Disclaimer: The Harry Potter universe belongs to JK Rowling and I'm just a simple star pilot along for the adventure.
A/N: How great are you guys! You blew away the thousand review goal from last chapter! I want you all to know how grateful to all of you for the wonderful reviews that have inspired me and the gentle criticisms that have made me a better writer. This story will wrap up soon, but I have another Bella/Harry story in the works and will begin to post chapters when I have ten already written.
If you haven't read my other story; Dancing with Trees I invite you to give it a read. Now on to the next installment of Watching Over Harry.
Chapter 36
The first portkey activated, deploying the first militia group just beyond the wards of Nott Castle followed by the other groups in thirty second intervals. The teams silently made their way to their initial checkpoints and waited anxiously for the first signs of the ritual to begin.
Eyes widened and voices silently gasped at the numbers of Death Eaters that were now spread about the castle grounds. Thoughts of betrayal began to pop into many of their heads as they saw the large army before them, but their captains and team leaders assured them that they had not been betrayed, that the Death Eaters were not in a state of Battle readiness, evidenced by the casual way they were walking around and speaking one with another.
A honey badger patronus made it way to each team captain telling them in the gravelly voice of Mad-Eye Moody to hold their positions, that the strike was still ago and to maintain readiness until stage one was over. "And for Merlin sakes do not move into the green mist!" The old Auror warned them.
Harry, Bella, Amelia, and Moody along with Rufus Scrimgeour arrived at the designated command position that sat on a hill that overlooked the entire front view of Nott Castle. The sight of so many Death Eaters surprised the young lord and in a brief moment of doubt wanted to terminate the attack. His logical side quickly asserted itself as he thought over what so many of the Dark Lords followers in one place could mean.
"He's here." Harry quietly spoke. His companions all looked to him.
"Are you sure Potter?" Scrimgeour asked.
"Of course he is!" Grumbled Moody. "Why else would all these toss pots be here! I think we interrupted a pre-strike meeting. Fortuitous if you ask me."
"He's right Harry. From what we have been able to learn of his methods, Voldemort only calls in this amount of people when he is going to strike somewhere and it is usually on the same night. It reduces the risk of word about it getting out to the wrong people.
"If there are this many on the outside, how many do you think are on the inside?" Bella asked.
"Near as we can figure he has close to a thousand soldiers, that includes werewolves, maybe a giant or two and of course Dementors, but I don't sense any here at the moment." Amelia offered.
"A thousand?" Bella whispered. "He has been busy recruiting. He didn't have those numbers when I was forced to serve him." Bella added, a small pang of guilt gripping her heart before it quickly fled as Harry's love flooded her being. She gave him a grateful smile and returned her love to him.
"Are we still ago then? Amelia asked.
"We are." Harry stated firmly. "This ends tonight."
"Good lad! Let me notify our captains." Moody raised his wand as a small badger erupted from the tip and then after a whispered instruction sent it out.
oooOOOooo
Narcissa, Luna and the rest of the Ritual Witches as well as their guard arrived at the master rune stone. Each sensed the weight that was on their shoulders. They were the key to success, without their efforts this offensive could be very short and very deadly. They had mentally prepared themselves for what was expected of them.
Narcissa was completely honest with every member of the ritual team. The ritual would tax everything they had. It would leech their magic and their very life force, if all went the way they hoped the most they would suffer would be magical and physical exhaustion. If things did not go right they could potentially have their magic depleted beyond repair and their very life force drained completely.
So it was a very sober and pensive group that approached this heavy responsibility. Each member hugged the others as they gathered around a large round stone. The stone had a flat almost table like top and was about six feet in circumference and rose from the ground to a height of about two feet. The top of the stone was etched with many runes and concentric lines that connected them.
This would be blood magic on a scale not seen since the dark ages. Each ritual witch would be required to cut open their palms and press the bleeding appendages on blood wells carved into the stone, the magic in the stone would keep the wounds from healing and allow the blood to continue to flow.
These blood wells ran in concentric lines around the stone connecting the various runes that Narcissa had carved. A chant would begin that would free their magic to flow freely into their blood and thus energize the runes on the anchor stone. The stone would then send a magical pulse to the other ward stones surrounding the Nott property.
