DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, he belongs to J.K Rowling and if you are reading this and think any different then St. Mungo's should be your next port of call.

Chapter dedicated to AFI-Boy for being my 100th reviewer and for what must be the record number of detainments, I mean vacations!

Chapter 10: Last Breath

31st July 1990

Sirius looked up from the floor and snarled.

"Lucius Malfoy, what have I done to deserve this reward." Sirius said in a tone that was full of sarcasm as him and Remus moved closer to Harry with them now both standing in front of the child.

"Black, you do not know how much trouble you have caused me. You can guarantee one thing, you will not leave with your life." Malfoy coolly replied while casting the same charm three times, the one that prevents wandless magic for a limited amount of time leaving the trio truly defenceless.

"Go to hell Malfoy!" Sirius spat out as he struggled to comprehend what had just happened. Lucius as if reading Sirius's mind answered the question for him.

"You see Black there is a spell that helps find a witch or wizard if they become lost. If focuses on their magical signature. A member of the family can only do it though. When we felt your signature moving this morning you don't know how pleased I was. We found out that you used a Portkey and decided that when you used it again we would divert the trip so we could have some fun." Malfoy said as if torturing people was the most fun thing possible.

"Damn, my family are the worst. When I get my hands on them." Sirius thought as he continued to trade insults with Malfoy.

While Sirius baited Lucius, Remus took this as an opportunity to pertain a look at the surroundings the three of them currently found themselves in.

From what Remus could tell it was an empty stone room that looked like it was previously a ballroom of sorts. It had a very high ceiling that was easily twenty feet and was about the size of the great hall at Hogwarts, which meant that it was big. Sirius, Remus and Harry stood right against the back wall that contained no windows and was made of solid stone just like all the other walls. Where they stood was furthest away from the double doors that allowed entrance to the room. There was magic in the air that Remus identified straight away as anti-apparition barriers preventing the escape of them all.

Once Remus had done his scope on the room that lasted ten seconds maximum he turned his full and undivided attention to the people in front of him and that is when he got his first shock, there were so few of them, around ten maximum. This was shocking, as although Remus and Sirius had not heard about any Death Eater attacks in recent years yet he was sure that they had described lots more. He heard Lucius and Sirius trade insults for ten seconds more before another figure stepped out of the semi-circle of Death Eaters and started speaking in a high pitched cackle. Remus would know that voice anywhere and had identified who it was before the mask had even came off of her face, Bellatrix Lestrange.

"Aw, if it is not my baby cousins' pet Werewolf, tell me, does he still feed you scraps from the table or have you been a bad Wolfy." Bellatrix taunted the wandless man in a sickly evil tone.

"Go to hell Bellatrix and take that flea bag of a husband with you!" Remus viciously exclaimed and knew he had hit the mark when he saw Bellatrix face contort at the mention of her husband.

"Never mention him you filthy little Werewolf, you and the other two will pay and I will have my revenge." Bellatrix was literally frothing at the mouth in anticipation.

Lucius called Bellatrix over and they spoke in hushed tones rapidly for what was only fifteen seconds but it was all the time Remus and Sirius needed. Remus saw Sirius holding his side as though it was injured but Remus knew he was pointing to his shrunken sword. Remus then saw Sirius glance at Harry and Remus automatically saw the two wands bulging in his back pockets. Sirius then gave Remus one last look where he glanced to his hands. This meant that he wanted Remus to take the spare wand where he would use his wandless magic.

Harry had caught the basic gist of the wordless conversation and edged closer to Remus just as Malfoy returned.

"Is baby Potter scared of the big bad Death Eaters. No need to worry Potter as when the Dark Lord returns, you will be his first victim." Malfoy sneered at the young child. Harry was almost touching Remus when Malfoy spoke up again.

"Black, hand the boy over and you and the Werewolf can leave unharmed." Malfoy told the man.

"Go to hell Malfoy and take the rest of your scum with you." Sirius spent full of rage.

Then as if by some unseen signal, the ten men in the room started to form closer rank and took off their masks in unison. Sirius and Remus recognised most of them, their was Malfoy, Lestrange, Macnair, Karkoff, Flint and the rest they were sure that they had least since once but the names were not coming to mind.

The next ten seconds seemed to last an eternity. Remus grabbed James wand out of Harry's back pocket while Harry pulled the other but by then Remus had threw the boy to the floor as the curses sent at him flew overhead.

