CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: Lucius Malfoy's Last Curse
The house stood on a high bluff overlooking the ocean, the green hills of Ireland climbing into the distance behind it. There was not another house, another person for many miles around. The sun rose over the hills, casting a golden light over the grass and stone and heather. Smoke rose lazily from the chimney. Inside, the sun began streaming in through the lace curtains on the windows and Roxanne groaned and stretched luxuriantly beneath warm sheets, smiling to herself as she remembered the moment she and Remus had finally become one-now less than a day before-their minds, hearts and wands joined forever. One day. Just one day. Lying here in the warmth of their honeymoon bed, she felt it had been much longer, as if eternity stretched out ahead of them, close enough to touch. But when she reached for Remus, he was gone. She sat up, blinking the sleep from her eyes. "Remus?"
She became aware of voices, one of them her husband's, the other Sirius.' Remus was stooped near the fireplace, sitting on his heels, talking to the head of Sirius Black that floated in green flame inside the fireplace.
"Remus? What's going on?" she said with a trace of concern.
Sirius' head vanished and Remus stood, hurriedly buttoning his shirt.
"Sirius and Harry are at the Weasleys.' They're being attacked," he said quickly. "I'm going. Stay here-
"I'm going with you."
"No. Stay here. I'll be back as soon as I can." He was trying to sound firm, but worry streamed out instead. His voice quavered just a little.
"You're not leaving me here. I'm coming." She was scrambling out of bed and reaching for her clothes, hastily pulling on her jeans, then her sneakers.
"Roxanne, please," he pleaded. "It'll be dangerous."
"Thanks for the warning, Mr. Lupin. I think I can handle it-better than I can handle sitting here waiting to find out if you've gotten yourself killed."
He stopped for a moment, sighing deeply, then nodded resignedly. "Let's go then."
**********
Remus and Roxanne apparated behind a high hedgerow that ran along the west side of the Burrow. Shouted curses and commands filled the air. Roxanne's sneakoscope spun and bobbed madly on its chain. They could faintly hear Mrs. Weasley from inside the house shrieking instructions to someone.
They scrambled through a hole in the hedge, keeping low, hidden by the garage. Remus peaked carefully around the corner and found the west side of the house unprotected, two masked, cloaked Death Eaters stealing toward an open window.
"You take the one on the right," Remus whispered. Roxanne nodded, gripping her wand, her hand shaking slightly. Both flew into the open, shouting curses one after another, disabling and disarming the Death Eaters who had been taken completely by surprise. Remus ran forward, snatching their wands from the ground and snapping them in half, casting the pieces into the hedge. A figure came racing around the house, skidding to a halt at the sight of Remus' drawn wand. It was Bill Weasley.
"Remus! Am I glad to see you!" he said, his face washing with relief. "I thought we'd lost the house there for a minute. We're trying to keep them away long enough for mum to get all the kids out of here."
"How many Death Eaters?" asked Remus.
"I'm not sure. They're scattered all over," he explained quickly. "Keep hitting the house in waves-20 maybe. Fewer now," he said nodding towards the two prostrate figures on the ground. "Sirius is somewhere on the other side of the house. Harry's with him. They were outside when the attack came-we haven't been able to get Harry to the house. Our only chance to get him out of here may be a portkey. There's one inside. But getting it out and to Harry is going to be-"
A huge explosion ripped deafeningly through the air, knocking the three of them down and spraying shattered glass out from the windows of the house. Angry orange flames shot out of the upper floor windows and a plume of thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
"Mum!" Bill yelled, scrambling to his feet and running around to the kitchen door, slivers of glass falling from his robes.
George came pelting out, his arms over his head. Molly came close behind, clutching her side, her face blotched with angry red burns. Bill, Remus and Roxanne grabbed them, wands ready for any sign of Death Eaters, and steered them to safety, away from the burning house.
"Mum," said Bill, wide-eyed. "Is there anyone else-"
"No," Mrs. Weasley gasped. "Everyone else is through. I hope they made it safely. It was close for Fred."
"The portkey-" began Bill.
"It's right here," Molly said, pulling a crumpled aluminum soda can from her pocket. "Where's Harry.
"I'm not sure," Bill said scanning the yard. There was not a Death Eater in sight. "I don't like it. Where'd they all go?"
"After Harry, no doubt," said Remus. "Molly, get out of here. We'll take George with us".
She began to object, but pain shot through her chest and side, and she nodded. "George, you stay close to Bill and do exactly as he says. Do you hear me?" she commanded.
"I promise, Mum," he answered. By the look of panic on George's face, Roxanne knew he'd do his best to keep his word. He seemed out of place and vulnerable without Fred at his side.
Molly disapparated and the four of them sprinted for the back of the house, slogging through the mud of the newly turned garden and through a gate in the hedge beyond. They could see no one about. Behind them the house burned ferociously, the fire descending into the lower floors, rapidly consuming the Burrow.
Above the crackling flames, they heard a series of loud cracks and shouting in the direction of a long line of trees a couple of hundred yards away over the fields.
"Keep your head down George," Bill warned. "And keep your wand in your hand."
