Author Note: Kudos to Toby Keith and whoever the hell wrote War and Fortune One. If you haven't heard them, look for them- they kick booty. Anyways, enjoy!

Chapter Seventeen: Let Slip the Dogs of War

            Desmond Moody didn't know how long he had been staring at the back of Minister Mallory's head but he was certain of one thing. It wasn't the prettiest thing he had ever seen. He tilted his head, and stifled another yawn that was coming. In his head he could think of about a hundred things more amusing then sitting in the empty Great Hall of Hogwarts waiting for Armageddon to come. One slightly less boring thing would be sitting in the darkened Hecate with other Aurors, there was security in familiarity. He sighed and looked down at the table where his playing cards were spread out before him like a little army. He looked up again, and began to focus all his thoughts at the back of Gideon's head, wondering if his Jedi mind tricks would work on the Auror.

            Gideon Mallory was pacing slowly, thoughtfully through the empty hall. He looked distinctly uncomfortable in his stiff Minister robes and kept tugging on the collar. Desmond's eyes traveled to the man's hands, which were still covered by gloves. He had seen the scarred, deformed wrists before and knew that secretly, Gideon feared this injury would be his undoing. Desmond couldn't accept that. Gideon Mallory was simply not that easy to defeat. Nothing could harm him.

            Not even the Dark Lord himself.

            Desmond only needed to remind Gideon of this. He reached into his pant pocket and dug until his fingers found the rough texture of a tennis ball. He smiled a childish, naughty smile. "Heads up!"

            Gideon turned and ducked as soon as he saw the bright neon ball come flying at him. The ball bounced off the wall and flew back to Desmond who sprang forward to catch it. Gideon was staring at him, blankly. "Have you gone mad?"

            "No, why? Does it make it more interesting?"

            "Make what more interesting?"

            "This." Desmond chirped as he slammed the ball against the wall again, chuckling as Gideon again ducked for cover. "Wall Ball. Don't tell me you've never played this."

            Gideon was staring at him as if Desmond had just sprouted horns from the back of his head. "No, I can't say I have."

            "It's a very simple game, even your Snake mind should understand it. The ball is round, the wall is flat and the rest is mostly details. I bounce the ball off the wall, and you have to try and catch it before it bounces twice off the floor. If you don't, you have to race to the wall before I pelt you with the ball." Desmond smirked. "Simple right? Let's play."

            And with that, he threw the ball again. It slammed hard against the stone wall sending echoes throughout the hall. Gideon flinched at first from the sound but recovered in time to catch the ball. He looked down at his hand in awe and shook his wrist as if to ensure it wasn't injured. Discovering it wasn't caused him to smirk and toss the ball to the wall, watching Desmond catch it and return it.

            Desmond smiled as they played for a few minutes in silence before starting in a low, almost silent voice to sing. "A man come on six o'clock news, said somebody's been shot, somebody's been abused. Said somebody blew up a building, someone stole a car; somebody got away, somebody didn't get too far."

            The smile on Gideon's face was priceless. "Oh they didn't get too far." He looked over and continued. "Oh my granddaddy told my daddy back in my day son, a man had to answer for the wicked he'd done. Grab all the rope in Texas, find tall oak tree, round up all those little bad boys, and hang em high from the tree. For all the people to see."

            It was Desmond's turn again. "For all the people to see."

            Then in their beautiful off-key voices they half-sang; half-shouted the chorus. "Because justice is the one thing you should always find, you got to saddle up your boys, you got to draw a hard line!  When the gun smoke settles we'll sing a victory tune and we'll all gather around at the local saloon! We'll raise up our glasses against evil forces, singing Whiskey for my men and beer for my Horses!"

            There was a small flare of laughter behind them, causing both men to spin on their heels to the doorway. Amissa was laughing, and clapping her hands together. "You Aurors and your drinking songs." She chided as she walked in. "It's all you can think about." She walked to the table were Desmond had abandoned his cards and sat down. "I know a better song."

            Both men smiled at each other and waiting. The ball was rolling across the large floor abandoned now. Amissa picked up the King of Hearts, called the Suicide King, and smiled. "War, huh. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing!"

            "Say it again, now!" Gideon shouted, laughing. "War, huh! What is it good for? Absolutely nothing."

