Chapter 10 Mac Lir
Taking one look, Snape knew this was trouble. Remus Lupin was standing in front of Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, preventing this man from doing anymore harm, it was obvious that Malfoy had already been attacked. Quickly pushing Catri behind him, Severus took out his wand as the man turn around to face him.
"No Severus don't" cried Remus and Cat at the same time. Unfortunately it was too late, Manann Mac Lir had already seen him preparing to attack, with little more than a glance and a wave of his hand, Severus was thrown against the wall, taking several tables and chairs with him.
"Stop. Please" screamed Cat, as she rushed to Snape's side. Lupin swiftly ran to block Manann Mac Lir's path.
"You will return with me now, daughter of Clan MacLeod." Manann Mac Lir spoke, oblivious to the scene in front of him.
"You've hurt him" Cat glared angrily at Manann "he was only trying to protect me."
"Which proves my point child. How can they protect you, they can hardly protect themselves." Mac Lir replied, shaking his head sadly.
"I can protect myself......and them" she answered coldly, her eyes narrowing slightly "I won't let anyone else suffer for my sake." her voice was quaking and her eyes were filled with tears, "I won't, I refuse to allow this." she finished, her tears falling freely.
Mac Lir looked at her sadly "There is no point to this child, you are endangering yourself being here. I am sorry for your pain, but I must insist." So saying Mac Lir raised his hands and lowered his head, suddenly a wind began to rise inside the pub swirling around Cat and Mac Lir.
Realizing Mac Lir was preoccupied, Draco Malfoy sensed his chance to escape, grabbing Crabbe and Goyle, they ran behind the combatants bursting out of the Three Broomstick screaming madly and running straight past Ron and Harry.
"What do you suppose happened to them?" says Ron, a wide grin on his face.
"Uh... Ron..... nothing good" replies a concerned Harry staring at the pub. "Didn't Remus go in there about five minutes ago?"
Looking at the Three Broomsticks, Harry and Ron where speechless, the best way to describe it would be if you could imagine a lightning storm happening inside instead of outside. The wind was amazing, and the flashes of light were almost blinding, and they could swear that they heard a woman screaming.
Ron just looked at Harry "Let me guess, we have to go in there, right?" he said sarcastically.
"Ron, Remus is in there, what if he's hurt?" pleaded Harry, "How many times has he saved us? We have to Ron. Please."
Forcing the door open, Harry and Ron were practically blown over by the strength of the battle within. Standing in front of them was a rare and spectacular site. Manann Mac Lir, his silver hair flowing around him like a halo, was attacking Miss MacLeod. His eyes had turned completely grey now, there was no colour to them at all, and all around him was a strange silvery grey light, pulsating like a heart beat. Harry watched as this light gathered itself around him, concentrating into a bright ball of lightning that Mac Lir hurled at MacLeod.
No one could hear Harry screaming as the energy ball struck MacLeod. She tried to hold out against it but he was obviously stronger. Cat was thrown back several feet hitting the bar, screaming in pain and anger. Again Mac Lir prepared to attack. Harry watched helplessly, looking to Remus, who was frantically hurling curse after curse against the man, and then to Snape laying on the floor, slowly regaining consciousness. As Mac Lir launched his attack, Harry saw Miss MacLeod bracing herself, but instead of waiting for the blow to strike her, she raised her hands to her face, palms outward, making a triangle with her thumbs and forefingers. As the lightning ball reached her she pushed against it with the triangle, effectively deflecting the blow. Mac Lir paused, obviously surprised by this tactic.
"Well child, you have your father's strength and your mother's skill, but you will return with me, regardless." As Mac Lir raise his hand to renew his attack, Harry felt sick, his skin began to crawl and he felt as though someone was pulling his stomach out though his spine, he looked to Miss MacLeod and knew in his heart she was feeling the same thing. Strangely though, Ron and Remus seemed unaffected by this. As Mac Lir threw the next energy ball, Harry moaned and dropped to his knees as MacLeod tried deflecting it again. Struggling against his overwhelming strength, Miss MacLeod soon faltered, letting the energy ball envelope her.
Struggling inside the silvery orb, MacLeod was lifted off the floor, hanging in the middle it, still fighting against it as the ball began to constrict. Frantically she fought against its energy. As the orb shrank, its power increased, concentrating the energy even more. When the sides of the ball touched her she screamed out in agony. Snape was trying to stand up and help her, but the potion master seemed completely helpless to stop this, as did Remus. She was still screaming, the sound tore through Harry like a knife, he saw the pained look on Remus's face and began to cry in desperation and fear. This man was going to kill her, and there was nothing any of them could do to stop him.
Harry had never seen anyone like this man, Mac Lir was stronger than any wizard he had ever seen, he didn't use a wand, just his hands. He didn't even have the decency to gloat, or explain, he just stood there with a sad look on his face, as if he had no choice in hurting Miss MacLeod. Harry couldn't take it anymore, MacLeod's screaming reminded him too much of his mother's last minutes; his mind quickly flashed to the dementors and then to Sirius, why couldn't Sirius be here to help. If Remus, Sirius and Snape worked together maybe they could stop this. Why couldn't he think of something to help her. Miss MacLeod was becoming so weak she could hardly scream anymore, she simply hung there inside the orb, shaking and whimpering.
