Don't own it. Wish I did. In Which Battles Are Won
**--** is telepathic thought.
Chapter 39:
Like a silent cloud they came, black bodies swarming out of the forest and into the sky like bees, others running out of the forest like so many ants. It was Oliver and Percy who noticed first.
"Percy? Have you ever seen a cloud like that?" Percy looked, stretching out with his senses at the same time. His eyes widened.
"That's no cloud, that's a swarm of Death Eaters!" Pulling away from his lover he sent the warning to Dumbledore. A Second Attack!
Inside the castle
Students were dragged from their beds as their teachers rounded them up and herded them into the Great Hall. Flitwick and Sprout headed the moving, making sure no students, especially our favorite four, were left behind. One everybody was inside they locked the doors while Flitwick threw up extra protective charms. Nothing was getting in or out.
Hogwarts Grounds
The first think Hagrid saw when he exited his hut was the Death Eaters swarming the castle. His eyes narrowed behind his mass of hair. Nobody attacked Hogwart, not no one, not no how. He went back inside and grabbed some old treacle cakes, an old bluger bat, and his pink umbrella. Then, with a yell worthy of his giant ancestors, he ran towards the Death Eaters.
Hogsmead
The Shrieking Shack was in use tonight, it being the full moon. Remus, in wolf form, was staring at the moon when he felt the call. Hogwarts was being attacked. Sirius jumped to all fours from his position next to him.
**We fight?**
**We fight!**
The two canines took off at a run back through the tunnels to the Whomping Willow.
Hogwarts Grounds
The teachers were lined up in fron of the school, wands at the ready as the Death Eaters approached. Percy and Oliver stood behind the rest. Percy's eyes rolled back into his head as Oliver placed his grounding hands on Percy's shoulders. He reached out with his senses and called the storm. The Light made the first move.
The wind started to pick up above the trees, at first noting more than a minor annoyance. The winds blew. Hoods fell back. The winds blew. Brooms were blown off course. The winds blew. Death Eaters fell from the sky, no longer able to stay airborne. The winds blew in dark storm clouds. Flight was impossible.
From behind the Death Eaters came a monster, a giant (half-giant) with a wild black mane and crazy eyes, screaming with rage. In his hands he held a bat, make to look like a miniature by his gargantuan size. At those trying to flee he chucked small rocks (actually, they were the treacle cakes). As his club connected with the first Death Eater's head, the frozen whomping willow flew into a frenzy, flinging those Death eaters who got too close in every direction.
Out from the flying branches came two hell hounds, snarling and eyes blazing. One was black as night, his eyes glowing red in the increasing darkness; a grim. The other was brown with streaks of silver grey in his ragged coat, with golden eyes. He was larger than the grim, a twisted form out of the darkest of nightmares.
A ware-wolf.
This was the signal. The battle began. Curses flew like fireworks. Lighting up the night. Strong winds kept the fighting on the ground, while bolts of lighting flashed overhead. One came down and landed in the middle of a throng of Death Eaters. The sent of ozone and singed wool filled the air, to be cleared moments later by the winds. Behind the line of teachers Oliver gave a grim smile. With Percy on the Light side, making even nature against the Dark, the Death Eaters don't stand a chance.
But they kept coming. The stream of Death Eaters was steady as they poured from the forest. There were only so many teachers.
Methos and Severus fought side by side, Methos using every weapon on his body while Severus used his potions as well as his wand. Little vials that he threw exploded on contact; magical grenades, more deadly than their predecessors.
Methos stopped, suddenly, the base of his neck tingling. Immortals; more than one. His eyes scanned the battlefield. Behind him Severus cried out in pain. He whirled to see his lover sink to the ground, a knife in his chest.
"NO!" the shout was torn from Methos' throat as he fell to his knees next to him, cradling Severus' head in his arms. Severus smiled at him, his eyes darkening even further.
"…love…you…" And he was dead.
Methos reached down and pulled the dagger from his lover's rapidly cooling body. A single tear fell from his eye, traling down his face to splash on the pale cheek of Severus Snape. He looked at the dagger and his mask of stone hardened. He knew that dagger. He had used his twin just moments before. It belonged to one person.