Once the last ward stone was activated, their blood sacrifice would activate the ancient curse that was first created by Cassiopeia Potter in 827 AD. Cassiopeia Potter during her life was known as a dark enchantress with the particular penchant with using blood magic's to affect the minds and wills of Potter enemies, altering their perception of reality thus making them easy to manipulate. She enjoyed turning an enemy against itself watching as they spilled their own blood.
The Cassiopeia Coven as they were known, were chronicled in the Potter History books as wiping out no less than fifteen great houses who were aligned against House Potter during the ninth century. The seven witches of the coven were historically believed to be the most powerful witches of their age; it was even mentioned in the annals that Romilda Ravenclaw, the grandmother of the famous Rowena Ravenclaw of Hogwarts was a member of the Cassiopeia Coven.
It was rumored but never proven that the Cassiopeia Coven could call forth demons from the nether worlds to aid in their battles, and according to the predecessors of the Ministry of Magic, the Wizards Council, it was proof that the coven was evil and thus by extension the use of blood magic's were evil.
However it wasn't till after the Founders of Hogwarts had passed, and the Ministry of Magic chartered by the English Crown in 1629 was there a law passed to ban the practice of blood magic. It was only just a coincidence that the Potter's family magic centered on blood magic, and that no other house had quite the knowledge or ability to use it to the same effect as House Potter. But the Potters saw it for what it was, a blatant political attack by the enemies and those who were afraid of the power that House Potter could wield.
The Potters publically gave up the practice in 1635, but the Potter's in secret would not give up their knowledge and it was handed down from generation to generation in the Potter Book of Shadows otherwise called The House Potter Grimoire. Eventually it was all but forgotten until a curious blonde ward of House Potter rediscovered it.
And so it was that Narcissa and Luna had learned of the Potter secret and would use the ancient knowledge to bring an end to the enemies of their house once more. With the adoption of House Black into the Potter line and Luna also having been accepted by Potter blood it gave the ritual what it needed, the strength of the Potter magic to perform it.
The seven witches surrounded the rune stone equally spaced to give symmetry to the ritual circle. Each with produced a silver dagger and sliced open their palms. One by one the witches knelt place their hands on the stone. The blood wells quickly began to fill as an iridescent blue light began to take form as each rune lit up illuminating the faces of the ritual witches and giving them an eerie glow.
The ritual witch's began their chanting cadence to evoke the ancient curse. With hands bleeding and the chant begun, the witches began to sway to their rhythmic intonations. Their voices grew louder and louder:
"From the depths of thy soul we seek thy fear,
to bring to mind a form so clear,
that which will cause thee to tremble and shake,
and in stark terror thy desperation make,
scatter blood scatter bone
Your ally is no longer known
Tis evil that lay in wait for thee
Do what thou must to be set free."
The stone began to grow brighter and brighter and pulsate to the rhythm of the synchronized heartbeats of the seven. Those assigned to protect them stood in fascination and felt the tremendous buildup of power that was being generated.
A sudden shockwave seem to explode from the anchor stone sending its power to the next stone and then the next and the next till it came back making a circuit connection between it and the other ward stones.
The chanting continued for another five minutes without ceasing and then Remus, Tonks, and the others began to notice an acid green mist begin to rise from the ground in front of them. Cautiously they stepped back as the mist seem to roll toward the ancient castle. Looking toward the next ward stone he saw the same mist rolling forward.
A collective breath was held as the mist was now visible to the Death Eaters who were outside the castle walls. The Potter allies watched with growing anticipation to see how their enemy would react. The rolling mist seemed to gain speed as it made it way over the castle grounds. The Death Eaters were unsure what was happening and made little attempts to keep away from the mist.
Thirty seconds later the first blood curdling screams were heard, a few seconds later spell fire erupted all across the grounds. Cutting curses, bludgeoning curses and the green of the killing curse was seen illuminated in the cursed cloud.
