Chapter Twenty-nine - United We Stand
"Holt, I want a word with you," Pansy said as she and Tracy entered the fifth year girls' dormitory without knocking.
The blonde girl looked up, fear writ large across her face. "I didn't do anything."
Pansy rolled her eyes. "You don't even know what I'm going to say."
"I can guess. It's been one threat after another this year. For the last time, I'm sorry I made Harry ask me to the Yule Ball."
"That is actually the least of your worries right now. Let's go."
"I'm not going anywhere with you."
"You come or I'll make you," Tracy snarled.
"No!"
Pansy pointed to her badge. "I'm a prefect, and I have the authority to compel you."
"Don't you dare!" Michelle looked frantically at Sarrah, Shawna, and Ginny. "You can't let them!"
"She's a prefect, Michelle," Sarrah said, touching her own badge. "You must be in trouble."
"I haven't done anything!"
Pansy didn't answer. She gestured to Tracy, who grabbed Michelle by the hair and hauled her bodily out of the room.
"What the hell?" Michelle shrieked, trying to reach her wand. Pansy neatly divested her of it.
Tracy didn't take her far, only to their own dorm. She threw Michelle at one of the beds. She banged her knees and went down in a heap.
"Ow! What are you doing?"
Tracy glanced at Pansy. "Thanks. I've got it sorted from here."
Pansy hesitated. "Are you sure you should be left alone with her?"
Tracy eyed her coolly. "Do you care about her enough to get in my way?"
Pansy gave her a long look. "No, I really don't. Just try not to kill her."
"Oh, she's not going to die," Tracy promised. "That would defeat the purpose of questioning her."
Pansy left the room. Tracy put up a Silencing Charm and turned back to the task at hand.
"You've been caught at last, Holt," Tracy said triumphantly. "We know you've gone Dark."
"If anyone's gone Dark around here, it's you lot," Michelle snapped, looking up at her through her hair, which had fallen into her face. "All you ever do is threaten to hurt me!"
Tracy raised her wand. "We're protecting ourselves. We have far more important things going on than your petty teenaged witch games. You've played the innocent all year, trying to penetrate our secrets. Now you're going to tell me everything you know."
Michelle screamed. "Don't you touch me! You can't do this to me!"
"I can do anything I want to, Holt," Tracy gloated. "Anything. To whom have you been giving information?"
"Nobody! I'm not a spy!" Michelle sounded like she was ready to cry.
Tracy bound her to the wooden posts at the end of the bed. "Last chance, Holt. Who do you work for?"
"Help! Someone help me!"
"Scream all you want, Holt. Nobody is going to save you."
Scream, she did.
As Harry re-entered the common room, his friends looked up at him in surprise.
"Harry!" Pansy said. "Did you get it?"
"No. We've got other problems now," he replied heavily. "Where's Tracy? We have to find her and make her stop. It doesn't matter anymore. Death Eaters are attacking the castle right now."
That made everyone sit up. "What?!"
He nodded. "We've got to get everyone on alert and form up a group to go stop them."
Pansy stood up. "I'll get her. You go."
Harry cast a Sonorus Charm on himself. "Slytherin House, this is Harry Potter speaking. Death Eaters are attacking the school. All third years and younger, stay in your dorms. I'll be by in a few moments to lock you in. Stay put. You'll be safe here. All members of the Duelling Club assemble in the common room."
Harry cancelled the charm and turned to Draco. "You know what to do."
Draco nodded. "Form squads of three, spaced every ten seconds, move from cover to cover when possible."
Harry was very relieved to have friends he could count on. "I'll be along shortly. If you see Snape, don't bother him."
"Right."
Harry went back to the dorm and cast his Patronus. "Neville, Bellatrix is leading the Death Eaters into the castle. Get the Gryffindors from Duelling Club and get down here."
Harry sent alert messages to Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, and also Professor McGonagall before he poked in on the third year boys, moving down to the second years and then the first years. He then went into the girls' corridor to lock in the firsties, the second years, and the third years.
"Are we safe?" said one girl fearfully.
Harry did his best to reassure them. "You'll be as safe as I can make you. I'm going to use Arithmancy with my spells. Only a student will be able to open the door. I want you guys to stay alert. Keep your wands handy. Be ready to defend yourselves if you need to."
"We will, Harry," they promised.
