Chapter 35: An Eye for an Ear
They wait in strategic points around the city, only Fred and George not being alone. The "twin thing" gives them an extra edge when fighting together. Hermione's wand is already in her hand as the seconds tick away. Despite the muggles milling around unaware, the air seems to crackle with anticipation. There will be no wards to activate this time, only curses to cast.
"No wards?" Hermione questions Luna. The blonde shakes her head with the pale imitation of a smile on her lips. "But then...they could apparate out," she adds. Surely she must have missed this point.
"Some will," she replies easily. "But Bellatrix won't. If others get away, it can only help you in conquering her." Hermione nods.
"Okay."
A crack sees nine death eaters on the ground after portkey transportation. Bellatrix is among the three still standing.
"Get up, you morons," Bellatrix says, kicking one of the bodies on the ground. "Time to see what you're made of." The witch cackles as the muggles start screaming. She is cut off when a burst of blue light hits the man next to her. Spells begin to rain down on the group of Death Eaters from our different point. Another one falls, followed by three pops of deserters.
"Cowards," Bellatrix roars and then sends one of her patented spells. The purple light cuts through the air at about waist high and radiates out from her wand. It hits one of the Death Eaters and four muggles before Ron and Hermione drop to the ground. The heat of the spell passing over them scorches the tips of brown curls, but they're alive.
Harry is busy with another of the strong fighters as Tracey is getting pushed back by yet another. The ground begins to shake and Ron and Hermione dodge in opposite directions moments before it spit.
Bellatrix doges a spell from Fred and then turns towards the twins. The remaining three Death Eaters take up battle with Ron and Hermione. Fred and George dance out of each other's way as if two arms of one being. Still the frantic edge to movements when dodging curses from the witch bears witness to the challenge.
Harry keeps up with his opponent, but Ron, Tracey and Hermione are not as lucky-each being pushed back constantly.
"No," Fred yells as George moves a moment to slow. Black sludge drips from George ear and he whimpers on the ground.
"Now for the other blood-traitor brat," Bellatrix spits. "While he dies he can watch your torture." Fred's cold eyes turn to the witch. A sane human would have faltered, but Bellatrix could not be described as sane.
The curse upon her lips hits the ground where Fred was, the angry twin on the move. Fred fights with a fury never before seen in the jovial boy. He ignores the slashes that bring blood to his feet and clenches his jaw against the pain. Still he advances.
Bellatrix smiles at Fred, enjoying the fight and sure that she will win. When a red spell slashes across her face over her left eyes, the smile turns into a snarl.
"My eye, you bastard," Bellatrix screams. Fred goes to press his advantage, but he is thrown backwards. A Death Eater dashes forward and grips Bellatrix's arm.
"I'm not losing the Dark Lord's favorite pet," the Death Eater snarks and then disappears with a pop. More pops and they are alone.
Tracey, Hermione, Ron and Harry rush to the twins, neither in great condition.
"We have to get them back to Draco," Tracey says.
"Ron, Tracey, you take Fred," Hermione orders. "Harry and I will take George. Go." Tracey and Ron hoist Fred up until they both have an arm around him. Pop. Harry and Hermione move forward and grab George.
"On three," she says. "One...two...th-uhf." A Death Eater from the shadows slams into the witch as they begin to turn. They appear on the top step in front of Number 12, Harry, George, Hermione, and a random Death Eater. Luna is standing in the open doorway. She stuns the Death Eater.
"Get George in," is all she says. Harry and Hermione maneuver George through the doorway before Harry levitates him.
"Locomotor George," Harry whispers and George follow the black haired teen.
"Go get cleaned up," Luna tells Hermione. "I'll take care of this one."
"We can't let them go," Hermione says, turning back to the unconscious enemy on their doorstep. Luna looks at them as well with sad eye.
"I know," she whispers with too much understanding. Hermione nods and follows Harry's path into kitchen/emergency healing.
