Dante stopped mid-slash. He held Rebellion dead still; within slicing distance of his prey.

"Oh, please continue," Bellatrix pleaded, licking her own blood off her lip from her leaking head wound. "Please slice this little boy's head open for me."

In her grip, Harry stood still, staying defiant for all it was worth despite the terror that coursed through him from the huge, diamond sharp sword millimetres from his face.

Wrenching back the teenager's head by his hair, Bellatrix offered Dante Harry's throat. "Go on, you know you want to kill him. That blood lust must scream at you constantly."

Dante glared at her and drew Rebellion away. "I don't have blood lust for children. I'm not an animal like you."

The woman just grinned and dragged Harry backwards to Voldemort as the battle halted once more.

"I have a present for you, my lord." She said sweetly. She turned back to Dante. "Actually, I have two."

Voldemort smiled as she threw Harry at his feet and trained her wand on him. "Firstly, the Potter boy who has such audacity to keep living when your wonderful Highness would really like him dead." She twirled around daintily and gestured behind the dark wizard. "Secondly, a much more wonderful gift for you that you have been looking for for such a long time, it breaks my heart."

Out of the shadows, Ron stepped forward.

Dante forced himself not to react, secretly so very glad to feel Lupin's fingers digging into his arm and Sirius pointedly standing before him and snarling low and menacing.

In Ron's arms, lying bridal style, was Krysta. She was still as a corpse, her long hair trailing over Ron's arm as he held her and swaying in the morning light that seemed to be darkening as the sky clouded over. There was blood all over her torn clothes. Her head was resting against Ron's shoulder, one arm tied to her chest and other hung down as he held her as if she was dead already.

Dante's whole body froze.

Opposite him, surrounded by his six remaining Death Eaters and copious amount of bodies of the others, Voldemort frowned.

"Who is this, Bella?"

The insane woman laughed, loud and brazen. "Don't you recognise her, my Lord? I suppose it has been such a long time since you last saw her. Let me refresh your memory – but first," her eyes flashed angrily. "A little payback in is order."

Ron backed away as the woman stalked towards him. "Get away from us, you nutcase!" he pulled Krysta closer, drawing her away from the insane woman. "W-what's the matter? Can't pick on someone who's at least awake? Is that how you've made Voldemort like you so much? By picking on people weaker than you so he won't notice how useless you are?"

Bellatrix's anger flared. Her hands extended, reaching for his delicious little throat. "Why you little -,"

"Bella," Voldemort said, boredly. "As much as I adore your penchant for killing children, I was in the middle of talking to my darling boy, Dante."

"Yeah, well, I'm bored." Dante announced without missing a beat. He turned around. "If you don't mind, Remus promised me a drink and my dog's getting tired chewing off limbs. Have a great night, Volde. Later Bella – good attempt to get into my pants, but no dice."

"What?!" she screeched.

"I know you fancy me." Dante said, over his shoulder. "Everyone does, just get used to it. I'm just not interested in you – you're way too old for me."

"You little -!" Bellatrix hissed, livid.

"Get over it, Belle. I'm young and super hot – I'm so out of your league." Dante said ticking off a salute as he walked off, completely ignoring the volcano about to explode behind him. "Later. Come on, Rex, how about we find some mean little foxes for you to terrorise? Lupin will happily join you."

Lupin laughed as he walked away with him. "As ridiculous as it sounds, that actually sounds fun to me."

"That's the inner beast talking,"

Voldemort cleared this throat loudly. "Excuse me, I still have Harry Potter here."

"Master -," Bellatrix said insistently.

The dark wizard held a hand up. "What happened to all that human heart, Dante? Will you really let me fillet this teenage boy?"

Dante glanced back and snorted. "The way I hear it, that kid's foiled your plans more times than Saturday morning cartoons." He grinned. "Maybe you're getting old too, Volde. Good luck, kid, but by your record so far, I doubt you'll need it."

Harry genuinely laughed.

Voldemort hissed in distaste and raised his wand.

"Don't even think it, Volde." Dante said, not bothering to turn around. "You know what I can do."

He raised a hand and clicked his fingers.