            Desmond began to clap his hands to the beat as Amissa sang it in a low, guttural voice. Gideon was dancing slowly, moving his arms close to the body and attempt to sway like if he had rhythm. This continued in one incarnation or another with the songs varying from the patriotic and classic "soldier" songs to the fiercest of Anti-War songs. Songs like these were often used to move the spirit and urge the passion to one side of the cause or another but Desmond, Gideon, and Amissa didn't cared much for passion or sides right now. Night was waning and tensions were high so things like those didn't really matter. They didn't have to be the closest of friends, or even friends for that matter, the only thing that was important to them was at that moment was that life was being enjoyed. 

            Gideon laughed again, as he finished singing Fortunate One. He jumped down from the Ravenclaw table he had used as his stage and took a bow with a deep flourish.  Desmond laughed and favored him with a standing ovation while Amissa just sat watching him with eyes that echoed both great joy and great sorrow. Mallory saw this and walked over, collapsing into the seat beside her.

            "So," He mused. "Why aren't you asleep, Professor Moon. You got classes tomorrow."

            "I couldn't sleep. What about you? Why are you and Desmond the only ones up? With all the Navies that Hawke sent over here, I thought you'd guys would be running all around this place."

"Since we don't know when the Dark Lord is going to attack," Gideon answered, "I didn't think it wise to have all my boys up at one time and getting fatigued. I set up sentries all around the grounds, in case they decide to show up. Six are on the ground, mostly around the Forest, with me and Desmond inside." He looked at her. "You'd be surprise how huge this place is."

"Really? This place is a lot smaller then I remember it, but a lot more lonely."

            "Lonely?" Desmond laughed. "From what Sean A's been saying, you're romancing the DADA professor."

            "Lupin?" Gideon winced. "Oh Amissa, I always hoped that taste for Gryffindor flesh was just some awkward teen phase."

            "Oh shut up, Gideon, don't make me start on about your love interest."

            "There is and will always be only Chandra, thank you kindly."

            "Which is why you married Clara right?"

            "I was making sure Chandra was the one. Besides, it's not like I left Chandra while I was married to Clara or anything."

            "You and your brothers are exactly the same, you know that."

            "At least we don't like lions!" Gideon snapped back. He turned to Desmond. "What does Sean say about Lupe and Missy here?"

            "Well, he said during his watch once he saw those two making out in front of Amissa's room and her practically force him inside."

            "Meow."

            "I didn't force him! And what is Sean doing spying on me?"

            "He wasn't. He was patrolling."

            "You forget my sister was a Kaga. She used that patrol excuse all the time. It's spying."

            "May I continue?"

            "NO!"

            "Don't listen to her, Des. Go on."

            "Finish and die, Desi."

            "Hmm," Desmond paused to consider his options. Flashing a beautiful smile, he turned to Gideon. "Anyways, Sean says they've been cuddling and stealing kisses in dark corners ever since."

            "But no more bedroom romps?"

            "No." Amissa said quickly. She looked smugly at Gideon. "Remus, unlike you, is a gentleman and wants to take his time and let the relationship proceed slowly."

            Gideon looked unfazed by the insult. "Must be driving you nuts." He said, smartly.

            "Oh you have no idea." She whined. She stuck out her tongue at him playfully and shrugged. "So, anyways, tell me what's been going on at Hecate?"

            "Well, Hawke and Sky are still trying to have a baby but still no luck. Your daughter Lexa is currently seeing some bigwig from Holms College."

            "Oh, Lexa's found herself a Potions Master has she? I'm insulted. She hasn't called."

            "Well, I hear it's not a he."

            "WHAT?"

            "Armsmen?"

            Both men snapped their heads to the doorway, and Gideon went so far as to stand when he saw Dumbledore. Amissa recoiled from view, as if she knew Albus was bringing some news that she knew would be unwelcome and despised. Dumbledore met her eyes first, before speaking. "Gideon, Desmond, I think you better come with me."

            "Is something wrong?"

            "Amissa, this concerns you as well." The Headmaster said, turning. "Please, go get your Runes and meet me in the infirmary."

            Amissa stood as if she wanted to ask something but so many years as a Hecate medic had told her when someone uses the tone of voice Albus did, it was best not to ask questions and just follow orders. Gideon and Desmond exchanged curious glances before following Dumbledore. The infirmary was barely lit when they entered. They saw Poppy moving hurriedly back and forth between the bed on the opposite side of the room, kept well away from the door and her office where she kept the majority of her potions. Near the bed, they could make out the hunched over figure of a man who was holding the hand of the patient on the bed.

