A/N: I have give the Lestranges somewhat French names. Real is pronounced
re-al, and yes, I do actually know someone with this as a middle name.
Speaking of the Lestranges - if you have time at all, you simply must go and check out the fic getting under way by Neuri, called 'Phi'. It's a Lupin fic, and is refreshingly well-written. Evidently in year four, Beauxbatons has to deal with a particularly bright, but troublesome student and seeks out a private tutor for her. The characters, even very early in the story, are colorful and intriguing. It looks like it's gonna be a heck of a ride.
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A Summoning and an Arrival ~*~
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Harry and the three wizards around him stared at the ten Death Eaters that were staring back at them in the same surprised way for a second or two, and then everyone reacted at once.
Harry was probably one of very few people alive that had ever faced a group of Death Eaters this large and lived to tell the tale, but despite the fact that a chilling deja vu swept over him, he quickly drew his wand and readied himself for a fight.
As courageous as his Gryffindor godson might be, Sirius had no intentions of letting the Death Eaters get anywhere near Harry, and he grabbed the boy by the arm, shoving him back at Remus, yelling "Get him out of here!" He spun and pointed his wand in the direction of the Death Eaters, charging up the hill like a madman, hexing three Death Eaters in rapid succession. The remainder dove for cover.
Remus had known Sirius for so long that he knew there was no discussion to be had, and would have taken Harry and guarded him with his life along the way, but the appearance of another pair of Death Eaters on the path behind them quickly limited their options. "Damn." He swore under his breath.
"I'm not going!" Harry protested. "I'm staying here with you and Sirius to fight!" He and Remus cringed and ducked as Perth fired a hex past their heads at the pair of Death Eaters.
Remus nodded once. "No time to argue, then." He got off a spell into the larger group of Death Eaters to give Sirius some cover. He called to the Nemorosi wizard. "Perth? Would you?"
Taber nodded, understanding what the Defense professor had in mind, and then the large roan hippogriff stood in his place.
Harry was pleased that Remus didn't lecture him and treat him like a child. He was going to stand here and fight alongside the two older Gryffindors just like his father would have if he was alive. Harry gripped his wand determinedly as he braced himself for the onslaught, and then he caught the last bit of the words Lupin had been uttering next to him.
".leviosa!" Remus finished. Harry found himself abruptly lifted, and before he could utter a word of protest, placed firmly on the back of the hippogriff that was already lifting off the ground with great sweeps of its huge wings.
Harry was forced to hang on as the large animal launched itself into the air, and angrily realized that the choice about staying or going had been yanked right out from under him. Each downward sweep of the great wings brought him higher into the air, and he thought with frustration how very like Remus it was to do what he did. No argument, no discussion, just a calm, quick decision, and Harry was out of the picture, like it or not.
Harry risked a look down, but only caught a momentary glance of the two Gryffindors left facing the group of Death Eaters before Taber ducked suddenly to one side and rolled quickly to the other to avoid the hexes being flung in their direction. He quickened their pace, and it was only a moment before Harry found himself being borne out over the cliffs, over the ocean, and out of view of the battle behind him.
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Even as Sirius sighed with relief at the fact that Harry was out of danger, it dawned on him just how many of the enemy he was facing about the same time that the scattered Death Eaters realized there was only one of him. Seven to one were not the kind of odds he favored, and he spun around quickly and thundered back down the hill even as the emboldened dark wizards regrouped.
He hadn't gotten far before he came face to face with Remus, skidding to a halt. "I've got seven!" He yelled to his friend, indicating the charging group over his shoulder and turning to face them.
"Well, you've outdone me, Padfoot," Remus replied, even as he turned and slammed his back up against Sirius's. "I've only brought two guests to this little party."
"You know Moony, it's like I always used to tell you. You'd be more popular if you just weren't so shy," Sirius quipped.
"I know, I know," Remus replied, out of breath and eyeing the group of nine now circling them. "We're in pretty deep, you realize."
Sirius shrugged behind him. "Nine to two? Come on, Moony. We've been in trouble with bigger groups of Slytherins than that. Remember that party we crashed after that rainy Quidditch match? Weren't there like thirteen or fourteen?" He tensed and readied himself.
"Yes, but there were four of us that time," Remus replied, tightening his grip on his wand. "But that does remind me..."
"What's that?" Sirius asked quietly.
