CHAPTER 37

DEATH OF JAMES AND FRANK

Hogsmeade

Mrs. Black entered Three Broomsticks. She sat on the table in the corner. Narcissa had come to her home with Lucius about an hour ago. Lucius seemed quite worried and Narcissa seemed angry. Lucius had left in a hurry saying that he wanted to go check if anyone heard Narcissa's stupid remarks. After fifteen minutes Regulus and Severus had come. They had explained everything to their mother. Mrs. Black, however, remained un-biased in the whole story. She had asked Narcissa and the two boys to look after Dora and left. When they had tried to inquire where she was going, she had just said that she has something important to do.

She was lost in her thoughts that Dumbledore entered . He saw her and walked towards the table on which Mrs. Black was sitting. The school days of Walburga Black were still bright in his mind. She was an exceptional witch and so was her cousin Orion. Both behaved like royalties. They both had quite a healthy competition between themselves. They were inseparable, each other's best friend. They married as soon as they got out of Hogwarts. Orion used to be Dueling Club President like his son, Sirius. Walburga used to play Seeker in Slytherin Quidditch team like Regulus. Both were Head Boy and Head Girl. His trip to memory lane ended as soon as Mrs. Black spoke.

"Professor, pardon me if I cannot say that I am happy to see you," said Mrs. Black.

"No, no, Walburga, I don't mind. At least you made me realize that you haven't changed," said Dumbledore cheerfully.

"I have changed, Professor. And change is frightening for me," said Mrs. Black quietly in a very serious tone.

"Walburga, may be that change you fear is for the best," said Dumbledore.

"You will say that, as you have my sons and Remus spying for you all the time," said Mrs. Black.

Dumbledore smiled and said, "So you noticed."

"Of course, I will. Sirius would rather die than be a pawn for Voldemort," said Mrs. Black.

"Looks like you know your son better than anyone else," said Dumbledore thinking of book where he had suspected Sirius of being a Death Eater.

"Yes, I do. Sirius may be like his father in looks and talent but his attitude is more like me. But you would have noticed that," said Walburga Black.

"Yes, indeed. Both your sons are mixture of you and Orion," said Dumbledore with a smile.

"Now that you have my sons and their friend Remus as spy, I hope you realize that their safety is your responsibility," said Mrs. Black finally coming to the point she wanted to discuss.

"Walburga, I am fully aware that they are my responsibility. And I would never ever let my students in harm's way if I could avoid that. But this war is cold and merciless. You never know what will happen next moment," said Dumbledore.

"Yes I want you to promise me that you will protect them as much as you can, Professor," said Mrs Black.

"I thought you will ask for unbreakable vow," commented Dumbledore smiling.

"Oh no, if I came to know that my sons were harmed because of you, I will personally kill you," said Mrs. Black confidently.

"That's what I like about you, Walburga. You never hesitate," said Dumbledore smiling.

"Hesitation is death of dueler," said Mrs. Black and smiled for the first time.

"I hear you made Severus your son. Is he included in that promise?" said Dumbledore.

"Yes he is along with Remus and James Potter," said Mrs. Black.

Dumbledore was surprised on hearing James Potter name.

"Why Potter, Walburga?" asked Dumbledore.

"Sirius is as good as dead without him. Like you just said I know my sons," said Mrs. Black.

"So you don't mind your sons defying the pure blood mania?" asked Dumbledore.

"I don't know. But there is no Black family without my sons," said Mrs. Black.

"You gave quite a shock to Phineas. Walburga, why don't you join Order. It would be reassuring for me," said Dumbledore.

"I don't want to be part of the war that will arise conflict within myself," said Mrs. Black.

"You must miss Orion. You two were inseparable in Hogwarts,"said Dumbledore and smiled.

"Half my world ended with him. If it wasn't for Regulus I wouldn't have wanted to live. Sirius added fuel to fire by running away, but I don't blame him , the way we treated him was unforgivable," said Mrs. Black in a sorrowful tone.

"But he turned out right in the end, don't you think? Potters gave him love which you denied him," said Dumbledore.

"And I am forever thankful to them for that. It is true I favoured Regulus but Orion loved Sirius a lot. Maybe even more than me. Anyway I should get going, Dora and Narcissa are staying at my house today," said Mrs Black and got up.

"Even if you are not happy to see me Walburga, I must say I was very happy to see you. You and Orion are still in the list of my favorite students," said Dumbledore.

Mrs. Black bid farewell to Dumbledore and left. Dumbledore,too, got up and started walking towards Hogwarts

...

A WEEK LATER

…...

Marshland outside Voldemort's Lair

It was a very dark night. There were no stars on the sky or the moon due to thick blanket of dark clouds. Rain could have started anytime. Thunder was heard from time to time. Even the lightening was brightening up the sky.

But in the marshland outside Voldemort's lair , there was no darkness. In addition to occasional light from lightening, there were multiple sparks of light of different colors going from here and there. Any muggle who had seen it would have thought of it as pretty fireworks. But to wizards, it was a battle going on, an intense one. Order members had attacked Voldemort's lair. This surprise attack has even surprised Voldemort.

On east side of marshland Dorcas was busy dueling Voldemort. Kingsley and Mathew were dealing with the Malfoys. The Prewett family was battling with Carrows and Rookwoods. Marlene and Emelline were dealing group of vampires. And so on.

On the north side of marshland Remus was dealing with Fenrir and Gazelle. Lilly and Alice were fighting Amycus and Barty Crouch Junior respectively. Frank was dealing with Severus Snape. It happened in matter of seconds. Alice and Lilly at first didn't understand anything but when they realized what had happened both froze. Remus slipped, Fenrir was about to attack him. This distracted Frank who tried to save Remus. Severus saw an opening and threw killing curse at Frank. Frank's lifeless body fell down.

In the south of marshland, Sirius and James were actively dueling with Bellatrix and Rodulphous respectively. Although the duel between Sirius and Bellatrix was supposed to be a mock one, the two were actively dueling like enemies. James was more than a match for Rodolphous and Rodolphous was soon lying down stunned on the ground. James came to join Sirius but Sirius suddenly turned and threw a killing curse at James. James body fell like a doll with surprised bent down towards lifeless body of James and picked it up placing James's head on his lap. Bellatrix got down to check James's pulse, when she felt no pulse, she laughed. The thunder-clap stopped and it started to rain. Rain was now pouring down hard. Sirius started to laugh loudly like a maniac. Bellatrix was watching his attitude with interest. Rodolphous who was enervated by Bellatrix was sneering. Sirius then at once let out a scream of pain which was loud enough to be heard in the whole marshland.

Thus James and Frank were dead. Dorcas was unconscious with a big scar on left side of her face. Mooody had again caught Samuel Malfoy. Order members retreated when the word passed around regarding death of two best Aurors. They took the body of James and Frank with themselves. Lily was still in shock by Frank's Death and Severus's attitude, she didn't know that James was dead, too. Alice was like Dementor has sucked her soul. This battle turned out to be a big loss for Order.