Neville gasped as a silvery stag came through the door. It was a Patronus, a corporeal Patronus. Not many wizards could do the spell that effectively. Then it spoke!
"Neville," it said in Harry Potter's voice, "Bellatrix is leading the Death Eaters into the castle. Get the Gryffindors from Duelling Club and get down here."
The Patronus faded into nothingness, but Neville was already starting to move. He cast a Sonorus Charm.
"Attention! Attention! The castle is under attack. All members of the Duelling Club report to the common room at once. We must repel the invaders. This is not a drill. Get ready, boys and girls! This is it!"
Neville immediately began to dress for combat. His wand holster went on his belt. He looked for a long moment at his dad's wand, in the display box on the table next to his bed. He'd had some limited success since he'd started using it left-handed.
"Dad, if your wand is ever going to work for me, now would be a really good time to start."
He took the wand and slid it into the holster.
In the common room, nearly the entire house was mulling around. It was a chaotic mob, and he was very angry that they weren't in formation.
"Shut it!" he bellowed.
They silenced immediately.
"Third years and under, back to dorms. Now! Detention and a hexing for anyone still visible in twenty seconds. Move it, move it!"
There was a mad scramble as the younger students complied. Neville didn't wait for them to be gone before he was on his next order.
"Form up by squads! I should not have to tell you that! I hope we'll be able to meet up with Captain Potter and learn more, but for now, all we know is that Death Eaters are in the castle. We advance until we encounter the enemy. When that happens, we will kill every single one of them without hesitation or pause."
His orders given, he began to motivate. "This is not going to be duelling. This is going to be killing. If you hesitate, you will not kill. You will be killed. I will provide an alibi for anyone who is later questioned about illegal magic. It is you or them, boys and girls. This is the moment where childhood ends. After tonight those of us that survive will be men and women. Adults. Those of us who survive will honour the names of those who fall. Be smart, be careful, and for Merlin's sake, be fast. Fall out."
They hustled out of Gryffindor tower and began the descent. They had to move quietly, and he put a Silencing Charm on all of their feet, a trick he'd learned from the other prefects..
As they were coming down to the fourth floor, Neville called a halt. He could hear voices coming up the stairs. He motioned to his squad to take cover. They would ambush the intruders and catch them exposed on the corner.
He knelt behind a stone pillar, his head bowed and eyes closed. He kept his ears trained on the voices and footsteps, and he silently cast the Hearing Amplification Charm.
He took a deep breath and tried not to panic. The waiting was unbearable. The anticipation so awful.
Neville hadn't paid much thought to matters of God in his short life except to wonder if he was cursed to endure all his family's attempts to make him show his magic. Now as he waited for the most important moment of his life to arrive, he found himself praying. He prayed that he would survive in this battle long enough to find Bellatrix Lestrange and kill her. He prayed that Gran would forgive him for dying and leaving her alone. He prayed that she might know how brave he'd been, how much like his father he'd tried to be. He prayed to be brave and to be like his father. Dad's wand was tucked into the holster on his belt. He prayed that it would bring him good luck.
The voices were getting closer now. Was that a woman's voice he heard?
He prayed to aim well and cast straight.
He opened his eyes and peeked around the pillar. He could see the Death Eaters coming up from the third floor. They were nearly all in the kill zone.
"Diffindo!" he bellowed, rising and casting the first spell.
In the common room, Harry saw that Draco and most of his friends had gone up already. He turned to Astoria, who was trying to decide which of her three friends to kick out their triad.
"Tori, I want you stay behind. Not everyone is going to fight. I'm placing you in charge of everyone who stays in the dormitories."
Astoria looked astonished for a moment, but she rebounded quickly. "I won't let you down, Harry."
Harry headed up by himself at a run. He found Draco, Theo, and Millie at the stairs where the dungeons led up into the castle proper.
Draco nodded to him. "Good timing. Where are they now?"
Harry consulted the Map. "Looks like they're on the first floor, just exiting the secret passage. They're headed up. Let's go."
It wasn't until they were on the third floor that Harry realized their purpose.
"They're on their way to kill Dumbledore."
"But he's not here," Draco objected.
Theo argued, "They might not know that. They're just going to ambush him when he returns."
Harry didn't care. "We're going to ambush them now."
"How?"
Suddenly the sound of spellfire rang out.
"What's that?" Draco said, his voice an octave higher than normal.
"Way to go, Neville," Harry said proudly.
