Here they come, over and done for. Enjoy and forgive the massive unedit-ness. It will get better.
Chapter Nineteen: From Valor and Duty
"Expecto Patronum!"
Harry Potter stopped mid-stride and turned to stare out the window as silver sparks filled the air and began to form the image of bear that fell into a charge straight towards the Forbidden Forest. He ignored Professor Vector and the other teachers as they ushered the kids into the Great Hall and walked to the window. It was still dark, although in the distance the beginnings of morning was peering over the canopy like dark blood, clouding the stars and making the shadows play tricks.
But those weren't shadows that were moving.
Slow, and gray like the very night was swaying in the breeze came figures staggering towards the castle; their cowled heads rocking back and forth to the steady beat of Harry's heart. At this distance, Dementor magic would affect him but memory did. He thought he felt the air to ice around him, pricking at his skin and his birthing a deep unease somewhere under his heart. He started to shake uncontrollably as he staggered back from the window. His vision began to cloud as he felt himself falling backwards.
And then next thing he was aware of hazel brown eyes staring into his. Angelo Malone pushed Harry back to his feet and ran a hand over his robe, soothing the wrinkles down and looking over Harry before settling back on his face. "You above all people shouldn't be lingering here, Potter."
"What's happening, Angie?"
"The war, and your part have not yet come."
Gideon Mallory's voice cut off whatever reply Harry had. "Harry? Angelo? Go on guys, into the Great Hall. I have enough problems without losing two of Dumbledore's kids. He'll never forgive me."
"Mallory!" Shouted a voice from the far end of the hall. It was a young looking man who had shrugged on his navy uniform to quickly to give off the neat, streamlined appearance the Aurors were famous for. He ran a hand through his straw colored hair and struggled to catch his breath. "Desmond said Red platoon's line is broken. We need to call Arsan for reinforcements!"
"What about Hecate?"
"There's no contact with the Compound. No one can even Apprate over there."
Gideon cursed under his breath and turned to follow the younger Auror. "Angelo, take him to the Great Hall and stay there!"
"Yes sir." Angelo muttered as he took hold of Harry's arm.
They waited till Gideon had disappeared from sight before exchanging glances. Harry grabbed Angelo's arm and pulled him to follow. "Come on, I know an other way out."
"Is this wise?"
"No, but let's do it anyways." Harry pulled out his wand, waited for Angelo to follow suit before turning the corner and racing down the hall.
"Prince?" The voice called, quietly over the din of battle. Snape readjusted the grip on his wand and turned slowly, unaware of what exactly to expect. There was a long uneasy silence before it continued. "Are you alone?"
Snape frowned in recognition. "Choice?"
Choice was walking to him slowly, his cobalt blue eyes staring at him wearily through the blond strands that fell over his face and made him seem older somehow, weaker. He pushed his hands out from under the sleeves of his gray cloak to pull the hood from his face and Snape could see where he had been crying. Against his will, Snape took a step away from him, waiting.
"Of all the people I have sinned, I fear it is you I have wronged most, father." Choice said, slowly. "But please understand it was not my intent, nor was it ever my wish to wrong you…it just happened, like most of the greatest sins happen in war, purely by chance. Kaiya was my world, father, you have to understand that. She might have been your redemption but she was my life. Do you know what it's like to lose that? Yes, I suppose you do…" He frowned as if some memory haunted him suddenly. He licked his lips, and shook his head slowly, pulling his wand and motioning helplessly. "But, I'm not as strong as you father, I'm not willing to say goodbye."
"Don't call me father." Snape whispered quietly. By now he had aimed his wand at Choice and was searching for the strength that Choice spoke of. One curse, two words, was all that was needed. He didn't know what sins Choice was talking about, but he knew the tone. That voice was no longer the boy Snape had loved as a son, no longer the ally he had fought with. It was just a shell of the warrior who had lost his cause, and now fought mainly to stop feeling the pain of disillusionment. "Just turn around and walk away, Choice. I never saw you. Just go." He swallowed to keep his voice from breaking. "Please Choice, just run."
"There's no where to run to, Severus. There's already blood on my hands- both Jackie's and now Erised's…"
"Jacqueline?" Severus almost stumbled. He felt weak suddenly, painfully weak. He wanted to fall and mourn but knew he could not.
Before the night was over, there would be more to keep Jackie company.
"Don't worry, Dark Prince…" Called another voice, one easier to fight against. Snape turned and watched Radella jerk the hair away from her face. "We're not going to kill you. That's Mordred's job. We'll just here to have some fun."
Severus never heard the curse that hit him, Choice merely drew it on the air and released it, and it sent Snape flying a meter. Snape hissed as he heard something break in the general area of his ribcage and knew it was probably not a good thing. He grunted and jumped to feet. "Okay, fun it is. Incedio!"