Remus chuckled. "This is just like all the other parties the Slytherins have. Too many goons and not enough women, "he said and then was silent for a moment. "This doesn't look good," he added quietly.
"Nah, it's all good, Moony." Sirius replied from behind him. "No matter what happens, it'll be you and me together."
"You and me, Padfoot." Remus replied softly, and they raised their wands even as they watched the nine Death Eaters raise theirs.
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Lucius Malfoy was pleased with himself, to say the least, as he stood still gloating in front of Snape and the blonde witch trapped between the Lestranges and the edge of the cliff.
Snape knew well how dangerous the man could be, but he kept his attention focused on the Lestranges as the couple moved to stand on either side of Lorien and himself. He saw that Lorien didn't even respond when the woman in Death Eater robes grabbed her by the arm. She was too upset at discovering that her own ignorance had led them to him...and the Nemorosi...and Harry...
Simone Lestrange smiled a wicked smile at Lorien's distress. "Oh, come now," she began in a sickeningly sweet voice. "Don't be so hard on yourself," she said as she pointed her wand at Lorien. "I promise you'll pay dearly for your stupidity. That ought to alleviate a bit of your guilt, don't you think?" She uttered a command word and Lorien found herself flung brutally to the ground.
Snape took a reflexive step toward the woman in the dirt at his feet, but a hand on his arm halted him where he stood. Real Lestrange shook his head and tutted. "I wouldn't," he said, twirling his wand through the fingers of his free hand, "if you know what's good for her." He smiled a wicked, knowing smile, obviously enjoying seeing the distress starting to show on Snape's face.
A cry came from Lorien on the ground where she had started to pick herself up as Simone uttered yet another command word, and the Nemorosi healer was slammed face first back into the dirt. She tried to rise a second time, only to find herself thrown down yet again as the dark witch began to laugh.
Snape knew they were merely toying with Lorien at this point, and that things were likely to get a whole lot worse. None of the Death Eaters he knew, including even Malfoy was as ruthless as either of the Lestranges. He struggled to decide what the best course of action was in such a desperate situation, but it tore at him to see Lorien at the feet of the three Death Eaters, mostly because he knew the worst was ahead. She had obviously given up in despair over what had happened because of her naiveté.
He was on the verge of panic as he watched his beloved Ravenclaw finally beginning to sob on the ground, and then it hit him. Could it be? Lorien might very well be pulling the same stunt she had used to put him off his guard during the duel! Was she? He'd bet anything that she was. The panicked feeling began to subside just a little, and he spoke to Lorien with concern in his voice for the benefit of their captors.
"Are you alright?" he asked, hoping she would give him some indication of what she had in mind.
Lorien nodded weakly but didn't look up as she continued to cry defeatedly. "I'm sorry, Severus," she sobbed. "I'm sorry I ever... summoned you to this damn island," she said through her tears.
Snape maintained his expression of concern but smiled inwardly. To think that he had almost lost faith in her. Surely he should have know better than to think she'd gone to pieces that easily. She was obviously up to something down there on the ground, and he wondered what he could do to help her unarmed.
Wait.
Not unarmed...merely without a wand.
Snape nearly hit himself in the head as he realized that he wasn't as defenseless as he first thought. "It's alright. I understand," he said in what he hoped was a tone that passed for comforting as he began to feel more hopeful about their circumstances.
"How marvelous of you to be so forgiving," Malfoy sneered, regaining Snape's attention. "Please forgive me, as well, for being insensitive, but I really must insist that you two lovebirds say your good-byes. I'm sure that the Master is very eager to welcome you back, Severus, and I'm sure that my two friends here are anxious to assist your witch in her understanding of why it doesn't pay to oppose Voldemort. Hopefully she'll forgive you as readily for what she's about to go through because of YOUR traitorous actions," he finished almost cheerfully.
Snape met Malfoy's gaze steadily. "She'll forgive me," he said. "I have the utmost faith in her," he added, mostly for Lorien's benefit. He wanted her to understand that he knew what she was up to as he heard her sobs subsiding on the ground. "I'm sure that it won't be an issue in our future," he said with a touch of smugness.
Lestrange laughed beside him. "Future? Why, I'm afraid your future is severely limited, Snape."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Snape replied evenly.
Malfoy was amused as well. "Look at you, acting so cool while you stand there unarmed." He held up Snape's own wand along with his own. "You've obviously lost your grip on reality, Severus," he snorted.
