The Enchanter's Princess

Chapter 36: The Apprentice of Albus Dumbledore

That was it. Walter was dead. Even when Soto arrived with his kids, Albus could not keep his eyes off Walter's body, like he expected or rather hoped against all reason that he would get up and brush the dust off his robes. It could not be. Walter could not be dead. Rojer had gotten what he wanted. One Mold down. This was why the Hogsmeade visit was organized. To lure some students out. Albus had nearly defied it regardless. If only… if only the Hogwarts Guard had left the first time, this would not have happened. Who cast the Imperius Curse on Alexis? Oh, if Albus ever found out… Walter would be in his dormitory right then, sleeping or chatting happily.

Albus felt so betrayed. So much was discovered in that single day. Soot, the best Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher they ever had was really Soto Lean and Albus' worst enemy. Meanwhile, Incommodo was actively trying to trim the student number down and Seth- Seth was on Rojer's side now. He made the deal with him and now Albus saw the deal come to fruition. The Molds were being killed. Would Albus discover later that Malcolm and Samantha had died too? He looked around. The Purifiers and the Arsenal were clashing over Hogsmeade, the Goblins were preoccupied with the DA and the Hogwarts Guard had scattered. Where were the rest? Did any more of them die?

"Gather the students and get to the school," Soto told him from behind. "Boy, are you all in trouble? You might be expelled. Perhaps you shouldn't go to the school. Remain here for all I care."

Rojer reentered the battle, firing a jet of green light at Soto but it was avoided easily. Soto laughed derisively as he circled around Rojer, wand raised. With a simple flick, Rojer began to rise into the air and flew back. Soto sent a jet of green light at the suspended Rojer but it missed and made for Simon instead. Seth gasped hugely as it barely missed his ear.

It was as if Simon was expecting it. He ducked down just as Soto used the words and rolled to the side. The look on Seth's face was fury and hatred mixed into one. Albus had never seen so many emotions on his face before. He withdrew his wand quickly and next thing Albus knew, Seth and Soto were dueling wildly. Albus half expected Seth to die seconds in but he was putting a fantastic fight up. The air around the two was heating to boiling point. Sometimes, a spark of fire combusted between them and the two would move to the side to avoid it.

Seth seemed to be using different styles at once. One time, he would avoid spells gracefully like a calm breeze and the next he would stab forth like a raging river. Neither seemed to be holding back either. Once or twice, the Cruciatus Curse was fired and Albus was not sure but he thought he heard Seth fire the Killing Curse. Of course, he thought it might have been Soto just as easily. Was Seth capable of murder?

An invisible force from Soto's wand repelled Seth from coming any closer and Soto shot him a resentful look, "Now that, Seth, was a mistake."

Soto Apprated. Seth froze but before anything else could happen, a loud bang went off and a fiery explosion threw Albus back. He was unhurt but winded all the same. He scrambled back up but Seth, Simon and Sierra were gone. They had run off. Without stopping to wonder where they had gone, Albus ran through the battered village. He saw no sign of residents. Even from the burning houses, he heard no screams. No cries of pain or fear. All he heard were the yells of curses and spells being fired and thrown through the air, flying past his ear, some missing him by inches. Once or twice, he felt his hair burn slightly.

Albus had to find the rest of the Hogwarts Guard. However impossible it was, he had to round them up and get them out of here. Walter would not be the only death. He skidded to a halt as he saw James and Louis fighting off three Arsenal members. The only reason why they did not fall yet was because they were using a stone wall separating the village from the countryside as cover.

"Stupefy!" Albus yelled.

One of the Arsenal members fell stunned and James took advantage of their momentary distraction to disarm the others. Louis made quick work of stunning them and Albus stopped in front of them, barely ducking a jet of green light. James was the first to speak, "I- I got some of the younger members past Dervish and Bangs. All the Hogsmeade residents are there too."

"They are?"

Another bang went off and a scream sounded from behind. The Goblins, it seemed had moved in. Witches and wizards were falling left and right now. The only ones who put a fight up were the DA. Even the Purifiers, by the far the stronger side in the battle were beginning to find trouble with them. However, after an initial fight, the DA retreated, Lavender Brown in the lead. Once they stepped back, the battered Purifiers, their ranks thinned stood as a straight line facing them. In the middle stood Soto and he regarded the Goblins without mercy or pity. "Kill them all on my curse. Avada Kedavra!"