The hex already discharging from Voldemort's wand redirected and smacked Bellatrix straight in the stomach. Doubling over in pain, the woman choked and fell onto her side, desperately trying to rake in breaths.

Seething, Voldemort strode after Dante, dragging Harry by the hair as he did so. "Dante!" he demanded. "Get back here, you wretched boy!"

"What happened to 'darling boy'?" Dante said turning around and still sauntering off backwards now. "Aren't I the golden child anymore? I remember you being much nicer to me, you know."

"You never used to be quite so difficult!"

The demon shrugged. "Well, since Mummy and Daddy aren't around anymore, I can be as rude as I like. So, unless you've got a beer secreted about your billowy robes there, later."

"Is that all you want?"

"I'll take a couple of beers, if you're buying."

Voldemort growled in annoyance and covered his eyes with his free hand. "Dante!" he called again, forcing himself to calm down. He smiled. "I apologise, my sweet boy. I forgot how much you like to tease me. Sometimes it comes across as you just being plain difficult. Come back here; let's have a nice chat. After seeing you take down my Snatchers so vehemently, you're clearly still very much ruled by your inner beast – and significantly more powerful after that wonderful display a few minutes ago. You killed fifteen of my loyal subjects and you still just want to have a drink and play with your dog. How sweet."

Dante yawned. "I'm a bit tired now, how about tomorrow?" he glanced at Lupin. "Did you want to go home or you still up for the pub?"

"I'm up for a quick one." Lupin said. "Got to get up early tomorrow, you see."

"Oh alright."

"I'll find you, Volde. Or you can send me some more of your followers - you don't mind them being killed do you?"

It took Harry a moment to realise he wasn't being dragged anymore. In his desperation to convince Dante to stick around, Voldemort had completely forgotten about him – and so had all of the Death Eaters who were dutifully following their master and too intrigued by what the hell was going on to remember they had captives to watch.

Silently, Harry stepped backwards – then almost died of fright as a hand grasped his shoulder.

Ron's death scared eyes bored into his as he vehemently shook his head and held out his hand. Grasping his friend's wrist, Harry's feet left the ground as the broomstick glided straight upwards through the trees and into the canopy.

Hauling Harry onto the front of the broomstick, Ron held Krysta close to him. "You okay?" he whispered.

Harry nodded. "God, Dante is good at this."

"Hell yeah, let's get out of here, before anyone notices."

"Can this broomstick hold us all?"

"Yeah, it'll just be very slow. Just stay silent and steer it so no one sees us."

"Got it."

Harry grasped the handle and guided it higher. Weaving carefully and quietly through the spindly branches, he turned them around and flew them in the opposite direction to the enemies.

Again, fate had a way of screwing with them over and over again.

"MASTER!" Bellatrix screamed, finally recovering from the hex. "They're getting away!"

Voldemort whirled around – sure enough, Harry was gone.

Dante sighed and glanced at the others. "Well, it worked for longer than I thought it would."

Lupin pulled out his wand. "Same here."

Brandishing Rebellion, Dante soared back towards a startled looking Voldemort and vaulted high into the air. Swirling around, he kicked and slashed, killing three Death Eaters all at once.

He laughed as the dark magics turned their corroded souls to nothing by ashes. "I have to admit – I do enjoy doing this."

Voldemort smirked. "I knew you did."

Before Dante could slash into that grinning face, dozens of curses launched him, forcing him to deflect or blaze them away while Voldemort stalked off back through the trees and called for ten more of his followers to appear.

"I've got her!" Ron said, hauling himself up out of the remains of the broomstick. He easily scooped up Krysta again as the new Death Eaters surged towards them. "Defend us! Use my wand too!"

Brandishing both wands, Harry ran half-backwards, casting spell after spell as the three of them raced through the swaying trees. Deflecting hexes and curses, he protected his best friend and big sister for as long as he could, but the Death Eaters just seemed to be everywhere.

A body landed heavily in front of Ron, making him skid to a stop.

"Gotcha!" Bellatrix cried, training her wand on the two of them. "This time, you are not getting away!"

Shoving Ron savagely in the chest, she grabbed Krysta's hanging arm and pulled her limp body to the ground.

"Don't even think it." she snarled as the boys rushed towards her.