"How do you know it's him?" Theo said.
"I sent him a message. Now we can get behind them and catch them in the crossfire. Draco, take the cloak and get close to them. Take out Bellatrix if you can. When I change back, that's the signal."
Harry flashed effortlessly into his Animagus form, hearing Millie gasp as he scampered up the stairs.
He approached the Death Eaters with caution. All were masked. He got right behind the first fellow. Quick as can be, he changed back to a boy and cast a non-verbal Strangulation Curse.
Draco cried, "Diffindo!" and a Death Eater's throat spurted blood. He remained under the cloak, so Harry remained unnoticed as they looked to see one of their number fall for no apparent reason.
Rodolphus dropped his wand and grabbed at his throat with both hands. He went to his knees, and now the others noticed him, but it was too late. With a twitch, he collapsed entirely and lay still.
Harry began to cast shields as Theo, Millie, Lucas, Arcen, and Jeremiah Goodwinter charged in, spells blazing.
The Death Eaters were now caught in a very unenviable position at the corner of the stairs. They could not go up, and they could not go down.
Harry summoned a cascade of ice and was countered with fire. He countered the fire with a Vacuum Spell, pulling it into a singularity and hurling the pending explosion back up the stairs.
All of a sudden Harry heard Neville swearing, and the Gryffindors' spells faltered. The Death Eaters moved immediately on to the fourth floor.
"Don't let them get away!"
On the fourth floor, the Death Eaters moved down the corridor, heading for the secret passage leading to just outside Dumbledore's office. Several wounded Gryffindors lay on the floor, as well as a dazed Jamie Davis.
"They're getting away," she said weakly. "I walked out of the secret passage right into the middle of everything. How could I be so stupid?"
"Don't worry about that now. Rest easy."
"I'm fine. I need to get these boys to Madam Pomfrey."
"I'll send someone with you."
"Stop them, Harry!"
Neville staggered to his feet. "I feel like I've been run over by a hippogriff."
"Potter, what's going on?" Weasley demanded.
"Bellatrix and the Death Eaters. I think they've come to kill Dumbledore."
"Let's stop them!"
"That's the plan. They're taking the secret passage up to near Dumbledore's office."
"How many?" Neville said.
Theo answered. "We took out two of them. Should be a dozen or so left."
Draco turned to Harry. "What's the plan?"
"Pin them down and kill them. Split up. Neville, take your people up via the stairs. We'll follow them up the secret passage."
"Got it."
"We've been training for this. We can do this. Let's go!"
Tracy swore in a most unladylike fashion. The sobbing girl laying on the floor had broken far too easily. There was no way that Michelle could be the spy. Nobody could take the sort of punishment Tracy had handed out and not tell everything she knew.
The only things that Michelle had confessed to were following Harry around this year, trying to get him to notice her. Now that Laine was out of the way, she had clung to a delusional belief that maybe she might have a chance with him. She had been hacked off at Tracy for dating Harry again. She had tried to get Tracy in trouble and make her look bad to Harry.
Arrogant little slag. After all your conniving and scheming, you still haven't learned your lessons. Making another move on my Harry! Well, at least you've been suitably punished now. But if it wasn't Zabini, and it wasn't you, then we still don't know who the spy is. I need to tell Harry as soon as possible.
Pansy opened the door. "Tracy, stop!"
"I have. She's not the spy."
"Death Eaters are attacking the school!"
Tracy swore again.
"Exactly. Harry is leading the Duelling Club up to stop them."
"I've got to go to him."
"What about her?" Pansy looked at Michelle.
"What about her?"
"Are you just going to leave her like this?"
Tracy frowned, but she cast a few quick Healing Charms. Michelle's wounds began to close.
"Better?"
"What are you going to do with her now?"
"Now, nothing. Later, who knows? Maybe we can Memory Charm her or something. It's not important. Harry needs me now."
Tracy cast a Body Bind and the girl froze in place on the floor. She walked quickly toward the common room, Pansy only a step behind.
"Where is Harry?" Tracy demanded.
"He locked in the younger students and went up by himself. Everyone's going up in threes."
"Harry will be our third. We just need to find him."
"Let's take the secret passage."
"Right."
They were quickly up to the ground level. In the vast central stairway, they could clearly hear the sounds of spellfire.