George nodded numbly and they ran hard for the trees, following Remus. Roxanne signaled to him with a swooping hand gesture. He nodded and she fell back, transformed into a falcon to the gaping stares of Bill and George, and swept over their heads, then streaked off for the trees.
She could see white-masked shadows moving among the trees below. She circled, counting. Nine left. Ahead she made out Sirius, Harry, Charlie and Arthur racing northward along a streambed. The Death Eaters followed too closely to give them a moment's rest. She would be unable to help or signal to them. Their only hope lay still a long distance away in Remus and Bill who were coming swiftly from behind-but not swiftly enough.
She sped back toward Remus. There was no time to transform-they could not afford to stop. Instead she swooped over his head, screeching loudly and flying in a straight line towards Sirius. Remus got the message and changed course, charging on as fast as he could go, Bill and George struggling to keep up.
Roxanne flew back over the trees and easily spotted Sirius again. He and Harry were alone now. Searching backward along the water, she located Charlie and Arthur, wands drawn, doing their best to hold off the Death Eaters, giving Harry and Sirius some breathing room. But then Charlie was down, lying still on the bank, his feet in the water. Arthur flung curses desperately shielded by a large tree. Two Death Eaters fell, the others closed in on Arthur. At the last possible moment he disapparated, leaving the Death Eaters milling in confusion-but for only a moment-before continuing their pursuit of Harry Potter.
Now was her chance. She'd have a few seconds to steer Sirius toward Remus. She swooped into the trees just ahead of Sirius and transformed atop a large boulder.
"Sirius!" she called, afraid that if he came on her by surprise he'd attack before realizing who it was. He spotted her through the trees and raced to her, breathing hard. Harry was pale and panting hard. He was soaking wet from head to toe, shivering, splattered with mud, his face badly scratched, his glasses gone.
"Remus and Bill are coming from the southeast," she explained quickly, pointing through the trees. "You've got to turn towards them. Bill has the portkey."
Sirius nodded, patted Harry on the back and raced off again. The three of them turned from the water and ran east through the trees. They reached the edge of the woods just as Remus and Bill came pounding over the crest of a hill that dropped down towards the stream. Sirius waved. Remus saw him and raced to them.
"There are only seven Death Eaters left," Roxanne said, "but they're not far behind."
"Bill-the portkey!" panted Remus. "Roxanne, you go with Harry and George. We'll be right behind you-as soon as we find Arthur and Charlie."
"Arthur disapparated and Charlie-" She stopped, looking at Bill and George. "He was down. I don't know if-"
"We'll go back," said Sirius firmly. "You three get out of here."
George and Harry numbly grasped the can. Roxanne turned to Remus.
"You promise? You'll be right behind me?" she asked, searching his eyes.
"I promise. Now, go!" he replied urgently. She grasped the can as well and Bill touched it with his wand muttering 'Hogsmeade.' Nothing happened. He looked at Remus and Sirius, then tried again. Still nothing.
"What's the matter?" hissed Sirius.
"I-I don't know." Bill's eyes were wide, he was shaking his head slowly. "It must have been the explosion."
"Bill, what's the lay of the land around here? Where can we go?" Remus asked. The Burrow was no longer an option. Thick smoke still billowed angrily into the sky from over the hill, now nearly a mile away over open fields.
"There's a village, a couple of miles upstream. A witch lives in a house just this side of town. We can run under cover of the trees most of the way," Bill explained hurriedly.
Harry shook his head, still panting hard. "A couple of miles?" He was cold and exhausted and shivered violently. Remus looked at him with concern.
"The more time we can give you the better," he said. "Roxanne and I will stay behind and hold them off."
"But, Remus, how-" began Sirius.
"We'll apparate out together when we've done all we can. We'll meet you back at Hogwarts."
Sirius nodded. Roxanne took off her robes and placed them over Harry's shoulders. "It's not much, but it's dry," she said pulling them tightly around him and fastening them at his throat. Harry smiled gratefully.
The voices of Death Eaters drifted toward them out of the trees. Sirius, Bill, Harry, and George started off, sprinting along the line of trees.
Remus took Roxanne's hand. "Scared?"
She nodded, but gritted her teeth determinedly and drew her wand from her jeans pocket. "Me too," he whispered. They headed straight back through the trees, following the echoing voices, moving to intercept the Death Eaters.
Remus spotted them first and bellowed a disarming charm at the one nearest to him. The others turned toward his voice and came charging at him. Remus leapt sideways stumbling into a heavy clump of brush as Roxanne bellowed another curse and ran southward, trying to draw them away from their pursuit of Harry. But the leader stopped them from following.
"Leave them to me! Go after the boy!" he snarled. It was Lucius Malfoy. Roxanne went cold at the sound of his voice.
Remus' robes had become tangled in the clump of briers and he was struggling to free himself, to regain his feet. He pulled his body right out of his robes and spun just in time to take the full force of Malfoy's curse in the chest. Roxanne was running toward them. She heard the shouted curse, saw Remus go down, watched as Malfoy's cold sneer turned to her as he slowly raised his wand.
A blast of green light came from the trees over Malfoy's shoulders, striking him squarely in the back. His wand flew from his hand and he fell stiffly forward, a look of mild surprise on his face.
