Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter, blah blah, blah you know the drill.
AN: Hello readers! I hope you are enjoying the story. But I didn't get any reviews for last chapter so come and don't be shy. I could use the feedback and it inspires me. Well enough from me enjoy chapter 25!
Dragonthunder89
Love, Betrayal, and War
"Who are you?! Speak quickly or die!" Gideon ordered.
"I am the Dark Marauder, I come in peace and I mean you no harm," the Dark Marauder replied.
"What do you want?" Tala asked.
"I have brought an ally of yours back, do not worry she is still alive. But I must apologize, I was too late to save the others. She is the only survivor," the Dark Marauder replied.
"She's alive?!" Hermione cried.
"Yes, she was badly wounded but I have done what I can for her and now she needs time to recover," the Dark Marauder replied as he proceeded to gently lay Tonks down.
"You still have not answered my question," Gideon said.
"For now it is best this way, however, I fight to destroy the forces of Voldemort and the vampires," the Dark Marauder replied.
Although nothing about this figure was revealing, Hermione could not help but feel that she knew him. But that was impossible...wasn't it? Hermione noticed Ron, Neville, and Luna had now joined them to see what the commotion was.
"Very well then thank you so much for saving her, what happened in Hogsmeade?" McGonagall asked.
"The entire thing was a trap, Inferi swarmed the village so the centaurs charged, but once inside, vampires and Death Eaters appeared and struck back. It wasn't a battle, it was a slaughter," the Dark Marauder explained.
"How did you manage to get Tonks away?" Hermione asked.
"Simple, I killed the enemies around her, picked her up and retreated," the Dark Marauder replied.
"Will you be staying with us then?" Neville asked.
"No he cannot, we don't know who he is and he will not tell us anything," Gideon replied.
"I have to admit I am disappointed, I understand your caution however I have admitted to fighting on the same side as you and to prove it I have saved one of your friends," the Dark Marauder said.
"Perhaps...but how do we know you didn't help in the slaughter and brought her here to gain our trust or favor?" Gideon shot back.
"A valid point, very well, I will take my leave of you now," the Dark Marauder replied as he turned to leave.
As he turned to leave, Hermione spoke up.
"Wait, please tell us who you are," Hermione pleaded.
The cloaked figure turned to look at Hermione and he was visibly uncomfortable this did not go unnoticed. However, Gideon misread the action.
"You are hiding something and I know it!" Gideon shouted as he drew his arrow back while pointing it at the man.
"Please lower your bow...I am leaving you in peace at least allow me that," the Dark Marauder replied as he quickly disappeared into the night.
"My lord, the ambush was successful we eliminated all but that auror Tonks," Lucius reported.
"You have done well Lucius, stand by, I have summoned Marcus here to initiate our next phase," Voldemort replied.
Both turned as the impressive figure of Marcus Alexander strode into the chamber.
"You wished to speak with me?" Marcus asked.
"Yes, we need to finish the resistance of the Light, I am dispatching seventy five of our new recruits and I request aid," Voldemort replied.
"I see...well then my commander Tahu will aid you with our men," Marcus said.
"Thank you my friend," Voldemort replied as Marcus left quickly to prepare for the assault.
"My lord the Dark Marauder has been increasingly difficult to deal with, he is the reason that auror survived in Hogsmeade," Lucius pointed out.
"It matters not Lucius, our victory in Hogsmeade led to the death of thirty centaurs including one of their generals. We don't know how many they have left but, with our seventy five combined with Marcus's force I am assured that our massive offensive will finally crush our enemy once and for all," Voldemort replied.
"Very well my lord, the strike will be organized at the recently fallen Hogsmeade," Lucius said bowing.
Marcus had flown quickly back to the Valley of the Restless and summoned Tahu.
"My lord you have requested me?" Tahu asked while kneeling.
"Yes, We are going to deal the final blow to the side of Light, I want you to assist Voldemort's Death Eaters," Marcus replied.
"What do you wish of me my lord?" Tahu asked.
"Take a few battalions of our elite soldiers and raise a large army of your Inferi, that should suffice, we will need our elite troops in case that accursed Dark Marauder shows up," Marcus ordered.
"Very well my lord I take my leave," Tahu replied as he disappeared.
"The end of the old world is within our grasp, nothing can stop our momentum!" Marcus cried.