The Potter allies watched the carnage unfold in front of them many losing their constitution and emptied their stomachs on the ground in front of them. Severed heads, arms, and torsos began to liter the ground. The brilliant green grass now stained crimson with the flowing blood.
oooOOOooo
Voldemort was taken off guard as the recruits nearest the door that had been enveloped in the mist began to curse anything and everyone around them. Twenty of his numbers were already dead or dying and more falling quickly as his followers began turning on each other. He had to do something quickly.
"Wind Charms!" The order was bellowed out to his followers. Hundreds of wands were pointed at the mist as the charm was yelled out by the panicked Death Eaters. Sadly the charm had little effect as more Death Eaters fell to the curses of their comrades.
Voldemort turned to the wall immediately behind him, and pointed his wand and the ancient stone work. "Bombarda Maxima!" A large hole opened up in the wall exposing the room to the castle grounds.
"Everyone out! Wands at the ready we are under attack!" Voldemort screamed to his soldiers. A hundred and thirty more Death Eaters, however, lay dead on the flagstone floor as they exited the castle.
A rush of men and women poured from the ancient reception hall in panic. They exited to find themselves losing their footing on something slick, many fell to the ground only to find themselves retching as they saw themselves covered in blood and gore.
The three hundred or so surviving Death Eaters from the hall stood frozen in morbid shock as they looked out over the grounds. Bodies and parts of bodies lay strewn across the castle grounds. Blood was flowing over the grounds several inches deep. The putrid smell of death and burned flesh was heavy in the air.
Fights were still in progress with what only appeared to be about a hundred or so remained of the three hundred plus of their fellow Death Eaters that had been there just a short time before. The mist now seemed to be slowly receding and those that had been fighting soon stilled their wands confused at what had just happened.
Voldemort sensed the fear in his remaining army and heard the whispers and the talk of fleeing. A few of those voices began to speak louder and more assertive. A shrill voice finally built up enough courage and yelled out.
"I DID NOT SIGN UP FOR THIS AND I REFUSE TO CONTINUE! I have not received what I was promised and I AM DONE!" Molly Prewitt broke from the ranks and began to pull a pale Ronald along with her.
"Petrificus Totalis!" Voldemort bellowed, freezing both Weasley's in place and summarily stopping any other Death Eaters from moving.
Pansy Parkinson who had been next to the Dark Lord yelled. "No one leaves our master!" The crazed girl spat.
"Let this be a lesson to those who turn their backs on their Lord that I do not tolerate cowards!" A quick severing hex removed the head of the former Mrs. Weasley. Her body stood erect for a moment longer before it fell forward and land in the muck and blood on the ground. Her head looked up from the ground her eyes frozen in a look of shock.
"Now, to her male spawn. Diffin…" *Pop!* *pop!* *pop!* Voldemort was interrupted from his casting when the popping sound of several flares lit up the sky and the ground beneath. The last bit of courage that many of the Death Eaters had remaining fled as the sound of spell fire echoed through the humid night air.
The remaining Death Eaters sprinted in all directions heading for the ward boundaries to escape from the killing field that was the castle and its grounds. However fate had other ideas and this night many more would be reunited with long dead ancestors. Ron Prewitt formerly Weasley remained frozen where he was, left to whatever fate had in store for him.
oooOOOooo
Harry looked on with a sigh of relief as the curse seemed to work and the Death Eaters were falling upon each other with unrestrained fury and lethality. Not since the ancient days of House Potter had witches and wizards alike been witness to such slaughter of their enemies.
And although the work of death turned his stomach he was grateful that in the end he was saving the lives of countless others. Bella was having the same thoughts as she stood next to Harry holding tightly to his hand as her other hand caressed her stomach.
She wanted a world free of fear for the twins growing within her belly, and for every mother's child born into this world. So if evil men and women had to die for that to be a reality she would stand with her husband and bring hell itself to those who would threaten that peace.
oooOOOooo
Tonks and Remus looked worried as they saw the strain the curse was putting on the seven witches they were there to protect. They were all pale; the loss of blood was beginning to take its toll on the women. Minerva looked absolutely white; her lips were beginning to turn a sickly blue and she swayed dangerous between consciousness and the dark of oblivion.