Bellatrix stepped over Krysta's still form and forced the teenagers away. Her wrecked face twisted into a grin seeing their fear. She relished having the girl that had stolen Dante's heart at her mercy, but nothing was better than a couple of scared children.

Harry and Ron almost jumped out of their skin when hands landed on their shoulders.

Lupin smiled and Sirius circled the kids to the front and growled at the dreadful woman.

"My dog really doesn't like you." Dante stated interestedly. "Maybe it's that messed up face. Someone whacked you good with an ugly stick."

"Yes, they did!" Bellatrix screeched. She stepped over Krysta's form again and pointed her wand at her. "Your little friend did this to me!"

Dante hid the cold stab of fear that entered his heart. "I'm sure she didn't mean it, Belle. You know pretty chicks don't like other pretty chicks – it's just how it is. They're always screwing each other over – don't you watch TV?"

Bellatrix laughed, high and loud. "You think you're so charming, don't you, Dante? Do you think I'm blind? I was the only one to get out alive after Diagon Alley – did you really think you could hide this from the Dark Lord?"

Dante's whole body tensed. "Belle, don't overreact now -,"

"I'd like to hear her out."

Everyone stopped as Voldemort joined them, once more allowing his remaining seven Death Eaters to surround them.

"I'm so sorry, my dear." He said, holding a hand out to Bellatrix. "What was it you wanted to tell me? I became ever so distracted with Dante, I do apologise."

Bellatrix grinned happily. "My other gift for you, my Lord – is her."

Voldemort glanced at the unconscious young woman. "A dead young lady."

"Not dead yet, Master, I would never rob you of something so precious." The woman's eyes glinted evilly. "No matter how much I want to."

Before anyone could do anything, she dropped to her knees and dragged Krysta's unconscious form up into sitting position.

"You broke my face, you little bitch!"

Without warning, she raised a vicious backhand and struck Krysta across the face.

This time, Dante couldn't stop himself.

Dante's breath was short and rapid; his long buried heart was suddenly beating wildly. In his hands gripped so tight, his knuckles turned white with strain, Rebellion was dead still millimetres from Bellatrix's throat, steady and true, desperate to lay waste to her for touching Krysta so violently.

He heard the gasps around him, but all Dante could see was the darkening bruise on Krysta's cheek where she had been struck. It made his blood turn to acid in ways he had never felt before.

Bellatrix smiled up at him lustfully. "Go ahead, Dante. Slice my throat clean though just the way you want." She pressed her own blade deeper into Krysta's neck, issuing a thick bead of precious blood. "Cut me and I cut her – is that what you want?"

Dante didn't move, but his eyes said it all.

They blazed a deep, terrifying blood red that made even Bellatrix's smile falter.

Stepping closer to the scene, Voldemort frowned and glanced from Dante to Bellatrix to the near-dead girl.

"What is this?" He asked curiously. He saw the deep fury raging in Dante's eyes. "Who is this girl? What is she to you, Dante?"

Dante didn't answer.

Voldemort turned to Bellatrix.

The woman grinned and grabbed the girl's left hand and wrenched it free from the makeshift sling for her master to see.

Voldemort pressed his finger-claws to his lips and began to laugh and laugh and laugh.

"Oh, this is too good!" he exclaimed. "Don't tell me, the great nonchalant, Dark Source with a soul as black as night has had his head turned by a muggle girl!"

All around him, the Death Eaters joined their master in the raucous laughter.

"You almost had me going there, Dante." Voldemort said blissfully. "I really thought you had become the Dark Source I'd always wanted you to be – it turns out you really are like your father. Fall for her pretty face, did you? No, wait, let me guess – she was kind to you. She told you you're not the beast you believe you are, you've got your Mummy's heart of gold. She loves you just the way you are."

The laughter rose even higher.

"Well, Dante?" Voldemort asked.

Rebellion's blade quivered so very slightly.

"What can I say?" Dante replied. "I'm a slave to a pretty face. Shame Bella's makes me sick."

Bellatrix snarled.

Dante smiled. "You really are the jealous type, aren't you? Just cos she gets to hit this and you don't."

"That's not true! I don't fancy you anymore!"

"Who the hell is darker than me who can capture you, Belle? Do you really think anyone else but me can rock your world the way you like?"