A jet of green light sprung from Soto's wand and following his, jets of green light shot out, each one hitting its intended target accurately. The line of Killing curses spread the Goblins out further and dispersed them. Albus breathed a sigh of relief. He turned to James, "How's Lily?"

"Ok," James said breathlessly.

"She's taking care of Hugo," Louis said. "He's feeling pretty guilty for coming up with the craziest idea in the history of crazy ideas."

"Right," Albus said, silently agreeing with Louis. "I'm gonna make sure everyone is ok. Get to the Three Broomsticks and make sure Alexis is there. She was unconscious but…" he did not know how to explain that he had to leave, even so.

James did not press the issue. He and Louis nodded on command and left without question. Albus turned when he felt a familiar touch on his shoulder. "Al!"

It was Harry. Albus was still hurt by what he had seen but he could not break down just yet. The battle was still going. It was like his mind was on autopilot. It was just going, directing him to his next destination, the next point he had to be and see. He was not yet allowed to process everything he had seen. It was going too fast. "Lily's past here in the countryside," Albus said breathlessly. "I need to go"-

"How did they get out there?" Harry said in astonishment. "It's swarming with Arsenal members and Goblins."

"I dunno, but James told me they're there," Albus said, making to run over there.

A jet of green light narrowly missed them both. Albus jumped but Harry turned around. No Arsenal member was coming to meet them yet. It seemed to be a stray jet when, bursting from the Hogs Head was Lucius Malfoy and his grandson Scorpius. Albus gasped as Scorpius fell out first, as if he had tripped. Lucius' wand was directly on Harry's neck and Albus froze. No. No. Not dad too. No.

"Grandfather… erm… grandfather?" Scorpius had his hand on his wand, eyeing his grandfather uneasily.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Albus and Scorpius yelled but the jet did not go for Harry but a point over his shoulder. It hit an Arsenal member straight in the face and Lucius took Harry's back. "Scorpius, take my side!"

Scorpius acted on command as Harry fought from Lucius' rear. Harry sighed, "Al, take mine."

Albus took Harry's side and Scorpius' back. Albus could see that from the countryside were coming Arsenal members and Goblins. They seemed to be endless. Like the entire Ministry was in on this fight, despite the Law Enforcement breaking off. Albus and Harry were facing the end of the village where the countryside was. He could already feel Scorpius and Lucius dueling from behind. Any second now…

A burst of smoke came out of thin air and Harry said quietly, "Whoever you see there, whoever you have to fight, fight. Don't ask questions and I'll explain everything later. Now."

Ten Arsenal members ran through, backed up by fifteen Goblins. In the lead was none other than Albus' Professor Macmillan. Ernie stopped briefly, regarding Harry before advancing. Albus froze but the second Harry fired a Disarmer at him, Ernie dodged it and used a protective spell on himself before entering once again. Albus parried a Stunner from him and Harry ducked a jet of red light and yelled, "Impedimenta."

Albus started fighting back too. The two used the same spell at the same time following Ernie's fall. "Confringo!"

Two explosions merged into one, creating a massive explosion that threw every single Arsenal member off their feet. The Goblins were completely down and those who still stood were easily tripped by a Lubrication spell. The floor became slippery and sent them tripping down. Albus raised his wand, "Incend"-

"Don't," Harry interrupted, hand on Albus'. "You'll hurt Macmillan too. Careful now, two more."

The battle started immediately. Harry fired a further spell, a jet of red light and Albus yelled, "Expelliarmus!"

One Arsenal member, a man parried both and his female partner fired a jet of dangerous black light. Harry was forced to block it with a powerful, temporary Shield Charm. "Well, well, well, Hannigan and William. My two wardens, you should meet them, Al."

Harry turned, and Apparated. For a wild second, Albus thought Harry had left him to die, but then he appeared behind William and fired a spell, "Stupefy!"

William was almost hit by Harry's spell and had to re-angle it to go towards Albus, who parried it by conjuring the silvery shield that sent the spell back with double the power. "Geminus Contego!" Albus held his silver shield, blocking the Stunning spell. Harry Apparated back to Albus' side who muttered, "Impedimenta."