Snape gave him the smallest crooked smile. "And that is where you are mistaken twice, Lucius." He was trying to buy crucial seconds.
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. So, you haven't lost your grip, but I do have your wand, old boy."
Snape risked a glance at Lorien in time to see her placing both hands, palm down on the ground and uttering a word under her breath, and looked back at Malfoy. "Still wrong," he said and then added sarcastically, "old boy."
The next thing Malfoy knew, Snape had gestured in his direction and spoke a single word, invoking a brutal version of the wandless nauseating vertigo spell taught to him by Taber. Malfoy doubled over, eyes wide with surprise, and then crashed to the ground as he began retching violently.
Real Lestrange reacted quickly and pointed his wand at Snape, but the unforgivable curse never met it's intended target as Snape grabbed the man's hand with both of his own and pointed the wand skyward. A passing seagull met it's demise and plummeted to the ground nearby as the two men fought for control of the wand.
Lorien chose that moment to scamper quickly to her feet as Simone Lestrange realized that things were getting out of control and pointed her wand. A chunk of earth exploded where Lorien had just been. She fired again at the blonde witch and Lorien just barely managed to block the next hex.
"Think you're pretty clever, don't you?" Simone spat at Lorien. "Well, let's see how you deal with this!" She pointed the wand and invoked the curse. "Cruci...."
The Death Eater never finished her hex, but gave a cry of surprise, followed quickly by a cry of pain, and then another. Nearby the nauseated and miserable Malfoy started yelping between heaves on the ground, and Lorien smiled to herself briefly as she watched the large wave of firebeetles she had summoned swarming over the two Death Eaters and stinging them ferociously.
A small victory, but she quickly turned her attention to where Snape and Lestrange were engaged in a struggle near the edge of the cliffs for control of the wand. She debated briefly about trying a spell, but the two men were too close together, and she knew she'd run too great a risk of hitting Severus. This called for something more direct, and it was only a moment before the blue-green dragon had sprung into the air to defend her wizard.
Snape heard the wingbeats of the dragon behind him, and he let go of the wand instantly, causing Lestrange to fall back a step as he no longer pulled against any resistance. The man pointed the wand at Snape, intent on hexing him into oblivion until the next instant in which the shadow of the dragon fell across him in the moonlight. He only had a chance to utter the first syllable of the Killing Curse as the blast of dragon fire hit him dead on.
"Av...arghhhhhhhh!!!!"
The Death Eater screamed, robes on fire as he waved his arms frantically, trying to escape the conflagration. He backpedaled, trying to pull the robes off as he went, but in his panic he took one step too many, and his screams quickly faded in intensity as he plummeted off the edge of the cliff.
The dragon landed next to Snape and both of them watched the flaming figure fall the remaining distance to plunge into the dark, icy waves below.
"Fire's out." Snape observed dryly before his attention was captured by the repeated cries behind him. Lestrange was screaming as she was stung again and again, her face and arms swelling to twice their normal size, oblivious to her husband's fate.
Malfoy rolled frantically in a pool of his own vomit, gagging and trying with little success to fight off the vicious insects as they swarmed over him.
Snape turned to look momentarily into the golden eyes now watching him. He caught up the delicately scaled head with one hand under her jaw. "Doci, paramicaan," he said, thanking her, and then he planted a kiss on the blue- green snout.
"Shall we?" he asked as the dragon blinked at him.
A small 'pop', and Lorien stood before him, nodding. "We have to find the others," she said, ignoring the desperately struggling Death Eaters and walking past Snape. "They're still after Harry."
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Harry was furious and frustrated that he had been sent away from the battle below, placed on the back of the hippogriff by Remus as easily as one lifts a toddler and places him on the back of a pony for a ride.
"It's not fair!" He protested, provoking a glance from the winged beast over it's shoulder. "I should be back there fighting with them!"
A snort from the hippogriff.
"That's easy for you to say," Harry said tersely. "You didn't just leave two of the most important people in your life back there facing all those Death Eaters."
A brief questioning glance from the 'griff again.
"Oh, get off it!" Harry protested. "I know that you're supposed to take me safely away, but I can take care of myself!"
Another snort cut him off.
"They're OUTNUMBERED!" Harry cried. "They're going to be killed! We need to go and help them!"
A stern, meaningful look this time.
Harry frowned. Taber wasn't buying into his arguments. Sirius and Remus were in real trouble, and there wasn't anything he could do. Fear for his friends and frustration welled up inside him even as tears of anger welled up in his eyes. He blinked them back furiously and wished more than anything that the damn hippogriff would take him back.
