As a reward to everyone who helped me get over 500 reviews, I am posting this chapter today rather than on Friday like I was planning.
Part Thirty Eight
Bournemouth
Harry was practically bouncing with excitement as he followed his father toward the edge of the wards surrounding his home and Draco couldn't help but snort at his friend's antics. "Calm down, Harry. It's like you've never been to a seaside resort before," he said.
"Well I haven't," Harry admitted.
"You haven't, mate? Oh right, the Dursleys, never mind," Ron said as the Silver Quartet, and Snape, walked past the wards. A slight crack distilled the air and Sirius appeared before with someone Draco has never seen before standing just behind him.
"Black, Fletcher," Snape said flatly.
"Albus told us you were heading into town and he suggested that we come with you," Fletcher said.
"More or less, he said to apparate with you and then keep our distance," Sirius said rolling his eyes.
"Why are they coming with us?" Harry asked.
"It's a precaution I and the rest of the Order of the Phoenix agreed now that Voldemort is back," Snape explained. "Fletcher and Black will be watching us so that if anything happens then one can contact the rest of the Order while the other can help us should we need it."
"Oh."
"Come. We'll sidelong apparate." Snape took Draco and Harry's arms before turning on the spot and apparating away with a soft crack.
They reappeared in a dark alley near a park that led down to the pier overlooking the English Channel. Another crack sounded and Sirius appeared with Hermione while Fletcher came after him with Ron. Ron and Hermione walked over to join Harry and Draco while Sirius glanced at them.
"We'll be keeping watch," he said.
Snape nodded curtly before he observed the Silver Quartet as if to make sure they weren't wearing anything that would cause them to stand out. Draco, while he didn't care for muggles that much, knew how to act when around them even though he wasn't around them often. "Come on," he said. "Let's go to the Square. There are plenty of shops there we can visit while we're here."
"Can we go to the park too? And the English Channel?" Harry asked practically bubbling with excitement.
Draco couldn't help but chuckle at his friend's excitement while Snape's lips quirked into a faint smile. "We'll see what we have time for," his godfather replied before he led the way out of the alley and into the park.
A street market was currently going on within the Square and Draco could see many things occupying the minds of the residents and visitors of the seaside resort. There was also a hot air balloon nearby that Draco figured was used to provide an aerial view of the seaside resort. Muggles walked back and forth completely oblivious to others while others spoke with each other excitedly as if they were speaking with old friends.
Draco noticed that many of the shops within the Square were typical muggle stores from clothing stores to book stores to candy stores. Naturally, Hermione was drawn to a bookstore lying near the edge of the Square close to the park. "Can we go there first?" she asked pointing to the bookstore.
Snape shrugged. "It's up to you," he replied.
"Ugh, books," Ron grumbled and was rewarded with a light punch to the shoulder sent by Hermione.
"Come on. It'll be interesting."
"You've probably read all the books that are in there anyway so I don't see the point," Draco said and was rewarded with a smack on the shoulder delivered by Hermione as well. "Ow. What was that for?"
"For thinking you know everything about me," Hermione retorted.
"Well it's true that you're such a know-it-all bookworm."
"Says the arrogant pompous arse."
Harry chuckled. "Wow, Hermione, that's the first time I've ever heard you use such language," he said laughing.
"Well it's true," Hermione said with a shrug while Draco seemed to be trying to come up with a retort to the bushy haired girl's statement.
"Come on," Snape said with a sigh to forestall the blooming argument. "We'll go to the bookstore for now and then we'll see from there."
Ron and Draco looked deflated but Harry didn't mind as he rather liked reading and he jogged after Hermione while Ron and Draco dolefully brought up the rear of the group.
After visiting the bookstore, the four friends made their way toward the park were a funfair* was currently happening. There were booths for food and games as well as rides, a petting zoo and several other attractions. The funfair was filled with several families and friends chatting and laughing with each other. Harry gazed at the many booths and he found himself glancing at his father who was also watching the fair with an impassive look.
