Happy Birthday to me, here is a chapter for thee.
Please review
Chapter Nineteen
Minister declares State of Emergency
Head Auror calls for Volunteers
"Your Country Needs You!"
The villages of Goring and Streatley had been evacuated, the Muggles fed the line of an IRA bomb threat. Ministry officials had gone through, house to house, and now retreated to the growing line of wizards. There, south of the villages and on the bank of the Thames, wizards scuttled back and forth preparing the ground. Up on the dyke, west of the sharp bend in the river, lines of sight were assessed and positions marked. All the Aurors and Volunteers would be arriving soon, two hundred wizards against the oncoming tide. The elves had crossed the river at Wallingford upstream, joining the old Icknield Way as it turned south to Salisbury. Here, at Goring Gap, the wizards had a chance of stopping them. The river bent twice, cutting under a cliff on one side and hemmed by the dyke on the other. The elves would be forced into a bottleneck as they tried to cross the river for a second time.
It was a grey day and no one could tell that it was mid-morning when the echoing sounds of apparation began to be heard. The Volunteers, among them Benjy Fenwick, Marlene McKinnon, Lily Evans, were sent immediately up to the top of the dyke. It wasn't expected that they would have to fight hand-to-hand, the ditch and back made a fourteen foot high trap for any enemy. From there they could cast long range spells and provide magical assistance from above.
The Aurors, those who weren't in St. Mungo's or worse, made up the front line on the South side of the river. There was a railway bridge here, and it was here that they expected the elven blow to fall hardest. Towards the east of the line Sirius and James wandered up and down the grassy field, noting the rabbit holes and obliterating annoying rocks.
"This thing is damned uncomfortable," said James, adjusting the sword hanging from his side for the tenth time.
"You'll be thankful for it later," Sirius replied, his left hand resting on the pommel of his own sword.
"Who knew there were that many iron weapons in Gringotts."
"Yeah."
Another rock vanished into dust and Sirius fidgeted with his wand, nerves creeping in as he looked around for the next lump of stone.
"Sirius?"
"Yeah?"
"If we don't get out of this-"
"Oh no!" Sirius spun on his friend, finger wagging underneath his nose, "We are not doing that. We're not saying goodbye. We are both going to get out of this, you are going to marry Lily and name me godfather of all your sprogs. Alright?"
James laughed lightly and said, "Alright!" They started walking again, the grass springy under their feet. As they climbed a small rise he added, "All my sprogs? How many am I having?"
-X-
In Edge Hill Manor the atmosphere was tense, people hurrying back and forth. Outside one room a line had formed of black robed men and women picking up all manner of iron items. The news had arrived two nights ago that the metal poisoned elves once it got into their bloodstream. Since then the well-oiled Death Eaters had stripped homes, offices and parks of all available weapons. Lord Voldemort swept through, his cloak slung over his arm. He nodded at a few men who bowed out of his way. Behind him Lucius stretched his legs in an attempt to keep up with his swift pace. The main doors swung open before them and Voldemort stepped out into the overcast day. Lifting the cloak to his shoulders Voldemort looked around at the lightly sparring pairs scattered over the lawn.
"Make sure they don't overwork," he commanded.
"Yes my lord," Lucius said, adding it to his growing mental list, "My lord I could come with you, relay more precise information."
"No," Voldemort replied, his eyes finding the slim form of Morrigan laughing at Snape sparring with Goyle, "I will go alone. You are needed here, Lucius," he said, turning to the fretting blond, "See that Le Fay is taken somewhere safe. She is important - her information."
"Yes my lord. Perhaps my home?" Lucius offered, frowning internally at the odd wording towards Morrigan. Voldemort had seemed a little off lately, even a touch awkward around her. And there were rumours that he had been heard singing!
"With your wife. Yes," Voldemort nodded, assured that the elves would be unable to penetrate Malfoy Manor and if they did that his daughter would have adequate protection. His daughter, he shook his head for a second; he still wasn't used to that fact. Mentally refocusing he pulled up his hood and said, "I shall call when the time is right."
Lucius bowed and watched as he passed though the gates and disapperated. Then he turned and strode over to where Severus had casually disarmed Goyle and was now holding him off with little flicks of his rapier.
"Severus? A word?" he called.
The black haired man scored another hit, held up his left hand to stop Goyle lumbering forwards and jammed the rapier into the soft soil. "Lucius?"
Beckoning him over to an empty spot under a tree Lucius put up one of Snape's rather good muffling charms and asked bluntly, "Have you dreamed about today?"