Harry was startled by a sharp crack and the cry from the animal beneath him as the wings jerked reflexively back. They dropped twenty feet or so before the 'griff spread his wings again and thrust them powerfully downward to catch their fall.
Both boy and beast looked at each other with surprise as they realized what had happened.
In his anger and desperation, Harry had unknowingly invoked magic that he had yet to completely understand, and Taber, as the source of his frustration, took the brunt of the unspoken spell.
"I'm afraid that was me," Harry said quietly, closing his eyes. "I'm..sorry. I know you're just trying to do what Remus asked," he said. "I can't always help it," he added in barely more than a whisper.
The hippogriff stopped its forward motion, regarding him carefully as each wingbeat caused them to rise and sink rhythmically in place. It appeared to be thinking things over.
Harry opened his eyes as he felt the wizard's hesitation. "We could help them," was all he said.
Another moment's pause, and then the hippogriff sighed heavily and dropped its left wing and banked. It was turning around.
"Yes!" Harry slapped the animal's shoulder unthinkingly in his relief that they were going back, eliciting another sharp snort. He tightened his grip as the 'griff accelerated and closed back in on the cliffs.
When they headed for a spot on the cliffs a short ways up the path from where they had left Sirius and Remus, Harry understood Taber's intentions at once. They were better off surprising the Death Eaters by coming up behind them on the path rather than flying down in full view.
Harry was leaping off the back of the hippogriff while the animal's hooves were still a foot or two from the ground, and he drew his wand as he headed quickly for the path, followed by the 'griff. If only Remus and Sirius had managed to hold out...he knew it was long odds, but he also knew that there were few pairs of wizards that Death Eaters would probably rather face less than the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and the infamous Sirius Black.
Taber didn't bother to land, opting instead to follow closely behind Harry in hippogriff form, flying close to the ground so that hoof beats wouldn't be heard as they approached.
Many animated voices could be heard coming from around the next bend in the path, and Harry realized that this was a good sign as the Death Eaters would likely make a lot less noise were Sirius and Remus captured or dead. He quickened his pace, wanting to get to them as soon as possible, but pulled up to a sudden stop as he spotted a lone Death Eater just ahead of him walking unhurriedly down the path.
He stood completely still for a moment, and when the figure ahead of him didn't turn, he was sure that he hadn't been discovered. He moved as silently as he could, knowing he had the Nemorosi wizard as his backup, and tried to get close enough to catch the Death Eater off guard.
Harry closed the distance between himself and the hooded figure considerably before he realized he hadn't planned which spell to actually use against the Death Eater. Kicking himself mentally, he slowed up momentarily to debate about the best hex to use.
He never got the chance to decide.
Harry's thoughts were instantly jarred as searing pain ripped across his forehead, and stopped in his tracks as his hand went reflexively to his head.
Taber saw Harry stop and gasp, and he would have landed and gone to the teenager, but at that moment he saw the figure they'd closed in on turn its hooded head in their direction, and he dove at the Death Eater, intent on getting to him before he could realize who Harry was.
Harry realized a second too late what Taber was doing, and wasn't able to say anything before the hooded figure calmly raised its wand and blasted the hippogriff out of the air.
The animagus was blown over backwards, and when he hit the ground he was sprawled on the dirt at Harry's feet, dressed in green robes instead of feathers and fur.
It was a vicious blow, even for a seasoned Nemorosi wizard, and Perth Taber sat up, shaking his head and then struggling to his feet. He was rattled, but he quickly faced the approaching figure.
"Harry!" he said urgently. "Go! I'll deal with the Death Eater!" He readied himself for another attack.
Harry didn't move, and Taber barked orders at Harry again. "GO! Quickly!"
The robed figure was drawing closer and still Harry didn't move. Taber risked a glance in the boy's direction and found a very pale and wide-eyed Harry gripping his wand tightly and staring down the path.
"Dammit, boy! Move!"
When Harry showed no sign of budging, Taber stepped between the young wizard and the Death Eater, who was very close now.
Harry finally spoke up, giving warning in a strangled whisper. "That's no Death Eater," he croaked.
The black-robed figure had stopped several yards away and it finally spoke. "Indeed, young Harry is right," said the high, cold voice as the hood was drawn back, revealing the pale, nightmare visage of Lord Voldemort beneath.