            Gideon recognized the man first. "You shouldn't be here, Alex. Not with all that's about to happen. You shouldn't be here."

            "I'm sorry." Snape looked up, startled. He sounded like a chastised child. "She was attacked…I had to come."

            "Gideon, that's Becka Stallens. What was she doing out here?" Desmond murmured, stepping back from the bed, repulsed. "Who did this? What did they do to her?"

            Snape turned his attention back to the woman, caressing her maimed hand tenderly. He tilted his head, and brought it to his lips. "Something they'll regret."

            The woman had been squirming on the bed, caught in delirium that showed no sign of release her. She was muttering in low, feverish tones in languages Gideon and Desmond could not understand- sometime Turkish, sometime Gaelic, and others in mixtures of Germanic or Arabic languages. Occasionally, her whole body would seize up from fear as she tried to scream but found no strength too.

            "Don't let go of my hand, Angel." Snape looked as if he would have taken if every injury she had onto himself if he could. "Don't leave me."

            Her eyes parted as she turned, her hazy eyes shifting focus. She moved her fingers slightly in his and smiled. "Still afraid of being alone, Beauty? You shouldn't be."

            "I'm not afraid of being alone. I'm afraid of death."

            "Can I tell you a secret?" She laughed and when she did so Jack the Ripper's scar on her neck shook. "Me too."

            "And here I thought you weren't afraid of anything." Snape watched as Poppy came nearer with bandages. She was working on Ari's torso and the look of growing desperation birthed a creeping fear in the pit of his stomach. She glanced up at him and shook her head grimly.

            Ari was looking at Gideon and Desmond's faces enviously. She seemed to read her fate in their eyes. Swallowing, she turned back to Snape. "Do you believe in God, Bela?"

"What?"

"In God. If I die, say a prayer for me. Maybe that way He'll forgive me, maybe you can forgive me too…"

            "What are you talking about?" He said, looking at her.

            "I need to know someone forgives me." She turned her head, eyes closing in slumber.

            Snape shook her shoulders. "Erised? Don't…don't leave me. Not yet. Don't you do this to me!"

            Desmond turned as the door opened. "Amissa!"

            Amissa was walking towards them, only to stop dead when she saw her supposed patient. Her eyes widen in shock before turning cold as memory and bitterness replaced the most basic of love and devotion. Dumbledore was searching her face for some glimmer of forgiveness and saw none. It was not yet time for that.  Forgiveness and healing would have to wait till death and destruction had come. He knew that grim truth better then anyone.

            Amissa shook her head from her dream and continued to the bed, "Out of my way. I honestly you doubt you care that much about your bed buddy and trust me, she won't even remember your name in the morning."

            "I'm sorry?" Snape said as he rose.

            "Alexander…I never thought I'd see you again." She said softly, before opening her pouch and letting the Runes fall into her hand. "I'd hug you but right now I better save her."

            "Thank you." He whispered.

            Amissa snorted angrily. "Trust me, if you knew her like I did you wouldn't be thanking me. She doesn't deserve mercy."

            "Then why are you helping her?"

            "Because this isn't mercy. Life is worst for her." She was looking at Ari and slapped her cheek. "Hey, creature! Wake up. That's an order." She had to repeat this a few times before she got a reaction.

            Ari moved her head. "Yes, milady."

            "Stay with me, you old drunk, do you hear me?"

            "Yes ma'am."

            "Good, because this is really going to hurt."

            Gideon walked over and rested his hand on Snape's shoulder. "Come on, you better let Amissa work."

            Snape stood, watching Amissa and Erised as he stepped away. "What happened to them, Gideon? They use to be sisters. They use to love each other. What happened?"

            "Time." Gideon whispered. "What did you think you were coming home to?"

            "Not all this death." He turned, clapping his hand over Gideon's. "I left life and joy behind. I never thought I would return to pain."

            "I'm sorry. We weren't as strong you thought we were."

            Desmond was studying them. "What happened out there with her?"

            "She was attacked in Hogsmeade, I only saw a Vampire but it didn't make sense." Snape frowned. "He acted like if he cared for her. I can't see he doing something like that to her only to attempt to bring her over."