Tracy was taking the stairs two at a time, but she still wasn't in time to make it to the next landing as the staircase began to shift, pulling her away from where she needed to go.
"Stupid stairs!" she said heatedly. "Don't they know we're in a hurry?"
Pansy was too winded to reply.
Vincent Crabbe enjoyed combat. There was just something about the meeting of curse and counter that made his blood sing. When he fought, he felt himself being more graceful, faster, and stronger. When the thrill had faded, he felt clumsy and awkward, like an ox trying to skate on ice. He had joined the Duelling Club and the Order of the Basilisk in the hope that he might be able to contribute someday in a meaningful way.
And so he had.
The Death Eaters had attacked the school, and Vincent had answered the call to defend the students. He had struck down several of the enemy himself, and he'd helped his better friends with still more. They had fanned out through the corridors, trying to limit the damage done.
He turned the corner and had to duck back to avoid a beam of red light. Several more spells chased after it, and he waited for a chance to return fire. He tried to catch his breath, but as he wheezed, his heart sank.
I know that voice.
"Daddy!" he screamed. "Stop this! I can save you!"
The spellfire ceased. Vincent dared to peek around the corner and saw his father standing there.
"No one can stop the Dark Lord. Come with me, Vincent. We will have a place of honor."
"A place of torture, you mean. I know what he does to you all."
His father's eyes flashed with fear for a moment. "Only when we fail. The incompetent require incentive."
"He's twisted you! No normal wizard does that to people! We don't have to accept it."
"There is nothing else to be done, Vincent. I made my choice long ago. I cannot unmake it now."
"Daddy, please!"
"I'm sorry, Vincent."
They began to duel, and despite the sour taste in his mouth, Vincent felt his excitement start to build.
That isn't your father, he told himself sternly. That is a Death Eater, and he's going to kill you unless you stop him.
Vincent punched through the Death Eater's shield and landed two curses in his chest. He staggered back, off-balance. Another curse followed, this one blue and lethal. The big man fell at last, his wand skittering down the corridor.
Then Vincent came back to himself, and he couldn't breathe. His chest felt wrapped in bands of steel. He stepped closer, not letting his guard down. He didn't think his dad had a spare wand, but one could never be sure.
Dad's breathing was shallow, and his eyes were wide.
Vincent crashed to the floor. "Daddy, I'm sorry."
"Don't be," he gasped. "I am free. Thank you, my son."
"We've got to get you some help."
"No! It's better this way. Just stay with me. Until the end."
"Daddy!" His voice cracked.
"Don't cry, Vincent. I'm proud of you. You are a fine man. Better than me. Stronger. Braver."
"Don't say that!"
"I love you, son."
"I love you too, Daddy!"
His heart was shattering, then the grip on his hand slackened.
"No! Daddy!"
Father's eyes unfocused, not blinking, but staring into nothing.
How long he sat there sobbing, Vincent could not have said. It was only when Goyle knelt down beside him that he came back to himself. His best mate put one hand on his shoulder and squeezed slightly.
"We have to keep fighting. There are more."
"I know," he said brokenly. "I know, but-"
Goyle nodded. "Take a moment. Get yourself together. We'll mourn later. Let's make them pay."
Anger was a superb remedy for grief. Fire flared in Vincent's mind as he thought of revenge. He raised his wand.
"Let's kill them."
When the call to assemble had gone out, Ron had leapt into action. He'd pulled his clothes back on and grabbed his wand. He got into formation with the others. He was in a squad with Dean and Seamus, his best mates.
Leftenant Neville yelled at them and gave them a motivational speech. Ron wasn't worried. He was at the top of his game. There was no way the Death Eaters would be able to take him down. He wasn't scared of them.
The Gryffindors hustled out of their tower and hurried down the stairs. They found the Death Eaters on the stairs, and Neville began the battle with a Slicing Curse. Ron felt his blood singing in his veins as he cast and blocked.
Suddenly some of them were hit with spells from an odd angle. Ron turned to look but was hit and went down. The breath had been stolen from his chest. All he could comprehend was that he wasn't breathing. He wanted to suck in a lungful of fresh air, but his body refused to cooperate. Panic washed over him. He couldn't breathe!
Mercifully he blacked out. When he came to a few moments later, the Slytherins had arrived and Potter was giving orders. Then Neville was giving orders.
"You lot," he indicated half the group, "come with me. You lot," he gestured to the half that included Ron, "fan out through the corridors. We don't know if they've split up. Be ready for anything."