"Kronos." His voice was flat and cold, his eyes like steel. Death wanted revenge, and Death would not be denied. He wouldn't rest until he got it. Death was out for immortal blood.
He raised a bloody hand to his face; the blood of his lover, and drew it down, forehead to chin, coating it in the thick red liquid, as he had done so many times before with indigo dye. His eyes glittered darkly against the red as he stood and tore off his black robes, revealing the white seekers and training clothes he had on underneath. He turned and saw, before anybody else, the three ghastly figures on horseback. His sword appeared in his hand as he crossed the battlefield, a path appearing before him. The horsemen weren't looking at him.
"KRONOS!" Now they were. As were a few of the men surrounding them. The number of spectators grew until it included Cassandra. Her eyes widened in fear as her mouth worked but noting came out. The Four Horsemen were together. Then, she heard what was being said.
Kronos smiled (If it could be called that)
"Ah! Brother! You have come back to us!"
"Not quite, Kronos." Kronos laughed again.
"You actually believe you have a choice? How…quaint." Methos sneered.
"I'm surprised you know that word Kronos." He laughed bitterly, "You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have come back."
"I always come back, Methos, you should know that by now." Methos just looked at him, his face that of Death. Most of those around stood stunned at this bizarre confrontation. Methos shook his head.
"This ends now, Kronos." He held up his sword. "You've been challenged." Kronos' eyes widened.
"You dare to challenge me? Me who is THE END OF TIME!!"
"Oh, please," Methos rolled his eyes, "you've had millennia to think of something better, why haven't you?" His tone was scalding. Kronos turned red.
"Challenge accepted brother." He dismounted and held up his sword. "Let's fight!"
"Not here. Beyond that hill. You're not even fool enough to fight on holy ground." Kronos noticed the jibe, but ignored it for now. He turned to the other two Horsemen.
"Stay here, I'll be back shortly." They nodded their understanding and the two ancient leaders of the Horsemen diapered over the hill. The spell seemed to have been lifted and the fight started once again in earnest. It was pretty much over before it could get too heated however, like before, a silent retreat was called for all the Death Eaters. Casualties to the teachers were nil, though injury was high. The bodies of the Death Eaters, on the other hand, littered the ground.
The teachers stood, bracing each other, embracing each other, as the adrenalin slowly left their systems. As the search for survivors began, the first light of dawn appeared over the hill, where the two immortals still fought, unnoticed. The tenuous sunlight touched Remus' fur and he howled, it turning into a human scream as he made the transformation from wolf back to man. With a pop Sirius was there was well, holding an extra cloak. He gently covered his naked and shivering life-mate, and helped him to stand. The two started again on their search for survivors.
It was they who found Severus later, lying face up and eyes closed on the ground. Remus fell to his already weak knees.
"Severus? Severus!" Severus inhaled deeply and looked around dazed.
"What…is it over?"
"They retreated."
"They'll be back." Severus said calmly, as if the news was not new to him. It wasn't in fact. It was not like Voldemort to give up this easily. Remus smiled tiredly at Sirius' reply.
"Yeah, but we tromped 'em!"
"How are you Severus?" Remus asked, concerned, "Are you hurt?" Severus shook his head and grimaced.
"Other than all the goblin wars being fought in my head at once, I'm fine. He looked around, his brow furrowed.
"Have you seen Me-Adam?" They shook their heads. He looked around wildly, his eyes coming to rest on the two motionless Horsemen. "oh, no…" He scrambled to his feet, tripping over his robes and the bodies at his feet. He tore at the clasps of his robes, flinging them to the ground, leaving him in his black sneakers and training clothes, and ran to the top of the hill. Remus and Sirius followed, but were stopped before they got there by a massive blast of lightning.
Severus fell to the ground as the sky erupted before him, blinded by its brilliance. All over the grounds the teachers stopped what they were doing to watch. Percy broke free of the spell first, worried, for he could sense no natural lightning near.