That was parried too and Albus blocked the rebound, forcing it right back at the man with double the power. William Apparated. Albus ducked a jet of badly aimed green light from Hannigan. Harry put his arm in front of Albus, blocking another spell, and Albus jumped up, using his Contego Shield to block an Impediment Jinx meant for his dad.

Hannigan, out of surprise, was knocked back and fell unconscious. Harry stared. "Double the impact. He's unconscious instead of frozen." Harry stretched out his arm and blocked another spell from William. Albus reached under his father's arm, and parried another curse from him before casting a Stunning spell with his father. William was blasted into a pile of rubble that was once a building. Harry pointed his wand at the rubble, and yelled, "Expulso!"

A large explosion rocked the place, giving William the full brunt of the blast. Lucius yelled, "Incommodo is coming. Stand your ground, Potter. I must leave!"

"God forbid he fights Incommodo himself," Harry muttered. "Al, get to the countryside and get away. Get to your sister and make sure everyone is safe. Scorpius…" Scorpius who was also left there looked up shakily, "Go with Al."

Incommodo used his two wands, sending more and more spells at different teachers and students before stopping. Three teachers had arrived to help; Soto, Ackerly, and Vulneroman. Soto had conjured his reflecting shield he showed off in class so long ago, Vulneroman was firing in very quick succession, so quick it was amazing Incommodo managed to block all of them just as quick and Ackerly was Charming everything around Incommodo to fly towards him and distract him. Soto sent a Stunning spell rebounding dangerously back at Incommodo with his shield but it was avoided easily and a circle of fire emanated from the Minister as he fought back.

A little way off, Mark and the twins were fighting to the best of their abilities against the Goblins, taking on the majority of them. In fact, Albus could guess the three were the sole reason why the Goblins did not overrun the village yet. A small group of five Goblins started throwing small knives which exploded on contact. Alpha Greengrass flew from an explosive impact as the Goblins intensified their assault but Eric conjured a physical repellant on both him and Alex to avoid the pain. The knives bounced harmlessly off.

Mark had skillfully managed to strike down two Goblins from under the incoming knives and Alex flicked his wand at an axe to swing at its wielder instead. They triumphantly advanced into the battle when a group of Goblins overtook them. Mark yelled angrily as he sent an explosive spell that was countered by an absorption dagger. A Goblin yelled angrily as he threw that dagger back at Mark. Alex took the hit.

Just then, a team of ten Goblins rushed from the countryside. Albus guessed that whatever was happening in the countryside was not going well for the Goblins. They were throwing their daggers and raising their axes at students and teachers. One pierced through Albus' shoulder, sending him back down as a jet of white light impacted his chest.

A red-haired figure was chasing the Goblins from the countryside. "Mum!" Ginny and Ron charged them out of the countryside and Albus knew that whatever students were there had help in driving them off. In response, loud cracks appeared one after another. Albus sat up and watched as figures took form. They looked like ordinary Wizards, but Albus guessed accurately who they were. He recognized some of them and he knew who they were from the previous summer. Dumbledore's Army. They had left the immediate battle to converge around Ginny and Ron.

Aunt Hermione led them into the warzone. Close behind her was Katie Bell, who yelled a spell as she ran in, sending one Arsenal member down. He recognized his Uncle George and Aunt Angelina in the battle. They were two of three people fighting against five Arsenal of Education members, the other one being a black Wizard Albus recognized in Diagon Alley as Lee Jordan. He usually held talk shows on the radio, or helped uncle George with his shop.

Then, a lot of people yelled in fear and some pointed up. The Purifiers went on their guard and Hogwarts fighters fled the scene. Dementors were soaring from beyond the mountains into the fray. Large, hooded, and cold, Albus felt the effects. And as he felt them, he saw, just before darkness overtook them all, Arsenal members rushing towards him. He was going to be overrun. Scorpius was shaking beside him. "NO! Not her! Not grandma! NO!"

Scorpius' screams almost destroyed Albus' resolve. Expecto Patronum!"

Albus felt so weak already, all he managed was a silver shield. Five Dementors later and it was pushed aside.

"I won't go to bed. I won't go to bed. I won't go to bed."