"I can only do so much," Draco mutters as he stands over George who lays across a stretcher. "I can't grow the ear back, this magic...it's dark." Draco pours potion over the black ooze. George whimpers slightly as the blond wipes away the potion and black sludge with a cloth. He repeats the process until it is clean, then heals the wound. Skin closes over where the ear once was.
Draco tilts George's head up and pours another potion down his throat.
"Rest," he whispers. George's soft murmurs fade into deep breath and Draco moves over to Fred.
"Will he be alright?" Fred asks, worried eyes staying on his twin as Draco starts to mend the wounds. Draco nods.
"He'll be one ear less, but otherwise perfectly fine after a bit of rest," Draco says. Fred nods, but still doesn't look away. "Did you even try to dodge?" Draco murmurs as he pours a potion into a rather deep cut over his ribs. Fred shrugs.
"I took her eye in payment for his ear," Fred says.
"What was that spell?" Tracey asks. "I don't think I've seen it before."
"Cinis Organo," Fred answers. Draco's hands freeze as his eyes trace up to the redhead's face before bursting out laughing.
"You didn't?" Draco asks. Fred nods smugly, but there is a vicious glint in his eyes.
"What does it do?" Tracey presses. Draco turns to her.
"It's a healing spell, at least technically," he says. "It is used with certain diseases, specifically flesh eating kinds. It causes living matter to turn to ash, except without the burning. It's transfiguration technically. A simple Finite is used to cancel/stop it. In healing, you start it at the infected area and stop once it is done, then heal the edges of the area already eaten away. You hit her eye?"
Fred's resulting smile borders on sadistic. Draco shakes his head and turns back to the man's wound.
"Can't they simply turn it back?" Ron asks.
"No," Hermione answers. "This specific spell cannot be reversed. Actually, the way it eats away, you couldn't even regrow the eyeball. Depending how long it goes before it is canceled, a magical eye may not even be an option. It is however a very obscure spell."
"How did you find it?" Harry asks, intrigued.
"There are some old healing books in the library here," Hermione confesses. "This spell is not usually used in battle because it can be stopped by any protego and canceled with any general canceling spell."
"If they know what it is," Fred answers. At the raised eyebrows, he continues, "There are other spells that it could be that require much more difficult counter curses. It will not respond to those and will continue to eat away until they either she is all ash or they cast a finite, but it will at the very least take the eye."
"Nice," Tracey comments.
"I wouldn't call it that," Harry mumbles under his breath. Fred merely shrugs.
"An eye for an ear," he says.
"This was not a good battle," Draco says when Hermione is the last one left in the kitchen. He patches up some burns on her back. The rest of the group have been healed already and retired to their room for the rest of the day.
"No, not particularly," she replies.
"Do we know if Bella died?"
"I'll have to ask Luna. She's standing guard right now over the Death Eater who hitched a ride."
"The sleeping draught should keep the Death Eater out for another couple hours," Draco comments.
"Still…"
"Yeah," he replies. "Everyone was injured in this last one and I wouldn't count on Bella being dead."
"We all knew going after her would be difficult," she says. His hand slides over the skin of her back, smearing a cream over the mostly healed burns.
"I wished you weren't out there," Draco whispers.
"We've had this conversation," she answers.
"You keep getting hurt," he presses.
"You can choose not to go out there, but you can't keep me locked in this house. That's not how this works," she snaps.
"I just want you safe," he replies, gray eyes boring into hers.
"No one is safe while that madman lives," she says. Draco closes his eyes and signs.
"I know," he whispers. Hermione sighs and slides her hand into his.
"I'm sorry," she says softly. He pulls her into his arms, careful to avoid the wounds.
"I'm terrified every time you leave that you won't come back," he whispers into her hair.
"I know." He pulls away and looks into her eyes.
"No you don't," Draco says. "Last time, when...Harry died...he-the Dark Lord-wanted you alive and what he planned…" Draco shudders. "You can't understand…"
"I'll be careful," she says. It's the only thing she can offer him. He nods and pulls her to his chest again.