From a safe distance, Imre's slave stopped and lingered long enough to see Choice repel Snape's curse and send another in turn. Snape sidestepped it to avoid the curse, scanning the area for cover and the safest place to hold his ground. Such rudimentary Auror skills, the slave thought it was funny, and was half tempted to join the battle to teach Snape a lesson in true Auror combat. But then again, Severus had never been a willing student when it came to combat and martial arts. He thought his name made him king and that was enough. The slave had known better. He had earned his title as Hecate Prince, earned it by his blood and his sweat.
And frown came to the slave's worn features as the scene brought memory back and made him remember.
He remembered…
The man pulled back from the scene, frowning against images he knew, loved but did not recall- not fully. It was like reading a story and knowing each character by heart, like a thinly veiled deja vu of another time he could not fit together.
And somewhere deep within him, in the place his soul once was, it began to ache.
But these were things he did not understand and Imre would not explain so he would trust his Master and continue. He had his errand to finish.
It was sometime between the broken nose and the bruised wrist that Remus decided he wasn't a soldier. They were too clam, too control to be truly strong and powerful. They followed a protocol, a code that was an attempt to make everything understood and controlled. Death and warfare was not so clean cut, not so understandable. It was simply what it was, and those who truly acknowledged its beauty understood that. Ezra had taught him that. He had taught Remus that he was not a soldier.
He was hunter.
Remus rose to his full height and howled in pain, rolling his back and flexing his jaw to regain his focus. Leaning forward, he flexed his fingers holding them poised like claws, and secretly he wished it were a full moon overhead. This would be a lot more fun with fur. He turned quietly and clenched his teeth together, allowing a deep, thick growl to come slowly as he turned his head.
It was through the sweat, and bloodlust that he smelled his pack leader. Remus howled again, struggling to remain calm despite eagerness of battle. He was panting hard.
And then he heard it, behind him. It was so small, he almost missed it over the screams of the dying, the Auror battle cries or the howls of the other wolves. The sound was quite literally a twig snapping underfoot as someone tried to sneak up on him. He waited two seconds longer, before swinging about and seizing at the neck of the oncoming attacker.
"Professor Lupin!"
Remus blinked and looked his the victim. Angelo Malone writhed in Remus' arms, clutching at the hands to free his throat. He released the boy and stood back, aghast. "Angie? What the hell are you doing here?"
Angelo was rubbing his throat and jerked his head at Harry, unready to talk just yet. Harry shrugged. "I thought we could help."
"I almost killed you! Get back inside, with the others where you belong."
"With all due respect, sir. You should be inside with the civilians as well." Angelo whispered, "And if anyone needs to be out here, it is Harry Potter. I mean, he is the reason behind this mess after all."
Remus bit his lip, looking at Harry sternly. "Sirius won't be happy about this."
"Neither will Professor Moon from what I hear." Angelo quipped.
"And how do you know about me and Amissa?"
"Oh so it's Amissa now…" Harry said, grinning. "Good job, she's hot!"
Before Remus could reply a "Crucio!" was shouted, and it was Angelo who reacted first. He jumped forward, pushing Harry down and getting hit in the back by the hex. Angelo screamed as he fell forward. Remus was on his knees beside him a moment later.
Peter Pettigrew withdrew his wand, quickly once he saw Remus and Harry. It took two seconds between Peter's revelation and his inevitable fleeing for Harry to take off after him. Remus cursed under his breath and moved to follow.
Angelo reached out and grabbed his hand. "No sir, don't leave me!"
Remus exhaled and squeezed. "You'll be okay, Angie. Hold on." He turned his head, looking for the nearest Auror. "Desmond! We need a medic over here!"
Desmond looked over and shook his head. "If you can talk, you'll have to wait, the medics are undermanned!"
"I have a kid over here!"
"What the hell are they…" Desmond sighed and nodded, "I'll get help, hold on!" He turned, "Gideon, I'm heading inside, cover me!"
Gideon turned and nodded tersely. His silver Patronus (dragon shaped) was repelling Dementors in short order but he was visibly tiring. The Dementors seemed to have centered on him, descending on him like a swam of bees. The dragon was beginning to flicker as fatigue overcame him, but still he fought. Desmond gritted his teeth and took a step forward.
"Desmond, if you come any fucking nearer, I'll AK you myself!" Gideon shouted. "Get help for Remus now!"
"I can't leave you!"
"That's an order!" Gideon turned and smiled. "I'll see you up top, kid!" He turned back just as a Dementor broke through his dragon and flung him across the field. "Is that the best you can do? I'm Gideon Draco Malfoy, God himself can't kill me!" He rolled over and threw the Dementor back. "Now, come, let's try again…"