Speaking of the Lestranges - if you have time at all, you simply must go and check out the fic getting under way by Neuri, called 'Phi'. It's a Lupin fic, and is refreshingly well-written. Evidently in year four, Beauxbatons has to deal with a particularly bright, but troublesome student and seeks out a private tutor for her. The characters, even very early in the story, are colorful and intriguing. It looks like it's gonna be a heck of a ride.
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A Summoning and an Arrival ~*~
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Harry and the three wizards around him stared at the ten Death Eaters that were staring back at them in the same surprised way for a second or two, and then everyone reacted at once.
Harry was probably one of very few people alive that had ever faced a group of Death Eaters this large and lived to tell the tale, but despite the fact that a chilling deja vu swept over him, he quickly drew his wand and readied himself for a fight.
As courageous as his Gryffindor godson might be, Sirius had no intentions of letting the Death Eaters get anywhere near Harry, and he grabbed the boy by the arm, shoving him back at Remus, yelling "Get him out of here!" He spun and pointed his wand in the direction of the Death Eaters, charging up the hill like a madman, hexing three Death Eaters in rapid succession. The remainder dove for cover.
Remus had known Sirius for so long that he knew there was no discussion to be had, and would have taken Harry and guarded him with his life along the way, but the appearance of another pair of Death Eaters on the path behind them quickly limited their options. "Damn." He swore under his breath.
"I'm not going!" Harry protested. "I'm staying here with you and Sirius to fight!" He and Remus cringed and ducked as Perth fired a hex past their heads at the pair of Death Eaters.
Remus nodded once. "No time to argue, then." He got off a spell into the larger group of Death Eaters to give Sirius some cover. He called to the Nemorosi wizard. "Perth? Would you?"
Taber nodded, understanding what the Defense professor had in mind, and then the large roan hippogriff stood in his place.
Harry was pleased that Remus didn't lecture him and treat him like a child. He was going to stand here and fight alongside the two older Gryffindors just like his father would have if he was alive. Harry gripped his wand determinedly as he braced himself for the onslaught, and then he caught the last bit of the words Lupin had been uttering next to him.
".leviosa!" Remus finished. Harry found himself abruptly lifted, and before he could utter a word of protest, placed firmly on the back of the hippogriff that was already lifting off the ground with great sweeps of its huge wings.
Harry was forced to hang on as the large animal launched itself into the air, and angrily realized that the choice about staying or going had been yanked right out from under him. Each downward sweep of the great wings brought him higher into the air, and he thought with frustration how very like Remus it was to do what he did. No argument, no discussion, just a calm, quick decision, and Harry was out of the picture, like it or not.
Harry risked a look down, but only caught a momentary glance of the two Gryffindors left facing the group of Death Eaters before Taber ducked suddenly to one side and rolled quickly to the other to avoid the hexes being flung in their direction. He quickened their pace, and it was only a moment before Harry found himself being borne out over the cliffs, over the ocean, and out of view of the battle behind him.
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Even as Sirius sighed with relief at the fact that Harry was out of danger, it dawned on him just how many of the enemy he was facing about the same time that the scattered Death Eaters realized there was only one of him. Seven to one were not the kind of odds he favored, and he spun around quickly and thundered back down the hill even as the emboldened dark wizards regrouped.
He hadn't gotten far before he came face to face with Remus, skidding to a halt. "I've got seven!" He yelled to his friend, indicating the charging group over his shoulder and turning to face them.
"Well, you've outdone me, Padfoot," Remus replied, even as he turned and slammed his back up against Sirius's. "I've only brought two guests to this little party."
"You know Moony, it's like I always used to tell you. You'd be more popular if you just weren't so shy," Sirius quipped.
"I know, I know," Remus replied, out of breath and eyeing the group of nine now circling them. "We're in pretty deep, you realize."
Sirius shrugged behind him. "Nine to two? Come on, Moony. We've been in trouble with bigger groups of Slytherins than that. Remember that party we crashed after that rainy Quidditch match? Weren't there like thirteen or fourteen?" He tensed and readied himself.
"Yes, but there were four of us that time," Remus replied, tightening his grip on his wand. "But that does remind me..."
"What's that?" Sirius asked quietly.
Remus chuckled. "This is just like all the other parties the Slytherins have. Too many goons and not enough women, "he said and then was silent for a moment. "This doesn't look good," he added quietly.