Severus folded his arms and looked a little uncomfortable. "Yes," he replied shortly. He had hoped that since Morrigan was now under his care the dreams would stop and he could forget all that Seer nonsense. Once again luck was not with his though; he still had been dreaming about the elves, though not all of the information he received was useful.
"And?" Lucius pressed.
"They will fail without our assistance."
"That's it?" Lucius questioned after a pregnant pause.
"Yes," Snape tried to avoid saying anything else but the look on his friend's face was not a happy one. Reluctantly he gave in and explained, "I was woken up." His eyes drifted over to where Morrigan had retreated away from the action and was picking at the hem of her sleeve, clearly nervous around others without him.
Lucius followed his gaze and smiled knowingly, "Ah. I see."
"It isn't- we're not-" Severus stuttered before turning away in a huff, annoyed that his aloof exterior had been broken so easily.
"It's alright my friend," Lucius said, still smiling as he clapped him on the shoulder, "She's to join Narcissa at the Manor. Lord Voldemort's orders. In fact," Lucius felt a Slytherin pride at his idea. "Would you take her? You know the way."
Somehow Severus felt he'd been backed into a corner that he hadn't even known was there. If he asserted his independence and said 'no' Lucius would infer that he wasn't interested in Morrigan, he would undoubtedly mention it to Narcissa and for an inexplicable reason tell Morrigan, which would lead to an uncomfortable conversation. And if he said 'yes' then...urgh, this was the reason he hated relationships: it was a minefield of craziness.
"Fine," he scowled, trying to sound as neutral as possible. At least if he stayed close to her he could stop the craziness before it began. Right?
-X-
Up on the dyke they heard the army coming before they saw it. The creak of leather, jingle of armour and voices raised in marching song. Lily double checked the bucket of make-shift arrowheads before her. Fifty for each dyke defender, with more being forged or stolen back in London just in case this failed. It couldn't fail though, they had to hold the elves at Goring. It was the perfect place; a bottleneck with only one way out – through them.
A hand upon her shoulder made her register the presence of Alice. She shared a worried look with her best friend before looking out over the land again, searching for the first visible signs of the enemy.
"Everyone's in place," murmured Alice, "When they emerge from Goring we begin firing."
Lily nodded, she knew the drill, though that didn't stop her nerves. "I can't see them yet."
Alice lifted her hand and pointed at what Lily had taken to be a stand of trees moving in the wind. "There's no wind," Alice said, "They've reached the outskirts of Goring."
Lily's stomach did a back-flip as she realised that this was it. Alice patted her on the shoulder again and moved off to check on the other Volunteers and Order members.
-X-
The first spells arched out from the dyke and front line as morning turned to afternoon. The elves had filtered though Goring, some crossing the river to Streatley, and now formed massed ranks marching on either side of the Thames in the narrow gorge.
From up on a steep hill of the west side Voldemort watched, hidden among the covering trees. He would only call the Death Eaters when the time was right. If he put them in the field before the Ministry forces were fully engaged then Crouch could decide to fight on two fronts. That would be a disaster – no army with so few numbers could win against two enemies. Briefly he wondered whether leaving them to their fates was a better idea, but he swiftly dismissed it. The Ministry may not want his help, but he didn't want a country full of elves.
Suddenly, a band of elves broke through the raining barrage of spells to plunge into the cool river. They never came out the other side, iron projectiles sent flying their way making sure they didn't rise from the waters. Below him the regiment of elves who'd crossed at Streatley found themselves trapped between the steep hill, the river and the defenders on the dyke. Many fell to fire and iron, but many more took their place. It was a nightmare scene; fires burning on the north side of the Thames, steam rising from melted patches of ice, and through it all the screams and war cries of thousands of determined fighters.
The line South of the river was holding, but Voldemort could see that the dyke, though steep, was going to come under serious attack soon. There was a battalion of elves making their way up the centre of the column with ladders and bridges, and the trees below the dyke hid any elves who got past the hailstorm of arrows. That was where he needed to be.
-X-
Down in the valley Frank singed another elf's hair then pocketed his wand and drew his sword. He was fighting between Robertson and a blond haired Auror he'd never met. Before them ran the railway line, bridging the river as it sped south. The elves had collected here, fighting to cross the Thames. Frank lashed out inexpertly with the blade, only to have it caught on the sword of an elf and forced down. He ducked as a second, shorter blade sliced over his head. Yanking his sword clear of the soldier's he struck out again, aiming for the head. His blow went wild but the tip caught the elf on the cheek. Immediately purple began to spread from the tiny nick. The elf staggered, clutching his face before falling. Frank prayed for a breather, but the space just filled again, a never-ending tide of elves sweeping his way.