"Al, how do you expect to stay healthy if you refuse bed?"

"I won't go to bed."

Albus raise his wand to repel them but then, "Expecto Patronum!"

A silvery eagle swooped down on them all. Albus' heart leapt as Alexis ran in like nothing ever happened. "Stupefy! Impedimenta! Petrificus Totalus! Flagrate! Nasus Inundo! Bat-bogey Tentatio! Furnunculus!"

A stream of spells fired from her wand in rapid succession, her wand blurring like a sword. The Arsenal members who had relied on cover of darkness had fallen. Albus turned to see Alexis again but she was engaged with another group of Goblins. Beside her was James and Louis. They must have revived her. Albus sighed in relief. He would have ran over to help when he saw a shadow figure reminding him of Malcolm sink into shadows and a small, familiar shadow follow.

"Go on, Scorps. To the countryside. See where the others are. And see if you can't get Mark and the twins."

"Right!"

Albus followed the shadows to the back of Hogsmeade and found himself in a small alleyway to the back of Hogsmeade. This area was trashy and had a foul smell but trudging through the trash and wasted paper was Seth and he was following… Malcolm!

"NO!"

A loud bang later and Malcolm was bound up by ropes against a back house. Seth stared furiously, displaying a real negative emotion as he stared at Malcolm furiously. Albus rushed over, not sure why he was acting like this. He just- did not want to see Seth commit murder. He stopped right from the side as Seth yelled, "Stay out of it, Al!"

His voice was demented. He sounded like something had happened. Where was Simon? Did something happen? Did Albus know the whole story? Malcolm was glaring at Seth with hate and resentment. "He deserved it. All of it! Your side is losing anyway!"

Albus stopped, froze. Had Simon… No. Did Malcolm kill Simon? That would explain Seth's attitude. Seth was breathing heavily, like he was about to have a heart attack. "You're going to die," he whispered. "You are going to die. Do you realize that?"

"Oh, yeah?" Malcolm smirked. "I don't think so. Father is here. He'll finish your Mudblood friend off for me… and I'll finish you! You did this, Lean, didn't you? You got my brother killed! Maybe you deserve to lose your closest friend and be thankful he's just a Mudblood!"

"Oh, your father is dead by now," Seth seethed. "Trust me, Mold, you're going to die."

So, Simon was not dead. Albus stood between Seth and Malcolm, the latter whom was tied in ropes. Seth's breathing stopped. "Al, get out of it."

"Even Potter… hah, even murdering, psychotic Potter stops you!" he yelled. Malcolm looked demented. He had defended Walter's life once but Albus could not tell. Was this what Malcolm was like under pressure, was he yelling out of unacknowledged grief, or was it a bit of both? "What's the reason, now?"

"Don't, Seth," Albus said quietly. "Please. Don't become a murderer. Don't become like me. Just stand back. We'll take him in."

"Yeah, he'll take me in," Malcolm mocked.

"Shut it, Mold!"

"GET OUT OF IT, AL!" Seth screamed, eyes wide with fury and anger, hate etched in every inch of his face, childish fury radiating off him in large amounts.

"Please, Seth"-

"Don't make me kill you!"

"Don't make me kill you both," Malcolm yelled, struggling against his ropes.

"He's sadistic," Seth seethed angrily. "And he almost killed Simon. He's probably dead by now for all I know and it's ALL HIS FAULT! Get out of the way or I WON'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT I DO TO YOU!"

A loud bang erupted from where Malcolm was and the guy had been freed from his legs. His arms were still bound. Then, in spite of his initial resolve, in spite of whatever danger he knew there might have been in letting the Mold family die, he stepped aside. He took a deep breath as Seth rushed forward and kicked Malcolm's wand out of the way. Malcolm gasped as Seth's wand came down on him. His final look was pleading, "Don't… look, Lean, we can"-

"Avada Kedavra!"

Albus asked himself earlier if Seth was indeed capable of murder. Truth was, Albus did not need the jet of green light to answer the question. Albus knew what was needed to actually use the Unforgivable Curses. One needed hatred, intense, blind and undeniable hate that could not be quenched. It may have been because Malcolm had offended Simon's dignity, maybe because he crossed Seth before, perhaps because Malcolm had once even tried killing Seth after Rojer's speech to the school or maybe it was all of them. All Albus knew was that Seth was capable and the hate on his face, the look in his eyes would never be forgotten.