Bellatrix faltered. "Shut up!" She tore her knife away from Krysta's neck and smashed Rebellion furiously away. "I got over you a long time ago!"

It was all he needed. Unfortunately, he didn't see the second knife.

"Dante!" Harry cried, surging forward.

Lupin dragged him back, but Sirius didn't need to wait. With a terrifying roar, his powerful jaws clamped down on Bellatrix's hand, making her shriek. Wrenching her arm back, she stumbled and scrabbled away from the huge dog.

Dante dropped to his knees and drew Krysta close. His slashed arm hung limply at his side, the tendons sliced clean through so he couldn't hold Rebellion anymore, letting her lie where she had fallen at his side. Cradling his beloved in one arm, he closed his eyes and rested his head against hers, so very glad to have his wonderful wife back in his embrace despite absolutely everything.

Bellatrix struggled to her feet and staggered to Voldemort's side.

"Look at how he cares for her, Master." She spat in disgust, nursing her savaged arm. "That girl is isn't just his muggle, his girl, his wife – I brought you the Potter boy, my Lord, but Dante married the Potter girl!"

Voldemort gasped.

Stunned to the core, he stepped towards the young couple, his hand once more pressed to his lips.

"The Pure Source," he whispered. "Michael's daughter – you married Michael's daughter?!" He shook his head. "A Dark Source fell in love with a Pure Source?! Is this for real?"

Dante sighed deeply. "You know, this is getting kinda old. We got married three years ago; you must be the last one in the world who doesn't know." He cast irritated steel blue eyes onto the dark wizard. "What do you want, Voldemort?"

The dark wizard laughed. "What I've always wanted, my dear boy, you. I want you Dante and all of your power on my side."

"Forget it."

"Okay, I'll settle for the Pure Source instead."

Dante's eyes flashed deep red. "You touch her, you will regret it."

"I know," Voldemort said with a smirk. "Her good-as-gold father made sure of that. I cannot touch the sweet little girl. So I will just wait."

"For what?"

"For her to die."

Dante's heart stopped.

Voldemort smiled. "That got your attention, didn't it?" He crossed his arms thoughtfully. "As I heard it, my Snatchers battered the girl good and she isn't looking too alive anymore. That human body her mother gave her is not very useful, is it? so I think we shall just wait she bleeds to death and dies or you change your mind and come with me. What will it be?"

Before Dante could answer, the dark wizard gestured to his followers.

"As an added incentive, how about I kill one of your friends each minute that you take to make up your mind? Let's start with your mangy dog."

Sirius growled lowly and prowled before Lupin, Harry and Ron.

"So what's it going to be?"

Dante hesitated and looked down at his beloved wife. Krysta was so pale, there was so much blood. Her breath barely ghosted over his fingers anymore.

Anguished silence filled the air.

"Have you decided yet?" Voldemort asked after a moment. "Who gets to die first for you?"

Bellatrix sighed, harassed. "Come on, come on. It's not like it's hard."

Finally, Dante glanced up at Voldemort. "Will you at least let me say goodbye?"

Voldemort smiled and graciously bowed. "But of course, my darling boy."

"Oh good. Come here, Rex."

Everyone, including the hostages, stared at him dumbfounded.

Sirius happily bounded over to Dante as he carefully laid Krysta down on the ground.

"I'm gonna miss you, Rexie." Dante said ruffling the huge dog's fur with his good arm. "But Krysta's always getting into trouble, you know? It's not fair, but this is how it is. I wish I could think of another way to get out of this, but I'm just beautiful, not smart. You know me."

Sirius barked playfully and nuzzled him.

"I love you too." Dante said cuddling the dog one last time. "Go on, I'm sure it won't hurt. Volde's a dick, but I'm sure he'll do it quick. He usually only likes torturing people."

With one last look, the huge dog bounded back over to Lupin and lay down next to him.

"Okay," Dante said sadly, drawing Krysta into his arms again. "Go ahead."

Both Voldemort and Bellatrix stared at him. All around them, the remaining seven Death Eaters looked from one to the other and back again.

"Seriously?" Bellatrix said. "You're letting your dog die instead of the almost dead girl you can't save anyway? You're still gonna watch her die and then come with."

