In The Darkness
Chapter Thirteen: The Duel
With amazing speed the grey wolf shot out of the shadows and ran swiftly through the Death Eaters who were busy concentrating on Harry and their Master, with surprising agility she leapt and snared the cloaks of Philip and Minerva in her jaws, bulling into Malfoy. Raising his hand Harry projected the green shield as the first bullet flashed out of the muzzle, without it strong enough to deflect the bullets, it shattered and sent him flying backwards as more bullets flashed from the gun. With his other hand Harry pointed to the wands lying at the feet of his friends, yelling the summoning charm aloud they leapt into their hands. Moving swiftly Malfoy reached into his cloak and threw the Multi Apparater so that as Arabella ran through the crowd in wolf form it landed at her racing feet and with a golden flash she and the children disappeared.
Snapping out of their trance the Death Eaters drew their wands and other weapons but most were not quick enough to get a shot off against the wizards and witches who dove into cover quickly, only Malfoy already had his gun and wand ready. Raising it he followed his son as he ran to the side and released a hail of bullets seconds before he could get into any cover, diving early Draco felt a bullet tear across his back as he fell behind a heap of rubble.
Ignoring the pain he reached into his pocket and withdrew another device, 'Dumbledore's Light or not, better than nothing,' he muttered to himself, pulling the lid off the Solarum Box he threw it amidst the Death Eaters as the last Ministry wizard dove for cover. Shutting his eyes he felt the white heat of the blast as the box detonated letting the sunlight escape from within, seconds later he heard two yells of rage and the rapid firing of a gun's magazine, amidst the rubble and the ruin of Diagon Alley, Harry Potter had met Severus Snape.
* * *
Weakly moving down the stairs with blood flowing from a deep wound in his head Arthur Weasley carried the curled body of a wolf in his arms, he was amazed when a grey wolf bearing two children leapt out of a wall to land on top of him, he was more amazed when Philip opened his mouth to say, 'Grandpa.' As he watched the wolf transfigured into Arabella, she took one look at the wolf in his arms and knew what had happened, a single tear fell down her cheek as she gazed on the wolf.
Arthur then found himself propped up with his grandchildren in his arms as Arabella, having placed Remus's body on the steps, nursed the wound on his head while explaining the situation. Studying the box that had also fallen through the wall with them Arthur began to form a plan in his head, leaning on Arabella and with his grandchildren toddling along behind them he headed for the world outside.
* * *
Holding Snape's gun hand at arm's length Harry pointed it upwards while slamming a hand into Snape's arm causing his muscles to spasm and empty the magazine into the walls of the alley, with a mad, screeching yell, the half-blinded Snape wrapped his arm around Harry's neck and began to choke him. Seeing they had an advantage the Ministry wizards, operatives and Harry's companions charged forwards into the blinded Death Eaters, using not just their wands and other weapons they had picked up they joined the combat with fist and feet.
Spinning wildly Neville let loose a roundhouse kick that sent one of the Dark Wizards flying through the shattered remains of a window, with a flurry of wings Mundungus assumed his Animagus form and soared into the face of the nearest Death Eater, putting his sharp talons into the mask he pulled upwards with all his might, the Dark Wizard eventually losing his mask in time for a Ministry wizard to punch him full in the face.
Rubbing his eyes Lucius looked up through his mask in time to see his son advance through the blinding flashes, raising his weapons to fire he found them jerked from his hand by Hermione's Summoning Spell. With a mighty crack Draco sent his fist flying into the mask that covered his father's face, with a yell of agony the mask flew off as Lucius fell backwards from the strength of the punch.
Staggering upright he moved straight into the path of another punch to his stomach that winded him, but this time he reacted by charging into Draco and tackling him to the ground, landing heavily Draco felt a rib crack under his father's weight, but he was already enraged enough not to notice, using his free hands he grabbed rubble and threw it into his father's face. Blinded again Lucius could only release wild punches, and while a few hit Draco on the ground, most missed giving him enough time to coil his legs and kick himself free with Lucius being thrown a few feet away.
Ron was in a fury as he worked his way through the Death Eaters, struggling forwards to where Harry and Snape grappled, loosing curses and punches he felled almost anyone he met, including one unfortunate Ministry wizard who had been fighting at close quarters. Behind him Hermione followed at a safe distance, muttering charms to aid anyone around her, but also keeping a close eye on Ron in case he should do anything to endanger himself.
Muttering the counterspell she lifted the stunned Ministry wizard off the ground and pushed him to the edge of the fight before following Ron again, unleashing a bright green stunner at a Death Eater sneaking up behind him she looked up to see another Dark Wizard fly through a window as Ron sent a golden beam punching into his midriff. Even though she was managing to concentrate well, Hermione was still distracted by one thought, what had happened to the children? A mad screaming from a charging Death Eater sent the thought to the back of her mind as she sent a wave of rubble flying from the ground and into his face.
* * *
'Are you sure you're ready to do this Arthur?' Arabella asked, her eyes still gazing at the jagged cut on the side of his head, 'you don't have to go you know.'