"I remember coming to one of these fairs one year with your mother," Snape said softly. "We were nine at the time; it was a year after we met and her parents invited me along."
"You did?"
Snape nodded. "Come," he said. "Let's get some tickets."
"Why?"
"You need them to play games and ride rides," Hermione explained. "I've been to these before."
"Oh I've never been to a fair before. Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon took Dudley to a fair one time but I had to stay home and clean."
Snape curled his lip into a sneer while Draco growled. "Idiots. You're not a bloody house elf," he said.
"Don't worry about them anymore, mate," Ron said. "You don't have to deal with them anymore remember?"
"I know," Harry said with a faint smile at his friend before he pointed toward a dunk tank nearby. "Let's go do that."
"What's the purpose of that game?" Draco asked. "It looks like a waste of time to me."
"It pretty much is," Snape said. "Some people enjoy it for some reason though."
"Let's go," Ron suggested and the three others nodded in agreement before following Ron as he led the way to the dunk tank.
After about half an hour of playing games and riding rides, Snape decided it was time to get something to eat as it was near lunchtime. They walked to one of the booths before getting some food and sitting down at one of the tables that lay scattered close to the pier.
A shaggy black dog bounded forward before sitting down beside Harry with his tongue lolling out of his mouth. Harry glanced at him. "Hi there boy," he said before he stretched out a hand and gently scratched the shaggy black dog's ears.
Snape glanced at the dog. "Aren't you supposed to be observing unobtrusively?" he asked curtly.
The dog growled at Snape before pointing his muzzle toward a nearby tree and barking out something. Harry frowned. "What's he saying?"
"I don't know. I don't speak mangy mutt," Snape said flatly.
The dog growled at Snape who merely sneered back at him before the dog bounded back toward the tree he had indicated. Harry watched the shaggy dog go before glancing at Snape. "Was that Sirius?"
Snape nodded. "He goes by Padfoot when he's in that form though," he said coolly.
"Oh. How'd you know that?"
Snape merely shrugged in response.
"Can we go on that ride?" Harry asked excitedly pointing toward the Merry-Go-Round.
"Really Harry?" Draco echoed raising his eyebrows incredulously. "That ride?"
"Well I can't get on any other rides. I may have gained a couple of inches when the spell was taken off but I'm still too short for many of these rides," Harry complained although he kept his voice quiet to avoid being overheard by muggles.
Snape snorted. "You'll gain a couple of inches when you hit your growth spurt," he said.
"Yeah, you'll likely get as tall as Professor Snape," Hermione added.
"Or as tall as your mother. It depends really," Draco said.
"I wouldn't mind riding that ride though. It'll give us something to do," Hermione said getting to her feet. "Come on, I'm sure it'll be fun."
"Depends on your definition of fun," Draco snorted but got to his feet and followed Hermione toward the ride. Ron jogged after them and Harry, after a quick glance at both his father and his godfather, hurried after them.
Lucius had only managed to get brief word to Severus about the coming breakout but it would appear that the word was enough. However, Voldemort decided to join with the attacking party for the breakout and that complicated things. Lucius didn't have time to tell his friend of the sudden new addition to the breakout party. Typical of Voldemort to change plans at the last instant, he thought as he and the rest of the Death Eaters apparated to Azkaban.
"Get Wormtail and Bellatrix out," Voldemort ordered Lucius.
"Yes my lord," Lucius replied before apparating to what was left of Wormtail and Bellatrix's cage. Wormtail looked horrible with sunken eyes and a trembling that was likely an effect of having been surrounded by Dementors for the last half a year. Bellatrix, letting out an insane cackle then instant Lucius went to her side to free her of her chains, was more than happy to be free. Not to mention she was just as insane as ever and stayed as close to Voldemort as she could possibly get. Also, just as Lucius had predicted, the Dementors were more than happy to side with Voldemort, which made it hard for the Order to stop the attack.