Dante shrugged. "Volde gave me a choice. I want to be with my wife. So I chose – or was it not a choice?"

Voldemort frowned. "I…I suppose so."

"Go on, then. Kill the dog."

The dark wizard raised his wand, and faltered. "You know, you're really sucking the fun out of this, Dante. Maybe I'll kill one of the children first."

Dante didn't even look up from his wife. "Okay."

"What?"

"I just met them a few days ago. Red there will probably go down in history as the famous boy who tried to save his friend and Harry's reputation precedes him – that kid's beaten you more times than I can count. Good luck killing that one off."

Voldemort hissed angrily.

"Kill his drinking buddy!" Bellatrix screeched, infuriated. "Who will you drink with now, smart ass?"

"Alone I suppose. I was alone for fifteen years, I suppose I could do it again."

Finally, Dante looked up at the very haunted looking Voldemort.

"Don't you get it yet?" he asked. "I'm a Dark Source. I don't care about anyone or anything. I don't give a damn about your ridiculous little war – you are nothing but children playing in the dark compared to what I am. You have no idea what I can do, and you think you can order me around?" Dante laughed mirthlessly. "I am a monster so much worse than anything a desecrated little human like you can be, Voldemort." His eyes turned deep burning red again. "The only one that can save my soul is my opposite – and I already have her."

To everyone's surprise, Voldemort smiled too and opened his arms.

"My dear, sweet boy," he said adoringly. "I know exactly what you are. That is the source I want. A monster who can teach me what it really is to be evil to the core."

Dante glared at him. "I am not evil. I may be a monster; but I don't kill unless it is deserved."

"And they deserve it, Dante." The other said encouragingly. "My Death Eaters and myself are but soldiers trying to rid the world of the scourge that are half-breeds and muggle-borns and everything else that infects the purity of the magics that are borne of you."

"I'm half human too, you know."

Voldemort faltered. "Yes, but you are different, Dante. You are so much more than just a wizard or a pure blood. You are a Source – the most pure and wonderful. You are something so much more than anything in the world."

"Are you going to get to a point anytime soon? Thanks for the nice things, but I have a wife who does that for me. I may actually die of old age if you keep going on."

The dark wizard held back an irritated hiss.

"Look, how about you just leave?" Dante said. "My arm will be healed in a minute and I'll kill off the rest of your followers and then take my wife home – why not just make life easier for yourself? Just go."

"I'm afraid you've quite missed the point, Dante." Voldemort replied, trying very hard not to laugh. "You even said it yourself, your heart and soul only kills who is deserving and you will not harm children – your power won't let you, will it?"

The temperature of the air around them dropped a few degrees more.

Everyone felt the chill; something wasn't quite right.

The dark wizard whirled around and faced the hostages. Throughout the entire exchange, Lupin, Sirius, Ron and Harry had been silent and still, desperately hoping not to be noticed until Dante recovered his full power again, but now they were all in full view once more.

"Bring me Harry Potter."

Instantly, Harry felt hands on him, dragging him backward. He heard Sirius's ferocious barking, turning into all out roars as his full anger unleashed – then he heard the pained yelp as the curses struck him, sending the huge dog sprawling into a tree trunk.

"Let go of him!" Lupin exclaimed, punching one of the Death Eaters in the face as they grabbed at Harry.

"Septys sepia!"

Harry stumbled backwards as Lupin staggered to the ground, cringing in pain and blood pouring out of several lacerations appear all over his body.

"No!" Harry cried.

But before he could rush to the professor's side, his arm was jerked back, dragging him behind the final person.

Scared out of his mind, but determined, Ron held Harry behind him and faced down the four wands trained on him.

"Stay away from us!" he stated, trying and failing to keep the quiver out of his voice.

Harry gripped his arm as his best friend held him back. "No, Ron! Don't! They'll kill you!"

Ron stood his ground. "You're my friend, and I'll do something stupid for you if I want to, Harry."

Inexplicably happy and still scared out of his mind, Harry held onto his friend's arm, ready to die with him if need be.