-X-
Lily fired flight after flight of iron into the elves, each piece directed with care to hit as many as possible. Fire and ice flew from her wand, carving great holes in the main body of the army over the river. All around her the sounds of war rang out. She had expected her fear to grow as she began to kill, but instead it receded, her mind growing focussed on the repetition of action. Fire a spell, lift an arrow, find a target, send iron soaring, begin again. Her emotions hardened as she saw their fierce faces and angry gaze.
Below her the regiment who had crossed the river were slowly being taken out by the defenders, but they were still advancing. They'd reached the bottom of the ditch and were laying their ladders up the slope to ease the scramble to the top of the embankment when Lily heard Alice cry out, "Defend your position! Defend the dyke!"
Panic struck Lily for just a second; without the Order's magical attacks into the body of the army the defenders along the river would be under greater pressure. James was down there. The panic passed as she saw an elf clinging from a tree in his attempt to climb and reach her. She couldn't let him pass. Aiming, she sent a fire spell to meet him, the wave of heat reaching her as he burnt and fell back.
-X-
Moody heard the cry from the top of the dyke and ordered a push of his own. Stationed where the dyke descended to the river near a water-bound island, his troops acted as a brace against the hills.
Spells were fired, sent arching high into the sky to come sizzling down across the river. The back line kept up the spells, while the front line hacked at all those who made it through the battle fields and the water.
By now the river was filling with purple bodies and red blood, and as Moody cut down another elf he wondered if there could ever be an end. Swivelling on his good leg he saw the two elves sprinting towards him, war cries in their throats. He snapped out an ice spell which took out one, but the second jumped the beam of white light and brought his sword down.
-X-
Severus felt his mark burn and knew it was time to leave. He stood, gave a few last words of comfort to Narcissa and Morrigan, and swept out into the garden. He had known this would happen, he had already seen it in his dream. The elves would fight fiercely, pushing back the Aurors and members of the Order, and when they were in danger of breaking they would arrive. The Death Eaters. Ready to fight and kill, they would push them back.
Squaring his shoulders Severus took a breath and pulled out his white mask. He was about to follow the tugging in his left arm and apparate to Lord Voldemort's side when he felt a quiet touch. He looked down slightly and into the worried eyes of Morrigan.
"Please be safe, and...come back...whole," she said softly.
"I know how to fight," he assured her, "I will not fall."
She nodded slightly and barely vocalised, "Good."
That one word, laden as it was with hope and need, made Severus's throat close with emotion. He found himself desperately wanting to tell her that it would be alright, that there was no danger, despite the truth. So caught was he by the unexpected emotions that he hardly registered her standing on tiptoes to kiss him on the cheek. It was only as she looked back at him as she walked away that he realised he was standing there like a lovestruck fool. He quickly put on his mask and apparated to Goring and safety.
-X-
The elves were trying to breach the defences east of the bridge, piling across the river and running the gauntlet of spells and flying iron. Sirius stopped a blow to his torso and hit out, smashing his fist into his opponents face. The soldier staggered back then swept his sword down in a cross slice. Sirius parred hurriedly, creating an opening that James plunged his sword into. A new hoard were pouring across the Thames, wading through the bodies of their fallen and the red-running river. James caught the next blow and Sirius turned away to dance with a helmeted warrior.
Captain Donn met the flurry of inexpert blow with his double short swords, sliding the iron blade away from him. Stepping in he turned the iron to one side and slashed in with his other sword, opening a deep cut in the hastily raised arm. Sirius snarled at the wound and battered Donn's defences.
With two blades and decades of training Donn wasn't going down easily. He circled Sirius's sword with his own, darting in to place his bronze blade in the wizard's ribs. But before his blade touched flesh a piercing in his side made him howl and turn. James had crowded in and struck out at the skilled Captain. The pain swept from the wound and he felt his blades slipping. Captain Donn looked back at Sirius just in time to see the iron sword sweeping down.
Sirius kicked aside the decapitated body and turned a snarling face on the throng before him. These creatures had taken the one person he loved from him and they would pay.
-X-
Falling back to the rise behind him, Frank let the men sweep by to bolster the defence of the bridge. It was going well, the elves were determined but the hills funnelled them making it easier for the Ministry forces to pick them off. Frank stopped to catch his breath and grab a drink of water; battling with swords was a lot harder than fighting with wands and magic.