Roxanne skidded to a halt as a masked Death Eater stepped from the trees and bent over Malfoy, turning him onto his back. He then moved to Remus, pulling back his hood and removing his mask. It was Severus Snape. Roxanne rushed forward and fell beside Remus. His eyes were wide and panicked. He clutched at his throat, his mouth gaping, working feverishly to take in some air. He grasped Roxanne's shoulders, clinging desperately to her. She flung her arms around him and pulled him up cradling him in her lap. Snape crouched next to them, his head hanging, his hand rubbing at his forehead.
"Do something!" Roxanne sobbed at him. "He's dying!"
"There is nothing I can do," Snape whispered slowly.
"The hospital wing-" she began.
"There is no time!" he hissed. "He's nearly gone now."
Snape spoke the truth.
"His wand!" she said desperately. "Where is his wand!" She searched the ground, but could not see the wand. Snape stood and hurriedly searched among the brush. Remus gripped Roxanne's hand tightly, his knuckles white, his hands cold and shaking, as if holding her with all his strength could save his life. But his struggles were weakening. His lips and fingernails were deep blue now, his eye were rolling into the back of his head.
"Remus!" she screamed. "Don't leave me! Please, don't go!" But after a final shudder, his body lay still, his grip on her hand suddenly lax.
Roxanne clutched his body, rocking back and forth on her knees, gasping and sobbing. Snape stood, his head bowed, letting her grieve. But time was very short. Sirius and Harry were still in desperate danger and Severus intended to do what he could for them, but he refused to leave her alone here, clinging to her dead husband.
"Roxanne," he said firmly after her sobs quieted a little, "we must leave. Mr. Potter still needs our help."
"No," she said flatly. "I won't leave Remus."
Snape bent and grasped her arm tightly. "We're going now!" he growled, pulling her to her feet, letting Remus' body slide from her lap and onto the ground. She fought to free herself, cursing him, trying to hit him, anything to get back to Remus. He held her by both elbows now and shook her hard. "He's not there! He's gone! Listen to what I say. Staying here crying over his remains will do nothing to bring him back or-or to avenge his death," Snape hissed. "You must do what he would want you to do- you must go on, and you must do it now!"
Roxanne's legs buckled beneath her and she sank to her knees, Snape still holding her arms. She took a deep breath and nodded slowly.
Snape helped her up, picked her wand from the ground and gave it to her. She held it without feeling it, took a last long look at Remus' face then turned and followed Snape through the trees.
"Have you learned to apparate yet?" Snape asked quickly as they ran together.
"No, but-but I can fly," she stammered.
Snape's step faltered, his mouth open, as Roxanne transformed and climbed through the trees, disappearing in the tangle of branches overhead. Clearing the trees she sped northward, following the stream. She spotted the Death Eaters nearly a mile ahead of Snape and not a hundred yards behind Sirius, Bill, Harry, and George. She could see the village and the house on its edge-the one standing off from the others, surrounded by a high hedge. The witch that lived there should be warned that a half-dozen Death Eaters were heading straight for her. She swooped down and into the house through the open owl window. The elderly witch in the kitchen cried out in surprise and chased Roxanne around the room, swatting at her with a towel before pulling out her wand. Roxanne tried to transform quickly, but was not fast enough. A red blast shot from the witch's wand and Roxanne felt herself hurtling across the room, landing with a thud on the floor, unable to move.
The witch picked her up and smoothed her feathers, carefully checking the fragile wings and legs for breaks.
"You're all right then," she said fetching a leather string from a nearby drawer and tying it around Roxanne's taloned foot before releasing her from the curse.
Roxanne immediately transformed. The string snapped, but not before cutting into her flesh as her leg rapidly grew. The poor witch nearly fell over in her surprise, but quickly had her wand drawn again. "What do you want?" she shrieked.
"Please," Roxanne pleaded, holding out her empty hands. "We need help."
The witch eyed her suspiciously.
"It's Harry Potter. He's on his way here from the Weasley's."
"Harry Potter!" the witch said excitedly. "I'd best put on a pot for tea then."
"There's no time!" blustered Roxanne. "We've got to get Harry and George Weasley out of here-quickly! They're being chased-Death Eaters-six of them, maybe more!"
At these words the witch went very pale.
"Death Eaters?! You've led them here? How dare you!" She raised her wand to attack, but Roxanne was quicker and better prepared this time, pulling her wand from her pocket and bellowing a disarming charm. The witch's wand soared out the window and she stumbled backward, falling to the floor and landing on her plump behind. She scrambled to her feet and fled out the door, grabbing her broom as she went, not caring if her muggle neighbors saw her as she fled the terror descending on her home. Snape apparated into the room just as Bill and George came pounding to the door. Roxanne swung the door wide, letting it bang against the wall and they rushed through.
"Where are Harry and Sirius?" she asked urgently.
"They-they should be-right behind us," Bill gasped, steering George to the fireplace and taking the jar of floo powder from the mantle. George didn't need any urging-he was desperate to get out of this nightmare.
"Hogsmeade!" he shouted as his brothers and sister had done before at the Burrow. And in a swirl of green flame he was gone.