'Anything' turned out to be a pair of Death Eaters outside the Charms classroom.
After a furious exchange of spells, the Death Eaters were incapacitated. Ron made sure to take their wands away.
The next 'anything' was Pansy Parkinson and Tracy Davis.
"And here I thought my night was going so well," he said with a great sigh.
"Stuff it, Weasley," Parkinson snapped. "No time."
"You girls better come with us."
"We're looking for Harry."
"He's gone up the secret passage to Dumbledore's office. You'll never make it."
"We'll manage."
Two more Death Eaters strolled around the corner. Ron saw the movement out of the corner of his eye as they raised wands. He grabbed Parkinson by the shoulders and pulled her out of the path of the Killing Curse.
He got to his feet, firing back with the Bludgeoner, which had developed into one of his strongest spells. It wasn't as destructive as a Blasting Curse, but Ron could cast this one particularly well, which made it more effective.
They traded more spells, but Dean and Seamus got the win.
Parkinson was a bit dazed. "You saved me. Thank you."
Ron wasn't used to much of anything other than hostility from Slytherins in general and Parkinson in particular. To hear one express gratitude was often a singular experience.
"You're welcome," he said gruffly. He offered her a hand up and winced.
"Are you hurt?" Parkinson asked with concern.
"Yeah, I think I caught one."
"We've got to get you to Madam Pomfrey," she insisted.
"I'll be fine," he demurred. "There's more yet to do. Come on."
Lucas felt a thrill race through his mind every time he pointed his wand and cast a hostile curse at a Death Eater. He gloried in the chaos of combat and struck down his enemies with vicious hatred.
Die!
He had trained for this battle, this war, since they had struck down his beautiful twin sister, font of light and grace. Her visage had haunted his every moment, echoes of her voice intruding on his every thought. She guided him tonight, whispering in his ear to step left or to cast his shield anew.
He used the most brutal magic that he knew. Others around him were using Bone-Breakers, Bludgeoners, and so on. He had no conscience about Organ-Rupturing, Guts-Rending, or Bowel-Reversing. Death Eaters had no mercy, and he would show none to them. If he found Bellatrix, he was prepared to cast Unforgivable magic.
He traded spells with a Death Eater and finally pulled part of the wall down on him. Lucas ran forward and kicked the wand away from the grasping hand. Then he levelled his wand at the Death Eater's head.
"For Laine. Bombarda!"
The white mask exploded in a shower of crimson blood. A stream ran from the pile of rubble down the corridor.
Lucas didn't even pause. He rushed to the corner and peered around. He pulled back and took a deep breath.
Three of them. I can't take three of them. Not alone.
He was the last of his triad. Jeremiah and Arcen had fought with skill, but they had fallen. He hadn't bothered to check on them. There had been another Death Eater to duel, and another after that. Now he regretted their absence.
How am I going to kill all three?
Then Laine spoke to him. With a quick Transfiguration, his hat became a mask and hood. His stomach turned, but it was worth it.
He ran around the corner, waving to the Death Eaters to get their attention.
"They're coming! At least six, and I think one of them is Potter!"
The Death Eaters were startled for a moment, but they raised their wands to the ready, not to the attack.
Stupid wankers.
He rushed to their line and made to join it.
He didn't.
The first Death Eater fell with his throat slashed open. The second turned and was almost able to deflect the Strangler. If he had cast the counter non-verbally, it would have succeeded. The third hissed in anger and started flinging fireballs.
Lucas countered as best he could, but this enemy was faster than the others. He mixed in non-verbal spells as well. Back and forth they went, and several times Lucas nearly succumbed. He dug deep in his soul, remembered his sister, and fought on.
The end came unexpectedly.
The Death Eater cast a Stunning Charm out loud. Lucas attempted the counter, and fell flat on his face - magically speaking.
The bolt of red magic was unimpeded and struck him square in the chest. It was not the Stunning Charm. Pain flared in his every extremity, and whiteness flooded his vision. His wand fell from his hand, for he could no longer control his muscles well enough to hold it.
Then the pain receded a bit, just enough for him to appreciate it when he felt himself growing warmer. He clawed at his robes, trying to strip them off. Then blood began running from his ears, his eyes, and his nose. He tasted the coppery tang in his mouth.