Remus' eyes were locked onto the porcelain goddess he had been in love with since his Hogwarts days, he desperately wanted to hold her and declare his love once more for her. But the past few weeks had been crazy and left them precious little time to rekindle the fire that had once burned fiercely within them.
A yell from Tonks broke his thoughts of love. He turned to see Minerva collapse and the glowing stone go dark. Luna staggered and Narcissa groaned as well. All the witches were disoriented and weak. Remus's team quickly supplied the ritual witches with blood replenishing potions as well as small doses of pepper-up potion until they were alert.
oooOOOooo
Amelia, Moody, and Rufus saw the green mist begin to fade and immediately sent out patronus out to their captains and told them to prepare for attack. They waited now for word from Nymphadora that the second part of the ritual was complete before sending the militia along with the Hit Wizards and Aurors into battle.
Harry received word from a concerned Tonks that Minerva could not continue and that they could not start the second part of the ritual. "Damn! Do we have anyone along Minerva's level of power that could be used in her place?" Harry asked his command team.
"I can go, Harry." Amelia stated.
"No Amelia." Bella interrupted. "Your needed to direct the militia, no one else has your tactical ability…I'll go." Bella offered.
"What! No way am I allowing you to do that Bella." Harry yelled. "Do you know the risk involved…"
"I know perfectly well what the risks are Harry!" She yelled back. She took a deep breath calming herself and cupped Harry's face in her hands. "
"Love, we don't have the time to argue this. I know what can happen…but I'm confident that I will be fine. After all I'll have you inside me to encourage me and to strengthen me." She nervously smiled though she tried to portray a since of reassurance.
Harry looked like a lost puppy as he starred into the eyes of the love of his life. His soul reached out to hers, and they shared a warmth that only two souls desperately in love could feel. A thousand words and feelings were communicated within a heartbeat.
A single tear fell down Harry's face as he slowly nodded. She reached up and gently pressed her warm lips to his and breathed in his scent. "You be careful, I want my husband in my bed when this is all over." Bella whispered lovingly in his ear.
His arms pulled her against him and he held her tightly to him. "I expect my wife to be there as well." With another soulful kisses she turned and apparated to the ritual circle.
"She is a very powerful witch Harry. She'll be fine." Amelia consoled her godson. Harry could only give a tight nod. He then turned his focus back to the battlefield. He turned just in time to see a hole blasted in one of the exterior walls as at least three hundred Death Eaters spilled out. A moment later purple flares illuminated the sky indicating that Voldemort was on the field.
"Let's end this." Harry whispered.
oooOOOooo
Bella arrived at the ritual site and took Minerva's position in the circle. Narcissa looked at her sister in a mix of concern and anger.
"Bella you cannot help us with this, back away!" Narcissa commanded her sister.
"I'm all you have Cissy, so deal with it! I'm staying."
"You're pregnant Bella; there is no telling what ill effects this could have on your babies! I can't let you do this." She returned with anger in her voice.
Bella paused for a moment at Narcissa word's but her determination to end this war ruled out. "If I don't help, a lot of good witches and wizards will die down there. My babies will be fine; I believe that, I know the powers that be didn't give me these children just to take them away from me. Please Cissy, the longer we argue the more likely are people will be in peril." Bella proclaimed passionately.
Narcissa sighed heavily but acquiesced. Once again the witches all re-opened the wounds on their palms and in Bella's case for the first time. Pressing their palms once more on the stone all the witches received a surprise boost in power as Bella's blood bursting with Potter blood mixed with the blood of the other witches. The increased power lessened the power drain somewhat from the other witches.
Once again the seven witches allowed their magic to flow and begun the next chant that would activate the final part of the ritual.
"The power that beats within my chest
I willingly share among the rest
My strength, My sight, and Magic's might
I send to those who are in plight
Let my blood that has been shed
Fuel the bodies that fight in stead
This sacrifice we sisters make
for kinsmen bold our blood to take."
As before the protectors of the seven began to feel a buildup of power, but instead of a blue light being emanated from the runes on the stone an emerald green light lit the runes and engulfed the seven. An expected pulse shot out of the anchor stone and activated the other ward stones until the circuit was complete.