'My son and daughter-in-law are out there, I am not losing anymore of my family,' he stated it almost matter-of-factly, 'and anyway, I can't play babysitter to the children while this is happening, they're safe where they are.' Getting a reluctant nod of agreement he turned to address the Ministry wizards he had been able to gather, most had been from above the third floor where Snape's arrival and exit of the building had not wreaked such a bloody toll.
'Wands out, eyes open, if they aren't one of us then stun them. If you see anyone who isn't supposed to be there then get them out of it, if the Death Eaters went straight to Diagon from here then watch out for casualties, because there will be some, right you lot go now, we'll see you there.' About half of the Ministry wizards left the building by the doors, the rest remained with Arthur and Arabella, in his hands he held Draco's Apparater, looking into their faces he placed it on the ground, as it opened and the golden light flowed out he muttered 'fingers crossed,' then as it enveloped them all he shouted 'Diagon Alley!' with a flash they all disappeared.
* * *
The tide was beginning to turn in favour of the Darkness, the Death Eaters remembering they had guns that could not be blocked were now firing indiscriminately at everyone, both Light and Dark wizards alike. Only no bullets flew near where Snape and Harry stood, both had given up grappling as it came to no avail, still holding the useless gun at his side, Snape withdrew his wand and held it in the duelling stance position, while Harry just clenched his fists at his sides, amber flames suddenly springing out from them.
'A nice move Potter, to use Figg in that way, I had forgotten about that wolf…of course the wild one had to be put down,' he added with a sneer, then flicking his wand downwards he shot out a sizzling red beam. Too busy trying to sort out Snape's twisted implication Harry caught the beam in mid stomach and was sent flying across the length of the alley, with a cry of anger Ron, finding his gap at last charged forwards to meet Snape and found his fist snapped round, then with a whirling kick he sent Ron crashing to the floor.
Laughing maniacally Snape did a small dance of glee that was interrupted when Hermione sent a crimson beam into him that knocked him to the floor, a burning sound told him his robes were alight from the spell. Whirling his cloak around him as he rose Snape disguised his wand until flinging the cloak into Hermione's face, then releasing another sizzling beam that threw her into the wall nearby, almost carelessly he then spun and launched a roundhouse at Neville who had been sneaking up behind him, the kick sent the wizard reeling into a window.
Laughing again Snape was cut short when Harry released a pair of lightning bolts hit him in the midriff and lifted him high above the alley, about twenty feet above the ground gravity kicked back in and Snape fell to land on top of the body of another Death Eater. The moment he landed coincided with a great flash of light, and soon twenty Ministry officials appeared led by a yelling and bloody Arthur Weasley, the Death Eaters were now leaderless and confused, their enemy had doubled in number.
Looking around wildly Lucius saw his Master defeated and the rest of the Death Eaters being subdued by superior numbers, he knew now what he had to do – run. Ignoring the cries for help from the besieged Dark Wizards he took off down the alley for the exit to the Leaky Cauldron, behind him he heard footfalls of a chaser, looking round his eyes widened as he saw Draco running full-out after him. For the first time in his life, Lucius Malfoy was scared, he had lost everything and now his son was chasing him, charging through the Leaky Cauldron he pushed aside the Ministry wizards who had entered with spells and by waving his gun wildly, running out the door he found himself in the middle of London, no Muggles were about, their shops closed early in the evenings.
'Father!' behind him the door slammed and he whirled to see Draco aiming his wand, unshaken, straight at his father's heart, with a strangled gasp in his throat, Lucius did the same. Staring into the ocean blue eyes he saw no forgiveness for what he had done, only a coldness that Draco had seen so many times, but was now showing for the first. There was no escape, Draco could easily kill him if he ran, or stun him for the Ministry to judge, then there was life on Azkaban to look forwards to, looking into Draco's eyes he saw the recognition of his son thinking the same thing.
At the same time they both shouted 'Stupefy!' and sent Stunning Jinxes that threw them both away from each other as they struck their wand tips, with a cry Draco dropped his in pain, but Lucius managed to keep hold of his by sheer desperation. Sitting in the road he allowed himself a vicious smile as he rose and lifted his wand, whispering to Draco, 'Now my traitorous boy, you will pay for your mistakes,' the green glow of the Killing Curse formed at the tip of his wand, then he looked at his son – but was that a smile on his face as well?
With a BANG the Knight Bus appeared and his look turned briefly to terror as the bus smashed into him and sent him flying down the road, his broken body tumbling like a rag doll to a bloody halt. Leaning against the wall Draco allowed himself a sigh of relief, opposite him the door to the Knight Bus opened and the white-faced conductor walked out, looking at the body lying fifty feet away he whispered to the driver; 'Bloody hell Ern, you've done it this time.'
Groaning with pain, Draco lifted himself to his feet and turned to re-enter the Leaky Cauldron, that was when he heard the massive explosion that threw him to the ground and shook the street outside Diagon Alley, around him London began to awake. Turning round he shouted, or at least tried to above the noise telling the bus to wait and got a nod from the conductor, running inside the pub he pointed outside to the Ministry wizards, most of whom were dazed or had their hands clamped over their ears. Nodding in understanding the first lead a group to the Knight Bus, leaving the rest to evacuate, Draco moved to the back and the entrance to Diagon Alley, dreading what he would see.
A\N: All will be resolved in chapter 14: the light against the darkness.