Jolene POV

Everything moved in slow-motion.

Simultaneously, everyone turned at the sound of the Unforgivable, with either dread or excitement.

Marina's face was a mask of terror, as she knew perfectly well who the curse was aimed at. And they all knew there was no defence.

Ted, however, surprised them all.

Even as she finished the spell, he grabbed Sirius and pushed him to the ground, his own body following the motion.

At the same time, Sirius changed into his animagus-form, shrinking considerably and minimising the maniac's target.

Yet no one was relieved.

To their horror, there were two green spell-flashes cutting through the air.

Titania had used her sister's distraction to let lose the Killing Curse herself.

And hers wasn't missing.


Carmen POV

There was nothing she or anyone else could do. Before the horror even registered, Titania's curse hit and he crumpled. Dead before he even hit the ground.

Even the Death Eaters seemed to freeze for a moment. Until –

"DAD!"

The broken cry snapped everyone out of their reverie, restarting the fight.

Bellatrix' cackle cut through the air, Titania and the maniac sharing a smug look.

Tears were streaming down Marina's face, her whole body trembling in emotional agony.

Broken sobs sounded through the room as the daughter all but collapsed over father's corpse, unable to do anything else.

Carmen turned her head and looked at the teenagers. Tears were pooling in the girls' eyes, Neville, Ron and Tyler looked stunned, and Harry … Harry was drowning in guilt.

He was blaming himself for this. For walking into the trap in the first place. For having to be rescued from the mess he had led his friends into.

For the pain she was now suffering.

But when Titania all but skipped over to Bellatrix and the cousins almost high-fived over what she had done… his guilt turned into rage.

She didn't need Marina's empathy to know what he was thinking.

He was going to try and avenge him, or die trying.

But Ted would never have wanted that.


Marina couldn't breathe.

Within a split second she had gone from being terrified to watch her father die, to watching Ted die instead.

Dora's pain was ripping her apart, even if her own hadn't been so strong.

Her cousin was sobbing over dead father, her wand lax in her hand and their situation forgotten.

Marina had failed her.

One second of preoccupation, and Titania had ripped Dora's life apart.

And Aunt Dromeda… she didn't know how she was ever going to face her now.

Getting killed tonight seemed almost like a blessing.

Twelve years, Ted had raised her as his own. Twelve years, he had tried to be whatever she needed.

Marina had two fathers, and one had just been ripped away.

Her Dad turned back to human, even as the fight raged on around them. His face looked every bit as haunted as it had in Azkaban; if not more so. His friend had just died to save him.

The guilt would eat him alive. It would eat Marina alive.

And Harry.

She blinked through her tears and saw her brother's face. He was blaming himself, alright.

As she watched, the guilt morphed to anger.

His narrowed eyes found her twin, who was celebrating what she'd just done with Bellatrix.

It was reckless, foolish and a million other things, but she understood all too well.

Almost as if the two nutjobs could read their minds, Bellatrix and Titania grinned at them and took off running.

Marina and Harry looked at each other, then followed.

"Harry!" "Marina!"

Whoever was yelling for them to stop was ignored.

She couldn't stop Titania, but she would make damn sure she couldn't get away. Dora deserved to decide what she wanted to happen. She wouldn't stop her if she wanted to kill her sister.

The two women led them on a merry chase through the Department of Mysteries. She was vaguely aware that everyone was following them, still slinging curses at each other.

Bellatrix' damn cackle was almost like beacon. They were all but daring them to catch them.

Behind them, things crashed and burned. Literally.

Their friends' and enemies' curses were bouncing off shelves, destroying things.

Clocks and hourglasses in the Time Chamber.

Just about everything in the Brain Room.

A tiny little voice in the back of her mind registered that it wasn't just human brains that were flying through the air behind her. The voice reminded her that her friends might still get hurt in this madness.

But she didn't listen.

And for the first time she understood the prophecy.

The pain to her soul that Pheora had foretold wasn't because of what she might have to do.

It was about what they did and she was forced to sense. Ripping apart their souls so casually.

And the agony she shared with the people whose lives they left behind in pieces.

A piece of her had died with Ted.

And another was dying with Dora's back in the Hall of Prophecy.

Dimly she wondered if, at the end of this war, there would be anything left. If she survived.

She blinked out of her thoughts and realised that they were in the auditorium. How …?

But she had no time to ponder how she had run so far without noticing.

