Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or his world.

If I did, I would be here at the moment, I'd be up north in the 40 degree Celsius heat with a cocktail in my hand sitting by the beach

Chapter 36: One Varias Left

It was a deadly dance, and I briefly thanked my lucky stars that Snape had gone into all that effort to teach me about defensive spells. I never thought those duels would pay off, but they did.

Alexandru had struggled to his feet and had joined in, and I was briefly struck with awe at his skill. He was incredible. He managed to take down two fully trained and god knows how talented Death Eaters in the space of 20 minutes. That was a level of duelling capability I couldn't comprehend. He was easily in leagues with the professors in the school and probably better than some.

The Death Eater I was battling was bloody stubborn.

I was technically dodging spells from two Death Eaters, the main one and another one which alternated his attention between Alexandru to myself. Three to two. Not fair, but life isn't.

I briefly wondered if this was how it would end for me.

It'd be the perfect tragedy. 18 and dead; dead as a doornail.

Never to finish School, never to see the final demise of evil.

I didn't want to die. It wasn't my time. But if I did die, I knew that I wouldn't go out with raising some hell; the devil would be dragging me kicking and screaming the whole way.

The moment the Death Eaters started firing, the townspeople had immediately scurried into the closest building and shut the door. I was furious that at least 30 or so grown witches and wizards refused to come out and help an elderly man and a young girl.

How was that right?

How were they going to live with themselves if one of us died right now?

They were cowards, the lot of them.

My heart was booming inside my chest, my panted breaths and growls of frustration mingled with the howling of the Death Eaters and the barked spells from Alexandru created a battle hymn. The sky darkened, clouds beginning to roll in and thunder struck somewhere far away. The air was charged with magic and electricity from the clouds. I could smell the blood from where the two fallen Death Eaters lay, though I knew they weren't dead. I could smell sweat, fear and determination.

I had to get help somehow. Alexandru and I couldn't face this alone. We couldn't hold them forever.

There had to be a way. When I saw a flash of orange streaking through the sky I knew there was. I desperately tried to figure out how to call to the phoenix, still not knowing his name. I tried, desperately to think of its name. Closing my eyes briefly as I grunted and then yelped as I was hit with a stinging hex, the name came to me.

Casting the strongest defensive shield I knew I yelled up at the sky. "Fawkes!" I bellowed, then almost wept with glee as the phoenix squawked then dove, hovering just above my head. "GO TO DUMBLEDORE, GET HELP!" I begged, hoping my missive got through. Fawkes threw back his head and screeched then disappeared in a burst of flame.

The Death Eater must have found my call for help amusing because he chuckled then caught me off guard with a hex that sent me flying across the open space and crashing against the stone wall against one of the buildings of the town. I screeched as my back slammed against the wall and tumbled to the ground, my eyes smarting with the pain which exploded in my back.

I desperately tried to crawl to my hands and knees but fell as my arms shook and gave way. I saw the Death Eater advancing towards me and in a moment of frustration yelled my spell so loud that the sound had my head pounding. "Confringo!" I shouted, feeling the spell blast from my wand. A burst of flames hit the Death Eater unexpectedly and he began to scream bloody murder as the flames licked at him. He was desperately trying to extinguish it with his wand and getting nowhere.

I used his distraction to stagger to my feet and try and assess the damage. The flames on the Death Eater were suddenly extinguished and he floundered a bit, moaning over himself. His robes were completely burnt and I could see where they had stuck to his skin in some places. That was going to hurt like hell coming off and I couldn't have been happier about it. He gave an incensed yell and threw a barrage of spells towards me.

Staggering slightly to the left I gave myself a task; I sent one offensive spell to every two of his then in the times I wasn't being offensive I cast a shield. I knew I had to keep myself moving; I had to make myself a difficult target, though I knew if I needed somewhere to hide I would have to actually retreat into town. The town would make it more difficult for him to find me.

Swearing I decided to hell with it and began to run backwards, immersing myself into the town itself. Leaping behind a shop doorway, I scrambled into an alleyway and pressed myself flat against the wall. Using the window in the shop opposite, I watched the Death Eater stalk forwards. Sucking in a deep breath I stuck my arm out and flung a spell at him. I got him, and sent two more at him when he was down.

The other Death Eater came rushing in and made his first mistake. He was underestimating me and was running into an unfamiliar environment. I stupefied him quick smart. Taking a risk, I poked my head out from my hidey-hole to see what the two Death Eaters were up to. They were both struggling to their feet.

