Standing Outside the Fire

A.N. This is like the fifth time I've typed this chapter up and tried to upload it on
FF.net. Hopefully this time will work. I'm trying REALLY hard to get this stuff right,
so please be patient with me. Thank you.

Disclaimers: The title of this chapter is from a Garth Brooks song. It seemed appropriate
for the chapter. I don't own Harry Potter or any characters from the popular series.
I do, however, own the Tenshi. The Tenshi are a group of real-life people who are my
friends. I have permission from them to use their identies in this story. Don't steal
them, please. They are real people with real identities and personalities, most of which
are presented truthfully in the story. Thank you.



Everybody in the room stood up.

"What happened?' Dumbledore asked. His voice was a low whisper, his deep blue eyes
full of rage.
"Fire. Death Eaters. The Death Eaters burned down at least half the school. We don't know if
anybody escaped or not. You are needed there."
"Summon the rest of the Order at once." Dumbledore told the Tenshi.
"Yes sir." With a nod, they Apperated out of the room.
"Ron, Harry. You will come with us. You too, Sirius and Remus. You will be needed."
When the group arrived at Hogwarts, there was only blackness. Everywhere the
group looked, there was ashes and darkness.

"Oh my gosh." Nicole gasped. Ron looked. The Tenshi had appeared.
"Sir. We couldn't reach the rest of the Order. We think this may be an all-out attack
against the Order sir." Riley whispered.
"How could this have happened?" Robin asked, her voice quiet.

Snape looked at Dumbledore. HIs eyes were full of pain and his skin was paler than usual.
"I'm sorry Headmaster. They wanted me prove me loyalties. HE was even there, watching.
I had too. I'm sorry." He said, his voice quiet and rid of it's usual sneer.

Ron snapped. "You mean to say, that YOU did this?! That you caused this because
they questioned your loyalty? How could you? You may have killed people? Do you know
where the students are? Where the teachers are? What about our friends? Where's Hermione?
Tell me!"

"I don't know. I'm sorry. How could you even begin to understand what was going on?
I didn't want to do this. Would you like to be put under the Imperious and Cruciatus Curse?
That's what they do, boy. That's their idea of fun. And if you do something good, they
torture you even more. I have to keep my place, otherwise You and Potter here, would have been
dead last year." Snape sneered.

Ron jumped towards Snape, only to be stopped by Remus. "We need to act together Ron.
There is no way that we can stand divided. Don't you see? As much as you hate him,
he is part of the team. We may very well be the only people alive who can defeat Voldemort."

"Well then the world is looking at a very sad hope, don't you think?" A cold voice behind the group sneered.
Everybody turned around. "Very good, Severus. I really was beginning to doubt that
your plan would work. But your mind is as cunning as ever it seems."

"Thank you Lucius. Now we must give the Master what he wants." Snape said, in a cold, emotionless
voice.
"Yes of course." Lucius saaid, pulling out his wand. He pointed it towards Harry.
"NOOOOOO!!!!" Sirius cried, running towards Harry. Lucius muttered a spell.
Right before the spell hit Harry, somebody jumped in front of him. Sirius stopped where
he was and looked down at Riley. The spell had hit her squarely in the chest and she was
unconscious.
Lucius laughed and looked at Snape. Snape nodded, pulled out his wand and pointed it
towards Ron. He muttered the same spell, "Stupify" and sent the spell towards Ron.
Nicole jumped in front of Ron and Lucius pointed his wand towards Robin and Robin
also fell to the effects of the spell.

"NOOOOO!!!" Sirius yelled.
"Sorry, old fool. You can no longer do anything." Lucius laughed. Suddenly Riley, Nicole, and Robin dissapered
along with Lucius Malfoy.