"Nah, it's all good, Moony." Sirius replied from behind him. "No matter what happens, it'll be you and me together."
"You and me, Padfoot." Remus replied softly, and they raised their wands even as they watched the nine Death Eaters raise theirs.
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Lucius Malfoy was pleased with himself, to say the least, as he stood still gloating in front of Snape and the blonde witch trapped between the Lestranges and the edge of the cliff.
Snape knew well how dangerous the man could be, but he kept his attention focused on the Lestranges as the couple moved to stand on either side of Lorien and himself. He saw that Lorien didn't even respond when the woman in Death Eater robes grabbed her by the arm. She was too upset at discovering that her own ignorance had led them to him...and the Nemorosi...and Harry...
Simone Lestrange smiled a wicked smile at Lorien's distress. "Oh, come now," she began in a sickeningly sweet voice. "Don't be so hard on yourself," she said as she pointed her wand at Lorien. "I promise you'll pay dearly for your stupidity. That ought to alleviate a bit of your guilt, don't you think?" She uttered a command word and Lorien found herself flung brutally to the ground.
Snape took a reflexive step toward the woman in the dirt at his feet, but a hand on his arm halted him where he stood. Real Lestrange shook his head and tutted. "I wouldn't," he said, twirling his wand through the fingers of his free hand, "if you know what's good for her." He smiled a wicked, knowing smile, obviously enjoying seeing the distress starting to show on Snape's face.
A cry came from Lorien on the ground where she had started to pick herself up as Simone uttered yet another command word, and the Nemorosi healer was slammed face first back into the dirt. She tried to rise a second time, only to find herself thrown down yet again as the dark witch began to laugh.
Snape knew they were merely toying with Lorien at this point, and that things were likely to get a whole lot worse. None of the Death Eaters he knew, including even Malfoy was as ruthless as either of the Lestranges. He struggled to decide what the best course of action was in such a desperate situation, but it tore at him to see Lorien at the feet of the three Death Eaters, mostly because he knew the worst was ahead. She had obviously given up in despair over what had happened because of her naiveté.
He was on the verge of panic as he watched his beloved Ravenclaw finally beginning to sob on the ground, and then it hit him. Could it be? Lorien might very well be pulling the same stunt she had used to put him off his guard during the duel! Was she? He'd bet anything that she was. The panicked feeling began to subside just a little, and he spoke to Lorien with concern in his voice for the benefit of their captors.
"Are you alright?" he asked, hoping she would give him some indication of what she had in mind.
Lorien nodded weakly but didn't look up as she continued to cry defeatedly. "I'm sorry, Severus," she sobbed. "I'm sorry I ever... summoned you to this damn island," she said through her tears.
Snape maintained his expression of concern but smiled inwardly. To think that he had almost lost faith in her. Surely he should have know better than to think she'd gone to pieces that easily. She was obviously up to something down there on the ground, and he wondered what he could do to help her unarmed.
Wait.
Not unarmed...merely without a wand.
Snape nearly hit himself in the head as he realized that he wasn't as defenseless as he first thought. "It's alright. I understand," he said in what he hoped was a tone that passed for comforting as he began to feel more hopeful about their circumstances.
"How marvelous of you to be so forgiving," Malfoy sneered, regaining Snape's attention. "Please forgive me, as well, for being insensitive, but I really must insist that you two lovebirds say your good-byes. I'm sure that the Master is very eager to welcome you back, Severus, and I'm sure that my two friends here are anxious to assist your witch in her understanding of why it doesn't pay to oppose Voldemort. Hopefully she'll forgive you as readily for what she's about to go through because of YOUR traitorous actions," he finished almost cheerfully.
Snape met Malfoy's gaze steadily. "She'll forgive me," he said. "I have the utmost faith in her," he added, mostly for Lorien's benefit. He wanted her to understand that he knew what she was up to as he heard her sobs subsiding on the ground. "I'm sure that it won't be an issue in our future," he said with a touch of smugness.
Lestrange laughed beside him. "Future? Why, I'm afraid your future is severely limited, Snape."
"I wouldn't be so sure," Snape replied evenly.
Malfoy was amused as well. "Look at you, acting so cool while you stand there unarmed." He held up Snape's own wand along with his own. "You've obviously lost your grip on reality, Severus," he snorted.
Snape gave him the smallest crooked smile. "And that is where you are mistaken twice, Lucius." He was trying to buy crucial seconds.