FUCK! These guys had more lives than a Buddhist cat!

I blasted them both again with another 'Stupefy' then moved out of my spot a bit to see how AV was faring.

As I watched he took down the Death Eater he was fighting a wild look in his eye as he searched for me. He found me and a look of relief crossed his face briefly before it vanished as he spied the two Death Eaters trying to get up again. I sent an 'Impedimenta' towards one who was briefly tied up with ropes, though I knew it wouldn't last for long. I just needed a rest. I cast a 'Confundus' at the other then ran across the street and into AV's arms.

He pressed me into his side and we both assessed the situation. "What are our chances?" I asked panting. AV opened his mouth to answer but before he could about a dozen or more new Death Eaters bounced in from the forest. Alexandru swore in Romanian and I started. The bastards never gave up! I looked briefly towards the castle, my wand at the ready. "Come on Fawkes!" I begged silently.

The first spell from the back-up singed the air and AV sent up a very complex looking shield which covered us like a dome. Flashes of red and green spell light splattered across the surface of the metallic blue shield and sounds of the spells deflecting sounded almost like shrapnel. AV's breathing began to become laboured. "I can't keep this up for much longer Ileana." He wheezed, looking exhausted.

I panicked and I grabbed his shirt desperately. "Please Unchi you have to! Please-" I began, but a spell broke through the shield suddenly and I screamed as I was hit with a 'Crucio.' I began to writhe again and screamed my lungs out. It was worse- Oh god- it was so much worse than the one Borgin used. I briefly heard the Death Eater responsible whooping with twisted glee. Suddenly the Death Eaters were upon us.

Someone grabbed my hair and yanked it. I screamed and clawed at the gloved hands as I was dragged away by my hair from Alexandru. I heard him yell my name, but he was distracted by the Death Eaters who were bombarding him with spells. Half were focused on him, the other half on me. The one who had me by the hair yanked me upwards so I was on my knees and I screamed as I felt a large clump of hair come loose. I whimpered as a wand was pressed to the soft flesh under my chin and I was shaken like a rag doll by the person holding my hair.

"Where is it, girl?" the wand pointing wizard bellowed. My eyes watered and I sobbed but I shook my head as much as I could. I wasn't telling them. My hair was yanked harder. I screamed. "WHERE IS IT?!" The Death Eater yelled again, the wand tip digging in painfully. "I DON'T KNOW I SWEAR! I'VE GOT NO IDEA!" I begged, knowing it was a lost cause but trying anyway.

I was backhanded across the face and I yelped as my cheek began to burn with the sting. My face was still turned to the side from the force when he spoke again. "Don't lie to me you filthy little half-blood! TELL ME WHERE IT IS!" He bellowed, spittle coming through the mouth slots on his mask and hitting me in the face. I shuddered but bit my lip, screwing up my eyes and shaking my head obstinately.

"ILEANA!" I heard AV shout over the ruckus. I knew I had to do something, help Alexandru if I could. I was running out of time! I briefly spared a thought for the supposed 'help'; where the fuck was Dumbledore and why wasn't he coming? They shook me again and I felt a fist collide with my nose, and I could feel the bone crack, blood coming gushing out of my nose. I chocked against it as I felt another fist come into contact with my right eye. I did yelp that time

I was thrown to the ground and saw a wand raised and the beginning of a spell had me panicked. "AVADA-" The Death Eater with the wand yelled and I screamed and did the only thing I could think of.

I blew.

A burst of fire hit the Death Eater before he finished the incantation and he was on fire. Not just the fire the one I had cursed had been on. He was ON FIRE. The sounds of his blood curling screams bounced around the clearing and I spared him no thought just sent ball after ball of fire in any direction I could think of.

The remaining Death Eaters backed up and I briefly lamented that I was without a wand; I'd dropped it somewhere in the kafuffle. I clapped my hands together once, two separate balls of light blazing into life on my palms. I rolled my shoulders as the Death Eaters paused, not knowing what to do. I curled one finger invitingly then waited to see which of them was the dumbass to make the first move.

I didn't have to wait long. One Death Eater ran forward, his wand above his head ready to fire. I sent a ball of flame towards him and he screamed as the flame engulfed him. I flicked my wrist and a part of the flame jumped over and hit another who went up just as quickly. A spell came towards me so I sent a burst of flame out to meet it and the spell flung away, both the ball and the spell hitting the caster. A barrage of spells came and I spun around, my arms held out in front of me as I ignited a circle in the ground, flames roaring up. In my circle of fire I was alone and able to catch my breath for a few moments.