Snape had rushed out the door and was crouched behind the hedgerow, ready to defend Sirius and Harry. Bill and Roxanne passed him, running out into the road looking towards the stream for any sign of them. They came crashing out of the dense brush and pelted toward the house, Roxanne and Bill falling in behind them, glancing over their shoulders for Death Eaters, guarding their flight into the house. They could hear the Death Eater's voices and running footsteps coming fast. They heard Harry shout "Hogsmeade!" and the fizzing pop that told them he was safe now, then rushed in to find Sirius leaning against the stone mantelpiece, panting hard. He straightened when they came in, looked at Roxanne, then around the room.
"Roxanne--?" he began.
She shook her head quickly, her eyes brimming with tears. She couldn't explain-- not yet. Not until they were all safe. She swallowed hard and dashed out the door, transforming and disappearing over the hedge.
Roxanne found Lucius Malfoy easily enough. She landed near his still form, watching his chest rise and fall rhythmically. She transformed and looked at him with a hollow rage in her eyes, then searched the ground looking for- There! Just the right size. She stepped over Malfoy, pulled a heavy stone from the stream and carried it back. She knelt at Malfoy's head, cursed him and raised the stone high over her head, bringing it down with all the force she could manage, smashing his skull with a muffled crack. Blood splattered her hands and shirt and jeans. She waited until his breathing stopped and his heart stilled before going back to Remus.
**********
Sirius and Bill apparated into Hogsmeade as the Death Eaters descended on the house. Snape had disappeared moments before. Arthur Weasley was waiting for them and pointed them down the road toward Hogwarts.
"Harry and George are fine," he said, as they walked quickly along. Sirius sighed with relief. "We're still waiting on Roxanne and Remus. Do you know where they are?"
Sirius shook his head, his breathing shallow, his expression pained. "Remus is dead."
"Dad," said Bill, brow furrowed. "Charlie-"
Arthur's shoulders sagged and his back bowed. "Charlie too," he whispered.
"Roxanne flew off. I don't know where she is," said Sirius.
"We'll wait for a bit-she'll turn up," said Arthur.
**********
The walls of the large dining room in the Riddle house were lined with black-cloaked wizards and witches. A large fire roared in the grate, an ominous figure standing silhouetted before it. "You failed me once again!" it spat, its red slitted eyes sparking ferociously. "Arthur Weasley lives, and the boy. What a stroke of luck to find him there. Still you failed to bring him to me! Who is responsible for this?!" Voldemort shrieked.
One wizard stepped forward. "Malfoy," he said.
"Malfoy? Where is Lucius?" The red eyes narrowed.
"I killed him," the wizard said simply.
"Explain, Mr. Snape" hissed Voldemort.
"It was the girl. He allowed her to distract him. He left us, leaderless, to deal with her," Snape said coldly. "So, I killed him."
Voldemort nodded. "And placed yourself in a better position as well, of course," he said shrewdly. "Well done, Severus."
Snape bowed low and stepped back into line.
**********
It was nearly nightfall before Sirius found Roxanne, lying on the ground, her arm over Remus' chest, her hand gripping two wands tightly. Her skin was cold and she did not move when he shook her lightly. She was unconscious and breathing shallowly. Sirius grasped her hand and took a portkey from his pocket. They were transported to Hogsmeade. Sirius carried her silently to the hospital wing where Albus Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall waited and laid her gently onto a bed. "I'll be back. I'm going for Remus."
Dumbledore nodded.
**********
Roxanne felt herself jolted out of nothingness, feeling as if she'd only just begun to breathe again after falling into black water. She coughed at the sour smell in her nostrils that seemed to shoot into her brain. Her eyes refused to focus The room spun madly around her. She could just make out a solid black and white form hovering over her and sensed that it was tormenting her with the sour smell.
"Leave me alone," she groaned, swatting her hands at the shape.
"Stop that!" scolded Madame Pomfrey's voice, as if through a tunnel. "I'll not be batted at like a fly."
Roxanne felt a warm hand on her forehead and saw another shape loom over her.
"Roxanne," it said, "it's Professor Dumbledore. Can you hear me?"
She drew a deep rasping breath and coughed, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. But when she opened them again she found she could see a little better, though her head pounded. She was propped up in a bed in the hospital wing. She could hear many voices echoing quietly through the large room. Sirius sat in a chair nearby, looking very exhausted. She looked further into the room and spotted Harry, George and Molly Weasley in nearby beds. Harry and George were sleeping comfortably. Mrs. Weasley wept quietly for her lost son.
Roxanne sat up suddenly, feeling for her and Remus' wands in her pockets, but her jeans were gone. She wore soft pajamas instead. She searched frantically among the sheets, but finally spotted them lying on the bedside table. She snatched them up and sighed with relief, clutching them to her chest, and sinking back onto the pillows.
"Roxanne," said the Headmaster again. "What happened to Lucius Malfoy?" he asked. She was a little surprised at the question. Why did he care? Why wasn't he asking what had happened to Remus, to Charlie?
She looked him square in the eyes, her expression suddenly cold. "I killed him," she whispered. "I smashed his head with a rock. He killed Remus." She began to sob, shaking and gasping. "He-He killed-Remus!" she growled through clenched teeth. Sirius was by her side now, his hand taking hers. He knelt by the bed, holding her tightly, his head bowed, crying silently into the sheets.