"Finite Incantanem" Remus shouted and Sirius's wandless bindings were off and Sirius wasted no time in firing curses at the Death Eaters who had formed into two little groups, five went after Remus and Harry while Lucius, Bellatrix and two others went after Sirius.

The duels were the most frantic and deadly that either pair had been in but their training left them in good shape.

"Caedo" Sirius bellowed rolling forward watching a Death Eater dive out the way of his strangulation curse. While he was rolling he wandlessly enlarged he sword and in a practised motion he slashed three times at the Death Eater who was rising to feet making sure that he never rose again. He re holstered his sword and just side stepped in time to avoid a curse sent by his cousin.

The three Death Eaters were pushing Sirius into the corner rapidly firing curses that Sirius was just able to block or dodge and after two or three minutes the affect of advanced wandless magic was taking its toll on Sirius. "I have to finish this soon." He thought as he blocked another curse.

"Stupefy, Stupefy" Sirius shouted twice watching his stunners easily being absorbed by Lucius's and Bellatrix's shields. He knew this was going to happen but he needed that split second to take care of the third Death Eater. With a lightning quick motion Sirius had pulled a couple of throwing stars from a pocket and the Death Eater fell two seconds later with two items lodged in his neck.

Sirius dived forward and grabbed the wand out of the dead mans hand and felt the difficulty he would have using the wand yet it was one nonetheless. He blocked Lucius Back breaking curse while dodging Bellatrix's Cruciatus.

Sirius tried to make it over to Harry but Bellatrix and Lucius were worthy opponents on their own while together it took Sirius everything he had and more just to hold them off.

After five minutes of intense duelling and manoeuvring Sirius was nearly over to Remus and Harry and was twenty foot away when he heard both Lucius and Bellatrix curse at the same time:

"Crucio" Sirius knew that he could not dodge and that you couldn't successfully block the curse completely but by accident when Sirius and Remus were practising they found a shield that protected slightly against the affects.

"Tego" Sirius screamed and concentrated his hardest but as the curses hit him, it was pure agony. White-hot knives were stabbing him and his bones were turned to liquid. But somehow he managed to raise the wand he was holding and mutter:

"Stupefy" The curse struck Bellatrix who slumped to the floor dazed, not quite stunned due to the lack of power in the curse but definitely incapable for the time being.

It was pure luck that as she slumped, Bellatrix knocked into Lucius's leg, bumping him and effectively ending the curse. Lucius pointed his wand at Bellatrix right away and muttered "Enervate". That was all the time Sirius needed to give his dearest cousin a present, not the Avada Kedavra present he wished, no he would need his wand for that and Malfoy still had it.

"Blasot" The blasting curse, a powerful one that Sirius learnt in Auror training smashed into the helpless Bellatrix who was sent flying forty yards backwards sliding across the bare floor.

Sirius then saw it out of the corner of his eye, the Portkey. It was lying by the double doors, around twenty feet behind Bellatrix's current position.

"Samsei" Sirius shouted at Malfoy and watched as Malfoy easily avoided the curse and it was Sirius who had to duck from the next curse from Malfoy's wand.

Sirius and Lucius duelled for five minutes each duelling with wands, wandless magic and even weapons. They were around thirty feet away from Remus when Sirius saw it happen, it looked like the whole world was in slow motion…

////////////////////////////

Remus was not doing as well as Sirius in his duel even though he had a wand he was competent with. This was due to the fact that over half the curses were aimed at Harry who had to dodge most curses due to the fact that his shield charm was still weak. His Quidditch reflexes were helping him to an extreme yet Remus was still thankful that no major curses had been sent Harry's way.

Harry for his part was trying to stay out of the Death Eaters sight and when an opportunity arose, which was very little he would try and stun a Death Eater. Harry despite the situation was delighted with his new wand, it was fantastic and filled him with an ethereal warmth.

After ten minutes of frantic duelling Remus had managed to take down one Death Eater with a Spine shattering curse while Harry was able to stun the other.

It was getting harder and harder for Remus to stop all the attacks on Harry and defend himself at the same time. He felt like he hadn't slept for a week but he had to keep going, for Harry's sake.

Remus rolled to the left avoiding an Amputation curse while out of the corner of the eye he observed Harry doing the same as a Stunner had just came his way.

"Seco" Remus yelled as a Death Eater hit the deck to avoid it. Quicker than a human could move Remus whipped his last remaining Dagger out of his ankle holster and using the chance, imbedded the dagger right in the Death Eaters head.

"Explos" Karkoff boomed and Remus had taken to long, he got the brunt of the explosion curse and was lifted off his feet right into the stone wall behind him and he hit it with a sickening crunch.

