Anything that's not blatant is a riddle
Please read and review if you can!
Author's penname: Elixa Amethyst
Voices of the Past Part III
Written May 2002 onwards, pre Order of the Phoenix.
All characters and things you recognise, are © JKRowling, no infringement
intended.
All references to "mediwizard" mean healer.
Please read parts I and II first.
-------------
Chapter Five
Wizards at Arms
A huge map was laid
out on the floor of the great hall of the dungeons, and a ghostly creation of
the walls of the floors above and the grounds were appearing in mid-air. The
Marauder's Map was being passed round, the dark wizards were unaware of the
fact it still existed because it was quite clear to see that there was a large
blob labelled "Dark Wizards" in the dungeons. Each Slytherin dormitory
contained a blob with something along the lines of 6th year Slytherin
girls, and each room had one Dark Wizard in, a couple of the names recognisable
by ministry. The Dark Wizard's label suddenly split up, three figures moving
away to one end of the room. Susan North and Claude Peterson, and in the corner,
Kerry Alanis. She was still alive, thank Merlin. The discussion between the
light went on into the night. It was decided someone would reason with them and
Professor Moody volunteered himself. Some muttered it was more sacrificing him
than volunteering. At quarter to midnight, Dumbledore and Moody walked down to
the entrance to the dungeons, where the bloody baron was still frozen.
"We've got what you want Peterson, now let them go." Moody called out to
the corridor that still looked empty, but Moody could see figures behind.
"Let them go? No, the deal was the necklace or Dumbledore for the girl,
not the whole house." Peterson's disembodied voice rang against the silence
of the entrance hall, sending a cold feeling throughout those watching.
"What about Dumbledore and the necklace then?"
"It may be considered… The Dark Lord has succeeded in making the Almighty
Dumbledore a mere token in an exchange…It can be commended that he is giving
up his life for the house which will form Voldermort's followers…" There
was a laugh. Above the school clock chimed the hour of midnight.
"Claude, the exchange, are you ready?"
"Ready? Oh yes, we're ready…" Another evil laugh. As the clock struck
for the twelfth time there was a huge explosion from the dungeon, and there was
a shout of "Avada Kedavra!" from Peterson. Dumbledore and Moody had been
blown off their feet, sprawled in the masonry on the entrance hall floor. Moody
sent out a blocking charm, but before our eyes, the killing curse surrounded
him, and his body flopped motionless to the floor. There was a mass rush as the
aurors and ministry rushed forwards to attack, Severus went from my side, and
Harry was still beside me, gripping the banister on the stairs. The two of us
were anxious to help, but we'd been told strictly to stay back. We watched
everyone, stunning dark wizards into heaps on the floor from a distance to
prevent them being any danger to Dumbledore's army. I saw Professor Sinistra
and another teacher, who I didn't recognise, drag Moody's body from the
crowd. As we took hold of an arm each carefully, I realised how cold the
professor's body was, and how grey his face looked.
"He's dead isn't he?" Harry asked, I bent and checked once we were safe
again. I looked up and nodded sadly. He really had sacrificed himself… We
crossed Moody's arms across his chest, numb from the shock.
"Concentrate on the battle Elixa, I'll look over him." My mother's voice
told me, and I knew she would.
Claude Peterson and his army put up a fight, and it was a mere miracle there
weren't more lives lost than just Alastor Moody's. Harry and I could wait no
longer; we went down the stairs into the dungeons, leaving Moody's body alone,
apart from an embalming charm to preserve him and my mother's presence.
Peterson had Kerry and Susan in his arms. Dumbledore was standing, breathing
heavily, his wand pointing at them. Kerry saw me run in behind and let out a
startled cry.
"Elixa, work together, you two understand each other…" My father's voice
was with me. I thought hard to try to get to Kerry, we were staring at each
other, and suddenly I heard her thoughts mixed in with my father's voice.
"Kerry you have to make a run for it or something, if you hit him in the face
with your head, you'll hit his nose which already looks broken, do it hard
enough and you may cause him to let go. You have to get far enough away so
Dumbledore can take Peterson." Kerry blinked, obviously surprised at hearing
my voice in her head. Without warning, she threw her head back violently and
them bit the arm holding her, wrenching it up and running as fast as she could
away from Peterson. It appeared to happen in such slow motion as she did it,
Peterson was thrown off balance and grabbed Susan by her neck, dragging her down
with him, I heard Susan scream, as she grabbed at the thin air. There was a
crack as they hit the floor. Dumbledore came forwards and his eyes widened. He
bent to study something closer and then stood back up to address the weary
fighters.
"Peterson has taken his life." Susan opened her eyes and Dumbledore stood
over her, his wand pointing straight at her. The look on Susan's face said it
all.
Fudge took away the captured dark wizards and the body of Peterson. Susan was questioned along with them, and they were taken to Azkaban for the time being. The Slytherin dungeon common room was badly damaged, and Severus looked displeased as he stood looking at it in the early hours of the morning. His office had been searched, but all items had been recovered. They'd been using supplies to create endurance potion and other strength potions. Moody's body was moved to the chapel, which was rarely used in the school. The teachers maintained a vigil until daybreak when they were replaced by the prefects, who were already informed on what was now being called "The Battle of the Slytherin Siege" and various other names. The Slytherins rarely looked so fragile as they received Aconite potions from Madame Pomfrey for the shock.
The funeral for
Professor Moody was held for the students as a special memorial service in the
great hall. For the staff, Moody's friends and Harry, Kerry and I the funeral
proper was held on the mountains overlooking Hogwarts, where his ashes were
scattered.
"He's with us now." My mother told me gently, the feeling she was standing
behind me was uncanny, but I knew she wasn't even visible.
"I know mum, thank you." I felt her presence move from me to Severus who was
standing a few metres to my right. He glanced round, feeling something too. He
looked at me, slightly confused.
"Mum's come to take Moody with her." I mouthed. A slight smile broke at
the corners of my uncle's mouth before he turned away again. I wasn't sure
whether he believed me, but he'd felt something. I looked out across the
mountains, towards the lake, shining like a huge mirror at the base of the
mountains, and beyond to the school, the towers rising in the evening sunlight.
Moody's ashes were blown gently out over the lake as prayers were said for
him.
"So long." I said with a slight smile.