Malfoy rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. So, you haven't lost your grip, but I do have your wand, old boy."
Snape risked a glance at Lorien in time to see her placing both hands, palm down on the ground and uttering a word under her breath, and looked back at Malfoy. "Still wrong," he said and then added sarcastically, "old boy."
The next thing Malfoy knew, Snape had gestured in his direction and spoke a single word, invoking a brutal version of the wandless nauseating vertigo spell taught to him by Taber. Malfoy doubled over, eyes wide with surprise, and then crashed to the ground as he began retching violently.
Real Lestrange reacted quickly and pointed his wand at Snape, but the unforgivable curse never met it's intended target as Snape grabbed the man's hand with both of his own and pointed the wand skyward. A passing seagull met it's demise and plummeted to the ground nearby as the two men fought for control of the wand.
Lorien chose that moment to scamper quickly to her feet as Simone Lestrange realized that things were getting out of control and pointed her wand. A chunk of earth exploded where Lorien had just been. She fired again at the blonde witch and Lorien just barely managed to block the next hex.
"Think you're pretty clever, don't you?" Simone spat at Lorien. "Well, let's see how you deal with this!" She pointed the wand and invoked the curse. "Cruci...."
The Death Eater never finished her hex, but gave a cry of surprise, followed quickly by a cry of pain, and then another. Nearby the nauseated and miserable Malfoy started yelping between heaves on the ground, and Lorien smiled to herself briefly as she watched the large wave of firebeetles she had summoned swarming over the two Death Eaters and stinging them ferociously.
A small victory, but she quickly turned her attention to where Snape and Lestrange were engaged in a struggle near the edge of the cliffs for control of the wand. She debated briefly about trying a spell, but the two men were too close together, and she knew she'd run too great a risk of hitting Severus. This called for something more direct, and it was only a moment before the blue-green dragon had sprung into the air to defend her wizard.
Snape heard the wingbeats of the dragon behind him, and he let go of the wand instantly, causing Lestrange to fall back a step as he no longer pulled against any resistance. The man pointed the wand at Snape, intent on hexing him into oblivion until the next instant in which the shadow of the dragon fell across him in the moonlight. He only had a chance to utter the first syllable of the Killing Curse as the blast of dragon fire hit him dead on.
"Av...arghhhhhhhh!!!!"
The Death Eater screamed, robes on fire as he waved his arms frantically, trying to escape the conflagration. He backpedaled, trying to pull the robes off as he went, but in his panic he took one step too many, and his screams quickly faded in intensity as he plummeted off the edge of the cliff.
The dragon landed next to Snape and both of them watched the flaming figure fall the remaining distance to plunge into the dark, icy waves below.
"Fire's out." Snape observed dryly before his attention was captured by the repeated cries behind him. Lestrange was screaming as she was stung again and again, her face and arms swelling to twice their normal size, oblivious to her husband's fate.
Malfoy rolled frantically in a pool of his own vomit, gagging and trying with little success to fight off the vicious insects as they swarmed over him.
Snape turned to look momentarily into the golden eyes now watching him. He caught up the delicately scaled head with one hand under her jaw. "Doci, paramicaan," he said, thanking her, and then he planted a kiss on the blue- green snout.
"Shall we?" he asked as the dragon blinked at him.
A small 'pop', and Lorien stood before him, nodding. "We have to find the others," she said, ignoring the desperately struggling Death Eaters and walking past Snape. "They're still after Harry."
*
*
*
*
Harry was furious and frustrated that he had been sent away from the battle below, placed on the back of the hippogriff by Remus as easily as one lifts a toddler and places him on the back of a pony for a ride.
"It's not fair!" He protested, provoking a glance from the winged beast over it's shoulder. "I should be back there fighting with them!"
A snort from the hippogriff.
"That's easy for you to say," Harry said tersely. "You didn't just leave two of the most important people in your life back there facing all those Death Eaters."
A brief questioning glance from the 'griff again.
"Oh, get off it!" Harry protested. "I know that you're supposed to take me safely away, but I can take care of myself!"
Another snort cut him off.
"They're OUTNUMBERED!" Harry cried. "They're going to be killed! We need to go and help them!"
A stern, meaningful look this time.
Harry frowned. Taber wasn't buying into his arguments. Sirius and Remus were in real trouble, and there wasn't anything he could do. Fear for his friends and frustration welled up inside him even as tears of anger welled up in his eyes. He blinked them back furiously and wished more than anything that the damn hippogriff would take him back.