I'm sorry, Laine. I tried. I did what you told me, but I wasn't good enough. I wasn't fast enough. At least we'll be together soon.
He was laying on his back. He struggled to move, to make his body respond to his will. His entire body felt like he'd been zapped with a bolt of lightning.
With his fading vision, he could see the Death Eater come near. He drew in a shuddering breath.
"Laine," he gasped, her name a salve for his spirit and a bitter condemnation of the wizard who had conquered him.
The Death Eater cocked his head. "What? Doesn't matter. Where's Potter?"
"Go to Hell."
"You first."
The end was not painless, nor was it quick. The only thing that prevented it from lasting a week was the arrival of more students. When they attempted to treat his wounds, he was beyond saving. He could no longer see the world around him, but he saw the one thing that mattered to him.
Laine knelt by his side and held his broken hands. "It's over, dear brother," she said. "You've brought them down."
"I didn't get Bellatrix," he whispered through shattered teeth. "I didn't avenge you."
"Even if you did, it wouldn't bring me back. Others will stop her. You did good. You did enough."
"Did I really? I finally had the chance to hurt them. I just wanted the pain to stop so much. I channelled it all into my magic. I fought them with all of my hate and anger."
"I know, and you were so mighty. I'm so proud of you. There were just too many of them."
"You could have gotten them. You would have beaten them. You were always better, Laine. I'm sorry I couldn't be as strong as you."
She kissed his forehead. "You did just fine, Lucas. You got two of them. A year ago, I wouldn't have put odds on you against even one. You fought that third one and almost had him. He just got tricky. Bad luck for you. It doesn't make you any less skilled."
"I'm sorry, Laine. I'm so sorry."
"Hush, Lucas. Nothing to apologize for. Not to me. I've loved you since before we were born."
He felt a sudden chill. "Laine, I feel cold."
"It's time, Lucas. He is here for you. Don't be scared. I'm with you all the way."
He pushed away the fear and focused on how much he loved his twin sister. "Thank you. I'm glad you're here."
"Where else would I be?"
Then there was someone else he could see. It was a tall figure, wearing a robe and cloak of blackest night. Pale, skeletal hands poked out from the sleeves.
"Rest easy, child. Your journey is over. It's time to go."
"Go? Where?"
"To eternity."
"Is Laine there?"
"No, she has remained. Her ties to the physical realm and her willpower were sufficient to keep her from crossing over for a time. Now you will leave this world as you entered it."
He wanted to cry. "You stayed for me?"
Laine smiled at him. "Like I said, little brother, where else would I be?"
Harry found the Death Eaters outside the gargoyle that guarded the stairs up to the Headmaster's office. They didn't have the password and were trying to force their passage. The gargoyle was having none of it.
"Diffindo!" The Slicing Curse had no effect.
"Bombarda!" The Explosion Hex was likewise ineffective.
The gargoyle squatted in the doorway, ignoring the curses that struck it. It seemed as though the hostile magic was actually being absorbed, for it did not ricochet. If a Death Eater got too close, it would swat at them with heavy hands that moved at blinding speed. Several were already down.
One Death Eater tried to summon Rahkos' Giant Hand, but the gargoyle broke all the fingers. Another tried to conjure vines that would drag the gargoyle away, but it tied the vines in knots.
Harry didn't wait to see if the gargoyle could handle the Death Eaters or not. He started casting his nastiest curses and took a distinct pleasure in watching them fall.
Bellatrix cast a shield and glared at them. "Insolent brats! My master will punish you all for your defiance!"
"Was he busy tonight?" Neville shouted from behind her. He launched a volley of non-verbal spells at her.
Bellatrix dodged them all neatly, though her shield did flare from several near-hits.
"If it isn't ickle Neville Longbottom," she sassed in her baby voice. "How are Mummy and Daddy these days?"
Neville didn't let her rattle him. He continued his non-verbal assault, and now she recast her shield.
Harry put down his enemy and turned to help Neville with a Strangulation Curse aimed at Bellatrix. She dodged and retaliated with a Killing Curse. Harry blocked it by summoning a suit of armour. It instantly turned to rust and collapsed into a pile.
"Give up, Bellatrix," Harry yelled. "You can't win this. Dumbledore isn't even in the castle tonight!"
"What?!" she roared.
"Guess your little spy didn't tell you that!"
"No, and I'm going make sure the punishment is appropriate." Bellatrix's eyes were blazing with rage. "First I'm going to dispose of the two of you!"
