War of the Rats

War of the Rats

By Matthew W. Quinn

February 5th, 1979

7 PM

And so begins the great Welsh counteroffensive, Severus Snape thought.

He and Fabian Prewett crept alongside a warehouse near the Harbour Railway in Bristol. Peter Pettigrew had been so kind as to tell the Death Eaters that the Order of the Phoenix and the Aurors were going to attack in Bristol, but he had given the Dark Lord the impression that the attack would be focused on Redcliffe and Broadmead.

It won't be that hard for the Death Eaters to cross the river, but we'll have gotten a jump on them and hopefully taken out several before help could be summoned.

According to the intelligence they'd managed to gather, the Death Eaters had secreted large stashes of various Potions in the warehouse, defended by a squad of Death Eaters and one of Britain's few surviving giants.

If they're willing to risk one of the giants to protect it, it must be a pretty darn big stash, he thought. Probably lots of illegal Potions, poisons and the like.

The two of them arrived at the warehouse door. Snape examined it and found there weren't any magical enchantments, only a common Muggle door lock.

Awfully foolish of them. They must be getting overconfident.

Snape drew a breath. All that remained was to wait for the signal and then he and Prewett — as well as another pair of Order fighters he was told were approaching from the other side — would strike.

A moment passed. Snape scowled.

They're taking long enough.

Then a gunshot cracked from somewhere else in the docklands. Snape's ears perked up.

Pop! Pop! Pop, pop, pop!

"Go!" Prewett hissed.

Snape nodded. Muggle gunfire wouldn't be too out of place in the Bristol docklands, so the Order had felt comfortable using that as a signal to begin the attack.

Snape tried the door. It was locked.

Perhaps they're not too overconfident. Alohomora!

Prewett tore the door open. Two Death Eaters were there inside.

The first fell to Snape's Sectumsempra with a gurgle. The second Death Eater grabbed for his wand but joined his comrade on the ground with a slashed-open throat before he could draw.

Two down. Good thing I got to them before Prewett did.

Making quick, quiet kills was not one of Prewett's strong suits. Prewett would have unleashed a Blasting Curse that would knock down the entire building on top of the Death Eaters.

However satisfying and effective that might be, the first part of the plan depends on speed and stealth, not raw power.

They transfigured the two dead men into large rocks and set them by the door, then warded the door closed. They made their way down the corridor, moving from obstruction to obstruction.

No Death Eaters so far. Perhaps the other team has got the worst of the lot.

That probably would not be good. If the members of the other team weren't as skilled at keeping quiet as he was and had to deal with more Death Eaters…

Things could get very bad.

"Hey!" someone shouted. Snape moved to shield himself, but a spell slammed into him and sent him flying.

Snape tried to scramble up as soon as he hit the ground but found that he could not.

I've been Petrified. This is not good.

Luckily, Prewett was able to shield himself in time. He fired two blasts of silver light at the Death Eater. The enemy was able to deflect one of them, but the second blast hit him in the face. The blast twisted his head all the way around and Snape could hear a wet crack as the man's neck broke.

Prewett gestured with his wand, freeing Snape.

"Be more careful," he said.

Snape reddened.

I don't need you to point that out.

"Do you think he was able to raise an alarm?" Prewett asked.

Snape shook his head. "The Death Eaters don't use Patronuses like we do. Still, it would be best to move, in case someone should come investigate."

Snape transfigured the dead man into another rock and kicked it aside. Meanwhile, Prewett moved forward, looking for additional Death Eaters.

Luckily, as they searched the corridors leading to the central chamber of the warehouse, they didn't find anyone.

Looks like the rat kept faith. If he betrayed us, the place would be crawling with Death Eaters.

Snape allowed himself a small smile.

Perhaps they made Pettigrew make an Unbreakable Vow? That would keep him from betraying us, ever.

They came to a set of doors.

"Ready?" Prewett asked.

Snape nodded.

Snape and Prewett stepped into the cavernous interior of the warehouse. Something huge stirred behind an enormous stack of crates. Snape felt his heartbeat accelerate.

That's the giant.

"Quietly," he whispered to Prewett. "We need to get the drop on it."