The Death Eaters surrounded them, menacingly setting off hexes near the boys in more of a game than trying to hurt them. Black clocks billowing around them, the boys stumbled round and round, facing off the enemy despite having no way to save themselves.

"I must say, they are very brave for children." Voldemort observed, idly watching as his followers began to burn, slash and torture the teenagers. "I don't know how much they know you, Dante, but they do seem surprisingly like you."

"Stop it." Dante said.

Without even his foreknowledge, he found himself standing up, protectively in front of his wife now lying on the ground and already reaching out for the teenagers.

Voldemort looked at him haughtily. "I thought you didn't care about anyone, Dante. Or is it because they are just children? Or perhaps it is because Harry Potter isn't just any child – he's your wife's baby brother."

Dante froze.

Voldemort held up a hand. "Enough! Bring me the boy."

Relishing the chance, Bellatrix barged through the other followers and held her wand up to Ron.

"Crucio."

Harry felt his throat burn as he cried out Ron's name. He felt his heart skip out of sync, thudding so hard it felt like it would explode as Ron convulsed in his arms under the forbidden curse. Dragging his friend to the ground, Harry tried in vain to hold him still, but it was near impossible. The sickly fleshy-cracks of Ron's body contorting in excruciating pain seared into his ears along with his desperate pleas for the curse to stop, but it didn't.

Tears stinging his eyes, Harry held onto Ron as strongly as he could.

"Please!" Harry cried, desperately. "Please stop! Please! I'm begging you – don't hurt him anymore! I'll do whatever you want!"

There was a snap of fingers.

Ron collapsed into Harry's arms. The teenager held the other close to him, still terrified, and now thanking the universe that Ron was still alive.

Then Harry's arm was grabbed. He was hauled to his feet by inhuman strength and dragged to Voldemort's side.

Grasping his wrist, the dark wizard wrenched Harry to him and looked into the terrified blue eyes, still glistening with tears.

"No more laughing, Harry?" Voldemort asked. He shook his head and tutted. "And I thought you were so tough you enjoyed laughing in the face of danger."

"That's enough." Dante said sharply. "Let him go."

Breathing hard, Harry looked up at the other from where he was held, now in the middle of several wands trained on him. Before him, Dante dismissed the forbidden dark magics back into pure power and sent it away.

"I told you," Dante said, soft and deadly, his steel blue eyes blazing deep blood red.

Automatically, Rebellion was called into his now healed hand. He brandished her as the fury of what he had seen seared through his very soul.

"I don't like my power being used on children. It is a savagery I will not allow."

Without another word, he swept his hand through the air – and sent Bellatrix into a tree trunk with all the force of a truck doing sixty. The woman collapsed in a still heap at the base of the tree.

Voldemort chuckled. "I would have never guessed you had such a soft spot for children, Dante. But I suppose, the Pure Source may have rubbed off on you."

"No," Dante replied venomously, his voice taking on the very same terrifying tone that chilled all the onlookers to the core. "Only creatures borne of hatred could harm children. Even dark magic abhors harming of the innocent or the pure. It is a disgrace to Dark Magic."

Before him, the dark wizard appeared to falter, but kept his grip tight on Harry.

"Fine." He replied. "But the standoff is still the same, Dante. I want you at my side. I want you to teach me all your ways. I want you to me my source, Dante. Mine alone."

"Forget it." Dante shot back.

"Then we can just wait here until your beautiful Krysta dies of her injuries, shall we? Unlike you, her power is fading fast. My Snatchers made sure to batter her real good. Either way, her power or yours will be mine." Voldemort thought for a moment. "Of course, I could heal her and imprison her as my own personal slave instead. All her Pure Magics – I could use her forever as my personal power source, only keeping her just alive to do my bidding – and threaten her baby brother if she doesn't do as I say. Does that sound better to you, Dante?"

Dante's eyes smouldered, instantly wielding Rebellion stood his terrifying ground before his wife.

"You will not touch her."

"Then be mine, Dante."

Dante faltered again.

Voldemort wrenched Harry's arm, forcing the boy forward and closer to his brother-in-law.

"I don't care about Harry Potter, we will have our final battle when the time comes. I want you."

Voldemort whirled the teenager around, Harry's back now flush to the wizard's body. Then, long, slender but deceptively strong fingers curled around his throat.