"Methos…" came the strangled whisper from Severus' mouth when the lightning had stopped. Methos was kneeling limp on the ground, a bloody sword by his side. His white shirt, or at least the tatters that remained, were stained a deep red, soaked with blood. His pants, though more intact, were also that ghastly crimson. His head bobbed up as Severus approached, his eyes tired and weary, then wide with shock.
"Sev…you're alive!" Severus dropped to his knees, his hands coming up to cup Methos' face.
"I'm alive? Of course I'm alive! Why wouldn't I be? You were the one in mortal peril." Methos laughed, his hands coming up to hold Severus'.
"There was no question of me loosing. I always was a better fighter than he was, and I now had something to live for." His eyes focused very seriously on Severus' face, which had more color than usual. "What about you? Are you alright?" Severus nodded.
"I'm fine. I blacked out for a while and I have a nasty headache, but it's nothing I can't handle. It's fading already." Methos smiled at him sadly.
"Oh, Sev, you and I are going to have a long talk, but not now. It seems we have company. Hello Albus." Dumbledore, who had come down during the end of their talk, smiled.
"Hello Methos. Are you well?" Methos' mouth twitched.
"As well as can be expected, under the circumstances. I will feel better after a bath and a new change of clothing, and less likely to bite the next person's head off. It's taking all my effort to not be vicious now." Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes, yes, I imagine so. Come, let's get you cleaned up. Let the Aurors fix everything up. They should be arriving about…now." As he said this, the Aurors did indeed fly in on the other side of the hill. The cavalry had arrived, late as always. Severus stood up and pulled Methos up with him, letting his lover lean his weight on him. The two made their way up the hill like that.
Cassandra stood half behind Remus and his dog, Snuffles. (Sirius had changed back when the Aurors had arrived. He was still a convict, you know.) She watched as the potions master helped the weakened ancient up the hill. After their little confrontation in Dumbledore's office Cassandra had stayed in her tower, not even coming down for food, like Trelawney did before her. She took in Methos' physical appearance, covered in blood, as it had been so many times in her memory, her nightmares. Half of his face was painted in dried blood, a mockery of his old war paint.
But this was not the same monster who kept her awake for so many nights. This was simply a man, tired and bloody, who had slayed on e of his own demons. One of the worst kind of demon, too. One he made himself. He had people who loved him and people he loved in return. Watching Methos Cassandra felt a something missing from her emotional spectrum.
Hate.
TBC.
I am so sorry it took so long to post this. I have had it written since before I posted the last chaper. I've been so busy with school and family stuff that I have had no time to actually sit down and write. Chapter 40 is almost finished as well, and I mean it when I say that it will be written by the end of the week, and posted really soon.
I'm kinda sad, though. I mean, I have been writing this for almost half a year. And it's almost over. Just a few more chapters…then I'll start with a totally knew one!!! Yay!!!
Next chapter…you'll just have to wait and see. Grin . in the meanwhile, enjoy my other stories, review, and please, check out my Percy and Hootch story, Learn(ing) to Fly. I kinda fudged Hootch's age a bit, made her younger than she probably is. Even so, there's a 12-year difference. It's good writing, though.
Shinigami – Harry didn't fight because it's not really his story. It's Severus and Methos' story. Besides, they can't risk him getting killed before Voldemort actually shows up. Don't worry. Harry and friends will fight soon enough. Maybe next year, definitely their last year. Fudge as a Death Eater…makes sense if you think about it…hmm…thanks for the idea.
Lady Cinnibar – thank you, thank you, (bows to audience as roses are thrown). I'm so glad you have such confidence in my work. I must say, you are the main reason my I keep pushing myself to write. You and Mel are my most loyal fans. Thank you.
Tea – Cassandra at St. Mungos…hmmm…I had originally intended for there to be a reconciliation and for her to stay on permanently. I have a great "what the heck?" scene planned for when the new mystery professor arrives next year. (Hint: he'll be teaching self defense.) Japan? That is so cool. Here in Joisey is definitely not as cool.
Thank you all of you who reviewed. I love you all.
I have been, am, and always will be, Immortaljedi.