As Lucius had given the warning to Severus in time, the Order had arrived within minutes of the beginning of the attack but the Dementors made it harder for them to stop the breakout. Voldemort, himself, took part in the attack casting curses left and right at the Order members. Lucius could recognize a few of them; Bill Weasley, surprisingly, was there along with Mad Eye Moody, Kingsley Shacklebolt and several others.
"Avada kedavra!" Voldemort shouted and the green killing curse flew at Bill who quickly leapt behind a stone building to avoid the curse.
Lucius cast his own blasting curse but he aimed it at the building instead of Mad Eye Moody before leaping aside to avoid the spell Moody had tossed at him. He ducked to avoid another spell tossed at him by Shacklebolt before glancing at Voldemort as he rose higher than the other Death Eaters.
"We've accomplished our goal. Let's go!" he barked. He then tossed the sign of the Death Eaters into the sky, turned on the spot and disapparated away.
Lucius and the rest of the Death Eaters instantly followed suit. They arrived just outside of Malfoy Manor and Lucius as well as the rest of the Death Eaters walked into the manor after Voldemort. Voldemort glanced at the Death Eaters as wands were handed to Bellatrix, Wormtail and the rest of the recently freed Death Eaters, the first of whom immediately laughed insanely and began twirling her wand in her fingers.
"Those who have been stuck in Azkaban are likely to be looking for entertainment," Voldemort began. "I have decided that half of us shall attack in southern England this time near Bournemouth while the other half shall attack Yorkshire. Lucius, you and Bellatrix will lead the attack on Bournemouth."
Lucius and Bellatrix, the latter of whom was laughing insanely in happiness, before they left the house. "Bella, go have some fun," Lucius said smoothly. "You can have first pick since it's been such a long time."
Bellatrix's eyes gleamed and she didn't seem to have thought that Lucius might have another reason for doing this. Bellatrix just turned and disapparated on the spot and after ten minutes, the rest of the party disapparated after them. Lucius, however, apparated to a spot a couple of kilometers north of Bournemouth. "Expecto patronum!"
The ghostly viper appeared and Lucius murmured a message to it before sending it immediately to Severus and then he apparated to join Bellatrix and the rest of the party.
"Severus. The breakout was a success. Bella and I as well as half the Death Eaters are going to attack Bournemouth. Warn the Order," Lucius's voice sounded softly through the ghostly Patronus that hovered in front of Severus. Severus had been quick to duck behind a nearby tree when the Patronus appeared to avoid being seen my muggles.
Severus swore before he pointed his wand to the ground. "Expecto patronum!" and the ghostly doe appeared.
"Albus, the Death Eaters are going to attack Bournemouth. Bellatrix LeStrange is with them. Come as quickly as you and the rest of the Order can," Severus murmured before he sent the doe galloping away and hurried into the fair just as a blasting curse slammed into a nearby ride obliterating it.
A very familiar insane laugh sounded and Severus whirled around in time to see Bellatrix LeStrange land in the center of the fair. Severus figured she had been given a wand by Voldemort when she was rescued from Azkaban. He growled out a curse before gazing around for the children just in time to see a shaggy black dog bound to his side before shimmer into the form of Sirius Black.
"Ah my dear cousin Sirius," Bellatrix laughed. "And Snape. I always knew you were a traitor! Too bad the dark lord never believed me."
Severus curled his lip in a sneer. "Black, I'll hold them off. Go and find Harry and the others and get them out of here. And where the bloody hell is Fletcher?"
"He disapparated the instant the Death Eaters arrived. Bloody coward," Black growled but he nodded once in response and ran away while Severus turned his gaze back to Bellatrix.
"Crucio!" Bellatrix screamed and Severus jumped out of the way.