Nymphadora, sent the message back to Amelia that the ritual was successfully started. Amelia, Moody and Rufus then sent patroni out to the team leaders to begin. Once the message was received the first wave of militia walked into the ward boundaries. All around Nott Castle every witch and wizard of the militia temporarily had a green hue as the various runes that had been tattooed on their bodies activated.
A sense of euphoria was felt amongst the Potter allies as their senses and reflexes sharpened and increased. They felt the amplified power of the seven flow within them. With confidence they made their way to the killing fields.
The militia moved like ghosts, and was almost faster than the eye could track. Spells rained down on the terrified Death Eaters who began shooting spells wildly at the attacking force. Terror gripped the souls of the defenders. Spotting their Lord they made a mad dash to join up with him, however many were cut down in the attempt.
oooOOOooo
Voldemort was yelling at his lieutenants to try and organize some sort of order to repel the attackers. This was an unusual position that the Death Eaters found themselves in, they were use to having the element of surprise, they used hit and fade tactics, never staying long enough for their targets to mount any kind of counter attack.
Now they found themselves on the defensive, surrounded by an enemy that was to their utter shock and horror using deadly force! This had never happened before. The Ministry would never authorize the use of lethal spells in the past so they felt no fear in engaging the handicapped aurors. But that had now changed as evidenced by the hundreds of their fallen brethren.
Their Lord had spoken of causing such horror and carnage to shake the very souls of their enemies, but the tables had definitely been turned and now they were shaking with the horror that they might not survive the night.
Lucius Malfoy for all his failings was an intelligent man, and right now his intellect was screaming at him to get the hell out of there and to get the hell out of England. The cause was lost and he was well aware that this time there was no bribing the Minister to stay out of Azkaban, and no cry of the Imperious curse would go unchallenged this time. With his mind made up he headed for the tree line and escape.
oooOOOooo
Neville Longbottom and his team of twenty emerged through the woods along the western side of the castle. Their team leader was veteran auror Lt. Frank Columbo. He was an odd sort of man, short with unruly curly hair and a glass eye.
The unassuming auror could lull any dark witch or wizard into a false sense of security before unleashing such a powerful confundus charm, that the offending witch or wizard found themselves in custody without ever getting a shot off.
Their group found themselves suddenly confronted by thirty werewolves led by none other than the infamous Fenrir Greyback. Fenrir smirked as he saw the group in front of them.
"Well it looks like we have some fresh meat to savor here boys!" Fenrir guffawed to his men who all chuckled darkly. "And look, they brought us a suckling as an appetizer. Longbottom isn't it. Mmm, meat of a noble is so sweet and succulent." The werewolf licked his lips languidly as he stared at Neville.
"Ah, before you start your snacking gentlemen, could I perhaps persuade you to give up now and avoid all this nasty business." Auror Colombo gesticulated with his hands his right glass eye looking sideways.
Fenrir and his companions laughed mirthlessly as they suddenly launched them self at the twenty man squad. Fenrir rushed toward the Longbottom scion with a bloodthirsty growl. Neville moved so fast he was like a blur as he sidestepped out of the way of the jumping werewolf. Grabbing him by the scruff of the neck, Neville spun throwing the werewolf into a marble statue of the goddess Artemis shattering it.
Dazed but furious the werewolf again launched himself with speed born of his disease toward the sixteen year old wizard. But to his dismay the boy moved impossibly faster. The werewolf in a midair assault soon saw the business end of the young boys wand as a powerful banishing charm hit him full in the face throwing the scourge of children everywhere flying back and impaling himself through his chest on a spear of a bronze statue of Romulus.
Blood filled the lungs of the diseased man as he began to drown in his own liquids. Neville slowly approached the coughing man as blood stained his lips, but this time it was not the blood of children or the innocent it was his own, and that gave Neville a dark satisfaction.
"I guess you won't be getting that snack after all you bastard! Look upon the final moments of your pack and know that there will be no mercy shown to those who willing attack the innocent." Neville growled at the man.
Fenrir looked to his right and saw that what was left of his pack were being slaughtered and their heads removed. The aurors were moving so fast and their reflexes so sharp that his brethren did not stand a chance against the onslaught. His rage began to strengthen him as his lupin side began to assert itself.