**--** is telepathic thought.
Chapter 39:
Like a silent cloud they came, black bodies swarming out of the forest and into the sky like bees, others running out of the forest like so many ants. It was Oliver and Percy who noticed first.
"Percy? Have you ever seen a cloud like that?" Percy looked, stretching out with his senses at the same time. His eyes widened.
"That's no cloud, that's a swarm of Death Eaters!" Pulling away from his lover he sent the warning to Dumbledore. A Second Attack!
Inside the castle
Students were dragged from their beds as their teachers rounded them up and herded them into the Great Hall. Flitwick and Sprout headed the moving, making sure no students, especially our favorite four, were left behind. One everybody was inside they locked the doors while Flitwick threw up extra protective charms. Nothing was getting in or out.
Hogwarts Grounds
The first think Hagrid saw when he exited his hut was the Death Eaters swarming the castle. His eyes narrowed behind his mass of hair. Nobody attacked Hogwart, not no one, not no how. He went back inside and grabbed some old treacle cakes, an old bluger bat, and his pink umbrella. Then, with a yell worthy of his giant ancestors, he ran towards the Death Eaters.
Hogsmead
The Shrieking Shack was in use tonight, it being the full moon. Remus, in wolf form, was staring at the moon when he felt the call. Hogwarts was being attacked. Sirius jumped to all fours from his position next to him.
**We fight?**
**We fight!**
The two canines took off at a run back through the tunnels to the Whomping Willow.
Hogwarts Grounds
The teachers were lined up in fron of the school, wands at the ready as the Death Eaters approached. Percy and Oliver stood behind the rest. Percy's eyes rolled back into his head as Oliver placed his grounding hands on Percy's shoulders. He reached out with his senses and called the storm. The Light made the first move.
The wind started to pick up above the trees, at first noting more than a minor annoyance. The winds blew. Hoods fell back. The winds blew. Brooms were blown off course. The winds blew. Death Eaters fell from the sky, no longer able to stay airborne. The winds blew in dark storm clouds. Flight was impossible.
From behind the Death Eaters came a monster, a giant (half-giant) with a wild black mane and crazy eyes, screaming with rage. In his hands he held a bat, make to look like a miniature by his gargantuan size. At those trying to flee he chucked small rocks (actually, they were the treacle cakes). As his club connected with the first Death Eater's head, the frozen whomping willow flew into a frenzy, flinging those Death eaters who got too close in every direction.
Out from the flying branches came two hell hounds, snarling and eyes blazing. One was black as night, his eyes glowing red in the increasing darkness; a grim. The other was brown with streaks of silver grey in his ragged coat, with golden eyes. He was larger than the grim, a twisted form out of the darkest of nightmares.
A ware-wolf.
This was the signal. The battle began. Curses flew like fireworks. Lighting up the night. Strong winds kept the fighting on the ground, while bolts of lighting flashed overhead. One came down and landed in the middle of a throng of Death Eaters. The sent of ozone and singed wool filled the air, to be cleared moments later by the winds. Behind the line of teachers Oliver gave a grim smile. With Percy on the Light side, making even nature against the Dark, the Death Eaters don't stand a chance.
But they kept coming. The stream of Death Eaters was steady as they poured from the forest. There were only so many teachers.
Methos and Severus fought side by side, Methos using every weapon on his body while Severus used his potions as well as his wand. Little vials that he threw exploded on contact; magical grenades, more deadly than their predecessors.
Methos stopped, suddenly, the base of his neck tingling. Immortals; more than one. His eyes scanned the battlefield. Behind him Severus cried out in pain. He whirled to see his lover sink to the ground, a knife in his chest.
"NO!" the shout was torn from Methos' throat as he fell to his knees next to him, cradling Severus' head in his arms. Severus smiled at him, his eyes darkening even further.
"…love…you…" And he was dead.
Methos reached down and pulled the dagger from his lover's rapidly cooling body. A single tear fell from his eye, traling down his face to splash on the pale cheek of Severus Snape. He looked at the dagger and his mask of stone hardened. He knew that dagger. He had used his twin just moments before. It belonged to one person.