The house stood on a high bluff overlooking the ocean, the green hills of Ireland climbing into the distance behind it. There was not another house, another person for many miles around. The sun rose over the hills, casting a golden light over the grass and stone and heather. Smoke rose lazily from the chimney. Inside, the sun began streaming in through the lace curtains on the windows and Roxanne groaned and stretched luxuriantly beneath warm sheets, smiling to herself as she remembered the moment she and Remus had finally become one-now less than a day before-their minds, hearts and wands joined forever. One day. Just one day. Lying here in the warmth of their honeymoon bed, she felt it had been much longer, as if eternity stretched out ahead of them, close enough to touch. But when she reached for Remus, he was gone. She sat up, blinking the sleep from her eyes. "Remus?"
She became aware of voices, one of them her husband's, the other Sirius.' Remus was stooped near the fireplace, sitting on his heels, talking to the head of Sirius Black that floated in green flame inside the fireplace.
"Remus? What's going on?" she said with a trace of concern.
Sirius' head vanished and Remus stood, hurriedly buttoning his shirt.
"Sirius and Harry are at the Weasleys.' They're being attacked," he said quickly. "I'm going. Stay here-
"I'm going with you."
"No. Stay here. I'll be back as soon as I can." He was trying to sound firm, but worry streamed out instead. His voice quavered just a little.
"You're not leaving me here. I'm coming." She was scrambling out of bed and reaching for her clothes, hastily pulling on her jeans, then her sneakers.
"Roxanne, please," he pleaded. "It'll be dangerous."
"Thanks for the warning, Mr. Lupin. I think I can handle it-better than I can handle sitting here waiting to find out if you've gotten yourself killed."
He stopped for a moment, sighing deeply, then nodded resignedly. "Let's go then."
**********
Remus and Roxanne apparated behind a high hedgerow that ran along the west side of the Burrow. Shouted curses and commands filled the air. Roxanne's sneakoscope spun and bobbed madly on its chain. They could faintly hear Mrs. Weasley from inside the house shrieking instructions to someone.
They scrambled through a hole in the hedge, keeping low, hidden by the garage. Remus peaked carefully around the corner and found the west side of the house unprotected, two masked, cloaked Death Eaters stealing toward an open window.
"You take the one on the right," Remus whispered. Roxanne nodded, gripping her wand, her hand shaking slightly. Both flew into the open, shouting curses one after another, disabling and disarming the Death Eaters who had been taken completely by surprise. Remus ran forward, snatching their wands from the ground and snapping them in half, casting the pieces into the hedge. A figure came racing around the house, skidding to a halt at the sight of Remus' drawn wand. It was Bill Weasley.
"Remus! Am I glad to see you!" he said, his face washing with relief. "I thought we'd lost the house there for a minute. We're trying to keep them away long enough for mum to get all the kids out of here."
"How many Death Eaters?" asked Remus.
"I'm not sure. They're scattered all over," he explained quickly. "Keep hitting the house in waves-20 maybe. Fewer now," he said nodding towards the two prostrate figures on the ground. "Sirius is somewhere on the other side of the house. Harry's with him. They were outside when the attack came-we haven't been able to get Harry to the house. Our only chance to get him out of here may be a portkey. There's one inside. But getting it out and to Harry is going to be-"
A huge explosion ripped deafeningly through the air, knocking the three of them down and spraying shattered glass out from the windows of the house. Angry orange flames shot out of the upper floor windows and a plume of thick black smoke billowed into the sky.
"Mum!" Bill yelled, scrambling to his feet and running around to the kitchen door, slivers of glass falling from his robes.
George came pelting out, his arms over his head. Molly came close behind, clutching her side, her face blotched with angry red burns. Bill, Remus and Roxanne grabbed them, wands ready for any sign of Death Eaters, and steered them to safety, away from the burning house.
"Mum," said Bill, wide-eyed. "Is there anyone else-"
"No," Mrs. Weasley gasped. "Everyone else is through. I hope they made it safely. It was close for Fred."
"The portkey-" began Bill.
"It's right here," Molly said, pulling a crumpled aluminum soda can from her pocket. "Where's Harry.
"I'm not sure," Bill said scanning the yard. There was not a Death Eater in sight. "I don't like it. Where'd they all go?"
"After Harry, no doubt," said Remus. "Molly, get out of here. We'll take George with us".
She began to object, but pain shot through her chest and side, and she nodded. "George, you stay close to Bill and do exactly as he says. Do you hear me?" she commanded.
"I promise, Mum," he answered. By the look of panic on George's face, Roxanne knew he'd do his best to keep his word. He seemed out of place and vulnerable without Fred at his side.
Molly disapparated and the four of them sprinted for the back of the house, slogging through the mud of the newly turned garden and through a gate in the hedge beyond. They could see no one about. Behind them the house burned ferociously, the fire descending into the lower floors, rapidly consuming the Burrow.
Above the crackling flames, they heard a series of loud cracks and shouting in the direction of a long line of trees a couple of hundred yards away over the fields.
"Keep your head down George," Bill warned. "And keep your wand in your hand."
George nodded numbly and they ran hard for the trees, following Remus. Roxanne signaled to him with a swooping hand gesture. He nodded and she fell back, transformed into a falcon to the gaping stares of Bill and George, and swept over their heads, then streaked off for the trees.