Dante couldn't help the instant surge forward as the teenager began to choke. Harry scrabbled against the iron grip around his throat, struggling to breathe as the fingers tightened more and more around his neck, cutting off precious oxygen.

It felt like it went on for hours. Harry began to hear the blood pumping like torrents through his head, his vision becoming milky and blotchy, sealing huge chunks out of his world. His chest ached and his neck crushed under abnormal strength.

Desperately, Dante gripped Rebellion. Within a split second, her diamond-sharp blade was held to Voldemort's face, raring to slice that grinning face to ribbons. But all Dante could see were even more determined blue eyes gazing at him, silently pleasing with him not to give up his sister or himself…

Rebellion's blade quivered ever so slightly.

"I can keep him on the brink of death for hours, Dante." Voldemort stated, watching the demon as he watched his young brother-in-law choke. "Harry Potter deserves so much more of a torturous death than this, but I do love to watch even someone as powerful as you squirm, my darling boy."

"Volde, knock it off!" Dante snapped. He jerked Rebellion away from the dark wizard.

Voldemort just laughed and wrapped his free hand around Harry's throat too. The teenager dropped to his knees, his whole world swaying as the darkness closed in.

"Tell me what I want to hear, Dante." The dark wizard said. "Come with me and sweet little Harry goes free along with his sister. The Pure Source can recover with healing spells and Harry and I will have our final duel another time. Be mine and your wife and little brother in law are safe from me."

"Dante, you can't!" Lupin shouted suddenly.

Surprised, the demon looked past the dark wizard. Still battered and bloody on the ground, Lupin pushed himself onto and elbow and cast determined dark eyes onto his as he pulled the semi-conscious Ron protectively closer.

"Dante!" Lupin called again. "Don't give in! You don't have to give your power to anyone! No one should have control of it than the Sources! Krysta would never want you to do this for her! Or Harry!"

"Silence!" Voldemort hissed, nodding to his followers to quieten the wizard. But it was too late.

Dante gripped Rebellion tightly and quelled the rising panic within him.

"Choose Dante!" Voldemort demanded. "Let your girl die and I will take your broken soul with me or I will kill Krysta's beloved little brother and she will hate you for all eternity – and I will still take your broken soul with me. Choose!"

Dante struggled to come up with an answer. He was so good at this usually. He had a witty comeback, a sarcastic remark or a plain inappropriate comment that royally pissed off whoever he was with, but right now, he had nothing.

Lupin and Ron were severely injured. Harry was being murdered before his eyes. Sirius was still lying at the base of another tree, possibly dead already.

And Krysta was slowly dying behind him.

Dante closed his eyes – and his hand shot out.

Voldemort hissed and darted back, nursing his broken fingers.

Dante pulled Harry into his arms before he collapsed and drew the semi-unconscious teenager to him, holding up against his form. Hooking Rebellion on his back, the young man held Harry in one arm and cupped his cheek in the other, tilting his face up to him.

Open, vacant blue eyes gazed up at him impassively.

Carefully as he could, Dante dropped to his knees and laid the teenager on the ground beside his wife.

"It's alright, kid." He said softly. "Just stay still." He gently took Krysta's hand and placed it in the boy's palm. "Krysta's gonna fix you up when she gets better."

Vaguely, Harry stared at him. It was like nothing was sticking in his mind, he could hear Dante and he knew what he meant, he even knew what was going to happen next, but it was like it wasn't registering.

"I think I'll kill them both after that, Dante." Voldemort spat, flexing his healed fingers. "The Potter children can join their parents in Hell."

Dante looked up at him and smiled seeing the dark wizard recoil at his deeply blazing demonic eyes.

"You're getting what you want, aren't you happy?" He shot back. "You leave them alone, you get me. That's why you've been looking for me for twenty years, isn't it? Daddy said no and kicked your ass to the ends of the earth, so you came for me to power your vision."

Voldemort smiled back. "And you will come willingly, Dante?"

Dante faced him evenly. "Yes. But, I want your promise, my wife and her brother are safe from you and your followers. You don't touch them."

"Of course!" The dark wizard said merrily. "I would never go against the explicit wishes of the Dark Source. You are my muse, my darling boy."