Not when Harry cast a Cruciatus on Titania.

Marina blocked whatever Bellatrix threw at her brother and squeezed his shoulder.

"Harry, stop."

It wasn't as though the curse had really taken, anyway.

For the curse to actually torture someone you had to really mean it. Harry didn't have it in him to be that cruel.

Without having to say a word, Harry sent a stunner Bellatrix' way, who had to dodge.

Meanwhile, Marina aimed at her sister.

"Incarcerous!"

Thick ropes wrapped around her twin like anacondas, making it impossible for her to move.

Titania shrieked her outrage, but she could barely twitch, let alone raise her wand.

"Silencio," Marina added, muting her twin. They had heard enough out of her.

"Do you really think you have it in you?" Bellatrix all but whispered, staring at them. "Neither one of you has the strength to hurt me."

"We won't have to," Marina replied grimly. "Dromeda might, but I doubt it. No, I think your master will do it for us. He so hates failure – and the prophecy is gone."

Her cousin's mocking grin fell away as she remembered that little fact, and true fear filled her.

She had no chance to enjoy this petty little victory though, because Harry hissed in pain next to her.

"He knows," her brother announced. "He knows it's gone and he's none too happy about it."

Damn connection.

"No. No, Master, I tried!" Bellatrix screeched in terror, all but folding into herself.

It would have been satisfying to watch if Ted hadn't just died for nothing.

"Don't waste your breath, stupid woman," Harry snorted. "He can't hear you."

"Can't I?"

They both froze for a second. Then Marina grabbed her brother's arm and pushed him behind herself, as they turned a little to face the new voice's owner.

Voldemort was in the bloody Ministry of Magic.

He was also beyond furious.

"Once again, thwarted by Harry Potter," Voldemort hissed, her gut boiling with his anger. "Months of preparation, wasted."

"I never took you for a believer in prophecy," Marina forced out, surprised her voice was steady. "You were wasting your time in any case. The damn thing wouldn't tell you how to win. You don't have the Inner Eye so you'd never understand the truth."

Yes, she was insane. Goading the madman was suicide but … she was stalling. Once again.

And she was praying that the others would get up here soon. The Order members together might be enough to force him to disapparated.

"How dare you-"

Bellatrix never got to finish.

Marina pointed her wand at her cousin – and away from Him – and channelled her empathy.

"Sentito!" *

The Restricted Section of the library didn't just contain black magic books. There were also all kinds of interesting volumes about all but forgotten talents. Empathy, mimicry, metamorphmagic… among others.

McGonagall, as Deputy Headmistress, has given her and Carmen access early this schoolyear.

The emotional turmoil of everyone in the building burst out of her wand and slammed into Bellatrix.

Her cousin's eyes got large in shock, then she crumpled, sobbing.

Totally out of commission.

Oddly, Voldemort hadn't moved an inch. Rather, he was looking at his most loyal acolyte with a morbid curiosity.

"It seems Jezebeth took the wrong brat," was all he had to say after a moment.

Titania stilled in her restraints, gaping at her Master in shock.

"It wouldn't have mattered," Marina snorted and glared at him. "Empathy develops only in children with great capacity for emotion. Jezebeth forced that right out of her. I'd be as powerless as Titania if I'd been raised by her."

"Emotions make you weak," he hissed, eyes flicking to Bellatrix who had now fully succumbed to the agony Marina had forced on her.

"Only if you don't know how to deal with them. Your Death Eaters are woefully unequipped."

So would he be. But she wasn't fooling herself that she'd be fast enough against him.

Harry twitched behind her and Voldemort's red eyes focused on him.

"I have nothing more to say to you, Potter," he hissed, pointing his wand.

Harry, well aware of what was about to happen, tried to push Marina out of the way, but she wouldn't have it.

Better her than Harry.

"Avada Kedavra!"

A statue in front of the fountain sprung alive, throwing itself between them and Voldemort. The curse bounced off its chest as the inanimate object protected them.

"What-?" Voldemort turned, confused for only a split second. Then- "Dumbledore!"

For the first time in two years Marina could have cried in relief at the sight of her headmaster.

Carmen's Patronus had reached him.

"Go," she urged Harry and the two of them dived to cover behind a column.

Neither one of them had the prayer of a chance in this particular duel.

"I'm sorry," Harry whispered as the listened to spells zapping across the air and things exploding as said spells missed their targets. "I'm so sorry."