Neville backed off which gave Fenrir added courage but then his eyes locked upon the silver dagger that the Longbottom boy withdrew from his sleeve. With lightnening speed and with the dexterity of an assassin the knife flew from the boys hand toward him...
Fenrir Greyback hung impaled on the spear of Romulus, his lifeless body limp and his head bent backwards with a silver double edged blade imbedded deep within his skull. Neville turned away from the corpse and assisted his team in exterminating one of the greatest threats to Wizarding children…the pack of Fenrir Greyback.
oooOOOooo
Potter Militia Captain, Bill Weasley walked into the maze of hedge rolls with his newly affianced girlfriend Hermione Potter-Black right by his side. She had given him a reason to survive the battle by trying to suck his very soul into her with the most passionate kiss she had given him to date with a promise of much more to follow.
They were followed closely by Charlie Weasley and Fred and George. The other members of their assault team had spread out around the entrance and waited for the signal from their captain. They were to take out any Death Eaters that managed to escape out of the hedge rolls.
The echo of yells and spell fire soon reached the ears of the infamous Dark Mark Killers, with a nod from Bill, Fred and George began launching small bundles of Peruvian Darkness powder into the maze. Bill and the rest of the team donned the Potteresque bodyheat seeking glasses that would allow them to see the heat signatures of any living thing in the maze.
Bill, Hermione, and the other Weasleys made quick work of about fifteen Death Eaters who had become lost in the darkness of the cloud that covered the whole of the maze. But good fortune wasn't to last as the other DE's in the maze started randomly shooting spells in all directions.
The Weasley's hadn't considered that the glare from some spells could temporarily blind them. A stray cutting curse that had been cast next to someone else casting a fire spell took them by surprise. George was hit across his left arm and chest with the nasty severing hex. Severely wounded and bleeding heavily Fred grabbed his twin and made for the exit and an emergency medical portkey.
George's injury fueled the rage in the two remaining Weasley boys and Hermione. The three walked through the maze weaving a tapestry of death and mayhem that would become legend in future teachings of the Auror Academy as an example of what emotion filled spellwork could do.
Forty-eight Death Eaters were slaughtered in the labyrinth. The hedges after the war were completely incinerated. There were so many pieces of bone and sinew and other body parts so imbedded into the vegetation that it was impossible to get rid of it all.
As the three approached the other side of the labyrinth the Peruvian Darkness powder had run its course and slowly faded away. Suddenly a familiar drawling voice laced with loathing grabbed Hermione's attention immediately.
"Sweet vengeance is mine at last." The voice of the former potion's master of Hogwarts sneered.
Hermione's eyes narrowed at the murderer of her parents with unrestrained hate. Taking a page from Harry's book she responded to the sallow faced man with a sneer rivaling that of her former professor. "Why hello…Snivelous! How's the leg?" Hermione smirked at Snape's reaction to the long hated nick name given him by his boyhood nemesis and the reference to her handiwork.
Bill and Charlie had their wands up and pointed at the man, each with a curse on their lips ready to be vocalized. "He's mine." Hermione purred, her eyes never leaving Snapes'.
"You don't have your muggle weapon to save you now mudblood! I shall enjoy slowly ripping you body apart piece by piece. Poetic don't you think." Snape smirked.
Five other Death Eaters arrived behind Snape and were immediately engaged by Bill and Charlie. With another superior smirk Severus Snape began to circle the know-it-all bitch.
oooOOOooo
Narcissa, Bella, Luna, Susan, Daphne, and Professors Sinestra and Vector, were all straining with holding the link to all their fighters open. It was incredibly draining and Luna, although powerful, otherwise Narcissa wouldn't have allowed her to participate in the ritual, was now nearing her limit, her magical core which had not yet reached its majority was beginning to fluctuate dangerously.
She could feel her magic begin to lose its cohesion but she knew she needed to last as long as she could to give the fighters just a little more time. Just a little bit longer. "Oh…" A barely audible sound escaped Luna's lips as she collapsed her body going into spasmodic convulsions.