Rolling my shoulders, I tried to ignore the incredible fatigue and magical exhaustion which was slowly creeping up on me and draining the energy from my body. Adrenaline was what was keeping me going and I knew I couldn't keep this up forever. I knew if I was feeling drained, AV was probably worse. I had to help him.

Bursting from the flame I took them by surprise as I let loose a battle cry, screaming as loud as I could. I sent a punch to one guy then gave him a short blast to keep him down. I dodged the next guy who tried to grab me, and he ran into another guy that tried to get me at the same time, both conking each other on the head with a sickening thud. I crawled through the legs of another then kicked them out from under him then caught sight of something in the grass just in front of me.

I squealed with relief as I picked up my wand and rolled onto my back pointing my wand into the air straight at the army of men who were running for me. "Deprimo!" I yelled; it was the first spell that had popped into my head. A great wind burst from my wand and blew them all forcibly backwards, at least 100 meters. I scrambled to my feet and stalked towards the Death Eaters surrounding AV, a determined look on my face.

"DIFFINDO!" I yelled, sending the spell at the closest Death Eater. It only ripped his robes but it was enough to catch his attention, as he turned around I hit him with a Stupefy. "EXPULSO!" I yelled, glaring at my next target and he was thrown across the clearing and into a tree. "SECTUMSEMPRA!" I growled and slashed my wand down as I aimed towards the next. I cast a quick 'Levicorpus' on the last one, and then quickly ended it, and the Death Eater landed head first, knocked out cold.

AV quickly stupefied his opponent and then staggered towards me. "Ileana" he wheezed, all but falling into my arms. I stagged under his weight. I hadn't realised how bad he was. He was dying; dying in my arms.

"Alexandru! We've got to go! We've got to get you to a hospital!" I sobbed, only now realising that I was crying. I tried to drag him away from the Death Eaters who were slowly beginning to recover.

"NO!" he yelled and with a surprising amount of force he pulled himself up and pushed me away from him, swaying on his feet. "Run! Go! Worry not about me! I should be able to hold them off for long enough for you to get inside of school grounds." He panted, his wand hand shaking horrifically as he tried to raise his wand. "NO! I WON'T LEAVE YOU!" I cried running to him and trying to pull him with me.

He growled at me. "ILEANA! I'm not important! I'm dying anyway! I've got terminal cancer! This will be the best way for me to go! I don't want the pain anymore! This will be quick for me." He urged, his eyes wide as he tried to get me to understand. I shook my head and a hysterical sob burst from me. "No," I sobbed, refusing to believe it. Refusing to leave him.

He staggered close and put his hands on my shoulders. "You are the only hope the family has Ileana. You're the only one of us left. For tradition's sake- no, for the Ancestors sake you've got to go! You can produce heirs! Children! You know all you need to. Charlie will help you! JUST GO!" He begged, his eyes desperate.

I tried to say something, anything to change his mind but the words got stuck around the burning lump in my throat and the tears burned too hot as they poured from my eyes. I ran a shaking hand over his face, trying to convey without words everything wanted to. The tears shining in his eyes let me know I had been heard. I let out a loud sob and two words came out that were scarcely adequate but had to do. "Thank you." I whispered.

I saw a flash of green spell light out of the corner of my eye and everything seemed to slow down, turning into slow motion. Alexandru saw it too, looked back at me with a horrified look on his face then tackled me to the ground, yelling my name. I heard another voice yell my name too, but it was so far away I couldn't recognise it, though my brain told me I should have.

AV's weight fell onto me and I let out an 'oomph' as I landed on the dry dead grass. I looked up and froze. Alexandru's eyes stared back at me, completely dead and lifeless. His face was pale, his face twisted into an expression of shock.

Alexandru Varias, the Dragon Keeper, was dead.

I screamed, a horrific blood curling sound which sounded incredibly loud in the clearing. I felt like my heart had just been torn apart.

The man who was a second father to me was dead.

Gone.

Murdered.

He'd taken a spell that was meant for me.

I sat up, clutching his body to my chest and wailed. I briefly heard new voices enter the fray; incantations yelled by familiar voices that my brain was refusing to process. I sobbed, clutching the body of Alexandru harder, as if I could force life back into him if I held him tight enough. I rocked back and forward, as I gasped for air in between my sobs.