"Sectumsempra!" he barked out and Bellatrix dodged out of the way but the spell still slammed into one of the Death Eaters that had been unlucky enough to be standing just behind Bellatrix. Severus, hoping it wasn't Lucius, cast a quick cutting curse at Bellatrix who blocked it before sending her own cutting curse flying back at Severus.
Severus and Bellatrix were locked in a duel with spells and curses flying back and forth between the two of them while the rest of the Death Eaters were attacking the muggles. Severus wanted to help them but he was currently caught up in a duel against his former ally.
He only had to hope that Black would be able to find Harry and his friends and get them to safety.
Sirius dodged around another curse before casting a quick jelly legs hex over his shoulder as he struggled to find his godson and his godson's friends. He finally found them attempting to defend themselves near the southern end of the resort town and an idea came into his mind. He rushed to his godson's side before casting a quick shield charm to block a curse that one of the Death Eaters had just sent at the four friends.
"Run into the forest," he ordered.
"What?" all four children echoed at the same time.
"Run into the forest. I'll cover all four of you. Just keep running south and you'll reach the manor sooner or later," Sirius ordered.
"I'm not leaving you," Harry protested.
"I'll be fine, Harry, just go."
Harry was about to protest but Hermione, Ron and Draco grabbed his arms. "He can fight better if he's not worrying about us," Draco said firmly.
"Where's dad?" Harry asked.
Sirius hesitated. "He's fighting Bellatrix LeStrange."
Draco gasped. "She's out of Azkaban?"
"Apparently so. I'll go help him but first he insisted that I get you four to safety. Now go," Sirius ordered before he sent a curse flying back at a Death Eater before petrifying another one who got too close to the four.
"Be careful Sirius," Harry said softly before he, Draco, Hermione and Ron immediately took off running toward the forest.
"That's the Boy-Who-Lived! After him!" One Death Eater shouted.
Sirius scowled angrily. "Stupefy," he barked out stunning the Death Eater before he began casting spells left and right in an attempt to dissuade the Death Eaters from chasing after Harry.
Unfortunately, a stunning charm slammed into Sirius and sent him flying backwards. By the time the charm wore off, at least three Death Eaters had rushed after Harry and his friends and five others were surrounding Sirius.
Sirius leapt to his feet. "Impedimenta! Expelliarmus!" he shouted and both spells slammed into two of the Death Eaters knocking them both backwards. He then cast a repelling charm and a stunning charm and knocked out the other three Death Eaters.
He could see that the battle was getting worse with each passing second and he found himself wondering if Snape somehow got word to the Order. If so then it was likely that they were delayed and if not then it probably meant that he wasn't getting the chance.
Sirius was torn; he may not like Snape but he would not wish Bellatrix on his worst enemy but he also knew that his son and his son's friends needed help. He swallowed as he struggled to decide before gazing at the battle. He couldn't leave now, not when these muggles needed his help. Be safe, Harry, Sirius thought before he leapt back into the fight hoping he hadn't made the second biggest mistake of his life.
* There are two things I would like to say about this. First, I got this idea from a review posted by Griffin Raven and I am basing it on fairs in America for I do not know England well enough to know how different a fair in England would be.
A/n what do you think?
Blaze: uh oh
Darth: uh oh
Severus: what's going to happen next?
Blaze: I might combine the ideas for the next two chapters into one chapter so Harry and friends will fled into the forest with the Death Eaters pursing them and get saved by an unlikely savior while Sirius and Severus will fight together against Bella until the Order of the Phoenix arrive
Darth: cool
Severus: yup who is the savior?
Blaze: (smirks mysteriously) I'm not saying
Anakin: I hate it when she gets mysterious
Severus: (raises eyebrow) why are you hiding here again?
Anakin: I, sort of, dropped my lightsaber off the Jedi Temple…again…for like the sixth time…today
Severus: TODAY?
Lucius: that's messed up
Severus: tell me about it
Blaze: (laughs) whoops long author's note. Please review and I will post part thirty nine as soon as I possibly can but I doubt it'll be anytime soon