The six other witches were suddenly released from the link and felt the disorientation from being brought out of their trance. Remus and Tonks were kneeling over Luna trying to help her. Narcissa saw the petite blonde convulsing her eyes rolled up into the back of her head. Luna had become the daughter that Narcissa had always wanted and had grown to love the quirky blonde completely.
"Luna!" Narcissa screamed as she pushed Remus and Tonks away from the young witch. She pulled out her wand and began to run a quick diagnostic charm over the girl. Not caring that her hands were still bleeding and dripping down onto the unconscious girl.
"HER CORE IS COLLAPSING! We need to get her to St. Mungos IMMEDIATELY!" Narcissa screamed amongst her tears.
"I'll take her!" Auror Gerry Dunegan answered quickly kneeling down and taking Luna into his arms.
"Please Hurry!" Cissy cried as she kissed Luna's forehead.
Auror Dunegan reached for his emergency medical portkey and in a flash of swirling color he was gone.
Cissy was crying hysterically, her daughter in all but blood was near death and knew that a positive outcome for the sweet girl was almost nonexistent. At best she would be a squib and at worst…she dared not let her thoughts go there.
Remus picked her up off the ground and held her to him; his emotions were a complete mess. On one hand he was holding the woman that he loved and he relished it, but on the other he knew she was dying inside over the fate of the young witch whose life maybe lost. He decided just to hold her and let her have her cry and work out all her own emotions.
The loss of the ritual witches was immediately felt throughout the militia; however, the damage to the enemy had been significant. The fighting had been almost one sided, the allies had maybe lost about twenty of their numbers and another thirty wounded but the DE's had lost nearly ninety-five percent of their numbers.
The surviving DE's had returned to their lord and had erected barricades around themselves just in front of the main fountain that dominated the front of Nott Castle. They were using wide area spells to negate the speed and strength of the Potter militia.
With the enchantments of the Ritual Witches gone the Potter militia began to erect barricades of their own and had Voldemort and sixty remaining loyal followers boxed in. Harry and his senior staff made their way to the front of the Potter barricades.
"Tom Riddle! Or if you insist, the much debated dark wizard Voldemort!" Harry stated, his voice amplified an echoing over the grounds. "Step forward and be judged for your crimes against this people!"
"I will not be judged by you POTTER! Or by any other lesser being. Mine is the higher law, mine the greater cause and you shall bow to me Potter before this night is over or you will be ripped from this world." Voldemort hissed.
"Look around Tom. You are beaten, and your army defeated. We will allow the survivors of your ranks to live and be tried for their crimes. But your fate is sealed Tom. There will be no mercy for you." Harry stated firmly.
"What no second chances Potter? What would dear Albus say? Have you truly come over to the dark side? Voldemort chuckled darkly. "You have blood on your hands now Potter. Never to be pure or clean again, you have become me Potter! You kill to achieve your means…just like me. You punish those who defy you…just like me. Look in the mirror Potter and you will find me looking right back at you!"
"Your words have no sway over me Tom. I fight because I had to, you have pursued me for years and unlike you I do not kill indiscriminately or for power. I fight to make a better world where all magicals can live without fear of being discriminated against because of their parentage."
"Naïve sentiments Potter, this has never been about blood purity to me, oh I used the purebloods to achieve my ascendency, but it's always been about power. Power and fear is what rules the world Potter. And he who has the power controls the fear. And fear is a powerful weapon to control the masses and get what you want."
oooOOOooo
Lucius Malfoy could taste freedom as he crested the hill almost to the ward boundaries. He saw a group of about twelve people around a large ward stone. His first instinct was to sneak around them until he saw something that brought his blood to a boil.
HIS WIFE was in the arms of another man! His pride demanded that he take some sort of action. She had been the cause of his fall from grace in the eyes of the Dark Lord, she had stolen HIS gold, hidden away his traitorous son. She was the cause of his fallen state and he would have his REVENGE! Lucius withdrew his wand and took careful aim at his whore of a wife and cast the green killing curse.
Minerva had recuperated some of her strength but her magic was still too weak to even cast a lumos spell. As she stood next to Narcissa and Remus offering what support she could to the distraught woman she caught movement out of the corner of her eye.