It felt as if a heavy hand was squeezing my chest and refusing to let go. The heavy hand of fate. The weight of the world felt as though it had come to rest on my shoulders; the knowledge of a truth so utterly shocking to me. I had known this was coming; had tried to prepare myself for a long time. But still, nothing prepared me for it when it hit. I hadn't expected this to come for years, but here it was, staring me in the eye.

I was the last Varias.

Only one magical descendent left on this earth.

I was now the Dragon Keeper.

The body was torn suddenly from my arms and I screamed with anguish, trying desperately to reach after it. Strong feminine hands wrapped around my waist pulling me back and away from him. I screamed bloody murder and thrashed. The tears still came and seemed to burn hotter than ever. I was dragged away a couple of paces before my holder sunk to the ground, pulling me closer and squashing me into their chest.

They rocked me back and forward trying to comfort me. "Shhh" the lady hushed, trying to calm me down. "It's okay dear, it's okay," said the highly accented voice. I sobbed, my screams disappearing as my body lost its fight and just went numb. I moaned, as more tears came. A hand began to smooth my hair as we continued to rock.

A new voice came, a man's voice this time. He said, "Sweet Merlin! Look at her hands." A small part of my brain wondered detached what the hell the voice was talking about before a wrinkled hand brushed over my forehead. "She's lost a lot of blood," came the voice again and the female who was being so kind and holding me spoke back to him.

"The poor girl's distraught Albus, look at her! She'll die of the heart ache before the loss of blood!" The female voice protested sounding horrified and sad at the same time. The sentence brought pictures to my mind of that horrible sight which had burnt itself into my brain, the sight of those empty, unresponsive eyes. A new sob burst from my throat and I descended into a fresh round of wailing tears.

"Oh for god's sakes Minerva!" Cried a new voice, one deep and booming and much more familiar than the other. I was pulled from the female's arms and into a new set of arms and the body I was now held against was distinctly male. I had the strangest feeling I'd been held there before, though why I couldn't connect. A familiar smell wafted into my conscious thoughts and I sobbed again and flung my arms around my holder and buried my face into the crook of his neck.

The person shifted slightly then scooped an arm up under my legs and carried me bridal style. He began to walk, though where I didn't know. After a while he began to talk to me, in soft, quiet tones, the deep voice calming. I can't remember all of what he said, and I was sure I didn't hear half of it, but what I did hear eased the pain somewhat. It was nice.

When the cold wind was suddenly replaced by a warm building and a few shocked gasps, I instinctively knew I was safe. "There now Ileana. You're safe now. Back at Hogwarts." Said my carrier, his arm momentarily giving me a soft squeeze. The sound of his boots echoed around the hallway and the fog in my brain momentarily cleared as everything became distinct around me.

"Professor." I croaked, my voice hoarse from the screaming. His steps faltered for a second but then he quickened his pace, almost running now. "It's okay Ileana." Snape urged. I felt one tear escape and I watched almost fascinated as the drop fell onto his black robes and held there not moving. "He's gone." I moaned. It was silent for a few seconds as Snape tried to figure out how to answer me.

"I know." He said finally, and I sobbed. "I can't do this." I sobbed after a few more tears had escaped. Heavy doors were suddenly thrown open and we rushed into a room full of stark white beds and curtains.

"Yes you can." He said finally, his voice determined. I shook my head and it spun for a bit. "How?" I croaked, knowing it was a rhetorical question but needing an answer.

He didn't answer me, but instead spoke in hushed tones to Madame Pomfrey and gently placed me down on one of the beds. I stared, numbly up at the ceiling. Madame Pomfrey gave a startled noise then was instantly at my side, her hand on my cheek as she asked me a question I didn't hear. My eyes fluttered closed. "I'm tired." I said aloud, two more tears escaping. A bottle was held to my lips and I opened my mouth automatically.

I swallowed whatever the foul mixture was and took a breath. The potion worked instantly and my eyes immediately closed and I sunk back into a deep and bottomless pool of sleep.

a/n: I don't think this chapter really requires an authors note; it's pretty self-explanatory.

I'd like to appologise though to the Alexandru lovers out there. I am really sorry but he had to die. He was an old, weak man in a lot of pain and as much as it killed me to do it, It was necessary. I didn't expect to end up as invested with Alexandru as a character as I ended up being, so when I got that darn emotional while writing this chapter it really surprised me.

Leave me a comment to let me know how much you hate me now.