The foolish Death Eaters though had taken their attention of Harry who rolled out of harms way and one more fell down to another well placed Stunner from the child.

Now there was only Karkoff left standing facing Harry and Remus but as Remus was temporarily down, Harry was left to fend for himself. Curses after curse came Harry's way and he was barely able to dodge and block them all let alone shoot any curses of his own back.

Remus was slowly getting to his feet when he saw Harry struggling, he had to get up and help him yet one of his legs seemed broken yet he had to try. As Remus struggled to his feet he saw Sirius and Lucius in an intense duel and surmised that he would get no help from there momentarily.

"Stupefy" Harry managed to get off a stunner left Karkoff blocked it with a simple charm and sent a curse straight back which Harry barely ducked.

"Poena" Karkoff shouted and this time Harry couldn't move in time as the curse hit his arm, which broke immeadiatly with a loud crack, and Harry was in agony.

"Now Potter, my Lord can use you dead or alive and I know what way I'd prefer you so, say hello to mum and dad for me won't you?" Karkoff spoke in a slow deadly tone as he straightened his wand and spoke

"Avada Kedavra"

Harry saw this green light flying before him and knew what was to come, he had been taught about the Killing curse. His last thought was, "I love you Sirius, Remus". Yet that never came as a blur staggered across his path just before the curse reached him.

A mighty howl reached the ears of everyone in the room, a pain filled screech that broke Harry and Sirius's heart. With one last cry of despair, Remus Lupin laid still at Harry's feet.

Raw anger filled Harry and before Karkoff knew what had happened Harry had cast

"Expelliarmus" Harry screamed drawing on all his power and as soon as the curse left him he felt weak and hollow all over.

The curse though had so much power Karkoff never had a chance. Such the power that Karkoff was lifted from the ground and cracked his head on the wall so hard Harry knew he'd never wake again. At that moment, he didn't care.

"Remus, Remus, WAKE UP" Harry screamed trying to wake the lying man.

/////////////////////////

Sirius saw his friend take the Killing curse to save Harry then he saw Harry surly kill Karkoff and all the time while Sirius was watching whilst duelling with Lucius, the rage built until it burst.

Sirius dropped the wand; it would only hinder his magic now. If you were in the room you could feel the power rolling off of him in waves.

"Paralyse" Lucius bellowed but Sirius just raised his hand and with a slight motion the curse was absorbed by Sirius with no effect.

Sirius then turned his gaze on Lucius and the man took two steps back at the look on Sirius's face and for Lucius Malfoy that was bad.

"Oh Lucius, you will suffer, I will hunt every last one of you down and kill you personally. BLASOT". Lucius when flying across the hall yet Sirius didn't check to see whether he rose, he was already rushing over to the prone form of his best friend and the crying form of his Godson.

"Come on Harry" Sirius tenderly said, "We have to get out of here. ACCIO WAND" Sirius shouted while seconds later he heard Harry echo his shout gaining his Dads wand back, which he gratefully pocketed.

As a second though, Sirius quickly summoned the Portkey and after persuading Harry to take a grip, Sirius grabbed Remus's hand and almost died of shock.

"A pulse" He thought. He held his hand again. "Yes, No, Yes, No, Yes" Sirius's head was a torrent of thought but after a minute he decided that Remus was alive yet barely. He needed medical attention very soon if he was to survive. He levitated Remus and then they were set to go.

As he muttered "Portus" and the three were taken home the question was:

Where was he to go and how?

AN

I tried to get this out, as quickly as possible so sorry it's a bit short. Big, Big chapter coming up, might take a slight bit longer than usual. I'll try my best.

I'm back! Snowboarding was superb but the twenty-hour bus journey either side wasn't! At least I thought of a few ideas for the story that rock.

Most of you guessed Malfoy, I must be losing my touch, Oh well seeing as you are so good with them I thought I'd give you another!

Another Cliffie, you must love me! Poor Remus?

I was shocked to see that I've reached 100 reviewers already, you guys are just too damn good to me!

A couple of reviewers pointed out the error about the date. Just to clarify, the date is Harry's tenth birthday, 31st July 1990. Sorry if any confusion was caused.

Anyway what House should Harry be in IF he goes to Hogwarts, I'm still not sure what year he will enter if any.

Meresger: If all goes to plan then it should start being mainly Harry's POV in a few chapters, that is if I don't change my mind and kill him! Only joking! Or am I?

Thanks to all my faithful reviewers who make me write this story.

Cheers

Halstead