They made their way across the open space, Snape whispering the spells needed to reveal the presence of nearby humans. Luckily, other than the giant, they were alone.

Behind the crates, the giant grunted and shifted again.

"Do you think it's asleep?"

"Perhaps, but we shouldn't get our hopes up."

Snape frowned.

It might be a good idea to Apparate to the top of those crates.

He shook his head.

If that thing is asleep, that'll definitely wake it up.

The two crept closer. Gears were already turning in Snape's mind about how to deal with the giant.

"All right," he whispered. "We attack from opposite directions. You hit first and when it turns around to attack you, I'll cut it off at the knees."

Prewett nodded. "Good idea."

The two of them circled around the stack of crates. As Snape made his way around, his heart sank.

It's awake.

The giant turned to face him.

"Who're yeh?" he rumbled.

Sounds a lot like Hagrid.

Behind the giant, Snape could see Prewett moving into position.

Got to keep its attention.

"Well, like many of your colleagues, I'm a Slytherin and…"

"What teh 'ell is a colleague?" the giant growled.

Obviously not a beneficiary of a Hogwarts education.

"Friend. Like many of your friends, I'm a Slytherin and…"

"Yer not in uniform."

"Well, no…"

"Tey said ter Order of the Phoenix might be about tonight!"

The giant rose to his feet, towering over Snape.

Damn it. So long as it's facing me, I can't cut its tendons easily.

The giant then roared, shaking the rafters.

Oh crap. That'll bring in any Death Eaters still in the building. Sectumsempra!

Snape slashed the giant across the belly, hoping to disembowel it, then struck for its throat.

Damn.

His spells cut the giant's thick hide, but did not do significant damage.

Giants are tough buggers.

Behind him, Prewett struck. His Blasting Curse slammed into the giant, knocking it forward.

Oh dear.

Snape dashed out of the way, to avoid behind crushed underneath it.

The giant stumbled, but it did not fall. It turned to face Prewett, seized a crate, and hurled it at him.

Prewett leaped to the side. The crate slammed into the ground and exploded, shattering the bottles of Potions inside. The colorful concoctions mixed together, starting several small fires.

Damn and blast. If that thing keeps it up, the whole place will come down.

Snape unleashed a barrage of Reductor and Blasting Curses at the giant's head, hoping to knock it out or disorient it.

The giant stumbled sideways, bleeding from one of its ears. It growled at him and seized an enormous broadsword laid against the stack of crates.

Oh dear.

It swung the sword, the blade falling like a thunderbolt.

Snape leaped to the side but wasn't quite fast enough. The blade tore away most of his coat and some skin off his left arm.

Damn it.

Above him, Snape could see Death Eaters rushing out onto the catwalk.

Don't have time to deal with this. Reducto!

Snape's curse smashed the railing, the flying metal forcing the Death Eaters back.

He turned and hurled more curses, this time at the giant's kneecap. He saw the joint crumble beneath the blows. The giant fell forward onto its good knee, murder in its eyes.

"Get you," he growled, swinging his sword. Snape danced out of the way, barely avoiding a blow that would have gutted him, then leaped again as a Killing Curse from the catwalk above slammed into the ground near him.

We've got to deal with those people.

Prewett struck again, a Blasting Curse slamming into the back of the giant's head. The creature toppled, its final collapse shaking the ground.

"Okay," Snape called out. "Up to the catwalk!"

Destination. Determination. Deliberation.

Snape twitched, but did not Disapparate.

Blast.

"Anti-Disapparition jinxes," Prewett volunteered.

Probably.

"We'll have to take the stairs."

Definitely.

The two of them rushed towards the stairs, weaving through a rain of curses fired by the Death Eaters above them.

Let's hope the other group got in all right.

Firing curses to drive the Death Eaters back, Snape and Prewett began ascending the stairs. They only got a third of the way up before one of the Death Eaters managed to get close enough to retaliate.

Not this again, Snape thought as the Death Eater gestured and a swarm of angry rats erupted from his wand. The rats poured down the stairs like a black squeaking wave towards Snape and Prewett.