Harry wasted no more words. Together he and Neville pushed Bellatrix back. Suddenly she broke and ran, dodging around a corner and pulling the wall shut behind her.
"No!" Neville screamed.
"How did she do that?" Harry marvelled, impressed, despite his frustration.
Neville cast an Explosion Hex, and the wall was redecorated with a large hole. They could see Bellatrix beating a hasty retreat.
"After her!" Neville roared.
They almost lost her several times, but at last Hogwarts herself seemed to lend a hand. The stairway began to pull away, and her desperate jump fell short. She fell only one floor down, but landing on marble steps is always painful. She didn't move.
Harry cast the Featherfall Charm on himself and Neville and jumped after her. Bellatrix stirred as they floated down, but she got to her feet only as they touched down and trained their wands on her.
They had her cornered. Her eyes darted back and forth between the two boys, looking for a way out. She cast an Explosion Hex, and Neville deflected it.
Harry replied with Snape's Sectumsempra. He wasn't comfortable enough with it yet to try non-verbally, and her eyes widened as she heard the words. She barely deflected it, and now she seemed more cautious. They had tried their very best to kill her, but still she defied them.
"Aww, you're growing up so fast, Baby Potter. Soon you might actually be able to really use Cruciatus on me. Here's a reminder of what it feels like!"
Though she made no motions, Harry felt a jolt of pain run through him as the curse struck his arm. Somehow a Death Eater had snuck up behind him. He tried to stay on his feet, but the pain was too great. He sank to his knees, one overriding thought in his mind: KEEP YOUR WAND!
Neville began to scream as Bellatrix cackled with delight.
Through the white haze of pain, Harry heard a new voice say, "Mistress, more are coming."
Bellatrix was triumphant. "Let them come! We'll kill them all!"
"The plan was to assassinate the old man, not to have a pitched battle in the halls. You've got to get out of here before you're captured. That is my mission."
"Perhaps you are right. Very well. Lead the way."
"The Vanishing Cabinet is on the second floor. There's a secret passage over here."
Harry was helpless to intervene as Bellatrix and the spy escaped.
Snape turned to Tonks. "It is time."
She nodded. "It is. Let's do it."
He levitated her and moved to the door.
As they descended to the second floor where they were to meet up with Bellatrix, the signs of the battle were everywhere. Black scorch marks from deflected curses marred the rough stone. More than one portrait had been damaged.
Bellatrix and the spy hurried towards him. He fought to conceal his surprise. Even he had not been informed as to the Dark Lord's agent in the castle.
"At last," he half-snarled at Bellatrix. "Did you stop to have dinner?"
"Why are you still here?" she hissed. "You were supposed to go immediately."
"I wanted to see how many of you Dumbledore managed to kill," Snape sneered. "I don't see your dear husband, or anyone else for that matter. Where are they all?"
"Dead or captured," she growled. "Potter's little army is better than we thought." She turned her wand on the spy. "Someone didn't provide good enough information. Crucio!"
The spy collapsed to the floor, twitching madly.
"Let that be a lesson to you." Bellatrix rounded on Snape. "Do you know anything about Dumbledore not being in the castle tonight?"
"No, this is the first I'm hearing of it." Snape decided to indulge in some taunting. "So your mission is a complete failure."
Bellatrix was not in a mood to be trifled with. "You should have known," she snarled. "You should have told us. I think you knew. I think you didn't say anything because you wanted to make me look foolish to my Master."
"Our master, Bellatrix," he corrected.
She snapped at him. "Let us return to him."
"You first."
She gave him a glare of absolute hatred before throwing back her head proudly and stepping into the Vanishing Cabinet.
Snape entered after Bellatrix had completed her journey. He arranged Tonks gently on the bottom and pulled the door shut behind him.
Travelling by this point to point method was much less jarring than Floo, Portkey, or Apparition. It was practically smooth.
They arrived in Borgin and Burke's, one of the best Dark Arts shops in Knockturn Alley. So far, his part of the plan had gone perfectly. He had no worries that Tonks would fail to pull off the deception. If he hadn't been able to penetrate her defences, the Dark Lord would not be able to do so without damaging her, and he wanted his Seer intact.
Once clear of the Hogwarts grounds, Snape did not hesitate to Apparate himself and Tonks directly to Azkaban.