She could see white-masked shadows moving among the trees below. She circled, counting. Nine left. Ahead she made out Sirius, Harry, Charlie and Arthur racing northward along a streambed. The Death Eaters followed too closely to give them a moment's rest. She would be unable to help or signal to them. Their only hope lay still a long distance away in Remus and Bill who were coming swiftly from behind-but not swiftly enough.
She sped back toward Remus. There was no time to transform-they could not afford to stop. Instead she swooped over his head, screeching loudly and flying in a straight line towards Sirius. Remus got the message and changed course, charging on as fast as he could go, Bill and George struggling to keep up.
Roxanne flew back over the trees and easily spotted Sirius again. He and Harry were alone now. Searching backward along the water, she located Charlie and Arthur, wands drawn, doing their best to hold off the Death Eaters, giving Harry and Sirius some breathing room. But then Charlie was down, lying still on the bank, his feet in the water. Arthur flung curses desperately shielded by a large tree. Two Death Eaters fell, the others closed in on Arthur. At the last possible moment he disapparated, leaving the Death Eaters milling in confusion-but for only a moment-before continuing their pursuit of Harry Potter.
Now was her chance. She'd have a few seconds to steer Sirius toward Remus. She swooped into the trees just ahead of Sirius and transformed atop a large boulder.
"Sirius!" she called, afraid that if he came on her by surprise he'd attack before realizing who it was. He spotted her through the trees and raced to her, breathing hard. Harry was pale and panting hard. He was soaking wet from head to toe, shivering, splattered with mud, his face badly scratched, his glasses gone.
"Remus and Bill are coming from the southeast," she explained quickly, pointing through the trees. "You've got to turn towards them. Bill has the portkey."
Sirius nodded, patted Harry on the back and raced off again. The three of them turned from the water and ran east through the trees. They reached the edge of the woods just as Remus and Bill came pounding over the crest of a hill that dropped down towards the stream. Sirius waved. Remus saw him and raced to them.
"There are only seven Death Eaters left," Roxanne said, "but they're not far behind."
"Bill-the portkey!" panted Remus. "Roxanne, you go with Harry and George. We'll be right behind you-as soon as we find Arthur and Charlie."
"Arthur disapparated and Charlie-" She stopped, looking at Bill and George. "He was down. I don't know if-"
"We'll go back," said Sirius firmly. "You three get out of here."
George and Harry numbly grasped the can. Roxanne turned to Remus.
"You promise? You'll be right behind me?" she asked, searching his eyes.
"I promise. Now, go!" he replied urgently. She grasped the can as well and Bill touched it with his wand muttering 'Hogsmeade.' Nothing happened. He looked at Remus and Sirius, then tried again. Still nothing.
"What's the matter?" hissed Sirius.
"I-I don't know." Bill's eyes were wide, he was shaking his head slowly. "It must have been the explosion."
"Bill, what's the lay of the land around here? Where can we go?" Remus asked. The Burrow was no longer an option. Thick smoke still billowed angrily into the sky from over the hill, now nearly a mile away over open fields.
"There's a village, a couple of miles upstream. A witch lives in a house just this side of town. We can run under cover of the trees most of the way," Bill explained hurriedly.
Harry shook his head, still panting hard. "A couple of miles?" He was cold and exhausted and shivered violently. Remus looked at him with concern.
"The more time we can give you the better," he said. "Roxanne and I will stay behind and hold them off."
"But, Remus, how-" began Sirius.
"We'll apparate out together when we've done all we can. We'll meet you back at Hogwarts."
Sirius nodded. Roxanne took off her robes and placed them over Harry's shoulders. "It's not much, but it's dry," she said pulling them tightly around him and fastening them at his throat. Harry smiled gratefully.
The voices of Death Eaters drifted toward them out of the trees. Sirius, Bill, Harry, and George started off, sprinting along the line of trees.
Remus took Roxanne's hand. "Scared?"
She nodded, but gritted her teeth determinedly and drew her wand from her jeans pocket. "Me too," he whispered. They headed straight back through the trees, following the echoing voices, moving to intercept the Death Eaters.
Remus spotted them first and bellowed a disarming charm at the one nearest to him. The others turned toward his voice and came charging at him. Remus leapt sideways stumbling into a heavy clump of brush as Roxanne bellowed another curse and ran southward, trying to draw them away from their pursuit of Harry. But the leader stopped them from following.
"Leave them to me! Go after the boy!" he snarled. It was Lucius Malfoy. Roxanne went cold at the sound of his voice.
Remus' robes had become tangled in the clump of briers and he was struggling to free himself, to regain his feet. He pulled his body right out of his robes and spun just in time to take the full force of Malfoy's curse in the chest. Roxanne was running toward them. She heard the shouted curse, saw Remus go down, watched as Malfoy's cold sneer turned to her as he slowly raised his wand.
A blast of green light came from the trees over Malfoy's shoulders, striking him squarely in the back. His wand flew from his hand and he fell stiffly forward, a look of mild surprise on his face.