Several days had passed with no activity in those days the resistance tried to rest. Remus had returned and almost had a heart attack when he learned what happened.
"Tonks! I am so sorry I wasn't here for you," Remus cried.
"Shh, it's fine Remus, it wasn't your fault," Tonks replied soothingly as she wrapped him in a hug.
Tonks had recovered rapidly, she wasn't nearly at full form but she was able to do light activities. She and Remus were especially intrigued by Hermione's tale of the Dark Marauder. Remus was a bit shocked by the name, the only Marauders were himself, Sirius, and James. Unless...no that wasn't possible. Tonks became increasingly suspicious of Ron's behavior, he seemed to be waiting for something, an opportunity maybe? Then Ron headed off with one of the centaur scouts but only Ron returned. When asked about it, Ron said the scout was killed by a vampire but Ron managed to kill him and get away before more showed up. Unfortunately for Ron, the Dark Marauder had been nearby and knew what really happened.
"Gideon! The Dark Marauder approaches!" one of the lookouts cried.
Gideon, McGonagall, Remus, Tonks, Hermione and several others gathered to greet the mysterious warrior.
"What do you want?" Gideon asked.
"There is a traitor among you, I have come to make you aware of this fact," the Dark Marauder replied coldly.
"What are you talking about?" McGonagall asked.
"The traitor I speak of is standing next to you, Ronald Bilius Weasley," the Dark Marauder accused.
"Are you mad?! He's one our most loyal allies!" Hermione cried.
"Tell me, didn't it seem odd to you that he and one of your scouts went out and only he came back?" the Dark Marauder asked.
"Well at first but he explained what happened," Hermione replied.
"You surprise me, Hermione you are supposed to be the smartest witch of the age but perhaps the stress is making you miss details. Such as, why would a vampire happen upon two enemies by him or herself? All of you are aware that vampires seldom travel alone. They usually travel in pairs," the Dark Marauder explained.
"But..." Hermione started.
"Did you bother to ask where he encountered this vampire? Did you think to ask him why the vampire was alone without any others nearby?" the Dark Marauder questioned.
"He's my friend I wouldn't treat him like a criminal!" Hermione defended.
"I see...but was it not that same lack of caution that cost Harry Potter his life?" the Dark Marauder asked.
The color drained from Hermione's face as what this man was saying sank in, but then how would he know?
"What are you talking about?" Remus asked.
"A vampire by the name of Viktor Krum, Harry killed him, but because he did not do anything about him, even with his suspicions Harry Potter ended up dying that night is this not correct?" the Dark Marauder asked.
"Why don't you tell us what really happened then?" Gideon asked.
"It was a stroke of luck, after you sent me away I was wandering for a bit to find a suitable and safe place to camp. However I noticed Ron and the scout so I followed them, curious to their activities. Ron was leading the way and the centaur followed, this was right outside of Hogsmeade. When they approached, several Death Eaters appeared, and as the scout went to defend himself, Ron turned on him and killed him with the killing curse. After the scout was dead, One of the Death Eaters handed a parchment to Ron who then retreated back here," the Dark Marauder explained.
"You have no proof!" Ron shouted.
"Really? If you are correct perhaps we can search you to confirm you don't have the parchment?" the Dark Marauder asked.
"You won't find it because I burned it," Ron blabbed before clapping a hand over his mouth in horror.
It happened so fast, several bows were trained on Ron now along with the wands of the witches and wizards. Hermione was crying while Ron cowered in fear.
"Ron how could you?!" Hermione wailed.
"No it's not what you think!" Ron shouted.
"Silence you traitor! What was on that parchment!!" Gideon thundered.
Ron was about to deny it but decided to just come clean, he was done for anyway.
"They are launching a massive attack in an attempt to eradicate our resistance," Ron replied.
"Of course, that was the whole point of the ambush at Hogsmeade, that is where they will launch from I bet," the Dark Marauder said.
"Tala, send a scout to confirm this," Gideon ordered.
"Tie up this traitor and gag him, we will deal with him later," Gideon ordered as a few centaurs obeyed and disappeared with Ron deeper into the forest.
The scout returned shortly out of breath to confirm what Ron had told them.
"Okay prepare for battle!" Gideon ordered as everyone sprang into action.