Harry was startled by a sharp crack and the cry from the animal beneath him as the wings jerked reflexively back. They dropped twenty feet or so before the 'griff spread his wings again and thrust them powerfully downward to catch their fall.
Both boy and beast looked at each other with surprise as they realized what had happened.
In his anger and desperation, Harry had unknowingly invoked magic that he had yet to completely understand, and Taber, as the source of his frustration, took the brunt of the unspoken spell.
"I'm afraid that was me," Harry said quietly, closing his eyes. "I'm..sorry. I know you're just trying to do what Remus asked," he said. "I can't always help it," he added in barely more than a whisper.
The hippogriff stopped its forward motion, regarding him carefully as each wingbeat caused them to rise and sink rhythmically in place. It appeared to be thinking things over.
Harry opened his eyes as he felt the wizard's hesitation. "We could help them," was all he said.
Another moment's pause, and then the hippogriff sighed heavily and dropped its left wing and banked. It was turning around.
"Yes!" Harry slapped the animal's shoulder unthinkingly in his relief that they were going back, eliciting another sharp snort. He tightened his grip as the 'griff accelerated and closed back in on the cliffs.
When they headed for a spot on the cliffs a short ways up the path from where they had left Sirius and Remus, Harry understood Taber's intentions at once. They were better off surprising the Death Eaters by coming up behind them on the path rather than flying down in full view.
Harry was leaping off the back of the hippogriff while the animal's hooves were still a foot or two from the ground, and he drew his wand as he headed quickly for the path, followed by the 'griff. If only Remus and Sirius had managed to hold out...he knew it was long odds, but he also knew that there were few pairs of wizards that Death Eaters would probably rather face less than the Defense Against the Dark Arts professor and the infamous Sirius Black.
Taber didn't bother to land, opting instead to follow closely behind Harry in hippogriff form, flying close to the ground so that hoof beats wouldn't be heard as they approached.
Many animated voices could be heard coming from around the next bend in the path, and Harry realized that this was a good sign as the Death Eaters would likely make a lot less noise were Sirius and Remus captured or dead. He quickened his pace, wanting to get to them as soon as possible, but pulled up to a sudden stop as he spotted a lone Death Eater just ahead of him walking unhurriedly down the path.
He stood completely still for a moment, and when the figure ahead of him didn't turn, he was sure that he hadn't been discovered. He moved as silently as he could, knowing he had the Nemorosi wizard as his backup, and tried to get close enough to catch the Death Eater off guard.
Harry closed the distance between himself and the hooded figure considerably before he realized he hadn't planned which spell to actually use against the Death Eater. Kicking himself mentally, he slowed up momentarily to debate about the best hex to use.
He never got the chance to decide.
Harry's thoughts were instantly jarred as searing pain ripped across his forehead, and stopped in his tracks as his hand went reflexively to his head.
Taber saw Harry stop and gasp, and he would have landed and gone to the teenager, but at that moment he saw the figure they'd closed in on turn its hooded head in their direction, and he dove at the Death Eater, intent on getting to him before he could realize who Harry was.
Harry realized a second too late what Taber was doing, and wasn't able to say anything before the hooded figure calmly raised its wand and blasted the hippogriff out of the air.
The animagus was blown over backwards, and when he hit the ground he was sprawled on the dirt at Harry's feet, dressed in green robes instead of feathers and fur.
It was a vicious blow, even for a seasoned Nemorosi wizard, and Perth Taber sat up, shaking his head and then struggling to his feet. He was rattled, but he quickly faced the approaching figure.
"Harry!" he said urgently. "Go! I'll deal with the Death Eater!" He readied himself for another attack.
Harry didn't move, and Taber barked orders at Harry again. "GO! Quickly!"
The robed figure was drawing closer and still Harry didn't move. Taber risked a glance in the boy's direction and found a very pale and wide-eyed Harry gripping his wand tightly and staring down the path.
"Dammit, boy! Move!"
When Harry showed no sign of budging, Taber stepped between the young wizard and the Death Eater, who was very close now.
Harry finally spoke up, giving warning in a strangled whisper. "That's no Death Eater," he croaked.
The black-robed figure had stopped several yards away and it finally spoke. "Indeed, young Harry is right," said the high, cold voice as the hood was drawn back, revealing the pale, nightmare visage of Lord Voldemort beneath.