Roxanne skidded to a halt as a masked Death Eater stepped from the trees and bent over Malfoy, turning him onto his back. He then moved to Remus, pulling back his hood and removing his mask. It was Severus Snape. Roxanne rushed forward and fell beside Remus. His eyes were wide and panicked. He clutched at his throat, his mouth gaping, working feverishly to take in some air. He grasped Roxanne's shoulders, clinging desperately to her. She flung her arms around him and pulled him up cradling him in her lap. Snape crouched next to them, his head hanging, his hand rubbing at his forehead.
"Do something!" Roxanne sobbed at him. "He's dying!"
"There is nothing I can do," Snape whispered slowly.
"The hospital wing-" she began.
"There is no time!" he hissed. "He's nearly gone now."
Snape spoke the truth.
"His wand!" she said desperately. "Where is his wand!" She searched the ground, but could not see the wand. Snape stood and hurriedly searched among the brush. Remus gripped Roxanne's hand tightly, his knuckles white, his hands cold and shaking, as if holding her with all his strength could save his life. But his struggles were weakening. His lips and fingernails were deep blue now, his eye were rolling into the back of his head.
"Remus!" she screamed. "Don't leave me! Please, don't go!" But after a final shudder, his body lay still, his grip on her hand suddenly lax.
Roxanne clutched his body, rocking back and forth on her knees, gasping and sobbing. Snape stood, his head bowed, letting her grieve. But time was very short. Sirius and Harry were still in desperate danger and Severus intended to do what he could for them, but he refused to leave her alone here, clinging to her dead husband.
"Roxanne," he said firmly after her sobs quieted a little, "we must leave. Mr. Potter still needs our help."
"No," she said flatly. "I won't leave Remus."
Snape bent and grasped her arm tightly. "We're going now!" he growled, pulling her to her feet, letting Remus' body slide from her lap and onto the ground. She fought to free herself, cursing him, trying to hit him, anything to get back to Remus. He held her by both elbows now and shook her hard. "He's not there! He's gone! Listen to what I say. Staying here crying over his remains will do nothing to bring him back or-or to avenge his death," Snape hissed. "You must do what he would want you to do- you must go on, and you must do it now!"
Roxanne's legs buckled beneath her and she sank to her knees, Snape still holding her arms. She took a deep breath and nodded slowly.
Snape helped her up, picked her wand from the ground and gave it to her. She held it without feeling it, took a last long look at Remus' face then turned and followed Snape through the trees.
"Have you learned to apparate yet?" Snape asked quickly as they ran together.
"No, but-but I can fly," she stammered.
Snape's step faltered, his mouth open, as Roxanne transformed and climbed through the trees, disappearing in the tangle of branches overhead. Clearing the trees she sped northward, following the stream. She spotted the Death Eaters nearly a mile ahead of Snape and not a hundred yards behind Sirius, Bill, Harry, and George. She could see the village and the house on its edge-the one standing off from the others, surrounded by a high hedge. The witch that lived there should be warned that a half-dozen Death Eaters were heading straight for her. She swooped down and into the house through the open owl window. The elderly witch in the kitchen cried out in surprise and chased Roxanne around the room, swatting at her with a towel before pulling out her wand. Roxanne tried to transform quickly, but was not fast enough. A red blast shot from the witch's wand and Roxanne felt herself hurtling across the room, landing with a thud on the floor, unable to move.
The witch picked her up and smoothed her feathers, carefully checking the fragile wings and legs for breaks.
"You're all right then," she said fetching a leather string from a nearby drawer and tying it around Roxanne's taloned foot before releasing her from the curse.
Roxanne immediately transformed. The string snapped, but not before cutting into her flesh as her leg rapidly grew. The poor witch nearly fell over in her surprise, but quickly had her wand drawn again. "What do you want?" she shrieked.
"Please," Roxanne pleaded, holding out her empty hands. "We need help."
The witch eyed her suspiciously.
"It's Harry Potter. He's on his way here from the Weasley's."
"Harry Potter!" the witch said excitedly. "I'd best put on a pot for tea then."
"There's no time!" blustered Roxanne. "We've got to get Harry and George Weasley out of here-quickly! They're being chased-Death Eaters-six of them, maybe more!"
At these words the witch went very pale.
"Death Eaters?! You've led them here? How dare you!" She raised her wand to attack, but Roxanne was quicker and better prepared this time, pulling her wand from her pocket and bellowing a disarming charm. The witch's wand soared out the window and she stumbled backward, falling to the floor and landing on her plump behind. She scrambled to her feet and fled out the door, grabbing her broom as she went, not caring if her muggle neighbors saw her as she fled the terror descending on her home. Snape apparated into the room just as Bill and George came pounding to the door. Roxanne swung the door wide, letting it bang against the wall and they rushed through.
"Where are Harry and Sirius?" she asked urgently.
"They-they should be-right behind us," Bill gasped, steering George to the fireplace and taking the jar of floo powder from the mantle. George didn't need any urging-he was desperate to get out of this nightmare.
"Hogsmeade!" he shouted as his brothers and sister had done before at the Burrow. And in a swirl of green flame he was gone.