Suddenly Remus jumped at Cat, pulling her out of danger, but unfortunately absorbing the energy of the orb, Harry watched as Remus hung, twitching in the air for a few seconds before dropping to the floor face first. Miss MacLeod screamed out his name, sobbing as she crawled over to him and turned him over, brushing his hair off of his face, searching for any sign of life. As she looked up towards Mac Lir, Harry's heart gave another jolt. Her face was covered in blood, even Mac Lir paused now "Catri MacLeod, explain this." But Miss MacLeod just stared at him as she placed her hands on Remus's chest, again Harry felt the strange pulling sensation only this time it wasn't making him ill. It was a warm feeling, like someone hugging you, the feeling of the sun on your skin in June. It was coming from Miss MacLeod this time, she looked down at Remus and closed her eyes. He heard her say "I told you, I won't let anyone suffer for my sake" as her tears began to flow again, that's when Harry realized where the blood was coming from, she was crying tears of blood.
Remus began to stir, and Harry exhaled the breath he didn't realize he was holding, Cat was trying to help Remus sit up, all the while keeping an eye on Mac Lir. Snape had finally pulled himself beside her, though he certainly appeared to be the worse for wear. He was severely bruised and his arm looked as though it was broken in at least one or two places. For his part, Mac Lir wasn't moving much, he was to intent on Miss MacLeod. "Child, I said explain yourself." Slowly MacLeod pulled her eyes away from Remus to look at Mac Lir.
Standing up with some difficultly she stated firmly "There is nothing to explain. I told you before, I refuse to allow anyone to suffer because of me." she said between jagged breaths "Never again. Not as long as I have the strength to stop it."
Mac Lir simply stood there staring at her, as if nothing strange had happened, like this was something he did everyday. "That was not my question." He moved closer to her, stepping around Remus and Snape. She seemed unafraid as he placed his fingers on her cheek, wiping away her tears. Mac Lir looked at his fingers, then showed them to MacLeod. "This is my question." he said, almost gently.
At that moment Remus finally sat up, gasping for air. Harry couldn't stand it any longer, grabbing Ron they both ran over to Remus. Mac Lir seemed surprised, as if he had no idea they had been here. "Let them alone" Harry screamed "Haven't you done enough?" Looking at Remus's face made Harry's heart drop into his stomach. He looked as though he had been attacked by a flock of Harpies. His face was bruised, and a bit burned in few places. His eyes had that not-quite-alive look, the same look that Harry had seen from time to time in his godfather's eyes. Shaking visibly Remus was trying to pull Harry out of harms way. But Mac Lir had already turned his attention to the children. Cat quickly pushed Ron behind her sending him out the door, but Harry was a little too fast. He rushed in front of Remus standing there defiantly.
"Think carefully before acting against me, little one." Mac Lir said in a challenging tone "Or do you have your mother's powers within you?" His mother's powers, Harry had no idea what the man meant by this, but more to the point Harry didn't care. This man had hurt Remus and Cat, even Professor Snape didn't deserve this. As Harry faced Mac Lir he pulled out his wand, much to Mac Lir's amusement. "So, you intend to attack me with a stick do you?" Mac Lir chuckled. "You haven't taught him very well, have you child" he continued, looking to MacLeod.
Harry's anger was ready to explode, he couldn't stand this, he needed to be able to protect the people he cared about, not hide in the corner like some little kid. Summoning all of his strength Harry pointed his wand at the smiling Mac Lir and yelled "INCENDIA". Mac Lir wasn't smiling anymore, much to everyone's surprise his robes began to burn. Mac Lir extinguished the flames with a wave of his hand. Looking back to Harry he grinned strangely.
"Not bad little one, but you can do better" raising his hands Mac Lir sends a gust of wind that knocked Harry backwards, into Remus and Cat. Instinctively the two adults wrapped their arms around Harry trying to protect him. "Harry, are you alright?" Remus asked shakily "Stay here, don't get in his way, he can kill you."
"But he won't Remus," Cat assured them " he wouldn't kill a child in cold blood. Its not in him to do something so cowardly." she finished, stroking Harry's hair protectively, all the while staring intently into Mac Lir's eyes.
Looking over at the small group huddled just in front of the door, Snape's heart and stomach both lurched, he knew if they could just get outside their chances of surviving would increase dramatically. Knowing he had no other choice if any of them were going to live through this Severus began his own attack, hoping to give the others time to either regroup or escape. Ferociously, Snape hurled curse after curse at Mac Lir, trying to keep him on the defensive, it took everything he had just to remain standing. He heard Cat screaming something just before one of Mac Lir's spells hit him. Severus wasn't sure what spell it was, but suddenly everything was going black, he felt as though he were drowning. Oddly though it wasn't completely unpleasant physically, it simply felt like giving up and he couldn't do that, not now. Not when his life was finally beginning to mean something to him again, he had to stop Voldemort he had promised Lily he would, and now that Catri was here maybe he could have a real chance with her. He had to fight, he had to survive, he concentrated on today, their walk, her kiss, he would fight, he must survive.
Suddenly everything stopped.