you think is a willing talker?" Alec crouched next to one of them and got his wand out. His wand squirted water into the man's face. He spluttered and coughed. He groaned and looked around him. His gaze settled on Alec and Parks.
"Oh shit."
"Oh shit is right." Alec replied. "So, there are two ways this can go down. You can, A, tell me what I want to know and you go. B….well, after what happened earlier." He presented the other men tied up around.
"Fancy a round two?"
"No, no." He said. "Ok, what do you want to know?"
The Marauders Proudly Present James Potter, Lily Evans, & Alec Potter in The Marauders: Year Two
Chapter Twenty One
Mayhem At The Manor
Written by Chambers10