"Kronos." His voice was flat and cold, his eyes like steel. Death wanted revenge, and Death would not be denied. He wouldn't rest until he got it. Death was out for immortal blood.
He raised a bloody hand to his face; the blood of his lover, and drew it down, forehead to chin, coating it in the thick red liquid, as he had done so many times before with indigo dye. His eyes glittered darkly against the red as he stood and tore off his black robes, revealing the white seekers and training clothes he had on underneath. He turned and saw, before anybody else, the three ghastly figures on horseback. His sword appeared in his hand as he crossed the battlefield, a path appearing before him. The horsemen weren't looking at him.
"KRONOS!" Now they were. As were a few of the men surrounding them. The number of spectators grew until it included Cassandra. Her eyes widened in fear as her mouth worked but noting came out. The Four Horsemen were together. Then, she heard what was being said.
Kronos smiled (If it could be called that)
"Ah! Brother! You have come back to us!"
"Not quite, Kronos." Kronos laughed again.
"You actually believe you have a choice? How…quaint." Methos sneered.
"I'm surprised you know that word Kronos." He laughed bitterly, "You shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't have come back."
"I always come back, Methos, you should know that by now." Methos just looked at him, his face that of Death. Most of those around stood stunned at this bizarre confrontation. Methos shook his head.
"This ends now, Kronos." He held up his sword. "You've been challenged." Kronos' eyes widened.
"You dare to challenge me? Me who is THE END OF TIME!!"
"Oh, please," Methos rolled his eyes, "you've had millennia to think of something better, why haven't you?" His tone was scalding. Kronos turned red.
"Challenge accepted brother." He dismounted and held up his sword. "Let's fight!"
"Not here. Beyond that hill. You're not even fool enough to fight on holy ground." Kronos noticed the jibe, but ignored it for now. He turned to the other two Horsemen.
"Stay here, I'll be back shortly." They nodded their understanding and the two ancient leaders of the Horsemen diapered over the hill. The spell seemed to have been lifted and the fight started once again in earnest. It was pretty much over before it could get too heated however, like before, a silent retreat was called for all the Death Eaters. Casualties to the teachers were nil, though injury was high. The bodies of the Death Eaters, on the other hand, littered the ground.
The teachers stood, bracing each other, embracing each other, as the adrenalin slowly left their systems. As the search for survivors began, the first light of dawn appeared over the hill, where the two immortals still fought, unnoticed. The tenuous sunlight touched Remus' fur and he howled, it turning into a human scream as he made the transformation from wolf back to man. With a pop Sirius was there was well, holding an extra cloak. He gently covered his naked and shivering life-mate, and helped him to stand. The two started again on their search for survivors.
It was they who found Severus later, lying face up and eyes closed on the ground. Remus fell to his already weak knees.
"Severus? Severus!" Severus inhaled deeply and looked around dazed.
"What…is it over?"
"They retreated."
"They'll be back." Severus said calmly, as if the news was not new to him. It wasn't in fact. It was not like Voldemort to give up this easily. Remus smiled tiredly at Sirius' reply.
"Yeah, but we tromped 'em!"
"How are you Severus?" Remus asked, concerned, "Are you hurt?" Severus shook his head and grimaced.
"Other than all the goblin wars being fought in my head at once, I'm fine. He looked around, his brow furrowed.
"Have you seen Me-Adam?" They shook their heads. He looked around wildly, his eyes coming to rest on the two motionless Horsemen. "oh, no…" He scrambled to his feet, tripping over his robes and the bodies at his feet. He tore at the clasps of his robes, flinging them to the ground, leaving him in his black sneakers and training clothes, and ran to the top of the hill. Remus and Sirius followed, but were stopped before they got there by a massive blast of lightning.
Severus fell to the ground as the sky erupted before him, blinded by its brilliance. All over the grounds the teachers stopped what they were doing to watch. Percy broke free of the spell first, worried, for he could sense no natural lightning near.