Snape had rushed out the door and was crouched behind the hedgerow, ready to defend Sirius and Harry. Bill and Roxanne passed him, running out into the road looking towards the stream for any sign of them. They came crashing out of the dense brush and pelted toward the house, Roxanne and Bill falling in behind them, glancing over their shoulders for Death Eaters, guarding their flight into the house. They could hear the Death Eater's voices and running footsteps coming fast. They heard Harry shout "Hogsmeade!" and the fizzing pop that told them he was safe now, then rushed in to find Sirius leaning against the stone mantelpiece, panting hard. He straightened when they came in, looked at Roxanne, then around the room.
"Roxanne--?" he began.
She shook her head quickly, her eyes brimming with tears. She couldn't explain-- not yet. Not until they were all safe. She swallowed hard and dashed out the door, transforming and disappearing over the hedge.
Roxanne found Lucius Malfoy easily enough. She landed near his still form, watching his chest rise and fall rhythmically. She transformed and looked at him with a hollow rage in her eyes, then searched the ground looking for- There! Just the right size. She stepped over Malfoy, pulled a heavy stone from the stream and carried it back. She knelt at Malfoy's head, cursed him and raised the stone high over her head, bringing it down with all the force she could manage, smashing his skull with a muffled crack. Blood splattered her hands and shirt and jeans. She waited until his breathing stopped and his heart stilled before going back to Remus.
**********
Sirius and Bill apparated into Hogsmeade as the Death Eaters descended on the house. Snape had disappeared moments before. Arthur Weasley was waiting for them and pointed them down the road toward Hogwarts.
"Harry and George are fine," he said, as they walked quickly along. Sirius sighed with relief. "We're still waiting on Roxanne and Remus. Do you know where they are?"
Sirius shook his head, his breathing shallow, his expression pained. "Remus is dead."
"Dad," said Bill, brow furrowed. "Charlie-"
Arthur's shoulders sagged and his back bowed. "Charlie too," he whispered.
"Roxanne flew off. I don't know where she is," said Sirius.
"We'll wait for a bit-she'll turn up," said Arthur.
**********
The walls of the large dining room in the Riddle house were lined with black-cloaked wizards and witches. A large fire roared in the grate, an ominous figure standing silhouetted before it. "You failed me once again!" it spat, its red slitted eyes sparking ferociously. "Arthur Weasley lives, and the boy. What a stroke of luck to find him there. Still you failed to bring him to me! Who is responsible for this?!" Voldemort shrieked.
One wizard stepped forward. "Malfoy," he said.
"Malfoy? Where is Lucius?" The red eyes narrowed.
"I killed him," the wizard said simply.
"Explain, Mr. Snape" hissed Voldemort.
"It was the girl. He allowed her to distract him. He left us, leaderless, to deal with her," Snape said coldly. "So, I killed him."
Voldemort nodded. "And placed yourself in a better position as well, of course," he said shrewdly. "Well done, Severus."
Snape bowed low and stepped back into line.
**********
It was nearly nightfall before Sirius found Roxanne, lying on the ground, her arm over Remus' chest, her hand gripping two wands tightly. Her skin was cold and she did not move when he shook her lightly. She was unconscious and breathing shallowly. Sirius grasped her hand and took a portkey from his pocket. They were transported to Hogsmeade. Sirius carried her silently to the hospital wing where Albus Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall waited and laid her gently onto a bed. "I'll be back. I'm going for Remus."
Dumbledore nodded.
**********
Roxanne felt herself jolted out of nothingness, feeling as if she'd only just begun to breathe again after falling into black water. She coughed at the sour smell in her nostrils that seemed to shoot into her brain. Her eyes refused to focus The room spun madly around her. She could just make out a solid black and white form hovering over her and sensed that it was tormenting her with the sour smell.
"Leave me alone," she groaned, swatting her hands at the shape.
"Stop that!" scolded Madame Pomfrey's voice, as if through a tunnel. "I'll not be batted at like a fly."
Roxanne felt a warm hand on her forehead and saw another shape loom over her.
"Roxanne," it said, "it's Professor Dumbledore. Can you hear me?"
She drew a deep rasping breath and coughed, squeezing her eyes tightly shut. But when she opened them again she found she could see a little better, though her head pounded. She was propped up in a bed in the hospital wing. She could hear many voices echoing quietly through the large room. Sirius sat in a chair nearby, looking very exhausted. She looked further into the room and spotted Harry, George and Molly Weasley in nearby beds. Harry and George were sleeping comfortably. Mrs. Weasley wept quietly for her lost son.
Roxanne sat up suddenly, feeling for her and Remus' wands in her pockets, but her jeans were gone. She wore soft pajamas instead. She searched frantically among the sheets, but finally spotted them lying on the bedside table. She snatched them up and sighed with relief, clutching them to her chest, and sinking back onto the pillows.
"Roxanne," said the Headmaster again. "What happened to Lucius Malfoy?" he asked. She was a little surprised at the question. Why did he care? Why wasn't he asking what had happened to Remus, to Charlie?
She looked him square in the eyes, her expression suddenly cold. "I killed him," she whispered. "I smashed his head with a rock. He killed Remus." She began to sob, shaking and gasping. "He-He killed-Remus!" she growled through clenched teeth. Sirius was by her side now, his hand taking hers. He knelt by the bed, holding her tightly, his head bowed, crying silently into the sheets.