It was as he was looking out over the embattled landscape, noting how there were still thousands of elves between them and freedom, that he saw the light. It arched out from the dyke in one giant green curve, like a flight of brilliant arrows. It hit the elves just behind their front line felling them with a single touch. After a moment of wide-eyed staring Frank's training kicked in, and his mind started cycling through possible spells even as he raced to the top of the rise. Green light, that green light could only be one thing: the Killing Curse.
-X-
Lucius fired curse after curse, mixing in bolts of Dragonfyre and Haelstorm with the lethal Unforgiveable. Between the trees to his left he could make out the furious form of Voldemort, other masked Death Eaters around him, fighting with those elves that scaled the dyke. The Volunteers and Aurors charged with defending this wall of earth had been shocked to see the hundred Dark Wizards arrive, but their leader, a young woman with short brown hair, had quickly seen that they weren't a threat to any except the elves. At the moment that was. As Lucius directed the spell fire he had seen the woman's eyes on him making sure their lethal spells all went in the same direction.
Snapping out another well aimed Killing Curse Lucius tracked the line of elves to the west.
"They're holding them back," Severus said beside him, taking advantage of the pause to do his own assessment.
"A volley in their midst would scatter them," Lucius replied. It seemed he wasn't the only one to see that, since as he spoke a wave of Dragonfyre swept out from the trees, hurtling towards the centre of the Streatley contingent, burning everything in its path.
"That worked," said Severus, almost certainly smirking behind his mask.
"If only is would against them," Lucius said, indicating their target of the main army to the north-east.
"Too many elves." Severus shook his head before bringing his wand up again and snapping out a series of Avada Kadavras. The bolts of death were well placed, killing a band of elves trying to cross the river higher up to outflank Moody's band of wizards.
-X-
Upon the rise behind the strong Auror line Bartemius Crouch listened to the hurried reports of Dorcas Meadows, one of the Volunteers who had responded to the Ministry's call. There were Death Eaters upon the dyke, and more than that, Lord-you-know-who had been seen. A fire lit within the punctual heart of Barty; here was a chance. A chance to take out both their enemies in one blow. They were holding the line against the elves, those creatures would continue to smash themselves against the rocks of the Ministry without wearing it away. Call back a small band, and they could climb the dyke, capture you-know-who and end the years of war now. Without a leader the Death Eaters would scatter, divided among themselves.
-X-
James couldn't believe his ears when the order came for his platoon to draw back. They were holding, yes, and the rain of death from the dyke was helping them keep the elves on the other side of the river. But there was no way they could afford to leave. He wasn't on the rise though, he didn't have all the information.
Running alongside Sirius, James followed the rest as they curved away from the front line and up behind the dyke. The plan was simple: attack the Dark forces at the point where Lord Voldemort was fighting, capture or kill him, then take as many Death Eaters as possible. In his heart James feared the plan was too simple, if Voldemort could be taken down so easily it would have been done a long time ago.
-X-
They reached a clearing just behind the tree-covered bank and paused to review what little information they had. It was quickly decided that they would spilt into three groups of four and come at the twenty yard stretch from several angles. James and Sirius loped off with their partners to curve up from the left.
Plunging back into tree cover Sirius felt the noise from the battlefield begin to grow once more. Down below the dyke the screams of metal and of men had been muffled. Here it assaulted him from every angle, the sounds bouncing around the gorge until the battle raged on every side. He ran on, now able to see black figures moving against the darkening trees. The sun had moved on above its duvet of clouds sending murky afternoon light to filter through the thick woods.
Suddenly a white-masked figure stepped out before him and yelled, "Aurors to the rear!" The attack was swift, Sirius's wand flashing as he battled the Death Eater to the ground, but the cry had altered others and now more turned and met the small groups of Aurors.
-X-
Hiding behind a tree Peter watched wide-eyed as his old friends fought his new masters. They were a whirlwind of spells and swords and fists, some encounters lasting seconds, others stretching to frightening minutes. Peter's emotions warred within him, the terrifying groans and screams all around gluing him to the tree, unable to move or think.
Focused on the Aurors ahead of him Peter didn't see the fighting men behind. A stupefying bolt flew out, hitting a Death Eater square on. He wobbled and fell, right back into Peter. Peter squealed and jumped away, fear lending energy to his legs as he began to run. The eyeholes of his concealing mask obscured his vision. Panicking he reached up and ripped it off, throwing it down as his short legs carried him away.
-X-
Sirius looked round at the sound of a familiar squeal – he'd heard it a million times at school. Peter Pettigrew. Sirius searched the faces around him, seeing plenty he knew and many more white-masked. A running Death Eater caught his eye, and as he reached up and wrenched the mask from his face Sirius stopped in his tracks. That was him. Peter. In Death Eater robes.