Gideon stopped as he regarded the Dark Marauder who was quietly looking out onto the plains for the enemy.
"If you are really with us, this is your time to prove it," Gideon said as he resumed preparations.
The forces of Light including the minister, prepared for over an hour when the scout reported sighting the enemy. Remus regarded the enemy closely with his wolf eyes. They had at least two hundred vampires, and almost one hundred Death Eaters. But then Remus noticed the vampire general began raising inferi at an alarming rate. This worried him because the centaurs had roughly the same number, around three hundred or less. But if they kept raising inferi they would be impossibly outnumbered. Remus watched in shock as the Dark Marauder leapt over the tree trunk they put up as a barricade and start advancing on the enemy.
"Wait what are you doing!" Remus shouted.
"Fulfilling my purpose," the Dark Marauder replied evenly in a familiar voice.
The vampires charged but the Dark Marauder noticed these guys were different then the ones he killed before. These were elite troops but lucky for him, the Dark Marauder was prepared. In a flash, he drew his double trident and both ends were set ablaze.
"I am the Dark Marauder! Come if you want to die!" the Dark Marauder yelled.
The first vampire attacked him with a pike. The Dark Marauder thrust out to impale him but the vampire twisted to avoid it and brought his pike around to strike his back which the Dark Marauder ducked and somersaulted away.
"Impressive," the vampire said in a cocky tone.
"Shut up and fight," the Dark Marauder snapped.
With deadly accuracy, the Dark Marauder kicked out the vampire's legs and then spun around to ram the trident into his chest. He withdrew to find that the enemy horde was almost on him. But a rain of flaming arrows came down like fiery rain and killed dozens of vampires on the spot. The Dark Marauder held his ground and engaged the enemy. But many went around him to attack the other defenders.
"Hold them back!" Gideon urged as another volley of arrows struck the evil forces.
Hermione, Neville, and Luna stood together letting off flaming spells as fast as they were able. Hermione glanced to her right and found McGonagall, Tonks, and Remus doing the same. To her left, Hagrid grabbed a vampire with his brute strength and crushed him. She looked out where the Dark Marauder was fighting fiercely and she noticed that he had already slain many vampires as the bodies piled around him as he whirled his double trident fiercely. Tala fired an arrow and then slashed the throat of another with the sharp blades on her bow. But despite the fierce defense, the enemy was gaining ground and they were now climbing over the barricade to attack the defenders. The Dark Marauder however did not back away, he stood his ground and was surrounded but he fought on like one possessed.
"Where is your leader?!" the Dark Marauder demanded as he beheaded yet another vampire.
"I am Tahu! Supreme Commander of this force!" Tahu answered.
"I the Dark Marauder hereby challenge you to a duel! Do you accept or yield?!" the Dark Marauder challenged.
"Ha! I accept!" Tahu replied as he stood opposite the Dark Marauder.
The rest made a circle around the two and for the moment, all fighting stopped as these two warriors stared each other down.
"I will be rewarded well for slaying you, it seems you have killed many of my brethren," Tahu said.
"Not nearly enough," the Dark Marauder countered.
"Any last words before I kill you?" Tahu asked.
Hermione's eyes were glued to the Dark Marauder as were everyone else's. What about him was so familiar?
"As a matter of fact...yes," the Dark Marauder replied in an even sharper voice that Hermione recognized anywhere.
"You can't kill what has already been destroyed!" the Dark Marauder announced.
"What are you talking about?!" Tahu demanded.
The Dark Marauder moved into the middle of the circle now and grabbed hold of his cloak. With one swift motion, he pulled it away. Several gasps were heard and a scream from Hermione.
"No way that's impossible!" Tahu yelled.
Tahu was frozen as he gaped at the man before him as those bright green emerald eyes stared down their enemy.
"You are supposed to be dead!" Tahu yelled again.
"Your evil still plagues this world and I cannot allow it to continue, the dark side is finished and I will send all of you into the abyss!" the Dark Marauder yelled as he raised his arms and a wall of fire rose up surrounding him and Tahu.
"H-Harry P-Potter lives," Tahu stuttered in horror.
AN: Okay there we go, come on now hit the review button. I know you want to lol. Anyway hope you are enjoying because we are nearing the end soon. It may take a few chapters though. Well until next chapter!
Dragonthunder89