He was struggling against tears.

She pulled him closer and he allowed himself to be hugged.

"He knew exactly what buttons to push," she mumbled into his unruly hair. "It could have been any one of us."

"You wouldn't have fallen for it."

"I wouldn't be so sure. We're not so different, Harry. I'd risk anything for the people I love too.

In a sense, Voldemort's right. Our greatest strength is out greatest weakness too."

Not that she'd ever admit that anywhere near Death Eaters.

"It was foolish to come here tonight, Tom," they heard Dumbledore say calmly. "The Aurors are on their way."

Thank Merlin.

"By which time I shall be gone, and you will be dead!", spat Voldemort. It sounded almost petulant, but Marina could sense his emotions.

Dumbledore really was the only wizard he feared.

Another few moments of spell-flashes followed.

"You do not seek to kill me, Dumbledore?" Voldemort mocked the older man. "Above such brutality, are you?"

"We both know that there are other ways of destroying a man, Tom," Dumbledore replied matter-of-factly. "Merely taking your life would not satisfy me."

"There is nothing worse than death, Dumbledore!"

Bellatrix might disagree with him on that. The lunatic had still not moved an inch, sobbing and clawing at her own skin and hair.

"You are quite wrong. Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness."

Neither she nor Harry could resist any longer and peeked out from behind the column.

Watching those two fight was… amazing.

It would have been almost beautiful, if it hadn't been to the death.

But then Voldemort disapparated. Gone. Disappeared from withing the cocoon of water Dumbledore had formed around him.

"Master!" Bellatrix sobbed in despair. Titania remained mute, but her eyes were just as desperate.

Harry and Marina took a step towards Dumbledore.

"Stay where you are, Harry!"

For the first time, there was fear in the old wizard's voice.

It didn't make any logical sense, but then again, Voldemort wasn't logical.

For all intents and purposes, it looked like the Dark Lord had fled. But Voldemort wouldn't do that.

This made her hair stand on end. Fawkes, who had swallowed the last death curse to protect his owner, croaked weakly from within his ashes – already reborn.

And then she yelped in surprised pain. But it wasn't hers.

She barely caught Harry as his knees gave out, his hands clutching his head. His scar was burning.


Harry POV

This was nothing like his previous scar pains.

It was infinitely worse.

Gone was the atrium, his sister, Dumbledore… even the lunatic Death Eaters.

All he experienced was agony, burning him from the inside out.

"Kill me now, Dumbledore…"

His jaws had moved but it wasn't his voice speaking. The monster was inside him, twisting and writhing, and goading the other wizard.

Harry was screaming for release, the pain blinding him.

"If death is nothing, Dumbledore, kill the boy…"

Make it stop, Harry thought. Let it end here. Death is nothing compared to this.

"No," a voice thundered, pure desperation lacing the syllable. He knew that voice. Some part of him recognised the owner but … oh, the pain…

"Harry, fight him," the voice begged him. "You're stronger than him."

Once again, the monster used him.

"Foolish girl," it hissed through his teeth. "He can't win."

"You're the fool!" the voice snapped. "You might be alive, but you've never lived. And you never will!

Harry…"

Through the endless agony, he just barely felt a hand on his cheek.

"Don't let him win, Harry," the voice begged, almost crying. "Fight him, little brother."

Little brother. Marina.

The woman who had let herself be tortured for the chance to save him. The witch who had willingly walked into this madness to try and rescue him from his own mistake.

She loved him. If he died, it would crush her. And Sirius.

His friends would be devastated. Everyone, even Draco.

Neville, Luna, Daphne, Theo, Astoria. Anthony, Hannah, Susan. Tyler and Ginny. The twins. Angelina and Katie even.

Ron.

Hermione.

Harry heard a gasp, pretty sure and came from Marina, but paid no attention.

Hermione had been his rock all year, even through his less than stellar moods.

Just like Marina.

He couldn't give up and do this to his sister.

His heart – and dare he say, his soul – was flooded with emotion.

The monster recoiled with a hiss, its grip on Harry loosening.

And then the pain was gone.


He collapsed even further in her arms, relieved from the pain that bastard had put him through.

His breathing was heavy and he was still shaking.

And the cavalry chose that moment to show up.

Aurors apparated in scores, Amelia in the lead, and looked around the demolished atrium in shock.