Malcolm stopped moving immediately, smile gone from his face. Seth turned to Albus, wand on him next, "He deserved it. And if you ever, ever, EVER stand against me again, I will make sure you regret it! Got me?"

And Seth turned and walked away. Albus still felt half guilty that he stood aside but Seth looked truly mad and he knew it was impossible to get Seth that angry unless Simon was involved somehow. Malcolm hurt him somehow. Not killed but Malcolm wished he did it. Was Seth right? Did he deserve it?

When Albus arrived back to the village, things had changed. Alexis had grouped up with Mark and the twins and helped them support an injured Alex to the countryside. Eric and Molly were together, the two getting an unconscious Alpha to safety. James was carrying Neil Nott over his shoulders and Louis was heaving Simon's body. Albus still could not tell if Simon was ok. Meanwhile, Incommodo managed to sweep around Vulneroman like smoke and cast Ackerly down. From the countryside, the students had arrived to see what had become of the village. The battle was dying down and they were a safe distance away.

Vulneroman fired a jet of orange light but a large dome like shield protected Incommodo as the scarred teacher fled off into the ensuing battle to aid the students and Soto fled the battle after sending three more snakes on him. Then, was it just Albus or was the battle dying down? People were stopping, DA members were making way and Purifiers gasped at his entrance.

He walked so calmly, he might have thought he was strolling into a bar. Galadral Phoenix had entered the battle. He arrived from the school and stopped in front of Incommodo. Before anyone could exclaim further, it began immediately. The two foes fired their own respective spells, Galadral's being yellow. Many on both sides had stopped to watch the duel progress.

Phoenix was dueling superbly. Albus always wondered if he had a powerful wand skill to match the voice of his. He just got his question answered. Phoenix dove to the side from a jet of green light and easily parried a black jet with a fierce strike of his wand. With a nonverbal wave, Phoenix sent a bluish light at Incommodo. The Minister raised his wand to dissipate it, but he would not make it in time.

Albus was watching fearfully as Incommodo barely managed to avoid it, but Phoenix was one step ahead. He yelled some incomprehensible words at the jet that went astray, and it once again took aim, this time in the form of a red lion. Incommodo furiously sent a black form at the Headmaster. This one was like a beast. It had to be a mixed species because it seemed to be a mix between a bird and a cat.

As the two beasts clashed in midair and exploded in a strong shower of sparks, Galadral Phoenix waved his wand once more in a fluid motion. The dissipating sparks froze in midair as if time had stopped. Next thing anyone knew, they rushed at Incommodo like Japanese throwing stars. Incommodo raised one wand to stop them and with his other wand brought them together to form a giant fiery star, almost like a mini-sun. He yelled furiously as he threw it at the Headmaster.

Phoenix conjured up a great amount of water to douse the oncoming flames, but Incommodo had more up his sleeve. He backed away a little. For a minute, Albus thought Incommodo was a little fearful. Albus grew fearful and Era and Redgrow, standing as protectors of Hogwarts students, had their wands at the ready.

"Very well. This village needs purifying. Yes, as most students are in Hogwarts, this can be done… and all dissenters will be punished," he looked up, having convinced himself of his resolve. "I apologize it had to end like this, Galadral Phoenix. Hogsmeade will now burn in an inferno."

Phoenix yelled but his yell was drowned out by a deep roar coming from somewhere in the air, as if something enormous and terrible was growing from within it. Then, the air between them combusted. Everyone yelled in fear and shock as a great amount of cursed fire erupted from Incommodo's wand. He watched calmly, emotionlessly as it took form. Even Soto gaped in fear as it took forms and shapes, the fire a darkened color incinerating everything in its path.

Mark screamed in fear. A terrible scream that summoned Aries over to him at once. He collapsed to the ground, petrified from moving. "FIENDFYRE!" Era yelled as she and Redgrow stepped in front. Professor Sorrow pushed the students back, standing fearfully and vulnerably in the front.