"Methos…" came the strangled whisper from Severus' mouth when the lightning had stopped. Methos was kneeling limp on the ground, a bloody sword by his side. His white shirt, or at least the tatters that remained, were stained a deep red, soaked with blood. His pants, though more intact, were also that ghastly crimson. His head bobbed up as Severus approached, his eyes tired and weary, then wide with shock.
"Sev…you're alive!" Severus dropped to his knees, his hands coming up to cup Methos' face.
"I'm alive? Of course I'm alive! Why wouldn't I be? You were the one in mortal peril." Methos laughed, his hands coming up to hold Severus'.
"There was no question of me loosing. I always was a better fighter than he was, and I now had something to live for." His eyes focused very seriously on Severus' face, which had more color than usual. "What about you? Are you alright?" Severus nodded.
"I'm fine. I blacked out for a while and I have a nasty headache, but it's nothing I can't handle. It's fading already." Methos smiled at him sadly.
"Oh, Sev, you and I are going to have a long talk, but not now. It seems we have company. Hello Albus." Dumbledore, who had come down during the end of their talk, smiled.
"Hello Methos. Are you well?" Methos' mouth twitched.
"As well as can be expected, under the circumstances. I will feel better after a bath and a new change of clothing, and less likely to bite the next person's head off. It's taking all my effort to not be vicious now." Dumbledore nodded.
"Yes, yes, I imagine so. Come, let's get you cleaned up. Let the Aurors fix everything up. They should be arriving about…now." As he said this, the Aurors did indeed fly in on the other side of the hill. The cavalry had arrived, late as always. Severus stood up and pulled Methos up with him, letting his lover lean his weight on him. The two made their way up the hill like that.
Cassandra stood half behind Remus and his dog, Snuffles. (Sirius had changed back when the Aurors had arrived. He was still a convict, you know.) She watched as the potions master helped the weakened ancient up the hill. After their little confrontation in Dumbledore's office Cassandra had stayed in her tower, not even coming down for food, like Trelawney did before her. She took in Methos' physical appearance, covered in blood, as it had been so many times in her memory, her nightmares. Half of his face was painted in dried blood, a mockery of his old war paint.
But this was not the same monster who kept her awake for so many nights. This was simply a man, tired and bloody, who had slayed on e of his own demons. One of the worst kind of demon, too. One he made himself. He had people who loved him and people he loved in return. Watching Methos Cassandra felt a something missing from her emotional spectrum.
Hate.
TBC.
I am so sorry it took so long to post this. I have had it written since before I posted the last chaper. I've been so busy with school and family stuff that I have had no time to actually sit down and write. Chapter 40 is almost finished as well, and I mean it when I say that it will be written by the end of the week, and posted really soon.
I'm kinda sad, though. I mean, I have been writing this for almost half a year. And it's almost over. Just a few more chapters…then I'll start with a totally knew one!!! Yay!!!
Next chapter…you'll just have to wait and see. Grin . in the meanwhile, enjoy my other stories, review, and please, check out my Percy and Hootch story, Learn(ing) to Fly. I kinda fudged Hootch's age a bit, made her younger than she probably is. Even so, there's a 12-year difference. It's good writing, though.
Shinigami – Harry didn't fight because it's not really his story. It's Severus and Methos' story. Besides, they can't risk him getting killed before Voldemort actually shows up. Don't worry. Harry and friends will fight soon enough. Maybe next year, definitely their last year. Fudge as a Death Eater…makes sense if you think about it…hmm…thanks for the idea.
Lady Cinnibar – thank you, thank you, (bows to audience as roses are thrown). I'm so glad you have such confidence in my work. I must say, you are the main reason my I keep pushing myself to write. You and Mel are my most loyal fans. Thank you.
Tea – Cassandra at St. Mungos…hmmm…I had originally intended for there to be a reconciliation and for her to stay on permanently. I have a great "what the heck?" scene planned for when the new mystery professor arrives next year. (Hint: he'll be teaching self defense.) Japan? That is so cool. Here in Joisey is definitely not as cool.
Thank you all of you who reviewed. I love you all.
I have been, am, and always will be, Immortaljedi.