He slashed through the swarm with Sectumsempra, decapitating or dissecting dozens of them. Beside him, Prewett smashed rats to a pulp with blasts of silver light.

Careful. Don't want to destroy the stairs.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Snape flung himself to the side as a jet of green light flashed down the stairs between him and Prewitt.

Hung up in the rats like this, we're easy targets.

A pair of rats fastened onto his leg and started biting.

Time to even the odds. Serpentsortia!

He slashed with his wand and instead of the burst of light that cut its targets to pieces, a dozen snakes leaped from his wand. They lunged for the rats with gusto, striking and moving on. Some of them even managed to reach the Death Eaters above them.

Turnabout's fair play, Snape thought as he watched the Death Eaters firing curses at the snakes. Hopefully those are nice and poisonous.

With the Death Eaters distracted, Snape resumed hacking through the rat swarm with Sectumsempra, stopping periodically to blast rats off himself or Prewett. Slowly, they forced their way up the stairs towards the Death Eaters.

"Avada Kedavra!" Snape ducked and felt the heat of the Killing Curse as it passed over his head.

Sectumsempra!

The Death Eater deflected the curse, only to be sent flying by a Blasting Curse from Prewett. Snape saw blood spattered on the wall and stairs.

You guys killed his twin brother. He's not going to be happy about that.

Now there was only one Death Eater left standing in their way. As Snape and Prewett approached, the terrorist cast several stationary Shield Charms, turned, and ran towards the open door on the other side of the catwalk.

Straight into Remus Lupin's fist. The Death Eater went down, out cold.

"Good evening Fabian, Snape," Lupin said as he stepped out onto the catwalk. Behind him was an Order member that Snape did not recognize.

"Good evening, Remus," Prewett said. "The rest of the building secure?"

Lupin nodded. "Three Death Eaters. We killed one, Petrified two. You?"

"Three Death Eaters. Snape killed two, I killed one. They've been Transfigured into rocks for security's sake."

Lupin nodded. "Excellent."

He gestured with his wand and a silvery unicorn bounded away. "Time to find out how the others are doing."

A long moment passed.

Lily had to work late tonight, Snape thought. She's not here and if any Death Eaters had the bright idea of attacking her at her job, they'd be recalled here to deal with us.

Of course, John Anderson was with one of the larger, more Auror-heavy strike teams attacking the places in Bristol where the Death Eaters were expecting trouble. Anderson hadn't taken Amanda's death well and might do something rash.

Mary Macdonald is on that strike team as well. If something should happen to her, Lily would be most upset.

Snape inhaled, then exhaled.

"Did you ward the doors on your end?" he asked.

Lupin nodded. "We did."

He thought for a moment.

"It would be prudent to return to the doors, in case the Death Eaters should force their way back inside."

Lupin closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again.

"Anti-Disapparition jinxes."

Snape nodded.

Lupin turned and made a series of gestures with his wand. He closed his eyes again, frowned, and made several more, sweat beading on his forehead.

He inhaled.

"They should be gone now."

CRACK! Lupin was gone. A moment later, his companion followed.

Snape turned to Prewett.

"It would be wise to return to the door. While we're at it, we can Transfigure those rocks back so we can claim those Death Eaters as bounties."

Prewett nodded.

Destination. Determination. Deliberation.

February 5th, 1979

8:30 PM

The response to Lupin's Patronus finally arrived over an hour later.

A silvery-white flamingo pushed its way through the warded door that Snape guarded.

He raised an eyebrow.

I've never seen that Patronus before.

The bird opened its mouth and when it spoke, it spoke with Mary Macdonald's voice.

"The rest of the area is secure. Seven Death Eaters killed and many wounded. At least ten prisoners, although many of them got away. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement is en route to take control of the site."

The flamingo paused. "Two dead, Sam Gilly and John…"

Snape's heart skipped a beat.

"John Masters."

Good. Nobody I know.

"And four or five wounded, none seriously. Longbottom congratulates you on your part of the mission."

Snape allowed himself a small smile.

"Orders are to stay in your places until DMLE arrives. Then give statements and you can go home. You'll be debriefed more formally by Patronus later."