Information flew through his brain, pieces of a puzzle he'd had no picture to coming together. It all made a sudden, horrible sense. Peter was the traitor, Peter knew all their plans, Peter had been... He'd been there. When Beatrice died. He'd known her parents would return home. He'd told them!
Fury blossomed in Sirius's chest, spreading through his limbs, blinding him to all else. Abandoning his Auror mission Sirius took off after the man he'd called friend. He had no thought of what he'd do when he caught him, the anger blotted out all thought, all reason. Catching him, that was key. His blood thundered with it: catch him, catch the traitor.
-X-
Along the hill they raced, Peter now aware that there was someone after him. He didn't look back; he didn't care who was trying to catch him, only that he didn't succeed. Between trees and through groups of Order members and Death Eaters they ran. Peter tripped, stumbled, forced himself back up. Sirius's eyes narrowed, his vision focused on that black flapping cloak and rotund form. His legs worked automatically, jumping roots and leaping pot holes.
Crashing out of the trees into a clearing the pair sped up. Sirius now certain he could catch the rat. Suddenly Peter fell, his foot caught in a rabbit hole. He tried to scramble up but his foot was trapped. Peter twisted it frantically, hearing the heavy breathing of his chaser gaining on him. Finally it slipped free and he leapt forwards, only to be brought crashing to the ground again.
Sirius flipped him over wanting to see the fear and knowledge in his eyes before he beat him to a pulp.
"S-Sirius!" Peter yelped, utterly horrified.
"You betrayed her," Sirius growled out, smashing a fist into his face, "You told them she was leaving!" His other fist crushed Peter's nose, the smaller man's hands desperately coming up to defend himself even as he tried to utter denials.
"No! No!"
Sirius saw red, his world contracted, his fists flying as he screamed, "YOU LET HER DIE!"
Hands and arms around his torso lifting him off Peter made him flail wildly until he was dumped unceremoniously upon the ground and a wand levelled at him. The red mist across his vision pulled back as he followed the wand to a face. James. Breathing heavily, and clutching a stitch in his side.
"We take him to Azkaban," James said firmly.
Sirius shook his head madly, clawing his way up only to be pushed away by a determined James. He wanted blood. He wanted revenge.
"We take him to Azkaban," James said again, placing a restraining hand on his shoulder.
Sirius glowered, but with James's calm, steady gaze boring into him he felt he had no choice but to agree. The rage died to a mutinous anger and he defiantly turned away, not wanting to even look at the stinking traitor. James moved away, presumably to restrain the prisoner. Sirius looked up towards the tree line and felt as though he'd had a bucket of icy water poured on his head.
"James! Incoming!" he cried out.
Backing out of the trees came Death Eaters, Aurors, and trained Order members, all fighting the onslaught on elves, and each other. Spell fire lit the eaves of the woods and James rushed to join Sirius who was already arching fireballs into the bronze-covered elves.
Suddenly there was the sound of a horn and the elves stopped, not leaving the safety of the woods as they melted away. Rather than cheering or going after them, the Aurors turned fully on the Death Eaters and a full magical battle commenced.
James and Sirius found themselves facing all three LeStranges, and Sirius felt the anger rise in him again. Charging in Sirius threw curse after curse, utilising his resistance to spells at every turn.
Beside him James fought, his own turbulent thoughts drowned by the adrenaline flowing through him. He brought his heavy sword down on the fragile handguard of Rabastan's blade, forcing him to drop it. In response Rabastan snapped out a binding hex. James swayed to the side, dodging the hex, and came back with a firm, "Stupefy!" But the Death Eater used his own tactics against him, avoiding the curse and throwing his own. James held a shield firm against the series of curses Rabastan sent until the unmasked man cried, "Crucio!"
James fell to his knees, his insides screaming in pain. Then it was over. His breath coming in gasps, James surged through the vestigial agony, his sword thrust forwards to skewer Rabastan through. The Death Eater staggered back, sword stuck through his chest. With a last breath, his eyes glazing, he brought up his wand and gasped, "Avada Kadavra!"
James ducked as the green light shot towards him, it skimmed his head and vanished behind. Staggering, James pulled his sword from the corpse and looked around. The Death Eaters were falling back, disapperating before the Aurors could stop them. He couldn't see Peter, the slimy traitor must have escaped in the furore.
There was someone lying on the ground behind him, someone with black hair. James walked then ran over, a name bursting from his lips, sword and wand dropping from his hands as he fell to his knees.
"No! Sirius! NO!" Sirius's head lolled as he was lifted, and James screamed to the heavens. "NO!"
-X-