"Good."

Dante held out a hand and swept away the hex keeping Lupin slashed to ribbons and Sirius unconscious. Both gasped awake and pulled themselves up. Blinking in surprise which quickly turned back to anger, the huge dog growled and faced off the Death Eaters surrounding them.

"Easy, Rex." Dante told him. "Come here, I need you to look after Harry for me."

The huge dog bounded over to him, instantly nuzzling the semi-conscious teenager on the ground, his growls turning to worried whines as Harry slowly responded.

"Dante, don't do this." Lupin said again.

Dante looked at his friend, for the first time, a pained look entering his eyes. "I have to, Remus. Krysta will die otherwise and Harry will be murdered."

Kneeling down to the dog and to Harry, Dante gently swept back the boy's wild locks from his face and looked into the more lucid eyes.

"Dante…" Harry rasped, slowly shaking his head. "Don't."

The young man carefully laid a hand on the boy's heart, gently holding him still. "It'll be okay, Harry. Don't worry."

No one noticed the tiny shimmer of blood red magics grace over Dante's palm.

Then Dante drew away, casting one last look at his beloved, lovingly caressing her cheek, before standing up.

"Alright, let's go."

Voldemort smiled.

As soon as Dante joined the dark wizard at his side, Lupin and Ron scrambled over to Harry, Krysta and Sirius.

"Dante!" Lupin called again, desperately. "Please don't do this! You cannot give him your power! Krysta would never want you to compromise yourself like this for her or Harry! He will become all-powerful – there'll be no way to stop him!"

"It's okay, Remus." Dante told him. "No one will hurt Krysta or Harry now or they answer to me. This way, I can call back any power being mis-used on the innocent. It's okay; I know what I'm doing. Really."

The demon shouldered Rebellion and took one last look at his family and settled on Sirius as the huge dog stepped towards him, those huge glistening eyes looking up at him worriedly too.

"Protect them both." Dante said, his striking steel blue eyes glistening as tears stung them. "Look after them for me. Don't think he'll keep his word. He never does."

The huge dog whined softly, then padded back over to Harry now cradling his sister in his arms.

Harry shook his head again. "Dante don't do this!" he rasped, his voice grating horribly through his swollen throat. "Krysta wouldn't want this either! She would never want you to use her as a reason to give you power to anyone else!"

Dante couldn't help the wry smile, recognising the very same fire he often saw in his wife. "You'll understand soon enough, Harry."

"Dante…" Lupin tried again in vain.

The young man turned away. "Do it now, Rex. Do it."

Hating himself, Sirius bared his huge pointed fangs – and crushed Dante's rembrall between powerful teeth. In a split second, the black smoke poured out, engulfing the five hostages, then they vanished without a trace.

Left alone in the forest and surrounded by enemies, Dante close his eyes and sighed in relief.

"I would have let them go, you know." Voldemort said idly. "I really do only want you, Dante."

Dante cast a resigned look at him. "Don't take this the wrong way, Volde, but you are a giant bastard of a liar. Like hell, I'm gonna take your word for it."

Voldemort laughed, loud and cruel. Sauntering up to the young man, he held out a claw-like hand.

"Swear to me the unbreakable oath, Dante." He said, hissing in relish of the moment as his followers surrounded them. "Swear to me that all your power as you stand right now, is under my control."

Dante hesitated.

Voldemort grinned. "Swear it, or the Potter children die within the hour. I'll make sure your wife dies slowly and painfully as her baby brother watches and endures her screams."

Dante glared at him. At his sides, his fists clenched so tightly he almost drew blood. After an agonising moment, he held out his hand too.

"I am yours, including all my current power."

Around their clasped hands, Voldemort's dark magics glistened and formed a golden magical chain binding the two together while the oath was upheld.

Then it dissipated into nothing.

"Please don't be unhappy, Dante." Voldemort said, caringly slipping an arm around his shoulders. "You really are my golden child, you know that? I really do adore you even if you are such a difficult boy."

"Thanks."

"I'll make you happy, Dante. You'll see." The dark wizard raised his wand. "We shall be very happy indeed."

A moment later they were gone too.

The forest silenced again, but the sunlight didn't return.