Dumbledore, she dimly realised, filled them in as much as he could. He didn't know the worst of it though; he didn't know about Ted.

Marina heard hurried steps and didn't even have to wonder.

David fell to his knees next to them, careful not to jostle Harry.

"He'll be okay," she said quietly, if not truthfully. Nobody was going to be okay anytime soon.

"There is a whole bunch of Death Eaters downstairs. Help arrest them."

David hesitated for a second but clearly noticed she wasn't in the mood for sympathy.

Pandemonium took over.

The Aurors went to take care of the fanatics, while other ministry employees tried to clean up the mess that had been made of the atrium.

Percy Weasley stood to the side, horrified beyond belief. But also feeling ashamed.

He'd spent this whole time telling people that she and Harry were crazy and Dumbledore was a traitor, only to be confronted with the truth tonight.

Marina had seen him peek their way, but obviously his self-preservation instinct still worked because he stayed away.

She would have laid into him otherwise.

Then their friends poured out the hallway, all of them worse for wear. Ron's arms were bleeding, as was Carmen's head, and everyone was shuffling more than walking.

Dora was all out of tears, it seemed, and numb. Remus had his arm around her, taking all her weight, as he led her. Mad-Eye was levitating Ted's body behind them.

Her father came over to them, taking Harry from her, and she slumped to the floor, utterly exhausted.

Harry finally came to, somewhat, but she wished he wouldn't have.

As soon as he saw Dora, he lost the valiant fight with his tears and mumbled 'I'm sorry' over and over and over again.

Marina buried her face in her hands, realising she was crying too, and tried not to think.

A losing proposition.

It barely even registered that Voldemort had taken Bellatrix and Titania with him.

Suddenly, someone dropped down beside her and she looked up, startled.

Remus had deposited Dora next to her, a dubious expression on is face.

Before she could tell him that it was a horrible idea…

… her cousin through her arms around her and cried into her hair.

She hugged Dora back, not knowing what else to do.

Some time passed before the confusion was somewhat cleared up around them.

Scrimgeour was livid that his men had been so easily bested.

Eventually, Dora sat back, tears still shining in her eyes, and heard Harry, who was still mumbling apologies.

She reached over and squeezed his arm.

"It's not your fault, Harry."

Even if she hadn't believed it, Marina would have been forever grateful for that. But Dora truly didn't blame her brother… or her.

All her anger was focused on Titania.

Finally, Marina heaved herself up off the floor and faced everyone else.

They all looked a mess.

Blood, torn clothes and red-rimmed eyes wherever she looked.

She ignored the press – how the hell were they here? – and turned to help Harry up. Time to get out of there.

"We have a portkey for you," Amelia said almost gently, gesturing for the whole lot of them to circle around the statues now severed head. Ugh.

"Someone needs to tell Andromeda," Remus mentioned quietly and reluctantly.

Almost out of habit, the girls looked at Marina.

"I can't," she shook her head, fresh tears burning in her eyes. "I-"

"I'll do it."

It was only then that she noticed that Ben and Narcissa had arrived too.

"We got them all, except…"

Except the two that mattered most besides Voldemort himself.

There wasn't a damn thing she could do about it now. Nothing she could say would ease her cousins' pain.

Nothing could bring Ted back.

But there was something else she could do for Dora at least.

She waltzed over to Remus and pulled him away from the crowd – Dora currently in Narcissa's arms. Of all people.

"She's gonna need you," she told her godfather quietly.

"Whatever she needs, we'll all be there."

"No, Remus. I mean she's gonna need you."

He frowned for a moment before he understood.

"Marina-"

"I don't wanna hear it," she interrupted. "I've kept out of it because it's none of my business. But now… it would be different if you didn't return her feelings."

"It's not that easy-"

"She just lost her father. Make it that easy," she told him grimly and was almost grateful at his unease. It dimmed the grief for a minute.

"She'll find someone else. Better."

"Oh, for the love of… Remus, she doesn't care you're a werewolf. Get over it already."

"I'm too old."

"Who cares? It's her choice to make."

"Andromeda…"

"Will be thrilled. Or would be if Ted…"

Remus pushed a hand through his hair and looked like he was about to keep arguing, but she cut him off.

"We're at war, Remus. Any one of us could die any day. There's no safety-net anymore. Stop wasting time. None of us know how much we'll get."


* I made that one up. It's Latin for feel