            "If he was a clan leader then no other Vampire would have touched her either." Gideon said, slowly as he tugged on his gloves. "Albus spoke of the Werewolves and Vampires allying again, under Voldemort. It could have been the wolves or Death Eaters. Maybe they wanted to attack her to scare us."

            "But why would they attack her?" Desmond asked. "Why not you? You're the general of the forces here. And if they wanted to scare us, why would the vampire turn her?"

            "He wasn't trying to scare us." Snape said, turning back and looking hard at Erised. Amissa had begun to cast the Runes, and was chanting in a language that made the windows of the infirmary ice over. Trough his training in the Coven's unnamable magic, he could feel the mood of the room change; grow stronger and charged as Amissa tapped into the deep Magic that was her legacy. She was so deep into her craft now that even her breath began to freeze, and become visible. Ari's body was reacting to magic by slowing down- allowing the Runes battle her delirium and fatigue while her Kaga engineering began to focus on mending the wounds. Snape turned his head to look at Amissa's face. She had tears that were freezing to her pale cheeks.

            So there is still love there, he thought to himself, there is still hope.

            Amissa's hands had found Ari's and she was staring at it, searching with her mind for some spell or incantation that would restore the lost fingers. Turning and staring at Ari's face once more, Amissa put her hand to her cheek and whispered something in Runic to Ari. Then she leaned down and pulled a necklace from around Ari's neck and set it on the table. Snape picked it up and turned it over in his hands.

            Under the thin coat of frost that he brushed away, he could feel the fight of an Angel, poised to destroy the Devil who was underfoot. Snape closed his eyes. "It wasn't about fear."

            "What do you know, Alex?" Gideon asked. "Why was she attacked?"

             "It was about silence." Snape said. "She's St. Michael. Lucius told me Mordred had ordered her death… The Vampires and Werewolves were acting on his orders. They wanted to make sure St. Michael didn't tell us…"

            "Tell us what?"

            Snape's hand became a fist, as he thought back to Memory. He had never occurred to him why Lucius was there in an attempt to make him retake the throne. Lucius' desperation made sense now but only if he linked them to the Vampire's words, and Ari's attack. There was a fear that had been growing in Severus' stomach since he had seen Ari, a sort of spent desperation as he tried to gaze into a smoky glass and clearly see the other side. "It's happening…the Dark Lord, the Prince…they're attacking."          

            "What?" Desmond shouted.

            "Are you certain?" Gideon said.

            Snape met their eyes. "I have to get home!" Snape said, helplessly before rushing into Poppy's office to find a fireplace.

Gideon was two seconds after him in reaction. He spun on his heels. "Desmond! Wake up the others! Have them gear up, and send Red and Blue platoon out in sweeps of Hogsmeade and the Forbidden Forest."

"Yes, sir!"

Gideon made his way to the doors, before pausing short. He could feel Dumbledore and Poppy's eyes burning holes into the back of his skull. Dumbledore was a better wizard then he could ever hope to be, let Albus was looking to him for guidance because Gideon was the Auror and that made him a hero. He inhaled. "Headmaster, I think you better wake your teachers and have them take the children into the Great Hall."

"Right away, Minister." Dumbledore said, walking forward and resting a hand on Gideon's shoulder. "You'll get through this." He whispered assuredly.

Gideon forced up a smile. "I'll see you up top."

Severus Snape was vaguely aware of entering the office before being thrown to the floor by an explosion. He rose to his haunches, pressing his back against the wall and craning his head to see outside. From this distance, he could see the large, overwhelming blaze of one of the older buildings and hear the shouts as Auror called to Auror to regroup or engage. He could see the Death Eater masks glint under the raising moon and cringe as someone near the window cried out in death.

The war had indeed begun.

Snape shrugged out of his coat and felt his hand catch on his cuff.  He made a fist and pulled, hearing the coat rip as he freed himself. He stared at the necklace in his hand before slipping it over his neck and kissing the pendent, letting it fall over his shirt. Then, he pulled his wand and left the office room, making his way down the abandoned hall. He stopped just shy of entering the plaza.

Inhaling, he glanced up for a split second and muttered, "You see? I believe in you, you better not screw me over."

            That said, he threw himself into the battle.