She recognized the person immediately and gasped as she saw the sickly green hue of the unforgivable streak toward Narcissa. She knew without hesitation what she needed to do, without regret knowing she had lived a full life and had become a part of a loving family once more. She made the ultimate sacrifice for her family and stepped in front of the curse meant for Cissy.
As if in slow motion, the other members of the group saw the events unfold in awestruck horror. They watched helplessly as the body of Minerva McGonagall was briefly illuminated before falling heavily to the ground never to rise again.
An echoing scream came from Narcissa as her wand joined the wands of those around her and unleashed their fury on the smirking man in front of them. A dawning realization hit Lucius of his predicament a little too late as spell after spell slammed into his body. Nothing larger than a quill was left of the man as his body was ripped asunder.
oooOOOooo
Harry felt Bella anguish's as the images of what had happened to Minerva and Luna was played out in his mind. His grief almost overwhelmed him but he turned it quickly to fierce determination and anger as he faced Voldemort and his remaining army.
Incredible amounts of power began to roll off Harry, his aura began to show brightly and his eyes glowed with unbridled power, he heard many gasps and prayers of mercy come from the Death Eaters as they witnessed the transformation in the Potter boy. Not even Voldemort was powerful enough to produce a visible aura. Only Merlin had ever been known to produce one.
"I WILL SAY THIS ONCE AND ONCE ONLY! THOSE WHO WISH TO LIVE THROW DOWN YOUR WANDS AND STEP FORWARD! FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE FOOLISH ENOUGH TO REMAIN YOU SHALL RECEIVE NO QUARTER!" Harry's voice laced with power shook the very ground around them.
Two thirds of the remaining Death Eaters threw down their wands immediately and walked forward it to the waiting hands of Ministry Aurors and Hit Wizards. The rest remained defiantly by their Lord and would not surrender.
"This changes nothing Potter! I am still the most powerful wizard to ever exist and I shall rebuild my army more terrible and more devastating than before." Voldemort hissed.
"You seem to be under the delusion that you will walk away alive from this Tom. I assure you that is not the case." Harry said flatly. "On my orders open fire on the remaining filth!" Harry exclaimed.
Thinking fast Voldemort played his last card. If he could kill the Potter brat here and now it might cause enough shock and confusion to give him a chance to escape and rebuild. "Under the Ancient laws I challenge you HARRY POTTER to a wizard's deul! The House of Gaunt by oath of magic issues a blood feud with the House of Potter and challenges the head of House Potter to single combat with all spoils going to the victor!" Voldemort vocalized loudly.
Now this was what Harry had been waiting for. He knew it was not just enough to defeat Voldemort in battle but he needed to defeat those that supported him financially as well. And to do this he needed it to be a battle of Houses.
Every dark family that had pledge their lives and fortunes to Voldemort and the House of Gaunt as either vassals or allies would lose everything to House Potter if he was victorious. Harry wanted to permanently cripple those pureblood elitists who could wage a blood war. As in ancient times the losing house would be absorbed into the victors and their fates put into the hands of their new Lord.
Harry smiled internally as he was about to accept the challenge, but was stopped when Bella's voice echoed in his head. 'Hadrian James Potter-Black! Don't you dare accept that challenge! You cannot trust him to fight fair! This is too much to risk Harry…don't do this' Bella cried.
'Not to worry love, I have taken precautions. He must kill me to take over House Potter but he gains nothing if he dies or…we both die. Either way he will die tonight love. Remember that I'll always love you…and take care of our children.' With those final words Harry closed his link to his wife, and turned toward the wizard who would rule.
"I accept your challenge Tom; to the victor go all the spoils. So mote it be." Harry declared.
"So mote it be!" Voldemort laughed maniacally. "Let us begin."
oooOOOooo
A/N: I know, I know! But I ask you not to flame me on the cliffie. I'm thinking two chapters left and the story will wrap. I will be writing an epilogue, my wife has threatened me with bodily harm if I do not. Lol. I hope you enjoyed the chapter and ask you to be kind in your reviews.