Galadral Phoenix pointed his wand at the flames which were making shapes of different magical creatures. A chimera, a dragon, a sphinx, a manticore… It seemed to take Phoenix every ounce of concentration that he had possessed to contain the fire as he called with what remained of his breath, "Get the students out! Now!"

Sorrow did not need telling twice. She backed them off, watching as Phoenix battled Incommodo for control of the wicked dark flames. Era and Redgrow seemed to have other plans. They tried shooting water at the flames. They evaporated in gas before they even made it. They needed something… anything… stronger.

"Much stronger," Rose whispered as Albus voiced these thoughts to her.

"There's nothing stronger," Vulneroman growled from above them. Albus didn't notice he was there. "That's Fiendfyre. Incommodo and Phoenix are battling right now over control of the most darkest, most powerful type of art ever to plague the magical world. Fiendfyre are like the very flames of the hell people speak of. It's the fire that cannot be doused by water alone. If it escapes control of the two… Hogsmeade will be incinerated."

"And Hogwarts?" Rose asked in horror.

"I doubt it'll make it that far unless it is controlled and taken there," Alexis said. "Then the protection will remain and nothing will get through. Hogwarts remains the only dwelling in the British Wizarding world which has never been conquered."

The two foes fiercely battled it out trying to control the raging fire, some of which went astray and landed some feet away, continuing to flame nowhere near being extinguished. Some students were in the danger zone too and they shoved each other away. Eric pulled Molly away from one such flame and Fora pulled a shocked Hugo from danger. The flames that went astray started burning by themselves, small but dangerous and still very hot.

Molly screamed and Eric yelled. A flame had landed on her and she fell to the ground, chest heaving heavily as she winced in extreme pain. Even Alexis' healing Charms did nothing. Eric tried shaking her but Alex pulled him from another dangerous flame. "Molly! Molly!"

Molly reached a hand to touch Eric's face before letting it fall. Albus gaped in fear. No. She stopped moving. Her chest was barely moving but Albus did not dare try to get over there. Not when two titans were clashing. Incommodo yelled over the roars, "I am going to release control and Apparate from this dwelling. This village shall be incinerated if you do not surrender immediately."

But it seemed to take a lot of concentration from Incommodo too. Albus could see Vulneroman looking thoughtfully at the Minister. He smirked over his pale face and aimed his wand. "Expelliarmus!"

A great cheer erupted from the Hogsmeade fighters as Incommodo abandoned the flames with one of his wands to parry the attack. Phoenix took a great gasp of air as he successfully absorbed the flames from causing any more damage than it already did.

An earthshaking roar sounded as the battle over control settled. As Incommodo backed off a few steps, Phoenix absorbed the fire's remaining flames that went astray, pointed his wand at Incommodo, and fired a great blast that shook the earth, knocked students off their feet, and even crumbled down some houses. That which was absorbed, including the flames, were being sent back as an almighty blast of fiery orange light.

Incommodo Apparated and for a moment, Albus thought Phoenix claimed victory, but then the falling rubble of a nearby inn stopped. Behind the rubble stood Incommodo, and he blasted the rubble straight at the Hogwarts Headmaster. Phoenix raised his wand and slowly, the rubble stopped in midair. He directed them towards Incommodo, and they complied. The rubble that threatened some onlookers and missed by Phoenix was destroyed by Professors Era and Redgrow.

Incommodo retook the center and fired what looked like a black string at Galadral Phoenix with one wand, and with his other he stopped the flying rubble from attacking him. But Phoenix had his eyes focused. Anyone could tell now he knew what was going to happen. The battle was ending. Phoenix's wand was absorbing the black string of light from Incommodo's wand.

Finally, Incommodo stopped, and with his wand sent all the rubble back at Galadral Phoenix. But everyone was looking at Phoenix's wand. The tip was a glowing black orb of light and he pointed it straight at Incommodo. Albus knew what was going to happen before it did. It was blasted with massive force at its foe, streaking right through the airborne rubble, destroying it, and zooming straight at him. But the blast did not hit directly. It exploded with more massive force and created shockwaves that forced everyone out of the vicinity, the worst of it being blocked off by Phoenix, Era, and Redgrow. The force of the shockwaves forced Incommodo down and he stumbled back, back, and tripped over fallen rubble till he fell to the floor.

The fighters cheered… but Albus rushed for Molly.